That band Viet Cong says they're changing their crappy name

"We are not here to cause pain or remind people of atrocities of the past."



About damn time. After protests, petitions, canceled shows and many, many angry conversations, the band of four Canadian white dudes who make music as "Viet Cong" have announced they are changing their name.

Viet Cong Are Changing Their Name

The Calgary-based post-punk band has operating for several years under the shitty band name Viet Cong. Despite hearing from members of the Vietnamese community over the painful historical connotations of the name, and getting several shows canceled over the controversy, the band had refused to change the name.

"It's just a band name. It's just what we called ourselves," frontman Matt Flegel said in an interview.

At some point, I guess they realized it wasn't "just a band name." Over the weekend, the band released a statement explaining that after many "valuable conversations with the members of the Vietnamese community" they have decided to change the name of the band.

Meet the four white dudes who call themselves "Viet Cong"

Oberlin College cancels show over Canadian band's controversial name.



File under shitty band names. Meet the Calgary-based post-punk band that calls itself Viet Cong. A concert promoter recently canceled a show at Oberlin College because of controversy over the band's name.

Viet Cong Show Canceled Due to "Offensive" Band Name

Okay, bros. Of all the ridiculous things you could call yourself, you picked "Viet Cong." Where did you come up with that name? Why? Surely, you had to know that members of the Vietnamese community would it offensive.

"It's just a band name. It's just what we called ourselves," frontman Matt Flegel says in an interview.

In another interview, Flegel explains further, "That comes from our drummer, and from us being teenagers and watching movies. The Viet Cong were always the bad asses in movies." This might be the dumbest reason behind a band name ever. Too many teenage viewings of Full Metal Jacket.