Singers From 80s Bands Trivia Quiz

Answer: Brian Setzer

Brian Setzer was a founding member, guitarist and vocalist of the rockabilly band The Stray Cats that formed in 1979 and hit the charts in the early 1980s with hits including "Runaway Boys", "Rock this Town", and "Stray Cat Strut". The Stray Cats originally disbanded in 1984 but reformed and disbanded multiple times since. Setzer went on to form his own Brian Setzer Orchestra, and also released music as a solo artist, as well as performing in The Stray Cats.

He appeared in the Ritchie Valens biopic, "La Bamba" in 1984, playing Eddie Cochran performing "Summertime Blues".

Answer: Feargal Sharkey

Formed in Derry in 1974, The Undertones hit the UK charts with singles such as "Teenage Kicks", "Jimmy Jimmy", and "My Perfect Cousin" before disbanding in 1983. Lead singer Feargal Sharkey performed in The Assembly on "Never Never" and had solo success with "A Good Heart". He moved into a career away from performing, working on A&R for a record company and then as a music administrator, heading up the organisation UK Music, which represented music makers, in the early 2000s.

Feargal Sharkey later became an advocate for the environment, campaigning effectively for England's vulnerable chalk streams, and against the dumping of sewage into waterways by the UK water industry. The Undertones reformed with a different vocalist. I respect Sharkey for his important campaigning work, but can't help regretting the loss of such a charismatic performer.

Answer: Debbie Harry

Blondie was formed by guitarist Chris Stein and vocalist Debbie Harry in 1974. They had briefly called themselves Angel and the Snake for two shows before changing to Blondie. The band's hits included "Atomic", "Call Me", and "The Tide is High". They broke up in 1982, and made a return in 1997, with a UK number one single, "Maria" in 1999, twenty years after their first, "Heart of Glass". Debbie Harry had been a Playboy Bunny before being in the music business.

She acted in movies while in Blondie, notably in Cronenberg's "Videodrome".

Her unhappy experience on another movie, "Union City" inspired the hit Blondie song "Union City Blue". Debbie Harry also released solo albums, including "KooKoo" and "Debravation".

Answer: Clare Grogan

Clare Grogan was born Claire Grogan in Glasgow in 1962. She has performed as Clare or C.P. Grogan because there was someone called Claire Grogan already registered as an actor. While working as a waitress, Grogan was spotted by director Bill Forsyth, who cast her in her debut movie, "Gregory's Girl" (1981), playing the eventual love interest of the lead, played by John Gordon Sinclair.

She was already the singer of the band Altered Images, which she formed with schoolmates, and who had hits with songs such as "Happy Birthday" and "Don't Talk to Me About Love" between 1981 and 1983.

The band split up in 1983 and briefly reformed in 2012, before a more sustained reformation in 2021. Grogan's acting career continued with roles in "Comfort and Joy", "Red Dwarf", and "Father Ted".

Answer: Billy Idol

Generation X formed in 1976 after Billy Idol, Tony James, and John Towe quit the band Chelsea mid-gig because of differences with frontman Gene October. They chose the name after the sociological book "Generation X" by Charles Hamblett and Jane Deverson, a copy of which was owned by Idol's mother. Generation X had hits with "King Rocker" and "Valley of the Dolls" before disbanding in 1981. Idol (born William Broad) embarked on a successful solo career, releasing hit songs like "White Wedding" and "Rebel Yell".

His cameo role as himself in the 1998 Adam Sandler comedy "The Wedding Singer" was key to the plot.

Answer: Simon Le Bon

Duran Duran was formed in Birmingham, England in 1978 by then lead singer Stephen Duffy. The band underwent some early upheaval, and Simon Le Bon became the band's fourth lead singer when he joined in 1980. Duran Duran was part of the New Romantic movement and achieved chart success with "Girls on Film", "Hungry Like the Wolf", and "Rio".

The band stayed active well into the 21st century, releasing its sixteenth studio album, "Danse Macabre", in 2023. Away from Duran Duran, Le Bon was notable for being a keen and proficient sailor and had some success as a member of Arcadia.

Answer: Jello Biafra

The American hard core punk rock band Dead Kennedys formed in San Francisco in 1978, with Jello Biafra as the lead singer. The band was known for being provocative in its name, songs, and the artwork on its discs. Songs included "California Über Alles", an attack on California Governor Jerry Brown, and "Kill the Poor", a satirical view of the attitude of the elites.

The band split in 1986 and reformed in 2011 without Biafra. Born Eric Reed Boucher, Biafra became active in politics, running to be the Green Party's presidential candidate, and attempting to be San Francisco mayor.

He has also performed in the band Lard.

Answer: Nick Heyward

Haircut One Hundred formed in Beckenham, London, in 1980. The band became a sensation with teenaged girls and had hits including "Fantastic Day" and "Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)", before lead singer Nick Heyward left in 1983. The band only lasted until 1984 without him before breaking up, but they reconciled and reunited a few times in the 21st century. Away from Haircut One Hundred, Heyward had solo success with "Whistle Down the Wind".

Answer: Annabella Lwin

Bow Wow Wow was a band put together and managed by Malcolm McLaren in 1980. He persuaded three of Adam Ant's band to leave and join a new band with 13-year-old Annabella Lwin on lead vocals. Bow Wow Wow had a rebellious "do it yourself" image, including encouraging the (then illegal) recording of music onto cassette tapes. McLaren had heard Lwin singing at a dry cleaner shop. The band had a second vocalist temporarily, who went on to success in Culture Club performing as Boy George. Bow Wow Wow had hits with "C·30 C·60 C·90 Go", initially only released on cassette, and "Go Wild in the Country", which had a controversial recreation of the classic Manet picture, "Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe".

Bow Wow Wow split up in 1983 but later reformed for periods in the 1990s and the 21st century before fragmenting and performing as two separate groups contesting the right to the Bow Wow Wow name. Away from the group, Lwin performed in many collaborations, particularly with dance artists, and recorded solo material as Annabella.

Answer: Paul Weller

Front man Paul Weller, bassist Bruce Foxton and drummer Rick Buckler formed The Jam in 1972. They became one of the most commercially successful UK new wave bands, with singles such as "Going Underground", "Start!", and "Town Called Malice" dominating the UK charts.

In 1982, at the peak of the band's success, Weller decided he wanted to go in a different musical direction and broke up The Jam to form The Style Council with Mick Talbot. The Style Council had multiple hits including "My Ever Changing Moods" before disbanding in 1989. Weller went on to be a solo performer, with a series of critically acclaimed and commercially successful albums.