This Classic Rock Quiz Will Take Some Help From Mom And Dad
- by Robert Marvi
- – on
- in Entertainment
Some classic rock artists and groups will always live on and are epic and timeless. Still, in this day and age, where there's no star like today's star, sometimes it's easy to forget or not know about the legends that came before their time. It helps to get a little history lesson every now and then, not just because it puts the present day in its proper perspective, but also because people who don't are simply missing out on some of the greatest songs that were ever written and released.
Even Millennials like me should be able to get most of the bands in this quiz. After all, it's not that hard. Many of them live on and are kept alive thanks to movies, TV and social media. Some even helped define their genre or sub-genre, which made it easier for those who came after them and took the work they did to another level.
So here it is - a definitive classic rock quiz. All of these artists are pretty well known in one way or another, and none of them are obscure. It's OK if one needs a little helping hand from mom and dad to get all 35 of them right.
What famed singer/songwriter released the songs "Allentown", "Piano Man" and "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)"?
This crooner is originally from the New York city area, and his great tenure as a singer and songwriter spans the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999, and even though he hasn't released any new songs or albums in a really long time, he continues to tour every now and the,n playing at concerts across the nation and the world. Back in the day he was married to model Christine Brinkley, and his name sounds similar to the name of the lead vocalist of a popular pop-punk/alternative rock band.
What band wrote the famous song "Stairway to Heaven", as well as "Dancing Days" and "Over the Hills and Far Away
This one should be really easy for just about anyone who calls themselves a true fan of rock music. Their music is often played on classic rock stations across the land, and their guitar player Jimmy Page and lead singer Robert Plant are still alive and well, even though the band broke up towards the end of the 1970s. They are, without a doubt, one of the greatest bands of that decade, and quite simply, one of the greatest bands of all time. They have, without a doubt, influenced countless other bands and musicians who have emerged in the last several decades.
What Aussie group wrote and released "Beds are Burning" in 1987?
They may not be extremely well-known here in the States, but in the Land Down Under they are kind of a big deal. The song "Beds Are Burning" had to do with an indigenous Aboriginal Australian tribe called Pintubi that used to call the Western Desert of Australia their home. Their lead singer, Peter Garrett, later went into public service and held office in Australia. In fact, during the closing ceremony of the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, this band performed this song. Despite not being a huge deal in the U.S., Spin magazine founder Bob Guccione Jr. once said that "If they were from New Jersey they'd be bigger than U2." (Wikipedia).
What legendary singer from England had arguably his biggest hit in the U.S. with the 1983 song "Let's Dance"?
He recently passed away, but his legendary talent and skill will never be forgotten. Thanks to the work he did in his heyday of the 1970s and 1980s, he sold about 140 million albums across the globe and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. His song "Let's Dance" is probably his most recognizable song, especially here in the States, where his popularity is dwarfed by the fame he has experienced in his native U.K. "Let's Dance" topped the charts on both sides of the pond, and the album was nominated for a Grammy, only losing because of a guy named Michael Jackson.
What progressive rock band from Britain scored hits such as "Another Brick in the Wall", "Wish You Were Here" and "Money"?
Any true fan of classic rock has to get this one right. Come on now, this one is pretty easy. That logo above, which is the album cover to "Dark Side of the Moon" should be a clear giveaway. They have sold hundreds of millions of album copies across the world and made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. They heyday may have really been limited to the 1970s, but their music is nothing but timeless, and it will love on forever in the hearts and minds of classic rock fans of all age groups.
Which singer is the crowned King of Pop?
EVERYONE should get this. Period. It doesn't matter who you are or even what genre of music you love or prefer. This man transcended genres and had hit singles in one capacity or another in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. He passed away in 2009, but he will live on forever, as he is one of those artists whose music seemed to have a life of its own. He has dined with leaders of several different nations, and he was also an amazing philanthropist who truly cared about helping people and who wanted to "Heal The World". No one will ever forget him.
