UK Music Trivia

1. Which Factory Records co-founder and TV reporter, who died in 2007, also owned the Haçienda club?

From Quiz Factory, the Haçienda and Madchester

Answer: Tony Wilson

Tony Wilson - or Anthony H. Wilson when he was reporting for Granada - founded Factory Records in a house in Didsbury, south Manchester, in 1978. In '24 Hour Party People', a 2002 film chronicling the rise and fall of Madchester, he was played by comedian Steve 'Alan Partridge' Coogan, and also had a cameo. He was inspired to start his own label by Rabid Records, a Manchester punk label. Factory was also the name of a club where acts on the label played; the label released a double sampler LP featuring bands who had played there in 1978. The Haçienda (the unusual spelling was so that the ç and i together would resemble the number 51, the club's catalogue number) was a former warehouse near the Whitworth Canal in Manchester city centre, and opened as a club in 1982. Both Wilson and the members of New Order, who co-owned the club, helped finance it, and in its nascent years, it had trouble making money due to low drinks prices and entry fees. It featured bars named after British spies, and even a hairdressing salon at one point. The Smiths were among the Manchester bands who played there in its days as a gig venue. As for the other Factory co-founders, Peter Saville was a designer who worked on many of the sleeves for Factory Records compilations and albums by bands such as Joy Division; Rob Gretton, who came up with the idea for the Haçienda, was Joy Division's manager, and went on to manage New Order; and Martin Hannett was a producer who worked with various Manchester bands.

From Quiz British Bands of the 80s

Answer: Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode were formed in Basildon, Essex. They have had chart success in many countries with songs such as "I Just Can't Get Enough", "Enjoy The Silence" and "Personal Jesus". The latter song was covered by Marilyn Manson and Johnny Cash.

From Quiz Zero Latitude

Answer: Stiff Little Fingers

Formed in Belfast in 1977 the band originally played covers under the name of Highway Star but were soon influenced by punk rock. Their early songs, such as "Suspect Device" and "Alternative Ulster" were strongly influenced by the "Troubles", commonly known as the Northern Ireland conflict, which created divisions between themselves and other local bands. The Undertones were particularly vocal in their condemnation, accusing them of sensationalising the conflict. Jake Burns, lead vocalist for the Fingers, responded by stating "At least we don't ignore it". The first incarnation of the band survived through to 1984 and released four thought provoking albums. The band reformed for a set of reunion gigs through Germany in 1987, however, the tour sold out every venue and their temporary get together become permanent.

From Quiz Best of Modern British Rock

Answer: Oasis

Oasis were formed in 1991 in Manchester, England and rose to prominence worldwide with their debut album "Definitely Maybe", released in 1994 to critical acclaim. They went on to write six more albums before disbanding in 2009, caused by tension between brothers Liam and Noel Gallagher.

From Quiz Jerusalem, England, or "Dark satanic mills"

Answer: Sir Hubert Parry

Charles Hubert Parry was commissioned to compose a tune for Blake's text by Robert Bridges, the Poet Laureate. The purpose was to boost support for Britain's war efforts in WWI, and new patriotic music was one measure to help with this. Parry wrote the tune in March of 1916, and it became popular very quickly. Elgar reorchestrated Parry's composition in 1922. Vaughan Williams is another English composer, but had nothing to do with "Jerusalem". Pauline Hall was Norwegian, and wrote music of an entirely different kind.

From Quiz Left In Liverpool (Groups That Didn't Make It)

Answer: Rory Storm and The Hurricanes

Rory Storm was born Alan Caldwell in Liverpool in 1938. His first group was named Dracula & the Werewolves, and then Al Caldwell's Texans. He opened the Morgue Skiffle Club in the cellar of a large Victorian house in Liverpool in March 1958. His sister Iris Caldwell dated George Harrison and then Paul McCartney; she later married singer Shane Fenton, who became known as Alvin Stardust in the '70s. The group's name changed a number of times, Al Storm and The Hurricanes, then Jett Storm and The Hurricanes and finally Rory Storm and The Hurricanes. The line-up was Rory Storm (vocals), Johnny Byrne (rhythm guitar), Ty O'Brien (lead guitar), Lu Walters (bass guitar/vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums). They were one of the top groups on the Liverpool beat group scene in the early '60s. Rory Storm and the Hurricanes entered a competition managed by Carrol Levis called "Search for Stars" at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on 11 October 1959. They finished second, ahead of 150 other acts. Although Ringo was not asked to join The Beatles until August 1962 he had played with them previously. Ringo first met The Beatles in early October 1960 when playing at Bruno Koschmider's Kaiserkeller in Hamburg, Germany. Rory Storm and The Hurricanes had top-billing over and were higher paid than The Beatles who were on the same bill. Ringo was the stand-in drummer for The Beatles on a couple of occasions in Hamburg in 1960. He also met singer Tony Sheridan at this time who asked him to join his group. Ringo did in fact leave Rory Storm and The Hurricanes briefly in 1962 to join Sheridan but soon returned to the group to play at a Butlins holiday camp. We all know what happened the next time he left the group.

