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Names -> Music Performer Pseudonyms -> A

This is a list of names of famous people, who have changed their real name. I'm only looking for music performers, not actors or other famous people. Below are the most recent entries.

Entries Beginning with A

Pseudonym		Original Name		Description		Submitted by:
A-Plus		Adam Carter		Group member of Heiroglyphics. Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
A. B. Money		Anthony Mosley		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
A.C. Reed		Aaron Corthen Reed				jazzy
A.D.L.		Adam Nilsson		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
A.G.		Andre Barnes				Bobo
A.G.Q.		Kevin Riley		AGQ stands for American Genuine Quality		Bobo
A.J.		Alexander James				Ana Paula Cavallare
A.J. McLean		Alexander James McLean		A.J. McLean: Alexander James McLean		Celeste
A:Xus		Austin Bascom				Bobo
Aaliyah		Aaliyah Dana Haughton		Correction: site says Dani instead of Dana		Beth
Aaliyah		Aaliyah Haughton		[Ed.'s note to Tabitha Watkins: I've never seen Aaliyah's name spelled with two capital A's. That's why I made the second A a small letter. Where have you've seen her names with two large A's? If she does that, I don't know why she would do that, either.]		the editor
Aaliyah		Aaliyah Dani Haughton				R&B
Aaliyah		Aaliyah Haughton		If the name is pronouced Aaliyah why there two a's and why are they both capitalized		Tabitha watkins
Abdul Rebop		Thomas Craig Wiley		A/K/A "Billy Rey", "The Bop", and "Daddy Billy".		jazz
Abel		Danny Garcia		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Abel Stonewall		Yohann Thurman		Of the Stivs		danger
Ace		Austin Flowers		This really is his real name. Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Ace Frehley		Paul Frehley		This is just adding to what's already there. He got the nick-name "Ace" because he was always an ace at organizing parties. When joining Kiss, he originally went by Paul, but every time some one would call out for "Paul" he and Paul Stanley would both respond. So they agreed to just call him "Ace."		Mike Kohnke
Ace Frehley		Paul Daniel Frehley				Smith
Ace Frehley		Paul Frehley				Scott D. Williams
Ace Hood		Antoine McColister				Yvette Bristle
Ace Wilder		Alice Kristina Ingrid Gernandt		Swedish female singer-songwriter.		Gus
Acen		Acen Ravzi				Bobo
AD Rock		Adam Horowitz		AD Rock of the Beastie Boys		inthe80s.com
Adam Ant		Stuart Goodard		Adam claimed he got his name from Michaelangelo's painting "The Creation of Adam" because he thought he was "all buffed up like Adam in the painting," (although he wasn't--he was rather scrawny early on and became pudgier with time) and ants because "they are survivors." When asked one time why he picked is stage name, he replied, "Because 'Adam and the Ants' sounds a whole lot better than 'Stuart and the Ants!'"		R.J.
