Emily's Trivia Quiz: Nobody Calling on the Phone, 'Cept for the Pope Maybe in Rome

To continue with my recent trend of postings that are just famous people + theme, much to the chagrin of everyone and the delight of Caitlar and Lauren, I will be posting today on rock stars' religious choices and pasts.  I am mostly writing this post to add a shameless plug for this website I just found, www.jewsrock.org.  Because doesn't that just say it all?  I mean, searches for "Muslims Rock" just came up with websites about the dome of the rock.  (bibleplaces.com is so becoming my new homepage.)  "Catholics Rock" and "Christians Rock" just came up with the actual legitimate groups that sing about their love for Jesus, Mary, and that whole gang, and "Shintos Rock" came up with nothing interesting.  But, do not despair, because the "I'm Feeling Lucky" for "Hindus Rock" gave me this totally sweet website.  So, I guess the chosen people really do rock in that we are the only major religion  who don't actually bother to sing about religion.  Except for Matisyahu.

1. Which of these singers went door-to-door as a child missionary, giving out copies of  "Watchtower" magazine?
a. Paula Abdul
b. Madonna
c. Michael Jackson
d. Tears for Fears

c. Michael Jackson

If you want more information on the real music missionaries in that photo, please visit this website.  I'm really curious how that dude plays the uke that way.  Or where that lady shops.

2. Which of these rock stars participated in VH1's televised seder "Matzo and Metal: A Very Classic Passover?"
a. JJ French of Twisted Sister
b. Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction
c. Dee Snider of Twisted Sister
d. Scott Ian of Anthrax

Trick question!  JJ French, Dee Snider and Scott Ian all participated.  Perry Farrell did not.

3. Which of these heavy metal singers got his start playing R&B in a church's basement?
a. Axl Rose
b. James Hetfield
c. Ozzy Osbourne
d. Gene Simmons

c. Ozzy Osbourne

4. Instead of becoming a rabbi, an Orthodox Jew decided to become the lead singer of which of these bands...
a. The Offspring
b. Van Halen
c. The Clash
d. Disturbed

d. Disturbed.  David Draiman's parents wanted him to be a rabbi.  He recently said: "I'm the antithesis of everything that [my parents] tried to raise me as. I'm the lead singer of Disturbed. If I was Neil Diamond or Tom Jones or some s--t like that, I think they'd feel better about it."

5. Which of the following rap groups has an ordained minister?
a. Salt-n-Peppa
b. Public Enemy
c. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo
d. Run DMC

d. Run DMC

6. Which of the following groups or singers does a full-on Hebrew version of a High Holidays prayer?
a. Phish
b. Simon & Garfunkel
c. Kiss
d. Beastie Boys

a.  Hah!  It's actually Phish.  And we don't mean THAT version of a HIGH holiday...

7. Legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar (sidenote: do the words "legendary sitar player" ever follow with any name OTHER than Ravi Shankar?) fathered which of these singers?
a. Joss Stone
b. Dido
c. Alanis Morissette
d. Norah Jones

d. Norah Jones

First, I am sorry that this post had more questions about Jewish rock stars than anyone else.  (Apparently we are a trivia-prone religion and there are also many bored Jews who are searching things to write about.)  Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this quiz.  I will leave you now with Matisyahu.

(And just for the record slash my parental units: Lenny Kravitz: Jewish, Beastie Boys: Jewish, Billy Joel: Jewish, Bruce Springsteen: not Jewish, Pink: Jewish,  Beck: Jewish, The Bangles: 1/4 Jewish,  J. Geils Band: everyone but J. Geils is Jewish, Sleater-Kinney: 2/3 Jewish, The Knack: all Jewish, New Found Glory: 3/5 Jewish, Emily: Jewish.)  Yes, I am a rock star.

Comments

[sally jesse]

if Jerome has taught us nothing else, it's that Beck is a Scientologist. His mother is half Jewish, but is a Scientologist- though she, as a wacky bohemian and Andy Warhol Factory member, probably raised her kids in a multiculturally-influenced way. Beck is, or at least used to be, into Judaism somewhat- but not in a religious way. Ah well- it doesn't matter- as long as we can agree that he's an insanely hot superfreak.

[Phylan]

I disagree, being a scientologist immediately precludes someone from being a legitimate human being.

[Karl Marx]

Any other religions you feel that way about?

[bryan]

well, technically sally is right. scientologists believe that aliens came from elsewhere and created us, meaning that our origin is from another planet, therefore we're aliens. so anybody who believes that they're an alien, is not human. Also, not only did Draiman not turn out as his parents expected and hoped, but he also blew up his rabbi or teacher's (can't remember which, sorry, but he said it in an interview somewhere) car when he was a kid. just a fun little fact.