We have a bit of a laugh about the punning names of tribute acts of famous bands, but are any of them actually worth seeing? Where many acts now barely have any of the original members, and supplement their ranks with ex-members of tribute acts it seems the wall between “real” and “tribute” is pretty permeable.
So which ones are worth a look? My submission is the tremendous Nearly Dan. No Dan fan wouldn’t love their immaculate renditions of Dan numbers (often doing live album versions rather than srudio album versions) plus Becker/Fagen solo material. They are so good Dan deniers could adopt full sneer with confidence. I did see a tremendous Free tribute a while ago called Absolutely Free who were scarily authentic sounding too.
Your suggestions? Counterfeit Stones, anyone? Bootleg Beatles?
I’ve managed to catch the Bootleg Beatles a couple of times, the more recent occasion last December, and can vouch that they are, indeed, rather splendid.
Haven’t seen them for ages, but the Wholigans were worth seeing. “Roger” (actually Barry) even looks quite like him.
Saw the Bootleg Beatles at Cropredy in the late 80s. Very good.
Counterfeit Stones at a corporate do probably around 15 years ago when they were quite the thing. I was a bit disappointed I’m afraid.
1990 I think – the year I abandoned the field for the tea tent because horizontal rain was driving so hard that the lights on the food stalls were blowing. If they can impress you in those circumstances they must have been good!
This bunch are pretty good, but don’t seem to play much these days.
(The Muffin Men – Zoot Allures Medley)
They don’t slavishly copy the material but put a bit of themselves into it.
Heard them in July at Zappanale in Germany – they’re very good, Ed Mann on marimba and Denny Walley on guitar especially. And yeah, they don’t slavishly follow the records – I mean, Zappa never did.
They often hook up with ex Zappa/Mothers players. They toured Germany for a few months in 1994 with Ike Willis and have played Zappanale with him and quite a few others. They toured a lot with Jimmy Carl Black until he got too sick.
Aussie Floyd are very professional and convincing. I’m booked to see “The Musical Box” in a few weeks, who play a Gabriel-era Genesis set with original gear and props, etc., old fashioned non-computerised lights, and are supposed to be a “re-enactment” of gigs back in the day. This may mean people can smoke in the auditorium, and, if standing,, folks sitting cross-legged on the floor.
I’m off to see the Musical Box myself in Glasgow next month. Having never got the chance to see the lads in the flesh I’m really looking forward to the gig. Heard really good things about them.
I’ve seen The Musical Box. Unsurpassable. You’ll love it.
G2 Genesis and Regenesis are both very good too, but don’t do the visuals to the same extent.
Yes tribute Fragile are worth checking out, I believe they now have a female singer, someone vaguely famous who’s name eludes me!
Another up for the MB. Saw them play Selling England…at the Albert Hall about 2005. They go the whole hog – costumes, stage, music all perfect. They opened with Watcher of the Skies, then played the whole of SEBTP and encored with The Knife. Steve Hackett came on for the second encore, Firth of Fifth.
I think my take away from this thread is I have to see the MB. On tour later this month, for the curious:
Oct-19 GLASGOW ROYAL CONCERT HALL
Oct-20 NEWCASTLE CITY HALL
Oct-23 LEAMINGTON SPA ASSEMBLY
Oct-24 PORTSMOUTH GUILD HALL
Oct-25 CARDIFF ST. DAVID’S HALL
Oct-27 GUILDFORD G LIVE
Oct-28 BATH THE FORUM
Oct-30 MANCHESTER O2 APOLLO
Oct-31 LONDON HAMMERSMITH APOLLO
@twang – I may be going bonkers but didn’t you see MB with me a year or so ago? They were excellent but spent a lot of time endlessly tuning the 12 string!
Yes they were excellent. I’ve of them forgot to put a battery in his tuner though.
“I’m off to see the Bootleg Beatles
as the Bootleg Mark Chapman” HMHB classic!
Best tribute band ever – the Joshua Trio. Sadly I’m not aware of any existing footage.
I was gonna quote the biccies, you beat me to it!
