About This Quiz
When you're driving around, do you invariably turn to the oldies station? If so, you're one of the many fans of rock music from the 1960s, '70s and '80s — a period when rock became synonymous with youth, rebellion and the counterculture. The world was changing during this time, after all. While the adults were embroiled in the Vietnam War during the '60s and '70s, many young people wanted more peace, love and rock 'n' roll.Â
It helped, too, that music from the '60s to the '80s was constantly evolving and experimenting with new styles and sounds. Funk, jazz, rhythm and blues, heavy metal, disco and rock all had their heyday during this period. And the messages in music were changing, too. While rock had traditionally focused on subjects than concerned youths, like driving, relationships and having fun, the music of the '60s, '70s and '80s took on social and political issues as well. Teens and parents often clashed over this new, edgy music that made overt references to sex, drugs and anti-war sentiments. But still, the music endured.
Whether you were alive during the '60s when this rock revolution began or you discovered the music decades later, you can still find classic songs that speak to you about love, life and death. Test your knowledge of these groundbreaking artists by matching them to their cities of origin. Rock on, folks!
John, Paul, George and Ringo formed the Beatles in Liverpool. They started out playing in clubs, including the Cavern Club, which is where they met their future manager, Brian Epstein.
R.E.M. started out in Athens, Georgia, the city of UGA. The alternative rock band received a lot of college radio play in the early 1980s and made its big break with "The One I Love."
In 1987, lead singer Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic formed Nirvana in Aberdeen, Washington. Despite Cobain's untimely death, the band became one of the defining acts of the grunge subculture.
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The Rolling Stones, one of the bands of the British Invasion, came together in London in 1962. The band, with lead singer Mick Jagger, quickly came to represent wild, rebellious youth.
Although the founding members, Malcolm and Angus Young, were born in Scotland, they formed AC/DC in Sydney, Australia, in 1973. The hard rock band had its first success with "Back in Black."
The Who formed in 1964 in London with members Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, John Entwistle and Keith Moon. Known for smashing guitars on stage, The Who had a big hit with "Tommy."
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The E Street Band, Springsteen's backing band, got its start in 1972 in Belmar, New Jersey. Because the band rehearsed in member David Sancious' mother's home, they named the band after her street.
The Supremes were a popular Motown group formed in 1959 in Detroit, originally under the name the Primettes. By the mid-1960s, the Supremes were at their peak with Diana Ross as the lead singer.
The Monkees originated in Los Angeles in 1966 as the title band of a TV show. Modeled after the Beatles, the Monkees became successful in their own right, with hits like "Daydream Believer."
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The poetic duo Simon and Garfunkel originated in Queens, New York City. They had a rocky relationship throughout the 1960s, but they produced some of the most enduring folk rock hits.
Freddy Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon formed Queen in London in 1970. They became one of the most popular arena rock bands with hits like "Another One Bites the Dust."
The Irish band U2 formed in 1976 while the members were still in school. U2 became known for the spiritual and political themes in their music, for instance with the single "Sunday Bloody Sunday."
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Originally from Bath, the still-active band Tears for Fears consists of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. In 1985, they had two big hits with "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."
In 1985, Crowded House formed in Melbourne, and its members included brothers Neil and Tim Finn. The band had a string of international hits, such as "Don't Dream It's Over" and "Instinct."
The Bangles are a popular pop rock band from the 1980s, formed by Susanna Hoffs and the sisters Debbi and Vicki Peterson. Some of their hits include "Eternal Flame" and "Manic Monday."
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Procol Harum's debut single "A Whiter Shade of Pale" (1967) shot to number 1 on the charts in the U.K. and number 5 in the U.S. Thus, the English band became known for their classical influence.
Famous for their California sound, the Beach Boys originated in Hawthorne in 1961. The band became popular due to their smooth vocal harmonies and catchy songs about surfing and cruising in cars.
The Mamas and the Papas were made up of John Phillips, Denny Doherty, Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot. The folk-rock band formed in 1965 and had hits with "Monday, Monday" and "California Dreamin'."
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The progressive rock band Yes formed in 1968 and is still active. The band experimented with classical music and psychedelic rock sounds throughout the 1970s with albums like "Fragile."
The Temptations got their start in 1960 in Detroit, where they signed with Motown Records. The band enjoyed great success during the 1960s and 1970s with hits like "My Girl" and are still active.
You can take the midnight train to Georgia to see where Gladys Knight and the Pips formed. They had several hits starting in the late 1960s with Motown Records, and Knight went on to a solo career.
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Famous for their groovy blues rock and long beards, ZZ Top started in Houston in 1969. Their 1983 album "Eliminator" sold over 10 million copies with hits like "Sharp Dressed Man."
Bread released their debut, self-titled album in 1969 and had a breakthrough hit song with "Make It with You" in 1970. They had more hits on their albums "Baby I'm-a Want You" and "Guitar Man."
Too obvious? The band originally went by the name Chicago Transit Authority but adopted the shorter name in 1969. Since then, the band has developed a distinctive sound with its horns.
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America's founding members were still in high school when they met, living near London while their dads served in the U.S. Air Force. America soon had hits with "Tin Man" and "A Horse with No Name."
The rock band Journey began in 1973 in San Francisco. One of their most enduring hits is "Don't Stop Believin'," which became an iTunes best-selling song in 2009, 28 years after its release.
Like R.E.M., the B-52's originated in the college town of Athens, Georgia. Active since 1976, the new wave band has had numerous hits, including "Love Shack," "Rock Lobster" and "Roam."
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The folk rock duo Amy Ray and Emily Saliers first started playing music together in high school, but they officially started the Indigo Girls in 1985 while attending Emory University.
Progressive rockers the Moody Blues formed in 1964 and have been performing ever since. The band is known for blending classical music with rock, with "Nights in White Satin" being a prime example.
Still performing, the Doobie Brothers are a rock band that got their start in San Jose. They switched back and forth between lead singers Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald, creating different styles.
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Frequent collaborators with Bob Dylan, the Band settled on their simple name in 1968. The Band starred in Martin Scorsese's documentary "The Last Waltz," playing hits like "The Weight."
The alternative rock band Radiohead formed in 1985 in Abingdon-on-Thames while the members were still in school. With Thom Yorke as the lead singer, Radiohead had their first hit with "Creep."
The Marshall Tucker Band developed in 1972 and is still active. Notable for blending blues, jazz and country sounds together, the band had hits with "Can't You See" and "Heard It in a Love Song."
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Active since 1975, this Australian band became popular in both its home country and in the United States with hits like "Lady" and "Reminiscing." The group has included over 30 members since forming.
This R&B group formed in 1954 and was a popular Motown band throughout the '60s and '70s. The Spinners collaborated with Dionne Warwick on the number 1 song "Then Came You" in 1974.
A popular pop band in the 1980s, the Eurythmics included Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart. Their second album, "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" earned them international acclaim.
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Black Sabbath formed in 1968 and helped establish the heavy metal genre with hit songs like "War Pigs" and "Paranoid." With lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, the band has sold more than 70 million albums.
The Doors started in 1965 in Los Angeles but fell apart soon after Jim Morrison's death in 1971. Still, they remain one of the greatest rock bands in history with hits like "Light My Fire."
This Southern rock band started in 1969 and included brothers Duane and Gregg Allman. The Allman Brothers Band fused jazz, blues and country with hits like "Melissa" and "Whipping Post."
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Kiss has been active since 1973 when they formed in New York City. Kiss wows audiences with elaborate stage performances, pyrotechnics, face paint and costumes. Now let's rock and roll all night!