joshsolberg wrote:I am now in The Transmissions, a name created before I joined. I like the name, but the pluralness of it makes it a bitch to come up with proper sentences: "The Transmissions is a band from Los Angeles, CA."
Allow me to assist, as the subject of the plurality or singularity of bands as entities is something Ive engaged editors about repeatedly. Here is what they said to me (and insisted I write).
Bands can be either singular or plural entities, depending solely on the type of band name. In the case of a band name like Fugazi or Shellac, it's a singular entity -- "Fugazi
is a band from Washington, DC." However, in your band's case, it's a plural -- "The Transmissions
are a band from LA." If you want to talk about Fugazi (or any other singular-band-named band) as I typically think of them, a collection of individuals, then you need to say something like "The members of Fugazi" to let readers know that youre talking about the individuals and not the indivisible singularity that the band is. Y'know, because of its
name.
I still hate this seemingly arbitrary distinction and preferred to refer to all bands as plurals, as I saw all of them as collections of individuals. I presented lots of cases where the plurality of the name didnt equate to the individuals' status (Ringo was a Beatle, but is Wayne Coyne a Flaming Lip? And what about Bright Eyes?) and related how that was unimportant in the end, as all bands were, at their basis, collections of individuals regardless of whether the band's name was singular or plural. Unfortunately, it was all to no avail. Since it grated on my editors' grammarian nerves so, I eventually relented. Or, more precisely, was forced to relent.
Anyway, hope that helps. Your band name = plural.