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Quiz about Obscure Beatles Facts
Quiz about Obscure Beatles Facts

Obscure Beatles Facts Trivia Quiz


Test your knowledge of Beatles biographical and musical minutae.

A multiple-choice quiz by dmiles54. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
dmiles54
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
75,632
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
10 / 20
Plays
7164
Last 3 plays: Ron04 (5/20), Guest 71 (9/20), Guest 108 (6/20).
- -
Question 1 of 20
1. When Paul McCartney first played with John Lennon, what was their drummer's first name? Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. Who sponsored the Beatles' first professional tour in Scotland? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. What was the name of the first nightclub in Hamburg where the Beatles played? Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. According to Paul's recollections in the Beatles' 'Anthology' book, which of the Beatles Hamburg friends did the most to influence their style of dress and their hairstyle? Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. Why did the Beatles originally hire Pete Best to be their drummer? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. Name the predominant manufacturers of guitars, basses, and amps that the Beatles used from 1958 until 1967. Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. Who was the Beatles' first manager or booking agent? Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. The Beatles first 'proper' tour of theaters in Great Britain was actually in support of what singing star? Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. Why did Ed Sullivan book the Beatles for his 'really big shew'? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. Besides the screams of the fans, what else prevented the Beatles from hearing themselves when they played live? Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Which of these inspired John Lennon to write, 'She Said, She Said' (from 'Revolver') when the Beatles were visiting L.A. in 1965? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. Who was the Beatles' road manager, who went on to become the manager of Apple Corps.? Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. What was the largest venue where the Beatles performed live? Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. What was the nickname of the Beatles electronics 'genius' who befriended John in 1966?

Answer: (Two Words)
Question 15 of 20
15. None of the Beatles ever smoked marijuana.


Question 16 of 20
16. Who first turned the Beatles on to LSD? When did that happen? Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. The Beatles' scheduled performance at what Japanese venue caused considerable controversy during their 1966 world tour? Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. What was the final straw that caused the Beatles to finally stop touring? Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. The last name of the detective who busted John and Yoko and George and Pattie for possession of cannabis was...

Answer: (One Word)
Question 20 of 20
20. Name the recording engineer who most frequently worked with George Martin and the Beatles after the album "Rubber Soul". Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 28 2024 : Ron04: 5/20
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 71: 9/20
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 108: 6/20
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 50: 10/20
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 2: 15/20
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 109: 6/20
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 90: 10/20
Mar 20 2024 : poetkah: 14/20
Mar 16 2024 : Guest 86: 4/20

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. When Paul McCartney first played with John Lennon, what was their drummer's first name?

Answer: Colin

The drummer for the Quarrymen, ca. 1956.
2. Who sponsored the Beatles' first professional tour in Scotland?

Answer: Larry Parnes

Larry Parnes, a promoter of Elvis look-alikes with violent sounding names like 'Billy Fury' and 'Marty Wilde', teamed the Beatles up with 'Johnny Gentle'
3. What was the name of the first nightclub in Hamburg where the Beatles played?

Answer: The Indra Club

The Indra was where Koschmider first booked the Beatles, later moving them to the Kaiserkeller, after the Indra was shut down.
4. According to Paul's recollections in the Beatles' 'Anthology' book, which of the Beatles Hamburg friends did the most to influence their style of dress and their hairstyle?

Answer: Jurgen Vollmer

Jurgen met up with John and Paul in Paris. He cut their hair in the 'Beatle' style, and they mimicked his style of dress (e.g., the collarless jackets, bell-bottom pants, etc.). This is based on Paul's recollections in the Beatles' 'Anthology' Book.
5. Why did the Beatles originally hire Pete Best to be their drummer?

Answer: He owned his own drum kit, and he was available.

The Beatles needed a drummer -- fast. They were booked to go to Hamburg for the first time. They knew Pete because his mother Mona ran the 'Casbah' club out of her basement. Pete had the drum set, he was available to go, and he was an adequate drummer.
6. Name the predominant manufacturers of guitars, basses, and amps that the Beatles used from 1958 until 1967.

Answer: Hofner, Rickenbacker, Gretsch, and Vox

The Beatles used primarily German equipment (American was too expensive). George and John played Rickenbacker guitars (though George later also played the Gretsch Chet Atkins model). Stu Sutcliff and Paul McCartney both played Hofner basses (though Paul later played a Rickenbacker bass as well), and the Beatles initially used Vox amps (after 1967, they used Fender equipment as well).

