People will argue that is the whole point of being a Tribute Band but I would always perceive them as not being able to crack it ' Themselves" hence going the Tribute route. Of course there are tons of brilliant bands/musicians that never see the light of day in terms of reaching the market so as long as these musicians are getting a lot out of it , all good.

 

Tribute albums aren't that different than any other cover, sometimes it's interesting to hear your favorite act take on a song or your favorite music interpreted. But with so much great original music out there, why spend your music buck on covers unless it's really superb?

 

 

 

Tribute bands have definitely been a major contributing factor in the decline of the live circuit for new talent.

 

   In view of this I have to say I regard tribute bands in an extremely negative light.

 

DJs however have taken over many venues that could and should be using live bands. I think it's just cheaper.

 

I thought he was very professional. He sang all the parts spot on, but let Squire and Howe do most of the talking.

 

 

But I must say, I never buy tribute albums, and I don't think I ever will.

 

   Yes DJs too .  

Dance music was definitely also a major contributing factor to the decline of  the UK scene for startup  original bands. In fact DJs and dance music probably did more damage than tribute bands in the long run.

The tribute bands came along a bit after dance music  - and kind of polished off the remains, so to speak.

 

   Unless you're a trendy indie kids fashion band, the uk pub circuit is now pretty much a no go area for new actual rock bands as such.

 I'm not saying it's impossible , but just much much harder than ever before.

 

  Interestingly, the idea of covers bands gradually earning the right to sort of feature their own music more and more , eventually morphing into an originals band themselves  - as you describe. Never really caught on here.

  Bands tend to be strictly one thing or the other. Originals or covers. There's seldom much blurring.

 

 

 

Others who've been through the scene can chime in, but that's my experience of how it tends to work, at least early. In rock, it's almost impossible to break in with all originals. To get your name out, you work the bars with covers and as they get to know you, you can push more of your own stuff. As your name gets out, you can get some gigs opening for other larger acts. During those short gigs, usually you showcase your own stuff, but may also pull out some of your best covers just to leave an impression.

 

The other common thing is that there will be two names for what are essentially the same band, one doing covers, and the other originals. Sometimes a member or two will differ.

 

 

I have been in "serious" bands, and covers bands, and Tributes.

I always smile at the negative response Tribute bands get, each to his/her own of course, but when I did gigs in a Whitesnake Tribute we, and the audience had a cracking good time. I was recently in a serious Prog rock band, but at the moment play in a Progressive Rock Covers band. People who come to the gigs know your not the real thing, the real thing wouldn't play a 130 seater theatre or a 100 standing pub, or play the local outdoor music festival in the rain for nothing but a thankyou from the appreciative organisers and those that came to enjoy the music, they know your not the real thing, but just love to go and watch live music and dare I say it, have fun.

Tributes haven't ruined it for real bands, The music industry did that when it stopped playing music for all, on all the radio stations, and just pidgeon holed the mass music for money. In the old days you would get a mixture of Motown to Rock to Prog, anything went. Now its just music for a fast buck, and you only get to hear about the music we like thru Planet Rock and  the internet stations like Frans Keylards The Dividing Line. People who go and watch a tribute act, would I wager be the same people who would go and see the real deal, because they adore the music, thats if the real deal ever bothered to come and play in the area they live of course, and with ticket prices for the big boys at £30 plus  these days, those that can't afford the real deal will appreciate the good tributes and covers bands that are on offer local to them.

There have always been covers bands, doing their own thing, their own tributes to the music they love, most with day jobs and families to keep, but not the means to crack it professionally. Some are good, some are bad, some are awesome, but its all about having fun in the end and not taking it all too seriously. Go out and listen to a few, you may end up having a cracking night out yourselves.

By the way The Indigo Pilots, "A Night Of Progressive Rock" is on Friday The 22 May at the Ashcroft Arts Centre, Osborn Road, Fareham, Hampshire.

 We're gonna enjoy it, and I'm sure you will to.

Regards to all

Sean

And there's a difference between playing rock and classical music.  Rock music is composed in the studio.  Nobody will mimic DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 100% because Pink Floyd were the only ones who did it.  But classical music was meant to be inturpeted in different ways because it was composed on paper--not in the studio!

If a band wants to do a cover of someone else's material, they should put their own stamp on it--not try to sound like the original band.