Pastime with Numerical Band Names Quiz

Answer: 10000 Maniacs

The bands: 10cc. Haircut 100. 1000 Mexicans. 10000 Maniacs.

The arithmetic: 10,100,1000,10000.

10cc had their major success in the 70s. The band name has to do with the a self-proclaimed more-than-average potency of the band. And they mean both masculine and musical potency. Their greatest hit was "I'm Not In Love" (1975).

Haircut 100 was an 80s UK pop band which entered 4 hits to the UK top 10 in 1981-2.

1000 Mexicans was an 80s UK Indie band, their song "Diving for Pearls" is high on my play list.

US alternative band 10000 Maniacs featured vocalist Natalie Merchant. In 1998 she took part in Billy Bragg & Wilco's Woody Guthrie tribute albums, titled "Mermaid Avenue" and "Mermaid Avenue 2".

Answer: Porcupine Three

Actually it's Porcupine Tree. Sorry if I have misled you!
Spacemen 3 were one of the pioneers of late 80s UK neo-psychadelia.
Fun Boy Three were an offshoot of UK reggae/ska band The Specials.
The Three Johns are a New Wave band hailing from Leeds, UK.

Answer: 4

The bands: Gang of Four. 4 Non Blondes.

Gang of Four were active in the post-punk and later new wave UK scene. Their leader David Allen went on to form Shriekback, then returned to rekindle Gang of Four from time to time. The band name is a wink towards the common name for the four ousted Chinese leaders following Mao Zedong's death in 1976 (Mao's wife was one of them).

4 Non Blondes were a one-hit wonder ("What's Up") from US.

Answer: 23

That was a giveaway. Of the four choices, only 23 is a prime number.

Also, "23 skidoo" was American slang for "go away" (http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/393450.html).

UK band 23 Skidoo created music in a collage of styles - industrial, experimental, punk-rock and even dance.

Answer: 13 Moons

A superb albeit little known band, 13 Moons from Sweden created jazzy, gloomy, lovely and heartwarming music. Their albums "Little Dreaming Boy" (1986) and "Origins" (1987) are masterpieces. I like to listen to them in the winter. I am still looking for their third album "You Will Find Mercy On Your Road" (1992?).

Answer: Both

U2, the "Dragon Lady", was a prominent US spy plane in the 1950s and 1960s.
B52 is a veteran strategic bomber plane used by USAF.

Answer: p=42,q=40,r=5,s=242

The bands: Level 42. UB40. MC5. Front 242.

The arithmetic: 42+(40*5)=242.

Front 242, a Belgian industrial-turned-electronic band rooted in the scene since the early 80s. They are considered as one of the pioneers of electronic dance music. One of the band members calls himself... Richard 23.

Answer: All of these

The bands: 808 State. 101ers. Nine Inch Nails. Maroon 5. Amun Duul II.

The arithmetic:

H=808. I=101. J=9. K=5. L=2.

H+I+(J*K*L)=808+101+(9*5*2)=999
(I*K*L)-(J+L)=(101*5*2)-(9+2)=999
L*(H-I)-K*(L+J*J)=2*(808-101)-5*(2+9*9)=999

Answer: L7

The bands: Sham 69. Matchbox 20. L7.

The arithmetic: 69-20=7*7.

L7, a hard-hitting female rock band from LA. L7 is also a pictorial way of refering to a square (i.e. the combination L7 looks like a square). This is one of the possible origins of this band's name.

UK punk band Sham 69 has been in the scene since it started. You will find a lot of 80s bands and artists citing them as a major influence. They even influenced Tony Blair, have a look at http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4289446.stm.

Answer: Gentle Giant 17

Gentle Giant was a formidable progressive rock band. No number was attached to its name however. In the early 70s, it had a unique lineup which included 3 brothers (Derek, Phil and Ray Shulman). In my view GG was one of the most versatile progrock bands, and each of their albums provides a unique experience.

UK electronic pop 80s band Heaven 17 took their name from a band mentioned in Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange". They are active to date.

Early 90s boy band East 17 originated from Walthamstow, London (where the postal code is E17). E-17 was a late 90s reincarnation of this band. Walthamstow was also home to the Small Wonder record shop and label and to few of its artists, e.g. Patrik Fitzgerald (if this intrigues you, I got an online quiz dedicated to Small Wonder).

Hope you had fun taking this light quiz of mine. Cheers!