What band produced the singles "Shout" and "Mad World"?
This band was part of the "Second British Invasion" that became a huge part of the 1980s and its pop culture. Their 1985 album "Songs From The Big Chair" reached number one in the U.S. Canada, as well as number two in their native U.K., and it became their best selling album. Another well-known song from this album was "Head Over Heels", which still garners airplay on classic rock stations across the nation. If you remember the movie "Donnie Darko", "Head Over Heels" was playing in the background in one of the scenes when Donnie was at school. Every fan of 80s music should get this one.
What Minnesota native looked ahead to the start of the new millennium in 1982 with his hit song "1999"?
Here's another singular artist who recently left us, but will never be forgotten. This is one that should also be really, really easy for just about anyone who loves music, especially the classics. "1999" was one of his first huge hits and it sold three million copies. A couple years later he released the album "Purple Rain", which was accompanied by a movie of the same name in that same year of 1984. This man could play many, many different instruments, and it is said that he owned over 100 different guitars, many of which was really flashy and even flamboyant.
What band was "hungry like the wolf"?
This band was one of the most famous bands in the decade of the 1980s, and their sound evolved throughout that era from new wave to a more poppy sound in the middle and latter part of the decade. Even though all of their well-known work came in the 1980s, they've been around ever since, and very much active, as they have released studio albums in every decade. You may remember another one of their songs "Rio" and its music video, which depicted the band's members on a boat, and even had its keyboardist Nick Rhodes playing a saxophone solo.
What band became a 1980s icon of sorts with their song "Money For Nothing", which had the memorable lyrics "I Want My MTV"?
The song "Money For Nothing" is a true classic and one of the most recognizable songs of the 1980s. Its music video is also really memorable, as it featured computer animation that depicted the band's members, with live action video of the band playing on stage and even a few other music videos from other artists spliced in. They even had Sting sing background vocals, including the parts where he said "I Want My MTV". Though many readers may not have been around back in the day, they may be interested to know that MTV used Sting's vocals in commercials with celebrities chiming in that they also wanted their MTV.
What group rose to fame with songs such as "We Will Rock You", "We Are The Champions" and "Bohemian Rhapsody"?
This one should be pretty easy. They featured the talented and awesome Freddy Mercury as their lead singer and pianist, and achieved tons of fame, both in their native England and here in the States. "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" are songs you have no doubt heard if you are a sports fan. If you've seen the movie "Wayne's World", you'll also know "Bohemian Rhapsody" really well, as it was in one of the movie's best scenes. This band was introduced to a new generation in a recent movie named "Bohemian Rhapsody", which put that song on the Billboard charts for a third time (the second was in 1992 after "Wayne's World" came out).
What singer had a hit in 1982 with "She Blinded Me with Science"?
He may have been one of many one hit wonders from the 1980s, but at least you can say that his one hit was a huge wonder, not to mention a big success. "She Blinded Me with Science" got as high as number five in the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and got plenty of airplay in 1982 and 1983, not to mention afterwards. In 2002, VH1 named this song Number 20 on its list of the "100 Greatest One-hit Wonders" (Wikipedia). If you end up being a one hit wonder who lives off the success of your one hit for decades afterwards, I guess this artist would be a good one to model yourself after.
Which timeless band is fronted by Steven Tyler?
Another one that should be easy for anyone who knows their stuff when it comes to classic rock. Their first wave of success came in the 1970s with hits like "Sweet Emotion", which later found a bit of a second life when it was put into the opening scene of Richard Linklater's famous 1993 movie "Dazed and Confused". This band hit a slump in the late 70s and the first half of the 80s, but in 1987 they made a big comeback with their album "Permanent Vacation". Any classic rock fan can also easily recognize Steven Tyler's distinctive voice and vocal style.
Which band created the anthems Paradise City and November Rain?
