The Untold Truth Of Bon Iver

Vernon had been in several bands before the conceptualization of Bon Iver. He recorded under the name DeYarmond Edison, named after his two middle names, with buddies from Eau Clare, Wisconsin. After that band broke up, Vernon attempted to record under his own name, but ultimately wanted to hide behind another character.

Vernon had been in several bands before the conceptualization of Bon Iver. He recorded under the name DeYarmond Edison, named after his two middle names, with buddies from Eau Clare, Wisconsin. After that band broke up, Vernon attempted to record under his own name, but ultimately wanted to hide behind another character.

For many bands, choosing a band name can be a fraught experience. For Vernon, it was a matter of picking up a TV remote. According to Pitchfork, the name came from an episode of the '90s comedy-drama series Northern Exposure. "Bon Iver" is actually a misspelling of the French phrase bon hiver, which means "good winter." In the episode, the characters greeted each other in French as the first snow in Alaska started to fall.

While isolated in a cabin, Vernon had nothing but time, and spent a lot of it watching Northern Exposure. He came across the phrase and decided he liked it, The New Yorker wrote. It reminded him of snow, which recalled his home. Vernon first transcribed it as boniverre, removing the h because it looked like the word liver.

(In case you're wondering, it's pronounced "bohn-ee-vair" not "bone-eye-ver.")

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