adam ant		Stuart Goddard				Ray Daley
Adam Ant		Stuart Leslie Goddard				newave
Adam Faith		Terry Nelhams-Wright		He did not know he had he double barrelled name until he went to to get a passport, he thought he was only Terry Nelhams. He is the only one of his siblings to have this name.		Jan Trent
Adam Smasher		Asher Benrubi		Former Indianapolis disc jockey and father of ER actor Abraham Benrubi.		indyhick
Adam X.		Adam Mitchell		Through years of DJing and production and his affiliation with the respected Sonic Groove Records, Adam X is a recognized part of the East Coast's electronic music history		Bobo
Adamski		Adam Tinley				Bobo
Adele		Adele Laurie Blue Adkins				Britsh Bullcrap
ADOR		Eddie Castellanos				Bobo
Adriana Caselotti		Adriana Elena Loreta Caselotti		As what appears on the Snow White voice actress's passport and legal documents.		Maryellen Larkin
Aerle Taree		Taree Jones		Singer for Arrested Development and clothes designer for the band.		soul ii
Afrika Bambaataa		Kevin Donovan				new soul
Afrika Islam		Charles Andre Glenn		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Afroman		Joseph Foreman				david davidson
Afroman		Joseph Foreman		Famous for "Because I Got High".		Bobo
Afton Shok		Mike Stopp		Of the Stivs		danger
AFX		Richard D. James		There are a lot more...		Stian
Ageatha Ulvaeus		Ageatha Falkstog		Former singer for ABBA. Also known as "Aggie".		pop
Agent M		Emily Whitehurst		Lead singer of the So-Cal punk band Tsunami Bomb		Dan
Agneatha		Agneatha Faltskog				ABBAesque
Agnetha Ulvaeus		Agnetha F�ltskog		Misspelled in the list before! The former ABBA member...		Malin
Ahozi		DeWitt Johnson		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
AJ		Albert Calloway		This is AJ from 106th and Park		New Jerusalem
AJ McLean		Alexander James McLean		From the Backstreet Boys. (Good luck with rehab.)		ozone
AJ Shine		Joseph Simmons		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Akhenaton		Philippe Fragione				Bobo
Akon		Tariq Akonoan				Old MacDonald
Akon		Allaune Thiam				AJ
Al B. Shure		Al B. Shure		Al himself has claimed this is his real name.		soul ii
Al B. Shure		Al Brown		Became an urban contemporary favorite upon the release of his 1988 debut album, In Effect Mode		Bobo
Al Green		Al Greene				soul ii soul
Al Hirt		Alois Maxwell Hart				jazz
Al Jolson		Asa Yoelson				oldtimer
Al Jourgensen		Alain Jourgensen		Leader of Ministry.		electric
Al Martino		Alfred Cini		60s vocalist with top ten hits "I Love You Because" and "I Love You More And More Every Day".		Evan L. Heller
Al Sobrante		John Kiffmeyer		Green Day's former drummer from over 8 years ago...its a play on his hometown "El Sobrante"		Amith
Alan Dale		Aldo Sigismondi		A '50s crooner in the Sinatra/Bennett tradition; had hits with Latin standards "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" and "Sweet and Gentle". Also played the promoter in quickie movie "Rock Around The Clock".		jonaco
Alan Merrill		Allan Sachs		Singer-songwriter of the first 1975 Arrows version of "I love rock n roll," later recorded by Joan Jett and Britney Spears. Also performed and recorded with the bands Meat Loaf, Derringer, and Vodka Collins		Mary Ingles
Alanis Morrisette		Nadine Morrisette				Jonathan C.
Albert Brooks		Albert Einstein		Yes, seriously. Better known as an actor, but he did indeed try his hand at music, making a musical comedy album in the 70s, along with quite a few cameo appearances on the Simpsons.		Bobo
Albert King		Albert Nelson				Jazz
Aldo Nova		Aldo Scarporuscio		Canadian rocker whose hit was "Just A Fantasy".		Canadian
Alec Empire		Alexander Wilke		Electronic music producer and founder of Digital Hardcore Recordings.		Martin
