Nerf Herder is a punk rock band formed in 1994. They describe themselves as a "nerd rock" band. They take their name from an obscure Star Wars reference—a "nerf herder" is a fictional occupation referred to by Princess Leia in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, when she insults Han Solo for arrogantly asserting that she has romantic feelings for him: "Why you stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder!".
The band first got national airplay for their song "Van Halen," a parody tribute to the band of the same name.