Influenced by such guitar-heavy, blues-influenced classic rock greats as Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, Northern Ireland’s the Answer started turning out loud, rowdy rock in 2000. The group earned a local following and, in 2002, a coveted spot playing Ireland’s Witness Festival. The Answer’s debut, RISE, appeared in 2006, earning positive reviews in the press, leading to gigs opening for Whitesnake, Aerosmith, AC/DC, and the Rolling Stones, among others. In a short time, the band established themselves as one of the U.K.'s premier hard-rock torchbearers.