Alek Mulley		Timothy Alec Mulley		Professional Drummer/Musician, Plays drums for "the static age", previously played drums for "new atlantic". Other Nicknames: Tim Alek, Alek Smart		Jerry Starr - AMG
Alela Diane		Alela Diane Menig				Yvette Bristle
Alex James		Steven Alexander James		bass player of Blur. His French teacher always nicknamed him Alex (his middle name) so he decided to stick with it!		Esje
Alex Lifeson		Alex Zivojinovich		Guitarist for the Canadian rock band Rush. Lifeson is the English translation of Zivojinovich.		Oswald Niplock
Alex Lifeson		Alexander Zivojinovich		Alex Lifeson, guitarist for Canadian rock group Rush, chose his stage name because in the Serbian language (Alex's ethnic background), Zivojinovich literally means "son of life", hence Lifeson.		Wildcatt
Alex-Vanderpool		Nathan Morris		Of Boyz II Men.		opposite
Alexander Klaws		Pavel Kuglitschka		Typical reason for a name change: pavel doesn't sound so good. Done by the management.		BuBU
Alexander Nevermind		Prince Roger Nelson		One of the many pseudomyms he used, writing songs for others		Jasper
Alexander Nevermind		Prince Rogers Nelson		Prince, one of the greatest artists ever known, has alot lot of Pseudonyms just look for them. He uses them when working on other people's albums.		Raven Buchanan
Alexi Laiho		Markku Ulu Aleksi Laiho		Alexi is the frontman for Finnish metal band Children Of Bodom		Chandra
Alfalfa		Carl Switzer		Screeching singer of "The Little Rascals" shorts who was shot to death not long after his career was over.		old
Ali		Ali Jones		Oldest member of Nelly's rap group, the St. Lunatics		Bo 'Ice' Bielefeldt
Ali G		Sacha Baron Cohen		Though he's better known for being a huge TV star, he has recently released a single with Shaggy. Ali G, the spoof rapper, is nothing like Sacha Baron Cohen himself, who is fairly upper class and went to a major university.		@ssKicker
Alice Cooper		Vincent Fournier		In his early days, Alice Cooper was originally the name of the group. Vincent made it his stage name when fans began to assume that Alice Cooper was HIS name instead of the band's name.		Kyle
Alice Cooper		Vincent Furnier		"Alice Cooper" was named after a witch.		oldschool
Alice Cooper		Vincent Furnier		Besides having received the name through some ouijyboard message, Alice Cooper and the band of the same name also like to tell they just "found" the name in a phone book. And giving a nice little girls name to a band that tries hard to shock, seemend a nice idea. Remember Alice Cooper (five guys then) invented in the late sixties, what Ozzy Osbourne or Marilyn Manson just pushed a little bit further in recent years.		Bernhard Hausner
Alice Cooper		Vincent Furnier		Actually 'oldschool', Alice Cooper is the name of a murdered girl who "spoke' to young Vincent while playing a Ouija board, telling him he was a reincarnation of her.		ficticious
Alice Deejay		Judith Pronk		Goes by the name 'Judy', but fans call her Alice Deejay.		shepop
Alice Faye		Alice Jeanne Leppert				older
Alice Wonder Land		Alice Faye Henderson		She had the 1963 hit "He's Mine (I Love Him, I Love Him, I Love Him)."		Candy Welty
Alicia Keys		Alicia Augello Cook				NuGGaH
Alicia Keys		Levi Morris				Heati Pang
Alio Die		Stefano Musso		Since the late '80s, Stefano Musso has recorded deep, evocative experimental ambient and electro-acoustic soundscapes under the name Alio Die. Combining sweeping electronics with found sound and acoustical treatments which have echoed through the recent works of composers such as Robert Rich, Tetsu Inoue, and Brian Williams, Musso has assembled a rich and varied collection of recordings for such labels as Projekt, Timebase, Fathom, and his own Hic Sunt Leones label		Bobo
Alison Brie		Alison Brie Schermerhorn		She does her own singing on"Community".		Francis A. Sissy
Allie Burkes		Allyson Ridge				Ami
