The US metal band Isis has been receiving online abuse by people apparently mistaking them for the militant Islamist group responsible for the beheading of American photojournalist James Foley.

The group’s unfortunate title has forced them to change their name from Isis to ‘Isis the band’ on their official Facebook page, which has over 170,000 likes, to combat offensive comments.

The Islamic State (Isis) released a gruesome video showing a suspected British jihadist killing Mr Foley, before threatening the life of another journalist, Steven Sotloff.

The band formed in Boston in 1997 before moving to California and released nine albums together, including Pantopticon and Celestial. They split in 2010 but some members of Isis will be performing with members of Deftones in a tour later this year.

The group said fans are also feeling uncomfortable about wearing their merchandise after the recent events.

"Fans have emailed us that they're reluctant to wear our T-shirts now and we've also gotten some off-colour comments," former drummer Aaron Harris told ABC News.

In pictures: James Foley Show all 11 1 /11 In pictures: James Foley In pictures: James Foley James Foley Freelance photo-journalist James Foley (left) on the highway between the airport and the West Gate of Sirte, Libya AFP In pictures: James Foley James Foley James Foley responds to questions during an interview with The Associated Press, in Boston AP In pictures: James Foley James Foley James Foley responds to questions during an interview with The Associated Press, in Boston AP In pictures: James Foley James Foley James Foley at an airport in Tripoli (Libya), August 2011 Jonathan Pedneault via freejamesfoley.org In pictures: James Foley James Foley James Foley in Syria, 2012 Manu Brabo via freejamesfoley.org In pictures: James Foley James Foley James Foley in Aleppo, Syria, in 2012 Nicole Tung via freejamesfoley.org In pictures: James Foley James Foley James Foley rests in Syria, 2012 Manu Brabo via freejamesfoley.org In pictures: James Foley James Foley US photo-journalist James Foley resting in a room at the airport of Sirte, Libya. Jihadist group the Islamic State claim to have executed American journalist James Foley in revenge for US air strikes against its fighters in Iraq AFP In pictures: James Foley James Foley Badges in support of James Foley displayed during a panel discussion about the importance and dangers of reporting on world conflicts at a Free James Foley event on 3 May 2013 in Boston. At the time, Foley, a freelance journalist, had been held in captivity in war-torn Syria for 162 days AFP PHOTO/Don Emmert In pictures: James Foley James Foley John and Diane Foley, parents of James Foley, at a Free James Foley event on 3 May, 2013 Getty In pictures: James Foley James Foley A ribbon is tied to a tree outside the home of American freelance journalist James Foley in Rochester, N.H AP

"Just like our fans, we've been watching the news in disbelief. We haven't commented on it because we haven't been an active band since 2010, even though our music does live on. We maintain our Facebook page to keep people up-to-date on our current musical projects.”

A representative from their music label Ipecac described the mix-up as an “unfortunate situation”.