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Hey again! For the December 2024 Extra Credits objective, KingsIsle tasked us content creators with collaborating to create a piece of content that celebrates the holidays by giving a gift to the community. Well, what better gift than the gift of knowledge?

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The Spiral Project

For this article, I am joined by The Spiral Project to craft a definitive guide of ALL of the music references found in the Prospector Zeke quests throughout both Wizard101 and Pirate101.

If you were not aware, all of the items that Zeke has you collect for his quests are actually based on real-world musical groups! We're not sure who decided this or when, but it's always fun to see what group is referenced with every new (major) expansion.

Stay tuned as we tell you the true meaning behind each of Zeke's collect-a-thons! How many of these references did you catch? Comment below!

Wizard101[]

Smiths - Wizard City[]

The Smiths

The Smiths

During the quest "Find the Smiths," Zeke tasks you with finding the Smiths, small "dwarf-like" men hiding throughout Wizard City. These are a reference to the 1980s English rock band The Smiths, who have been cited as one of the most influential acts on the British music scene behind The Beatles. Popular artists of the 21st century such as Radiohead, Arctic Monkeys, and The Weeknd have all cited The Smiths as a major influence on their works. (Fun Fact: In an early, scrapped version of this quest, the player searches for Pixies instead. These would have been a reference to the American alternative rock band the Pixies.)

Beetles - Krokotopia[]

Beatles

The Beatles

For the quest "Find the Beetles," you are tasked with finding Beetles (which are actually scarab beetles!) throughout the world of Krokotopia. These are, of course, a reference to The Beatles, the world-famous four-piece English rock band composed of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr which reigned from 1960 to 1970. What's not to say about the Beatles? Besides being regarded as the most influential rock band of all time, there's a good argument that most of the other acts referenced in the 101 games would not have the same level of recognition had the Beatles never existed. They revolutionized so much of how we think about music today and opened the doors for many artists that came after them. Beatles references can be found elsewhere in the game, with Abbey Road in Avalon being a reference to the album of the same name.

Stray Cats - Marleybone[]

Stray Cats

Stray Cats

In Marleybone, the quest "Stray Cat Strut" has you finding the Stray Cats, small disheveled cats intended to be vagrants (or "hoboes" as they are less kindly referred to in the US). These are a reference to the American rockabilly band Stray Cats, who formed in 1979 and are known for hits such as "Stray Cat Strut" (hey, that's the quest's name!) and "Rock This Town" which you've probably heard if you've ever played Guitar Hero II. Unlike the previous two acts in this list, the Stray Cats are still around!

Blue Oysters - MooShu[]

Blue Oyser Cult

Blue Öyster Cult

Now this one's a fun one. In MooShu, you collect the Blue Oysters for Zeke as part of the quest "Blue Oyster Cult." This is, naturally, a reference to the iconic American rock band Blue Öyster Cult. While their top song is by far 1976's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper," the band has put together other great hits such as "Godzilla" (1977) and "Burnin' for You" (1981). What makes this reference especially fun is that band member Eric Bloom (who performed on all of the Blue Öyster Cult's biggest hits) was an early player of Wizard101, and, eventually, visited the KingsIsle headquarters himself, even writing and performing as Snorri Oysterbloom in the Grizzleheim side quests "Sitting Bear" and "Fall Tree Bowers."

Stone Roses - Dragonspyre[]

The Stone Roses

The Stone Roses

The quest "The Stone Roses" in Dragonspyre has Zeke sending you to find the Stone Roses throughout the ashen world. These are a reference to The Stone Roses, an English rock band who were active in the 1980s and 1990s as well as in the 2010s. Their debut album in 1989 gained the band a lot of attention, and is still cited as one of the greatest albums ever put out by a British rock band.

Yardbirds - Grizzleheim[]

The Yardbirds

The Yardbirds

During the quest "The Yardbirds," Zeke has the player collect the Yardbirds throughout the main lands of Grizzleheim. They are a reference to The Yardbirds, an English rock band who were originally active in the 1960s. The band had a string of hits throughout the 60s including "Heart Full of Soul" and "Shapes of Things," but nowadays is perhaps most notable for starting the careers of famous guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. The last of which may sound similar, as the character Page Jimmy in Avalon is named after him!

Lounge Lizards - Celestia[]

The Lounge Lizards

The Lounge Lizards

In Celestia, Zeke kicks off his first quest of Arc 2 with the quest "Lounging Lizards," during which the player sets out to find the Lounge Lizards, a family of miniature Manders. In the real world, The Lounge Lizards were a "no wave" jazz band notably comprising brothers saxophonist John Lurie and pianist Evan Lurie but also including many other names over its two decades of existence.

