Before settling on Creedence Clearwater Revival, what was the band called?

Before settling on Creedence Clearwater Revival, the band was called The Golliwogs. The group had already been performing together in the San Francisco Bay Area when Fantasy Records renamed them for their early recordings.

The musicians originally formed around John Fogerty, Tom Fogerty, Stu Cook, and Doug Clifford. Before The Golliwogs, the group had also used names including the Blue Velvets and Vision. The Golliwogs name was used on singles released between 1964 and 1967.

The band disliked the name, which referred to the controversial Golliwog character from children’s literature. After Saul Zaentz acquired Fantasy Records, the musicians were offered the chance to record an album but changed their name. They adopted Creedence Clearwater Revival in January 1968.

The new name combined several inspirations, including Tom Fogerty’s friend Credence Newball, a beer advertisement’s “clear water,” and the group’s renewed commitment to making music. Their debut album followed later that year.