Why?

[Sgt. Pepper]

Why Skynyrd, Yes, Eagles, Foreigner, and others still tour with one or NO original members? I guess at least The Stones have two, and another is still alive. I saw 4 original members when I saw The Stones. But they were so bad it didn’t matter.

The Sharp Dressed Simple Man Tour. Oh lord. I didn’t make that tour name up either. 

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/lynyrd-skynyrd-zz-top-tour-2024/

Edited October 30, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Murph]

Because idiots continue to pay premium ticket prices to see cover bands.

[jvi]

because they find enjoyment in hearing it and having a nite out   ....not because they are idiots...

[rct]

For the Gibson Senior Community Day Room, only McCartney can do that.

rct

[Ceptorman]

Who wouldn't like playing guitar in front of a crowd making good money....make it while you can. All those bands listed made some of the greatest rock ever recorded, and most of it still holds up😁

[Notes_Norton]

In many cases, the record label owns the name, and pushes out a tribute band as the real thing. The fans don't know.

When we were opening shows for Motown in Detroit, they wanted to sign us up for 'the big time', but they only wanted to pay 2 cents per records in royalties. If that wasn't bad enough, out of our royalties:

• They would take out exaggerated recording, promotion, and distribution costs
• They would control all the publishing rights and get all the publishing royalties
• If we wrote the song, a ghostwriter who had nothing to do with it would have his/her name on it and get half the writer's royalties
• And we would have to change our name to one that Motown would own, so they could hire/fire and even have more than one band touring the country with the same name

That was pretty standard back then.

Our manager tried to get a better deal, and Motown just quit talking and hiring us. In other words, “If we can't pimp you, you are of no use to us.”

Our manager figured we'd have to sell a million LPs to break even with Motown, and back then, that was a rare feat for a first release. Which is why there were so many one-hit-wonders back then. They got their record on the air, the label made all the money, and if they didn't pay off the fantasy debt, they just called it even and said if you want to record again, pay the balance off first.

In the rare case that the record back then went viral, and made more than the debt, you could get a better deal for the next release. You were considered an automatic until you quit selling, then they released a greatest hits album and dropped you.

A couple of years ago, a friend of my was very excited that she had tickets to see The Kingston Trio. I didn't have the heart to tell her that all 3 members of The Kingston Trio are dead, and she was paying top dollar to hear a tribute band.

The Stones are hanging on with only two. Brian Jones went first and now Mick and Keith are still hanging in. If one of those goes, it'll be all over.

Fleetwood Mac changed members every few albums.

Lynard Skynard died in a plane crash, and the name went on with new folks

Blood, Sweat, and Tears are touring with I think no original members, and definitely not Al Kooper or David Clayton Thomas

Our neighbor was married to Blackfoot's drummer, and I think they are touring with no original members. The drummer died, and the poor gal never got over it.

Quiet Riot, Humble Pie, Ratt, Yes, Thin Lizzy, Hollies, Judas Priest, and so on are tribute bands. Without Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys aren't the Beach Boys either.

But that's nothing new, The Drifters, The Platters, and so many of the early rock groups went through the same thing.

Most of the fans don't know the difference.

[Ceptorman]

Lynyrd Skynyrd only lost 2 members in that plane crash. They did lose some background singers and the road managers. They lost their last original member earlier this year.

The Eagles still have Don Henley, Joe Walsh wasn't original.

[Pinch]

Whatever floats their collective boat I guess. But ticket prices these days are pretty outrageous.

But yeah... I wouldn't go see most of the in-effect cover bands. But hey, that's me.

Edited October 31, 2023 by Pinch

[Sgt. Pepper]

11 hours ago, rct said:

For the Gibson Senior Community Day Room, only McCartney can do that.

rct

But Paul is touring under his name and not calling it The Beatles. That’s the difference. I would have no issue with Don Henley doing the same thing. What’s touring now is far from the Eagles. Same with Steve Howe and Yes.

[Murph]

This all seems vaguely familiar...

