Skip to main content

April B-side Rock Quiz.

 


April B-Side Rock Quiz

Think you know your rock roots? From backstage legends to South African shredders, it’s time to prove your B-side brilliance.

Whether you've followed every story or just want to test your rock radar, this quiz is your chance to riff through the wildest corners of April's rock content.

Let's test your ear!


LEVEL 1: EASY (5 questions)

1. Which rock festival became legendary for its mud, peace, and music in 1969?

A) Woodstock

B) Coachella

C) Lollapalooza

D) Live Aid


2. Which of these bands was all-female?

A) Guns N’ Roses

B) The Runaways

C) Motley Crüe

D) Deep Purple


3. Who famously wore black eyeliner, played wild guitar solos, and inspired generations of glam rockers?

A) Alice Cooper

B) Gene Simmons

C) David Bowie

D) Ozzy Osbourne


4. What’s a key trademark of the hair metal era?

A) Political lyrics

B) Minimalist clothing

C) Power ballads and big hair

D) Acoustic folk influences


5. Which of these bands is proudly South African?

A) Seether

B) Arctic Monkeys

C) Kings of Leon

D) Soundgarden


LEVEL 2: MEDIUM (10 questions)

6. David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen famously clashed over:

A) Tour costumes

B) Musical direction

C) Stage time

D) Song royalties


7. Which 80s glam band was known for their song “Wait” and hair so big it needed its own dressing room?

A) L.A. Guns

B) Winger

C) White Lion

D) Cinderella


8. Which South African city birthed many of the country's rock legends?

A) Durban

B) Johannesburg

C) Port Elizabeth

D) Cape Town


9. Which rock frontman shocked audiences with snakes, guillotines, and blood?

A) Ozzy Osbourne

B) Marilyn Manson

C) Alice Cooper

D) Rob Zombie


10. Who played guitar and was also the behind-the-scenes production genius for many Led Zeppelin tracks?

A) John Bonham

B) Jimmy Page

C) Robert Plant

D) Brian May


11. What birthday anthem by Joan Jett could be found blasting at parties?

A) I Hate Myself for Loving You

B) Crimson and Clover

C) I Love Rock ‘n Roll

D) Cherry Bomb


12. Which long rock song was originally split across two sides of a vinyl album?

A) Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

B) Echoes – Pink Floyd

C) Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin

D) Layla – Derek and the Dominos


13. Who is often overlooked but played a massive role in Nirvana’s rise?

A) Butch Vig (producer)

B) Dave Grohl

C) Courtney Love

D) Pat Smear


14. Which decade did Chuck Berry and Little Richard electrify the charts?

A) 1960s

B) 1950s

C) 1970s

D) 1940s


15. Who was the lead guitarist for the Bangles?

A) Susanna Hoffs

B) Debbi Peterson

C) Vicki Peterson

D) Joan Jett


LEVEL 3: HARDCORE (10 questions)

16. What caused the infamous on-stage Van Halen split in the mid-80s?

A) A fight over a solo

B) DLR wanting to go solo

C) A missed performance

D) Contract issues


17. What’s the nickname of the legendary South African live rock venue in Johannesburg?

A) Rock Palace

B) The House of Rock

C) The Roxy

D) The Doors


18. Which behind-the-scenes icon shaped Bowie’s early image and sound?

A) Brian Eno

B) Rick Rubin

C) Tony Visconti

D) Phil Spector


19. What makes the song “Telegraph Road” by Dire Straits unique?

A) It was never performed live

B) It has no chorus

C) It’s 14+ minutes long

D) It uses only one chord progression


20. Who was the manager behind many of Alice Cooper’s shock rock stunts?

A) Bob Ezrin

B) Shep Gordon

C) Tony Defries

D) Sharon Osbourne


21. Which girl rock band famously opened for The Rolling Stones in the 60s?

A) Goldie and the Gingerbreads

B) The Shirelles

C) The Supremes

D) The Go-Go’s


22. What 70s glam band created chaos with their mix of punk and pop hooks?

A) Slade

B) Sweet

C) T. Rex

D) Roxy Music


23. In which year did Queen headline Sun City?

A) 1984

B) 1982

C) 1985

D) 1987


24. Who helped define the sound of hair metal with his production work for Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe?

