Stage names Posted Wed Sep 13 14:40:40 BST 2000 by Jon

Why do performers bother giving themselves 'stage names' that are just as boring and ordinary as their real ones?

eg:

Steve Crosby = Jason Freeman
Chris Curry = Frank Skinner
Iain Rougvie = Iain Lee


Couldn't at least one of these called themselves Timmy Twinkle or Humperdink Flapjack, if they were going to go to all the trouble?


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Janet on Wed Sep 13 14:51:20 BST 2000:

Hey Jon
Frank's real name is Chris Collins
Jon got it wro-ong, Jon got it wrooo-ooong...nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah

(I think you're right though, Baddiel and Flapjack Unplanned would be much better)


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Jon on Wed Sep 13 14:54:46 BST 2000:

Jim Moir = Vic Reeves

which is TRUE, nyah, nyah to you.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Janet on Wed Sep 13 14:57:35 BST 2000:

Jimeoin = Jimeoin Jimmy James

So there (unless, of course, you don't know who the hell that is, in which case, let's call the whole thing off)


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Janet on Wed Sep 13 15:05:06 BST 2000:

Spike Milligan = Terence Allan Milligan

And of course....ummm....errr....
Sorry Jon, it's 1am over here, my brains gone a bit flaccid.
I think I've got a touch of Olympic fever too.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Janet on Wed Sep 13 15:11:08 BST 2000:

I think I can squeeze one more out....
Eric Morcombe=Eric Bartholemew

That's it - I'm spent. I'm a husk.
G'night


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Jon on Wed Sep 13 15:24:53 BST 2000:

Yes, but why didn't they pick more interesting names?

Steve Stomper? Rick Montauban? Dave Marseilles? Barry Barracuda? Arnold Fascinating?...


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Sam D on Wed Sep 13 15:28:09 BST 2000:

Surely Roy "Twatty" Brown got it the wrong way round. If his real name IS Royston Vasey, which I believe to be the case, why change it to Roy Brown?
Harry Hill = Matthew Hall (so I believe)
Eddie Large = Edward McGuinness
Chevy Chase = Cornelius Crane Chase

Sorry, apart from Harry Hill, I don't appear to have mentioned anyone funny.
Oh, except Arthur Stanley Jefferson and Oliver Norville Hardy, which of course are the real names of Old Mother Riley and Kitty McShane.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By James on Wed Sep 13 15:44:55 BST 2000:

Jasper Carrott -- surely a step up from Bob Davies.

"Frank Skinner" is apparently the name of a bloke on Chris Curry/Collins (and there's me thinking it was Cutler)'s dad's darts team. But note that real name/stage name stories are not notably reliable.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Mr Griffiths on Wed Sep 13 17:47:43 BST 2000:

Julian Barratt from the Boosh was called Julian Pettifer (as in the ITV reporter and host of "Busman's Holiday") when he shared by house (briefly) in about 1991.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Jon on Thu Sep 14 07:43:25 BST 2000:

So you're saying they should really call themselves "Pettifer and Fielding"?

I think that's better.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By RIchard on Thu Sep 14 19:30:57 BST 2000:

>Jimeoin = Jimeoin Jimmy James

I think it is actually Jimeoin McKeown. I have seen on some websites that is is "Jimeoin Jimmy James", but I find that highly unlikely, even if he is from Ballymena.


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Janet on Fri Sep 15 11:49:08 BST 2000:

Aha - Richard, you're right. I forgot he had a surname as well as that deluge of middle names (as far as I know most of them are on the birth certificate).

Jimeoin saw my first ever gig, and was profuse in his praise; he gave me a huge hug and gushed at me all night.
What can I say, I was younger and prettier then.



Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Jon on Fri Sep 15 12:11:14 BST 2000:

You mean the first gig you booked/put on, or did you try stand-up yourself?


Subject: Re: Stage names [ Previous Message ]
Posted By Janet on Fri Sep 15 12:51:40 BST 2000:

My first standup performance.
I do standup, but don't necessarily identify myself as being such - more of a comedic performer ('cos I don't reckon I'm good enough/interested enough at straight standup in regular clubs!) I'm a dab hand at interactive stuff, radio, TV panels, etc though.
I compere my own night because it's cheaper.
Boothby Graffoe thought I was pretty good when he saw me. Is this a hallmark of quality?
Maybe I should change my name to Janet "Bloody" McLeod


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