Mike Tyler

Blue Rodeo formed in Toronto in 1985.  The group was founded by its two lead singers, guitarists, and songwriters, Jim Cuddy and Greg Keelor. The two met in high school and had been playing together since 1977, when they started a punk-influenced band called the HiFis.  As their sound evolved it became  a basic blend of country, folk, and rock, but with a definite pop appeal that underlined their devotion to later-period Beatles, in addition to expected touchstones like Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan and The Band. Consistency was the hallmark of Blue Rodeo’s output, both in terms of sound (which followed much the same blueprint throughout their career) and quality.

For a nice bundle of Jack Nation Points, what name did the group use when they moved to New York City in search of a record deal in 1981?

A)  Fly To France

B)  The HiFis

C)  Blue Rodeo

Make your answer one word (no spaces) and enter it in the bonus codes section of this website to grab your points.

Trust yourself and have a great weekend!

Mike 

Soundgarden formed in Seattle, Washington in 1984.  Soundgarden borrowed the aesthetics of punk, melding their guitar-driven sound with an intelligence and ironic sense of humor that was indebted to the American underground of the mid-’80s. Furthermore, the band rarely limited itself to simple, pounding riffs, often making detours into psychedelia. But the group’s key sonic signatures — the gutsy wail of vocalist  Chris Cornell and the winding riffs of guitarist Kim Thayil — were what brought them out of the underground. Not only were they one of the first groups to record for the legendary Seattle indie Sub Pop, but they were the first grunge band to sign to a major label. In fact, most critics expected Soundgarden to be the band that broke down the doors for alternative rock, not Nirvana.

For a nice bump in your Jack Nation points account, when did Soundgarden break up?

A)  October 5 1996

B)  December 14 1998

C)  April 9 1997

Make your answer one word (no spaces) and enter it in the Bonus Codes section of this website to score your points.

Thanks for checking out my rock trivia blog!

Cheers,

 Mike

Neil Young was born in Toronto on November 12, 1945.  Over the years, Neil established himself as one of the most influential singer/songwriters of his generation. Young’s body of work ranks second only to Bob Dylan in terms of depth, and he was able to sustain his critical reputation, as well as record sales, for a longer period of time than Dylan, partially because of his willfully perverse work ethic. From the beginning of his solo career in the late ’60s until the late ’90s, he never stopped writing, recording, and performing; his official catalog only represented a portion of his work, since he kept countless tapes of unreleased songs in his vaults.

For a bunch of Jack Nation Points, what did Neil’s journalist father write about?

A)  Sports

B)  Music

C)  News

Enter your answer in the Bonus Codes section of this website to grab your points and thanks for checking out my rock trivai blog.

Keep on rockin’ in the free world!

Mike

T. Rex were initially a British folk-rock combo called Tyrannosaurus Rex that formed in 1967.  T. Rex was the primary force in glam rock, thanks to the creative direction of guitarist/vocalist Marc Bolan.   In Britain, he became a superstar, sparking a period of “T. Rextacy” among the pop audience with a series of Top Ten hits, including four number one singles. Over in America, the group only had one major hit — the Top Ten “Bang a Gong (Get It On)” — before disappearing from the charts in 1973. T. Rex’s popularity in the U.K. didn’t begin to waver until 1975, yet they retained a devoted following until Marc Bolan’s death in 1977. Over the next two decades, Bolan emerged as a cult figure and the music of T. Rex has proven quite influential on hard rock, punk, new wave, and alternative rock.

For a nice package of Jack Nation points, what career did Marc Bolan have as a teenager before he started T. Rex?

A)  Dancer

B)  Model

C)  Actor

Enter your answer in the Bonus Codes section of this website to score your points and thanks again for checking out my rock trivia blog.

Bang a Gong, Get it On!

Mike

The Beastie Boys formed in 1979 in New York City.  From the group’s early days, the Beastie Boys received the scorn of critics and strident hip-hop musicians, who accused them of cultural pirating, especially since they began as a hardcore punk group in 1981. But the Beasties weren’t pirating — they treated rap as part of a post-punk musical underground, where the do-it-yourself aesthetics of hip-hop and punk weren’t that far apart. Of course, the exaggerated b-boy and frat-boy parodies of their unexpected hit debut album, Licensed to Ill, didn’t help their cause.  The album became the fastest-selling debut in Columbia Records’ history, moving over 750,000 copies in its first six weeks. Much of that success was due to the single “Fight for Your Right (To Party),” which became a massive crossover hit.

For a nice addition to your Jack Nation points account, The Beasties received their first significant  exposure in 1985 when they opened up for who?

