Real Names of 182 Musicians
Musicians trade in their real names for stage names for a variety of reasons. Some don’t feel their given names aren’t as marketable, others are looking for street cred. As you can see by this list, plenty of the talented people on the list could definitely do with a name change, for others, it boggles the mind why they would choose something so silly. Glamorati is happy to present:
Real Names of 182 Musicians
- Clay Aiken – Clayton Holmes Grissom
- Akon – Aliuane Badara Thiam
- Tori Amos – Myra Ellen Amos
- Trey Anastasio – Ernest Joseph Anastasio III
- Adam Ant – Stuart Leslie Goddard
- Marc Anthony – Marco Antonio Muniz
- Frankie Avalon – Francis Avallone
- Baby Face – Kenneth Edmonds
- Erykah Badu – Erica Wright
- Ginger Baker – Peter Edward Baker
- Syd Barrett – Roger Keith Barrett
- Ol’ Dirty Bastard – Russell Tyrell Jones
- Pat Benatar – Patricia Andrejewski
- Tony Bennett – Anthony Dominick Benedetto
- Dickey Betts – Forrest Richard Betts
- Jello Biafra – Eric Reed Boucher
- Bo Bice – Harold Elwin Bice
- Marc Bolan – Mark Feld
- Michael Boltin – Michael Bolotin
- Jon Bon Jovi – John Francis BonGiovi
- Bono – Paul David Hewson
- Sonny Bono – Salvatore Bono
- David Bowie – David Jones
- Jackson Browne – Clyde Jackson Browne
- J.J. Cale – John W. Cale
- Irene Cara – Irene Escelera
- Eric Carr – Paul Charles Carravello
- 50 Cent – Curtis Jackson
- Ray Charles – Ray Charles Robinson
- Cher – Cherilyn LaPierre
- Charlotte Church – Charlotte Reed
- Gene Clark – Harold Eugene Clark
- Patsy Cline – Virginia Patterson Hensley
- Ry Cooder – Ryland Cooder
- Alice Cooper – Vincent Furnier
- Elvis Costello – Declan MacManus
- Peter Criss – George Peter Criscuola
- Ice Cube – Oshea Jackson
- Bobby Dall – Robert Harry Kuykendall
- Bobby Darin – Walden Waldo Robert Cassotto
- Dimebag Darrell – Darrell Abbott
- Mac Davis – Morris Davis
- Taylor Dayne – Leslie Wonderman
- Mos Def – Dante Terrell Smith
- John Denver – John Deutschendorf
- Rick Derringer – Rick Zeringer
- Buck Dharma – Donald Roeser
- Snoop Dogg – Calvin Broadus
- Thomas Dolby – Thomas Robertson
- Mickey Dolenz – George Michael Braddock
- Dr. Dre – Andre Young
- Bob Dylan – Robert Zimmerman
- Sheena Easton – Sheena Orr
- Falco – Johann Holzel
- Fergie – Stacy Anne Ferguson
- Flavor Flav – William Drayton
- Flea – Michael Peter Balzary
- Ace Frehley – Paul Daniel Frehley
- Kenny G – Kenneth Gorelick
- Crystal Gayle – Brenda Gail Webb
- Boy George – George O’Dowd
- Gary Glitter – Paul Gadd
- Macy Gray – Natalie McIntyre
- MC Hammer – Stanley Burrell
- Faith Hill – Audrey Faith Perry
- Billie Holiday – Eleanora Gough
- Buddy Holly – Charles Holley
- Englebert Humperdinck – Arnold Dorsey
- Janis Ian – Janis Eddy Fink
- Vanilla Ice – Robert Van Winkle
- Billy Idol – William Broad
- Tito Jackson – Toriano Jackson
- Rick James – James Johnson
- D.J.Jazzy Jeff – Jeff Townes
- Joan Jett – Joan Larkin
- Grace Jones – Grace Mendoza
- Tom Jones – Thomas Woodward
- Elton John – Reginald Dwight
- Wynonna Judd – Christina Ciminella
- Juvenile – Terious Grey
- R.Kelly – Robert Kelly
- Alicia Keys – Alicia Cook
- Chaka Kahn – Yvette Marie Stevens
- L’il Kim – Kimberly Jones
- B.B, King – Riley B. King
- Uncle Kracker – Matthew Schafer