Seen the Rollin Stoned a couple of times – excellent 1st half of late sixties n 70’s and then Byron Jones comes on with angel wings and they kick through the classic singles
Never seen the real thing but more of a pantomime than this lot
I should mention my mate plays drums in The Pistols, who are a tribute band of, well, you can probably guess. They are superb if a bit for laughs. Steve Jones came to see them and said “you’re miles better than we were, mind you we were shit”. 🙂
Oye Santana, based in Berkshire, are terrific. They can ‘flex’ from a 4/5 piece to 8, with full drums & percussion. I happen to know ‘Carlos’ and he is incredibly talented. They’re a great night out.
I saw Bjorn Again with a friend on their first UK tour (at the height of Grunge – Nevermind and Gish had just been released). They’d just flown in from Melbourne and couldn’t believe their luck at playing to receptive audiences in the UK. They were bloody fantastic.
We went to the next gig with another friend each, and our gang multiplied each time we went (which was so often that we got to know them socially, too). By the time they supported Nirvana at the next year’s Reading festival, I’d seen them 52 times in 9 months.
Then Frida Longstokin got homesick, a not-as-good London-based replacement was drafted in, they got a new manager who franchised the brandname. Suddenly there were multiple Bjorn Again tribute acts.
I saw them once more but didn’t recognise anybody in the band. The magic was gone.
Spot on. Saw the original group a few times and they always gave good show. Was a little strange to encounter ‘Bjorn’ and ‘Benny’ outside the venue after the show and hear their converstion in broad Strine…
Agree withn Twang on Nearly Dan, a bunch of top quality musicians playing material they obviously love. I also have a lot of time for Limehouse Lizzy. They make no attempt to be a lookalike band, just play the music well.
ABBA Reunion are really good, in an absolutely non-ironic way.
I’m tempted to see Absolute Bowie in Hull next month – they have a good rep…has anyone seen them?
Also, already got tickets for next year to see ‘Purple Rain – A Celebration of Prince’, who are apparently endorsed by Dr Fink of The Revolution.
There’s a Sly & The Family Stone tribute playing round my way soon. They are endorsed by, you guessed it, Mike Peters of The Alarm.
I don’t think the promoter has even read their own press release.
‘Purple Rain – A Celebration of Prince’ are, indeed, awesome. Frontman Jimi Love (possibly not his real name) has the advantage from the get-go of being a look-a-like diminutive guitar genius in the first place anyway. The band also features two members of Mr. Fish’s ‘Return to Childhood’ touring band, prog trivia buffs.
Had the pleasure to see Limehouse Lizzy about 5 years ago. Top drawer musicians and the “Mr Lynott” was a fantastic showman and played a mean bass. Catch them if you ever can.
Back in January 2015 myself and MrsDrJ decided to go and see Rebel Rebel, Ireland’s number one David Bowie tribute band who were performing a gig to celebrate his 68th birthday. To be honest, I had my doubts going in to see them, but was totally convinced by their two hour set in front of a jampacked club of about 400 people. The band in particular were sensational and the bass player’s note perfect rendition of Ashes to Ashes was a mighty thing.
Few months later they did a Berlin trilogy show which was just as good,. Covering all the deep cuts you could ever wish for.
Cut to: January 2016 and Rebel Rebel were once again playing a gig to celebrate Bowie’s birthday. This was as part of a full-on Dublin David Bowie weekend. So I picked up Blackstar on the Friday, & went to see a Rebel Rebel on the Saturday night. They played a storming set with a special guest appearance from Bowie’s Dublin-born guitarist Gerry Lenord. It struck all of us how wonderful would be to hear Bowie himself sing the songs again as they were transformed by being played live. Needless to say after a weekend of celebrating his life, with his new album in hand and wondering what he was going to do next, the news that Monday hit terrifically hard.
The Smiths Limited are fun. North West based I think, the singer has the Moz moves and vocals and occasional waspish comment. Guitarist is excellent as is the rhythm section natch. A good night out for a tenner or so.
More Beatles – I saw The Fab Faux earlier this year and they were really good. No attempt to like them – but they seemed spot on to me
I saw Peter Hook and The Light on Saturday night, which finished with a singalong Love Will Tear Us Apart.
