Which band started out as a spinoff of a band named after a common coloquialism for "chickens", but was inspired by the percussionist from another group to change the name to what we all know now?
Who was the percussionist?

Dunno; Spice Girls? ? I'm clucking at straws and chicks and drumsticks(ugh...)

Led Zeppelin. Actually booked a tour as The New Yardbirds. Keith Moon (The Who).

Curtis Loew, Curtis Loew,
I got your drinkin' money,
Tune up your dobro,
People say you were useless, but,
those people all were fools,
Cause Curtis you're the finest picker,
To ever play the Blues....

You are correct Mr. Loew. It was Led Zeppelin, upstart from Jimmy Page's band, The New Yard Birds, and the former Yard Birds band was the home of several now famous guitarists. Can you name 3 of them?

Jimmy Page
Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck

Yep!