The 70's/80's Band Electric Light Orchestra changed their name to just ELO.Does anyone know why they did it?

Question

The 70's/80's Band Electric Light Orchestra changed their name to just ELO.Does anyone know why they did it?


I had heard of the reason why they had changed their name from Electric Light Orchestra to ELO and i am just wondering if anyone else might know why they made the name change.
Just curious to see if any answer(s) i get match what information i remember for their name change.

Answer 1

I heard a number of things, one being they quit having the orchestra part, the cellos and what not, but how true that is, well your guess is probably as good as mine. Might have been suggested by the merchandising people. ELO is much easier fit on T shirts and other merch. Maybe they just went with what everyone called them anyway. Heard lots of stories, how true any were, I don't know. one story said that somebody in the band left, and had the rights to Electric Light Orchestra, so they went with ELO, true or not, I have no idea.

Answer 2

I don't think they ever really changed their name -- all of their albums were billed under "Electric Light Orchestra". They had used an "ELO" logo for space reasons on promotional material for a while -- in fact, if I remember right, their debut album had an early logo on it (I don't have my copy close at hand). When they became hit-makers with the release of "Face the Music", ELO just became the more common name to use among DJs and new fans because it was shorter.



If anything, they had even more reason to have "Orchestra" in their name during the second half of the seventies. Their first three albums featured cellists and violinists, but it wasn't until "Eldorado" that Jeff Lynne utilized a full orchestra, which he continued to do for the rest of the band's albums (or at least used a professional string section).



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRyNImChyqk



Rock on!

Krishen

Answer 3

Because Electric Light Orchestra is too long and difficult to memorise. ELO is a single word, and everyone remembers it

Answer 4

Probably for the same reason that Kentucky Fried Chicken went to KFC, LOL!



For your listening pleasure:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9nkzaOPP6g

Answer 5

Yeah, KFC and also IHOP and also ELO. Everybody in the world called them that so why not just call yourselves that. Way back when I lived and hung around the Oklahoma/Kansas/Texas part of the country everybody called it IHOP when it was still International etc.

Answer 6

roy wood was originally in the band but he and jeff lynne had different visions of the band , wood wanted a more oechestral sound , roy wood left to form wizzard and jeff lynee became the songwriting force of elo , a more pop /rock sound and i think the shortening came to make the name easier for people

Answer 7

just to shorten it.