The Bands of the 80s Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
The Bands of the 80s Quiz
Image: Paul Natkin/WireImage/Getty

About This Quiz

If you — or someone you know — ever had a mullet, then you owe it to yourself to see if you can ace this Bands of the 80s quiz. Even if these bands weren't playing the anthem of your generation, we invite you to play along!
Which '80s band took its name from a British unemployment form?
INXS
UB40
R.E.M.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The name UB40 was inspired by the British Government Unemployment Benefit Form 40. The reggae/pop band UB40 was formed in 1978 and gained popularity in the U.S. in 1983 with the release of the album "Labour of Love."

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Which band released the album "Hysteria" in 1987?
Van Halen
Skid Row
Def Leppard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Def Leppard released the album "Hysteria" on Aug. 3, 1987. Over the course of the next three years, "Hysteria" sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.

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Which solo artist came from the '80s band The Smiths?
Robert Smith
Morrissey
Elvis Costello
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The solo artist Morrissey was the lead singer of The Smiths until the band broke up in 1987.

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The band 10,000 Maniacs released which album in 1987?
"In My Tribe"
"Blind Man's Zoo"
"Our Time in Eden"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

10,000 Maniacs released the album "In My Tribe" on July 7, 1987. The album is ranked at No. 65 on the "100 Best Albums of the Eighties" by Rolling Stone.

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The band Duran Duran took its name from a character in a science fiction movie.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Founding members of the band Duran Duran named the group after a villain in the 1968 science fiction movie "Barbarella."

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Which '80s superstar was born William Albert Michael Broad?
Sting
Billy Idol
Bono
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Billy Idol was born William Albert Michael Broad on Nov. 30, 1955, in Middlesex, England.

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Which band released the hit song "Private Idaho" on the album "Wild Planet"?
The B-52's
Echo and the Bunnymen
The Talking Heads
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The B-52s released the album "Wild Planet" featuring the song "Private Idaho" on Aug. 27, 1980.

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Michael Hutchence was the lead singer for which Australian 80s band?
Midnight Oil
Hoodoo Gurus
INXS
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Michael Hutchence was the lead singer for INXS. The band formed in Sydney, Australia, and released its first self-titled album in 1980.

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Which movie soundtrack featured the song "Hazy Shade of Winter" by The Bangles?
"The Lost Boys"
"Lethal Weapon"
"Less Than Zero"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The soundtrack of the 1987 movie "Less Than Zero" featured The Bangles performing "Hazy Shade of Winter."

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Which type of car is featured in the music videos from the ZZ Top album "Eliminator"?
1957 Chevy
1933 Ford Coupe
1969 Pontiac GTO
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The car seen in the ZZ Top music videos from the album "Eliminator" is a 1933 Ford three-window coupe with suicide doors. Band member Billy Gibbons had the hot rod built and named it the Eliminator.

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Which '80s band is "Working for the Weekend?"
Loverboy
Foreigner
Toto
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Working for the Weekend" was the lead single of the Loverboy album "Get Lucky" and was released in October 1981.

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Which Violent Femmes song did Wendy's buy the advertising rights to?
"Gone Daddy Gone"
"Add It Up"
"Blister In The Sun"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2007, Violent Femmes vocalist and primary songwriter Gordon Gano sold the advertising rights of the song "Blister In The Sun" to the fast-food chain Wendy's. While Gano had the legal rights to the song, other band members disagreed with the decision and the band broke up.

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Which '80s rock band recorded the song "Rock You Like A Hurricane?"
Quiet Riot
The Scorpions
Ratt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Scorpions recorded the song "Rock You Like A Hurricane," and it was released on the 1984 album "Love At First Sting." The song was later ranked No. 31 on the VH1 special "40 Greatest Metal Songs."

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The song, "I Melt With You," was recorded by the band Simple Minds.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The band Modern English recorded the song "I Melt With You." The song was released on the 1982 album "After The Snow" and featured on the 1983 "Valley Girl" movie soundtrack.

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Which Food Network star filmed the 1987 R.E.M. music video "The One I Love?"
Guy Fieri
Alton Brown
Bobby Flay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alton Brown was the director of photography and Steadicam operator for the R.E.M. music video "The One I Love" in 1987.

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The 1986 college radio hit "Don't Let's Start" was released on the self-titled debut album of which band?
They Might Be Giants
The Dead Milkmen
Bauhaus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They Might Be Giants released the song "Don't Let's Start" on their self-titled album in 1986. In 2001, the music video for the song was named one of the Top 100 Videos of All Time by MTV.

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What was Metallica's debut album titled?
"Master of Puppets"
"Ride the Lightning"
"Kill 'Em All"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Kill 'Em All" was Metallica's debut album released by Megaforce Records on July 25, 1983.

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Robert Smith is still the lead singer for which '80s alternative group?
The Smiths
The Cure
The Cult
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Robert Smith is the lead singer and only remaining constant member of The Cure. The band released seven albums during the '80s.

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The song "People Are People" was a breakthrough hit in the U.S. for which British band?
Depeche Mode
The Human League
Big Country
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"People Are People" was a breakthrough hit in the U.S. for the British band Depeche Mode. The song was released on the 1984 album "Some Great Reward."

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Who was the lead singer of the '80s metal band Motley Crue?
Bret Michaels
Axl Rose
Vince Neil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Vince Neil was the singer of the '80s metal band Motley Crue. Vince Neil's full name is Vince Neil Wharton.

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Which band performed the title song of the 1985 movie "Weird Science?"
Oingo Boingo
Killing Joke
Tears For Fears
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oingo Boingo performed "Weird Science" and released the song on the 1985 album "Dead Man's Party" as well as the movie soundtrack.

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Which female trio from the '80s sang the song "Cruel Summer?"
The Go-Gos
Bananarama
The Bangles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bananarama was the '80s female trio that sang the song "Cruel Summer." The song was released on the 1983 self-titled album "Bananarama."

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Which '80s hair band performed the rock ballad "Every Rose Has Its Thorn?"
Warrant
Dokken
Poison
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Poison released the song "Every Rose Has It's Thorn" in 1988, and the song spent the last two weeks of the year at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

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What year did MTV first go on air?
1980
1981
1982
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

MTV began broadcasting at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 1, 1981. The first music video played was "Video Killed The Radio Star" by the Buggles.

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Which '80s superstar wrote the Bangles hit, "Manic Monday"?
Madonna
Michael Jackson
Prince
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prince wrote the hit song "Manic Monday," which was performed and recorded by The Bangles.

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Which "Friends" actress appeared in a Bruce Springsteen music video?
Courteney Cox
Lisa Kudrow
Jennifer Aniston
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Courteney Cox appears on stage with Bruce Springsteen in the music video "Dancing In The Dark." Cox had been planted in the audience for the video shoot.

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Which '80s rocker played the guitar solo in Michael Jackson's song "Beat It"?
Nikki Sixx
Sammy Hagar
Eddie Van Halen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Eddie Van Halen played the guitar solo in Michael Jackson's song "Beat It."

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What was the title of Madonna's 1983 debut album?
"Like A Virgin"
"Madonna"
"Who's That Girl"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Madonna" was the title of the debut full-length album released in 1983 by Madonna.

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What is the title of the Beastie Boy's first full-length album?
"Ill Communication"
"Paul's Boutique"
"Licensed to Ill"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Licensed to Ill" was the first full-length album released by the Beastie Boys.

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Bono's real name is Paul Hewson.
TRUE
FALSE
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The U2 frontman Bono was born Paul David Hewson on May 10, 1960, in Dublin, Ireland.

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