A side note: Ringo initially played 'Premier' drums, still a very good English manufacturer. He switched to Ludwigs in 1963, and he still plays them to this day.
7. Who was the Beatles' first manager or booking agent?

Answer: Allan Williams

Allan Williams, owner of the Jacaranda Club, near John's art college, got the Beatles their first gigs, especially in Hamburg.
8. The Beatles first 'proper' tour of theaters in Great Britain was actually in support of what singing star?

Answer: Helen Shapiro

Helen Shapiro. In fact, 'Please Please Me' went to Number 1 in the UK while the Beatles were on that tour, and eventually they ended up headlining the tour, much to their embarrassment (They felt sorry for Helen Shapiro.)
9. Why did Ed Sullivan book the Beatles for his 'really big shew'?

Answer: He was at Heathrow Airport when the Beatles returned from Sweden and saw 10 thousand kids screaming their lungs out.

Sullivan was at Heathrow Airport when the Beatles returned from Sweden. He saw thousands of English kids waiting for the Beatles and booked the group to play his show in February 1964.
10. Besides the screams of the fans, what else prevented the Beatles from hearing themselves when they played live?

Answer: All of these

They loved playing at the Hollywood Bowl because the bowl acted like a big reverb chamber or monitor. They could hear themselves. All of the reasons listed above contributed to them not hearing anything but the screams.
11. Which of these inspired John Lennon to write, 'She Said, She Said' (from 'Revolver') when the Beatles were visiting L.A. in 1965?

Answer: Peter Fonda

Fonda and the Beatles (save Paul) were all tripping on acid, and Fonda kept saying 'I know what it's like to be dead.' It really annoyed John and George, who kept asking Fonda to shut up. McGuinn and Crosby (from the Byrds) were there also.
12. Who was the Beatles' road manager, who went on to become the manager of Apple Corps.?

Answer: Neil Aspinall

Neil began driving the Beatles around in Liverpool, for he was a friend of Pete Best's. Mal was their roadie; Derek, their press agent; Brian, their manager.
13. What was the largest venue where the Beatles performed live?

Answer: Shea Stadium

Shea. It seats 56,000 people. The Beatles sold it out in 1965, and played to 46,000 there in 1966 (perhaps due to John's 'Jesus' remark).
14. What was the nickname of the Beatles electronics 'genius' who befriended John in 1966?

Answer: Magic Alex

Alexis Mardas, the son of a Greek General in the ruling junta, was neither very magical nor was he much of an electronics wizard, but John liked him, so he hung out with the Beatles for about three years.
15. None of the Beatles ever smoked marijuana.

Answer: False

There are many stories about when they first tried marijuana. Some say it was in the summer of 1964. Apparently, Bob Dylan turned them on in New York City during the Beatles' 1964 summer tour of the US. Other sources indicate that it was earlier, circa 1960-61, in either Liverpool, Hamburg, or somewhere else.
16. Who first turned the Beatles on to LSD? When did that happen?

Answer: John and George's dentist, spring 1965

It was a dentist who knew John and George. He slipped it into their after-dinner coffee.
17. The Beatles' scheduled performance at what Japanese venue caused considerable controversy during their 1966 world tour?

Answer: The Budokan

The Budokan, a 'sacred' hall once dedicated to exhibitions of martial arts, had never hosted a rock n' roll concert before. There were many protests over the Beatles playing there.
18. What was the final straw that caused the Beatles to finally stop touring?

Answer: Almost getting killed in Manilla

The one event that really set them onto this course was the whole debacle in the Philippines. The other choices have merit, but their narrow escape from Manilla was really the last straw.
19. The last name of the detective who busted John and Yoko and George and Pattie for possession of cannabis was...

Answer: Pilcher

Sgt. Detective Pilcher made a name for himself by busting Donovan, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and then eventually half of the Beatles, all for drug possession. He was later arrested and imprisoned for perjuring himself (Hope he had fun in prison!)
20. Name the recording engineer who most frequently worked with George Martin and the Beatles after the album "Rubber Soul".

Answer: Geoff Emerick

Geoff Emerick was the recording engineer on virtually all of the Beatles records, except on parts of the 'White Album' and 'Let it Be'.
Source: Author dmiles54

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