Welcome to Friday Night Pub Quiz #2, where you can test your music knowledge about rock’n’roll, from its roots in the early 20th century to punk rock in the mid-1970s. The background to the answers can be found in my book Rock’n’Roll Unravelled.

The questions vary in difficulty and each week features a specialist topic. This week it’s the Blues.

Questions – Friday Night Pub Quiz

1.What colour was Donovan in 1967?
2.Who replaced Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones?
3.Who do the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Slade have in common?
4.Which Liverpool group’s first three singles entered the charts at #1 in 1963?
5.Who recorded the original version of the Stereophonics cover of Handbags and Gladrags?
6.Which movie famously featured Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock over its opening credits?
7.Which 1960s UK TV show announced that “The weekend starts here!”?
8.Who links Free, Bad Company and Queen?
9.Which vocal group had the same lineup for 43 years?
10.Which skiffle legend replaced Jerry Lee Lewis on his disastrous 1958 UK tour?
11.Who was on the Eve of Destruction in 1965?
12.In which year was the legendary Woodstock festival held?

And for the hardcore fans out there…
1.What was the inspiration for the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour?
2.Which legendary country singer was known as the “Singing Brakeman”?
3.Which year was the Everly Brothers tour of the UK with just one brother?

This week’s specialist subject – Blues
1.Which bluesman sometimes went by the name of “Little Boy Blue”?
2.Which Led Zeppelin song attracted a lawsuit from Howlin’ Wolf for plagiarism?
3.Which instrument did Willie Dixon play?
4.Which legendary singer co-funded the headstone for Bessie Smith’s grave in 1970?

And for hardcore fans…
1.What were the two venues where Robert Johnson held his only two recording sessions?

Reveal Answers

Answers – Friday Night Pub Quiz

    1. What colour was Donovan in 1967?
      Answer: Yellow – Mellow Yellow
    2. Who replaced Brian Jones in the Rolling Stones?
      Answer: Mick Taylor
    3. Who do the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Slade have in common?
      Answer: manager Chas Chandler
    4. Which Liverpool group’s first three singles entered the charts at #1 in 1963?
      Answer: Gerry and the Pacemakers
    5. Who recorded the original version of the Stereophonics cover of Handbags and Gladrags?
      Answer: Chris Farlowe
    6. Which movie famously featured Bill Haley’s Rock Around the Clock over its opening credits?
      Answer: Blackboard Jungle
    7. Which 1960s UK TV show announced that “The weekend starts here!”?
      Answer: Ready Steady Go!
    8. Who links Free, Bad Company and Queen?
      Answer: Paul Rodgers
    9. Which vocal group had the same lineup for 43 years?
      Answer: The Four Tops
    10. Which skiffle legend replaced Jerry Lee Lewis on his disastrous 1958 UK tour?
      Answer: Chas McDevitt
    11. Who was on the Eve of Destruction in 1965?
      Answer: Barry McGuire
    12. In which year was the legendary Woodstock festival held?
      Answer: 1969

And for the hardcore fans out there…

  1. What was the inspiration for the Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour?
    Answer: Ken Kesey and his Merry Prankster’s journey across America in their bus Further
  2. Which legendary country singer was known as the “Singing Brakeman”?
    Answer: Jimmie Rodgers
  3. Which year was the Everly Brothers tour of the UK with just one brother?
    Answer: 1962

This week’s specialist subject – Blues

  1. Which bluesman sometimes went by the name of “Little Boy Blue”?
    Answer: Sonny Boy Williamson (II)
  2. Which Led Zeppelin song attracted a lawsuit from Howlin’ Wolf for plagiarism?
    Answer: The Lemon Song for Wolf’s Killing Floor
  3. Which instrument did Willie Dixon play?
    Answer: bass guitar
  4. Which legendary singer co-funded the headstone for Bessie Smith’s grave in 1970?
    Answer: Janis Joplin

And for hardcore fans…

  1. What were the two venues where Robert Johnson held his only two recording sessions?
    Answer: Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Texas 23 November 1936 and the Brunswick Records Building, Dallas, Texas 19 June 1937