Troggs - Wintertusk[]

Trogg

The Troggs

With the quest "The Troggs" for the Wintertusk expansion to Grizzleheim, Zeke is in the world once again and this time is looking for small cavemen-looking creatures known as the Troggs. These are a reference to The Troggs, an English "beat music" band founded in 1964 known for hits like "Wild Thing," "With a Girl Like You," and "Love Is All Around." The Troggs in Wizard101 may potentially also be a double-reference to the Trogg race from the Warcraft universe, "Trogg" is a reference to the word "troglodyte," meaning a cave-dwelling early race of man.

Sock Monkeys - Zafaria[]

500

The Monkees

In the quest "Hey Hey It's The Monkeys," Zeke has you find Sock Monkeys throughout Zafaria. These are a reference, albeit not as direct as past references, to the American pop rock band The Monkees. They were one of the most popular bands of the 1960s, with a highly successful TV show mirroring later shows that would accompany musical acts. If you've ever seen Shrek, then you probably know their song "I'm a Believer" (written by Neil Diamond, although the version used in the film was recorded by Smash Mouth. More recently, "Daydream Believer" was used in the critically acclaimed film Women Talking.

Black Crows - Avalon[]

Rs-183955-85238532

The Black Crowes

In Avalon, Prospector Zeke has you find the Black Crows during the quest "Crowology." These birds are a reference to the American rock band The Black Crowes, who saw much success in the early 1990s with their debut album Shake Your Money Maker (1990) and follow-up The Southern Harmony and Musical Companion (1992). Despite breaking up multiple times, the Black Crowes have remained active since 2019.

UFOs - Azteca[]

UFO

UFO

The quest "The UFOs" has you finding UFOs throughout the land of Azteca. These are a reference to the English rock band UFO, who were formed in 1968. If you're not familiar with them, they were a key part of the ushering in of the new wave of British heavy metal in the 1970s. While only achieving moderate mainstream success with their biggest hit being the 1974 song "Doctor Doctor," they have been hugely influential, having inspired acts such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax, Alice in Chains, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Europe… just to name a few!

Khryckets - Khrysalis Part 1[]

Buddy Holly & the Crickets

The Crickets

For Khrysalis Part 1, Zeke has you collect the Khryckets during the quest "Oh Boy, Khryckets!" These Khryckets, small Jiminy Cricket-esque characters, are a reference to American rock and roll band The Crickets, formed by Buddy Holly in 1957. They have been cited as setting the "template" for future rock bands to come, such as The Beatles. While Buddy Holly himself met his tragic end in 1959, The Crickets continued for many years to come. Their most famous song is 1957's "That'll Be the Day."

Iron Butterflies - Khrysalis Part 2[]

Iron Butterfly

Iron Butterfly

For Khrysalis Part 2, your second venture to the world leads to you finding the Iron Butterflies during the quest of the same name. They are a reference to Iron Butterfly, an American rock band that formed in 1966. Their 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" is cited as setting the stage for the future development of hard rock and heavy metal music. While their heyday was in the 1960s, the band remains in existence to this day, though none of the original members are still living.

Vanilla Ices - Polaris[]

Vanilla Ice

Vanilla Ice

During the quest "Too Cold… Too Cold," Zeke sends you throughout the land of Polaris, Vanilla Ice Scoop in hand, to collect samples of Vanilla Ice. To those of you familiar with the history of hip hop, this would of course be a reference to rapper Vanilla Ice, who saw success in the 1990s with his song "Ice Ice Baby." Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fans probably know him best for his appearance in 1991's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, where he performs the "Ninja Rap."

Oases - Mirage[]

Oasis

Oasis

In Mirage, Zeke tasks you with finding many an Oasis (plural Oases) during the quest "Midday At The Oasis." These Oases are a reference to world-famous English rock band Oasis, formed in 1991. One of the defining groups of the "Britpop" genre and hugely successful in the 90s and 2000s, you probably know Oasis for their smash-hit "Wonderwall." If you're an Oasis fan, great news because even though the band was no longer together when Mirage released, they are returning to the live stage in 2025.

Blowfish - Empyrea[]

Hootie-and-the-blowfish

Hootie & the Blowfish

While the two-part Khrysalis had two different Zeke quests, KingsIsle decided to only do one for Empyrea, the finale of Arc 3. This quest, titled "Hootie's Blowfish." has you finding the Blowfish throughout the world of of Empyrea. The Blowfish are a reference to American rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, formed in 1986. Many of the band's singles have charted, including "Hold My Hand," "Let Her Cry," and "Only Wanna Be With You."

Lemon-Heads - Karamelle[]

Lemonheads

The Lemonheads

The quest "Bittersweet Lemon-Heads" has you find the Lemon-Heads throughout the world of Karamelle. These are, cleverly, a double-reference. Not only do they refer to the Lemonhead candies, but the American alternative rock band The Lemonheads. Formed in 1986, the band saw their peak of popularity in the 1990s, prior to their breakup in 1997.

