<P> After realizing that their songs were too complex for other ABC artists , at Katz 's suggestion Becker and Fagen formed their own band with guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff `` Skunk '' Baxter , drummer Jim Hodder and singer David Palmer , and Katz signed them to ABC as recording artists . Fans of Beat Generation literature , Fagen and Becker named the band after `` Steely Dan III from Yokohama '' , an oversized , steam - powered strap - on dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch . Palmer joined as a second lead vocalist because of Fagen 's occasional stage fright , his reluctance to sing in front of an audience , and because the label believed that his voice was not `` commercial '' enough . </P>
<P> After realizing that their songs were too complex for other ABC artists , at Katz 's suggestion Becker and Fagen formed their own band with guitarists Denny Dias and Jeff `` Skunk '' Baxter , drummer Jim Hodder and singer David Palmer , and Katz signed them to ABC as recording artists . Fans of Beat Generation literature , Fagen and Becker named the band after `` Steely Dan III from Yokohama '' , an oversized , steam - powered strap - on dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch . Palmer joined as a second lead vocalist because of Fagen 's occasional stage fright , his reluctance to sing in front of an audience , and because the label believed that his voice was not `` commercial '' enough . </P>
where did the band steely dan get their name
where did the band steely dan get their name
Fagen and Becker named the band after `` Steely Dan III from Yokohama '' , an oversized , steam - powered strap - on dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch
Fagen and Becker named the band after `` Steely Dan III from Yokohama '' , an oversized , steam - powered strap - on dildo mentioned in the William S. Burroughs novel Naked Lunch