It was alright – not as good as I’d hoped but not as bad as I feared. He can’t sing for toffee, though.
That’s harsh -no more a tribute act than ‘The Other Three’ surely? In many ways I’d rather see Hooky and The Light than New Order – His vocals are gruff and rough, closer to Ian than Barney but he can pull it off. They play far less predictable setlists (meaning you get to hear gems like Lonsome Tonight or Procession which New Order would never dream of playing) , and they play the songs with the same economical and sparse arrangements that the original recordings had whereas Barney & Pals just let their session muso pals add loads of slick riffs, trills and brassy overdubs and sound far too glossy -for my money Hooky & his band sound a lot more like New Order/Joy Division than his estranged bandmates do.
Having seen New Order for the first time recently, and Hooky a couple of times at a festival – I think both would be improved by Hooky rejoining. Which will never happen.
Neither has a great singer – but the same great tunes (be honest – how many great NO tunes are there after Hooky left?).
I’m happy to see both again.
And I don’t think either is a “tribute” band. I agree Hooky is more like JD, and (unsurprisingly) NO are more like NO.
I saw The Cavern Beatles once, and they were okay, I suppose.
There’s a music pub in my old home city of St. Albans called the Horn (previously the Horn of Plenty)
They have mainly tribute acts playing there. Indeed, they have so many tribute acts on, that when they have an original band performing, they have to make this very plain on the posters.
Last time I drove by, there was a big poster for “China Crisis – the proper band – not a tribute act!”
I think I have an old China Crisis 7″ single somewhere. “African and White”.
The Cavern Beatles visited our little town once, and played at the cinema. They did mostly early Fabs, and as you say, they were okay.
Oasis obviously but still wouldn’t cross the road…..
And then there were The Ex Lion Tamers, a Wire tribute band, who Wire actually got to play support for them and play back catalogue a few times…or so I would like to believe.
stay glued to your tv set!
Tis true. Wire took them on a US tour in the mid 80s – so as not to disappoint fans expecting to hear early material (which Wire – true to form – were definitely not going to play) the Ex Lion Tamers played the entire Pink Flag album in full.
Seems like the ideal solution for us “Streets Of London!” types. To be honest, I’d rather hear some accomplished young support act really attack The Smiths’ back catalogue (for instance) than Mozband’s lumpen, half hearted (possibly grudgeful?) tread through old favourites. Also, bands like Radiohead who have an obvious watershed in their career can leave the tunes to their deputies, while they perform the “difficult” new stuff they want to play. Although, funnily enough, the new Wire would mix very nicely with the old, but I can see why they do it..
still willing to rumba?
Does a Tribute Band cease to be a Tribute Band if it contains an actual member of the band?
From The Jam – the foremost Jam tribute band around.
At one point, both Rick Buckler and Bruce Foxton were performing tributes to themselves.
Now, only Bruce remains.
Does a Tribute Band cease to be a Tribute Band if they start writing and releasing original material?
From The Jam (again) – the two albums, released in Bruce Foxton’s name but are effectively FTJ recordings, are definitely worth a listen.
and they’re on Tour from 30th September
A friend who went to see the Bruce’n’Rick lineup was worried about them having a lead singer not up to scratch. He told me after that it was no problem in the end, they had 600 lead singers there, for every song.
Have seen Led Zepagain a couple of times, one was an “acoustic” show. Scarily accurate but somehow a little soulless. Much the same with “Which One’s Pink?”
I enjoyed “Sticky Fingers” the most, in a bar in Newport Beach a few years ago. The singer, a native southern Californian with a very passable Dartford accent, went by the name of Dick Swagger. His between song banter was very amusing. The guitarist changed wigs & guitars depending on whether he was supposed to be Jones, Taylor or Wood. The drummer even played that way that Charlie does, never hitting the hi-hat & the snare drum at the same time. Have you ever noticed that or is it just me?
Wot no T.Rextasy?
