Essex: the Home of Thames-side Rock'n'Roll! Quiz

Answer: The Tremeloes

The Tremeloes originated in Dagenham in the late 1950s. They and the Beatles were both auditioned by Decca Records on New Year's Day 1962 - and Decca chose to sign The Tremeloes! With Brian Poole taking the lead vocals the band notched up eight chart-placing singles, and following Poole's departure the late 1960s brought more success for the group with family-friendly pop songs like "Here Comes My Baby", "Even The Bad Times Are Good" (both Number Four in the UK), the dreadfully plodding dirge "(Call Me) Number One" (Number Two in the UK) and "Silence Is Golden" (Number One in the UK, Number 11 in the US). Eventually the hits dried up, but members of the band are still performing on "Nostalgia" tours. Looking at the incorrect answer options, all three groups were backing bands in the early 1960s "Merseybeat" boom: the Pacemakers with Gerry Marsden, the Dakotas with Billy J Kramer, and the Dreamers with the execrable, talentless Freddy Garrity (a particularly felicitous combination).

Answer: Procol Harum

Procol Harum recorded the multi-million selling single "A Whiter Shade of Pale" before they even started touring - their first live gig was as support for Jimi Hendrix. The song's incomprehensible lyrics and the band's untranslatable name baffled many, but were perhaps quite suited to the zeitgeist of the original "Summer of Love". Clearly they couldn't keep up this momentum, but their albums "Shine On Brightly" and "A Salty Dog" were well-received as early examples of Prog Rock. Constant changes of personnel and differences of opinion over musical direction took their toll, and the band broke up in 1977.

More recently there have been reunion gigs and albums. Looking at the incorrect answer options, all three groups were German electronic music groups - Neu! in particular were brilliant, especially their "Neu! 75" album (a John Peel favourite). Gary Brooker RIP.

Answer: Excerpt from a Teenage Opera

French musician Mark Wirtz devised the concept of "A Teenage Opera" and got Keith West to sing vocals on "Excerpt" as a taster for the whole work. Sadly EMI treated the single as a one-off novelty hit and didn't back the production of the whole opera, and so the whole project died a death.

The band Tomorrow, including Keith West and Steve Howe, were a massive favourite of John Peel's, and he played their single "My White Bicycle" frequently. Looking at the incorrect answer options, all three are tracks from "Tommy", the rock opera recorded by The Who.

Answer: Dr. Feelgood

Dr. Feelgood were fabulous, with a great rhythm section, Wilko Johnson's choppy lead guitar sound and the singing and harmonica playing of Lee Brilleaux. Their classic single was "Milk and Alcohol" (Number Nine in 1979), and their live LP "Stupidity" hit Number One in 1976.

Their influence was phenomenal: one critic said "Dr. Feelgood are remembered in rock history...as John the Baptists to punk's messiahs". Lee Brilleaux RIP.

Answer: The Kursaal Flyers

The Kursaal Flyers are a classic one-hit-wonder band - they worked the circuit for years, got a taste of success and then died. Funnily enough, the band's banjo player Richie Bull was in the same year as me at school in Grays. Looking at the incorrect answer options, all three are bands from the Pub Rock scene in the early 70s; Ian Dury was in Kilburn and the High Roads.

Answer: Eddie and the Hot Rods

Eddie and the Hot Rods occupied a little niche where Rock'n'Roll met Punk. They attracted a younger audience than did other Pub Rock bands, due to their loud, fast playing and exciting style. However, at the end of the day they were not Punk enough for real Punks. Eddie was actually a dummy that stood on the stage with the band at their early gigs, but he was soon discarded.

They played a gig in Belfast in 1976 - they were the first band to come over for years, owing to the Troubles - and basically everyone in the audience went out after the gig and formed a band themselves. Looking at the incorrect answer options, all three are bands from the Pub Rock scene in the early 70s.

Answer: Depeche Mode

Depeche Mode still has three of its original four members in its line-up as of the time this quiz was written, and I'm sure that never in their wildest dreams did they think they would be as successful and as influential as they've become. I remember them performing "New Life" on "Top of the Pops" - they were all so young and gauche! Their present-day, darker music is a testament to how far they've come.

Answer: Alison Moyet

Alison Moyet has a wonderful bluesy voice, and has made some great records. She's also been very courageous in talking about her psychological problems, and was awarded an MBE in 2021. She is also a passionate supporter of Southend United, and can often be seen standing on the terraces at a match.

Answer: The Prodigy

"Firestarter" in particular is remarkable because of the astonishing video associated with it. The lead singer, Keith Flint, looked outrageous. To be totally honest, I hated it.

Answer: Sandie Shaw

Sandie Shaw was one of the most successful British solo woman singers ever - in fact, it's thought that "Puppet on a String" (the Eurovision winner in 1967) is the biggest selling single by a British female artist of all time. Her other Number Ones were "(There's) Always Something There to Remind Me" (1964) and "Long Live Love" (1965).

She revived her career in 1984, charting with The Smiths on "Hand in Glove". She finally announced her retirement in 2013. Funnily enough, a lad I was at school with went out with her while she was working at Fords before she was famous. Looking at the incorrect answer options, all three were female singers from the 1960s.