Rockbusters

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Rockbusters was conceived by Karl Pilkington and was played on Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's long running Xfm radio show in between 2002-2005. It was brought back in 2006 as part of The Ricky Gervais Show podcast.

It debuted on 12 October 2002 as a phone-in but converted to an e-mail competition the following week. Despite its titular pun, the game has very little in common with Blockbusters. It is played by Karl giving three clues, which he considers "cryptic" but are in reality convoluted colloquialisms which often depend on the answer being mispronounced. Steve once aptly referred to them as "craptic" clues. Along with the "clue", Karl includes the initials of the answer. The winners of Rockbusters would win a selection of prizes known simply as the usual tat.

History

Details of previous Rockbusters competitions:

12 October 2002

This young man prepared for his death. (WY) = Will Young
Better than the average homeless person. (S) = Supertramp
The little girl is hungry; what shall we do? (F) = Feeder
Exploding pet. (AK) = Atomic Kitten

19 October 2002

I'll take that book to the toilet with me. (LR) = Lou Reed
Blow the candles out before you eat the cake. (FL) = Flaming Lips
How can I wash up in something shaped like that? (NS) = N-Sync (N sink)

26 October 2002

At the moment I'm in a river full of logs. (JT) = Justin Timberlake
That lad's got bad asthma. (W) = Weezer
I saw that Mousetrap the other night, but the heating was knackered. (C) = Coldplay

02 November 2002

I don't like them birds; they shouldn't be allowed in this area. (B) = The Bangles (ban gulls)

(Many listeners guessed Boyzone, and Ricky and Steve agreed that this was a more suitable answer.)

He doesn't like women, yet he's got a couple of kids. That's a bit weird. (PD) = Puff Daddy
That bloke who does sport on telly, he's got a little kid. (DC) = Destiny's Child (Des' tiny child)

09 November 2002

That army has got some well nice trenches. (DW) = Dandy Warhols (dandy war holes)
The top of them curtains are wrecked; all the material's worn. (HV) = Holly Valance
I was in Texas, I landed on my knees in a puddle. (WH) = Whitney Houston (wet knee Houston)

16 November 2002

The fella has only got one badge left. (E) = Elastica (his last sticker)
The unmarried lady is a friend I eat out with. (MD) = Ms Dynamite (miss dinner mate)
I really really love that woman. I love everything she does. (M) = Madonna (mad on her)

23 November 2002

Karl's Mam submitted these:

This group would be good at doing your hair. (TP) = The Platters
This group sound like dinosaurs. (TR) = T. Rex
This group like to be by the sand and the sea. (TBB) = The Beach Boys
This guy sounds soup-perb. (GC) = Glen Campbell

Here's the official ones:

Stop throwing that fruit about. (CB) = Chuck Berry
That Scottish fella has made an error. (M) = Mistique
God, you can make a right load of toast with them. (G) = Gorillaz

30 November 2002

7 December 2002

That'll never get off the ground. (LZ) = Led Zeppelin
That womans got her husbands gloves and a pair of her own. (HH) = Hermans Hermits (her man's, her mits)
You'll get a load of bacon off them. (L) = Longpigs

21 December 2002

(These clues are Christmas-themed, but all mentions of the holiday have no bearing on the answer.)

There's a load of letters there asking for advice. Put them on Claire's desk. (Oh and, er, have a good Christmas.) (F) = Foreigner (for Raynor)
Ask your mum if you should (after you've wrapped the presents). (S) = Shalamar (shall I, ma?)
A couple of people were arguing in the supermarket at the fruit and veg counter (but it's busy in there 'cause it's Christmas and that's probably what brought it on.) (B) = Bananarama (banana drama)

04 January 2003

42 pounds for a torch? That's a bit pricey. (D) = Deee-Lite (dear light)
He'll fit some chocolate to your feet. (A) = Aerosmith
Do you think your kid will get that strawberry for me? (WP) = Wilson Picket (will son pick it?)

11 January 2003

Don't argue with him. He ain't gonna change his mind. (AA) = Adam Ant
He always gets what he wants and doesn't worry about anyone else. (P) = Pixies (picks his)
I'll have to put that woman in the oven. (AB) = Anita Baker (I need to bake her)

18 January 2003

I've got three other jumpers like this one. (FT) = Four Tops
Those people can't make up their minds whether to sit in the sun or not. (C) = Charlatans (shall-I-tans?)
That Jamaican fella needs an aspirin. Why is that? (FD) = Freda Payne

(Karl gave out the wrong initials for this clue.)

