Machine Gun Kelly Changes Stage Name to mgk After Over a Decade: Here’s Why
Colson Baker: The Man Behind the Music
Machine Gun Kelly is kiss, kissing his stage name goodbye. The “Bloody Valentine” singer, whose birth name isColson Baker, decided to change his professional moniker to mgk after more than a decade in the music industry.
The Evolution to mgk
As of Feb. 29, his artist profiles on Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and YouTube were updated to reflect the change to mgk. Even his name on X—formerly known as Twitter—was changed to the initials MGK, while his @machinegunkelly handle remained the same.
Push for Change
The decision to switch names came after comedy actChad and JT urged MGK to remove “machine gun” from his alias to avoid glorifying violence. In a YouTube video from September 2022, the duo made a public plea to MGK during a concert, with a large sign advocating for the name change.
A New Identity
Although fan footage initially showed MGK dismissing the request, he seemed to have a change of heart last November. At the 2023GQ Men of the Year event, where he attended with his fiancée Megan Fox, MGK introduced himself with his new name, signaling a fresh start in his career.