Image: Reprise Records/Klaus Hiltscher via Wiki Commons/Polydor
About This Quiz
The 1970s was a great yet devastating decade. There was the Vietnam War, President Nixon resigned, the Super Outbreak happened and several planes crashed. But Stephen Hawking developed his theories about black holes, floppy disks were invented, the feminist movement got its second wind and many social taboos were disregarded. There was also music and bands. Some of the greatest bands of all time were popular during the '70s and it has inspired us to create this quiz about the groups of that decade.
So we're going to show you a host of bands. They span all genres, including rock, pop, blues, funk and even reggae. They're a mix of rockers and artists, but they were the best of the decade. Do you think you remember enough about music in the '70s to name all these bands from a picture? Some of them will look very familiar, while some of them won't- but don't worry if you get stuck; we do have hints you can use if you get stumped for a second or two.
So, let's stop talking about it and get to it! Are you ready to pass (or fail) our music quiz? Let's find out!
Youtube
Which band is this?
ZZ Top
This band, which was one of the strangest in American rock history, was formed in 1969. Since then, they have managed to sell more than 25 million records and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Arctic Monkeys
Chic
Simply Red
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Epic
Which band is this?
The Jackson 5
This American family musical act, formed in 1964, included Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon, and Michael. The Jackson 5 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997.
The Smiths
The Undertones
Joy Division
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n/a
Which band is this?
Blinker the Star
Journey
Formed in San Francisco in 1973, this rock band's musical style includes hard rock, arena, jazz, soft and progressive rock.
Coldplay
Sonic Youth
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n/a
Which band is this?
Sonic Youth
Run DMC
Black Sabbath
Formed in 1968, this rock band consisted of Tommy Iommi, Geezer Butler, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward. They are known as the pioneers of heavy metal music.
The Smiths
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n/a
Which band is this?
The Undertones
Lynrd Skynyrd
This American rock band is famously known for spreading Southern rock in the 1970s. Some popular Lynard Skynard songs include 'Sweet Home Alabama' and 'Free Bird.'
The Slits
Flaming Lips
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WikiCommons
Which band is this?
The Smiths
The Undertones
Joy Division
Bee Gees
Formed in 1958, this successful trio wrote and produced numerous hits for themselves and other artists. They gained success in the late '60s as a pop group, then in the '70s during the disco era.
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n/a
Which band is this?
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Queen
This British rock band was led by Freddie Mercury and included Roger Taylor, John Deacon and Brian May. Their early work included hard rock and heavy metal, but they also added arena rock and pop rock to their musical influence.
Adam and the Ants
Coldplay
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YouTube
Which band is this?
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Run DMC
The Beatles
The Beatles was an English rock band that incorporated elements of Indian music, psychedelia, rock and roll and pop ballads into an innovative sound. They are one of the most successful bands in music history.
Blinker the Star
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Reprise Records
Which band is this?
Fleetwood Mac
This British-American rock band formed in 1967 and sold more than 100 million records internationally. In 1993, the band performed at the Inauguration of Bill Clinton.
Devo
The Jam
The Yardbirds
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Chrysalis
Which band is this?
Flaming Lips
Blondie
Founded by Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, this American rock band pioneered the early new wave and punk scene in the mid-1970s.
Sonic Youth
Florence and the Machine
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Scorpio
Which band is this?
Catherine Wheel
Grateful Dead
Fusing elements of bluegrass, folk, country, space rock, reggae and psychedelia, this rock band is famous for pioneering the jam band world.
Florence and the Machine
Green Day
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Columbia
Which band is this?
Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire was successful in merging R&B, soul, funk, pop, rock, disco, Latin and African influences, so much so that they had 20 Grammy nominations and six wins.
Adam and the Ants
Bob Marley and the Wailers
AC/DC
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YouTube
Which band is this?
The Yardbirds
Blur
ABBA
ABBA was a Swedish pop group that became one of the greatest commercially successful music acts, topping the charts from 1974 to 1982.
The Jam
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Which band is this?
Van Halen
This hard rock band formed in 1972. They are known for their most famous single, ‘Jump,' which became an international hit, turning the band into a major success.
Arctic Monkeys
Simply Red
The Birthday Party
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Capitol Records
Which band is this?
Steve Miller Band
The Steve Band Miller was an American rock band led by Steve Miller. The group formed in 1966 in San Francisco and sold more than 13 million copies of its records from 1974 to 1978.
