Every band name has its own unique origin story. Sometimes it starts as an in-joke between bandmates, other times it’s just something one band member thought sounded cool, and sometimes a record label bestows a name upon a band.

In the case of Melbourne two-piece King of the North, their name comes from singer and guitarist Andrew Higgs’ childhood. It doesn’t, as he was recently forced to explain, have absolutely anything to do with Game of Thrones, so please stop asking.

“We get asked A LOT if our name is taken from Game Of Thrones,” Higgs wrote on Facebook. “When we say no (and before people’s disappointment subsides) not many ask, “Where is it from”? I recently did an interview for a French magazine who asked the question.”

“In a attempt to avoid more confusion, I gave them a detailed explanation. We thought you might like to know too. Here is the english translation.” So where does the band’s name actually come from if not George R. R. Martin’s fantasy series? From that other epic tome, the Bible.

“I’m not religious, but when I was growing up my parents were and they made me study the Bible,” Higgs recounted in the French interview. “One of the times I was paying attention was during a ‘prophecy’ (or story) about the history and future of the world powers/empires.”

“These empires were also referred to as the King Of The South or the King Of The North depending on which world power it was. The prophecy states that in ‘the last days’ (which is apparently now) the King of The South will be the world power.”

“The King Of The North will be an unknown enemy or adversary continually rising up in varying forms against the King Of The South. When the King Of The North finally reveals itself, the two kings go into battle. The North brings the South to destruction and marks the beginning of Armageddon.

“Going on that story I thought that would be a pretty cool name for a rock band!” Higgs recounted. In fact, as the singer notes, “for a long time when you googled ‘King Of The North’ a lot of religious links came up”.

“Now the first page is predominantly us and some Game of Thrones stuff, which is actually meant to be ‘King IN the North’ I’m told. But what’s good is that we are beating religion! haha.”

We get asked A LOT if our name is taken from Game Of Thrones. When we say no (and before peoples disappointment…

Posted by King Of The North on Thursday, April 16, 2015

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