The AnswerBank Articles

We get the funniest looks ...

Q. Are Boy Bands a new idea A. Not as new as you moght think - if you go back as far as 1965, you'll find The Monkees, who can claim the title as the original 'boy band', although the label00:00 Mon 08th Apr 2002

It'a all in the luney tune ...

Q. Can you recommend an Alice Cooper album A. A good entry into the world of Alice is the School's Out album, which contains his best-known song, and biggest hit single. Q. Is the single a00:00 Mon 08th Apr 2002

Oh Mr Woo, what can I do

Q. I heard a comic song at my parents' house, they told me it was George Formby, and he was a massive star. Can you tell me more A. George Formby was born George Hoy Booth in Lancashire in 1904.00:00 Mon 08th Apr 2002

He's just a wide boy ...

Q. I'd like to manage a rock band, how do I start A. First of all, you need to be very sure that this is what you want to do. Managing a band is second only to playing in a band, in terms of the00:00 Mon 01st Apr 2002

Sadness ...

Q. I adore the Concierto de Aranjuez, what can you tell me about its composer A. The Concierto de Aranjuez is probably the most famous piece of Spanish classical guitar music ever written. It s a00:00 Mon 01st Apr 2002

Save the best 'till last

Q. My parents have a load of James Last albums which they love - what can you tell me about him A. In spite of his English-sounding name, James Last is actually German by birth. Hans Last adopted a00:00 Mon 01st Apr 2002

Sensational

Q. What can you tell me about opera singer Lesley Garrett A. Lesley Garrett is a respected opera singer around the world, and she's built her career on the belief that musical snobbery,00:00 Mon 25th Mar 2002

Good as gold

Q. What was the most experimental album The Beatles ever made A. That would have to be The Beatles, known to everyone as The White Album. Q. What is experimental about it A. This is an album00:00 Mon 25th Mar 2002

Deep deep trouble

Q. I keep hearing reference to a rapper named Tupac. Who is he A. It's actually who was he. Tupac died after a drive-by shooting in 1996, at the height of his fame, and in his mid-twenties. Q. 00:00 Mon 25th Mar 2002

Single life

Q. Is the pop single dead A. Dead no, but decidedly unhealthy these days! Q. Why A. Because record companies are scaling down the release of singles in the belief that customers will buy00:00 Mon 18th Mar 2002

Kinky reggae now

Q. I fancy getting into reggae, where should I begin A. Not for nothing is Bob Marley the biggest star reggae music has ever produced. His mix of reggae history and culture, married to a00:00 Mon 18th Mar 2002

At the edge

Q. I hear that Arthur Lee has been released from prison. A. That's correct. The legendary psychedelic musician and founder of seminal Sixties band Love has served half a 12-year sentence for00:00 Mon 25th Mar 2002

Top ranking ...

Q. I fancy getting into reggae. Where should I begin A. Not for nothing is Bob Marley the biggest star reggae music has ever produced. His mix of reggae history and culture, married to a00:00 Mon 18th Mar 2002

You can't do that ...

Q. Is the pop single dead A. Dead no, but decidedly unhealthy these days. Q. Why A. Because record companies are scaling down the release of singles in the belief that customers will buy00:00 Mon 18th Mar 2002

I hope you're feelin' better

Q. I've been listening to Supernatural by Santana, and I'm told they are not the new band I thought they were, is that true 00:00 Mon 11th Mar 2002

It goes to show you never can tell

Q. How important is Chuck Berry in the evolution of rock and roll A. Without Chuck Berry, rock and roll would not exist. Sure Elvis brought the whole thing to a mass audience, defined its visual00:00 Mon 11th Mar 2002

The public wants what the public gets

Q. Are shows like Pop Idol good for pop music A. That's not really a simple question, but if you are looking at pop in its purist terms - as music, then the answer is no. If you want to look at pop00:00 Mon 11th Mar 2002

Girl I'm just a vampire for your love

Q. Which was the first Glam Rock album A. Those who analyse such historical aspects would probably point to Electric Warrior by T Rex, an album which as easily stood the test of time,00:00 Mon 04th Mar 2002

Put on your high-heeled sneakers

Q. What exactly is a 'Mod' A. The Mod - it's short for 'Modernist' - is a member of one of the first youth cults that have characterised teenage rebellion over the last forty years. Q. So what00:00 Mon 04th Mar 2002