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Rock Initials Trivia Quiz

Ever noticed the abundance of initials in rock music? Whether it's to create an air of mystery around an artist or a song or just for the expediency of abbreviation, rock is littered with the full stop!

A multiple-choice quiz by roket555. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
roket555

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
100,239

Updated
Mar 17 22

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
7 / 15

Plays
970

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. English singer/songwriter PJ Harvey: what does the PJ stand for? Hint

Pouting Jesus

Penelope June

Pricilla Jane

Polly Jean

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Question 2 of 15

2. The first label to sign R.E.M. were also refered to by initials, which label was this? Hint

WEA

RCA

IRS

CBS

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Question 3 of 15

3. D.O.A. -- this thumping punk band of the late 70s hailed from which country? Hint

Australia

Canada

New Zealand

Sweden

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Question 4 of 15

4. Booker T & the M.G.s created the sublime hit record 'Green Onions'. What's the MG stand for? Hint

Motown Guys

My Gang

Musical Gypsies

Memphis Group

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Question 5 of 15

5. G.L.C. was the second single for London punk band Menace. Who were the G.L.C.? Hint

Green Liberal Conservatives

Greater London Council

Gay Lobby Collective

Greying Leonard Cohen

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Question 6 of 15

6. Elvis often had these letters inscribed on his personal effects. Hint

ELVIS

TCB

EAT

USA

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Question 7 of 15

7. MC5 were a hard rocking Detroit outfit from the early 70s. What does the MC stand for? Hint

Mind Control

Motor City

Musical Choas

More Cash

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Question 8 of 15

8. B. Bumble and the Stingers had a hit with the song 'Nut Rocker'. Who was the producer of this song? Hint

Sonny Bono

Jack Nitzsche

Kim Fowley

Phil Spector

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Question 9 of 15

9. Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, from the early punk scene of New York City, had their first album's title abbreviated to _____? Hint

L.A.M.F.

J.T. & H

C.O.D.

N.Y.O.D.

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Question 10 of 15

10. Even the progressive rock scene of the 70s were not safe from initials. What letters did an Italian trio of the time use? Hint

NRBQ

ELP

PFM

AWB

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Question 11 of 15

11. CBGBs: This famous New York club of the mid-seventies had some additional letters after its title: OMFUG. What do they mean? Hint

Other Music for Uplifting Gormanizers

Other Music for an Ungodly Generation

Other Music for Ugly Geeks

Other Music for Uninhibited Groovers

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Question 12 of 15

12. The label A&M was created by Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame. Herb was the A. Who was the M? Hint

Sergio Mendes

Jerry Moss

George Martin

Arif Mardin

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Question 13 of 15

13. On which Sonic Youth album does the song 'JC' appear? Hint

Dirty

Daydream Nation

Goo

Evol

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Question 14 of 15

14. Adam & the Ants recorded their own version of this tacky seventies tune. Hint

D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

S.O.S.

A.B.C.

Y.M.C.A.

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Question 15 of 15

15. In 1979, the Beach Boys released an album called 'The Beach Boys LA'.
What does the LA stand for? Hint

Light Album

Love America

Los Angeles

Like Acid

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. English singer/songwriter PJ Harvey: what does the PJ stand for?

Answer: Polly Jean

Polly grew up in the small english town of Yeovil, where through her father's connections with the music industry, she was taken by the spell of music at a young age by the constant visitations of the members of touring bands passing through town.

2. The first label to sign R.E.M. were also refered to by initials, which label was this?

Answer: IRS

As most people know, R.E.M. were from Athens, Georgia, home of another letter-orientated band, the B-52's.

3. D.O.A. -- this thumping punk band of the late 70s hailed from which country?

Answer: Canada

The band later went on to record collabrative albums with Jello Biafra, ex-vocalist with The Dead Kennedys, who also had their name abbreviated often to the DK's.

4. Booker T & the M.G.s created the sublime hit record 'Green Onions'. What's the MG stand for?

Answer: Memphis Group

Other soul/R&B abbreviators? MFSB (Mother Father Sister Brother) and KC & the Sunshine Band (KC refering to their leader's real name, Casey).

5. G.L.C. was the second single for London punk band Menace. Who were the G.L.C.?

Answer: Greater London Council

The G.L.C. were responsible for the closure of many of London's live music venues in the late 70's.

6. Elvis often had these letters inscribed on his personal effects.

Answer: TCB

Elvis 'borrowed' the catch phrase -- "Takin' Care of Business" -- from James Brown and other artists from the Motown roster.

7. MC5 were a hard rocking Detroit outfit from the early 70s. What does the MC stand for?

Answer: Motor City

The name comes from Detroit's principal industry, automobile manufacture.

8. B. Bumble and the Stingers had a hit with the song 'Nut Rocker'. Who was the producer of this song?

Answer: Kim Fowley

Mr. Fowley went on to have a very illustrious career as a producer for artists as diverse as Cher, The Runaways, and The Modern Lovers.

9. Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers, from the early punk scene of New York City, had their first album's title abbreviated to _____?

Answer: L.A.M.F.

Due to Funtrivia decorum, I cannot give you the album's full title! But this was not the first time Johnny had courted controversy. He first came to public view as guitarist with the infamous New York Dolls.

10. Even the progressive rock scene of the 70s were not safe from initials. What letters did an Italian trio of the time use?

Answer: PFM

And the other abbreviators? Emerson Lake & Palmer, The Average White Band, and The New Rhythm and Blues Quartet.

11. CBGBs: This famous New York club of the mid-seventies had some additional letters after its title: OMFUG. What do they mean?

Answer: Other Music for Uplifting Gormanizers

CBGB actually stood for country, bluegrass and blues. Strange, because the venue was renowned for the appearance of America's finest punk and new wave artists.

12. The label A&M was created by Herb Alpert of Tijuana Brass fame. Herb was the A. Who was the M?

Answer: Jerry Moss

Jerry was a promotions man in the music industry who gave Herb his first break. They actually recorded the sound of a bullfight arena to use on his first hit, 'The Lonely Bull'.

13. On which Sonic Youth album does the song 'JC' appear?

Answer: Dirty

Producer of the album, Butch Vig, had previously worked on the hugely successful 'Nevermind' album by Nirvana, as well as with lesser names such as The Laughing Hyenas and Tad.

14. Adam & the Ants recorded their own version of this tacky seventies tune.

Answer: Y.M.C.A.

Their version, retitled A.N.T.S. was only released as a one-sided flexi-disc in UK music magazine Flexipop.

15. In 1979, the Beach Boys released an album called 'The Beach Boys LA'. What does the LA stand for?

Answer: Light Album

It must have been a big initial time for The Beach Boys. Their previous album was called M.I.U. which stood for Maharishi International University.

Source: Author roket555

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ltc717 before going online.
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