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Tuesday, 23 October 2012 |
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On October 5, 1962, an aspiring new musical band from Liverpool, with a funny name called The Beatles, issued their first record, titled Love Me Do. It only reached number 17 in the United Kigdom (UK) charts, but marked the beginning of a cultural revolution that caught the world by storm. The Fabulous Four -- John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr - walked into history. While the 1960s were most closely identified with The Beatles, and they split up over four decades ago, they are still hugely popular all over the world - and not just in the English speaking world. The Beatles have had more number-one albums on the British charts and sold more singles in the UK than any other group. As of 2012, they have sold 177 million units in the United States (US), more than any other artist. In 2008, they topped Billboard magazine's list of the all-time most successful "Hot 100" artists. They were symbolic of the tumult and youth exuberance of their time, and yet have transcended such origins to become global icons. Today's Wiz Quiz salutes The Beatles who continue to entertain us, two generations later. 1. John Lennon formed a British skiffle and rock and roll group in Liverpool in 1956 with a few of his school friends. Paul McCartney joined it in late 1957 and George Harrison in early 1958. A total of eight people passed through the ranks of the group as regular members, with a few others lending an occasional hand. The surviving members of the original line-up reunited in 1997. What was the name of this original band, which was dropped in 1960? 2. Not all The Beatles perform under their birth names. Paul McCartney's first name is actually James. What was drummer and occasional vocalist Ringo Starr's real name which was completely different? It was George Harrison who nicknamed the bandmate as Ringo Starr because of the rings he wore. 3. Ringo Starr was not an original member of The Beatles. He was initially with another Liverpool band, and joined The Beatles only in August 1962. The first drummer joined The Beatles just before the group went on their first overseas performance visit to Hamburg in August 1960 and played with them for two years. This drummer's mother owned the coffee shop called The Casbah, where The Beatles played in their early Liverpool days. Who was this first drummer, who later left the music industry and worked as a civil servant for 20 years before forming a band under his own name? 4. The Beatles experienced phenomenal success in 1963-64. United Artists capitalized on that success by making a movie about the Fab Four. What was the name of that comedy movie? It was rushed into production in 1964 to cash in on the prevailing popularity of The Beatless or Beatlemania. The movie's director, Richard Lester, captured the fun and spirit of The Beatles. 5. The Beatles were a truly cross-cultural band at a time when it was still uncommon. They were interested in musical and philosophical traditions of the East, and especially India. They were intrigued by an Indian guru, whom they first listened to in London in 1967, and learnt of his teachings and philosophy of Transcendental Meditation (TM). This was soon followed by a visit to study with him at Bangor in Wales, and several weeks of study at his ashram in Rishikesh, in India. Whilst at his camp, The Beatles wrote many songs, creating the tracks that would become their next album, The Beatles or The White Album. Who was this Indian guru?
7. A young British writer, then into writing poetry, met the Beatles in Liverpool in 1960 when he was looking for suitable musicians to accompany him. This writer and John Lennon became friends, and the association had momentous repercussions: Lennon had already thought of a name for his new group (The Beetles) but it was this writer who suggested spelling it with an "a." The Beatles later paid tribute to this writer with their 1966 No 1 hit with the song that Lennon and McCartney wrote, named Paperback Writer. This writer has lived in Sri Lanka since 1980, and is now better known for his travel and fiction writing. Who is he? 8. Who was the 'Fifth Beatle' who died of a cerebral hemorrhage? It can be argued that he was the most genuinely-named 'Fifth Beatle': for a short time in Hamburg, he was a bona-fide member of a five-man Beatles lineup. He was the first Beatle to adopt the 'mop-top' haircut, a legacy of his girlfriend, Astrid Kirchherr. There are various theories about his death, ranging from a fight he had with John Lennon in Hamburg sometime earlier and an unrelated beating in Liverpool to a hereditary condition. 9. What was the first song credited as having been written by all four of the regular Beatles -- John, Paul, George and Ringo? It is an instrumental tune that appears on the album 'Magical Mystery Tour.' It was recorded on September 8, 1967.
11. The eighth studio album by The Beatles, released in June 1967, was also one of their most successful. The songs on the album ranged from music hall, rock and roll and pop to traditional Indian music. A seminal work in the emerging psychedelic rock style, it was both a commercial and critical success and became one of the world's best selling record albums of all time. It won four Grammy Awards in 1968. In 1994, it was ranked number one in the book All Time Top 1000 Albums. In 2005, the album was placed at number one on Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time."What was this album called? 12. Like all good things, The Beatles too came to an end. The group's original four members went their separate ways after 1970. The reasons were complex and are still being debated by biographers and fans. Which 1970 song, written by Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon-McCartney) that originally appeared on The Beatles' album Let It Be, was the last single released by the quartet while all four remained alive? The song itself contributed to the eventual breakup of the legal entity called The Beatles. 13. Taking five wickets in an innings of a cricket match is no easy task. So far four players in the history of world cricket have taken five wickets in an innings for all three formats of the game (Test, ODI, and Twenty20). Tim Southee of New Zealand and Umar Gul of Pakistan are two of them. Other two players come from current Sri Lanka cricket team. Who are they? 14. Which former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka, still remembered and respected for protecting the independence and integrity of the judiciary, famously remarked when he was retiring: "I came from obscurity and go into oblivion"? 15. This Austrian writer was born in Prague. He is best known for his allegorical novels, such as 'The Trial' and 'The Castle.' His life story was adapted into a motion picture by Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh and his role was played by British actor Jeremy Irons. Who was this writer who wrote in the German language and considered one of the greatest writers of the 20th century? Last week’s answers1. Maize
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6. During the mid 1960s, The Beatles toured the world giving hugely
attended performances in many countries. While fans in most countries
gave them a rousing welcome and sell-out concerts, the Fab Four ran into
a storm in an Asian country in July 1966. Their manager declined an
invitation from the country's dictator and his wife to join a breakfast
reception, as the group was irreverent and did not wish to hobnob with
high officials (even in their own country). But the dictator's wife felt
snubbed, and the country's media portrayed the group as ungrateful. The
police protection was withdrawn and they had to make a hasty and
difficult retreat. In which Asian city and country did this happen,
reminding the ruling oligarchs that they cannot control everything? 
10. What Paul McCartney song, released in November 1968, was written
as a reaction to racial tensions that were escalating in the US at the
time? Paul wrote: "You were only waiting for this moment to arise." He
later said that this line from this song "was about...the black people's
struggle in the southern states, and I was using the symbolism". 
