Dexys Midnight Runners Trivia Quiz

Answer: Birmingham

Dexys Midnight Runners was founded in Birmingham in 1978. The two original members of Dexys, vocalist Kevin Rowland and guitarist Kevin (known as 'Al') Archer come from the West Midlands. Rowland was born in Wolverhampton and Archer in Birmingham.

Answer: Geno

Written by Rowland and Archer, "Geno" was a track on the band's debut album in 1980, "Searching for the Young Soul Rebels". The song is a tribute to the American R&B singer Geno Washington. "Geno" spent two weeks at number one in the UK singles chart in May 1980.

Answer: The Killjoys

Rowland and Archer were both original members of the Birmingham-based New Wave band The Killjoys. Founded in 1976, other members include bassist Ghislaine 'Gil' Weston who would later replace Enid Williams in the London-based heavy metal band Girlschool. The Killjoys released only one single in their two-year time together, "Johnny Won't Get to Heaven" released in 1977.

Answer: Too-Rye-Ay

Released in 1982, "Too-Rye-Ay" was the band's second studio album. A remarkable seven singles were released from the album, four of them making it into the Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart and "Come On Eileen" topping the singles charts both in the UK and the US as well as in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Switzerland.

The album topped out at number two in the UK Album Chart and number fourteen in the US.

Answer: Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean" sat atop the US Billboard 100 Singles Chart for six weeks until it was knocked off by Dexys' "Come On Eileen" on April 23, 1983. Just one week later, Jackson's "Beat It" replaced Dexys at the top of the chart and would stay there for three weeks.

Answer: 2004 European Championships

The Euro 2004 Football Championships were staged in Portugal in June and July 2004. 4-4-2 released "Come On England" in June 2004 and it went straight to number two in the UK Singles Chart. Played ad infinitum on "talkSPORT" radio, a number of the station's presenters provided backing vocals when 4-4-2 appeared on "Top of the Pops".

Answer: 39th

Remarkably, during their original eight-year run between 1978 and 1986 and since they reformed in 2003, 43 (and counting?) musicians have been members of Dexys Midnight Runners. Talbot's departure left the band as a foursome comprising three original members, vocalist Kevin Rowland, bass players Pete Williams and trombonist Jim Paterson plus violinist Lucy Morgan who joined in 2003.

Answer: One Day I'm Going to Soar

Released in 2012, "One Day I'm Going to Soar" was the band's first studio album since 1985. It reached number 13 in the UK Album Chart. "She Got a Wiggle" was the first single released from the album. "Let's Make This Precious" was the title of a "Best of Dexys" compilation released in 2003. "The Wanderer" was Kevin Rowland's first solo album, released in 1988.

Answer: Van Morrison

The song was "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)", which was written by and originally released in 1972 by Van Morrison. The Morrison versions made it only to number 61 in the US Singles Chart. The Dexys' version a decade later reached number five in the UK chart.

Answer: Johnnie Ray

The opening verse of "Come On Eileen" is "Poor old Johnnie Ray, sounded sad upon the radio; Moved a million hearts in mono, Our mothers cried, sang along;
Who would blame them?"