What comes after the “&” band...?

The "&" band phenomenon of the late Noughties has raised some questions for me recently. Why did it happen? How do they come up with the "&" collective? Does there always have to be an actual "&"? Don't the "&"s mind that they may come across as an afterthought, or a support for the main event?

Perhaps it came about as a protest against the loss of individual identity arising from its precursor - the "The" band phenomenon in the late 90s that spilled over into the start of this millennium - with the lead singer demanding separate recognition. Or perhaps the rest of the band wanted it made clear that it wasn't them requiring that the green m&ms be taken out of the packets before they got to the band.

The second couple of questions can, I think, be tackled together - take Marina & the Diamonds, for example. In an interview with The Recommender.net last year, she said that her last name, Diamandis, is the Greek for 'diamond' and, rather than taking Marina Diamond as her stage name, she went for the "&", with the audience being the Diamonds. So.... no actual diamonds.

And the afterthought/support question? Well...there are two 'Pete's in Pete & the Pirates and no actual 'Margot' in Margot & the Nuclear So and So's...so perhaps that's a bit of a non-question.

I've also been wondering what happens next - will there be a move away from this back to an all inclusive single word? To the "of" band? (this may cause a problem if band members are from different places) The "in" band? Or maybe it's time for a political statement?

Nisha in favour of free doughnuts on the tube. You heard it here first.

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