British Invasion Trivia

1. Which British Invasion band had a hit song which included the lyrics: "I was born in a cross-fire hurricane/And I howled at my ma in the driving rain"?

From Quiz One More Look at the British Invasion

Answer: The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones were hated by parents as a bunch of outcasts more influenced by rhythm and blues than pop music. They released "Jumpin' Jack Flash" in September, 1968. It was a top three hit everywhere in the world. The Stones usually use it as the opening number at their concerts.

From Quiz The British Invasion - 1960s III

Answer: Help!

Not the classic that "A Hard Day's Night" was, but an enjoyable film. It was filmed in 1965 on a budget of approximately $1,500,000. United Artists didn't really think much of the movies prospects (beyond the soundtracks) and agreed to give producer Walter Shenson all rights to the films after fifteen years.

From Quiz The Merseybeat Years (a prelude to invasion).

Answer: Gerry and The Pacemakers

Gerry and The Pacemakers spent three weeks at number one on the UK chart with "How Do You Do It" in 1963. It reached number nine on the US pop chart in 1964. Gerry and The Pacemakers were Gerry Marsden, his older brother Freddie Marsden, Les Maguire and Les Chadwick. They were the first artists to have three UK number one hits with their first three record releases. The Hollies, Freddie and The Dreamers and Herman's Hermits were all from Manchester.

From Quiz Interesting Facts About British Invasion Bands

Answer: They had a female drummer.

The Honeycombs had a female drummer named Honey Lantree. The band was performing around the club scene when songwriters Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley heard them and arranged a meeting with producer Joe Meek. Howard and Blaikley composed "Have I the Right" and also began managing the group. Joe Meek used unusual microphone techniques such as recording the band stomping their feet and speeding up the final mix. Their debut single, "Have I the Right", fared well on the charts in several countries. Honey's brother, John, was also one of the forming members of the original five-piece band. They released follow-up singles that failed to equal the success of "Have I the Right" and split up in 1966. The band has occasionally reformed, with Honey being a constant member.

From Quiz The British Are Coming!

Answer: Mersey

"Ferry Cross the Mersey" was a top ten hit for Gerry & the Pacemakers in the USA. This song and the Beatles' "Penny Lane" are two of the best-known tunes about the city of Liverpool.

From Quiz Not "The Beatles" #2

Answer: Donovan Leitch

Donovan always claimed that "Mellow Yellow" was not about smoking banana peels. In 1967, after studying with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Donovan renounced all drug use.

From Quiz Not "The Beatles" #1

Answer: The Spencer Davis Group

Steve Winwood was a teenager in the Spencer Davis Group, and went on to found "Traffic" and "Blind Faith". And as his success continued on with his solo career, he has been a star for five decades.

From Quiz The British Invasion

Answer: Peter and Gordon - A World Without Love

Peter Asher and Gordon Waller. Paul McCartney's then-girlfriend was Peter's sister, the actress Jane Asher.

From Quiz British Invasion

Answer: Son of a Preacher Man

Dusty was well-respected in her milieu and she did the original version of "I Only Want To Be With You".

From Quiz Mid 60s British Invasion

Answer: 1964

The group that started it all! 1964 will forever be remembered as *the year the Beatles* invaded and changed our lives forever.

From Quiz The British Invasion Rocks the Ed Sullivan Show

Answer: Julie Andrews

Ed Sullivan was an admirer of musical shows and devoted an entire evening to the music of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Lowe. On July 15 1956, Julie Andrews sang "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Show Me" from the musical "My Fair Lady". And again on March 19, 1961, Andrews sang songs from "Brigadoon" and reprised "I Could Have Danced All Night". She and Richard Burton sang a duet, "Camelot". In her autobiography, Andrews credited her appearances on the show as having exposed her to a wider audience.

From Quiz 1963: the Merseybeat Explosion

Answer: The Cavern Club

The Cavern Club opened in 1957 and saw the rise of Merseybeat until it eventually closed in 1973; it has since been reconstructed. A statue of John Lennon stands outside.