My pal had a Stones tribute for his 50th party. “Mick”, watching a young lovely gyrating on the dance floor to the disco between sets, remarked to him “I call that hot stuff”. My pal replied “Really? I call her my daughter”. Cue embarrassed laughter….
I realise this isn’t about tribute band names but……… The One Show did a piece from a tribute festival that was held in a field somewhere in the summer, I’m struggling to remember any of the acts except one, which is without doubt the best tribute band name ever, I give you…………… Oasish
Brilliant.
By Jovi is a close second, then!
Shania Twin is still my favourite
Proxy Music is the winner.
Hell, they’re all great!
I find it a little odd when a tribute band can have the same kind of ticket prices as the orginal artists, But I’m told that The Musical Box, to name but one, are stupendous. so good luck to them.
I like a tribute band that does not take itself too sseriously. No fear of that with Dread Zepellin.
A Mexican Elvis impersonator with a reggae band doing Zep covers.
Or why not Tragedy? A metal band who do Bee Gees covers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhgjEObtrWE
I’ll get my cloak …….
I see the “How deep is your mum” tour hits the UK in Feb-Mar 2017. I’m seriously tempted.
Saw them supporting Electric Six quite a few years ago. They were pretty funny for a good 15 minutes. After that I think we all got the joke. Bit like Electric Six, I suspect.
Elvis has left the building. And so has Eilert.
But you can’t say he didn’t give his audiences a good night out! 😀
Think Floyd are tremendous. Saw Roxy Magic recently too and they are worth catching..singer even looks like Ferry!
Not strictly an SD cover band, but these guys are interesting, my 24 yr old son is very into them. Somehow they cajoled BP into reprising his original drum spot “he’s on the record!” in this live performance. It’s great but they kind of bite off more than they can chew doing the guitar solo with two guitars, sometimes in harmony.
Paul McCartney?
Do present day Fairport Convention count as a tribute act? And does anyone think they’re any good?
I saw them a couple of years ago and thought they were pretty dire!
Wholeheartedly in agreement, not just dire but dull.
Yes, dull is a better description. They can play and sing obviously, but it just isn’t worth listening to.
Um, sort of disagree about that. For sure they were simply coasting on lost laurels for decades, but when I saw them last they played only about 4 songs from last century at all, otherwise playing their new stuff. Not as enjoyable as the old that most were expecting (and that they can often ritually slaughter), but neither all bad either. Full marks to them for that.
@retropath I’m glad that they are doing new stuff, unfortunately that’s what I find deathly dull. Had been going to Cropredy from 1979 but had to stop in 2011 as I felt I was experiencing diminishing returns.
Will go next year and have booked for the 50th at the Union Chapel in May.
JJ Smyth’s in Dublin host a Dan tribute band called Aja.
Play last Wednesday of each month.
Absolutely tops, great players.
Turn’s into a singalong as a the room full of folks of a certain age know all the songs.
A great night out.
Well recommended.
A friend of mine caught a band called ‘The Real Neil’ in California last month. Classic Crazy Horse-era NY delivered in a wholly soundalike styley, judging from the short clip he posted me. The ‘Frank’ even had the regulation over-sized (not to be confused with Stills era) American Football shirt on.
The Star Club were great. And having seen ‘The Beatles – The Touring Years’, pretty close to the mark.
Our local equivalent are called Accrington Stanley and feature my old art teacher on guitar. Great stuff, although they obviously don’t look much like the fabs.
I live in Exmouth, Devon, and we do get a lot of tribute acts here and they seem to do pretty well. Is this a countrywide thing, or is it because we are in the sticks? We actually also have a great local music scene here with loads of pubs having bands on at weekends, plus folky stuff as well, but we don’t get many ‘name’ acts. I do the gig guide on local radio and have interviewed quite a few tribute acts, and I am far less sniffy about them than I used to be. Almost without exception they are talented and dedicated musicians who love what they do and not quite the cynical cash-ins I imagined. I interviewed one Marc Robinson who does a great Buddy Holly recently, and he is great – the gig has sold out weeks ahead. In contrast, Mike Hurst was here with ‘The Springfields’ last year and scraped just 50 people, and Peter Asher and Albert Lee are coming soon and it isn’t selling. The Searchers did OK, but didn’t sell out, whereas the Fortunes didn’t do well at all (mind you, there isn’t an original Fortune among them), and the Dreamers even worse….again the two actual ‘Dreamers’ were only members from the late 60’s onwards, much later than Freddiemania! Put on a Country music tribute act with ‘Dolly’ etc and tickets fly out.