Their prime was short-lived, but it was more than enough to make them legends. They were maybe the biggest band in the late 80s phenomenon of heavy metal and similar sub-genres. Everyone knows their song "Welcome To The Jungle", right? Well that's probably their most well-known song. "November Rain" came several years later, and it's more of a long ballad, with a much slower tempo. Before they hit it big, they were known as "L.A. Guns". Another one of their hits, "Sweet Child o' Mine" was sung by the family of Brennan's younger brother Derek in one of the scenes of the hit 2008 movie "Stepbrothers".
What group had fun dance-rock hits in the 1980s such as "Rock Lobster", "Love Shack" and "Around the World"?
This band was the type that you would want to hire, or at least play the music of if you were throwing a huge party and you wanted everyone to dance and have the time of their life. "Rock Lobster" was something of a flashback to 1960s-era surf rock, from its guitar riffs to its lyrics. Their lead singer Fred Schneider had a distinctive singing voice that no doubt helped this band become the timeless piece of work that they've been ever since their heyday in the 1980s. You may also remember Peter Griffin singing "Rock Lobster" in an episode of Family Guy.
What band hails from New Jersey and had breakthrough hits in 1986 named "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer"?
This band's prime was short-lived, but it gave us the two hits named above from the album "Slippery When Wet", which was at the top of the Billboard 200 chart for eight weeks. It even was later certified platinum 12 times over, making it one of the 100 best selling albums in United States history (Wikipedia). Thus, they are one of the more well-known bands when you talk about the metal sub-genre in the 1980s. In fact, they were recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not too bad for a band from a small town in New Joisey.
What former drummer and co-lead vocalist of The Eagles went solo and hit it big with his 1984 single "The Boys Of Summer"?
"The Boys Of Summer" was a big and well-known song from the mid 1980s, as it reached No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart for five weeks (Wikipedia). Its lyrics dealt with the bittersweet feelings one has come September when a great but short-lived summer romance has come to an end. This song, like some of this artist's other works, also had lyrics that talked about how Baby Boomers were dealing with moving into middle adulthood and how our society changed in the 1980s. In fact, one of his other well-known songs was called "The End of the Innocence".
What former lead singer of Genesis had a hit with "Solsbury Hill"?
This man went solo and started making it big with his 1982 self-titled album. His 1986 album, simply titled "So", including the hits "Sledgehammer" and "Big Time". Both videos were notable for featuring claymation and stop motion animation, which was very innovative back in those days. In fact, Sledgehammer won an amazing nine MTV Video Music Awards in 1987. You may also know his hit "In Your Eyes", which also come off of "So". All together, this genius artist won six Grammy awards, three Brit Awards and 13 MTV Video Music Awards. He has also done plenty of philanthropic work over the years.
What hip hop group found it was kind of "Tricky"?
This group got onto the scene in 1986, in part because they did a version of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way", which Aerosmith had released about a decade earlier. It led this rap group to a wider audience that wasn't really familiar with hip hop yet and expanded their fame greatly. They were also known for their iconic Adidas jackets, track pants and shoes, which also became hugely popular with millions of people in the years to come. The entire genre of rap and hip hop owes them a huge piece of gratitude for helping to pave the way for the artists that came after them.
What group made their name with hits like "Free Fallin"?
This band was headlined by a rock and roll legend who recently left us. They gave us memorable hits like "Don't Come Around Here No More", "You Got Lucky", "I Won't Back Down" and "Runnin' Down a Dream". In doing so, they got into the top 20 of the Billboard 200 charts several times and became one of the more well-known and popular performers of the 80s and 90s. In 1991 they released the album "Into the Great Wide Open", whose title track's music video featured a young Johnny Depp who played a guy who moved to Hollywood and made it big as a rock star.
What hip hop group from Brooklyn became a household name thanks to their 1986 album "Licensed to Ill"?
