Special Sub-Topic: Artists and their Backing Groups Click Here To Play: Artists and their Backing Groups

Which of these artists is correctly matched with his or her backing group?

Martha and the Vandellas. It was Gladys Knight and the Pips ("Midnight Train to Georgia"), Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons ("Stay (Just a Little Bit Longer)"), and Diana Ross and the Supremes ("Stop (In the Name of Love).")

An artist, along with his backing group the Mysterians, had a hit in the 60s with their best-known song "96 Tears." To which symbol did the lead singer change his name?

?. ? and the Mysterians signed away the rights to all their songs by mistake, but they are still working together.

Which of the following was the name of Buddy Holly's backing group?

The Crickets. Buddy Holly and the Crickets recorded such hits as "Peggy Sue," "Everyday," and "That'll Be the Day." Holly died in early 1959.

Which of these artists is correctly matched with his backing group?

George Thorogood and the Destroyers. It was Paul Revere and the Raiders ("Louie, Louie"), Kool and the Gang ("Jungle Boogie"), and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ("Free Fallin'"). George Thorogood and the Destroyers recorded "Bad to the Bone."

Who led the Plastic Ono Band?

John Lennon. John Lennon formed the Plastic Ono Band with his wife Yoko Ono and several other musicians in 1969, eight months before Paul McCartney left the Beatles. John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band recorded "Give Peace a Chance" as their first song. Tony Cox was Yoko Ono's first husband.

Who backed Tony Sheridan in the early sixties when he was not backed by the Beatles?

The Beat Brothers. Tony Sheridan and the Beat Brothers often performed in nightclubs with the Beatles present. They appear with the Beatles on compilation discs recorded in 1961 and 1962. They played songs like "Kansas City," "What'd I Say," and "Ruby Baby." On the latter, the backing group was composed of the members of Joey Dee's the Starliters (without Joey), but they were still referred to, at least on that recording, as the Beat Brothers. The three incorrect responses are all made-up.

Which of these 80s artists is correctly matched with his or her backing group?

Elvis Costello and the Attractions. Elvis Costello and the Attractions released their first album in 1978 (which doesn't exactly make them best-known as an 80s band). Dexy's Midnight Runners released "Come on Eileen" in 1983. Steve Earle performed many songs he performed solo as well with the Dukes. Katrina and the Waves recorded "Walking on Sunshine."

Which frontman went solo for over 15 years before rejoining his band in 2002 and releasing "The Rising?"

Bruce Springsteen. Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band released their last album (before "The Rising"), "Born in the U.S.A." in the mid-80s and reunited to record the 9-11 tribute album. Several members of Shane MacGowan and the Popes were formerly and collectively known as the Pogues (the album "Essential"). Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were the first band to release an instrumental album that had an "explicit lyrics" sticker. William "Smokey" Robinson and the Miracles recorded "Tears of a Clown."

Which of these four bands are led by a man whose name is a pseudonym for Eric Clapton?

Derek and the Dominoes. Derek and the Dominoes' best-known song is "Layla." KC and the Sunshine Band ("Shake, Shake, Shake (Shake Your Booty)") is led by Harry Wayne Casey, Herman's Hermits ("Silhouettes") are led by Peter Blair Dennis Bernard Noone, and Sly and the Family Stone ("Everyday People") are led by Sly Stone.

Which of these artists is correctly matched with his backing group?

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs recorded "Wooly Bully." Dick Dale and his Del-Tones recorded "Misirlou," which appears on the soundtrack of the film "Pulp Fiction." Bill Haley and the Comets recorded "Rock Around the Clock" in the fifties. Bob Marley's group the Wailers were called the Wailing Wailers before shortening their name. They recorded songs like "Jammin'" and "I Shot the Sheriff."