The Slits
The Jam
The Yardbirds
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WEA Records
Which band is this?
Simply Red
The Doobie Brothers
Selling more than 40 million albums worldwide throughout their career, this American rock band's musical style was a combination of rock, soft rock, pop and blue-eyed soul.
Coldplay
The Undertones
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n/a
Which band is this?
Stone Roses
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Catherine Wheel
Aerosmith
Aerosmith is one of the most iconic bands of the '70s. And with a lead singer like Steven Tyler, their music is still going strong today.
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Youtube
Which band is this?
AC/DC
AC/DC is an Australian rock band with a musical style of blues rock, heavy metal, and hard rock. Their lead singer, Bon Scott, died from a night of heavy alcohol consumption within months of recording the album, "Highway to Hell."
Arctic Monkeys
The Birthday Party
Buzzcocks
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Arista/Polydor
Which band is this?
The Allman Brothers Band
This rock band used elements of rock, country music, blues, and jazz to come up with their sound. The Allman Brothers band formed in 1969.
Buzzcocks
Run DMC
Siouxsie and the Banshees
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n/a
Which band is this?
Blur
AC/DC
Led Zeppelin
Members of Led Zeppelin include Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones. The band formed in 1968. Its musical style included folk music, blues, and psychedelia.
The Birthday Party
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Polydor
Which band is this?
The Slits
Deep Purple
Deep Purple was an English rock band formed in 1968. They were known to be among some of the pioneers of heavy metal. Deep Purple was listed in the 1975 Guinness Books of World Records for being the "globe's loudest band."
Blinker the Star
Siouxsie and the Banshees
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Polydor
Which band is this?
The Who
English rock band, The Who, formed in the late 1960s. This band is considered to be one of the most influential bands of the 20th century, having sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
Chic
Simply Red
Adam and the Ants
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Bayou Country
Which band is this?
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Blur
AC/DC
Creedence Clearwater Revival
This American band's musical influence included roots, rock, swamp rock and blues rock. The band enjoyed four years of success until the group bitterly disbanded in 1972.
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Klaus Hiltscher via Wiki Commons
Which band is this?
The Smiths
Blinker the Star
Catherine Wheel
The Kinks
This English rock band was part of the British Invasion of the United States until its 1965 touring ban. The Kinks enjoyed international fame with their third single, "You Really Got Me."
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Elektra Records
Which band is this?
Stone Roses
The Yardbirds
Devo
The Cars
The Cars is an American rock band that was formed in 1976. The group emerged from the 70's New Wave scene. They were at the helm of guitar-centered rock with the synthesizer-based pop that was taking over the 1980's.
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United Artists
Which band is this?
Blur
Electric Light Orchestra
This band's music is branded as a mixture of Beatles-like pop, futuristic iconography and classical tones. Electric Light Orchestra was formed in 1970 by Roy Woods, Bev Bevan and Jeff Lynne.
Adam and the Ants
Arctic Monkeys
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Reprise Records
Which band is this?
Jethro Tull
This band's musical style includes progressive rock, hard, folk, blues and electronic rock. The groups first successful album was ‘Stand Up' in 1969. It reached #1 in the U.K.
Devo
Florence and the Machine
Stone Roses
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YouTube
Which band is this?
Devo
The Ramones
Punk rock American band, formed in 1974, the Ramones were influential for the emergence of hardcore punk, pop punk and alternative rock in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
Catherine Wheel
Run DMC
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Epic
Which band is this?
Cheap Trick
Cheap Trick formed in 1974. The band first found success in Japan, then broke through onto the U.S. market at the turn of the decade. They have since stopped touring, but remain in business.
AC/DC
The Birthday Party
Adam and the Ants
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n/a
Which band is this?
Stone Roses
Catherine Wheel
Buzzcocks
Kiss
Dressed in comic book style character attire, this group consisted of Paul Stanley as 'The Starchild,' Gene Simmons as 'The Demon', Ace Frehley as 'Space Ace' and Peter Criss as 'The Catman.'
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A & M
Which band is this?
Coldplay
Buzzcocks
Styx
Styx was a rock band formed in 1972. The group was famous for crafting a balance between hard rock guitar and acoustic guitar. Styx is famous for the hit songs ‘Renegade', ‘Don't Let It End' and ‘Mr. Roboto.'
The Birthday Party
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ABC Records
Which band is this?
