Dueling Headliners: The World Tour! Quiz

Answer: Broken Bones

The Stones completed their "A Bigger Bang Tour" in August of 2007, raking in a reported $437 million dollars (although rumors that the tour was co-sponsored by Geritol and the British Geriatrics Society have so far been completely unsubstantiated). According to Mick and the 'boys', they have no plans to stop touring or recording for the present.
Styx founding member James Young is still touring with longtime band-mate Tommy Shaw, and a North American tour with Foreigner and Kansas is planned for Spring 2010.
A punk/thrash band formed in England in 1983 (and still headbanging as of present), Broken Bones was a major influence to many thrash metal bands, including Metallica and Slayer.

Answer: Ugly Kid Joe

I didn't know this before I started this quiz, but Ugly Kid Joe choose the name of the band as a parody of Pretty Boy Floyd. Formed in 1989 in Isla Vista, CA., Ugly Kid Joe is best known for their singles "Everything About You" and "Cats in the Cradle" (a Harry Chapin cover). The group disbanded in 1997.
Glam rockers Pretty Boy Floyd came out of Hollywood, CA. in 1987, and released their debut album "Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz" in 1989. "Floyd' broke up in 1991, but re-formed in 1995; while the band has undergone many personnel changes, they are still on the road.

Answer: The Outlaws

Sting, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland took the lyrics to "Don't Stand So Close to Me" to heart in 1984, and The Police parted ways after being together since 1977 (the original line-up also included guitarist Henry Padovani). The trio reunited several times over the years for various reasons, including a tour throughout 2007-2008 which grossed $358 million.
Warrant rode the Glam/Hair Metal tide of the 80's and early 90's to a fair degree of success, with hits such as "Heaven" and "Cherry Pie", and (with a multitude of member changes throughout the years) continue to tour.
Sheriff was a rock band from Canada (1979-1985) with one album (1982's "You Remind Me") and one hit single ("When I'm with You", 1983).
'Southern' rockers The Outlaws, known for such great hits as "There Goes Another Love Song", "Green Grass and High Tides" and the excellent cover of "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky" also still tour, but again have seen many members come and go throughout the years. Sadly, founding member, songwriter and guitarist Hughie Thomasson passed away in 2007, after suffering a heart attack.

Answer: Men At Work

Although the band began in 1968 (in Toronto, Canada), it wasn't until 1974 that the 'classic' Rush line-up of bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer 'extraordinaire' Neil Peart came into being. Their 'Snakes & Arrows' tour ended in 2008, but the band's website has announced that the "Time Machine" tour is green-lighted for 2010.
Traffic was an English psychedelic/progressive/folk/fusion (take your pick) rock band formed in 1967 (disbanded 1969, re-formed 1970-1974, disbanded again, then re-formed again for one 1994 tour), whose best known members were Steve Winwood (Blind Faith) and Dave Mason.
'Slow Moving Millie' is the alter-ego of English actress Amelia Warner, who used the name while writing and performing the song "Beasts" for a Virgin Media TV commercial.
The 'Men' from Down Under (actually, just founding member Colin Hay and saxophonist/flautist Greg Ham) are still 'At Work' performing on occasion with guest musicians, having reunited after a ten-year separation.

Answer: Fine Young Cannibals

The Lost Tourists are an Alternative Rock band out of Frederick, Maryland. From what I gather during my research, they have quite a large and loyal following in the area, and are planning an extensive U.S. tour during the summer of 2010.
The L.A. based Missing Persons (founded in 1980, unfounded in 1986) had several minor hits such as "Destination Unknown" and "Words" (with the help of extensive MTV airplay), but most people probably remember vocalist Dale (wife of drummer Terry) Bozzio's unusual singing style and provocative outfits and makeup more than any significant contribution to the music industry.
Dead Man's Bones consists of actor Ryan Gosling ("The Notebook") and Zach Shields. The duo actually did quite a few shows throughout 2009; check out their music on the web, very cool, haunting stuff.
Fine Young Cannibals got together in 1984 in Birmingham, England (home of Black Sabbath and Judas Priest..go figure), and managed to stay together until 1992 (with a brief reunion in 1996). Their best known singles are "She Drives Me Crazy" (in my opinion, a very catchy tune), "Good Thing" and the Elvis cover "Suspicious Minds".

Answer: Lady Gaga

The Goo Goo Dolls began in 1986 in Buffalo, New York; according to the band, their name was taken from a True Detective magazine ad for a "Goo Goo Doll" toy product. The 'Goos' have quite a few hit singles in their 'crib', including "Name", "Iris", "Slide" and the cover of Supertramp's "Give a Little Bit".
Dada is an alternative rock band that started in 1992 out of Los Angeles, and achieved recognition for the single, "Dizz Knee Land" from their debut album "Puzzle". Dada broke up in 1999, but reunited in 2003, continuing to record and tour.
Kajagoogoo rode the MTV video wave on the strength of their 1983 hit "Too Shy". The group (formed in Bedfordshire, England, 1979) disbanded in 1986, partially re-formed in 2003, then reunited with all original members in 2008.
Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta simplified things considerably (with the help of music producer Rob Fusari) by changing her stage name to Lady Gaga. She is known not only for her hits (including "Just Dance" and "Poker Face"), but also for her 'cutting edge' fashion statements.

