Making a name for themselves
CELEBRITIES WHO FOUND FAME WITH MODIFIED MONIKERS
MUSIC fans were delighted to hear Declan Patrick McManus was coming to Newcastle City hall in June to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of his first album.
While the name won’t be instantly recognisable to some, for true aficionados they will know Declan as the man behind the hits like ‘Oliver’s Army,’ ‘Good Year For The Roses’ and ‘Watching The Detectives.’
He is, of course, Elvis Costello, part Elvis Presley, part his band leader father’s stage name which was Day Costello.
Here are some more celebrities who found fame under a different name.
JAMES MICHAEL ALOYSIUS BRADFORD
This is a hard one – hard as nails in fact. He reportedly said Auf Wiedersehen, Pet to ‘Bradford’ for a nickname he got after standing on a six-inch nail while sweeping up at a factory. If only he’d been wearing those ‘Crocodile Shoes’ at the time. It’s Newcastle’s own Jimmy Nail.
MAURICE JOSEPH MICKLEWHITE JR
Not a lot of people know this one – unless they’re a big film buff.
He became an honorary Geordie after playing Jack Carter in the North East-set film noir Get Carter, one of the bleakest and best crime thrillers ever made.
It’s Sir Michael Caine, who adopted the alias in 1954 after seeing a poster for the Humphrey
Bogart film The Caine Mutiny. And he officially changed his name to Michael Caine by deed poll because of the amount of times he got stopped at passport control by staff wondering who this Maurice geezer was.
ILYENA LYDIA MIRONOFF
From Russia with love – who would be the prime suspect for this exotic-looking name? Her dad was Russian, her mum English and she was raised in Southendon-Sea. Step forward Helen Mirren.
ARTHUR STANLEY JEFFERSON
Here’s another fine name, although truth be told if you know your North East history you should know this or you could end up labelled a chump in Oxford.
He was born in Ulverston, Cumbria, grew up in Bishop Auckland where his parents ran the theatre and moved to North Shields towards the end of the decade and lived in Dockwray Square, where there’s a statue in his name.
It’s Stan Laurel.
GORDON MATTHEW SUMNER
Ditto Stan Laurel – if you claim to know your North East history you should recognise this one instantly or your credibility is invisible, son.
He’s a chart-topping star, actor and wine maker, and he is of course Sting, the name a consequence of a natty-coloured jumper he once wore which caused quite a buzz.
KRISHNA PANDIT BHANJI
This Oscar-winning actor decided early on in his career that to curry favour with potential employers in the acting business, he had to come up with a different name. The minute he did, the offers rolled in. It also helps when you are as talented as Sir Ben Kingsley.
PAUL DAVID HEWSON
Can you figure this one out or is it a case of you still haven’t found what you’re looking for?
Well he’s from Dublin where as a teen his mates started calling him Bono Vox after the neighbourhood hearing-aid store Bonavox (latin for ‘good voice’). He’s been known as Bono ever since.
ROBERT ALLEN ZIMMERMAN
The answer, of course, is blowing in the wind. This legendary singer thought Zimmerman was a bit of a mouthful and decided to change it and adopt the name of his favourite Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas. No, it’s not Bob Thomas.
GEORGIOS KYRIACOS PANAYIOTOU
Can’t guess this one? Have one more try. Or is still all Greek to you? It’s the one and only George Michael.