Mike Tyler

After surfacing in 2000 with the breakthrough single “Yellow,” Coldplay quickly became one of the biggest bands of the new millennium, honing a mix of introspective Brit-pop and anthemic rock that landed the British quartet a near-permanent residence on record charts world-wide. The group’s emergence was perfectly timed; Radiohead had just released the overly cerebral Kid A, while Oasis had ditched two founding members and embraced psychedelic experimentation on Standing On The Shoulders of Giants.  U.K. audiences were hungry for a fresh-faced rock band with big aspirations and an even bigger sound, and Coldplay was more than happy to take the reigns.  Coldplay are at the ACC tonight for the second consecutive sold-out show this week.  What instrument did singer Chris Martin take up as a child?

A)  Saxophone

B)  Drums

C)  Piano

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Cheers,

Mike

The Fray released “How To Save A Life” in September 2005, and “Over My Head (Cable Car)” found a quick home on modern rock radio. By early 2006, it had crossed over to Top 40 chart status, peaking at number eight and whetting the public’s appetite for another hit. The Fray responded by releasing the album’s title track, which was heavily used in a promotional campaign for the TV series Grey’s Anatomy and quickly became one of 2006’s biggest singles. “How to Save a Life” was a worldwide smash, reaching the Top Ten in the U.S. (where it continued to chart for 58 consecutive weeks) and peaking at number one in Bulgaria, Ireland, Canada, and Spain. By the time the smoke had cleared, the Fray’s debut had been certified double-platinum in the U.S. and was declared the best-selling digital album of all time.  Where is The Fray from?

A)  Chicago

B)  Fresno

C)  Denver

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Cheers,

Mike

Neil Young was born November 12, 1945 in Toronto, but moved to Winnipeg with his mother following her divorce from his sports-journalist father. Young began playing music in high school. Not only did he play in garage rock outfits, but he also played in local folk clubs and coffeehouses, where he eventually met Joni Mitchell and Stephen Stills. During the mid-’60s, he returned to Toronto, where he played as a solo folk act.  Frustrated by his lack of success, Young moved to Los Angeles.  Shortly after arriving in L.A., he formed Buffalo Springfield, who quickly became one of the leaders of the Californian folk-rock scene.  What form of transportation did Neil use to move to California?

A)  Train

B)  Plane

C)  Hearse

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Cheers,

Mike

Melissa Etheridge was born on May 29th, 1961 in Leavenworth, Kansas.  Playing in local bands throughout her teens, Etheridge then attended the renowned Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. The up-and-coming singer/songwriter and guitarist dropped out after a year before making her way to Los Angeles in the early ’80s to give a shot at a career in music. Etheridge’s music at this point was slightly more bluesy than her subsequently renowned folk-pop style, as a demo of original compositions caught the attention of Bill Leopold, who signed on as Etheridge’s manager. Soon after, steady gigs began coming her way, including a five-night-a-week residency at the Executive Suite in Long Beach, which led to a bidding war between such major record labels as A&M, Capitol, EMI, and Warner Bros., but it was Island Records that Etheridge decided to go with.   Melissa plays Massey Hall tonight.  How old was Melissa when she first started playing guitar?

A)  Eight

B)  Nine

C)  Ten

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Somebody bring me some water.

Mike

With five number one singles and four number one albums, the Eagles were among the most successful recording artists of the 1970s.  At the end of the 20th century, two of those albums, “Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975) and “Hotel California”, ranked among the ten best-selling albums ever, according to the certifications of the Record Industry Association of America. Though most of its members came from outside California, the group was closely identified with a country- and folk-tinged sound that initially found favor in and around Los Angeles in the late ’60s.  What is the name of the Texas town that Don Henley is from?

A)  Waco

B)  Gilmer

C)  Austin

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Cheers,

Mike

Oasis shot from obscurity to stardom in 1994, becoming one of Britain’s most popular and critically acclaimed bands of the decade.  They are responsible for returning British guitar pop to the top of the charts. Led by guitarist/songwriter Noel Gallagher, the Manchester quintet adopts the rough, thuggish image of the Stones and the Who, crosses it with “Beatlesque” melodies and hooks, distinctly British lyrical themes and song structures and ties it all together with a massive, loud guitar roar, as well as a defiant sneer that draws equally from the Sex Pistols’ rebelliousness and the Stone Roses’ cocksure arrogance.  What was the name of the first single Oasis released?

