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Rock Bands & Artists

26 questions · Answers revealed below each question · Print this set

  1. 1.Which rock band fused punk with reggae and rockabilly on its 1979 double album London Calling?

    • A. The Clash
    • B. Lynyrd Skynyrd
    • C. The Beatles
    • D. Oasis
    Show answer

    The Clash

    Did you know? The Clash were formed in London in 1976 around singer Joe Strummer.

  2. 2.Which rock artist walked rock's darker streets with the Velvet Underground and solo work?

    • A. Bruce Springsteen
    • B. Ozzy Osbourne
    • C. Lou Reed
    • D. Eddie Vedder
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    Lou Reed

    Did you know? Lou Reed's 1972 single Walk on the Wild Side became his signature.

  3. 3.Which rock band defined heavy metal's leather-and-studs look in the late 1970s?

    • A. Def Leppard
    • B. Judas Priest
    • C. Metallica
    • D. Dire Straits
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    Judas Priest

    Did you know? Judas Priest formed in 1969 in the industrial city of Birmingham.

  4. 4.Which rock artist went from Black Sabbath's singer to a solo Prince of Darkness?

    • A. Paul McCartney
    • B. Roger Daltrey
    • C. Ozzy Osbourne
    • D. Freddie Mercury
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    Ozzy Osbourne

    Did you know? Ozzy Osbourne became a reality-television star with his family in the 2000s.

  5. 5.Which rock band won worldwide fame with the understated 1978 single Sultans of Swing?

    • A. The Clash
    • B. Kansas
    • C. Red Hot Chili Peppers
    • D. Dire Straits
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    Dire Straits

    Did you know? Dire Straits' 1985 album Brothers in Arms was one of the first fully digital recordings.

  6. 6.Which rock artist earned the Godfather of Punk title fronting the Stooges?

    • A. Sting
    • B. James Hetfield
    • C. Debbie Harry
    • D. Iggy Pop
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    Iggy Pop

    Did you know? Iggy Pop stage-work included diving headlong into audiences.

  7. 7.Which rock band shares with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath the unofficial title of heavy metal's founders?

    • A. Depeche Mode
    • B. Kansas
    • C. Deep Purple
    • D. The Who
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    Deep Purple

    Did you know? Deep Purple's 1972 track Smoke on the Water opens with one of rock's most copied guitar riffs.

  8. 8.Which rock artist writes Green Day's punk-pop songs?

    • A. Billie Joe Armstrong
    • B. Lemmy Kilmister
    • C. Angus Young
    • D. Roger Daltrey
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    Billie Joe Armstrong

    Did you know? Billie Joe Armstrong wrote Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) for a breakup.

  9. 9.Which rock band built a dark synth-pop sound on albums like Violator?

    • A. Talking Heads
    • B. Depeche Mode
    • C. The Kinks
    • D. Aerosmith
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    Depeche Mode

    Did you know? Depeche Mode formed in 1980 in Basildon, England.

  10. 10.Which rock artist moved from Roxy Music's synths to ambient music pioneer?

    • A. Brian Eno
    • B. Eric Clapton
    • C. Liam Gallagher
    • D. Jimmy Page
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    Brian Eno

    Did you know? Brian Eno produced landmark albums for David Bowie and U2.

  11. 11.Which rock band released the 1976 greatest-hits collection that long ranked among the best-selling albums in US history?

    • A. Eagles
    • B. Judas Priest
    • C. Arctic Monkeys
    • D. The Police
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    Eagles

    Did you know? Eagles' Hotel California closes with one of rock's most famous guitar duels.

  12. 12.Which rock artist fronted Blondie with punk roots and pop-radio charisma?

    • A. Ozzy Osbourne
    • B. Dave Grohl
    • C. Debbie Harry
    • D. Roger Daltrey
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    Debbie Harry

    Did you know? Debbie Harry was once a secretary at the BBC.

  13. 13.Which rock band began in Boston in 1970 around singer Steven Tyler and guitarist Joe Perry?