LED Zeppelins - Lemuria[]

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

In a twist on the formula, the "Zeke quest" for Lemuria is not a Zeke quest at all! It is given to you by an NPC by the name of Louise Mayqueen… who looks the exact same as Eloise Merryweather. Could this be some funny business with the World Synthesizer? Probably. But for Louise's quest "Night Flight In the Light," you travel through Lemuria to find the LED Zeppelins, cute little guys who are a reference to English rock band Led Zeppelin. There's actually an interesting connection here to Grizzleheim's Yardbirds, as Led Zeppelin formed from the band The Yardbirds (the inspiration for the Yardbirds of Grizzleheim) and Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin's guitarist, was part of both. The quest name "Night Flight In the Light" is a reference to the 1975 Led Zeppelin song "Night Flight."

Talking Heads - Novus[]

Talking Heads

Talking Heads

Zeke makes a triumphant return in Novus with the quest "This Must Be The Place." This quest has you find the Talking Heads throughout the surreal series of landscapes presented to you. These Talking Heads are, of course, a reference to the American rock band the Talking Heads, with the creatures in Wizard101 resembling frontman David Byrne. The band formed in 1975 and disbanded in 1991. Their biggest hits include "Psycho Killer," "Life During Wartime," and "Once in a Lifetime."

Midnight Oils - Wallaru[]

Midnight Oil

Midnight Oil

The most recent Zeke quest in Wizard101 takes you through Wallaru to find the Midnight Oils during the quest "Earning the Midnight Oil." These Midnight Oils are a reference to Australian rock band Midnight Oil (also known as "the Oils"), who were popular in the Australasia region in the 1980s with hits such as "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning." These songs and some of the band's later releases like "Wedding Cake Island" are referenced by Zeke (from an in-universe perspective where Midnight Oil doesn't exist) during the quest.

Pirate101[]

Funky Bunches - Skull Island[]

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch

In Skull Island, Zeke has you find the Funky Bunches for the Monquistan named Marquis Mark during the quest "Marquis Mark & the Funky Bunch." These Funky Bunches and Marquis Mark are a reference to American hip-hop group Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch, which are best known for their 1991 hit "Good Vibrations." Marky Mark was the alias of rapper-turned-actor Mark Wahlberg, whom the character Marquis Mark parodies. This parody was continued when Marquis Mark returned in Wizard101 during both Novus and Wallaru.

Gypsy Kings - Monquista[]

Gipsy Kings

Gipsy Kings

The Gypsy Kings are the items collected for Zeke throughout Monquista during the quest "Gypsy Kings." These Gypsy Kings are a reference to the French musical group Gipsy Kings, who mainly perform in Spanish but also use their native Catalan language as well as French and other related languages.

Seagulls - Valencia[]

A-flock-of-seagulls

A Flock of Seagulls

While traveling in Valencia, Zeke has you find Seagulls as part of the quest "A Flock of Seagulls." This quest name is indicative of the inspiration, English new wave band A Flock of Seagulls, who formed in 1979 and were primarily active in the 1980s with several high-charting hits.

Dixie Chicks - Cool Ranch[]

ZA-DIXIE-GIRLS-OP

Dixie Chicks

In Cool Ranch, Zeke sends you to find the Dixie Chicks during the quest of the same name. These are a reference to the Dixie Chicks (now known as simply The Chicks due to negative connotations of the word "Dixie" and ties to Confederate history), an American country band that was founded in 1989. They had many smash hits in the late 1990s and early 2000s, some of which were chart-toppers.

Shonen Knives - MooShu[]

Shonen Knife

Shonen Knife

The Zeke quest "Shonen Knives" in MooShu has you travel throughout the land in search of Lord Shonen's Shonen Knives. These are a reference to Japanese pop-punk band Shonen Knife, who formed in 1981. While not particularly well known in the west, the band is inspired by American acts like The Beach Boys and the Ramones.

Rolling Stones - Marleybone[]

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones

While in war-torn Marleybone, Zeke enlists you with finding the Rolling Stones during the quest "The Rolling Stones." These are of course a reference to iconic English rock band The Rolling Stones, who have endured over six decades since being formed in 1962 and were largely influential in helping craft the hard rock sound as it's known today. The quest references several songs including "Jumpin' Jack Flash," one of the band's biggest hits.

Eagles - Aquila[]

Eagles

Eagles

The final (so far!) Zeke quest in Pirate101 is the Eagles in Aquila, which Zeke has you find during the quest "The Eagles." These are not actual eagles, but golden Eagle Legion Standards that Zeke's friend Dueling Dalton wants for his Hotel Aquila in Cool Ranch. Nevertheless, they are a reference to American rock band Eagles (or "the Eagles"), who have five number-one singles, six number-one albums, and all sorts of awards to their names. The quest references two of the Eagles's albums, Desperado (1973) and Hotel California (1976).