They Were Originally Called Nynuk
Before New Kids on the Block got their catchy name, they were called Nynuk, pronounced “Na-Nook.” The odd stage name was chosen by the group’s manager, Maurice Starr. For those of you who don’t know, Nanook is the name of the dog in the movie The Lost Boys.
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As it turns out, the name didn’t sit well with Columbia Records. They urged Maurice Starr to change the band’s name to something catchier, something that would grab everyone’s attention. Thus – New Kids on the Block was born. Bam!