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Rock of Ages; 1980s Music Trivia Quiz

Rock of Ages; the (semi) ultimate 80s quiz: if you are a music lover and didn't spend the entire decade glued to MTV, you shouldn't have too many problems with this quiz. Let's see who is the real "boss".

A multiple-choice quiz by roho23. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
roho23

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
118,436

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
6 / 15

Plays
3348

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. An album by this band was recorded live, entirely within the confines of a church in Toronto, Canada. Hint

The Cure

The Cowboy Junkies

Tom Cochrane and Red Rider

Bauhaus

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Question 2 of 15

2. This singer/songwriter has provided hit songs for Jeff Healey, Buddy Guy, Suzy Bogguss, and most notably for Bonnie Raitt with "Thing Called Love". Hint

John Hiatt

John Prine

Townes Van Zandt

Guy Clarke

NEXT>

Question 3 of 15

3. This hair band, whose title takes a bandmember's last name, had a live album called "Beast from the East". Hint

Dokken

Slaughter

Winger

Van Halen

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Question 4 of 15

4. This duo from the mid-80's had minor hits with "Swallowed by the Cracks" and "Welcome to the Boomtown". Hint

The Proclaimers

Pet Shop Boys

The Boomtown Rats

David & David

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Question 5 of 15

5. Put these landmark albums in chronological order. Hint

Nebraska, Moving Pictures, Brothers In Arms, Appetite For Destruction

Moving Pictures, Nebraska, Brothers in Arms, Appetite For Destruction

Nebraska, Brothers In Arms, Appetite For Destruction, Moving Pictures

Moving Pictures, Appetite For Destruction, Nebraska, Brothers In Arms

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Question 6 of 15

6. Which of these albums did NOT receive a Grammy for Best Album during the 80's? Hint

"Toto IV" - Toto

"Born in the U.S.A" - Bruce Springsteen

"Faith" - George Michael

"No Jacket Required" - Phil Collins

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Question 7 of 15

7. Who co-produced all of Don Henley's solo work during the decade? Hint

Danny Kortchmar

Daniel Lanois

T-Bone Burnett

Mitchell Froom

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Question 8 of 15

8. Here's a gimmie: The Thompson Twins are composed of how many members? Hint

NEXT>

Question 9 of 15

9. Way before Van Halen peaked with "1984", they considered which of the following names for the band before settling with VH? Hint

Rat Salade

Crab Bisque

Redd Slipperz

Poc Marx

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Question 10 of 15

10. What band had hits with "Your Love" and "Everytime You Cry" on their album "Play Deep"?

Answer: (Two Words, think baseball)

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Question 11 of 15

11. What female artist released a music video that mocked Robert Palmer's
"mannequin drones" videos by using shirtless men in the background? Hint

Sinead O' Connor

Toni Childs

Michelle Shocked

Suzanne Vega

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Question 12 of 15

12. Which of the following bands broke up at the end of the decade because their last album, "Don't Tell a Soul", failed to meet their expectations on the charts? Hint

The Replacements

The Pixies

Husker Du

Lloyd Cole and The Commotions

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Question 13 of 15

13. Who was the only artist to perform in both London and Philadelphia for Live Aid on July 13, 1985? Hint

Sting

Elton John

Eric Clapton

Phil Collins

NEXT>

Question 14 of 15

14. As of the end of the Millennium, what was the biggest selling album (besides Michael Jackson's "Thriller")that was RELEASED in the 1980's? Hint

Prince - "Purple Rain"

Billy Joel - "Greatest Hits, Volumes 1 and 2 (1973-1985)"

Def Leppard - "Hysteria"

Guns and Roses - "Appetite for Destruction"

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Question 15 of 15

15. And finally, what artist/musician has never caught fire on stage? Hint

Michael Jackson

David Lee Roth

James Hetfield

Gene Simmons

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. An album by this band was recorded live, entirely within the confines of a church in Toronto, Canada.

