Apparently, you can make a pretty decent living out of being in a tribute band. If you're any good and look the part, university unions and weddings will be all over you like a rash.
However, personally, I'm a big fan of a little bit of endeavour. The best tribute bands in my book are the ones that find a twist, rather than be straight-down-the-line imitators. Despite some suited political types telling us that Britain is officially out of recession, I'm far from convinced. So if you're looking at earning an extra bit of dough, I reckon forming one of these tribute bands is a guaranteed nice little earner.
In fact, I'm well up for forming Irony Laden, myself. Anyone else in? Just email Kontraband and I'll sort out the rehearsal room!
THE TOP 10 TRIBUTE BANDS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN FORMED - BUT SHOULD BE:
IRONY LADEN:
The ULTIMATE tribute band. Or non-tribute band, as the case may be. Basically, Iron Maiden's back catalogue over-performed by a bunch of over-dressed metalheads with extended 23-minute guitar breaks, random and pointless drum solos, and eardrum-rupturing wails that push Bill Withers' 'Lovely Day' for length of duration, who all seem to be taking their job with the same level of seriousness as an accountant filing tax returns for Microsoft.
But really underneath all the dramatic schlock, they're just taking the piss, it's ironic, hahahahahaha. Just that no-one knows. Unless they read the name first.
SPINAL CRAP:
The big problem at the heart of Spinal Tap: The Movie is the fact that the band are actually very talented musicians, performing quite intricate musical compositions that require more than a modicum of technical ability.
A Spinal Crap would essentially consist of the same songs being played by a bunch of individuals to their very best abilities, but having only just picked up a guitar nine-months previously - a wood-cracked imitation Les Paul purchased from Argos or Cash Converters - they're still fingering the chords to 'Wonderwall' with the co-ordination of an embryo, so 'to the very best of their abilities' would have the same musical impact of an abused tortoise painfully crawling over the strings of the said guitar, and dying halfway across.
PUNK FLOYD:
Unfortunately, despite developing the ingenious (and ironic) idea of transforming Pink Floyd's sophisticated prog rock soundscapes into snarly two-minute thrash-outs, it appears someone's already executed the idea. Technically, it should be in the subsequent category, but I don't care, I thought of this, too. I'm having it. In your face 'the real' Punk Floyd. In fact, I have no idea whether the 'real' Punk Floyd even perform punk versions of Pink Floyd songs.
NUNS AND MOSES:
A Christian rock incarnation of Axl Rose's legendary sleaze rockers, featuring added gospel backings, slight lyrical adjustments and a singer with a relaxed and fulfilled grin on his face. First album would include Use Of Your Illusion rocker 'Garden Of Eden', plus 'Holy War', 'Holy Child O' Mine', 'My Mary' and 'Paradise City of Jerusalem'.
CHARLES AND DAVID:
Chas n' Dave classics performed by classically trained harpists.
LIBERTINES-X:
A Jessica Taylor lookalike singing Pete Doherty numbers while smoking crack.
ALICE IN PAINS:
A bit sick this one, but I'm starting to run low on ideas, so. An all-girl tribute band, singing dark and depressing grunge songs about menstrual issues rather than drugs. There's definitely a joke to be had in the band's original favourite of 'Angry Chair', but I'm looking for it.
ROD-NEY STEWART:
Rod Stewart hits performed in the style of Nicholas Lyndhurst as Rodney Trotter.
DAMON ALL-BRAN:
Blur look-alikes performing songs from Kellog's cereal commercials.
MICHAEL BUBBLY:
Performing all of Michael Buble's astonishing easy listening hits, but by farting or burping the melodies into the mic.
AND HERE'S THE GREAT ONES THAT HAVE BEEN DONE
HAYSEED DIXIE
Not a band-specific tribute act per se, despite the nifty nameplay on Aussie rockers AC/DC, Hayseed Dixie (originally AC/Dixie) ply their trade in banjo-y, violin-y countrified covers of famous rock hits. The Hayseeds have built up a massive cult following, have released several albums and are well worth checking out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mU2lJKkQ04
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4Kj781O3js
LEZ ZEPPELIN
Ingeniously, a quartet of New York women performing Led Zeppelin covers to a relatively high standard. It's not clear whether they're actually lesbians, though. What is clear is that they're pretty hot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YxObEPlR-U
DREAD ZEPPELIN
I'll let Wikipedia explain this one: 'Dread Zeppelin is an American band best known for performing the songs of Zed Zeppelin in a reggae style as sung by a 300 pound Vegas Elvis impersonator'. That's cleared that one up, then.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CO7FPU7a2
RODEOHEAD
Some pair called Hard and Phirm have sung Radiohead favourites in a country style. What else can I say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyzVXFIbSDM
User Comments / Add a Comment »
i love 'em. a completely original zep cover band. no one else sounds like them.
Added: 837 days ago by satyriasis
dread zeppelin is f*cking awesome.
Added: 839 days ago by satyriasis
i actually logged in to say the same thing... my uncle does some promoting work for dread zeppelin. you cant beat a black man with dreads dressed as elvis doing led zeppelin covers to a reggae beat!
Added: 839 days ago by dmprice
there's already a really aptly named maiden/priest cover band that tours & is pretty ba called judas beast.
Added: 834 days ago by jerktown
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