From Quiz Music and Yorkshire

Answer: Lucas Radebe

Radebe began playing in South Africa with Kaizer Chiefs. He played for Leeds United 1994-2005, and appeared 200+ times, gaining himself hero status. Don Revie was manager 1961-1974, often referred to as "The Golden Era". Revie turned the club around, winning countless trophies, but also getting the perennial nickname "Dirty Leeds". Batty was born in Leeds and played for them during the second Golden Era, 1988-1992. Argentine striker Luciano Becchio signed to Leeds United in 2008.

From Quiz The Obvious Advantages of Being British

Answer: Duran Duran

"Hungry Like the Wolf" was released on the album "Rio" in 1982. The band itself took its name from a movie called "Barbarella," which also happened to spawn another song named of all things, "Electric Barbarella"!

From Quiz Swinging Sixties Songbirds [2]

Answer: Goldfinger

Shirley was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2000 to go with the many and varied awards which she has received. Her first single hits were in the late 50s and were most numerous between then and the mid 60s, however, her album output has been substantial and she is almost never out of the album charts. "As I Love You" was her first number one in 1959 and she had another with "Reach for the Stars/Climb Every Mountain" in 1961. In addition she had a number one in the dance charts with "History Repeating" in 1997. In 2007 she celebrated 50 years since her first chart entry {Banana Boat Song"] by entering the chart again with "The Living Tree". Her recording of the Newley/Bricusse song "Goldfinger" was inducted into The Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. She is in as much demand as ever and has headlined at Glastonbury and performed on the BBC Electric Proms in recent years.

From Quiz Where Are They From - '60s Pop Groups In The UK

Answer: Liverpool

Of course it was The Beatles from Liverpool, as if you didn't know that. They were not the first singers from the port to enter the UK chart. Frankie Vaughan, Michael Holiday, Lita Rosa, Billy Fury and of course Ken Dodd and His Diddymen beat them to it. Their first hit in the UK was "Love Me Do"; it reached number 17 and stayed on the chart for 17 weeks in 1962. I don't know what happened to them after that. The alternative names are real places in the UK.

From Quiz And Then Came The Beatles

Answer: Move it

Sir Cliff has had an amazing career, the statistics of which would be too lengthy to list here but he has had more than 130 Top 20 singles to date in the UK and may have more to come - who knows? He never quite made it in the States but has massive record sales globally as well as film credits. He was billed originally as the "British Elvis" but, like Elvis, sustained his career by becoming more middle-of-the-road. He is one of the few singers of his era who has remained active and had a "Fiftieth Golden Anniversary Reunion Tour", with his old backing group, The Shadows, in 2009/10. He sold out six concerts at The Royal Albert Hall in October 2010 to celebrate his 70th birthday.

From Quiz UK One Hit Wonders

Answer: Ricky Valance

A Decca official considered the Roy Peterson version of "Tell Laura I Love Her" to be in bad taste and the copies of the single that had been pressed for UK release were destroyed. EMI consequently released Welshborn Ricky Valance's cover version of "Tell Laura I Love Her". It was a hit in 14 countries and has sold over seven million copies. Mark Dinning recorded "Teen Angel", another teen death record. Ritchie Valens died in 1959 along with The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly. Sir Cliff has had many number ones and is definately not a one hit wonder.

From Quiz Not In The U.S.A.

Answer: Jealousy

With his ninth chart entry Billy Fury reached number two with "Jealousy" in 1961. Billy from Liverpool had 13 chart entries before fellow Liverpudlians The Beatles made the chart with "Love Me Do" in October 1962. "Halfway To Paradise", "Like I've Never Been Gone" and "When Will You Say I Love You" all reached number three on the chart.

