Fans of Bruno Mars were left in shock upon discovering that the singer’s name isn’t actually his given name.
The 39-year-old behind hits like ‘Grenade’, ‘The Lazy Song,’ and ‘Treasure,’ cleared up any confusion during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show, confirming that he performs under a pseudonym rather than his birth name.
Norton said: “Bruno Mars, and this will surprise you that I’ve done this much research, I hear it’s not your real name.” To which Mars owned up with a chuckle: “It’s not my real name.”
The candid revelation had the show’s audience buzzing as he went on to explain the origins behind the catchy moniker that has defined his music career.
He confirmed the name had links to his childhood and it evolved into his stage identity. Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez, said: “I was a chubby baby and there was a wrestler in my dad’s day named Bruno Sammartino, and he was a stocky guy and I used to walk around like a little bulldog my dad said, so he’d always call me Bruno Sammartino.”
While his first name has a clear connection, the origin of ‘Mars’ remained a mystery until Mars himself shed light on it. “Joking around in the studio” led to the adoption of the surname he’s known by millions today.
He jokingly said it spawned from “girls saying I’m out of this world.” Speaking to Rap-Up, Mars shared the true inspiration behind his stage surname, stating: “I felt like I didn’t have no pizzazz, and a lot of girls say I’m out of this world, so I was like I guess I’m from Mars.”
Bruno Mars, who shot to stardom with featured spots on hits from B.o.B and Travie McCoy, rocketed to number one with his R&B debut album ‘Doo-Wops & Hooligans’.
As for the origin of his first name, Bruno Sammartino, the wrestler he borrowed from, was a WWE legend. His career spanned from 1959 to 1988, and his passing at 82 in 2018 marked the end of an era. He remains the longest-reigning World Heavyweight Champion in the company, with his incredible 2,803-day title run still unchallenged by contemporary wrestlers.
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