What is the meaning of the '?'

You have just clicked an ? (Question mark), which we use as an ultimative characterization sign to indicate that certain facts are not 100% sure and that certain assumptions have been taken into account. Depending from where you come please find the exact definitions below.

Band Forming Timeline

When you have clicked the ? on the Band Forming Timeline, it means that it is not 100% sure when a specific band or artists have been formed or founded. Not always is such a date recorded and published; most often the bands disband before ever anybody is taking notice of them, therefore when you find a band marked with a ? in the band forming timeline it means

1. either that we have taken the date of their first public (or private) gig as their formation
2. or that the date of their first record / demo release / inclusion in a compilation record has been used

whatever date is earlier.

Next to a band formation date

When you have clicked the ? next to a band formation date, it means that it is not 100% sure when a specific band or artists have been formed or founded. Not always is such a date recorded and published; most often the bands disband before ever anybody is taking notice of them, therefore when you find a band marked with a ? next to their formation date it means

1. either that we have taken the date of their first public (or private) gig as their formation
2. or that the date of their first record / demo release / inclusion in a compilation record has been used

whatever date is earlier.