From Quiz British Invasion: Out of the '60s, Into the '70s

Answer: Queen

Freddy Mercury was the lead singer of Queen, and Rami Malik's portrayal of him in 2018's "Bohemian Rhapsody" earned Malik a best acting Oscar. Although taking criticism for some historical inaccuracies, the film provided realistic and dramatic insights into a fascinating story of the ascent of a superstar rock legend. Mercury died at age 45 in 1991 from AIDS related complications. His huge talent as a singer, performer and songwriter are unquestionable, as his place in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame attests. The album referenced in the question is "A Night at the Opera" from 1975. It contained the hit single "Bohemian Rhapsody" which was the number one song in Britain for nine weeks. Queen's compilation album, "Greatest Hits," was the all-time best selling album in the UK as of February 2019.

From Quiz British Invasion Band Songs-Cover or Original?

Answer: Do You Love Me

"Do You Love Me" was recorded by The Contours in 1962. The song was written by Motown's Berry Gordy, Jr. It was the Contours' only US Top 40 hit record. Gordy wrote the song with the intention of having The Temptations record it. Other British Invasion artists to record a version include Brian Poole and the Tremeloes and The Hollies. "Glad All Over" (1964) was the band's first US Top Ten single. It was written by drummer Dave Clark and vocalist/organ player Mike Smith. Clark and Smith also wrote "Bits and Pieces" (1964) and "Can't You See That She's Mine" (1964).

From Quiz The British Invasion: Mix and Match

Answer: I'm Crying/The Animals

"I'm Crying" written by Eric Burden/Alan Price, was a number 19 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Animals in 1964. It peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart the same year. The Animals from Newcastle upon Tyne, England, were Eric Burden (vocals), Chas. Chandler (bass guitar), Alan Price (keyboards), John Steele (drums) and Hilton Valentine (lead guitar). They were formed in 1962-63 by Alan Price but he left the group in 1965 because of personnel and musical differences and his fear of flying. "The House Of The Rising Sun" was their only US & UK number one hit, it was also their only Top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. In the UK they reached the Top 10 on the singles chart seven times. The Animals were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.

From Quiz One More Look at the British Invasion

Answer: Herman's Hermits

Herman's Hermits were not a showy band (a bit like watching Buddy Holly and the Crickets) but they had several hit records. They released "Henry VIII, I Am" in 1965. Among their other hits were "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" (1965) and "I'm Into Something Good" (1964).

From Quiz The British Invasion - 1960s III

Answer: Terry and Julie

The Terry and Julie referred to in the song are movie stars Terrance Stamp and Julie Christie. Before the single was released Ray Davies revisited Waterloo Bridge at sunset to be sure "the atmosphere was right".

From Quiz The British Invasion - 1960s II

Answer: The Blue Flames

Though Georgie first saw U.S. chart action with his 1965 hit "Yeh, Yeh", he's probably best known for his 1968 Top Ten winner "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde" (without the Blue Flames). In the early '70s Georgie and Alan Price (of The Animals) had their own U.K. TV series called "The Price of Fame."

From Quiz The British Invasion - 1960s

Answer: The Walker Brothers

California lads The Walker Brothers (not really brothers and not really Walker) relocated to the UK to further their musical careers. They scored with several hits, the biggest being "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore." John Maus (John Walker) was married to Kathy Young ("A Thousand Stars") from 1965-1969.

From Quiz The Merseybeat Years (a prelude to invasion).

Answer: The Beatles

The Beatles spent seven weeks at number one on the US pop chart with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" in 1964. It reached number one for five weeks on the UK chart in 1963. The Beatles were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They were the first artists to hold the top three positions on the US pop chart in the same week and then to hold the top five positions on the US pop chart in the same week. The Dave Clark Five, The Kinks and The Who were all from London. The Billboard chart for April 4th 1964 1.Can't Buy Me Love 2.Twist And Shout 3.She Loves You 4.I Want To Hold Your Hand 5.Please Please Me

From Quiz The British Are Coming!