- L.L. Cool J – James Tood Smith
- Patti LaBelle – Patricia Holt
- k.d.lang – Katherine Dawn Lang
- Queen Latifah Dana Owens
- Mario Lanza – Alfred Cocazza
- Geddy Lee – Gary Weinraub
- Julian Lennon – John Charles Julian Lennon
- Huey Lewis – Hugh Craig
- Liberace – Wladziu Valentino
- Ludacris – Christopher Bridges
- Mama Cass – Ellen Cohen
- Barry Manilow – Barry Pincus
- Yngwie Malmsteem – Lars Lannerback
- Manfred Mann – Manfred Lubowitz
- Marilyn Manson – Bruce Warner
- Mick Mars – Robert Deal
- Dean Martin – Dino Crocetti
- Ricky Martin – Enrique Jose Martin Morales
- Paul McCartney – James Paul McCartney
- Meat Loaf – Marvin Lee Aday
- Freddie Mercury – Farrokh Bulsara
- George Michael – Yorgos Panayiotou
- Joni Mitchell – Roberta Anderson
- Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana – Destiny Hope Cyrus
- Moby – Richard Melville Hall
- Van Morrison – George Morrison
- Nas – Nasir Jones
- Rick Nelson – Eric Nelson
- Nelly – Carnell Haynes
- Vince Neil – Vince Neil Wharton
- Juice Newton – Judy Newton
- Nortorious B.I.G. – Christopher Wallace
- Ric Ocasek – Richard Otcasek
- Billy Ocean – Leslie Sebastian Charles
- Tony Orland – Michael Anthony Orlando Cassivitis
- Ozzy Osborne – John Michael Osborne
- Robert Palmer – Alan Robert Palmer
- Gram Parsons – Cecil Ingram Connor
- Pink – Alecia Moore
- Iggy Pop – James Osterberg
- Puffy/Puff Daddy/Diddy/P.Diddy – Sean Combs
- C.J. Ramone – Chris Ward
- Dee Dee Ramone – Douglas Colvin
- Joey Ramone – Jeffrey Hyman
- Johnny Ramone – John Cummings
- Marky Ramone – Mark Bell
- Richie Ramone – Richie Reinhart
- Tommy Ramone – Tom Erderlyi
- Lou Reed – Louis Firbank
- Busta Rhymes – Trevor Smith
- Nick Rhodes – Nicholas Bates
- Smokey Robinson – William Robinson
- Henry Rollins – Henry Garfield
- Axl Rose – William Bailey
- Johnny Rotten – John Lydon
- Ja Rule – Jeffrey Atkins
- Mitch Ryder – William Levise
- Sade – Helen Adu
- Boz Scaggs – William Scaggs
- Bon Scott – William Scott
- Seal – Henry Samuel
- Gene Simmons – Chaim Witz
- Sir Mix-A-Lot Anthony Ray
- Nikki Sixx – Franklin Ferrana
- Slash – Saul Hudson
- Grace Slick – Grace Wing
- Fatboy Slim – Quentin Cook
- Paul Stanley – Stanley Eisen
- Ringo Starr – Richard Starkey
- Cat Stevens – Steven Georgiou changed name to Yusef Islam
- Sting – Gordon Sumner
- Michael Stipe – John Michael Stipe
- Joss Stone – Jocelyn Eve Stocker
- Joe Strummer – John Mellor
- Donna Summer – LaDonna Gaines
- Ice T – Tracey Marrow
- Timbaland – Timothy Mosely
- Peter Tosh – Winston Macintosh
- Tina Turner – Anna Mae Bullock
- Shania Twain – Eileen Edwards
- Conway Twitty – Harold Jenkins
- Steven Tyler – Steven Tallarico
- Dionne Warwick – Marie Warwick
- Roger Waters – George WAters
- Fee Waybill – John Waldo
- Bob Weir – Robert Hall
- Leslie West – Leslie Westein
- Jack White – John Gillis
- Hank Williams – Hiram Williams
- Paul Williams – Billy Paul
- Peter Wolf – Peter Blankfield
- Stevie Wonder – Steveland Morris
- Zakk Wylde – Jeffrey Wieldlandt
- Bill Wyman – William Perks
- Xzibit – Alvin Joiner
- Rob Zombie – Robert Cummings
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105 comments
Alice Cooper legally had his name changed from Vincent Furnier to Alice Cooper a while ago, making that “real name,” false.
