At a Glance
- Coast to Coast Countdown 2026 reveals how UB40, 38 Special, Cheap Trick got their names, and invites fans to join the ball drop and photo contest.
- The event showcases iconic bands and their name stories.
- Viewers can stream the countdown on the free CTV app and share photos via the portal.
- Why it matters: It connects music history with a national celebration, letting fans see the roots of beloved bands.
Coast to Coast Countdown 2026- a New Year’s Eve broadcast from Nexstar- has unveiled the origins behind the names of its headline acts. In the late 1970s, half the members were unemployed, and a friend suggested the name UB40 after the unemployment card. The name resonated with millions of job-seekers, turning it into a marketing hit.
Band Name Origins
The countdown’s pre-show segments spotlight the backstories of several renowned groups.
UB40
In the late 1970s, half of the members were unemployed, and a friend suggested the name UB40 after the unemployment card. The name resonated with millions of job-seekers, turning it into a marketing hit.
The name’s appeal helped the band reach a wide audience.
Guitarist Robin Campbell stated:
> Well when we formed the band, half of the guys were unemployed and the other half had jobs, gave them up to form the band and one of out friends who was also unemployed suggested the name UB40 because that’s the identity card that you used to have when you were unemployed, and it was called a UB40 card, unemployment benefit for 40,
> We just thought, well, that’s good.
38 Special
The band’s name came from a raid on a rehearsal shack that looked like a vault. During the raid, a member joked about using a 38 Special to break the lock, and the name stuck.
The nickname stuck and became the band’s official name.
Vocalist and guitarist Don Barnes said:
> The front door looked like a vault door. It was out in the middle of nowhere. After about two months the cops around that area must have thought there was some wild parties going. They came out and made a raid on the building one night. They were beating on the door, bullhorns and everything to come out. We’re yelling through ‘We can’t come out this door. We don’t have the key, we had lost it,
> One of the guys said, like old west days, he was going to shoot the lock off or something. He said ‘I got a 38 special, will do the job for me.’
Marshall Tucker Band
Although Marshall Tucker never joined the group, his name lived on through the warehouse he rented. The label’s request for a new name led the band to adopt his surname.
Guitarist Chris Hicks said:
> Marshall Tucker is a man that passed away a couple years ago. He was a piano tuner,
> The band rehearsed in a warehouse space that he rented to us, and his name was on the key. When the label told us we needed a different band name, that’s what we went with.
Cheap Trick
The name was inspired by a performance of Slade in Philadelphia in 1972. After seeing the band’s flamboyant stage show, Tom Peterson remarked that they were using every cheap trick in the book, and the idea stuck.
Tom Peterson said:
> Rick and I, at the time we were living in Philadelphia was probably about 1972, or three. And we went to see the group Slade.
> They had this crazy image and all this stuff, and glitter and platforms, and it was all this.
That performance would have left a lasting impact on the group, who was later inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
> And they were just doing all this crazy stuff. And it was kind of low rent. But they were great, great songs. And I said, I go, ‘God, these guys are just using every cheap trick in the book.’ And he goes, hey, that’d be a cool band name.
The name reflected the band’s appreciation for rock theatrics.
Countdown Highlights
The broadcast will feature live performances from Cheap Trick, Styx, Mac McAnally, Kevin Cronin Band, UB40, The Marshall Tucker Band, 38 Special, and Bri Bagwell.
In addition, viewers can participate by submitting photos, videos, and New Year’s resolutions through the online portal or by using the hashtag #coast2coastnye on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Submit photos, videos, and resolutions via the portal.
- Use hashtag #coast2coastnye on social media.
- Watch the ball drop on the free CTV app at 8pm PT/11pm ET on New Year’s Eve.
Fan Participation
Fans can share photos, videos, and New Year’s resolutions via the online portal or by using the hashtag #coast2coastnye on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
- Submit through the online Coast-to-Coast Countdown Photo submission portal.
- Post on X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok with #coast2coastnye.
- Viewers can see their submissions on the broadcast.
Broadcast Details
The countdown will stream live on the free CTV app for Roku, Apple TV, and Fire, starting at 8pm PT/11pm ET on New Year’s Eve.
A pre-show begins at 5pm PT/8pm ET exclusively on CTV.
The broadcast also offers exclusive bonus content not seen elsewhere.
Key Takeaways
- Coast to Coast Countdown 2026 reveals how iconic bands earned their names.
- Fans can join the ball drop, photo contest, and live performances.
- The event streams for free on the CTV app across multiple platforms.
The blend of music history and festive celebration invites fans to relive the stories behind the names they love while ringing in the New Year together.
