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Classic rock trivia questions

Thirty classic rock questions about the bands, albums and legends of rock. They're sorted easy to hard, and every answer comes with a fun fact.

  • 30 questions
  • Easy to hard
  • Answers and fun facts

These come from the Classic Rock category in Trivia Battle, our trivia game for Apple TV.

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Easy classic rock trivia questions

  1. Question 1

    What is the common nickname for Metallica's 1991 self-titled album?

    1. AThe Heavy Album
    2. BThe Grey Album
    3. CThe Black Album
    4. DThe Silver Album

    Answer: The Black Album

    Fun fact: It sold more than 16 million copies in the US alone.

  2. Question 2

    Which song opens Metallica's 1991 self-titled album?

    1. ANothing Else Matters
    2. BSad But True
    3. CEnter Sandman
    4. DThe Unforgiven

    Answer: Enter Sandman

    Fun fact: The riff was written by Kirk Hammett at four in the morning.

  3. Question 3

    Which band released OK Computer in 1997?

    1. AThe Verve
    2. BSuede
    3. CRadiohead
    4. DBlur

    Answer: Radiohead

    Fun fact: It was recorded partly in an old mansion owned by an actress.

  4. Question 4

    What is the standard tuning of a six-string guitar, low to high?

    1. AE A D F B E
    2. BD A D G B E
    3. CE A D G B E
    4. DE A D G B D

    Answer: E A D G B E

    Fun fact: Many rock bands tune the whole thing down for a heavier sound.

  5. Question 5

    Which Who album is billed as a rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind boy?

    1. ATommy
    2. BWho's Next
    3. CQuadrophenia
    4. DThe Kids Are Alright

    Answer: Tommy

    Fun fact: It was later staged on Broadway.

  6. Question 6

    Which band's drummer Keith Moon was famous for destroying hotel rooms?

    1. AThe Kinks
    2. BLed Zeppelin
    3. CThe Who
    4. DCream

    Answer: The Who

    Fun fact: He also destroyed his own drum kit on live television.

  7. Question 7

    Which singer recorded Jack and Diane?

    1. AJohn Fogerty
    2. BBob Seger
    3. CJohn Mellencamp
    4. DBryan Adams

    Answer: John Mellencamp

    Fun fact: His label forced him to record under a stage name early in his career.

  8. Question 8

    Which Australian band was fronted by Michael Hutchence?

    1. AMen at Work
    2. BINXS
    3. CMidnight Oil
    4. DLittle River Band

    Answer: INXS

    Fun fact: Their album Kick produced four US top ten singles.

  9. Question 9

    Which guitarist popularized two-handed tapping on the 1978 instrumental Eruption?

    1. ASteve Vai
    2. BYngwie Malmsteen
    3. CRandy Rhoads
    4. DEddie Van Halen

    Answer: Eddie Van Halen

    Fun fact: He reportedly turned away from crowds early on so other guitarists could not copy him.

  10. Question 10

    In which city did the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame open in 1995?

    1. ANew York
    2. BCleveland
    3. CDetroit
    4. DMemphis

    Answer: Cleveland

    Fun fact: The city won it partly because a local DJ helped popularize the term rock and roll.

  11. Question 11

    Which festival did Perry Farrell launch in 1991?

    1. ABonnaroo
    2. BWarped Tour
    3. CCoachella
    4. DLollapalooza

    Answer: Lollapalooza

    Fun fact: It started as a farewell tour for his band.

Medium classic rock trivia questions

  1. Question 12

    What is the standard lineup of a power trio?

    1. AGuitar, keys and drums
    2. BTwo guitars and drums
    3. CGuitar, bass and drums
    4. DBass, keys and drums

    Answer: Guitar, bass and drums

    Fun fact: Cream and Rush are often cited as the format's best examples.

  2. Question 13

    Which television series told the rise-and-fall stories of rock acts starting in 1997?

    1. AClassic Albums
    2. BUnplugged
    3. CBehind the Music
    4. DStorytellers

    Answer: Behind the Music

    Fun fact: Its formula became so familiar that it was widely parodied.

  3. Question 14

    Which 1971 album is often called Led Zeppelin IV?

    1. AHouses of the Holy
    2. BThe untitled one with four symbols
    3. CPresence
    4. DPhysical Graffiti

    Answer: The untitled one with four symbols

    Fun fact: Each member chose a symbol to represent himself.

  4. Question 15

    Which 1994 album by a Seattle band debuted at number one and won two Grammys?