I think Marilyn Manson’s name is actually Brian Warner, not Bruce Warner, unless Bruce is another name for Brian?
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner. Middle name Hugh. I haven’t the slightest idea where you got “Bruce” from. :/
183. willy sommers – willy degieter
184. will tura – arthur blanckaert
marilyn manson is actually brian warner, not bruce.
isn’t Fatboy Slims real name Norman Cook rather than Quentin… I reckon if you we’re gonna invent a name, no one would use Norman…
If this is true, I wonder why Fatboy Slim released several albums under the the name “Norman Cook”, since when is the name Norman that much cooler than Quintin?
Clay Aiken = NOT a musician
Akon = NOT a musician
Ice T = NOT a musician
Flavor Flav = NOT a musician
Nice list, bad title
Marilyn Manson’s real name in Brian Hugh Warner. You put Bruce Warner, you’re wrong, both Wikipedia have it as Brian Hugh, and I’ve read about it elsewhere. Your information is wrong.
[...] intrigued by those who totally change their names, not just drop a couple letters. Here’s a list of 182 “real” names of musicians (via). I picked out some that interested [...]
For Marilyn Manson, it’s not Bruce, it’s Brian Warner, FYI
Marilyn manson’s name is BRIAN warner not bruce
I’m pretty sure that Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner not B ruce Warner
the only reason David Bowie changed is name was because there was already a singer by the name of david jones.
Marilyn Mansons name is Brian Warner Not Bruce Warner.
Idiot.
Marilyn Manson’s name is Brian Warner, not Bruce
Marilyn Manson’s name is BRIAN Warner, not Bruce.
Actually, Yngwie’s last lame is “Malmsteen” and Marilyn Manson’s real name is “Brian Hugh Warner.”
Marilyn Manson’s name is Brian Warner, not Bruce Warner.
Other than that, this is a pretty cool list.
SLASH! OMD!!
Marilyn Manson is *BRIAN* Warner, not “Bruce” Warner.
whatever… ‘real’ as in ‘born with’. there. better? they’re photoshopped anyways
marilyn mansons real name is brian, not bruce
actually, Trey’s name is “Ernest Giuseppe Anastasio III”
hey guess what dude? you’re a huge loser! just laugh at the people’s retarded names and thank the people who made it for doing so… tank you, people who made this list, for doing so.
Marilyn Manson is actually Brian Warner, not Bruce.
Marilyn Manson’s name is Brian, not Bruce.
Lou Reed’s real name is Lou Reed, the Firbank thing was a joke made by one of his biggest fans; rock journalist Lester Bangs in Creem magazine. Check wikipedia if in doubt.
Marilyn Mansons name is Brian not Bruce. Also this list should be titled ‘Birth Names’ not ‘Real Names’ as many of these people have legally changed their names, making them REAL
Clay Aiken had changed his name before he went on American Idol. Clay’s father, named Grissom, was physically abusive to his mother, so that Clay’s mother took Clay, when he was only a little boy, and ran away and hid from his father for years. She was afraid to let the man know where they were.
As he approached adulthood, Clay decided to take his mother’s maiden name as his own last name, Aiken. He never had anything to do with his father since his mother ran away from him. After Clay became famous, his father tried to get in touch with Clay, but Clay wouldn’t see him. Some time thereafter, the father died.
So Clay’s name change had nothing to do with vanity or stage names. It was a change driven by a desire to separate himself from a man who harmed his mother.
Uh, Marilyn Manson’s birth name is Brian Hugh Warner. Not Bruce Warner, a simple google search would get you the right answer to that one.
Marilyn Manson’s name is BRIAN Warner, not BRUCE.
hey matt, you’re a dick
Manson’s name is Brian Warner, not Bruce. Buried as inaccurate.
ohh yesss i didnt no most of them !!!
coool tho
Interesting list! I know it doesn’t include every artist, but I had to mention one of my favorite musicians, MeShell Ndegeocello, whose birth name is Michelle Johnson. Also Sheila E. – born Sheila Escovedo.
