| 100% | PAPAS | 5 | John Phillips and Denny Doherty, in a band |
| 54% | PAPAS | 5 | John and Denny, in a 1960s group |
| 39% | ADAMS | 5 | John —, composer of the operas A Flowering Tree and Nixon in China |
| 38% | ITSSO | 5 | Words before “Easy” in a Linda Ronstadt title and “Hard” in a John Lennon title |
| 38% | SAXES | 5 | Altos and tenors in a swing band |
| 37% | CENA | 4 | John who plays a mercenary in "Peacemaker," and whose name can be found in "mercenary" |
| 37% | TRAVOLTA | 8 | John ___, winner of a 2000 Razzie for his roles in "Battlefield Earth" and "Lucky Numbers" |
| 37% | GEMSTONE | 8 | Rock in a band |
| 37% | PLAY | 4 | Perform in a band |
| 37% | TUBA | 4 | Bass in a band |
| 37% | GEM | 3 | Rock in a band |
| 37% | TUBA | 4 | Boomer in a band |
| 37% | PARADISELOST | 12 | John Milton epic, and a hint to how four long answers in this puzzle were formed |
| 36% | SEXPISTOL | 9 | Sid Vicious or Johnny Rotten, in a band |
| 36% | MEN | 3 | Of Mice and ___, "Restoring Force" band whose name is inspired by a John Steinbeck novel |
| 36% | TEMPO | 5 | Something to keep in a band? |
| 36% | LEAD | 4 | ___ singer (main vocalist in a band) |
| 36% | LEAD | 4 | ___ singer (front man in a band) |
| 35% | FAN | 3 | One in a band T-shirt, probably |
| 35% | HAIR | 4 | You can find it in a band |
| 35% | THEWHO | 6 | With Yes and the Band, band in an “SCTV” parody of a classic Abbott and Costello bit |
| 35% | CHEAPTRICK | 10 | "The Flame" rock band that released a self-titled album in both 1977 and 1997: 2 wds. |
| 35% | DURANDURAN | 10 | "Rio" New Wave band that released a self-titled album in both 1981 and 1993: 2 wds. |
| 35% | ONTOUR | 6 | In a bus with the band |
| 34% | BRISKLY | 7 | In a quick and lively manner |
| 34% | NEATLY | 6 | In a nice and orderly fashion |
| 34% | GENIALLY | 8 | In a cheerful and pleasant manner |
| 34% | BRUTALLY | 8 | In a cruel and violent way |
| 34% | WARMLY | 6 | In a kind and welcoming way |
| 34% | FRANTIC | 7 | In a rushed and panicky state |