A word can acquire a connotation too strong for even a heavy metal band. Recent bioterrorism incidents have the thrash metal band Anthrax wishing for a different moniker.

Anthrax was so named by the lead singer, Scott Ian, 20 years ago, when he got the idea in high school biology class. "I was just looking for something different than all those 'er' bands, like Destroyer and Killer."

"This isn't the kind of exposure we want or need," said Mr Ian. "It's as though it's 1937 and I'm a bandleader named Freddie Hitler. Maybe we should change the name now. A friend suggested 'Basket of Puppies.'"

"People keep coming up to me and saying, 'Hey, wouldn't it be funny if you got anthrax?' I'm like, 'Oh, that'd be hilarious.'" Ian recently obtained a supply of Cipro, "I will not die an ironic death."