In a new Twitter thread, Jimmy Eat World have told the story of how their band got their name and warned upcoming bands about the dangers of acronyms.
Posting on Twitter, lead singer Jim Adkins, using the band’s account began: “Advice for new bands: When coming up with a band name, make sure it’s acronym displayed really large on your artwork or t shirts won’t be complicating matters. You’re welcome.”
The thread went on to describe where the band where in February 1994, how one party invite forced the band to settle on a name and how they used one of the temporary names two of the band members used in another band. “It was brought up and we discussed it for less than 5 min, no shit, we decided to call ourselves Jimmy Eat World so we could play this dumb ass party.”
The thread concludes: “So moral of the story: even seemingly small and insignificant decisions can be much bigger than you could imagine. Slow down sometimes and make sure it’s right.”
Read the full thread below.
A little history on how we came up with the band name: We were rehearsing in my garage (Zach here) and Jim told us we got asked to play a party in the storage room of Name Brand Exchange in Mesa on Southern and Val Vista in Feb of 94. pic.twitter.com/qe5lw5X6CX
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) July 27, 2018
So we took a break from the garage and huddled around our kitchen island and decided to play the show but at that time, we hadn’t yet sorted out a name so we needed to figure that out ASAP.
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) July 27, 2018
So I’m not sure who threw that name out but it was brought up and we discussed it for less than 5 min, no shit, we decided to call ourselves Jimmy Eat World so we could play this dumb ass party. My memory was that it was a Valentines Day Party but not sure.
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) July 27, 2018
And I’m not saying our name is not “right” but when we have to design Merch or artwork I often wish we would have deliberated a bit more. Thanks for listening. Xoxo.
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) July 27, 2018
One fan pointed out the complicated issue of using the acronym of Jimmy Eat World could have been solved if they’d just changed their name to ‘Jimmy Ate World’.
See……that’s all we would have had to do. What we’re we thinking? https://t.co/wrQwhMszmi
— Jimmy Eat World (@jimmyeatworld) July 27, 2018
Speaking to NME backstage before their set on the main stage at Leeds festival last year, Jim Adkins explained that keeping up with events back home was trickier because of the time-difference, which he said merely delayed the pain. “Every day, there’s a new disgusting thing,” he added.
In November 2016, the veteran Arizona band released ‘My Enemy’, from the 30 Days, 30 Songs playlist, where a new anti-Trump song was unveiled every day until the presidential election. In it, they called out Trump’s hate-fuelled rhetoric.”