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Catherine Wheel
Blur
Steely Dan
Founded in 1972 by Walter Becker and Donald Fagen, this American rock band blended elements of R&B, pop, jazz, and rock and enjoyed a commercially successful career.
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Rs3 via Wiki Commons
Which band is this?
Supertramp
This English rock band formed in 1969 and its original sound used the Wurlitzer electric piano prominently, as well as the saxophone. The band received commercial success with its song, ‘Breakfast in America.'
The Slits
Simply Red
Chic
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Columbia
Which band is this?
Stone Roses
Sonic Youth
Blue Oyster Cult
Formed in 1967, this American hard rock band's greatest works include ‘Don't Fear the Reaper,' ‘Burnin' for You' and ‘Godzilla.'
Flaming Lips
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n/a
Which band is this?
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Arctic Monkeys
Rush
This Canadian progressive rock band infused hard rock and heavy metal into its sound. The band was declared finished in January 2018 by Alex Lifeson.
Blinker the Star
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n/a
Which band is this?
Siouxsie and the Banshees
AC/DC
Eagles
Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are a rock band whose fame skyrocketed in the '60s and '70s. The band included legendary musicians Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
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Island
Which band is this?
Arctic Monkeys
Blinker the Star
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer was an English progressive rock group formed in 1970 that gained worldwide success. They sold 48 million records with a musical sound that included symphonic, art and progressive rock.
Run DMC
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YouTube
Which band is this?
AC/DC
Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols initiated the punk rock movement in the U.K. The band's public appearances often ended in chaos. Today, they are regarded as one of the most influential acts in pop music.
Buzzcocks
Adam and the Ants
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n/a
Which band is this?
Green Day
Chic
Judas Priest
Judas Priest is an English heavy metal band that is considered as one of the greatest metal bands of all time. Judas Priest has sold more than 50 million records to date.
Kasabian
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n/a
Which band is this?
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd is an English rock band with a musical style of art, psychedelic and progressive rock. The band formed in 1965 and is one of the most commercially successful groups in music history.
Coldplay
Bob Marley and the Wailers
Blur
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n/a
Which band is this?
Rolling Stones
The Yardbirds
Eagles
The Eagles formed very early on in the 1970s. They are among one of the most successful rock bands in history with six Grammys, six #1 albums and five American Music Awards.
The Jam
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Rhino Atlantic
Which band is this?
Siouxsie and the Banshees
Buzzcocks
Yes
This progressive English rock band was formed in 1968 by John Anderson, Chris Squire, Peter Banks, Tony Kaye and Bill Bruford. The band is known for their U.S #1 single, ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart.'
The Smiths
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YouTube
Which band is this?
Green Day
Stone Roses
The Clash
British punk rock band, The Clash, formed in 1976 and used influences from reggae, ska, funk, dub, and rockabilly to create their sound.
Florence and the Machine
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Atlantic
Which band is this?
Bob Marley and the Wailers
AC/DC
Chic
King Crimson
This English progressive rock band was influential in the early '70's progressive rock movement. King Crimson was formed in 1968. Their most successful release was 'In the Court of the Crimson King.'
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n/a
Which band is this?
Madness
Kasabian
Devo
U2
Irish rock band U2 formed in 1976 with a musical style that combined post-punk, alternative rock, and rock. Members of U2 include Larry Mullen Jr., Adam Clayton, The Edge, and Bono.
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Charismaâ/âAtco
Which band is this?
The Yardbirds
Genesis
English rock band Genesis formed in 1967. The group has sold 21.5 million RIAA-certified albums in the U.S. and 100-150 million worldwide.
The Jam
Joy Division
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Elektra Records
Which band is this?
The Undertones
Coldplay
Sonic Youth
The Stooges
The Stooges was an American rock band led by Iggy Pop, Ron and Scott Asheton and Dave Alexander. The band was formed in 1967 and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010.
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Vertigo
Which band is this?
The Undertones
The Slits
Status Quo
This English band formed in 1967 and received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music in 1991. They signed with the label, Vertigo, and reached #1 in the U.K. with the single, "Down Down."
Flaming Lips
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Virgin Records
Which band is this?
Green Day
Sparks
Two brothers by the name of Ron and Russel Mael formed the rock band named Sparks in 1968. The band has remained on the forefront of artful pop music by diverging into varying styles and looks of the genre.
Chic
The Jam
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You Got:
/49
Reprise Records/Klaus Hiltscher via Wiki Commons/Polydor