Come to be

[IlmatawTam]

Can you, please, translate this for me because I can't find it anywhere on the net.

"Steely Dan is a band that could not come to be now".

What does that mean?
Thank you!

[buggles]

Can you, please, translate this for me because I can't find it anywhere on the net.

"Steely Dan is a band that could not come to be now".

What does that mean?
Thank you!

It's just a strange way of saying that Steely Dan could not be formed as a band now. (Probably because their style of music would find few followers nowadays).

If something "cannot come to be", it can't happen.

buggles (not a teacher)

[IlmatawTam]

But how is it possible that a band cannot be formed? Any band can be formed, it's only questionable whether they can last or not. So is that the true meaning? That they couldn't last?

[Gillnetter]

But how is it possible that a band cannot be formed? Any band can be formed, it's only questionable whether they can last or not. So is that the true meaning? That they couldn't last?

Yes - you are correct. The question is whether or not they could survive as a band.

[buggles]

But how is it possible that a band cannot be formed? Any band can be formed, it's only questionable whether they can last or not. So is that the true meaning? That they couldn't last?

The use of this phrase is really quite specific - it is saying that the band could not be formed. This could be because there no longer exists enough people with the particular talents and musical backgrounds to form a band with the unique qualities of Steely Dan.