Allison Moyet		Genevieve Moyet		"Invisible" singer of the 80s.		neworld
Allison Scot Muzik		Scott Turner		Allison Performs for Opulent. Keybaords and singer, i have a link for him. here-- http://www.acidplanet.com/artist.asp?AID=272780&T=3600		judd hall
Alma Gluck		Reba Fiersohn				opera
Alvin Cash		Alvin Welch		Recorded "Twine Time" with his Crawlers in 1964.		rock
Alvin Lee		Graham Barnes		Blues guitarist with Ten Years After.		guitar
Alvin Stardust		Shane Fenton				ray daley
Alvin Stardust		Bernard Jewry		Also known as Shane Fenton.		brit
Alvino Rey		Alvin McBurney				band
Aly and AJ		Alyson and Amanda Joy Michalka		Teen pop duo of sisters.		nally
Amanda Ghost		Amanda Louisa Gosein		She took on last name "Ghost" after first naming her band "Amanda Ghost".		Iris Verna
Amber		Marie Claire Cremers				Dutch
AMG		Jason Lewis				inthe80s.com
AMIL		Ashley		AMIL stands for All Money Is Legal		Pryncess
Amir Derakh		Amir Davidson		Member of Orgy.		electronic
Amiri Bakara		Lee Everett Jones		Also performed as Leroi Jones, he was one of the most important jazz writers of the 1960s.		Bobo
Anabella Lwin		Myant Myant Eye		Anabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow, Myant Myant Eye is Burmese for "Cool cool high"		inthe80s.com
Anacani		Anacani Maria Consuelo y Castillo Lopez Cantor Mon		Mexican singer who got her start on the Lawrence Welk Show. Her full name is Anacani Maria Consuelo y Castillo Lopez Cantor Montoya		Monica Hicks
Anahi		Anahi Lucrecia Van Zandweghe				Bobo
Anastacia		Anastacia Newkirk				soul ii
Andi Deris		Andreas Deris		Andi is the lead singer of power metal legends "Helloween".		Ms. C
Andre 3000		Andre Benjamin		One half of 'Outkast'.		rapster
Andre 3000		Andre Benjimen				Rosie
Andre Gurov		Vadim Peare		Also DJ Vadim.		Bobo
Andrea Corr		Andrea-Jane Corr		Younger sister of Caroline Georgine Corr, Sharon Helga Corr & James Steven Corr -- THE CORRS!~		Caz
Andrew Eldritch		Andrew William Harvey Taylor		Lead singer for The Sisters of Mercy.		Kevin
Andrew Eldritch		Andrew Taylor		A mastermind behind "The Sisters Of Mercy"		Quengo
Andrew W.K.		Andrew Fetterly Wilkes-Krier		He was nicknamed "Andrew W.K." by his grade-school teacher to distinguish him from three other classmates who were also named Andrew		Chandra
Andy Blacksmith		Stephan Celatia		Radio show personality.		d
Andy Griffith		Andrew Samuel Griffith		Recorded gospel albums in addition to his sitcom in the 50's and 60's.		gospel
Andy Kim		Andrew Joachim		Andy Kim. His first song was 'How'd We Ever Get This Way?'. He also recorded 'Be My Baby' and 'Baby I Love You'. His big 1974 hit was 'Rock Me Gently'. He co-wrote the smash hit for The Archies, 'Sugar Sugar'. He has released a new CD titled "I Forgot to Mention". Information can be found on AMG.		Bette Carl
Andy McCoy		Antti Hulkko		The Hanoi Rocks' lead guitarist&songwriter		Stradlin'
Andy Summers		Andrew Somers		Former member of "The Police".		united
Andy Williams		Howard Andrew Williams				MOR
Aneka		Mary Sandeman		Scottish singer, best known for her 1981 hit "Japanese Boy"		Dylan Baranski
Angelina Joilie		Angelina Joilie Voight		She the daughter of the Actor John Voight.		Kiese
Angry Anderson		Gary Anderson		Wild, short, bald and heavily tattooed frontman of riotous [80s]Aussie 'bluesy hard rock' band "Rose Tattoo"		rusty
Animal		Jos� Diaz		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Animals On Wheels		Andy Coleman		"Drill'n'bass" outfit Animals on Wheels was the first signing to U.K. beatfreak label Ninja Tune from the Bovinyl imprint, run by Cambridge-based Andy Coleman.		Bobo
