Q 01/05

Which Queen guitarist earned a PhD in astrophysics in 2007 for research he had begun back in 1971?

A) Steve Hackett

B) Brian May

C) Alex Lifeson

D) Robert Fripp

Answer · why

B) Brian May

Brian May studied the light reflected by dust in the Solar System at Imperial College London. His guitar, the Red Special, was built with wood from an...

Q 02/05

Which Black Sabbath guitarist lost two fingertips in a sheet metal factory and played on with homemade thimbles?

A) Tony Iommi

B) Glenn Tipton

C) Michael Schenker

D) K.K. Downing

Answer · why

A) Tony Iommi

Tony Iommi was 17 and on his last day at the factory when the accident happened. He melted down a washing-up liquid bottle to shape the plastic tips.

Q 03/05

Which guitarist, a Woodstock headliner in 1969, had trained as a paratrooper in the US Army's 101st Airborne?

A) John Fogerty

B) Stephen Stills

C) Jimi Hendrix

D) Robbie Robertson

Answer · why

C) Jimi Hendrix

Jimi Hendrix enlisted in 1961 when given the choice between the Army and prison, and was discharged the following year.

Q 04/05

Which guitarist played the solo on Michael Jackson's Beat It as an unpaid favor?

A) Yngwie Malmsteen

B) Eddie Van Halen

C) Neal Schon

D) Richie Sambora

Answer · why

B) Eddie Van Halen

Eddie Van Halen recorded the solo for the Thriller album in 1982 and never expected payment. Thriller went on to become the biggest-selling album of a...

Q 05/05

Which Rolling Stones guitarist says the fuzz-drenched riff of Satisfaction came to him in his sleep?

A) Mick Taylor

B) Brian Jones

C) Ronnie Wood

D) Keith Richards

Answer · why

D) Keith Richards

Keith Richards woke just long enough to record it on a cassette player by his bed. The 1965 single became the band's first international number one.