A)  Madonna

B)  AC/DC

C)  Run DMC

Make your answer one word with no spaces and enter it in the Bonus Code section of this website to claim your Jack Nation points.

Thanks for checking out my rock trivia blog!

More tomorrow.

Mike

Linkin Park formed in Los Angeles in 1996.  Old-school hip-hop, traditional classic rock, and spooling electronic vibes were the initial factors behind the building of this alternative metal 5 piece band. The group’s Southern Californian musical roots were also an underlying basis, for drummer Rob Bourdon, guitarist Brad Delson and MC/vocalist Mike Shinoda formed a tight friendship while still in high school. Shortly after graduation, art student and DJ Joseph Hahn hooked up with bassist Dave Farrell and Shinoda for the band Xero.  Singer Chester Bennington was the last piece added to the band in 1999. Soon the band became a noticeable face at the Whisky as well as favorites in and around L.A.

For a bunch of Jack Nation points, what did the band call themselves before settling on the name Linkin Park?

A)  Back Space

B)  Hybrid Theory

C)  Meteora Light

Make your answer one word (no spaces) and enter it in the Bonus Codes section of this website to claim your points.

Have a great weekend!

Mike

Kiss formed in 1973 in New York City.  Rooted in the campy theatrics of Alice Cooper and the sleazy hard rock of glam rockers the New York Dolls, Kiss became a favorite of American teenagers in the ’70s. Most kids were infatuated with the look of Kiss, not their music. Decked out in outrageously flamboyant costumes and makeup, the band fashioned a captivating stage show featuring dry ice, smoke bombs, elaborate lighting, blood spitting, and fire breathing that captured the imaginations of thousands of kids. But Kiss’ music shouldn’t be dismissed — it was a commercially potent mix of anthemic, fist-pounding hard rock driven by sleek hooks and ballads powered by loud guitars, cloying melodies, and sweeping strings.

For some Jack Nation points, Kiss was the brainchild of which band member?

A) Gene Simmons

B) Paul Stanley

C) Peter Criss

Enter the FIRST NAME of the band member only in the Bonus Codes section of this website to score some Jack Nation Points.

Rock N Roll All Night!

Mike

Creedence Clearwater Revival formed in Cerrito, California in 1967.  While CCR was very much a group in their tight, punchy arrangements, their vision was very much singer, songwriter, guitarist, and leader John Fogerty’s.  Fogerty’s classic compositions for Creedence both evoked enduring images of Americana and reflected burning social issues of the day. The band’s genius was their ability to accomplish this with the economic, primal power of a classic rockabilly ensemble.   CCR released their sef-titled debut in the summer of 1968, one year after the summer of love.

For some lovely Jack Nation Points, what hit song was featured on CCR’s first album?

A) Proud Mary

B) Born On The Bayou

C) Suzie Q

Make your answer one word and enter it in the Bonus Codes section of this website to score some Jack Nation points.

Thanks again for checking out my rock trivia blog!

Mike

R.E.M. formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia.  While there were a number of hardcore and punk bands in the U.S. during the early ’80s, R.E.M. brought guitar pop back into the underground lexicon. Combining ringing guitar hooks with mumbled, cryptic lyrics and an aesthetic borrowed from post-punk, the band simultaneously sounded traditional and modern. Though there were no overt innovations in their music, R.E.M. had an identity and sense of purpose that transformed the American underground.

For a nice bundle of Jack Nation points, what is the name of the new R.E.M. album set to be released April 1st, 2008?

A)  Altitude

B)  Accelerate

C)  Axis

Enter your answer in the Bonus Section of this website to collect your points and thanks for stopping by my rock trivia blog!

Enjoy the rest of your “Family Day” long weekend.

 Mike

Buckcherry formed in Los Angeles in 1995.  Singer Joshua Todd and guitarist Keith Nelson were introduced through their tattoo artist and the duo then recruited bassist Jonathan “J.B.” Brightman and drummer Devon Glenn.  After the group began performing live, they quickly earned a major following on the L.A. club scene. Following the subsequent addition of second guitarist Yogi, Buckcherry signed to DreamWorks Records, issuing their self-titled debut LP in 1999.

For some lovely Jack Nation points, what was the title of Buckcherry’s second album?

A)  Lit Up

B) Fifteen

C)  Time Bomb

Make your answer one word (no spaces) and enter it in the Bonus Codes section of this website to get your points.

Have a great weekend (more rock tivia tomorrow) and thanks for stopping by.

Cheers,

Mike