Anita Kerr		Anita Grilli		The first lady of studio singers. Her voice and chorus were based in Nashville, Hollywood, and (since 1971) Europe. The Anita Kerr Singers were part of almost every major country-politan hit- Patsy Cline, Brenda Lee, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins and hundreds more. Also made many easy-listening albums. Yeah, you've heard her a million times, right?		jonaco
Anita O'Day		Anita Belle Colton				jazz
Ann Miller		Lucille Ann Collier				dance
Ann-Margaret		Ann-Margaret Olsson		She was born in Sweden, but raised in the United States.		oldsongs
Anne Jeffreys		Anne Carmichael		Was an opera singer before her T.V. stint in "Topper".		opera
Anne Murray		Morna Anne Murray		Mellow-voiced 70s vocalist who had Top Ten hits with "Snowbird", "Danny's Song", "You Needed Me" and the Beatles cover "You Won't See Me".		Evan L. Heller
Annie Oakley		Phoebe Ann Oakley Mozee				oldcountry
Anouk		Anouk Teeuwe		Dutch singer. Hits include "Nobody's wife" and "R u kidding me?".		Jesse
Anthony B		Anthony Blair		Conscious Reggae superstar		Mick Mox
Antwan The Swan		Anthony Kiedis		Lead vocalist for Red Hot Chili Peppers.		punker
Aphex Twin		Richard D. James		"Aphex" is a word RDJ made up, "A" for acid and "ph" for the pH scale. (Later he found out about Aphex Systems, makers of the Aural Exciter.) "Twin" comes from his brother, also named Richard, who died three years before RDJ was born. "I feel as if I nicked his identity." (info from www.theaphextwin.com)		plasket
Aphex Twin (the)		Richard D. James				Crapule
Aphrodite		Gavin King				Bobo
Apl.De.Ap		Allen Pineda		from the Black Eyed Peas		tg
Apollo C Vermouth		Paul McCartney		Producer name for Bonzo's "I'm the Urban Spaceman" - NOT Paul Ramon as otherwise posted on this site!!		Walrus
Apollo C. Vermouth		Paul McCartney		The Beatles' bassist produced The Bonzo Dog Band's hit U.K. single "I'm the Urban Spaceman" under this pseudonym.		Agrimorfee
Apollonia		Apollonia Kotero				nasty
April & Nino		April Stevens/Nino Tempo		Their big hit was "Deep Purple".		duet
Arabian Prince		Mik Lezan		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Archie		Ron Dante		Studio musician who provided the main singing voice to The Archies.		cartoon cartoon
Arkansas Red-Ozark Troubadour		Michael Breid		Singer of old time mountain songs from Arkansas, Writer of Box Car Willie theme song, "I Love The Sound of a Whistle".		Greg Allen
Armik		Armik Dashchi		Armik is a Iranian (of Armenian descent), who plays the flamenco guitar with zest and very well established with six lovely albums to his credit. He plays nouveau-flamenco, blending with a wide taste of world music influences. Captivating and arresting! Currently living in the US and his last album was recorded/released in 2001. [I heard thro' the grapevine that a new album may be on the cards this year (2002) ]		Billy Lum
Arovane		Uwe Zahn		Berlin's Uwe Zahn released his first tracks as the Arovane EP on the Din label		Bobo
Art Blakey		Arthur Blakey				jazzy
Art Garfunkel		Arthur Garfunkel		Yeah, I think I can tell why he changed it.		andy williams
Arthur Brown		Arthur Wilson		Had a hit with "Fire".		brit
Artie Shaw		Arthur Jacob Arshawsky		Saxophone player and bandleader.		jazz
The Artist		Prince Rogers Nelson		"Prince" is not his pseudonym. Prince Rogers Nelson is his birth name. Prince Rogers was the name of the band his father was in. The Artist is the only pseudonym he's had.		Joe Blow
The Artist Formerly Known As Prince		Prince Rogers Nelson		Before he changed his name back to Prince, the above pseudonym was the combined symbols of male (a circle with an arrow pointing diagonally) and female (a circle with a cross over or under it).		pop
Arttu Viitala		Arttu Viitala				Arttu
Artur Wax		George Harrison		Authored annotations for "Electronic Sound" LP		Tina
As One		Kirk DeGiorgio				Bobo
Ashanti		Ashanti Shequoiya Douglas				Amiyah
Ashanti		Ashanti Douglas				Samantha
Ashanti		Ashanti S. Douglas				soul ii