Here's another group who help popularize the fledgling genre of hip hop in the mid and late 1980s. Their first album "Licensed to Ill" had more of a party sound and feel to it, and featured timeless songs such as "The New Style", "Fight for Your Right", "No Sleep till Brooklyn", "Paul Revere" and "Slow and Low". They continued to release hit albums and singles into the 1990s and the new millennium, and through the years they've sold about 50 million copies of their albums across the world. I don't think you even need to be much of a hip hop fan to know and recognize these guys and their work.
What girl rock group had hits with "Crazy on You" and "Barracuda"?
"Crazy on You" and "Barracuda" were arguably their two biggest hits in the 1970s, when they featured more of a fast and loud hard rock sound. In the 1980s they reinvented themselves and went with more of a glam metal sound that was a little slower, but every bit as awesome. You may know songs from their self-titled 1985 album, such as "What About Love?", "These Dreams" and "Never". I remember "What About Love?" being featured in a commercial for Swiffer not too long ago. In all, this band has had top 10 albums in four different decades and was ranked number 57 on VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" (Wikipedia).
What band's well-known 1983 hit features the lyrics "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto"?
If you really know your classic rock, you probably know this band, or at least their name. They've been featured tns of pop culture. For example, in the episode of The Simpsons where Homer, Otto, Apu and Mr. Burns formed a bowling team, and Homer recited the lyrics above to inspire Otto to help them win a match. Homer also mentioned this band's name in another episode. "Mr Roboto" reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (Wikipedia). Another song by this group you may know is "Come Sail Away", which they released in 1977 and got as high as number eight on the Billboard Hot 100.
What band experienced its peak in the 1970s with songs like "Rock and Roll All Nite" and was best known for their face paint and stage outfits?
This one should be a gimme. Even if you only really know one of their songs, like the one mentioned above, you should still know who they are and what they look like. Gene Simmons was their bass player and one of their lead singers, and the band and their fame helped Simmons become a household name by the end of the 1970s. They were always known for their on-stage appearance, which involved tons of makeup. In 1983, they went on MTV and finally revealed what they looked like without any makeup or paint. Turns out they looked a lot better with that stuff on than without.
What band released the single "The Final Countdown" in 1986?
This band originally formed in Sweden in 1979, but it took them some time before they became well known, especially here in the States. All told, they have sold over 25 million copies of their albums across the globe. Three million of those are from arguably their best-known single, "The Final Countdown". This song is often played at football and basketball games when it has come down to crunch time, and you have to admit its a pretty awesome tune. A couple years ago it was also in a commercial for the auto insurance company Geico. If they are a one hit wonder, they did pretty decently.
What iconic singer and songwriter became a pop culture phenomenon in the 1960s with songs like "Blowin' in the Wind"?
Everyone should know this. Everyone. It does not matter what age you are or anything else. He was raised in a small town called Hibbing, Minnesota, which also gave us Roger Maris, the man who had hit the most home runs in a single season until Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa surpassed him in 1998, as well as NBA Hall of Famer Kevin McHale. This man has sold over 100 million albums and is quite possibly the most influential musician ever. He was certainly an icon with Baby Boomers, especially those who were calling for change during the turbulent decade of the 1960s.
Which iconic rock band is fronted by Mick Jagger?
This is yet another one that everyone should easily get. You can get this right partly because Mick Jagger has a face that is easily recognizable, and also because they are just arguably the most successful rock and roll band of all time. They started out as part of the British Invasion of the 1960s, but they also had many hit songs and albums in the 1970s and 1980s. Even if you only know one or two of their songs really well, you at least know of this band. It is pretty impossible to not know of a band that has sold at least 250 million albums.
What band released hit singles in the early 80s named "Down Under" and "Who Can it Be Now"?
