Turn It Up To Twelve

Tommy Lee.  Elton John.  Jayne Mansfield.  Nikki Sixx.  Slash.  Axl Rose.  Englebert Humperdink.  Marilyn Monroe.

Cliff Richard.  Gene Simmons.   Ginger Wildheart.  Betty Grable.

A fine list of performers.

NONE of which were born with the names listed.  Some of them of course legally changed the names they were given at birth.  Others are/were known just by nicknames.   But that is how people know them.  It’s how members of the public recognise them.    It is ludicrous to assume that Rhianna, Paul Stanley or Tom Cruise would be asked to use a birth name on a social media site, or elsewhere, for that matter.  No-one would know who the fuck they were.

How about Kat Von D,  Deadmau5, Ice T,  or  Banksy.  Let’s insist they become a name that no-one ever heard of?

Yet Facebook seems to pick and choose who it allows to use a different name, even though those people may have signed up to use Facebook with the stage name they use, and they have likely used it for 20 plus years.

What is being referred to here is the recent decision by Facebook to disallow Dogs D’Amour drummer Bam Tastic, to continue to use his name.  A name he has been using for some 30 years.

We all know it’s highly unlikely that someone was named Bam by his parents in the 1960’s, however likely it may be now.  But it’s ridiculous to exclude a person from social media purely based on a stage name.  It is true, this was not the name given at birth.  But it IS his name.  Facebook is seriously fucking up by trying to make this change.

Bams wife Share Ross (Vixen, Bubble, Joe Elliot) who is known to millions as Vixens bassist, also uses a name that was not given her at birth.  No-one from Facebook has requested that she become someone she is not, to this point.  It’s a possibility, but then people wouldn’t know who she is either…..   Yes, it really is as ridiculous as it sounds.

Bam stated on his Facebook Artist page that “Well… UPDATE: my case is closed.  I am not allowed to be Bam.  Really? REALLY Facebook.”

It appears that Facebook is fickle.  Canadian actress Avaah Blackwell was until recently known by her birth name on the social media site.  Facebook were contacted by her, and she told us “I had to email Facebook and state my case.  I explained that the artist had not changed, just the name.”

Avaah was allowed to change her name on Facebook.

And that other famous Bam (Margera)….   still on Facebook at the time of going to press!

Yet others such as Rocky Shades (Wrathchild, Wildside Riot),  Katt Scarlett (Femme Fatale) and Bam (Dogs D’Amour, Bubble) have been forced to use their birth names, or leave the social media site.

Double standards? Nit picking?  It sure as hell seems that way.

Let’s get this stupid rule reversed.  It’s actually causing more harm and disruption than good.

GOOD LUCK Bam.

KG (Headbangerwoman) Sept 18th 2015

UPDATE: Around the same time that this article was published, Facebook reinstated Bam, using his birth surname of Ross.
Welcome back Bam Ross!

Others still remain in limbo.
KG 9/19/2015