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What If Musicians Kept Their Real Names? (PICTURES)

The Huffington Post     First Posted: 10/04/10 01:13 PM ET   Updated: 05/25/11 06:55 PM ET

Last week, we imagined a world where actors opted to professionally use their birth names instead of their chosen stage name. But actors aren't the only celebrities to use a made-up moniker in the public eye. Some of our most iconic musicians also choose to use a fictional name -- sometimes to enhance his or her mystique, or sometimes because a fake name just sounds cooler. We mocked up a few album covers portraying the artist's birth name they ditched in favor the name for which they're known today.

Bob Dylan
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Last week, we imagined a world where actors opted to professionally use their birth names instead of their chosen stage name. But actors aren't the only celebrities to use a made-up moniker in the pub...
Last week, we imagined a world where actors opted to professionally use their birth names instead of their chosen stage name. But actors aren't the only celebrities to use a made-up moniker in the pub...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
okila
41 Fans
 
10:57 PM on 10/26/2010
Cordozar Calvin Broadus. Snoop Dogg anyone?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wilray
50,000 Screaming Fans (Ignore that other number)
779 Fans
07:44 PM on 10/18/2010
Declan works for Declan Galbraith, a youngster who can actually sing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6OM8lfTcL8
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
virtualpicketline
40 Fans
 
10:16 AM on 10/16/2010
What, no Paul Hewson?

I guess U2 isn't well known enough to make the list...
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Oscar Groom
The sun is both master and slave
7 Fans
02:31 PM on 10/12/2010
Cher's name is the best.
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emncaity
261 Fans
01:30 PM on 10/11/2010
I dunno...I've always thought some of them were pretty cool, like Cher's and Elvis Costello's.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PerryLogan
We don't want your guns. We just want your women.
865 Fans
 
11:25 AM on 10/11/2010
Then they write songs about being true to yourself and proud of who you really are.
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Hamza Rehman
19 Fans
06:29 AM on 10/07/2010
Gordon Sumner ... haha ... that's gotta sting.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
samiles96
49 Fans
08:07 PM on 10/06/2010
I don't know, Cher Sarkisian would be a great name. Armenian surnames are sexy.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
PackyJ
105 Fans
 
07:57 PM on 10/11/2010
Is that why anyone bothers to "keep up with" the Kardashians?
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sigh-ence
87 Fans
01:27 PM on 10/06/2010
No wonder these people changed their names....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
chariotdrvr14
181 Fans
09:31 PM on 10/05/2010
Marilyn Manson was the best change. Cher did the right thing as well.
The others weren't all that crucial.

Look at Engelbert Humperdink! XD
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Gjbone
1 Fans
05:03 PM on 10/05/2010
Vanilla Ice aka Robert Van Winkle. LMAO
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LMPE
I connect the most dissimilar things
1544 Fans
05:01 PM on 10/05/2010
Don't forget Ringo Starr, nee Richard Starkey.

My parents just recently saw one of his concerts and said that it was GREAT!!!!!!!
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emncaity
261 Fans
01:31 PM on 10/11/2010
That's weird...I heard the same thing too. Probably wouldn't have thought so, necessarily.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Ishmael1
Step aside, Shallow Water, & Let the Deep Sea Roll
519 Fans
09:31 AM on 10/05/2010
My dad was a freak for Mario Lanza, born Alfred Arnold Cocozza. He watched all Lanza's movies and had all his recordings which he payed as nauseum. I hated it as a kid, but it wound up giving me an ear for operatic tenors. a few years before his death, we were living in Benicia, in Northern California, when he found out about a small winery on the back road to Lake Berryessa called Hidden Valley Winery that was owned by Mario Lanza. He and my Mom took a drive up there to check it out and asked the woman behind the counter if Lanza had invested money in it. She replied,

"Yes. And All his time too. That's Mario Lanza over there. He's my husband." and pointed to this little Italian guy stocking the bottles.

As they were leaving, My Mom told his wife,

"Tell your husband we ADORE his singing."

So here's Alfred Arnold Cocozza singing "E Lucevan Le Stelle":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-KFJiT6gsY
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emncaity
261 Fans
01:32 PM on 10/11/2010
aaaahhh....AAAAAGGGHHH....so your parents didn't meet him? They were right there, man...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
AngryHarpy
I dwell in possibility.
727 Fans
 
07:51 AM on 10/05/2010
Elton John wins that, hands down. Sheesh, what a name.
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TeeSC
438 Fans
01:22 PM on 10/05/2010
agreed...lol
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derrickhoyle
...it's a league game, Smokey.
161 Fans
04:04 PM on 10/05/2010
Except that Elton Hercules John legally changed his name to that.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
kel
74 Fans
06:38 AM on 10/05/2010
Like John Melloncamp? Or The Artist formally known as Prince.?

I think today people can get away with names as opposed to years ago. Perhaps I am wrong seeing Miley's name etc.
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