[Sgt. Pepper]

12 hours ago, Ceptorman said:

Who wouldn't like playing guitar in front of a crowd making good money....make it while you can. All those bands listed made some of the greatest rock ever recorded, and most of it still holds up😁

Unfortunately most are hired guns to play music they didn't make, from a band they were never in when it had its heyday.

One thing is for sure they are not making $ off me. I see enough tribute bands come through the theater I work at. The Fake Eagles (called Eaglemania) were just here two weeks back. I saw them last year as I was doing Security for the event, so I kind of had to see and hear them. The guitarist went so far as to have a fake White Gibson EDS-1275 made, for you know what song. I talked to him back stage about it. The day after New Years we have a Carpenters tribute band playing a Xmas show. On NY Day.

A band parading around as The Guess Who are coming in January. No original members.  We are gonna have next year, real  Air Supply, Johnny Mathis, and Dionne Warwick playing at the theater. 

These eyes are cryin'
These eyes have seen a lot of tribute bands
But they're never gonna see another one as bad as The Guess Who

Edited October 31, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Ceptorman]

I'll bet some of these older rockers are doing it for the money, they probably wish they had some of the money they blew years ago. I don't like tribute bands either, I've never been to a tribute concert. I really don't care for the TV show The Voice...televised karaoke?

I don't label them as a tribute band if there is at least one original member. 

I did see Todd Rundgren last year. He still puts on a good show for a 75 year old guy. 

[RBSinTo]

RBSinTo's Law:

Everybody does what they do. You do what you do. He/She does what He/She does, and I do what I do.

And this holds for those playing the music as well as for those who choose to go hear them play.  Or not.

Nothing to get one's knickers in a twist about, one way or the other.

RBSinTo

[IanHenry]

A guy I know makes a very good living out of playing or promoting bands where there is only one remaining original member, he's actually a member of 'The Animals' and he's often on tour in mainland Europe where apparently there is huge demand.

I Have tickets to see Sade Cafe later this month, I'm not sure how many original members are still in the band but I'm going out of curiosity as much as anything but really any hope of seeing Sad Cafe at their peak ended in 2000 when the singer, Paul Young, an incredible frontman turned his toe's up (not the Wherever I Lay my Hat, Paul Young).

Realistically every orchestra in the World is a cover band, I guess that's how the music stays "alive".

[Sgt. Pepper]

47 minutes ago, Ceptorman said:

I'll bet some of these older rockers are doing it for the money, they probably wish they had some of the money they blew years ago. I don't like tribute bands either, I've never been to a tribute concert. I really don't care for the TV show The Voice...televised karaoke?

I don't label them as a tribute band if there is at least one original member. 

I did see Todd Rundgren last year. He still puts on a good show for a 75 year old guy. 

Yeah but Todd Rundgren isn't a band. You saw him, and who he wanted play with him. Now if he toured as The Nazz, and it was him and 3 other guys that didn't make those albums. That I would have an issue with.

That is the whole reason the guys in CSN used their names instead of giving the band a name. It didn't tie them down and they could be themselves or C&N, or, CSN, or CSNY, or Young Stills ect . . . 

Edited October 31, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Sgt. Pepper]

Just now, IanHenry said:

A guy I know makes a very good living out of playing or promoting bands where there is only one remaining original member, he's actually a member of 'The Animals' and he's often on tour in mainland Europe where apparently there is huge demand.

I Have tickets to see Sade Cafe later this month, I'm not sure how many original members are still in the band but I'm going out of curiosity as much as anything but really any hope of seeing Sad Cafe at their peak ended in 2000 when the singer, Paul Young, an incredible frontman turned his toe's up (not the Wherever I Lay my Hat, Paul Young).

Realistically every orchestra in the World is a cover band, I guess that's how the music stays "alive".

Sad Cafe sound like the name of an Eagles tribute band.

[IanHenry]

1 minute ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

Sad Cafe sound like the name of an Eagles tribute band.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

3 minutes ago, IanHenry said:

 

That was pretty good and not an Eagles tribute band. 

Didn't Paul Young want to tear a playhouse down, and everytime you went a way you took a piece of me with you?

Edited October 31, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[IanHenry]

2 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said:

That was pretty good and not an Eagles tribute band. 

