Fourth of July Trivia Answers

YEAH!!! America! - Wait, What?

Hopefully you all enjoyed your Fourth of July weekend. Now that we are all back to being fully ensconced in the drudgery of life without reckless barbecues and fireworks play, I think it is a good time to reveal the answers to the Fourth of July Music Trivia Game. If you still want to play, go and answer these questions prior to reading this post Unfortunately, I cannot crown a winner this week because no one commented on the post with their name and answers. Perhaps I will create a better way to crown the winners in the future without making individuals comment on the post. I can still post up the answers and tell you all how you did. Let me commend everyone who played for all getting the first question correct. The national anthem did indeed come from a British Drinking Song (the one below to be exact).

Credit to the Georgia Tech Glee Club for the rendition. While there was a 100 percent success rate on the first question, things did not go as well for the other three questions. Let’s answer them one by one.

2.) I want to know what American musician gave Randy California his stage name?

The popular choice was Jim Morrison. It does make sense in both the geographical and time aspects. California received his nickname in 1966 and the Doors formed in 1965. But despite the links, Morrison did not give Randy his nickname. Jimi Hendrix, who met Randy at a guitar store in NYC, gave him the nickname of California when he joined Hendrix’s short-lived 1966 band, The Blue Flames. The band, which also featured bassist Randy Palmer, had a slight same-name problem that Hendrix solved by giving each Randy a nickname based by where they came from. Palmer became Randy Texas and Randy Wolfe became Randy California. Congrats to those who got this question correct

3.) Jimmy Page is often cited as the originator of using a violin bow on a guitar, but this is incorrect information. Who was the true FIRST guitarist to popularize this practice?

I admit, this was a bit of a trick question. But I’m glad I asked it, because it just exposes the unfortunate anonymity of the guitarist who started this inventive trend and also still serves as a great guitarist. Eddie Phillips did not receive a single vote, but he is the correct answer. Jimmy Page was inspired to strike the guitar with a violin bow by David Lindley, a multi-instrumentalist who did indeed experiment with this practice, but did so after Eddie Phillips started. There is the slight catch. Phillips first played the guitar with a violin bow in his pre-Creation band The Mark Four. With the Creation, Phillips mastered the playing style and used it in several popular recordings.

4.) Newman vocalist/keyboardist John “Speedy” Keen worked as a chauffeur for a famous British band who’s guitarist thanked Keen by creating the band around him to showcase his work. What was that band?

Most votes went to the Rolling Stones, but “Speedy” Keen was not driving around Mick and Keith. Instead, Keen chauffeured Pete, Roger, John and a probably intoxicated Keith Moon. Townshend, a good ear for talent, gave Keen the opportunity and man did they strike gold with “Something in the Air.” Enjoy!