Can't think of a current band but I did see a Metallica tribute band a few months ago who were quite good (I was drunk 'tho). I also saw an Ozzy Osbourne tribute who made me laugh so much I almost pee'd my pants

There's that Abba tribute group Bjorn Again... though i'm not a fan of Abba in the least...

I think the culture has changed a lot since then, things go out of fashion a lot quicker, and the turnover of acts seems to be a lot higher.. I did however see a Spice Girls tribute band advertised on telly once, but whether anyone will care in another 25 years, I kinda doubt.

I saw a Kylie Minogue tribute act advertised for my local club next week...don't think I'll go though..she didn't look much like Kylie on the flyers

In thirty years time? I wouldn't be surprised if there are tributes to any of the following:

Oasis
Blur
Linkin Park
Limp Biskit
Travis
Coldplay

Although the last need to make a big success of their next album to deserve to be in there. And while not quite current, I'd add Verve to that list.

Pop has never created the interest for tributes (with the notable exception of Abba), as pop is a fashion statement - a here and now trip. Rock, however, has fans that care about 'timeless songs' and other such guff, which allows tribute bands to cash in. The above are all rock acts of one form or another with huge to reasonable success, which should be enough for demand to still exist once they're well past their sell by date.

(Edited by Jayjay 03/06/2002 02:40)

---

by JayJay
allows tribute bands to cash in

---

Not sure I agree with the tone of that JayJay It sounds like you think such tribute bands are leaching on the success of the original act... where as I would see it that they are providing a chance to experience (or re-capture an experience) a show that the original act don't do cos they've split up / moved on / died!

Of your list, I can see Oasis (and Limp Bizkit if they can survive Wes' departure) leaving enough impression for there to be a demand for a tribute band... but I guess only time will tell

Me? Use a caustic tone light-heartedly? Never!

To some degree yes I do think there is something parasitic about tribute bands. However, they wouldn't exist if they didn't fulfil a function that a sizeable number of people want. They might not be my cup of tea, but then so aren't a lot of things. Each to their own.

I've mentioned elsewhere that I find the idea of Axl Rose and some session musicians playing G 'n' R tracks quite unpalatable. So seeing the 'Fans 'n' Roses' in ten or twenty years time doesn't appeal either. For me, what makes seeing a band play live so special (as opposed to just listening to the recordings) is seeing the artist that moved you on record displaying how their own music affects them, and that cannot be copied by someone else. So a bunch of session musicians mimicking my hero(ine)s without being the actual creators of that music doesn't really appeal. Doesn't matter how much some musicians know about the live appearance and style of Faith No More, because they will never be Faith No More. And, personally, I'd rather have the real thing (ged it? ) or nothing. But that's just my over opinionated one.

Returning to my list, I think Oasis and Blur will almost definitely have tribute bands (if they don't already) because of the size of their fan base, the loyalty of those fans, and the importance those bands have to those fans. Many artists will have fans that like them, but only a few get a fan base obsessed with them. I think those two do.

Linkin Park and Limp Biskit aren't there yet, because they haven't been around long enough, nor released enough material. But. They will define, in years to come, a sea change in rock music at the beginning of this decade, just as Nirvana and Pearl Jam did a decade before them. Korn and Deftones may have been doing it long before them, but they're the ones that'll be remembered. Just as Blur and Oasis were pre-dated by Inspiral Carpets and The Charlatans, and Nirvana and Pearl Jam by Mudhoney and Melvins.

And at the end of the day they're RAWK bands. And there are few fans more obsessive and possessive as RAWK fans.

As for Travis and Coldplay, that's harder to tell. Again, relatively new bands with a lot to prove, but they are getting a fan base that is obsessed by there music, and their sound, to a certain degree, will become synonymous with the early years of C21. And nostalgia is another great way to get that obsessive need that creates the market for tribute bands.

Also, I can't believe I left out U2 from my original list.

---

by Jayjay
Returning to my list, I think Oasis and Blur will almost definitely have tribute bands (if they don't already) because of the size of their fan base, the loyalty of those fans, and the importance those bands have to those fans. Many artists will have fans that like them, but only a few get a fan base obsessed with them. I think those two do.

Linkin Park and Limp Biskit aren't there yet, because they haven't been around long enough, nor released enough material. But. They will define, in years to come, a sea change in rock music at the beginning of this decade, just as Nirvana and Pearl Jam did a decade before them. Korn and Deftones may have been doing it long before them, but they're the ones that'll be remembered. Just as Blur and Oasis were pre-dated by Inspiral Carpets and The Charlatans, and Nirvana and Pearl Jam by Mudhoney and Melvins.

And at the end of the day they're RAWK bands. And there are few fans more obsessive and possessive as RAWK fans.

As for Travis and Coldplay, that's harder to tell. Again, relatively new bands with a lot to prove, but they are getting a fan base that is obsessed by there music, and their sound, to a certain degree, will become synonymous with the early years of C21. And nostalgia is another great way to get that obsessive need that creates the market for tribute bands.

Also, I can't believe I left out U2 from my original list.

---

Well Oasis have loads of tribute bands, some of them are terrible (which I guess makes them sound just like Oasis ) but allegedly the best of the bad bunch are "Noasis".

I personally think that Linkin Park are a flash in the pan, fantastically written and produced popcorn-metal. But I think they're too diluted to do anything major on the music scene these days They'll more than likely do another album then the music scene will have left them behind. Fred's begging Wes to "come home to his family" on the Limp Bizkit website, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed on that one. I'm sure that Limp Bizkit are the major "nu-metal" (or whatever you want to call it) contender for tribute bands, they're kinda like KISS for the youth of today (And Wes is actually a majorly underrated player)

I thought Coldplay were a Travis tribute band, no wait Travis are the Coldplay tribute band...? I forget.





(Edited by MonSTeR 04/06/2002 14:33)

---

by MonSTeR
(quotes)I thought Coldplay were a Travis tribute band, no wait Travis are the Coldplay tribute band...? I forget.

---

We bought the Coldplay album, listed to it once and it was the biggest depressing load of drivel (with the exception of Yellow and Trouble) so we promptly returned it.

Travis have a *little* bit more action in them - what I've heard through the ceiling from my neighbour doesn't seem too bad

---

by Jayjay
And while not quite current, I'd add Verve to that list.

---

Really? They did get quite big for a while, but only for the course of one (over-rated, much prefer 'A Northern Soul') album.

The Manics already have at least one tribute band. Nowhere near current, but the Stone Roses do, and I can certainly imagine that lasting, since it's 10 years since the band were really around.

Only tribute band I've ever seen were 'Bjorn Again' at my uni freshers' ball. They were fun, but in general I'm not terribly keen on the idea.

---

For me, what makes seeing a band play live so special (as opposed to just listening to the recordings) is seeing the artist that moved you on record displaying how their own music affects them, and that cannot be copied by someone else.

---

Couldn't agree more.

---

by MonSTeR...they're kinda like KISS for the youth of today

---

There's a back-handed compliment if ever I saw one!