Six Stings and a Hit: 1979 Trivia Quiz

Answer: David Gilmour

David Gilmour's soaring guitar solo on "Comfortably Numb" is often called one of the greatest solos in rock history. Remarkably, Pink Floyd recorded multiple versions before Gilmour pieced together the final solo from different takes. His smooth tone and emotional phrasing turned the song into a guitar masterpiece that still inspires players decades later.

Answer: Ritchie Blackmore

On "Since You Been Gone", Rainbow's Ritchie Blackmore layered multiple guitar tracks to create a huge sound, recorded with a unusually clean, sharp tone. This polished production style would influence arena rock and metal guitar tones throughout the 1980s.

In 1975, Ritchie Blackmore (of Deep Purple fame) teamed up with Elf lead singer Ronnie James Dio on a side project, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Their style was hard rock, inspired by medieval fantasy. Dio left Rainbow in the late 1970s due musical differences when Blackmore's desire was to move to a more radio-friendly sound--a musical change even Blackmore himself was hesitant about.

Blackmore hired vocal-powerhouse, Graham Bonnet, whose range and power (along with Blackmore's guitar riff) helped make "Since You Been Gone" one of the defining hard rock singles of 1979.

Graham Bonnet only stayed in Rainbow for one year, while Ronnie James Dio when on to replace Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath and then to a stellar career with his band, Dio.

Answer: Craig Chiquico

Jefferson Starship's "Jane" opens with one of the most dramatic guitar riffs of the late 1970s. Lead guitarist Craig Chaquico was only in his early twenties when he recorded it, yet his fiery playing helped transform the band from psychedelic rock veterans into a full-blown arena-rock powerhouse.

Answer: Jeff Healey

Blind guitarist Jeff Healey developed one of the most unique playing styles in rock history by laying the guitar flat across his lap while performing. His emotional lead work on "Angel Eyes" helped make the song a worldwide hit and introduced millions of listeners to his incredibly expressive style.

Answer: Berton Averre

The famous riff from "My Sharona" became one of the defining guitar hooks of the new-wave era. Guitarist Berton Averre also delivered a surprisingly aggressive solo that many fans overlook because the riff is so iconic. The song was inspired by a real woman named Sharona, who was dating the band's lead singer at the time.

Answer: Tommy Shaw

Tommy Shaw wrote "Renegade" while trying to blend acoustic storytelling with hard-rock energy. The song's dramatic buildup explodes into one of Styx's most recognizable guitar moments, and Shaw's mix of melody and power helped make the track a staple of rock radio and sports arenas for decades. Shaw also sang lead vocals on the track.

Answer: Angus Young

Angus Young's crunchy riff on "Highway to Hell" helped define hard rock entering the 1980s. AC/DC recorded the song with legendary producer Mutt Lange, who pushed the band toward a tighter, bigger sound. Despite the title, the band insisted the song was really about the exhausting grind of nonstop touring.

Answer: Rick Nielsen

Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen was known for quirky stage outfits, wild guitars, and sharp songwriting instincts. "Dream Police" mixed heavy riffs with huge pop hooks, while Nielsen's guitar work gave the song its nervous, edgy energy. The track became one of the band's signature arena-rock anthems.

Answer: Neil Giraldo

"Heartbreaker" not only introduced millions of listeners to powerhouse vocalist Pat Benatar, but also to her longtime musical partner and guitarist Neil Giraldo.

Giraldo's sharp riffs and melodic solo helped define Benatar's sound and turned the song into one of the breakthrough rock hits of 1979.

Giraldo and Pat Benatar married in 1982 and are still together more than four decades later.

Answer: James Honeyman-Scott

James Honeyman-Scott gave The Pretenders a sound that blended punk attitude with shimmering melodic guitar lines. On "Brass In Pocket," his tasteful playing added sophistication to the song without overpowering Chrissie Hynde's vocals.

Musicians still praise Honeyman-Scott as one of the most influential and underrated guitarists of the new-wave era.