Some are kinda interesting, others, well, Ricky Martin is his name. the fact that he doesn’t use every one of his names and uses a diminutive version of Enrique isn’t taking a stage name, it’s just using the name he was called around the house by his parents. Robert Palmer is actually named JAMES Robert Palmer? So? many of us go by our middle names, have always been called by them, especially when named after parents or other relatives where having 2 or more Jameses would be confusing. So as i say, some are kinda interesting, many are just giving us the full given names of people who use their actual names.
Marilyn Manson is Brian Warner.
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner. Not Bruce.
One addition to the list, that I can think of is Alex Lifeson – Alexandar Zivojinovich
[...] found this here Real Names of 182 [...]
Marilyn Manson’s name is Brian Warner
Yeah matts right, also Marilyn Manson’s first name isn’t Bruce, it’s Brain, his second name is Bruce
Marilyn Manson’s real name is not Bruce Warner. It’s Brian Warner. He had a band called Brian Warner and the Scary Kids way back in the day.
Correction: His band was the Spooky Kids, not Scary Kids.
Marilyn Manson is not Bruce Warner. It’s Brian Warner.
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Hugh Warner and not Bruce Warner
Marilyn Manson = Bryan Warner
I believe Miley Cyrus recently had her name made legally official too, not that she needed to.
Marilyn Manson’s real name is not Bruce Warner. It’s Brian Warner.
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian, not Bruce Warner.
Marilyn Mansons real name is actually Brian Hugh Warner, just so you know.
A lot of these people have probably had their names legally changed, which doesn’t affect the name that appears on a birth certificate. So no, that doesn’t make their “real name” false.
Waste of time, half of these are not even legally correct, or true, search then all, you will not find any records of these people (most of them)
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner, not Bruce. You can find it on almost any site, but the most trustworthy is his book he wrote The Long Hard Road Out of Hell.
Marylin Manson’s real name isn’t Bruce, it’s Bryan.
You missed Beck. Original name being Bek David Campbell and then legally changed his name to Beck Hansen.
Rick Springfield’s real name is Richard Lewis Springthorpe
Marilyn Manson is Brian Warner not Bruce.
yeah, that applies to a lot of these people.
“original name” would be more appropriate
[...] List of Real Names of Almost 200 Musicians. [...]
#101 – Marilyn Manson. His real name is Brian, not Bruce.
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner, not Bruce. And since this is so well-known I have to take into consideration that the rest of these “Real Names” might also be wrong. Do the research properly next time, or just stop being lazy.
Fatboy Slim’s real name is “Norman Cook” not Quentin…
Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner, not Bruce Warner.
Fatboy Slim’s real name is Quentin Cook. “Norman” is a nickname he got in college, when they called him a “normal norman.” He never refers to himself as Quentin, though – his album credits always say Norman Cook, but Quentin is his real birth name.
Bob Marley – Robert Nesta Marley
50. Mickey Dolenz – George Michael Braddock
You guys almost got it right. It’s Micky (no ‘e’). And his real last name is Dolenz. So he is really George Michael Dolenz. He was credited as Micky Braddock when he was in Circus Boy, but his real last name is Dolenz.
[...] Real Names of 182 Musicians [...]
Frida (Redhead from ABBA) Anni-Frid Lyngstad (maiden name)
hey buddy, Seal’s real name is Seal Henry Olusegun Kwassi Olumide Adelo Samuel, so in a way he still uses his real name only shortened.
Another reason, in the UK at least, why musicians change their names (to begin with anyway) is to escape the employment agency finding out they are getting extra money from elsewhere in addition to the state unemployment welfare money. This is/was especially true of DJs and punks who didn´t/don´t make much money from their chosen career.
And, just because it hasn’t been posted in a few months, I’d like to be like all the other people who don’t read the comments and say Marilyn Manson’s name is Brian, not Bruce.
And she really rocks!
well I just thought I’d be the 200th person to let you know Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian, not Bruce in case you didn’t catch that the first time. Or the 50th. Nice list though, gave me something to laugh at during a dull day at work.
Well Julian Lennon could hardly go by John, could he?
Nice list. Although I think you got Marilyn Manson wrong maybe. And did you misspell Michael Bolton?
[...] you care about the given name of Adam Ant or Sting? Here’s a list. Don’t bother telling him that Marilyn Manson was actually born Brian Warner – not Bruce [...]
