New Wave Trivia

1. New Wave emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s at the same time as another genre. Sometimes New Wave is seen as an offshoot of this movement; sometimes the terms are used interchangeably. What is it?

From Quiz A Flock of New Wave

Answer: Punk

New Wave rose side by side with Punk, or some would say it grew out of Punk. One important difference was that New Wave was more sophisticated and above all more commercially accessible. New Wave would eventually crack the mainstream while Punk plunged into the underground fringes of hardcore. The explosion of British Punk in 1976, with groups like the Sex Pistols, Damned and Clash, was referred to in the music press as the "New Wave." For a year or two, Punk and New Wave were basically synonymous. In the U.S., however, after the failure of the Sex Pistols' tour, major American record labels regarded Punk as unmarketable, with an aura of violence that had limited appeal. This second appearance of the New Wave-the "new" New Wave of 1978 -- succeeded where Punk had failed, as new wave artists made serious inroads into both the album and the Top 40 charts.

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful Wife!

Answer: Elvis Costello

Elvis Costello was born in Liverpool England on 25 August 1954. On signing his first record deal his manager suggested a name change and Elvis Costello was born. His father, a jazz trumpeter, used the stage name Costello so it was easy to continue that tradition and the Elvis of course came from Elvis Presley.

From Quiz Name The New Wave Tune

Answer: "I Ran" (A Flock of Seagulls)

The song was released in 1982 and appeared on the album. They had another song called "Space Age Love Song," but it wasn't as big as the band's first song.

From Quiz 80s Music: New Wave / Vol. 2

Answer: Paul Carrack

Paul Carrack is featured on several tracks, including "Reel Around the Fountain". He enjoyed great success in the 80s as a solo artist, and even greater success as a member of Squeeze (with hits including "Tempted") and Mike and the Mechanics (with hits including "Silent Running", "All I Need is a Miracle", and "The Living Years").

From Quiz 80s Music: New Wave / Vol. I

Answer: Vincent Clarke

Vincent Clarke and Martin Gore were both founding members of Depeche Mode. Clarke left the band early on, forming Yaz (Yazoo) with Alison Moyet on vocals. Shortly after, Clarke formed Erasure with Andy Bell as the vocalist. Erasure (w/Clarke) and Depeche Mode (w/Gore) have lasted decades.

From Quiz Early New Wave Music

Answer: Goodbye Seventies

Lead singer Alison Moyet was also known as Alf Moyet. The album this song appeared on is "Upstairs At Eric's". The band known as Yaz in the US went by the name Yazoo in the UK - there were copyright issues in the States.

From Quiz New Wave- Music of the 70s

Answer: Blondie

The album, "Blondie" included such songs as "Man Overboard" and "Rip Her to Shreds". The band, "Blondie" was formed in 1975 in New York. Lead singer, Debbie Harry, had been in the folk rock band, "Wind in the Willows".

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful Wife!

Answer: Australia

Apparently this success was as a result of an error (or was it?) by Countdown presenter Molly (Ian) Meldrum who played the B-side of their release 'X-pretender'. The song that he played instead was 'In the Flesh' and it made it to number two in the Australian singles charts in 1977.

From Quiz Name The New Wave Tune

Answer: "Come On Eileen" (Dexys Midnight Runners)

The lead singer of the band HATED the song, and left the band a while later. He put out solo albums that really freaked everyone out, so today he's out of the music biz.

From Quiz 80s Music: New Wave / Vol. 2

Answer: Echo and the Bunnymen

Ray Manzarek produced "Echo and the Bunnymen" (1987), and he can be heard on several tracks, including "Bedbugs and Ballyhoo". In this same year, Manzarek produced Echo and the Bunnymen's remake of The Doors' classic "People are Strange", which is featured on the soundtrack to "The Lost Boys", directed by Joel Schumacher.

From Quiz 80s Music: New Wave / Vol. I

Answer: Echo and the Bunnymen

Johnny Marr was a highly regarded musician in the 80s. He played guitar on 80s tracks with The Pretenders and Bryan Ferry. His band, The Smiths, broke up at the end of the decade, but he continued to record with other musicians such as The The and Electronic.

From Quiz Rip It Up - New Wave/Post Punk Quotes Part V

Answer: "Stereotypes" - Specials

The second Specials album, "More Specials" (1980), wasn't exactly what the fans expected. Instead of abrasive ska songs, it was filled with Northern soul and easy listening experiments. Still, the songs were so great that the album did become a hit. But nowadays people only seem to remember songs from the first album. Check out "Pearl's Cafe" and "International Jet Set" for example.

From Quiz Early New Wave Music

Answer: Start Of The Breakdown

Roland and Curt had gotten their start in a five piece ska band called Graduate, but left due to the bands lack of creativity. The album this song appeared on is "The Hurting."

From Quiz New Wave- Music of the 70s

Answer: We're a happy family

"Rock and Roll High School" was the 1978 movie which featured The Ramones. Lead singer Joey Ramone was not related to guitarist Dee Dee Ramone nor any other member of the band.

From Quiz Are you New Wave?

Answer: Duran Duran

Duran Duran has more than a couple of classics that never seem to get old. One of the few bands which everyone knows at least one song or tune.

From Quiz New Wave for Life

Answer: Enola Gay

Ah yes. The Beatles were not the only band from Liverpool. In fact, Liverpool has a long history of synth outfits, Ladytron being one of the most recent examples of this.

