'Twas a Dark, Black, Night - Rock Music On Vinyl Quiz

Answer: Led Zeppelin

The song, 'Black Dog', was the opening song on the 1971 album 'Led Zeppelin IV'. It was only released as a single in Australia and the United States on the 2nd of December 1971 and achieved its highest placing on the chart at numbers 11 and 15 in those countries respectively.

Although no title appears on the album cover as such, the record label itself carried four symbols, one to represent each band member and because of this it has become known unofficially as 'Four Symbols'.

Answer: Rush

Rush was formed in the Canadian city of Toronto in 1968. After a career spanning forty-five years they have come to be regarded as one of the most proficient and technical rock bands of all time. The band consists of the two founding members Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson and third member, drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, who replaced the band's original drummer, John Rutsey, in July 1974. Recordings by Rush include the albums 'Hemispheres', 'Moving Pictures', Roll The Bones' and 'Clockwork Angels' and their singles include 'Spirit of Radio' and 'The Big Money'.

Answer: Gordon Giltrap

Self-taught English acoustic and electric guitarist Gordon Giltrap, was born in the town of Brenchley, Kent on the 6th of April 1948. He is primarily known for his track 'Heartsong' from the 1977 album 'Perilous Journey' which was used for many years by the BBC as the theme tune for the travel programme 'Holiday'.

In recent years he has composed music for the stage, written books and technical articles for music magazines as well as touring extensively.

Answer: Back In Black

After the death of Bon Scott, AC/DC seriously considered calling it a day but, at the insistence of the singers family, they made the decision to carry on and replaced Bon with Geordie singer Brian Johnson who has been with the band ever since. 'Back in Black' has become the band's biggest selling album and, in fact, is the equal second biggest selling rock album of all time with a certified total of just under 26 million sales compared to 'The Dark Side of the Moon' with just under 23 million copies sold (some sources claim an excess of 50 million sales for each record).

The album 'No Mean City' was recorded by Scottish rockers Nazareth in 1979, the album 'Space Ritual' is a recording by British space-rock band Hawkwind, and 'The Crossing' is a 1980s offering from another Scottish rock band, Big Country.

Answer: Killing Joke

Killing Joke were formed in London during 1978 by vocalist Jaz Coleman and guitarist Geordie Walker who, over the past three decades, have been the only permanent members. The album, 'Night Time', which reached position number 11 in the British album chart during 1985, was something of a departure from their earlier, punk orientated material as the band began to experiment with a distinctly more synthesiser based sound. 'Night Time' spawned a total of three singles for the band, the biggest hit single of their career, 'Love Like Blood' which reached number 16 in the UK singles chart, 'Eighties' and 'Kings and Queens' which both reached positions in the British Top 75.

It is worth searching out their live performance from the Channel 4 music show 'The Tube' which aired during the 1980s, to see this magnificent band performing at their best.

Answer: Black Rose - A Rock Legend

Running to just over seven minutes, the epic song 'Black Rose'or 'Róisín Dubh' is based on the Irish legend surrounding the wars between Connacht and Ulster. The album, with cover art by Jim Fitzpatrick who also produced the cover art for 'Chinatown' the album following 'Black Rose', was released in April 1979 and reached a high position at number two in the UK album chart and is the most commercially successful studio album of the band's career. 'Black Rose' was the first Thin Lizzy album in which the rock and blues guitarist, the late Gary Moore, remained with the band long enough to record an album in its entirety! Two of the tracks on this album, 'Sarah' written by Phil Lynott for his young daughter, and 'With Love', both feature the talents of US artist Huey Lewis, then virtually unknown in the UK, on harmonica duties.

Answer: The Man Who Sold The World

Looking back at the career of the androgynous David Bowie, it is difficult to believe that much of his early material passed by virtually unnoticed on its original release and 'The Man Who Sold The World' is no different. The album was originally released in 1970 but was paid little attention, however, after the commercial success of the album 'Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars', on its re-release in November 1972 it sold well and attracted much critical acclaim.

This album has been described as the point at which the 'glam-rock' movement started and has been cited as an influence by a number of later artists such as Gary Numan, The Cure and John Foxx, one of the original electronic rock pioneers with British band Ultravox.

The title track has been covered by bands and artists such as Nirvana and Scottish singer Lulu, who had some considerable success with the song as a single in 1974.

Answer: Be-Bop Deluxe

Be-Bop Deluxe was founded in August 1972 by guitarist William Nelson and an old school friend Ian Parkin. The band meshed rapidly and their first public performance took place at Ye Olde Duke of Cumberland Hotel in Hull on the 16th of September 1972, just over a month after their first rehearsals together.

The band cut their first recordings during April 1973 and was signed to EMI Harvest records on the 22nd of February 1974. Their first album, 'Axe Victim', was recorded in less than six weeks and after the release of this album, the band never looked back.

The album's distinctive artwork featuring a skull forming the body of an electro-acoustic guitar; Nelson has used the Gibson ES335 throughout his career, has been modified and copied on a number of occasions and a real guitar in this form was made for Brian May of Queen. From a personal viewpoint, if you are a lover of 1970s guitar driven rock music, then you might do well to give Be-Bop Deluxe a listen... I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Answer: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, better known by the initials OMD, were one of the more serious electronic bands that found success throughout the 1980s. The band were founded in 1978 by Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey, with other members Malcolm Holmes and Martin Cooper joining at the end of 1980.

Their first eponymous album reached position 27 on the UK album chart and spawned their first successful single 'Messages', which reached number 13 on the UK singles chart. In 1981 they released their most successful album to date, 'Architecture and Morality' from which the singles 'Souvenir', 'Joan of Arc' and 'The Maid of Orleans' were taken.

By the end of the 1980s sales had dwindled nationally but the band were still popular and in 1996 the band finally called it a day.

However, by 2006 the band had reformed with the full complement of original members and they continue to record and tour today.

Answer: Michael Schenker

Michael Schenker, brother of 'Scorpions' axe-man Rudolf Schenker, has been an on/off member of UFO since the band recruited him from Scorpions in 1973. UFO was founded in 1969 and took their name from the club at which they first came to the attention of record company executives.

Unfortunately, the young Schenker developed an alcohol abuse problem and, in 1978, he left UFO. Shortly afterwards he formed the Michael Schenker Group, more usually referred to by the initials MSG. After performing with MSG and their even more long-winded alter-ego, the McAuley Schenker Group, he re-joined UFO in 1993. Schenker still records today under various incarnations of MSG.