From Quiz UK Number One Quirks and Controversies

Answer: two

"Record Retailer" published the forerunner of the official chart. "Please Please Me", The Beatles' second release in the UK, reached number one in many of the other charts around at the time but only got to number two in "Record Retailer". In 1969 BBC and "Record Retailer" commissioned BMRB to compile the chart. There have been various changes of company since then, and in 2001 the Official Charts Company took over. But these are the charts endorsed by the Guinness Book Of Hit Singles - and thus the UK's official hit singles.

From Quiz "All Through the Night" : Story of a Song

Answer: Wales

The melody to "Ar Hyd y Nos" was first published by Bardd y Brenin, Edward Jones 1752-1824, in 'Musical Relicks of the Welsh Bards' in 1784. His title meant 'The King's Bard'. Jones was a harpist, collector of folk tunes and arranger. In more recent times, the Welsh songwriter Max Boyce name-checked the ballad in one of his most famous pieces, 'Hymns and Arias': "And we were singing, hymns and arias Land of my fathers, Ar Hyd y Nos".

From Quiz Most Popular UK No 1 Singles: 51 - 60

Answer: London, UK

Jimi Hendrix died at the age of 27 on September 18th 1970 in Notting Hill, London. Jimi Hendrix is considered by many to be the greatest rock guitarist and one of the most influential musicians of the 1960s.

From Quiz Music in the 1960s, UK.

Answer: From Me To You

The Beatles went to number one in May 1963 with "From Me To You". They had 17 number one hits between May 1963 and June 1969. Their last hit, "The Ballad of John and Yoko" was not strictly a full Beatles recording as Ringo and George did not play on the track. The boys broke up very soon after this release.

From Quiz The Bands of 90's Britpop Era

Answer: Elastica

Justine Frischmann was in a relationship with Brett Anderson, before more famously dating Damon Albarn.

From Quiz Name the British Band

Answer: The Clash

The Clash inspired Bob Marley to write the song "Punky Reggae Party".

From Quiz Keep the Faith - Wigan Casino

Answer: Station Road

It was on Station Road, which is about 5-10 minutes walk from the railway station. Park Road, Wallgate and Hallgate are all real locations around the city centre of Wigan.

From Quiz More UK One Hit Wonders

Answer: Zager and Evans

Zager and Evans were Denny Zager and Rick Evans, 'In the Year 2525' was written by Rick Evans. The duo failed to have any other chart hits after the success of this doom-laden ditty.

From Quiz UK One Hit Wonders

Answer: Kitty Kallen

Kitty Kallen was very popular in the 1940s, she sang on one of Jimmy Dorsey's big hits 'Besame Mucho' whilst still a teenager. 'Little Things Mean a Lot' was written by Edith Lindeman and Carl Stoltz, it was a big hit for Kallen in 1954.

From Quiz Queens of British Folk Music

Answer: Sandy Denny

Sandy Denny had a beautiful voice, she co-wrote and sang the folk classic "Who Knows Where the Time Goes?" and wrote many other songs. When she left Fairport Convention to pursue a solo career, she was in great demand as a singer, even performing a duet with Robert Plant on Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore". Sadly, Sandy died in 1978, who knows what she may have achieved had she lived for longer?

From Quiz Best Of British Music part six

Answer: That Petrol Emotion

A northern Ireland based band with brothers John and Damian O'Neill (formally of The Undertones) and American vocalist Steve Mack.

From Quiz Best of British Music part five

Answer: Hand in Glove

Sandra Ann Goodrich reached no 27 in the UK charts with her fabulous rendition of 'Hand in Glove'.

From Quiz The "Brum Beat"

Answer: John "Ozzy" Osbourne

From snorting ants to decapitating bats, the stories about "Ozzy" are legion. Amazingly most of them appear to be true!

From Quiz Best of British Music Part Four

Answer: New Order

New Order hail from Manchester, England featuring three former band members of Joy Division.

From Quiz Best of British Music part three

Answer: James

Since leaving James, Tim Booth has taken acting lessons, taught dance and written a screenplay. Busy man.

From Quiz Best of British Music part two

Answer: Tom Jones

A great pop song that reached number seven in the UK charts back in 1999.

From Quiz Best of British Music part one

Answer: Adam and the Ants

Of course their biggest hit was "Stand and Deliver", selling 985,000 copies in 1981.

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Last Updated Oct 26 2024 5:44 AM

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