    • A. Deep Purple
    • B. Aerosmith
    • C. Dire Straits
    • D. Pearl Jam
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    Aerosmith

    Did you know? Aerosmith's 1998 hit I Don't Want to Miss a Thing was written for a film soundtrack.

  14. 14.Which rock artist fronts Rush with high vocals and bass keyboards?

    • A. Bono
    • B. Lemmy Kilmister
    • C. Joe Strummer
    • D. Geddy Lee
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    Geddy Lee

    Did you know? Geddy Lee's real name is Gary Lee Weinrib.

  15. 15.Which rock band carried new wave into the disco era with the 1979 hit Heart of Glass?

    • A. Judas Priest
    • B. Blondie
    • C. Journey
    • D. Coldplay
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    Blondie

    Did you know? Blondie frontwoman Debbie Harry began her career as a waitress at Max's Kansas City.

  16. 16.Which rock artist wrote the Who's rock operas and smashed guitars on stage?

    • A. Liam Gallagher
    • B. Pete Townshend
    • C. Kurt Cobain
    • D. Ozzy Osbourne
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    Pete Townshend

    Did you know? Pete Townshend pioneered the windmill guitar strum.

  17. 17.Which rock band blends space-age electronica with operatic rock across albums like Absolution?

    • A. Muse
    • B. Oasis
    • C. Coldplay
    • D. Fleetwood Mac
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    Muse

    Did you know? Muse formed in 1994 in the English seaside town of Teignmouth.

  18. 18.Which rock artist founded Pink Floyd before leaving after one album?

    • A. Syd Barrett
    • B. John Lennon
    • C. Paul McCartney
    • D. Ozzy Osbourne
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    Syd Barrett

    Did you know? Syd Barrett's solo work inspired later generations of cult artists.

  19. 19.Which rock band performs in trademark face paint and platform boots?

    • A. Depeche Mode
    • B. Kiss
    • C. Pink Floyd
    • D. The Clash
    Show answer

    Kiss

    Did you know? Kiss bassist Gene Simmons reportedly speaks several languages.

  20. 20.Which rock artist gave the Clash its political voice?

    • A. Joe Strummer
    • B. Lemmy Kilmister
    • C. Chester Bennington
    • D. Iggy Pop
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    Joe Strummer

    Did you know? Joe Strummer died in 2002 shortly before the Clash's Rock Hall induction.

  21. 21.Which rock band was founded by former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl?

    • A. Black Sabbath
    • B. Foo Fighters
    • C. Green Day
    • D. Muse
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    Foo Fighters

    Did you know? Dave Grohl recorded the first Foo Fighters album almost entirely by himself.

  22. 22.Which rock artist produced and played Led Zeppelin's layered guitar work?

    • A. Billie Joe Armstrong
    • B. Lou Reed
    • C. Jimmy Page
    • D. Chris Martin
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    Jimmy Page

    Did you know? Jimmy Page was a sought London session guitarist before Zeppelin.

  23. 23.Which rock band helped build American alternative rock from its hometown of Athens, Georgia?

    • A. Boston
    • B. R.E.M.
    • C. Kiss
    • D. Arctic Monkeys
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    R.E.M.

    Did you know? R.E.M. released its 1992 album Automatic for the People without touring behind it.

  24. 24.Which rock artist sang Linkin Park's mix of rock and electronic weight?

    • A. Dave Grohl
    • B. Chester Bennington
    • C. Freddie Mercury
    • D. Chris Martin
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    Chester Bennington

    Did you know? Chester Bennington also fronted the band Stone Temple Pilots.

  25. 25.Which rock band rose from Seattle's grunge scene with its 1991 debut Ten?

    • A. U2
    • B. Pearl Jam
    • C. Linkin Park
    • D. Creedence Clearwater Revival
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    Pearl Jam

    Did you know? Pearl Jam famously fought Ticketmaster over service fees in the 1990s.

  26. 26.Which rock artist is the Who's golden-mic frontman and Tommy's interpreter?

    • A. Roger Waters
    • B. David Bowie
    • C. Steven Tyler
    • D. Roger Daltrey
    Show answer

    Roger Daltrey

    Did you know? Roger Daltrey later led teen-cancer charity concerts.

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