The Placebo Effect Trivia Quiz

Answer: Belgium

Molko was born in Belgium to an Italian-American father and a British mother. He and his family moved around a lot during his childhood, and lived in Scotland, Lebanon, Liberia and Luxembourg, where Molko attended an international school along with future Placebo bassist Stefan Olsdal, although the two did not know each other at the time. Molko later studied drama at Goldsmith's University in London.

Answer: 4

Many viewers - me included, as I was 12 at the time - were initially confused by Brian Molko's androgynous presentation (he wore make-up and a dress) when Placebo appeared on 'Top of the Pops' in 1997. The lyrics mentioned drug use and sex, and Molko described the song as 'obscene'. The band also stated that it was a swipe at people who thought it was trendy to be gay.

Answer: Bigmouth Strikes Again

Placebo's cover also appears on the 1996 Smiths tribute album 'The Smiths Is Dead', which also featured Billy Bragg, Supergrass, Bis and the Divine Comedy. In Placebo's version, the lyrics are updated slightly; 'Walkman' is changed to 'Discman' and 'hearing aid' is changed to 'Mega Drive' (as in the Sega console).

Answer: A friend who succeeds

First verse:

'A friend in need's a friend indeed,
A friend with weed is better,
A friend with breasts and all the rest,
A friend who's dressed in leather.'

Second verse:

'A friend in need's a friend indeed,
A friend who'll tease is better,
Our thoughts compressed, which makes us blessed,
Which makes for stormy weather.'

Fourth verse:

'A friend in need's a friend indeed,
A friend who bleeds is better,
My friend confessed she passed the test,
And we will never sever.'

'Pure Morning' is the first single off Placebo's second album, 'Without You I'm Nothing'. It charted at Number 4 on the UK Singles Chart. For several years, the band left it out of their setlist as Brian Molko found the lyrics 'nauseating', but they resurrected it in 2016.

Answer: The drug ketamine

As the lyrics say: 'No hesitation, no delay/You come on just like Special K.' The band stated the song was supposed to explore the link between drugs and love, and compared 'the rush of falling in love' to taking ketamine. 'Special K' was the third single from the band's third album, 'Black Market Music'. It did not chart in the UK.

Answer: Alison Mosshart

Alison Mosshart formed the Kills with Jamie 'Hotel' Hince, formerly of British indie band Scarfo, and was also enlisted by Jack White as vocalist for his side project the Dead Weather. 'Meds' is the fourth single from the album of the same name, Placebo's fifth album, and was released in 2006. It charted at 35 on the UK Singles Chart.

Answer: Steve Forrest

Steve Hewitt fell out with his bandmates during the recording of 'Meds', and the band officially announced that he had left in October 2007. Brian Molko likened it to a marriage growing apart. After leaving Placebo, Hewitt formed Love Amongst Ruin, where he sang and played guitar. He also played drums with the reformed Six By Seven in 2012. American drummer Steve Forrest replaced him, but left in 2015, with Placebo carrying on as a duo.

Robert Schultzberg was Placebo's drummer before Hewitt, and an old school friend of Stefan Olsdal from Sweden. He played on the band's debut album, but left in 1996 as he and Molko did not get on. (Andy Maclure and Conrad Keely are drummers with Sleeper and And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, respectively.)

Answer: 3

The singles were 'For What It's Worth' (which charted at 97 on the UK Singles Chart), 'The Never-Ending Why' and 'Ashtray Heart' (neither of which charted). 'For What It's Worth' featured a cover of a Nik Kershaw song, 'Wouldn't It Be Good', on the B-side. 'Battle for the Sun' peaked at Number Eight on the UK Album Chart.

Answer: A Moroccan law criminalising same-sex relationships

Olsdal is gay, and wrote '489' on his chest as a protest against anti-LGBT laws in Morocco. Article 489 is part of the Moroccan Criminal Code, which punishes same-sex relationships with imprisonment (the typical term being between six months and three years). He also played a rainbow bass, the rainbow being the symbol of the LGBT movement.

Answer: He had an adverse reaction to his new medication

The Danish music blog 'The Sound of Aarhus' described Molko as making a 'long weird speech' and talking about 'something not feeling real'. Placebo's tour manager intervened and dragged Molko off stage, and the gig was subsequently cancelled. The band put out a statement apologising for the cancellation, and explaining that Molko had 'suffered a severe and unexplained reaction to some new medication'. Fortunately, the rest of the tour passed without incident, and received good reviews. Placebo also released a compilation album in 2016, 'A Place for Us to Dream'.