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Boomtown Rats Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Boomtown Rats Quizzes, Trivia

Boomtown Rats Trivia

Boomtown Rats Trivia Quizzes

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3 Boomtown Rats quizzes and 30 Boomtown Rats trivia questions.
1.
  Case of the Mondays    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
How much do you know about singer-songwriter, actor and activist Bob Geldof? This quiz will test your knowledge of the life and work of the man who co-wrote the song "I Don't Like Mondays".
Average, 10 Qns, ramonesrule, Apr 09 26
Average
ramonesrule
Apr 09 26
296 plays
2.
  The Boomtown Rats   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Fronted by the legendary Bob Geldof, the Boomtown Rats were the first of the so called "New Wave" bands to be played on the UK's BBC Radio One. This is a quiz on the band and their hits from the late 1970s to the 1980s.
Average, 10 Qns, Popsicle01, Nov 27 04
Average
Popsicle01
358 plays
3.
  Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
The Boomtown Rats song and the real-life events that inspired it.
Average, 10 Qns, ubermom, Dec 25 09
Average
ubermom
506 plays

Boomtown Rats Trivia Questions
1. The Boomtown Rats took their name from a gang featured in the book "Bound For Glory". Which folk singer was this book the autobiography of?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: Woody Guthrie

The band were formed in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, in 1975. The original choice for the name of the band was the more punkish Nightlife Thugs. After signing to Ensign Records in 1977, the band moved to the UK.

2. The song's title and repeated line, "I Don't Like Mondays", is an actual quote. Who was Bob Geldof quoting?

From Quiz Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays

Answer: Brenda Spencer, explaining why she'd shot out her window at children

A reporter using a reverse telephone directory called Brenda Spencer's house and asked her why she was firing shots into a school playground. She replied, "I don't like Mondays. This livens up the day." Geldof was struck by the meaninglessness of the answer. The principal, Burton Wragg, was killed in the shooting as he tried to usher children into the safety of the building. Head custodian Mike Suchar had rushed over to help Wragg and was also shot dead. District Attorney Richard Sachs' comment on Spencer was, "She probably was and still is a miserable person through and through. But her way of dealing with the misery was to spread it around." Wallace Spencer had given Brenda the gun for Christmas. She said she'd asked for a radio.

3. What was the name of the keyboard player in the Boomtown Rats, who always appeared dressed in his pyjamas?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: Johnny Fingers

Johnny (sometimes spelt Johnnie) Fingers was born John Moylett. He was rarely seen in more conventional clothing, and appeared on television, in videos and promotional pictures, dressed in his striped pyjamas! Besides Johnny and singer Bob, the other members of the Boomtown Rats were guitarist Gerry Cott, bassist Pete Briquette, guitarist Garry Roberts, and drummer Simon Crowe.

4. The Boomtown Rats issued their first single "Looking After No.1" in 1977, and toured the UK with which American band?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

The Boomtown Rats played a few gigs with Tom Petty on his 1977 UK Summer tour. It was not too long, however, before the band were headlining for themselves. "Looking After No.1" is often regarded as the first New Wave record to be played on BBC radio and television. It made a respectable number 11 on the UK charts.

5. "And school's out early and soon we'll be learning and the lesson today is how to die," Geldof sings. How many children were killed in the shooting?

From Quiz Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays

Answer: 0

Principal Burton Wragg and head custodian Mike Suchar died heroically ushering the children into the safety of the building. Eight children were wounded, as was a police officer.

6. The Boomtown Rats second hit single of 1977 mentioned a girl called Mary in it's title. What class at school was she in?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: The 4th Form

"Mary Of The 4th Form" was a UK number 15 hit.

7. "Sweet sixteen ain't so peachy keen," Geldof sings. What is this a reference to?

From Quiz Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays

Answer: The age of shooter Brenda Spencer

Brenda got the gun for Christmas, not for her birthday. The children she shot at were all elementary school aged.

8. What was the title of The Boomtown Rats first UK number one?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: Rat Trap

After a number six hit with "Like Clockwork", the band finally reached number one in November 1978. "Rat Trap", much to many listeners relief, knocked "Summer Nights", by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John, off the top spot which they had been hogging for seven weeks. An advert placed by the bands record company in the music press, showed a cartoon Travolta and Newton-John firmly caught in a giant mouse trap and the words "They've been caught!" at the bottom of the page!

9. What was the name of the tragic American schoolgirl who inspired the Boomtown Rats "I Don't Like Mondays" hit?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: Brenda Spencer

In January 1979, whilst in Atlanta, America, the Boomtown Rats heard the sad story of schoolgirl Brenda Spencer who one day took a gun to her school killing the principal, school caretaker and injuring nine students. When asked why she did it, she simply said "I Don't Like Mondays", which inspired Bob Geldof to write the song. This became the band's second UK number one.

10. The Boomtown Rats second album, "A Tonic For The Troops", was issued in 1978. The title is taken from a line in which of their hit singles?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: She's So Modern

"She likes to wear her leather boots, 'Cos it's exciting for the veterans and it's a tonic for the troops". "She's So Modern" was a UK number 12 hit in 1978. The album also contained "Rat Trap" and "Like Clockwork".

11. What was the title of the Boomtown Rats fruit flavoured 1980 hit?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: Banana Republic

"Banana Republic" became the Rat's last top ten single, reaching number three on the UK charts.

12. In 1982, Bob Geldof appeared in which music related film?

From Quiz The Boomtown Rats

Answer: The Wall

Bob Geldof played the part of Pink in the movie adaption of Pink Floyd's "The Wall". Some sources have said in the past that the character of Pink is loosely based on original Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett, but Roger Walters has stated in interviews that the story was based on his own music business experiences.

13. One piece of truly useless trivia: Which British actor played the piano opening of "I Don't Like Mondays" in character on a US television show?

From Quiz Boomtown Rats: I Don't Like Mondays

Answer: Hugh Laurie as Dr. House

Although those other British actors really did play those parts on American television, only Hugh Laurie tickled the ivories with "I Don't Like Mondays". In the episode, "Half Wit", Dr. House plays the piano for a patient with musical dystonia. The patient exactly replicates Dr. House's performance.

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Last Updated Apr 25 2026 5:50 AM
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