The Beatles: Liverpool to Abbey Road – answers and explanations
Here are the answers to all 15 questions in the The Beatles: Liverpool to Abbey Road quiz, each with a short explanation. From the Cavern Club to the rooftop finale — how well do you know the Fab Four? Haven't played yet? Take the quiz first and compare your score.
Play the quiz · 15 questions1. In which city did The Beatles build their early fame at the Cavern Club?
Answer: Liverpool
The Cavern Club on Mathew Street in Liverpool was where The Beatles built their early following, first playing there in February 1961; manager Brian Epstein first saw them there on 9 November 1961.
2. On which US TV show did The Beatles make their famous 1964 debut?
Answer: The Ed Sullivan Show
The Beatles made their US television debut on The Ed Sullivan Show on 9 February 1964, watched by an estimated 73 million viewers, launching Beatlemania in America.
3. The Beatles' 1969 rooftop concert took place on which London building?
Answer: The Apple Corps offices on Savile Row
On 30 January 1969 the band played a 42-minute set on the roof of their Apple Corps headquarters at 3 Savile Row, their last public performance, ended after police responded to noise complaints.
4. Which ex-Beatle released the 1971 solo hit single 'Imagine'?
Answer: John Lennon
John Lennon wrote and recorded 'Imagine', the title track of his 1971 album, issued as a US single on 11 October 1971 and reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100.
5. Which Beatle was the band's bass player and co-wrote most songs with John Lennon?
Answer: Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney played bass in The Beatles and formed the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership, whose credit appears on most of the band's songs. He took over bass duties after Stuart Sutcliffe left the group in 1961.
6. Which drummer did Ringo Starr replace in The Beatles in 1962?
Answer: Pete Best
Pete Best was dismissed as The Beatles' drummer on 16 August 1962 and replaced by Ringo Starr, who had been playing with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. The change came just before the band recorded their debut single, Love Me Do, for Parlophone.
7. Which 1964 film was The Beatles' first feature movie?
Answer: A Hard Day's Night
A Hard Day's Night, directed by Richard Lester, was The Beatles' first feature film, premiering at the London Pavilion on 6 July 1964. The black-and-white comedy depicts a fictionalised 36 hours in the band's life at the height of Beatlemania.
8. Which instrument did John Lennon usually play on stage with The Beatles?
Answer: Rhythm guitar
John Lennon was the Beatles' rhythm guitarist and co-lead vocalist, while George Harrison played lead guitar and Paul McCartney bass. Lennon's signature stage instrument was a short-scale Rickenbacker 325, seen at the band's 1964 Ed Sullivan Show debut.
9. Which 1967 album opens with a song about a fictional 'Lonely Hearts Club Band'?
Answer: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, released in the UK on 26 May 1967, opens with its title track introducing the fictional band, complete with crowd noise and an orchestra tuning up. The song reappears later as a reprise before A Day in the Life.
10. After the break-up, Paul McCartney formed which successful 1970s band?
Answer: Wings
Paul McCartney formed Wings in 1971 with his wife Linda, drummer Denny Seiwell and ex-Moody Blues guitarist Denny Laine. The band scored huge hits such as Band on the Run and Live and Let Die before ending in 1981.
11. Before fame, The Beatles honed their act in clubs in which German city?
Answer: Hamburg
The Beatles sharpened their stagecraft during long residencies in Hamburg, Germany, starting on 17 August 1960 at the Indra Club and later the Kaiserkeller, Top Ten and Star-Club.
12. Which Beatle played lead guitar and wrote 'Here Comes the Sun'?
Answer: George Harrison
George Harrison, the band's lead guitarist, wrote and sang 'Here Comes the Sun', composed in spring 1969 in Eric Clapton's garden after he skipped an Apple business meeting; it opens side two of Abbey Road.
13. Ringo Starr sang lead on which 1966 hit about life beneath the waves?
Answer: Yellow Submarine
'Yellow Submarine', released 5 August 1966 on Revolver and as a double A-side with 'Eleanor Rigby', gave Ringo Starr his only UK number one as lead singer with the Beatles.
14. Who became The Beatles' manager after seeing them play at the Cavern Club?
Answer: Brian Epstein
Record shop manager Brian Epstein first saw the Beatles at a lunchtime Cavern Club session on 9 November 1961 and became their manager, later securing their Parlophone deal.
15. Which Beatles album cover shows the four walking over a zebra crossing?
Answer: Abbey Road
The Abbey Road sleeve shows the four crossing the zebra crossing outside EMI Studios, photographed by Iain Macmillan on 8 August 1969 in just six frames while a policeman held traffic.