What's the origin of the name Spike as in Spike Lee, the filmmaker, Spike Jones, the bandleader, and Spike Milligan, the comedian? Is it from Mike or some other name or is it some reference to a physical characteristic, occupation or trait ? What is it?

Well, Spike Lee's real name was Shelton Jackson Lee. And Spike Jones, the wacky bandleader, was christened Lindley Armstrong Jones; he apparently was called Spike because his father was a railroad man. Spike Milligan was really Terence Alan Milligan. I have no idea why either Spike Lee or Spike Milligan chose (?) the name "Spike". I know of a couple of people who were called Spike because of their hair style. ?? Maybe DG will know.

Nope. I've often wondered about it myself. I know that Spike Jones named his son "Spike, Jr."

And Spike Jonze, the music video director. I'm not sure why he's called Spike either. It's not his real name.

Spike Milligan...

'It was in these pre-war days that he first got the nickname of Spike. He himself disliked Terry ("some sort of chocolate") and his mother (trying to posh him up) called him Terence, which annoyed him even more. He was a fan of a band he had heard on Radio Luxembourg called Spike Jones and the City Slickers and he started calling himself Spike. And so it remained.' news.scotsman.com

Spike Lee...

'He was born Shelton Jackson Lee in March 1957, but given the nickname Spike by his mother Jacquelyn — who died when he was a teenager — because of his feistiness.' entertainment.timesonline.co.uk

[QUOTE]Originally posted by newnickname:
Spike Milligan...

He was a fan of a band he had heard on Radio Luxembourg called Spike Jones and the City Slickers and he started calling himself Spike. And so it remained.'


Ah so Spike is a nickname then.

But when you mentioned Radio Luxembourg NNN, that brought back memories of listening to it on my radio under the bedcovers when I was a kid at night.

I loved radio Luxembourg
I guess I must have been under the covers with my flashlight and radio because the best shows aired way after midnight...and of course school the next day.

Whatever happened to Radio Luxembourg..it was a pirate station right?

'Spike' was also the name of the dog in Tom and Jerry. I wonder if all those nicknames were inspired by either the bandleader or the cartoon.

The Story of Radio Luxembourg

quote:

Whatever happened to Radio Luxembourg..it was a pirate station right?

Its still on air (has an online streaming web link) www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/cms/ though it was a semi legit station in the early days
Think of the Booze cruises to France and The Cheap DVDs from Jersey (To avoid UK sales Taxes legitimately) which are carrying on the tradition

www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/audioPlayer/RLAudioHigh.php

The story of RADIO LUXEMBOURG from 1933-1992

Unknown if its been neglected? Site has lots on things to check out
Another Station in the same sort of style(and it was owned partially By Radio Luxembourg(!) was Atlantic252 which broadcast on Long wave this was based in Ireland this was set up when the commercial radio Station era started in the 1980s www.atlantic252.com/135
Sadly no more, closed in 2000?

So do people still do those trips over to France ?
I remember going over maybe 3 or 4 times a year for wine/beer/cheese...you could even get vouchers , if I remember rightly, from the newspaper where it cost you a couple of quid to go on the ferry.
Are the prices pretty much the same in the UK as in the rest of Europe now so that these trips have become obsolete?

quote:

Originally posted by dance girl:
So do people still do those trips over to France ?
I remember going over maybe 3 or 4 times a year for wine/beer/cheese...you could even get vouchers , if I remember rightly, from the newspaper where it cost you a couple of quid to go on the ferry.
Are the prices pretty much the same in the UK as in the rest of Europe now so that these trips have become obsolete?

They certainly do. There are enormous booze and tobacco superstores outside Calais. Whilst there are no 'duty frees' within the EU there are still local differences in special taxes on tobacco and alcoholic drink. So booze is a lot cheaper in France, tobacco less so.

Snoopy's older brother was named Spike.

Perhaps because he was so thin?
(read through)

A most enjoyable read, Kendor , though I didn't see any publication dates for the comic strip. Spike watching Hogan's Heroes on tv would date it to 1965-1971, assuming the show wasn't already in syndicated reruns. (Interesting play on "Schultz" by the way. ) Lovable as it was, I don't remember Peanuts often making direct references to pop culture. In that regard, more like Dilbert than Doonesbury.

Spike the character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer got his name from the fact he tortured his victims with railroad spikes
(Doubt if this applies to messers Milligan,Lee and Jones !)

Viv

I always thought of Spike as a name for a bulldog because of the spiked collar.

DD