Didn't Paul Young want to tear a playhouse down, and everytime you went a way you took a piece of me with you?

A different Paul Young joined Mike and the Mechanics (they had two vocalists simultaneously, the other being Paul Carrack).

Sad Cafe was a top-notch live band (I saw them countless times), they released ten albums, two of which were live.

 

[Sgt. Pepper]

3 minutes ago, IanHenry said:

A different Paul Young joined Mike and the Mechanics (they had two vocalists simultaneously, the other being Paul Carrack).

Sad Cafe was a top-notch live band (I saw them countless times), they released ten albums, two of which were live.

 

I never go into Mike + Mechanics. I did like Carrack when he did his short stint in Squeeze.

[Murph]

46 minutes ago, RBSinTo said:

RBSinTo's Law:

Nobody ever heard of your law.

But they HAVE heard of Murphy's Law...

[Pinch]

2 hours ago, Ceptorman said:

I'll bet some of these older rockers are doing it for the money, they probably wish they had some of the money they blew years ago. I don't like tribute bands either, I've never been to a tribute concert. I really don't care for the TV show The Voice...televised karaoke?

I don't label them as a tribute band if there is at least one original member. 

I did see Todd Rundgren last year. He still puts on a good show for a 75 year old guy. 

And also, if they are as into playing as they are, and who isn't, how could they stop?

But yes, sometimes maybe a new band name is a good idea. But I'm fairly sure none of them would listen to me, nor should they.

Edited October 31, 2023 by Pinch

[Notes_Norton]

I wonder how much the musicians in the tribute bands with no original members are making?

Back in the late 1970s, we opened for The Trammps in a show club in Miami, where we were the house band. They offered me a job with them for $200 per week. I'd have to tour on the band bus, and share a room with another member on the road. I was making more than that in the house band.

And I also know that often the band or artist doesn't own their own name, the label or someone they sold it to does. Remember when Prince was that symbol, because the record company owned his name. John Fogerty fought a legal battle with the record company to be able to use his own name, too.

So that gets me to thinking. What are the 'official' tribute band members really making? Are they being pimped by the owner of the band name, or riding the gravy train on someone else's reputation?

For me? I've played in cover bands for decades. We were expected to sound like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues, Sam & Dave, CCR, The Blue Notes, The Cars, and everyone else. To mimic only one band is easy in comparison. I have no desire to go to any tribute band concert, unless I know one of the members and want to support him/her.

Notes ♫

[Sgt. Pepper]

37 minutes ago, Pinch said:

And also, if they are as into playing as they are, and who isn't, how could they stop?

But yes, sometimes maybe a new band name is a good idea. But I'm fairly sure none of them would listen to me, nor should they.

Slash didn't  do a  GNR tribute band like Axe Hole did,  he got with other guys and it was Velvet Revolver.

Edited October 31, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper

[Sgt. Pepper]

29 minutes ago, Notes_Norton said:

I wonder how much the musicians in the tribute bands with no original members are making?

Back in the late 1970s, we opened for The Trammps in a show club in Miami, where we were the house band. They offered me a job with them for $200 per week. I'd have to tour on the band bus, and share a room with another member on the road. I was making more than that in the house band.

And I also know that often the band or artist doesn't own their own name, the label or someone they sold it to does. Remember when Prince was that symbol, because the record company owned his name. John Fogerty fought a legal battle with the record company to be able to use his own name, too.

So that gets me to thinking. What are the 'official' tribute band members really making? Are they being pimped by the owner of the band name, or riding the gravy train on someone else's reputation?

For me? I've played in cover bands for decades. We were expected to sound like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Moody Blues, Sam & Dave, CCR, The Blue Notes, The Cars, and everyone else. To mimic only one band is easy in comparison. I have no desire to go to any tribute band concert, unless I know one of the members and want to support him/her.

Notes ♫

Playing covers in a bar as a band in one thing. Parading around with Zero members in the group and calling it ______________________ (insert real band name in the blank is insulting.

I am a huge Yes fan and Steve Howe is doing it and its silly.  Z E R O original members in that band. 

Edited October 31, 2023 by Sgt. Pepper