Mike Tyler

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

Blues Traveler was formed by singer/harmonica palyer John Popper in New York in 1988.  The group also included  guitarist Chan Kinchla, bassist Bobby Sheehan and drummer Brendan Hill.  Blues Traveler was part of a revival of the extended jamming style of ’60s and ’70s groups like the Grateful Dead. Signed to A&M, they released their first album, Blues Traveler, in May 1990 and followed it with Travelers & Thieves in September 1991. Popper was in a serious accident in 1992, leaving him unable to perform for a number of months. Fortunately, he recovered, yet he still had to perform in a wheelchair for a period of time. In April 1993, Blues Traveler released its third album, Save His Soul, which became its first to make the Top 100.  What kind of accident was John Popper involved in?

A)  Car accident

B)  Motorcycle accident

C)  Boating accident

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

Hot enough for ya?

Mike

Robert Plant was born in Birmingham, England on August 20th, 1948.  Robert was discovered wailing the blues by veteran session guitarist Jimmy Page and bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones. When Plant recommended his friend John Bonham as the drummer, one of the most successful bands in rock history was born as Led Zeppelin. But the group that started with such force also ended in flames after 12 years, as Bonham’s death from alcohol poisoning in 1980 split the band after nine albums.  The remaining members went their separate ways, but Bonham’s death hit Plant particularly hard. Starting his solo career in 1982 with his Zeppelin-like Pictures at Eleven album, Plant would use a slew of great drummers over the next few years, including Phil Collins, Cozy Powell, BarriemoreBarlow and Richie Hayward.  What artist was Robert Plant crazy about that led to 1984’s “Honeydrippers Volume One”?

A)  Tom Jones

B)  Frank Sinatra

C)  Elvis Presley

Make your answer one word, no spaces and enter it in the bonus codes section of this website to collect some Jack Nation points and thanks for checking out my rock trivia blog.

Cheers,

Mike

Red Rider formed in Toronto in 1976.  After a gig at the legendary El Mocombo in 1978, they met Tom Cochrane, who had previously pursued a career as a folk singer. He had even released a solo album called “Hang On to Your Resistance” back in 1974 (to little success). Red Rider took Tom Cochrane on as their frontman and soon the band signed with Capitol Records through a connection of Tom’s, and issued their hit debut single, “White Hot,” in late 1979.   Their second album, 1981’s “As Far as Siam”, went platinum and still ranks as their most popular work. It featured the band’s signature song, the Canadian chart-topper “Lunatic Fringe”.  What American T.V. series did the song “Lunatic Fringe” appear in?

A)  Breaking Curfew

B)  Miami Vice

C)  Desperate Housewives

Make your answer one word,…ah, you know the deal.

Have a great “FIRST” official weekend of SUMMER!

Cheers,

Mike

Jack Johnson was born May 18, 1975 in Hawaii.  Before Jack perfected his rock star ways, he was a champion surfer on the professional route. The sport was second nature to the young Hawaiian native, who began chasing waves as a toddler and, by the age of 17, had become an outstanding athlete on the Pipeline. However, Johnson was also testing other creative outlets — specifically film and music — and a serious surfing accident convinced him to devote more time to those landlocked hobbies.  Where did Jack study film?

A)  University of Hawaii

B)  University of California

C)  Harvard University

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

Hang Ten.

Mike

The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival is a four-day annual music festival.  It was recently named “Best Festival” by Rolling Stone Magazine, calling it “the ultimate over-the-top summer festival.” The festival is held on a 700-acre (2.8 km²) farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles southeast of Nashville. The main attractions of the festival are the multiple stages of live music, featuring a diverse array of musical styles. The festival began with a primary focus on jam bands, but has diversified greatly in recent years. The festival features craftsmen and artisans selling unique products, food and drink vendors, and many other activities including some put on by various sponsors.  What year was the first Bonnaroo Festival held?

A)  2002

B)  2003

C)  2001

Enter your answer in the bonus codes section of this website to collect some Jack Nation points.

Cheers,

Mike