The Observable Universe Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hawkwind

A very long-lived band (still active at the time of writing) with a cult following, Hawkwind are known to most rock fans because Lemmy of Motorhead fame was one of its early members. Guitarist/keyboardist Dave Brock has been Hawkwind's only constant member ever since the band first came together in 1969 in the West London neighbourhood of Ladbroke Grove. Bassist Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister joined the band in 1971 for their third album, "Doremi Fasol Latido", and stayed with them until he was kicked out in 1975 after a drug-related incident.

Hawkwind's music is characterized by driving, hypnotic guitar riffs, swirling keyboard textures, electronic effects, and lyrics inspired by urban and science fiction themes. In the Seventies, the band's live performances became renowned (and notorious) for their elaborate light shows and the presence of nude or topless dancers. Among the band's large cast of former members there are drummer Ginger Baker (of Cream fame), singer-songwriter Arthur Brown, and English science fiction/fantasy writer Michael Moorcock. "Masters of the Universe" appears on Hawkwind's second album, "In Search of Space" (1971), and "Space Is Deep" on the above-mentioned "Doremi Fasol Latido"; the band's iconic first double live album, released in 1973, bears the title of "Space Ritual".

Answer: Starship Trooper

David Bowie's vast body of work is packed with references to space travel and science fiction. In fact, in the mid-Seventies he adopted the alter ego of androgynous, alien rockstar Ziggy Stardust, whose backing band was named The Spiders from Mars. Bowie's fascination with space, however, was already evident early in his career: his second, self-titled album (1969) opens with the famous song "Space Oddity", inspired by Stanley Kubrick's iconic film "2001: A Space Odyssey". "Life on Mars?" appears on his 1971 album "Hunky Dory", and "Starman" on "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" (1972). Bowie's final album and swan song, released two days before his death in January 2016, is also titled "Blackstar".

"Starship Trooper" first appeared on progressive rock band Yes's third album, "The Yes Album" (1970). Like Bowie's, Yes's output also features frequent references to space travel and heavenly bodies.

Answer: Truckin(g)

Written by all five members of the band's Mark II (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice), "Space Truckin'" closes Deep Purple's "Machine Head" in style, with lyrics about space travel and a driving chorus that highlights vocalist Ian Gillan's trademark high-pitched screams. The song, however, truly came into its own during the band's live performances, with a lengthy instrumental coda that showcased Jon Lord's skills on the Hammond organ, as well as Ritchie Blackmore's inspired guitar soloing and wild showmanship - which involved throwing his guitar into the air, playing it with his feet, or even smashing it to pieces.

"Space Truckin'" has been covered numerous times by various bands and artists, including Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, and William Shatner.

Answer: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Titled after Chapter 7 in Kenneth Grahame's1908 children's book "The Wind in the Willows", Pink Floyd's debut album was the only one that saw the full participation of founding member Syd Barrett. The album is considered one of the undisputed masterpieces of psychedelic rock, and the two songs mentioned in the question were for many years among the mainstays of the band's live shows. Album opener "Astronomy Domine", whose lyrics reference various planets and moons, was written by Barrett himself. On the other hand, the instrumental (and highly experimental) "Interstellar Overdrive" - clocking in at almost 10 minutes - was composed by all four band members (Barrett, Roger Waters, Richard Wright, and Nick Mason).

"A Saucerful of Secrets", Pink Floyd's second album, was released in 1968, "Atom Heart Mother" in 1970, and "Obscured by Clouds" in 1972.

Answer: Starsailor

Released in November 1970, "Starsailor" was the sixth studio album by Tim Buckley, and his first deviation from his folk-rock origins. The music on the album incorporates elements of free jazz and avant-garde, making the most of Buckley's unique vocal delivery; though a part of his fanbase disliked this change of style, "Starsailor" is widely considered Buckley's masterpiece. The best-known of the album's tracks, "Song to the Siren", has been covered by a number of artists, including Red Hot Chili Peppers' guitarist John Frusciante. On the other hand, the song "Starsailor" is a much more experimental offering, mostly centred on Buckley's amazing vocal acrobatics - very intriguing, but definitely not for the faint of heart!

Tim Buckley died in 1975 of a drug overdose, at the age of 28. In 1997, his son, singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley, drowned in the Mississippi River, at the age of 30, during an evening swim.

"Starrider" (1977) is a song by Foreigner, while "Starbreaker" (also 1977) is by Judas Priest, and "Stargazer" (1976) by Rainbow.