Answer: Peter Noone

Noone grew up near Manchester and achieved stardom with Herman's Hermits. Hopwood and Leckenby were guitar players for the band; Whitwam played the drums. Peter Noone would later star in several London theatrical productions.

From Quiz Lyrics of the British Invasion

Answer: I'm Into Something Good

Herman's Hermits had a hit with this irresistible Carole King/Gerry Goffin tune. A tad too cuddly for my taste, the Hermits nonetheless knew how to choose their material and they usually performed it with their own unique blend of whimsy and a certain unthreatening, asexual charm. Scoff all you want, but when this or a handful of other Hermits' tunes crackle through the cheap speakers in your VW Bus, I bet you find yourself tappin' your toes and singing along. Go on, admit it.

From Quiz Not "The Beatles" #2

Answer: The Foundations

This short-lived group boasted a singer from Trinidad, 2 members from Jamaica & 1 from Ceylon. Their follow-up hit "Build Me Up Buttercup" was co-written by Mike D'Abo of Manfred Mann.

From Quiz Not "The Beatles" #1

Answer: The Troggs

"Wild Thing" was penned by American songwriter Chip Taylor, who also wrote "Angel of the Morning" among others. He is also Jon Voight's brother.

From Quiz The British Invasion

Answer: Rolling Stones

'Rolling Stone' was a major blues hit for Muddy Waters in the late 40s.

From Quiz Mid 60s British Invasion

Answer: 'Downtown'

Petula Clark, in my opinion the gem of the 1960s British Invasion, was one of the most successful female solo artists of the entire decade. With songs topping the charts in countries around the world and numerous appearances on such shows as Ed Sullivan, Hullabaloo, and others, she truly was Queen of the British Invasion. Her breakthrough hit Downtown went to number one in 1965 and was immediately followed by I Know A Place.

From Quiz The British Invasion Rocks the Ed Sullivan Show

Answer: Dave Clark Five

The Dave Clark Five were fresh from seeing "Glad All Over" knock The Beatles off the top of the UK charts. They were perhaps a little lucky. After turning down one invitation, they accepted it at second time of asking and went on to make 12 appearances on the show.

From Quiz British Invasion: Out of the '60s, Into the '70s

Answer: The Kinks

The album is "Lola Versus Powerman and the Moneygoround." Many of the songs exhibit bandleader Ray Davies' love/hate relationship with the music industry and his struggles balancing commercial success with his artistic leanings. The title song "Lola" has become a rock classic. In the opening stanza, the narrator describes meeting his new "girlfriend." It's in a Soho club where "you drink champagne and it tastes just like Coca-Cola." The stuffy and staid BBC refused to play the song not because of the questionable subject matter, but because of rules about product placement; so the Kinks had to re-record that section replacing the offending words with "cherry cola."

From Quiz The British Invasion: Mix and Match

Answer: I'll Keep You Satisfied/Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas

"I'll Keep You Satisfied" written by Lennon/McCartney was a number 30 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas in 1964. It peaked at number four on the UK singles chart in 1963. Billy J Kramer with The Dakotas were Billy J Kramer (vocals), Ray Jones (bass guitar), Robin MacDonald (rhythm guitar), Tony Mansfield (drums) and Mike Maxfield (lead guitar). Billy J Kramer (from Liverpool) and The Dakotas (from Manchester) were brought together by Brian Epstein but with separate recording contracts. They had six Billboard Hot 100 hits between 1964 and 1965 two of which "Little Children" and "Bad To Me" reached the Top 10. They had six hits on the UK singles chart between 1963 and 1965. Five reached the Top 10 and included two number one hits, "Bad To Me" and "Little Children".

From Quiz One More Look at the British Invasion

Answer: The Dave Clark Five

The Dave Clark Five had a hit with "Glad All Over". It was a number one hit in the UK in 1963 and reached number six on the US "Billboard Hot 100" in 1964. They were one of the first British rock bands to make a name for themselves in America.

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Last Updated Sep 13 2025 5:52 AM

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