Answer: The Killers

Dave Mustaine and the history of Megadeth has been extensively documented, and far too excessive to give justice here. A member of the "Big Four" thrash metal fraternity (along with Metallica, Slayer and Anthrax), the band began the "Rust in Peace 20th Anniversary Tour" in February, 2010.
The reason I wanted to specify the thrash band Slaughter from the undoubtedly more recognizable U.S. group is because I have no doubt the "Up All Night" guys would be eaten alive by this bunch, if this was an actual tour (and probably by the second show). Anyway, the boys from Canada started in Toronto in 1984 playing mostly thrash, disbanded in 1989, then started up again in 1996, leaning more towards death metal the second time around. They split again in 2001, but the band has released several compilation and live albums since.
Slayer has been wrecking havoc on the thrash metal landscape ever since they roared out of California in 1981. Their first two albums (1983's "Show No Mercy" and 1985's "Hell Awaits") got the buzz going, but 1986's "Reign in Blood" (considered mandatory to any metal-head's collection) established the band as one of the genre's "Big Four". Slayer was a co-headliner at the 2009 "Mayhem Festival" (also featuring Marilyn Manson and Killswitch Engage, among others).
Hailing from Las Vegas, the Killers are an Alternative/Punk band formed in 2002. A hard-working 'always-on-the-road' band with more than 15 million albums sold worldwide, The Killers finished their "Day & Age" in February, 2010.

Answer: The Smashing Pumpkins

Philadelphia's Cinderella is another glam rock band who hit the big time in the 80's with hits such as "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)". Despite the ever-present turnover in personnel, the band continues to tour, hooking up in the past with other 80's alumni such as Firehouse, Ratt, Quiet Riot and Warrant.
Lucifer (the name of the 'mean ol' puddy tat' in Disney's 1950 classic "Cinderella") is a Japanese rock band formed in 1999; several of their songs can be heard in the anime "Kaikan Phrase".
While 'The Artist Known As Prince Charming' is an actual performer (as are all of the selections in this quiz) and a natural for this 'tour', the 'bio' section on his website is somewhat vague to say the least. From what I can tell, he is an alternative rock singer/musician from New York, and claims to have performed with bands such as Alien Ant Farm and The Strokes. Anyone interested can check him out on www.princecharming.net.
Guitarist/vocalist Billy Corgan co-founded The Smashing Pumpkins (with guitarist James Iha) in Chicago (1988), and remains with the band at present. Known for several successful albums such as "Siamese Dream" (1993) and "Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness" (1995), the Pumpkins disbanded in 2000, but re-formed again in 2006.

Answer: The Cure

Venom, a thrash/black metal band from England (formed 1979) have been recognized as a major influence of many other bands of the genre, notably thrash's 'Big Four' (Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer), although they have also been widely criticized for their musical abilities (or lack thereof), lyrics and use of Satanic themes and imagery.
Poison was one (and is still) of the more successful glam rock bands of the 80's, and their power-ballad hit "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" still gets airplay to this day. While the group has had their share of members come and go, the 'classic' line-up of Bret Michaels, C.C. DeVille, Bobby Dall and Rikki Rockett are still out there performing (just without quite so much makeup).
As mentioned earlier, New York's Anthrax is also a member of the 'Big Four' elite of thrash metal bands, coming together in 1981 (the same year as Slayer). The band is also considered a 'founding father' in the creation of the 'Rap metal' music style with the 1987 release "I'm the Man" and their collaboration with Public Enemy in 1991 for "Bring the Noise", paving the way for future bands such as P.O.D., Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park.
Robert Smith co-founded The Cure (known first as The Obelisk, then Easy Cure) in West Sussex, England in 1976, and has been the group's only constant member. Originally considered a New Wave band, The Cure's gradual change in musical style (evidenced by the 1980 album "Seventeen Seconds") established them as an important factor in the creation of the Gothic rock genre.

Answer: The Salads

The collaboration between Texas native Meatloaf (b. Marvin Aday, 1947) and songwriter Jim Steinman has been extremely successful, and their first project together, 1977's "Bat out of Hell" (which included the hugely popular "Paradise by the Dashboard Light") went on to chart for nine years and sell over 40 million copies. A talented actor as well, fans (such as myself) of the cult classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" will always remember his role as Eddie, bursting out of the freezer on his motorcycle.
Rap artist Jamal Woolward, while known as 'Gravy' on-stage, is also known for his portrayal of the late Christopher Wallace (The Notorious B.I.G.) in the film "Notorious".
Hot Butter, an instrumental 'synthpop' band (1971-1978) from Copenhagen, Denmark (led by keyboardist Stan Free), are mostly remembered for their 1972 cover version of Gershon Kingsley's composition "Popcorn".
The music of The Black Eyed Peas falls into a variety of styles, including Hip-Hop, Rap. R&B and Dance-Pop. Formed in Los Angeles in 1995, The Peas' have several multi-Platinum albums to their credit, and began their "The E.N.D. (Energy Never Dies)" World Tour in September, 2009.
The Salads are a reggae/punk (with a little pop and ska thrown in) band from Ontario, Canada. Together since 1993, they are another hard-working touring band, and are scheduled to release a new album in the spring of 2010.