The Troggs have a pair of hitchhikers to thank for their band name that’s been known around the world for more than 70 years. The band widely known for their groundbreaking hit, “Wild Thing,” is credited for helping to pioneer the punk rock scene with additional hits “Love Is All Around” and “With a Girl Like You.” The name is rooted in primal energy which can also be heard in their gritty sound.
Meaning Behind the Band Name
Before they were The Troggs, the band of frontman Reg Presley, drummer Ronnie Bond, bassist Pete Staples and guitarist Chris Britton called themselves The Troglodytes, a word that refers to cave dwellers or someone who’s old-fashioned.
Videos by American Songwriter
Interestingly enough, the name came from a comment made by two strangers. According to Greg Metzer’s book, Rock Band Name Origins, the band was driving to a music shop when they decided to pick up two hitchhikers on the side of the road, who allegedly referred to the group as “grotty troggs,” with the word “grotty” meaning “gross” and “troggs” as an abbreviation of “troglodytes.” The insult stuck, and the group adopted the name The Troglodytes which was later shortened to The Troggs to be more commercially friendly. Fans have even referred to their song as “cavemen rock” and the cover of their debut album, From Nowhere, was photographed inside a cave.
[RELATED: Who Really Wrote The Troggs’ Song, “Wild Thing”?]
But The Troggs wasn’t the only name that was commercialized. Reg Presley isn’t the actual name of the lead singer famous for his signature growl that can be heard on “Wild Thing.” Presley was born Reginald Maurice Ball but was forced to change his name at the behest of a publicist. In fact, Ball didn’t even know what his new stage name was until he looked in the newspaper and saw an article referring to him as Reg Presley.
“I said, ‘Couldn’t you have chosen a less famous name like Crosby or Sinatra,’” he joked in a 2005 interview with Retrospectives on Casey Radio. “As soon as ‘Wild Thing’ took off, it grew on everybody and then it really had to grow on me, and it does. I use it just as much as I use my real name now.”
Presley passed away from lung cancer in February 2013 at the age of 71. The Troggs’ current lineup consists of Britton, Pete Lucas, Chris Allen, John W Doyle and Martin Shorrock.
Photo by CA/Redferns
More Features
-
HOME IMPROVEMENT – "That's My Mama" – Airdate: December 5, 1995. (Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) ALAN JACKSON -
British rock band, Badfinger, filming a performance of 'Day After Day' to be used as an insert for the 'Top Of The Pops', music show, BBC Television Centre, London, 26th January 1972. It is unclear whether the segment was ever broadcast. Left to right: Mike Gibbins (1949 – 2005), Pete Ham (1947 – 1975), Tom Evans (1947 – 1983) and Joey Molland. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Kyu Sakamoto. (1941-1985) Japanese singer, best known outside Japan for his international hit song "Ue o Muite Aruko" (known as "Sukiyaki" in English-speaking markets), which was sung in Japanese and sold over 13 million copies. It reached number one in the United States Billboard Hot 100 in June 1963, making Sakamoto the first Asian recording artist to have a number one song on the chart. (Photo by Sjöberg Bildbyrå/ullstein bild via Getty Images) -
Singer-songwriter Paul McCartney of British rock group Wings, pictured wearing a neck scarf in an office in London circa 1975. (Photo by Michael Putland/Getty Images) -
Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen at Farm Aid 1985 -
Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImages -
CIRCA 1965: Country singer Eddy Arnold poses for a portrait sitting in a chair in circa 1965. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Don Felder performing with the Eagles