Regional theatres seem to keep going on tribute acts, certainly the ones I know in Folkestone and Truro do.
Which reminds me, in Plymouth a few years ago I saw a poster advertising a Stranglers gig. Underneath their name were the words ‘Not a tribute act’.
Regional theatres and many arts centres alike, sadly. To the point where I wonder why some of them still get council or Arts Council funding. I have no issue with tribute bands or people choosing to see them, but I do wonder whether it’s a good use of limited arts funding to help prior up ‘ve yes where they put on little else.
The thought first struck when I saw a local theatre had a Chas & Dave tribute band playing. Tickets were about the same price as they were for the actual C&D who had played the same venue a few years before.
Round these parts we have the excellent Dirty Harry.
Last time I saw the originals on TV I was less than impressed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv5S_2mSdK
Steve Gibon’s Dylan Project is, by definition, a covers band, but they are really rather worth catching. Generally do a small tour before Xmas most years.
i’ve just got tickets for a reportedly one-off concert next March by Holy Holy (Woody Woodmansey, Tony Visconti, Glenn Gregory et al) who will perform the Ziggy Stardust album in its entirety at Hull City Hall for #hull2017. As Visconti says, “We’re not a tribute band, we’re the real deal” – although he actually wasn’t involved in the making of Ziggy, I think he’s allowed a pass on this occasion.
https://www.hull2017.co.uk/whatson/events/the-rise-fall-of-ziggy-stardust-the-spiders-from-mars/
A friend was at their last appearance there in 2017. Not easily overexcited, she said she nonetheless almost shat her pants. I think that’s a good review.
See Turn and Face the Strange if you can – a great night.
Not bumping my thread @chiz, honest…just to say Ents24 just let me know Nearly Dan are playing the Milton Keynes Stables on 5th November …I may well be there.
I’ve just heard of a female tribute act to Slade called Slady.
I shall have to check them out.
Their songs include Gudbuy T’Jim and My Friend Jan.
There is a female tribute to The Ramones, called The Ramonas.
I’m tempted every time they play Leeds, but never gone yet.
and a Pistols one called Sex Pissed Dolls.
They’re OK, but not a good as The Ramonas
Other good female tribute acts:
Edwina Collins
Jean Clark
Ida Cutler
Roberta Wyatt
Jo No-Cocker
Jazzy Jen & The Fresh Princess
The Bonzo Beeeeatch Band
Everything And The Girl
Queen Crimson
Doll By Doll By Doll
The Kingsbury Womanx…
…crikey
I’d go and see Earth Wind For Hire, if only to congratulate them on such a great tribute name.
I once spent an evening at an event with a Michael Buble tribute act, and it was uncanny: he was just as shit as the real thing.
This thread made me think. Are there any bands/artists who couldn’t possibly ever spawn a tribute act? Gary Glitter obviously. GG Allin. Throbbing Gristle. Whitehouse perhaps.
Paul Whitehouse? Mary Whitehouse? Whitehouse Home Video?
My kitchen is essentially a tribute act to the Konrad Schnitzler line-up of Kluster. It just doesn’t know it.
The “Lightning Struck My Cock” Whitehouse.
I’d forgotten them. Band for those who thought the Gristle were too Peter Powell.
I genuinely like Billy Bragg, but I simply can’t imagine him ever having a tribute act. I’ve been wrong before!
Somewhere in the darkest pubs of Essix there’ll be a Braggy Bill plying his trade…
Waiiidaminit… somebody else is waking up ancient threads….it begins… someone’s got it in for me, they’ve been planting stories in the press…
Well I’m not going to cut it out quick
I thought an act called The Style Cancel, whose setlist would be hits by “cancelled” artists, might work.