One in five Britons don’t know The Beatles came from Liverpool, a new poll reveals.
The Fab Four might have sparked the 1960s’ ‘Merseybeat’ boom – but their origins remain a mystery to many today, according to a music quiz carried out by National Rail – and which readers can now try it too, below.
Almost seven out of ten are unaware of Manic Street Preachers’ origins, two in five get Oasis’s home city wrong and only 17 per cent know Kate Bush’s native county.
The posers were put as part to help launch a new set of travel guides exploring the UK’s musical heritage – with BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley narrating about the ‘music gems’ to be found in 30 different cities.
Places pinpointed in the new National Rail supplements include the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool where The Beatles played 292 times – and the Nene Valley Railway in Peterborough, setting for the video for Queen’s 1989 single Breakthru.
Help? One-fifth of Britons don't know the home city of The Beatles (pictured), a poll suggests
Queen filmed the video for their 1989 single Breakthru at a railway line in Peterborough
It seems just 12 per cent of Britons know where trip-hop started and 40 per cent where grime had its origins - while nine per cent think Madonna British, according to the survey of 2,000 people.
Other towns and cities featured include Doncaster, home of ex-One Direction star Louis Tomlinson and (Is This The Way To) Amarillo singer Tony Christie.
Watford's guide highlights how Sir Elton John used to own the town's Championship football club while mentioning how George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley went to school in nearby Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Birmingham is described as 'the home of heavy metal' with travellers directed to the Crown pub, near the city's main New Street station, where Ozzy Osbourne's Black Sabbath played their first gig in 1968 - though back then they were called Earth.
Some London stations have guides of their own, including London Bridge - including the tale of how Keith Richards and Mick Jagger met along the line at Dartford station in Kent and bonded over the old R&B records Jagger was carrying.
The Euston edition takes in nearby Camden, with references to Amy Winehouse, punk and Britpop, while Widnes is hailed as the place where Paul Simon wrote Homeward Bound on a station platform and the Stone Roses played Spike Island.
There is also a tour of Stevenage, referring to nearby Knebworth House which has staged major gigs by the likes of Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Robbie Williams.
A musical instrument shop on the high street has also been a favourite for members of Supergrass and the Prodigy, according to the guide.
A proportion of Britons picked the wrong side of the Atlantic for where Madonna's from
Mick Jagger, left, and Keith Richard first bonded over R&B records at Dartford rail station
Only 17 per cent of people in the UK could identity Kate Bush's native county, the poll shows
Two in five Britons got wrong the home city of Oasis, featuring Noel, left, and Liam Gallagher
Whiley said: 'I'm very passionate and proud of Britain's musical heritage, and I'd hate for people to lose their connection to it. I believe that you can appreciate music on a whole new level when you get out there and experience the places that influenced it.
'Working with the rail industry, I'm hoping to inspire fans to take a trip, by train, and discover more about their favourite bands and genres of music.
'Experience the hometowns that helped shape artists, walk the streets that are references in their songs and visit train stations that connected them in more ways than one.'
Rail Delivery Group chief executive Jacqueline Starr said: 'Travelling by train connects you to the people, places and things you love - like music.
'We’re delighted to be working with Jo to help people rediscover the fantastic musical heritage Britain has to offer, and inspire them to explore the origins of genres, artists and the locations that influenced them by train.'
People can access the guides in audio form, via a free app, or to download and read.