Answer: The Cowboy Junkies

The Cowboy Junkies' "The Trinity Session" was recorded live, November 27, 1987 in the Church of the Holy Trinity and released the following year.

2. This singer/songwriter has provided hit songs for Jeff Healey, Buddy Guy, Suzy Bogguss, and most notably for Bonnie Raitt with "Thing Called Love".

Answer: John Hiatt

Other artists who have performed Hiatt's songs include: Iggy Pop, Gregg Allman, Joe Cocker, Ry Cooder, Bruce Springsteen, Linda Ronstadt, Don Henley, Bob Dylan, and dozens of others! "Thing Called Love" was co-written with Fred Koller.

3. This hair band, whose title takes a bandmember's last name, had a live album called "Beast from the East".

Answer: Dokken

It was Dokken's last album with the band's original line-up. As with the majority of rock groups who relied on hair, makeup, and Spandex, Grunge came along and put most of them out of work.

4. This duo from the mid-80's had minor hits with "Swallowed by the Cracks" and "Welcome to the Boomtown".

Answer: David & David

From their 1986 album, "Welcome to the Boomtown".

5. Put these landmark albums in chronological order.

Answer: Moving Pictures, Nebraska, Brothers in Arms, Appetite For Destruction

"Moving Pictures" - Rush - 1981; "Nebraska" - Bruce Springsteen - 1982; "Brothers in Arms" - Dire Straits - 1985; "Appetite For Destruction" - Guns & Roses - 1987

6. Which of these albums did NOT receive a Grammy for Best Album during the 80's?

Answer: "Born in the U.S.A" - Bruce Springsteen

Lionel Richie's "Can't Slow Down" beat out Springsteen in 1985. Go figure.

7. Who co-produced all of Don Henley's solo work during the decade?

Answer: Danny Kortchmar

Kortchmar also co-wrote most of Henley's songs.

8. Here's a gimmie: The Thompson Twins are composed of how many members?

Answer: 3

No, they aren't twins. They're not even related.

9. Way before Van Halen peaked with "1984", they considered which of the following names for the band before settling with VH?

Answer: Rat Salade

Thank goodness they didn't. They once called themselves "Mammoth" before they learned another band claimed ownership of that name.

10. What band had hits with "Your Love" and "Everytime You Cry" on their album "Play Deep"?

Answer: the outfield

It was released in April, 1985.

11. What female artist released a music video that mocked Robert Palmer's "mannequin drones" videos by using shirtless men in the background?

Answer: Michelle Shocked

The song was "On the Greener Side". A far departure from her first two releases, Shocked's "Captain Swing" contained music (as the title suggests) from the Texas Swing genre.

12. Which of the following bands broke up at the end of the decade because their last album, "Don't Tell a Soul", failed to meet their expectations on the charts?

Answer: The Replacements

Although their last official album was "All Shook Down" in 1990, it was considered to be a solo album for lead singer Paul Westerberg. The other band members' names were more or less slapped into the liner notes.

13. Who was the only artist to perform in both London and Philadelphia for Live Aid on July 13, 1985?

Answer: Phil Collins

After performing at Wembley Stadium, Collins flew by Concorde to New York, and then by helicopter to JFK Stadium in Philadelphia.

14. As of the end of the Millennium, what was the biggest selling album (besides Michael Jackson's "Thriller")that was RELEASED in the 1980's?

Answer: Billy Joel - "Greatest Hits, Volumes 1 and 2 (1973-1985)"

Ending December 31, 2000: Billy Joel - "Greatest Hits", 21 million copies; Guns and Roses - "Appetite for Destruction", 15 million; Prince - "Purple Rain", 13 million; and Def Leppard - "Hysteria", 12 million were sold.

Not too bad an accomplishment for Joel, considering it was a double album.

15. And finally, what artist/musician has never caught fire on stage?

Answer: David Lee Roth

Although Jackson has proved that you don't need long hair to accomplish this feat.

Source: Author roho23

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bullymom before going online.
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