Buddy Holly's band was called the Crickets because they wanted a name that was related to insects, like the "Beetles," which was the name of another popular band at the time. Holly was inspired by the sound of crickets chirping, which he heard outside his apartment in Lubbock, Texas. He thought the name had a catchy, rhythmic quality that would be memorable to fans, and the band stuck with it throughout their career. The Crickets went on to become an influential and iconic group in the early days of rock and roll.