From Quiz New Wave 80s Music

Answer: The Cure

Singer Robert Smith used to play with Siouxsie and the Banshees also.

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful Wife!

Answer: Nick Rhodes

John Taylor and Nick Rhodes formed Duran Duran in 1978 in Birmingham, England. Simon Le Bon was the band's third attempt at finding a lead singer and joined in 1980. John Taylor, the band's bass guitarist, stepped away from the band in 1998 and only rejoined in 2001. Roger Taylor, the band's drummer, joined in 1979, left in 1986 and then rejoined in 2001.

From Quiz Name The New Wave Tune

Answer: "You Spin Me Round" (Dead Or Alive)

Dead Or Alive also had "A Brand New Lover," and the band went through the 90s. However, lead singer Pete Burns left the group and got surgery to make him look like a women. Because of it, he has failing organs and sores on his lips.

From Quiz New Wave / Post Punk Quotes IV - the easy one

Answer: "The Mercy Seat" - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

Even though Cave and his Seeds recorded the definitive version of this song themselves, you should also check out the cover version Johnny Cash recorded of this song in 2000, on the album "American III: Solitary Man".

From Quiz Early New Wave Music

Answer: Stand And Deliver

Adam and his Ants were at first considered to be unfashionable by the British press. By the time the USA saw Adam on MTV he was a fashion icon. "Stand and Deliver" is on the "Prince Charming" album.

From Quiz New Wave- Music of the 70s

Answer: The Patti Smith Group

Patti used to take a break from singing at her concerts and recite her original poetry. "Because the Night" was written by Patti and Bruce Springsteen. Patti was married to MC-5 member, Fred 'Sonic' Smith from 1980 until his death in 1994.

From Quiz New Wave for Life

Answer: Bondage XXX

"Well I'm black and blue, Baby I love you." Epic Records realeased Adam Ant's first album, "Dirk Wears White Socks", in 1979.

From Quiz A Flock of New Wave

Answer: The B-52's

The vocals of the B-52's blended the retro girl harmonies of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson with the punk-like shouting energy of Fred Schneider. Pierson and Cindy sported a beehive hairdo that in earlier decades was called the B-52 for resembling the nosecone of the strategic bomber aircraft. Their many hits from the 1970s-80s included "Rock Lobster", "Private Idaho", "Wig", and "Love Shack". When John Lennon heard "Rock Lobster", he told 'Rolling Stone' magazine, "it sounds just like [Yoko] Ono's music, so I said to meself, 'it's time to get out the old axe and wake the wife up!'". He then made his last album, "Double Fantasy" (1980). There were other hubs of New Wave that formed in the United States, with very successful and influential acts. The Cars, led by Ric Ocasek, came from Boston. The Knack, whose "My Sharona" was released in 1979, was formed in Los Angeles, as was Oingo Boingo, founded by Danny Elfman, who went on to have a career composing film scores, including those of 'Batman' (1989) and 'Dumbo' (2019).

From Quiz This is Not My Beautiful Wife!

Answer: The Police

Whilst all these bands have three members, only The Police features the line-up of Sumner, Summers and Copeland. Of course Sumner is better known by his stage name of Sting. The Police are also the only one of the four bands that can be considered to be part of the New Wave pantheon. Nirvana IS 'grunge'; Green Day is more closely aligned with punk; and Cream was part of the rock music scene of the 1960s.

From Quiz Name The New Wave Tune

Answer: INXS

INXS was a huge band with songs like "Need You Tonight," "New Sensation," and "What You Need." There were planning for a huge tour, but in 1997, lead singer Michael Hutchence committed suicide. In 2006, INXS joined VH1 for a reality show where they got a new lead singer. Today they still tour as INXS.

From Quiz 80s Music: New Wave / Vol. 2

Answer: Love and Rockets

The self-titled 1989 release features the mild hit "So Alive", and it also features the songs "No Big Deal", "Jungle Law", and "Bound for Hell". After the album was released, Love and Rockets toured America with The Godfathers as an opening act.

From Quiz 80s Music: New Wave / Vol. I

Answer: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me

"Shiver and Shake", "One More Time", and "Icing Sugar" by The Cure appear on the 1987 release "Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me". The Cure had moderate U.S. success with this album, which also featured the singles "Why Can't I Be You?", "Hot, Hot, Hot", and "Just Like Heaven".

From Quiz Rip It Up - New Wave/Post Punk Quotes Part V

Answer: "Spasticus (Autisticus)" - Ian Dury & the Blockheads

This 1981 single was banned by the BBC, even though it was written in order to celebrate the International Year of the Disabled. Singer Ian Dury was somewhat disabled. He suffered the effects of a dose of polio he contracted when he was seven years old.

From Quiz New Wave / Post Punk Quotes IV - the easy one

Answer: "Back To Nature" - Fad Gadget

After playing a pioneering role in the development of darkly funny synth music in the early 80s, Fad Gadget aka. Frank Tovey disappeared from view somewhat. In 2001 he decided to revive his Fad Gadget alter ego, released a 'Best Of' and played some truly great live shows. But, while on the verge of coming back, on April 3, 2002, he unexpectedly passed away, due to heart failure. He's sadly missed.

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Last Updated Dec 21 2024 5:51 AM

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