25 January 2003

Weather stinks, dunnit? (R) = Rainbow (rain b.o.)
Look, gran, just get on the boat and help us out. (R) = Ronan (row, nan)
If you're going to do that with your drink, I'd wait for it to settle a bit. (CK) = Chaka Khan (shake a can)

15 February 2003

The northern lad remembers he has to ask his mom's daughter something. (O) = Oasis (oh, hey sis)
The person from Birmingham got a C in their degree. (T) = Toto
The cockney fella isn't happy. Everything's going wrong. (DH) = Dan Hill

26 April 2003

The gingerbread man has only got one leg. (LB) = Limp Bizkit
These people from the East Midlands swear a lot. (TTD) = Terrence Trent D'arby (tourette's trent darby)
Have a holiday in Italy. (TB) = Turin Brakes

31 May 2003

The customer wanted some paint to darken up her room. The shop assistant knew what to do. (CB) = Cilla Black (sell her black)
It'd be alright if their heads weren't so big. (SF) = Small Faces
Chanel have got another perfume out. (NO) = New Order (new odor)

7 June 2003

That fella likes sucking on iron. (M) = Metallica (metal licker)
The Jamaican fella spots a boat. (D) = DeBarge
Do you want a game of tug of war? Well, it's up to you. (E) = Europe

14 June 2003

He's got American coins all the way down his spine. (N) = Nickelback
Jeremy Beadle has got arthritis. What's going on there? (SLF) = Stiff Little Fingers
Foxy, Shipman and some country and western singer on a merry go round (SD) = Spin Doctors

21 June 2003

If you're going to France, you might as well buy your fags on the boat because you'll get 'em a lot cheaper. (BF) = Bryan Ferry (buy on ferry)
There's a little foreign cafe that's growing its own steak. (D) = Del Amitri (deli meat tree)
If there was a Jamaican fella on the Titanic, he might have screamed this. (CD) = Chris DeBurgh (Christ, de berg!)

28 June 2003

The doctor said part of the foot and the leg was no good, so he took 'em off and threw 'em away. (TB) = Tony Bennett (toe, knee, bin it!)
The Scottish monster has got a bit of a tan. (TD) = The Darkness
Well, the 60's singer had a heart attack whilst he was 'avin it away. We won't be seeing him again. (FNM) = Faith No More

05 July 2003

All the police cars are on fire. (BS) = Blazing Squad
The director of "28 Days Later" is shouting about sleeping outside. (DB) = Daniel Beddingfield (Dan yell, "Bed in field!")
He wants to be a sailor. Why is that? (B) = Beyonce (be on sea)

08 November 2003

That Teletubby has got lice. (TP) = The Police

(Karl messed up this clue. It was supposed to be "That Teletubby has got nits.")

I'm saving that money to buy condoms. (JC) = Johnny Cash
When you're making bread, add a bit of color for a change. (D) = Dido (dye dough)

15 November 2003

If you go to Chepstow you will. (S) = Seahorses (see horses)
ET's upset. What's up with him? (ME) = Missy Elliot (missing Elliot)
I had a tape with Humpty Dumpty and Hickory Dickory Dock on it, but I broke it. (BR) = Busta Rhymes (busted rhymes)

22 November 2003

I'm going to the northeast. Why am I doing that? (S) = Seal (see Hull)
She's related to the man in the lamp. (G) = Genesis (genie's sis)
The Jamaican fella would love to live there, but it's a bit pricey. (DS) = Dire Straits (dear streets)

Podcast Series 2, Episode 1

I don't want a house that far away from the water. I want to be right on top of it. (B) = Beyonce (be on sea)
That part of me leg is English. (B) = Britney
The fitness teacher has got a speech impediment. (KW) = Kanye West (can you rest?)

Podcast Series 2, Episode 2

Steal that women's flower. (RP) = Robert Plant (rob her plant)
Keep whacking the cooker with a stick. (It doesn't have to be a stick.) = (B) = Beethoven (beat oven)
Venice. It's all water, innit? How would you describe it? (M) = Morrissey (more is sea)

Podcast Series 2, Episode 3

That Jamaican fella doesn't want anything. (ND) = Neil Diamond (nil demand)
I ask them to pass me the ball by using their head. (E) = Editors (head it to us)
He's got the wooly ones, but I've got the ones that run and charge at you. (R) = Ramones

Podcast Series 2, Episode 4

I went to the restaurant on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and the fella who makes the food was there each time. (SC) = Sam Cooke (same cook)
Go into that woman's store and rip her off. (C) = Cornershop (con her shop)
You've had a go at laying down a track, but it ain't perfect. (E) = Eurythmics (your rough mix)

Podcast Series 2, Episode 5

Those songs you sing at Christmas, that bloke who sings 'em is brilliant at it. (CK) = Carole King
I told the homosexual man that the grape tree was mine. (MG) = Marvin Gaye (my vine, gay)
I ask you, Ricky, if you believe in Father Christmas. What do you say? (S) = Santana (Santa? nah)