Name-In' the Band Trivia Quiz

Answer: Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam were part of the grunge movement that emerged in Washington in the early 1990s. Their immensely successful first album, "Ten", was released in 1991. The band originally claimed that their name was inspired by singer Eddie Vedder's great-grandmother, whose name was Pearl.

They later admitted that while his relative was called Pearl, she was not the reason the band decided on the name.

Answer: Jackson 5

Jackson 5 began as three brothers from the Jackson family (which contained ten siblings in all) performing music together in 1964. They had enormous success as a group and some of the brothers also had successful solo careers. As a child, Michael Jackson was a member of the Jackson 5. As an adult, he was widely regarded as one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century.

Answer: Franz Ferdinand

Archduke Franz Fredinand was assassinated in June 1914. His death was one of the events that led to the start of World War I. Franz Ferdinand was also the name of a British rock band that formed in 2002. According to the band, they mainly took the name because they liked the alliteration.

Although for the most part they were not inspired by the historical events, Franz Ferdinand recorded the track "All for You, Sophia", which was about the assassination.

Answer: Peter, Paul and Mary

The band consisted of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers. They were a folk band that formed in 1961 after manager Albert Grossman auditioned singers for the group. Some of their biggest hits included "Puff, the Magic Dragon" and covers of Bob Dylan songs like "Blowin' in the Wind".

Answer: Frankie

Frankie Goes to Hollywood had controversial beginnings. Their debut single, "Relax" was banned by the BBC for its explicit content. The single still made it to the top of the UK charts and was played on other radio stations. The band received numerous awards, including NME and Brit awards. Their name was inspired by a magazine article about Frank Sinatra.

Answer: Kings of Leon

Kings of Leon was made of four members of the Followill family (three brothers and a cousin). They formed a band in 1999 and named themselves after their grandfather, Leon. "Use Somebody" was one of their most successful singles. It was on the tracklist of "Only by the Night", one of their most successful albums.

Answer: Joy Division

Originally, the members of Joy Division went by the name 'Warsaw' after a David Bowie song. After a year or two, they renamed themselves as Joy Division, which was a reference to the 1955 novel "House of Dolls". Despite having 'joy' in their name, their lyrics were known for their dark and brooding tone.

Answer: The Hollies

Not only is 'Holly' the name of a plant, it's also a forename most commonly given to females, but also occasionally to males. The band went through a series of names (and a series of lineups) before settling on The Hollies in 1962. The band continued to tour and produce music well into the 21st century, though the band members changed multiple times over the years.

Answer: Steely Dan

Steely Dan were an American band known for their mix of jazz and pop. Guitarist Walter Becker was one of the founding members. When he died in 2017, the rest of the band continued to tour, paying tribute to the member they lost by performing one of his solo songs.

The name 'Dan' is a forename in its own right, but it can also be short for longer names like Daniel or Danielle. Steely Dan, however, wasn't named after a real person.

Answer: Simon and Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel were named after their two members: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel. Some of their most well-known hits include "The Sound of Silence", "Mrs. Robinson", and "Bridge over Troubled Water". All three singles earned a Grammy Hall of Fame Award.