    1. ALouder Than Love
    2. BBadmotorfinger
    3. CSuperunknown
    4. DDown on the Upside

    Answer: Superunknown

    Fun fact: Black Hole Sun and Spoonman each won one of them.

  5. Question 16

    Which 1993 album features Today and Disarm?

    1. AAdore
    2. BMachina
    3. CSiamese Dream
    4. DGish

    Answer: Siamese Dream

    Fun fact: Billy Corgan played most of the guitar and bass parts himself.

  6. Question 17

    Which 1986 Metallica album was the band's last with Cliff Burton?

    1. ARide the Lightning
    2. BAnd Justice for All
    3. CMaster of Puppets
    4. DKill 'Em All

    Answer: Master of Puppets

    Fun fact: He died in a tour bus crash months after its release.

  7. Question 18

    Which Eagles album became one of the best-selling releases in US history?

    1. ATheir Greatest Hits
    2. BThe Long Run
    3. CHotel California
    4. DDesperado

    Answer: Their Greatest Hits

    Fun fact: It is certified well past 30 times platinum.

  8. Question 19

    Which British amplifier brand became shorthand for loud rock guitar?

    1. AFender
    2. BMarshall
    3. CVox
    4. DOrange

    Answer: Marshall

    Fun fact: Stacking the cabinets created the classic wall of amps.

  9. Question 20

    Which Fleetwood Mac album was recorded while its couples were splitting up?

    1. AFleetwood Mac
    2. BMirage
    3. CTusk
    4. DRumours

    Answer: Rumours

    Fun fact: Two romantic relationships inside the band ended during the sessions.

  10. Question 21

    Which 1984 Van Halen single featured a prominent synthesizer?

    1. AHot for Teacher
    2. BJump
    3. CUnchained
    4. DPanama

    Answer: Jump

    Fun fact: The keyboard part caused arguments inside the band.

  11. Question 22

    Which group recorded Sabotage, with its 1970s cop show video?

    1. ARage Against the Machine
    2. BRed Hot Chili Peppers
    3. CBeastie Boys
    4. DFaith No More

    Answer: Beastie Boys

    Fun fact: Spike Jonze directed the video.

Hard classic rock trivia questions

  1. Question 23

    Which 1995 album introduced Bush to American radio?

    1. AThe Science of Things
    2. BRazorblade Suitcase
    3. CGolden State
    4. DSixteen Stone

    Answer: Sixteen Stone

    Fun fact: Glycerine and Machinehead both came from it.

  2. Question 24

    In which city did David Bowie record his experimental late-70s trilogy?

    1. AStockholm
    2. BParis
    3. CBerlin
    4. DAmsterdam

    Answer: Berlin

    Fun fact: He moved there partly to escape a serious drug problem in Los Angeles.

  3. Question 25

    Which band's debut album was largely recorded by an MIT-trained engineer in his basement?

    1. AStyx
    2. BBoston
    3. CKansas
    4. DForeigner

    Answer: Boston

    Fun fact: Tom Scholz built much of his own recording equipment.

  4. Question 26

    Why was the original cover of Guns N' Roses' debut album replaced?

    1. AThe artist sued
    2. BIt was printed wrong
    3. CRetailers refused to stock it
    4. DThe band hated it

    Answer: Retailers refused to stock it

    Fun fact: The replacement shows the band members as skulls on a cross.

  5. Question 27

    Which ticketing company did Pearl Jam fight over service fees?

    1. AClear Channel
    2. BMTV
    3. CTicketmaster
    4. DLive Nation

    Answer: Ticketmaster

    Fun fact: The band testified before Congress and stopped touring conventional venues for years.

  6. Question 28

    Which engineer recorded Nirvana's 1993 album and refused royalties on principle?

    1. ASteve Albini
    2. BBrendan O'Brien
    3. CButch Vig
    4. DTerry Date

    Answer: Steve Albini

    Fun fact: He took a flat fee instead, as he did on every record.

  7. Question 29

    How long must an act have released records before it can enter the Rock Hall?

    1. A10 years
    2. B25 years
    3. C40 years
    4. D15 years

    Answer: 25 years

    Fun fact: The clock starts from the first commercial recording.

  8. Question 30

    Which Austrian singer topped the US chart in 1986 with a German-language song?

    1. ATrio
    2. BFalco
    3. CNena
    4. DPeter Schilling

    Answer: Falco

    Fun fact: Rock Me Amadeus was the first German-language song to reach number one in America.

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