A Mixture of Rock Songs and Artists Quiz

Answer: Robin

Robin Sarstedt, born Clive Robin Sarstedt on 21 January 1944 in Ajmer, British India, was the youngest of the three musically gifted Sarstedt brothers. His family moved to Britain in the mid-1950s after Indian independence, settling in south London.

Like his brothers Eden Kane (Richard Sarstedt) and Peter Sarstedt, Robin pursued a career in music, initially recording under names like Wes Sands and Clive Sands before adopting 'Robin Sarstedt' professionally.

His most notable success came in 1976 with a cover of Hoagy Carmichael's 'My Resistance Is Low'. The single climbed to number three on the UK Singles Chart and remained there for three weeks. Though he didn't repeat that chart success in the UK, he did find modest popularity in the Benelux region with his rendition of 'Let's Fall in Love' later that same year. He later settled in Spain and passed away in January 2022 at the age of 78.

Answer: Talk Talk

Mark Hollis was the frontman and principal songwriter of the English band Talk Talk, which he co-founded in 1981. Originally emerging from the punk scene with his earlier band The Reaction, he brought a restless creative spirit to Talk Talk. The band began as a synth-pop outfit, releasing catchy, chart-friendly singles like 'It's My Life' and 'Life's What You Make It'.

Hollis was, however, never content with commercial formulas. As the band matured, they moved toward more experimental and introspective territory. They released their 1986 album 'Colour of Spring'. Then came 'Spirit of Eden' (1988) and 'Laughing Stock' (1991), two albums that defied genre boundaries and helped pioneer what would later be called post-rock.

Talk Talk disbanded shortly after 'Laughing Stock', and Hollis released a solo album in 1998 before retiring from music altogether. He passed away in 2019 at 64, leaving a legacy that continues to influence artists across genres, from Radiohead and Portishead to St. Vincent and Wild Beasts.

Answer: Cilla Black

The song 'If I Thought You'd Ever Change Your Mind' was written by British arranger John Cameron in 1966. It was first recorded by Swedish band Blond in 1969 under the title 'Flowers in the Morning'. British producer George Martin later arranged a version for Cilla Black, released in November 1969. Her rendition, praised for its lush orchestration, reached number 20 on the Billboard Singles Chart.

In 2004, Agnetha Fältskog of ABBA revived the song as her comeback single after a 17-year hiatus. Her version, featured on the album 'My Colouring Book', showcased her signature emotive vocals and climbed to number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.

While Cilla's version leaned into dramatic baroque pop, Agnetha's was more nostalgic and tender, each artist bringing her own emotional depth to the same haunting melody.

Answer: The Tremeloes

Chip Hawkes was born Leonard Donald Stanley Hawkes in 1945, in London. He is best known as the bassist and co-lead vocalist of the British rock band The Tremeloes. He joined the group in 1966 after its split from frontman Brian Poole and played a key role in their string of UK chart hits, including 'Silence Is Golden', 'Here Comes My Baby', 'Even the Bad Times Are Good' and 'My Little Lady'.

After leaving the band in 1974 due to a car accident, he pursued a solo career in Nashville, though it was short-lived. He later rejoined The Tremeloes and continued performing, even forming a supergroup called Class of '64.

His son, Chesney Hawkes, rose to fame in 1991 with his debut single 'The One and Only', which topped the UK charts and became a defining anthem of the decade. Chesney was influenced by his father's career and received early support from Chip, who managed him during his rise. Though he never had another big hit, he maintained a loyal fan base and continued performing and recording. In 2017, he toured with his father.

Answer: The Honeycombs

The Honeycombs were a British beat group formed in North London in 1963. Originally called The Sheratons, the band was founded by hairdresser Martin Murray and featured Anne 'Honey' Lantree on drums, one of the few prominent female drummers of the era. Her brother John Lantree played bass. Their unique lineup and sound caught the attention of producer Joe Meek, known for his experimental techniques.

Their debut single, 'Have I the Right?', written by Ken Howard and Alan Blaikley, became a big hit in 1964. It was recorded in Meek's apartment studio using unconventional methods, like band members stomping on stairs to enhance the percussion. It reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and sold over a million copies. It also charted internationally, hitting number five in the US and number one in Australia and Canada.

Despite their hit, The Honeycombs struggled to replicate the success of their debut. Subsequent singles like 'Is It Because?' and 'Eyes' had modest chart performances, and the band eventually disbanded in 1967.

Answer: Amen Corner

Formed in late 1966 in Cardiff, Wales, Amen Corner was a Welsh rock band. The group took its name from a Sunday night soul music session at the Victoria Ballroom, known as 'The Amen Corner', where DJ Dr. Rock spun American soul records. Originally a blues and jazz band, they shifted toward a more commercial pop-rock sound under the guidance of their record label.

