While popular rumors often suggest a direct connection to the villainous Fratelli family from the iconic 1985 film The Goonies, the band The Fratellis officially maintains a different origin for their name. The Glaswegian trio, who played their first show in early 2005, asserts that their moniker is an homage to a specific band member's original surname.
The naming of the band has two primary widely discussed theories regarding its origin:
- Band's Official Stance: The band maintains that their moniker is merely an homage to the original surname of their bassist, Barry. This explanation posits that the name was chosen to honor a personal connection rather than an external pop culture reference.
- Popular Rumor: Despite the band's assertion, other rumors persist, suggesting that the name The Fratellis was borrowed from the infamous antagonist family featured in Steven Spielberg's beloved adventure film, The Goonies. In the film, the Fratelli family consists of a group of criminals who serve as the main adversaries to the young protagonists.
The band's official position clarifies their intention behind the name, though the strong association with the memorable film characters continues to be a point of discussion among fans.
