John Elway: Broncos Great Elway Asks Colorado Punk Rock Band to Change Its Name

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John Elway Apparently Doesn't Want to Be Honored by a Punk Rock Band

Apparently Avril Lavigne isn't the only punk rocker making waves in the sports world lately.

When lead singer Tim Browne and his bandmates came up with the name "Elway" for their Colorado-based punk rock band, it was meant to represent the state through Denver Broncos great John Elway.

Unfortunately, Elway wasn't impressed and his reps have asked the band to change their name.

Browne, who said he's flattered that Elway cares so much about a band that regularly plays "in front of about 30 people in a basement," said the band members aren't football fans per se, but they used Elway's name to capture the Colorado's culture.

Said Browne, via the Boston Herald:

"It’s not a direct reference to John Elway. We make no mention of him in records or in our art work. He’s local color, part of the local vernacular that people understand."

The story has spread from a local debate to a national interest, and Browne said "it's blown my mind that it's gotten this big."

Browne said the letter Elway's reps sent to the band directed them to change their name, but didn't include a cease and desist order.

Adds Browne:

"We’re just guys living in a van, driving across the country, playing shows with next to nobody (in the audience). And then this multimillion dollar successful business man, Hall of Fame football player gets so mortified that a punk band would use his last name? It’s an incredible shock it happened.

"We’re not out to get John Elway. This situation is hilarious and he needs to loosen up. Life’s too short to worry about a punk rock band using your name."

Most likely most sports fans are probably on Elway's side, not Elway's, but Browne does have a point. It's not like these guys are desecrating Elway's name (although I haven't heard their music). It wasn't just a tribute to Elway and the force he has become in Colorado, it's a tribute to the very state where fans adore him.

If anything, he's actually going against a tribute to the same fans that idolized him.

He does need to lighten up, and the rest of the sports world should, too.

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