Bands in Movies Quiz | Something in Common

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1. The Beatles are a classic example of a band that appeared in movies that were designed especially for them. Which of the following movies, however, did not have anything much to do with them?

Answer: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is the classic example of people in Hollywood doing way too much cocaine in the 70s. This 1978 monstrosity has a narrative - if it can be called that much - based on about 30 Beatles songs, which of course makes no sense at all. Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees prance around, looking like complete idiots, playing the leads, with support from Frankie Howerd, Donald Pleasence, Steve Martin, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, George Burns, Keith Carradine, Bobby Womack, Tina Turner, Franki Valli, Donovan, Robert Palmer, Dr. John, and quite a few other poor deluded souls. Needless to say, it was a giant flop. See it once, purely out of paleonthological interest, and then have a lobotomy to forget all about it.

2. In this 1980 movie an actor called Ray Gange plays 'Ray', who's a roadie for a famous band. The film features actual documentary footage of social unrest in late 70's England, such as demonstrations by extreme rightist thugs. The most interesting thing about the movie is the live footage of this seminal band, recorded during their most ferocious period. What's the name of the movie, and who is the band?

Answer: "Rude Boy" - The Clash

"Rude Boy" was directed by Jack Hazan and David Mingay. It didn't only feature live performances by the Clash, but members of the band also tried a spot of acting, mostly abusing roadie Ray, and punching him for no good reason. The Clash appear in quite a few other concert films, but the only other time they appeared together, acting in a film, is a 'blink and you'll miss it' moment in Martin Scorsese's "King of Comedy" (1983), where they appear as street hoodlums, bothering Sandra Bernhard. Clash singer Joe Strummer had the biggest acting 'career' of the band, appearing in Alex Cox' films "Straight To Hell" and "Walker", in Jim Jarmusch' "Mystery Train", in Aki Kaurism�ki's "I Hired a Contract Killer", and a few others.

He also wrote the score for quite a few films. Bass player Paul Simonon did a bit of acting in "Ladies And Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains" (1982).

The two others weren't too interested in acting.

3. The members of Guns N' Roses portrayed a rock band in one of the 'Dirty Harry' sequels. Which one?

Answer: The Dead Pool

Guns N' Roses play members of a band, fronted by singer Johnny Squares, played by Jim Carrey. The only other foray into acting made by members of this band was Slash appearing in the horrible "The Underground Comedy Movie" (2000).

4. Quite a few musicians and affiliates appear in Alex Cox' "Straight To Hell": Elvis Costello, Joe Strummer, Edward Tudor-Pole, Courtney Love, Grace Jones and Dick Rude (who directed the video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Catholic School Girls Rule"). There's even an entire band appearing as a bunch of gunslingers. Which band?

Answer: The Pogues

Director Alex Cox turned down the opportunity to direct "The Three Amigos" to make "Straight To Hell", a spectacularly flawed but entertaining spaghetti western romp. The soundtrack is even better.

5. What was the name of the rags-to-riches story the British band Slade filmed in 1975?

Answer: Slade in Flame

"Slade in Flame", or "Flame" as it was first known, was directed by Richard Loncraine, who also directed the brilliant Shakespeare adaptation "Richard III" (1995), starring Ian McKellen, and the bittersweet comedy "The Missionary" (1982), starring Michael Palin. "Slade in Residence" and "Slade on Holiday" were parts of the TV sketch show "The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer", where British comedians Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer mercilessly send up the band, with hilarious consequences.

6. What was the name of the 1968 movie with which The Monkees tried to definitely shed their reputation as pop-muppets and tried to get a reputation as psychedelic weirdos?

Answer: Head

"Head" was directed by Bob Rafelson and co-written by him and Jack Nicholson.

7. At the start of Tony Scott's day-glo debut vampire flick "The Hunger", (1983) a rather gothic looking band plays one of their most famous songs about a famous horror actor. Who was the band in question?

Answer: Bauhaus

Bauhaus play "Bela Lugosi's Dead" in a club where Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie are cruising for potential victims.

8. In Dan Aykroyd's directorial debut "Nothing But Trouble", (1991) the usual suspects make fools out of themselves, ie. Chevy Chase, John Candy, Aykroyd himself, even Demi Moore. This 'golden age' hiphop crew also appears in the film. They had a few hits, but nowadays they're better known as the crew that gave a superstar-to-be his first break. Who was this crew?

Answer: Digital Underground

In 1991, a few years after their inception, one Tupac Shakur joined Digital Underground, as a dancer and sometime rapper. Check out their singles "Doowutchyalike" (1989), "The Humpty Dance" (1990), and "Kiss You Back" (1991). Tupac was the only member that acted in quite a few other films as well, but the only really good one he ever did was "Gridlock'd" (1997), by Vondie Curtis-Hall.

9. In the middle over Brian De Palma's "Body Double" (1984) all of a sudden Frankie Goes To Hollywood pop up, singing one of their hits. Which one?

Answer: Relax

Actually, it's only Frankie Goes To Hollywood singer Holly Johnson who appears in the film, lipping "Relax" while showing the main character around in a world of excess. This scene strikes one as some sort of video clip for the song, which is in keeping with the rest of the rather cartoonish, but also rather good movie.

10. "200 Motels" was written, scored and co-directed by Frank Zappa. He played most of the music with his band The Mothers Of Invention, and conducted an orchestra for the orchestral parts, but he did not act in the movie. When the other members of the band play out some sketches about life on the road and the craziness and paranoia that comes with it, Zappa himself was played by another musician. Which one?

Answer: Ringo Starr

Ringo's character was actually called Larry The Dwarf, but he was obviously supposed to be Zappa himself. Zappa himself did do some acting. He appeared in the Monkees "Head" film and in episode 57 of the Monkees tv show: "Monkees Blow Their Minds", in which he plays Mike Nesmith.

He also appeared in an episode of "Miami Vice" and did some voice work for the animated series "Ren & Stimpy": in the episode "Powdered Toast Man" he plays the Pope. Ringo Starr wasn't the only musician to play a role in "200 Motels".

His partner in crime Keith Moon appears as a nun. Go see!

Source: Author hootch

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor linkan before going online.
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Bands in Movies Trivia Quiz

Bands and musicians have often been rather keen to appear in the movies. Some projects were developed especially for a musical act, others featured a band, just for the heck of it. This is a quiz about both categories.

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