A)  Super Sonic

B)  Shaker Maker

C)  Definitely Maybe

Make your answer one word, no spaces and enter it in the bonus codes section of this website to grab some Jack Nation points.

Cheers,

Mike

David Lee Roth was born October 10th 1955 in Bloomington, Indiana.  By the dawn of his teenage years, his family had relocated to California, and by the early ’70s, Roth had become a major rock fan.  Dave was soon singing in local bands, including the Red Ball Jets, who would play shows along with another up-and-coming rock band from Pasedena — Mammoth. The members of Mammoth, including brothers Eddie and Alex Van Halen on guitar and drums, respectively, would often borrow Roth’s PA system for their gigs, and a friendship was struck up. Soon after, Roth was asked to join forces with the Van Halen brothers, who had enlisted a new bassist as well, Michael Anthony.  Whose idea was it to change the name of the band to Van Halen?

A)  David Lee Roth

B)  Michael Anthony

C)  Alex Van Halen

Make your answer one word, no spaces and enter it in the bonus codes section of this website to grab some Jack Nation Points.

Have a great weekend!

Mike 

The Spencer Davis Group formed in 1963 in Birmingham, England.  Steve Winwood’s ferocious soul-drenched vocals defied his tender teenage years and powered the Spencer Davis Group’s three biggest North American hits during their brief life span as one of the British Invasion’s most convincing R&B-based combos.  The group’s two hottest sellers were ”Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m a Man”;  two searing showcases for the adolescent Winwood’s gritty vocals, his blazing keyboards and the band’s pounding rhythms. Although they burned up the charts even on the other side of the ocean in 1967, the quartet never capitalized on their fame with an American tour. At the height of their power, Winwood left to form Traffic, leaving guitarist Davis without his dynamic frontman. The bandleader focused on producing other acts, including a Canadian ensemble called The Downchild Blues Band during the early 1980’s.  Steve Winwood’s older brother, Mervyn was the bass player for the Spencer Davis Group.  What name did he go by?

A)  Merv

B)  Buff

C)  Muff

Enter your answer in the bonus codes section of this website to pad your Jack Nation point account.  Are there many better summer songs than “Gimme Some Lovin’”?  I think not.

Cheers,

Mike 

Sweet formed in London, England in 1968.  Fusing bubblegum melodies with crunching, fuzzy guitars, the band looked like a heavy metal band, but were as tame as any pop group. It was a dichotomy that served them well, as they racked up a number of hits in both the U.K. and the U.S.  In 1970, the group truncated their name to Sweet and signed a record contract with Fontana/EMI, releasing four unsuccessful singles.  However, by the end of the ’70s, although the group’s time at the top of the charts had expired, their hit singles lived on not only as cultural artifacts, but also as the predecessors for the pop-metal of the ’80s.  What did Sweet originally call the band?

A)  Sweet & Sour

B)  Sweet Heart

C)  The Sweetshop

Make your answer one word, no spaces and enter it in the bonus codes section of this website to grab some Jack Nation points you can use to get some very cool stuff!  If not, “Sweet F. A.” for you

Cheers,

Mike

Bob Seger was born May 5, 1945 in Dearborn, Michigan.  Seger began playing music in 1961 as the leader of the Detroit-based trio the Decibels and developed into one of the most popular heartland rockers over the course of the ’70s.   Combining the driving charge of Mitch Ryder’s Detroit Wheels with Stonesy garage rock and devotion to hard-edged soul and R&B, he crafted a distinctively American sound.  While he never attained the critical respect of his contemporary Bruce Springsteen, Seger did develop a dedicated following through constant touring with his Silver Bullet Band. Following several years of missed chances and lost opportunities, Seger finally achieved a national audience in 1976 with the back-to-back release of Live Bullet and Night Moves. After the platinum success of those albums, Seger retained his popularity for the next two decades, releasing seven Top Ten, platinum-selling albums in a row.  What city was “Live Bullet” recorded in?

A)  Tulsa

B)  Denver

C)  Detroit

Enter your answer in the bonus code section of this website to pad your Jack Nation point account and thanks for checking out my rock trivia blog!

Cheers,

Mike