The Ventures Trivia Quiz

Answer: Cookies and Coke

Initially calling themselves "The Versatones", Bob Bogle and Don Wilson were construction workers during the day. They started playing small clubs and beer joints around the Northwest in 1958. In 1959 they recorded and released a vocal called "Cookies and Coke" but it never charted.

It was backed by a song called "The Real McCoy" which included Don Wilson's impersonation of Walter Brennan, star of the TV show "The Real McCoys". There are only two known copies of the 45 left. "Walk, Don't Run" was their instrumental breakout hit. "Perfidia" and "Lullaby of the Leaves" were follow up instrumentals.

Answer: Blue Horizon Records

After the failure of "Cookies and Coke" the duo met and recruited Nokie Edwards as bass player and recorded "Walk Don't Run". They approached several record companies but none of them showed any interest. With support from Don Wilson's mother they started their own record company, Blue Horizon Records.

They personally produced the single "Walk Don't Run" and promoted it themselves. They succeeded in getting a local Seattle DJ Pat O'Day to use the song as a news lead-in. The owner of Dolton Records heard it on the radio and signed them. "Walk Don't Run" climbed to #2 for a week on the Billboard Top 100 in September 1960. Dot Records was a Gallatin, Tennessee, label formed by Randy Wood.

They never signed the Ventures.

Answer: Johnny Smith

Johnny Smith wrote the song and recorded it in 1953 on his "Moods" LP. Bob Bogle cites Chet Atkins as one of his early influences. Bogle bought the 1957 Chet Atkins LP "Hi Fi In Focus". The album featured Atkins' rendition of Johnny Smith's song. Bob Bogle found inspiration in Atkins' elaborate and laid-back delivery of "Walk Don't Run".

He admitted years later that there was no way his guitar ability would allow him to play it as fluidly as Chet Atkins. Bob and Don worked out an energized and simplified arrangement, creating a Rock & Roll Classic. Steve Howe of Yes, covered "Walk Don't Run" on his 1998 album "Quantum Guitar".

He was also a big Chet Atkins fan. Danny Gatton was known as the Master of the Telecaster. The Ventures' "Walk Don't Run" has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Answer: 2008

The band will join Madonna, John Mellencamp, Leonard Cohen, and the Dave Clark Five as part of the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction class. The ceremony will take place on March 10, 2008. Among their achievements The Ventures had five LPs in the Billboard Top 100 at the same time. Additionally, they released a series of instructional LPs entitled "Play Guitar with The Ventures" and "Play Electric Bass with The Ventures". Four LPs were released in this series, the first of which reached in the Billboard Top 100 Album Chart.

This was an achievement previously unheard of for an instructional album. The Ventures were the first act to place two different versions of the same song in the Top 10, "Walk Don't Run" was number 2 and "Walk Don't Run '64" peaked at 8.

Answer: Mosrite

During the 1960s, Mosrite, a California guitar manufacturer, developed and marketed a uniquely styled futuristic-looking electric guitar. It was dubbed "The Ventures Model Mosrite". The originals have become so popular among vintage instrument collectors that several companies internationally are still manufacturing copies that often are nearly impossible to spot as reproductions.

The landmark album "Ventures in Space" included their first use of the Mosrite Ventures Model guitars. That album was deemed an influence on the sixties San Francisco movement because of its ethereal effects.

At the peak of production in 1968 Semie Mosrite, his brother Andy and their crew of 107 employees were cranking out 1,000 Mosrite guitars per month. Some models are worth from $2,500 to $30,000.

They were out of business by the early seventies.

Answer: Mel Taylor

Bogle and Wilson already knew Mel Taylor as being the house drummer at The Palomino in North Hollywood. Taylor had performed as drummer on the Bobby "Boris" Pickett hit "Monster Mash", The Hollywood Argyles' "Alley Oop" and "The Lonely Bull" by Herb Alpert. Taylor was known for a very aggressive style of drumming.

They invited him to some recording sessions, which led to him becoming a permanent member of The Ventures. After Mel Taylor died in 1966 his son, Leon, assumed the drumming duties. Howie passed away in 1988. Skip Moore was the drummer on "Walk, Don't Run".

He was given the choice of getting $25 or a quarter of the proceeds from the sale. He took the $25. Another early drummer for the group was George T. Babbitt, who later went on to become a 4-star Air Force General.

Answer: Surf Rider

"Surf Rider" was written by member Nokie Edwards and recorded on their "Surfing" album. They are also known for their rendition of "Diamond Head", which was composed by D. Hamilton. While they predated the advent of the terms 'surf guitar' and 'surf rock', The Ventures do not consider themselves a surf rock group.

In an article titled "20 Essential Rock Albums" Guitar Player cited elements of their 1960 "Walk Don't Run" album with presaging the surf trend. "Pipeline" was composed by Chantays' members Bob Spickard and Brian Carmen and covered by The Ventures on their "Surfing" LP. "Wipe Out" was covered on the "Let's Go" album and was written by the Surfaris. Quentin Tarantino used The Lively Ones' version of "Surf Rider" in the "Pulp Fiction" soundtrack.

Answer: Hawaii 5-0

The show premiered in 1968 with The Ventures performing the theme as well as some background track music in the episodes. Their chart appearance in the US declined in the late 1970s. A resurgence of interest in surf music led to some in the Punk/New Wave audience rediscovering the band, reviving The Ventures as a viable live attraction in America.

The Go-Go's wrote "Surfin' And Spyin'" and dedicated it to The Ventures. The Ventures recorded their own version and continue to occasionally perform the song in current shows. "Surfside 6", "Hawaiian Eye" and "Magnum PI" are other beach based police dramas.

Answer: Nokie Edwards

Oklahoma native Nokie Edwards originally started on bass, but his talent soon led to his playing lead. The combination of Edwards on lead guitar, Taylor on drums, Bogle on bass and Wilson on rhythm guitar created what many fans feel was The Ventures at their very best.

This lineup remained unchanged until Edwards left the band in 1968. He was replaced by Gerry McGee. Edwards came back in 1973 and remained with them until 1984. He has toured and gigged with them dozens of times in subsequent years. Nokie's first name is actually Nole. Gerry Mcgee performed on the early Monkees recordings. John Durill was a keyboard and guitar player with the band in the 70's.

He wrote some songs for Cher including the number one "Dark Lady". Davie Allan is the guitarist for The Arrows and has never worked with The Ventures.

Answer: The 2000 Pound Bee

Guitarist Nokie Edwards employed a fuzz distortion pedal, pre-dating the "King of Fuzz Guitar" by Davie Allan of The Arrows by at least three years. The lack of bass and drums during their first two years caused them to develop a unique rhythm-heavy style. Wilson is quoted as saying he tried to be "an orchestra on six strings".

It was this strong interplay between lead and rhythm guitar which gave The Ventures their trademark "rhythm-heavy" sound that captivated huge audiences. Nokie's experimental and innovative guitar work kept the group progressive for several years. "Diamond Head" "Pedal Pusher" and "Bird Rockers" were 1965 singles. "The 2000 Pound Bee" was played at John Belushi's funeral.