Hostname of Ubuntu Linux Azure VM keeps getting reverted

I'm struggling with a strange problem on a Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS VM running on Azure. My hostname keeps getting reverted to the hostname displayed in the Azure Portal.

This is my /etc/hostname

dbc1mdb

And this my /etc/hosts

127.0.0.1 localhost

# The following lines are desirable for IPv6 capable hosts
::1 ip6-localhost ip6-loopback
fe00::0 ip6-localnet
ff00::0 ip6-mcastprefix
ff02::1 ip6-allnodes
ff02::2 ip6-allrouters
ff02::3 ip6-allhosts

10.0.1.6 dbc1mdb
10.0.1.7 dbc1sdb1

I am really pulling my hair out. Any suggestions?

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