One of their biggest hits was 'Bend Me, Shape Me', released in 1968. Originally an American song written by Scott English and Larry Weiss, Amen Corner's version reached number three on the UK Singles Chart and stayed in the Top 40 for 12 weeks. Their version added a soulful, brassy punch that distinguished it from earlier versions.

Amen Corner had several other successful singles. Their debut hit 'Gin House Blues' reached number 12 in 1967, followed by 'The World of Broken Hearts' (number 24). In 1968, 'High in the Sky' climbed to number six. Their biggest success came in 1969 with '(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice', a cover of an Italian song that topped the UK charts for two weeks. That same year, 'Hello Susie', written by Roy Wood, reached number four.

Answer: Green Gartside

Born as Paul Julian Strohmeyer in Cardiff, Wales, in 1955, the frontman of Scritti Politti later adopted the name 'Green Gartside' during his time at Leeds Polytechnic, where he studied art and became immersed in punk, politics, and experimental music.

He is the creative force behind the band that started out in the late 1970s as a scrappy, politically charged post-punk outfit and gradually morphed into one of the most sophisticated and genre-blurring acts in British Pop.

Scritti Politti's breakthrough came with 'Cupid & Psyche 85', an album full of chart-friendly singles. Gartside's falsetto vocals and obsession with sonic detail made the band stand out, but the pressure of success and his own perfectionism led him to retreat from the spotlight for years. He lived quietly in Wales, rarely performing or releasing music, though he continued writing and experimenting in private. Eventually, he returned with new material that embraced hip-hop and electronic influences.

Answer: True

Marti Pellow was born Mark McLachlan in Clydebank, Scotland. He rose to fame as the charismatic frontman of Wet Wet Wet, one of the UK's most popular pop-soul bands of the late 20th century. He adopted the stage name 'Marti Pellow' by blending his mother's maiden name with a school nickname.

In 1982, he and three school friends formed the band originally known as Vortex Motion, later renamed Wet Wet Wet. They had a hit with 'Wishing I Was Lucky' (1987) and quickly became chart regulars with songs like 'Sweet Little Mystery', 'Goodnight Girl', and the iconic 'Love Is All Around' (1994), which dominated the UK charts for 15 weeks thanks to its inclusion in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.

Despite their success, the band faced internal tensions. In 1997, drummer Tommy Cunningham left over a royalties dispute, and Marti Pellow, battling heroin addiction at the time, eventually quit in 1999. After overcoming his addiction, he rejoined the band in 2004, but the reunion was short-lived. In 2017, Pellow left Wet Wet Wet for good to focus on his solo career, which included musical theatre, performing in both the West End and on Broadway. His roles have included parts in 'Chicago' and 'Evita'.

Answer: Renée and Renato

Renée and Renato were a British-Italian vocal duo who briefly captured the public's imagination in the early 1980s with their melodramatic and operatic style. The pair consisted of Italian-born Renato Pagliari, a former waiter with a powerful tenor voice, and British singer Hilary Lester, who performed under the stage name Renée.

They became famous in December 1982 when they topped the UK Singles Chart with the sentimental ballad 'Save Your Love', a song with romantic clichés and theatrical flair. It became a surprise Christmas number one. The song's kitschy charm, complete with a music video featuring a model standing in for Renée, made it very popular, as it combined pop and opera.

Despite its success, the duo struggled to replicate the magic. Their follow-up singles, 'Just One More Kiss' and 'Jesus Loves Us All', failed to chart significantly.

Answer: Sparks

Sparks is an American pop-rock duo formed by brothers Ron and Russell Mael in Los Angeles in the late 1960s, who are known for their eccentric style and theatrical flair. They have built a cult following over decades by constantly reinventing their sound, from glam rock and art pop to synth-driven disco and orchestral. Russell's soaring falsetto and Ron's deadpan stage presence have become signatures of the band's live performances and music videos.

Their breakthrough came with the 1974 album 'Kimono My House', which featured the hit 'This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us' and established them as an avant-garde Pop band. Sparks continued to evolve, collaborating with electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder on 'No. 1 in Heaven' (1979), a landmark album that helped shape the synth-pop genre. They've never settled into a single style of music.

Despite limited mainstream success in the U.S., Sparks has remained influential across generations, inspiring artists from New Wave to modern indie. Their 2002 album 'Lil' Beethoven' was hailed as a masterpiece, and their collaboration with Franz Ferdinand in 2015 as the supergroup FFS showed their continuing relevance. With over 25 albums Sparks stands as one of pop music's most original and enduring acts.