Six Strings & A Hit: 1976 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Don Felder and Joe Walsh

Eagles were already one of the biggest bands in America when they began work on "Hotel California", and the addition of Joe Walsh gave the group another hard edge lead guitarist. Guitarist Don Felder brought in the musical foundation of the song, and together he and Walsh created one of rock's most celebrated guitar solos in rock history.

Rather than competing with each other, the two guitarists carefully arranged their parts as a conversation, trading phrases before joining together in harmony. The closing guitar section remains one of the most recognizable outros in classic rock.

Answer: Tom Scholz

Before Boston became one of the biggest-selling debut acts in history, Tom Scholz was recording music in the basement of his home, playing nearly every instrument. "More Than a Feeling" was a song that he had recorded onto a demo tape. He took the old track and layered guitars over it with remarkable precision, creating a sound that would soon stand out on radio.

The song's soaring melody and rich guitar harmonies became the blueprint for Boston's success. Decades later, it remains one of the most beloved recordings in rock history.

Answer: Kerry Livgren

After finishing the rehearsals for their "Leftoverture" album, members of Kansas were packing up their gear for the studio when guitarist Kerry Livgren said, "I've got one more song...". Written in a single evening, Livgren had the entire complex rock masterpiece "Carry On Wayward Son" essentially written and composed. That last minute addition would become Kansas' signature song, their first Top-40 hit, and a staple of classic rock history.

The intricate guitar arrangement and memorable riff helped make it one of the most enduring rock songs from the decade.

Answer: Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson

Thin Lizzy's twin-guitar attack helped revolutionize hard rock during the 1970s. On "The Boys Are Back in Town," Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson traded harmonized leads that sounded both powerful and melodic.

The song became Thin Lizzy's biggest hit and introduced countless listeners to the possibilities of dual lead guitars. Its influence can still be heard in hard rock and heavy metal today in bands such as Iron Maiden.

Answer: Pete Carr

Bob Seger reached outside of his Silver Bullet Band and hired Pete Carr, one of the most in-demand session musicians of the era and the lead guitarist for the famous Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama.

On "Mainstreet", Carr created the haunting guitar melody that defines the song. Rather than overwhelming the song, Carr's restrained playing enhances its nostalgic atmosphere. The guitar line as instantly recognizable as Seger's vocals. His tasteful fills, understated style, and melodic phrasing helped shape the polished sound of late-1970s rock radio.

Carr appeared on hundreds of recordings for various artists, including:
- Bob Seger's "We've Got Tonight", "Still the Same", "Fire Lake", and "Old Time Rock N Roll"
- Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night"
- Barbra Streisand's "Woman In Love" and "Guilty"
- Mary MagGregor's "Torn Between Two Lovers"

Answer: Brian May

Brian May approached guitar differently than almost anyone else in rock. Rather than simply providing solos, May used his instrument almost like an orchestra. On "Somebody to Love," he layered multiple guitar parts to help support Queen's gospel-inspired arrangement.

His creativity helped make Queen one of the most distinctive bands of the decade.

May built his famous "Red Special" guitar with his father using materials that included parts from an old fireplace.

Answer: Joe Perry

Joe Perry's swaggering riff helped reestablish Aerosmith as America's premier hard-rock band after a difficult period. Perry experimented with slide guitar and unusual tones throughout the recording sessions. The result was one of the heaviest and most distinctive riffs of the 1970s.

The song's combination of blues roots and arena-rock power would influence countless hard-rock bands that followed.

Answer: Ace Frehley

Ace Frehley delivered one of the finest solos of his career on "Detroit Rock City." The song combined Kiss' trademark energy with a more ambitious arrangement than many of their earlier recordings. Frehley's melodic approach helped make the solo memorable long after the song ended. Many fans still consider it the high point of his studio work with the band.

Fun fact: The song was inspired by a real automobile accident involving a Kiss fan traveling to a concert.

Answer: Larry Carlton

Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were notorious perfectionists, hiring only the elite session musicians to bring their songs to life. For "Kid Charlemagne," they turned to Larry Carlton, one of the most respected guitarists in Los Angeles and a player whose résumé already included hundreds of recordings.

Carlton responded with a solo that many guitarists consider a masterclass in melodic improvisation. Rather than relying on speed or flashy tricks, he constructed a solo filled with memorable phrases that perfectly fit the song's sophisticated groove. Nearly fifty years later, it remains one of the most studied guitar solos in rock history, appearing on countless "greatest guitar solo" lists.

Answer: Joe Walsh

Sometimes great songs begin with an accident. While warming up before a rehearsal, Joe Walsh played a guitar riff he considered little more than an exercise. Glenn Frey immediately recognized its potential and insisted the band build a song around it.

Walsh's aggressive guitar work complimented Don Felder's style, and together they helped push the Eagles further away from their country-rock roots and toward a harder rock sound. The "Life in the Fast Lane" riff became one of the defining guitar hooks of the decade.

