Published: July 18, 2008 09:55 pm      

Local attorney pinpoints 240 rock band origins

EDMOND — “Rock Band Name Origins” is a reference volume that reads like a storybook.

Chronicling the beginnings of 240 acts, Edmond author and attorney Greg Metzer penned his first book with the goal of educating those with a working knowledge of the music world.

Inspired by a morning radio show discussion about how the band Nickelback came up with its name, Metzer found himself curious about the names of some of his favorite bands.

While digging, he found that while there were reference books listing thousands of acts, each entry was only one or two sentences long. Metzer wanted to know more.

Having decided to write his own book, he had something different in mind.

“I wanted to tell more of the story,” he said, “and give a more thorough background of each band and talk about what they mean to rock music; and what legacy they are leaving.”

Drawing from the Billboard Top 500, he first eliminated acts from the 1950s. Then, with the exception of a few artists, he dropped solo acts. Focusing on the remaining about 150 bands from the 1960s to today, Metzer began writing.

And despite his own wealth of rock trivia factoids, Metzer found himself learning something new with every story.

Some acts not in the list, such as Milli Vanilli, were included “because of strange names or a good story,” he said.

Others, including Spandau Ballet, had to be left out because Metzer couldn’t uncover enough verifiable information or there were conflicting reports.

While targeting the average music lover, Metzer said the book holds enough information to be useful to music fans of any knowledge level, including the “rock snob.”

A “rock snob,” Metzer explained, is a person who lords his knowledge of rock trivia over everyone else.

“Someone who seeks to obtain a level of social currency through that knowledge.”

He cites John Cusak’s character as the sarcastic record store owner in the movie “Hi Fidelity” as a perfect example.

Is Metzer himself a “Rock Snob?”

“I hope not,” he said, laughing.

The difference is, despite being known among his friends as the guy who can name the peak chart positions of most songs released in the past 45 years, Metzer is not mean about it.

“I don’t want to come off as a know-it-all,” he said. “Thankfully my friends just accept me for who I am.”

“Rock Band Name Origins” is published by McFarland & Company Inc. The book is available direct from the publisher, at bookstores by special order and online at sites such as www.barnesandnoble.com.