A Band With No Name

When three Phoenix friends Mack,
Joe and Alec aspired to be a rock
band, it was there in Joe’s garage
they eagerly played.
There were Gibson riffs
and a boost from the bass;
quick drumbeats darted
down the street.
They possessed the talent,
but they had no name
for the band.
So they silenced their guitars
and drum and tried to come
up with a name.

They emulated Rush,
and they played ELO,
but they hadn’t a name for themselves.
In the business, a band requires a name
for a no-name band is no better than lame.

Bickering started when Joe
twanged a chord, and young Alec
came in on snare drum; bass-player
Mack struck a very deep note.
Names were floated about
like dust motes in the air.
Indecision—a repeating song
as unity could not find a home.
They found a way to make
agreement plug its ears.

They copied Boston,
and they played REM
as they rocked with the upcoming bands.
Yet to get anywhere, they required a name
for a no-name band is no better than lame.

They agreed to end indecision
before they all were done.
Any old name was far better
than to have no name at all.
Now they play and only music remains
for this group called, The No Names.


40 Lines
Writer’s Cramp
6-30-19