Answer: Jeff Carlisi

38 Special blended Southern rock with arena-rock hooks, and Jeff Carlisi's guitar work was a huge part of that formula. "Hold On Loosely" became famous for its instantly recognizable opening riff, which Carlisi created while experimenting with a relaxed, melodic groove instead of an aggressive hard-rock approach.

The song's title was inspired by relationship advice from a friend, turning a casual phrase into one of classic rock radio's most enduring singalongs.

Answer: Eddie Van Halen

Known for jaw-dropping guitar acrobatics, Eddie Van Halen surprised fans with "Dance the Night Away," a lighter, more melodic song built around rhythm and feel instead of blazing solos. Eddie reportedly wrote the main riff while relaxing at home, proving he could create catchy pop-rock hooks just as easily as guitar fireworks.

Eddie still managed to sneak in one of his signature guitar innovations during the solo. Instead of using his signature two-handed tapping technique (as heard on "Eruption") for flash and speed, Eddie used a series of tap harmonics to create bright, melodic, bell-like notes that seemed to jump out of the guitar. For guitar players in 1979, this creativity and technique was mind-blowing.

Answer: Jimmy Page

Led Zeppelin took an unexpected turn on "Fool in the Rain," mixing rock with a shuffle groove influenced by samba rhythms. Jimmy Page crafted one of his most playful guitar performances, while drummer John Bonham delivered a complex rhythm that musicians still study today.

The song's cheerful sound hid the fact that it was one of the final major singles released before Bonham's death and the band's breakup.

Answer: Billy Gibbons

ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons turned a simple blues riff into one of rock's coolest grooves with "Cheap Sunglasses." The idea reportedly came after a band member bought inexpensive sunglasses at a roadside stand during a road trip. Gibbons used his trademark fuzzy guitar tone and laid-back swagger to create a song that became a permanent fixture on classic-rock playlists.

Answer: Mike Campbell

Mike Campbell wrote the music for "Refugee" before bringing it to Tom Petty, who immediately recognized its potential. Campbell's sharp guitar riff and restrained solo became the backbone of the song, helping turn it into one of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers' signature tracks.

Despite its polished sound, the band reportedly struggled through multiple recording sessions before finally capturing the version that became a hit.

Answer: Don Felder

By the time "The Long Run" was recorded, tensions within the Eagles were running high, but guitarist Don Felder still delivered the song's crisp, driving guitar work. The track blended smooth California rock with a tougher edge, reflecting the band's growing frustrations behind the scenes. Ironically, an album titled "The Long Run" ended up being the Eagles' final studio release for nearly three decades.

Answer: Larry Crane

Long before John Mellencamp became a superstar, "I Need a Lover" helped establish his heartland-rock sound. Guitarist Larry Crane gave the song its energetic drive with punchy riffs and classic rock attitude. The song became even more famous after Pat Benatar later recorded her own hit version, introducing it to a whole new audience.

Answer: Andy Summers

Andy Summers created one of the most recognizable guitar parts of the late 1970s with "Message in a Bottle." Instead of using heavy riffs, Summers built the song around bright, chiming arpeggios that sounded completely different from traditional rock guitar.

The repetitive pattern was physically exhausting to play live, but it helped define The Police's unique sound and influenced countless guitarists in the years that followed.

Answer: Elliot Easton

The Cars mastered the art of combining new-wave cool with classic-rock guitar hooks, and Elliot Easton was central to that sound. On "Let's Go", Easton balanced tight rhythm playing with a sharp, melodic solo that gave the song extra energy without overpowering its pop structure. Fellow musicians often praise Easton for sneaking technically impressive guitar work into radio-friendly songs.

Answer: Alex Lifeson

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson packed multiple styles into "The Spirit of Radio", blending progressive rock, hard rock, reggae influences, and rapid-fire chord changes into a single song. The title was inspired by a Toronto radio station slogan, while the lyrics celebrated the excitement and freedom of discovering new music on the airwaves. Lifeson's creative guitar work made the song one of Rush's biggest crossover hits.