Where Did The Name Steely Dan Come From
Camila Farah
Steely dan is the nickname given to a giant steam powered dildo.
Despite their under appreciation by snot nosed punks like us we can still appreciate the story of how they got their name because it is solid fucking gold. Blending elements of rock jazz latin music r b blues and sophisticated studio production with cryptic and ironic lyrics the band enjoyed critical and commercial success starting from the early 1970s until breaking up in 1981. Most fans are probably aware that a sex toy from the novel naked lunch by william burroughs inspired keyboardist donald fagen and guitarist walter becker to name their group steely dan. Burroughs s novel naked lunch with other young musicians notably guitarists jeff skunk baxter and denny dias emerging in 1972 with can t buy a thrill.
Steely dan iii from yokohama is the name of an oversized steam powered strap on dildo mentioned in william s. Steely dan is an american rock band founded in 1972 by core members walter becker guitars bass backing vocals and donald fagen keyboards lead vocals. Although steely dan s music was rooted in jazz and blues the band s name came from a literary source edgar burroughs novel naked lunch which made mention of a steely dan a steam powered adult toy. New jersey jangle pop band the feelies took its name from aldous huxley s dystopian classic brave new world where feelies are movies that manipulate all of the senses including touch.
Burroughs s psychotropic textgasm naked lunch. Working with abc producer gary katz they secretly assembled steely dan named after a prosthetic phallus in william s. According to the official steely dan website since both of them beker and fagen were avid readers of 1950 s beat literature they decided to name the band steely dan after a dildo in william burroughs naked lunch. The phrase is taken from a passage in the william burrough s book naked lunch.
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