This band really put in some effort into becoming a successful group in the early 80s (hint hint). As one would have to guess from arguably their most well-known song "Down Under", they are from the Land Down Under, Australia. They formed in 1979 and rose to prominence shortly after they released their first album, "Business as Usual" in 1981. Two years later they released a second album, "Cargo", which peaked at number one in Australia, number two in New Zealand, number three in the US, and number eight in the UK according to Wikipedia. They even won a Grammy for Best New Artist.
What group became big time by the early 80s, and then rose to new heights with chart-topping songs like "Jump" and "Right Now"?
This band is pretty well known, and one of the more successful ones of all time. Their hit song "Jump" came off of their hit album "1984", which ended up selling over 10 million copies, leading it to being certified Diamond. David Lee Roth left the band and started a solo career shortly afterwards. You may also know their 1992 hit single "Right Now", which was known for its music video, which dealt with social issues. It is also a song that just sounds epic and down right inspirational. About a decade ago David Lee Roth returned to this band.
What singer-songwriter wrote "You've Got a Friend In Me" for Toy Story?
Some may known him for the songs he was written for Toy Story and seven other Disney-Pixar animated films, but back in the day he did albums. One of his most well-known songs from the 1980s was "I Love L.A." It may not have gotten tons of airplay on the radio, but it quickly became something of an unofficial anthem for the greater Los Angeles area. In fact, this song is played at Lakers and Dodgers home games after either team has won the game. As an L.A. native, every time I hear that song I swell up with tons of pride.
What new wave band was featured in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High"?
There were a few other new wave bands featured in "Fast Times At Ridgemont High", so let's narrow it down. The song in question that this band contributed to this movie was "Moving in Stereo", which they recorded in the late 1970s. They evolved from a punk-like sound to more of a New Wave look and feel in the 1980s, and gave us hits like "My Best Friend's Girl", "Magic", "Drive" and "You Might Think". That last song I mentioned had a unique music video that won an MTV Video Music Award for Video of the Year in 1984, the first year those awards were given out.
What former member of Genesis wrote the iconic single "In The Air Tonight"?
"In The Air Tonight" is one of the most famous songs from the decade of the 1980s. There is an urban legend that the lyrics have to do with this artist once seeing someone drown, yet he did nothing to help (who knows if that is actually true?). The music video for this song is also iconic for showing a close-up of this artist's face. There was a hit movie from several years ago starring Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis, in which Mike Tyson makes an appearance and plays air drums to what he called his favorite part of this song.
What group had huge hits in the 1980s named "Pour Some Sugar On Me", "Animal" and "Love Bites"?
These gents from Sheffield, England were a big part of the heavy metal and arena rock scene during the mid and late 1980s. Their 1983 album "Pyromania" gave us the hit song "Photograph", which helped the album get certified platinum ten times over. Their 1987 album Hysteria gave us the songs named above and sold over 12 million copies here in the U.S. and about 25 million copies across the world. I think they are somewhat underrated, but they are a high-energy and hard-hitting act. According to Wikipedia, they are one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums that sold over 10 million copies in the U.S.
What band thought "Nothing Else Matters"?
Here is another legendary band in the world of metal that should be easy to recognize, even if you're not their biggest fan in the world. Some of their other famous songs include "Enter Sandman", "Wherever I May Roam", "One", "The Unforgiven" and "Sad But True". They have sold more than 125 million albums worldwide, with over 63 million records in the United States alone according to Wikipedia. Rolling Stone magazine ranked them at no. 61 on its 100 Greatest Artists of All Time list, and they have been nominated for 23 Grammys, winning nine of those awards throughout their history.
Which band from Ireland is fronted by Bono with support from The Edge?
This band holds a record for winning 22 Grammy awards, which is more than any other band. They are a big time mainstream titan, and have sold more than 170 million records worldwide. In 2005 they were put into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which was only the first year they were eligible. You probably know at least a few of their hits, including "With or Without You", "Where The Streets Have No Name", "New Year's Day" and "Even Better Than The Real Thing". According to Wikipedia they have eight albums that have reached number one in the US, the third-most of any group.