? and the Mysterians ? and the Mysterians (often stylized with the question mark) were an American garage-rock band from Saginaw/Bay City, Michigan, formed in the early 1960s. Led by frontman Question Mark (Rudy Martinez, born 1945), with original members Bobby Balderrama (guitar), Robert Lee “Stormy” Rice (bass), Frank Lugo (bass), and Robert “Rabbit” Rodriguez (drums), they wore space-age silver outfits and sunglasses for a mysterious image. Signed to Cameo-Parkway, their breakthrough was “96 Tears” (1966, No. 1 Billboard Hot 100), a raw, organ-driven garage classic with its iconic Vox Continental riff and pleading vocals, selling millions. Follow-ups like “I Need Somebody” and “Can’t Get Enough of You, Baby” charted modestly. The band disbanded in the late 1960s amid label issues and lineup changes. Question Mark reformed versions in the 1970s–2000s, focusing on oldies revivals. As of 2026, with “96 Tears” turning 60, the song remains a garage-rock staple, but the group has no major active touring lineup reported; Question Mark occasionally performs or is referenced in nostalgia contexts. Their primitive, proto-punk energy influenced later garage and punk acts.