Ashford and Simpson		Nickolas Ashford/Valerie Simpson		One "Solid" duo.		duo
Ashford and Simpson		Nickolas				duo
Ashley Judd		Ashley Cimenella		Judd is her grandmother's name that her mother later retained. Ashley's father's name is Cimenella.		shadrat
Ashley Parker Angel		Ashley Ward Parker				CCmarie
Asian Born		Thomas Shimura		Info from rapdict.org		Bobo
Atahualpa Yupanqui		Hector Chavero		Argentina's master of folk traditions, something like a combination Woody Guthrie, Dylan, and Bill Monroe (singer, songwriter, composer, and supreme guitar instrumentalist).		Pablo
ATB		Andre TanneBerger		Famous for massive hit 9pm (Til I come)		Bobo
Atlon Inc./Rob Acid		Robert Babicz				Bobo
Atom Goren		Adam Goren		Vocalist for the bands Atom & His Package and Armalite.		onegirlarmy
Augustus Pablo		Horace Swarby				Moxy
Aume		Akifumi Nakajima		Also performed under his real name, Akifumi Nakajima's Aube project has amassed a lengthy discography, most entries realizing the maximum capacity for audio variation from a minimum of sampled input (in many cases, from a single sound source).		Bobo
Avant		Cristiano Pagani		Avant means "The will to make something news".		Cristiano
Avatar		Alex Bradley				Bobo
Avie		Avril Lavigne		A lot of her fans and friends call her that.		Leila Chan
Avra Luxray		Avra Stabler		A brand-new artist. A huge fan of Pokemon, she changed her last name to her favorite Pokemon. Luxray was the name of one of the Pokemon introduced in the games Pokemon Diamond and Pearl.		Rpollck
Avril Lavigne		Avril Ramona Lavigne				Andrew Darwitan
Axel Rose		William Bailey				rich perry
Axel Rose		William Bailey				rich perry
Axl Rose		William Bruce Rose		Changed his name to Bailey after his mother remarried : Info from allmusic.com		Bobo
Axl Rose		William Bruce Bailey		Axl took Rose as his last name, because it's his biological father's last name - not so it'd fit his band's name.		Christine LaPointe
Axl Rose		William Bruce Bailey		Frontman and founding member of Guns N' Roses. Quite an improvement, no?		Brenna
Axl Rose		William Bruce Bailey		Most of you are wrong. Axl Rose was from his first band (Axl) his friend Izzy told him "You eat, sleep, and breath Axl, why not be Axl?" So he changed his name to Axl. Rose was because he hated his abusive stepfather (Bailey) So at 17, when he found out his original father`s last name was Rose, he changed it to Rose.		Adrienne
Axl Rose		William Bailey		Hey, let's not forget that his pseudoname is an anagram for "oral sex"!		Hard69Rock
Axl Rose		William Bailey				BottleRocket
Axl Rose		William Bailey		I forget where Axl came from. i think it has to do with something sexual. Rose was his real father's last name. I guess he didn't get along with his step father (Bailey) so he went searching for his real father and changed adopted his real last name.		nic h
Axl Rose		William Bailey				ficticious
Axl Rose		William Bailey		The Rose part is so his name would fit his band Guns N Roses (there original guatarist had the last name Gunn) the Axl part because combined with Rose, Axl Rose is an anagram foe oral sex.		David D
Axl Rose		William Bruce Rose (Bailey)		Axl Rose is an anagram of Oral Sex		axlette
Axl Rose (W. Axl Rose)		William Bruce Bailey		He was known as "Billy Bailey". He changed his last name to Rose when he found out the name of his real father and then shortened the William to "W." because that name was taken from his father who was an asshole, then he added Axl later. P.S. His initials spell WAR		LeeAnn
AZ		Anthony Cruz				Bobo
Aztec Mystic		Rolando Rocha		Also performed as DJ Rolando.		Bobo

New entries in this section are currently reviewed by Brian Kelly. Previous editors (if any) are listed on the editors page.

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