10 The Day the Music Died Questions | Music Celebs Mixed Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ian Curtis

Curtis was born in Macclesfield, an industrial town located in northern England. He learned to play bass guitar at a young age and later formed the band Joy Division. Curtis was epileptic and struggled with the disease. His life began spiraling out of control when he began an affair while still married to his wife, who in turn filed for divorce. Those close to the singer believe the medications he was taking for epilepsy contributed to his suicide.

His signature song, "Love Will Tear Us Apart", is inscribed on his tombstone.

Answer: Sid Vicious

Before joining the influential punk rock band, Sid Vicious, born John Ritchie, played drums for Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Flowers of Romance, also punk rock bands. The charismatic but troubled musician and his girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, were big news for a while, especially after her mysterious death from a stab wound. Sid was charged with her murder.

Not long after, Sid himself died from a drug overdose. Some have claimed that his own mother admitted to killing her son in order to prevent him from going to prison. Whatever the truth, any secrets connected to the deaths of Sid Vicious and Nancy Spungen have long been buried.

Answer: Andrew Wood

The Seattle grunge scene was huge in the 1990s, due in part to talented grunge musicians Andrew Wood, Kurt Cobain, Chris Cornell, and others. Wood hailed from the state of Washington, so becoming a member of a grunge band in Seattle during those years seemed natural.

His larger-than-life stage persona made him stand out. After Wood's death, two of his band members, Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard, went on to form another rock band. The name of that band? Pearl Jam.

Answer: Ron McKernan

The Grateful Dead had several incarnations before reaching the pinnacle of success with their eclectic sound. With his soulful voice, Ron McKernan, at the young age of sixteen, was personally chosen by Jerry Garcia to join what was then Garcia's band, the Zodiacs.

The rest was history, albeit a short one for McKernan. While other rock stars medicated themselves with drugs, he chose Southern Comfort. He reluctantly joined the 27 Club(singers who have died at age 27) when he was found dead from internal bleeding.

Answer: Janis Joplin

Joplin was born in Texas in 1943. Like many of her generation, she chafed at the rules imposed by society. She became part of the counterculture that dominated much of the 1960s. In the summer of 1967 Janis, along with Big Brother and the Holding Company, performed on stage at the Monterey Pop Festival.

She was a hit. In 1969, along with many popular bands of the day, Janis sang at the historic Woodstock rock festival. A restless spirit, she often seemed troubled and turned to drugs and alcohol to ease her pain.

Her pivotal song "Piece of My Heart" endeared her to a generation of rock fans since much of what she experienced in life was poignantly reflected in her music. Janis Joplin died of an overdose of heroin in the fall of 1970.

Answer: Steve Gaines

Who can forget the rock anthem "Sweet Home Alabama" which appeared on the band's second and biggest selling album, "Second Helping"? Steve Gaines took over as guitarist for the band after they had already become established. The band's Southern style drew many fans.

At the time of the crash, Lynyrd Skynyrd was heading for Baton Rouge, Louisiana on a tour that had, until that point, been going well. Also killed in the crash were Steve's sister, Cassie, road manager Dean Kilpatrick, and both pilots.

Answer: Cass Elliot

Due to infidelities and bickering between members of the band, The Mamas & The Papas broke up after only three years together. Cass, born Ellen Cohen, was as much into hard drugs as the members of her band and other bands popular at that time. After The Mamas & The Papas broke up, sold-out concerts at the London Palladium solidified her career as a solo performer, interrupted only by her death in 1974 from a heart attack.

Answer: Shannon Hoon

After the birth of his daughter, Hoon tried to come clean. The Indiana native had hired a personal drug counselor to be by his side day and night. Unfortunately, by that time Hoon was so addicted to cocaine that he overdosed and died in his sleep. His drug counselor was not present, having been fired by Hoon days earlier.

After Noon's death, Blind Melon continued on for a few more years with a new vocalist until they broke up in 1999.

Answer: Cliff Burton

Cliff Burton was 24 at the time of his death. At age 13 he began learning to play the guitar, honing his skills and later performing with his first band, Trauma. Noticed for his technical skills, two members of Metallica invited him to join their band to replace their bass guitarist. What caused the bus to crash that fateful day? The bus driver claimed that the bus hit a patch of black ice on the road, although no black ice was found on that stretch of road. Band member Kirk Hammett has maintained that he smelled alcohol on the driver. Whatever the cause of the crash, the bus driver was ultimately not held responsible.

Answer: Chester Bennington

Bennington had a big voice and knew how to use it. Before he fronted Linkin Park he sang lead vocals for Stone Temple Pilots as well as his own band, Dead by Sunrise. He began using drugs at an early age but eventually overcame his addictions. He was close friends with Chris Cornell, lead vocalist of Soundgarden, who committed suicide in the exact manner as Bennington two months earlier. Bennington left behind a wife, six children, and many grieving fans.