They’re Not Who You Thought They Were
Stage names are pretty par for the course in the entertainment industry. When you’re on the stage or in front of the camera, you never know which moniker will stick a little better than your god-given name—and these artists decided to make the switch.
1. Elton John
It’s hard to imagine Elton John as anyone other than his iconic stage name, but believe it or not, his real name is quite a mouthful. He was actually born Reginald Kenneth Dwight and changed his name to pay homage to two artists he admired.
2. David Bowie
Bowie’s real name isn’t anything too crazy. It’s just David Robert Jones, which seems simple enough until you realize that it’s dangerously close to another popular musician at the time: Davy Jones of The Monkees. To avoid any confusion, Bowie changed his name.
3. Elvis Costello
Are you ready for the popular English rockstar’s real name? It’s a doozy: Declan Patrick Aloysius Macmanus. Honestly, we think he should have kept it—and for a while, he did, since his original stage name was DP Costello. However, he was eventually convinced to merge that with his hero, Elvis Presley.
Jeff Turner from Raleigh, NC, USA on Wikimedia
4. Gene Simmons
Mr. Simmons’ real name isn’t quite the same as his given one. Born Chaim Witz, Simmons originally changed it when he moved to the States in his childhood. “Gene” was easier to pronounce, and then made the adulthood switch with his last name as an homage to Jean Simmons.
5. Madonna
She’s a popular icon known for her style and contribution to the music industry…but when you hear her real name, it’s easy to see why she shortened it. After all, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone just doesn’t have the same ring to it.
