Marillion is not an imitation of Genesis. have you ever truly listened to their released albums.

It's true they where influenced by the sound and the act of Genesis. But that's all.

I doubt Echolyn are a derivative band to Gentle Giant, and Porcupine Tree are not derivative to Pink aswell (for the few song I know of them aren't anyway). Starcastle is the only true imitation band you've mentioned. (I don't know Triumph).

This is not a good poll IMO, so I will refrain from voting in it. But I had to let you know how I thought about it.

Custodian wrote: I just had to put in a good word for Triumph.  Although they were far too lightweight at times (they often reminded me of a very good bar band that had the good luck to get a record deal) I remember them very fondly.  I wouldn't call them a Rush copy band, though.  They were often unfavourably compared to Rush just because they were also a Canadian trio.  The Sex Pistols were a British foursome.  Were they Beatles imitators?

So you never heard Blinding Light Show?

all modern rock bands are a "Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs" tribute band.

Dark Side of the Moon was nothing but "Wooly Bully" stretched out for a whole album.

James Lee wrote: all modern rock bands are a "Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs" tribute band. Dark Side of the Moon was nothing but "Wooly Bully" stretched out for a whole album.

I don't know about Wooly Bully but they used to do psychedelic versions of Louie Louie and Roadrunner.

I think I heard of an entire album with nothing but "Louie Louie" covers. Does anyone know about that? I'd buy it, but then again...I'm an idiot sometimes.

Sweetnighter:

I believe the word "imitation" is probably not the best word you could have used, at least "across the board."  Because while Starcastle, Triump and, to a lesser degree, Porcupine Tree do, in many ways, "imitate" the groups with which they are associated, I would not put Echolyn, and particularly Marillion, in that same category.

There is a difference between "imitation" and "influence," and the degree to which a band shows one or the other.  Echolyn is unquestionably influenced by GG, and they go a long way to sounding like GG.  Still, I would not call them "imitative," though they may straddle the line.

Even moreso Marillion.  While they are (or at least were) definitely influenced by Genesis, at no point do I hear "imitation," except perhaps, occasionally, in Fish's "channeling" of Gabriel vocally.

Peace.

James Lee wrote: I think I heard of an entire album with nothing but "Louie Louie" covers. Does anyone know about that? I'd buy it, but then again...I'm an idiot sometimes.

I remember that - the late great UK DJ John Peel played a few of the more interesting interpretations on his shows way back in the mists of time - think it was on  Rhino records, though the old memory's not what it used to be. 

Check out the band 'England; and their album 'The Garden Shed'. It is has the vocal harmonies of Yes and Gentle Giant, the big chords of Genesis and the lyrics of ITCOTCK era King Crimson.

This should make for a terrible album but amazingly, it actually works. No-one was more surpised than me but I like the bloody thing. They released this debut at the very moment punk hit and seemed to sink without a trace. I believe that a follow up record was released quite recently (during the late ninties/early noughties ) but I haven't heard that release.

Syzygy wrote: James Lee wrote: I think I heard of an entire album with nothing but "Louie Louie" covers. Does anyone know about that? I'd buy it, but then again...I'm an idiot sometimes. I remember that - the late great UK DJ John Peel played a few of the more interesting interpretations on his shows way back in the mists of time - think it was on  Rhino records, though the old memory's not what it used to be.

And what about the "Stairway to heaven" album, containing about 20 versions of the Led Zep classic, including one by Rolf Harris. 

On the topic, I agree with Wiz, the inclusion of Porcupine Tree and Marillion is unfair, and invalidates the poll.

Of this type, some of the best "imitators" for me are:

1) The Watch - what might've happened if Gabriel stayed in Genesis.

2) Babylon - Did their own take on the Selling England/Lamb-period Gensis style, only more ominous, had this lead singer named Doroccas (who sounded far more like Gary Numan than Gabriel)  They also had this weird fixation with Nazi Germany in some of their songs, very strange!

3) Raw Material - Very VDGG informed

4) Island - VERY heavy VDGG influence with some Giant and Univers Zero thrown in.

Syzygy wrote: I remember that - the late great UK DJ John Peel played a few of the more interesting interpretations on his shows way back in the mists of time - think it was on  Rhino records, though the old memory's not what it used to be.

Yes.  Rhino records released at least two volumes of nothing but "Louie Louie."  I used to have the first.  It had the original Richard (?) Berry version, a marching band, and Black Flag's version.  I can't remember the rest, although it must have contained the Kingsmen too.

Reed Lover wrote: So you never heard Blinding Light Show?

Not that I remember.  Was that a Triumph song?  Off on a completely unrelated tangent...What do you Rush fans think of "Take Off"?

Anekdoten = King Crimson

Lemur voice = Dream Theater

Vermilion sand = Renaissance

Tori Amos = Kate Bush

sigod wrote: Check out the band 'England; and their album 'The Garden Shed'. It is has the vocal harmonies of Yes and Gentle Giant, the big chords of Genesis and the lyrics of ITCOTCK era King Crimson. This should make for a terrible album but amazingly, it actually works. No-one was more surpised than me but I like the bloody thing. They released this debut at the very moment punk hit and seemed to sink without a trace. I believe that a follow up record was released quite recently (during the late ninties/early noughties ) but I haven't heard that release.

I last saw a copy of that in a branch of Boots somewhere over 25 years ago - I thought it looked interesting, but didn't want to waste my Saturday job wages on an unknown quantity so I gave it a miss. I've often wondered if it was any good, and now I now - Sigod, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Custodian wrote: Reed Lover wrote: So you never heard Blinding Light Show? Not that I remember.  Was that a Triumph song?  Off on a completely unrelated tangent...What do you Rush fans think of "Take Off"?

Yes it was one of theirs off the first album (?)

I thought it was quite funny at the time, I bought the Bob & Doug Album and some of it is quite funny in a simplistic kind of way.

Twelve Days(beers) Of Xmas was quite funny

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/9134/mack2.htm">

Let's have a beer eh!

To whoever did not get the memo: Triumph is not a Rush clone. Triumph's been around about as long as Rush; I believe Gil Moore & Mike Levine met Rik Emmett in '73 or '74. Seriously, these bands don't even sound like each other. Gil Moore's drumming is much more static and conventional than Neil Peart's; Mike Levine, while a solid bassist, is no Geddy Lee; Rik Emmett had a similarly-pitched voice, arguably, but his incredible lead guitar playing is what drew attention, as a left-hander who taught himself to play like a right-hander (hence that nifty fretwork). Rik is a fantastic guitar player, better than many of his peers.

I just had to put in a good word for Triumph.  Although they were far too lightweight at times (they often reminded me of a very good bar band that had the good luck to get a record deal) I remember them very fondly.  I wouldn't call them a Rush copy band, though.  They were often unfavourably compared to Rush just because they were also a Canadian trio.

"Lightweight"? Are you referring to some of the singles, like "Hold On" and "Lay It On The Line"? Get the killer Live At The US Festival  DVD and watch these dudes rock out! My fave Triumph studio albums: Just A Game, Never Surrender and Thunder Seven.