Answer: Blue Öyster Cult

Established in 1972, Blue Öyster Cult (shortened as BÖC) are still active and touring regularly at the time of writing, and released their most recent album in October 2020. Founding members (and main songwriters) Eric Bloom and Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser are still on board. Like Hawkwind (see Q.1), they have collaborated with English fantasy/sci-fi author Michael Moorcock.

"Workshop of the Telescopes", written by all five members of the band, plus their manager Sandy Pearlman, appeared on BÖC's self-titled debut album (1972). Written by Albert and Joe Bouchard (the band's original bassist and drummer), with lyrics by Pearlman, "Astronomy" was the closing track of their third album, "Secret Treaties" (1974), and was subsequently included (though with a new arrangement) on their 1988 concept album, "Imaginos"; a live version appears on BÖC's second live album, "Some Enchanted Evening" (1978). "Astronomy" was also covered by Metallica on their 1998 album "Garage Inc.".

Answer: Walking on the Moon

"Walking on the Moon" was the second single released from The Police's second - and breakthrough - album "Reggatta de Blanc" (1979). The song originally had nothing to do with the moon, but was written by bassist/vocalist Sting after a concert in Munich, while pacing around his hotel room and singing "walking 'round the room". Sparse and atmospheric, the song is built around a three-note bass riff, with a strong reggae influence - also echoed by Sting's mock-Jamaican accent. In the video shot at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the band members mime playing their instruments among spacecraft displays. "Walking on the Moon" reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.

"Moon Over Bourbon Street" also has a Police connection, as it appears on Sting's debut solo album, "The Dream of the Blue Turtles" (1985). "To the Moon and Back" (1996) is a song by Australian duo Savage Garden, and "Bark at the Moon" (1985) is the title-track of Ozzy Osbourne's third album.

Answer: Orion

Considered by many Metallica's most accomplished album, "Master of Puppets" was released in March 1986. Immediately after its release, the band embarked on a lengthy tour to promote the album. During the tour's European leg, on 26 September 1986, Cliff Burton was killed in a road accident near Stockholm. He was only 24 years old. The magnificent, bass-driven instrumental "Orion", one of Metallica's most progressive compositions, written by Burton with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, was played at his memorial service, on 7 October 1986. Burton never had the opportunity to play the song on stage prior to his untimely death: Metallica started performing "Orion" in its entirety only in the 2000s with bassist Robert Trujillo, who joined the band in 2003 after the departure of Jason Newsted, the bassist who had replaced Burton.

"Aquarius" (released as a medley with "Let the Sunshine In" in 1969) is a song by The 5th Dimension, from the musical "Hair", while "Gemini" (2018) is by Keith Urban, and "Hydra" (1979) is the title track of Toto's second album.

Answer: Tangerine Dream

Founded in 1967 in West Berlin by multi-instrumentalist Edgar Froese, who was the only constant member of the band until his death in 2015, Tangerine Dream had a pivotal role in the development of German "kosmische" (cosmic) music (also known by the slightly derogatory name of "Krautrock"). Though their most influential works were released in the 1970s, the band have been extremely prolific during over five decades of activity, and at the time of writing are still releasing albums and performing live - albeit with a completely different lineup.

Tangerine Dream's first four studio albums were released between 1970 and 1973 on the Ohr ("ear") label. "Alpha Centauri" (1971) comprises three tracks, two of them - "Flying and Collision of Comas Sola" and the title track - running over 10 minutes. The spacey, organ-heavy soundscapes of the album are influenced by Pink Floyd, especially by tracks such as "Interstellar Overdrive" (see Q. 4) and "A Saucerful of Secrets". All tracks on "Alpha Centauri" were composed by Froese and bandmates Chris Franke and Steve Schroyder. Interestingly (and in keeping with the topic of this quiz), the album is dedicated to "all people who feel obliged to space."

Answer: Planet Earth

Immediately upon its release in February 1981, "Planet Earth" brought a a lot of attention to Duran Duran, reaching number 12 on the UK Singles Chart, and number eight in Australia. The song, written by all five members of the band, later appeared on Duran Duran's self-titled debut album, released in June of the same year. The phrase "New Romantic" in the lyrics is one of the earliest acknowledgements of the musical and fashion movement with which Duran Duran and other bands - such as Spandau Ballet and Visage - were associated. The accompanying video, directed by Russell Mulcahy, features the band members dressed in New Romantic garb, playing on a white stage looking like a platform made of snow or ice.

"Planet Claire" (1979) is a song by The B-52's, while "Planet Caravan (1970) is by Black Sabbath, and "Planet Rock" (1982) by Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force.