Answer: Rod Price

Foghat's Rod Price earned a reputation as one of rock's premier slide guitar players. On "Slow Ride," he combined blues influences with hard-rock energy to create one of the most recognizable riffs of the 1970s.

The song became Foghat's signature hit and remains a staple of classic-rock radio.

Answer: Buck Dharma

Blue Öyster Cult's Buck Dharma was a master of memorable riffs and tasteful lead guitar work. On "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," he created one of the most recognizable guitar intros of the 1970s, helping transform an unusual song about mortality into a major radio hit.

His clean guitar tone and melodic phrasing gave the track an almost hypnotic quality. The result was a song that sounded unlike anything else on the radio and became Blue Öyster Cult's signature recording.

Answer: Lita Ford and Joan Jett

The Runaways shocked audiences by proving that teenage girls could play loud, aggressive rock and roll every bit as convincingly as their male counterparts. "Cherry Bomb" became the band's calling card, powered by the twin-guitar attack of Joan Jett and Lita Ford.

The song's raw energy and rebellious spirit helped make it a landmark recording in the history of women in rock. Decades later, it remains one of the defining anthems of teenage rebellion.

Fun fact: Joan Jett was only 17 years old when "Cherry Bomb" was released.

Answer: Peter Frampton

"Do You Feel Like We Do" gave Peter Frampton the perfect platform to showcase his abilities as a guitarist and performer. The song became the centerpiece of his live shows and a defining moment of "Frampton Comes Alive!".

Frampton's improvisation, audience interaction, and mastery of the talk box helped turn the performance into one of the most recognizable live recordings of the decade.

The live version became so popular that many fans assumed it was the original recording rather than a concert performance.

Answer: Ted Nugent

Ted Nugent built his reputation on powerful riffs, loud amplifiers, and extended guitar jams. "Stranglehold" remains his signature recording, built around a hypnotic groove and a lengthy solo that showcases his aggressive playing style.

Rather than carefully scripting every note, Nugent's gift was spontaneity and feel. That approach helped give the song its raw, unpredictable energy.

Fun fact: The song's memorable vocal performance was not Ted Nugent, but guitarist/singer Derek St. Holmes. St. Holmes sang lead vocals on many of Ted Nugent's songs of the era, including "Just What the Doctor Ordered", "Hey Baby", and "Dog Eat Dog". You can hear Ted's lead vocals on "Cat Scratch Fever".

Answer: Allen Collins and Gary Rossington

Lynyrd Skynyrd's trademark sound was built around multiple guitarists working together rather than competing for attention. On "Gimme Back My Bullets," Allen Collins and Gary Rossington created intertwining guitar parts that combined Southern roots with hard-rock power.

Their chemistry helped establish one of the most influential guitar partnerships in rock history. The song remains a favorite among fans who appreciate Skynyrd's guitar-driven approach.

Fun fact: The title refers to losing momentum on the music charts, not actual bullets, despite what many listeners assume.

Answer: Angus Young

AC/DC built their reputation on straightforward rock and roll, and few songs captured that approach better than "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap." Angus Young's sharp riffs helped make the song one of the band's earliest classics.

His energetic playing style and schoolboy stage outfit soon became iconic in the rock world while AC/DC became an international phenomenon.

Fun fact: The album was released in Australia in 1976, not released in the U.S. until several years later.

Answer: Don Felder

Don Felder originally developed the music for "Victim of Love" as an instrumental idea before it evolved into a full Eagles song. The finished track became one of the heaviest recordings on "Hotel California" and showcased the band's growing emphasis on guitar-driven rock.

Felder's sharp, aggressive playing helped distinguish the song from many of the Eagles' softer radio hits. It remains a favorite among fans who prefer the band's harder-edged material.

Fun fact: Don Felder would fill tapes with instrumentals and send them to the band for inspiration. The original "Victim of Love" demo was nicknamed "Iron Lung".

Answer: Steve Miller

Steve Miller understood how to write songs that connected immediately with listeners. "Rock'n Me" combines Miller's vocals, a simple guitar hook, and a driving rhythm that helped propel it to the top of the charts.

The song's straightforward arrangement demonstrates Miller's belief that great songs don't require unnecessary complexity.

Fun fact: "Rock'n Me" became Steve Miller's first number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

Answer: Tim Renwick

Although Al Stewart wrote and recorded "Year of the Cat," much of the song's musical identity comes from guitarist Tim Renwick. His soaring solo arrives late in the track and perfectly complements its mysterious, cinematic atmosphere.

Renwick became one of Britain's most respected session musicians, known for elevating recordings with tasteful, melodic performances. His work on "Year of the Cat" remains one of the finest examples of that talent.

Fun fact: Renwick later toured and recorded with artists including Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and Elton John.