A) Bob Rock

B) Rick Rubin

C) Shep Gordon

D) Todd Rundgren


25. Who was the voice behind many uncredited backing vocals in classic rock anthems?

A) Merry Clayton

B) Linda Ronstadt

C) Bonnie Raitt

D) Emmylou Harris

Check your answers

Scoring: Where Do You Land on the Rock Richter Scale?

0–5: “Still tuning your guitar.” You’re on the way, keep digging those B-sides.

6–12: “Garage Band Level.” You've got passion. Keep jamming and you'll headline soon.

13–19: “Opening Act Rockstar.” You’ve got solid rock knowledge and serious vibe.

20–24: “Arena Headliner!” You live and breathe riffs, solos, and shock rock stories.

25/25: “Legendary B-side Guru.” Are you secretly a roadie from the ‘70s?

Let us know your score in the comments or tag us in your story! Want more rock fuel? Head over to the blog’s April Playlist recap for this month’s B-side selections.

Playlist 

Rock on, stay loud, and keep turning those records over.

For a more in depth journey into the world of rock - pick up your copy of Volume One & Two of The Rock Atlas: B-sides and Backroads. 

Your copy here

(Note: Collect Volume One, subscribe to the blog, and receive Volume Two absolutely free!)


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Forgotten Gems Of Rock Opera

  Beyond Tommy and Queen: The Forgotten Gems of Rock Opera When we hear the term rock opera, the mind rushes to The Who’s Tommy or Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody. These iconic works set the bar for theatrical storytelling in rock, blending narrative arcs with sonic drama. But the history of rock opera is far more sprawling — and littered with hidden gems, misunderstood masterpieces, and B-side anthems that echo with raw storytelling power. Today, we dive into the lesser-known world of rock operas that dared to go big — and sometimes got lost in the noise. What Is a Rock Opera, Really? Rock operas are more than just concept albums. They're musical stories with characters, plots, and themes that unfold across an album — or even several. Unlike a concept album, which might explore a theme, a rock opera tells a story. Born in the late '60s and nurtured through the '70s and beyond, the genre blended the rebellious energy of rock with the theatrical weight of opera. But while Tommy an...
Post a Comment
Read more

Barking at the Moon: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne

  🖤 Barking at the Moon: A Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne The Day the Darkness Fell Silent Today, the rock world bows its head. Ozzy Osbourne—the Prince of Darkness, the bat-biting bard, the voice of the damned and the beloved—has taken his final bow. But in truth, a legend like Ozzy never really leaves us. His riffs still echo in our bones, his howls still haunt our headphones, and his B-sides—those brilliant, buried gems—still pulse with electric life. Ozzy wasn’t just a frontman. He was the frontman. The one who blurred the line between madness and magic, chaos and catharsis. From the graveyard stomp of Black Sabbath’s early days to the soaring solo anthems that followed, Ozzy didn’t just sing rock—he was rock. The B-Side of the Prince Here at HiddenGems, we shine a light on the often-forgotten corners of rock ‘n’ roll. And few artists left behind such a treasure chest of underrated power as Ozzy. Let’s crack it open and remember him through five of his lesser-known, but no less migh...
Post a Comment
Read more

When Faith and Music Collide

  Rock’s Spiritual Side: When Faith and Music Collide Introduction – When Rock Music Gets Spiritual Rock music has always been associated with rebellion, excess, and pushing boundaries. But beneath the wild stage antics, driving guitar riffs, and anthemic choruses, some of the most iconic rock artists have explored themes of faith, redemption, and spirituality. Whether questioning existence, drawing from gospel traditions, or outright embracing religious themes, rock music has a surprising history of diving into the sacred. From U2’s soaring hymns to Black Sabbath’s unexpected musings on faith, and even hidden B-sides that carry deep spiritual weight, this journey through rock’s spiritual side proves that faith and music collide in fascinating ways. And with Easter weekend upon us, what better time to explore these hidden gems? 1. Rock Legends Who Touched on Faith Even bands that don’t identify as religious have created songs that explore spirituality, redemption, and belief. These...
Post a Comment
Read more