It was a cool list,thanks.
Oh,and in case you didn’t know;’Brian Warner is Marilyn Mansons real name,not Bruce Warner’,(sarcasm just does not work as well online as it does in person…lol).
People,read the comments before you comment,otherwise you end up looking like a jackass…which you probably are.;)
Gee… you think Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner and not Bruce Warner?!?! Whatever would give you that idea?
Oh yeah… the 53658395673248975345 people who pointed it out here. I think the clue was pretty obvious after the first 3459234213 posts.
#112 • Van Morrison – George Ivan Morrison
also:
Muddy Waters – McKinley Morganfield
Howlin’ Wolf – Chester Burnett
[...] Via | glamorati [...]
Frank Sinatra’s real name was Ibrahim Sukasim Ilalyia Bernsteen.
Marilyn Manson’s real name is BRIAN, not Bruce, do some research god
And it takes several dozen people to correct one mistake in regards to Marilyn Manson’s real name…
if one more person tells him its brian warner and not bruce ill cut your head off you guys are retarded i think he got it after the first guy. also wikipedia is a shitty place for info bc anyone can change it
Now I know why John Denver has to use a different because I guess John Deutschendorf is difficult to spell or pronounce.
No, it’s Francis Albert Sinatra.
Meatloaf – Marvin? Dang…I’d change my name too.
Who cares what Marilyn Mansons name really is, he sucks!!!
omg hahah all of you people keep repeating that marilyn mansons real name is brian not bruce whaaaat, do you think he didnt realize that after the first, 50, people told him? and youre all calling him an idiot and you guys just keep repeating each other…retards thanks for filling up the comments with the same sh!t over and over
Yngwie Malmsteen’s name is Lars Johan Yngve Lannerbäck. He took his mother’s maiden name Malmsten. So he changed slightly Yngve Malmsten into Yngwie Malmsteen.
So what!
what was Marilyn Manson’s birth name? i heard it was Bruce Warner.
by the way–he blows.
Bruce Warner changed his name to Abraham Zapruder. uh oh! i smell conspiracy!!
It is obvious why these musicians took another marketing” name, since their ow names are too plain. A very good list.
Sorry James, vocalists are musicians, whether it Clay Aiken or Ice-T. Melodic and rhythmic vocals over music makes them musicians.
I thought Bon Scott was Ronald Belford Scott.
Hill was Faith’s legal surname when she became famous. Her first husband’s last name was Hill. Note to author – women often change their last names when they marry. It’s rather popular, but not as much as it once was. You may even know non-famous women who did this.
Sade was Helen Folasade Adu
Jay Kay’s birth name (from British band Jamiroquai) is Jason Cheetham…
Nice list!
I’ Love You Miley Cyrus – Destiny Hope Cyrus Love Love Love
Um, alright guys, did 46 of you all need to post the same thing about Marilyn Manson? Is that how you feel better about yourself? I want to read funny original comments not know-it-all douchebag comments that have been posted by 4 dozen people before you. This list is crazy by the way. Cool find.
Bon Scott is Ronald Belford Scott, not William. I mean seriously.. William isn’t even close to Ronald. And he got his nickname Bon cause there was already a Ronald in his class when he moved to Australia, so he was named Bon, cause he moved from Bonnie, Scotland.
re: m. manson…is it THAT serious folks?
I’d like us to reach 100 people snobbishly correcting Marilyn Manson’s real name, so let me revive it.
“Marilyn Manson’s real name is Brian Warner, not Bruce Warner”
Thank you, please continue.
..wow, can you guys really not take a joke? lol. I love how a bunch of silly kids could you guys all bunched up in a knot like that =P
And I agree with James, afterall, “Music is like candy, tastes great once you throw away the wrappers.” Akon, $.50, and the rest are no more musicians than the kids in my old high school band. =P
inb4marilynmansonsrealnameisjesusspeltbackwards
What a bullshit ! Ice-T and Flavor-Flav aren`t musicians ?
Have you ever heard about Public Enemy ? And Ice-T was a great musician in the 90s… I only say…Cop Killer !!!
8 James { 06.16.08 at 10:10 am } Clay Aiken = NOT a musician
Akon = NOT a musician
Ice T = NOT a musician
Flavor Flav = NOT a musician
Nice list, bad title
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