Fox Reviews Rock

How Do You Feel About Tribute Bands?

Published by

Fox Reviews Rock

on

Hmm, now this is a tricky one. I have a fairly clear rule on this. If it is a band that is still going then I would rather just see the actual band. However if it is a band that has now stopped for whatever reason then the tribute band might then be the closest one could ever get to seeing that band.

I also think I am ok with it if the band in question does not tour very often. For example If I am only likely to have the chance to see them once every 10 years.

I am of the opinion that certain bands who replace singers effectively turn themselves into a cover band. The most well known band that I feel like this is Queen. I have no interest in seeing Queen without Freddie. Adam Lambert is a great singer , but the band just isn’t the same.

Queen And Adam Lambert – Fat Bottomed Girls (All Rights Are Retained By Queen And Adam Lambert)

What are your thoughts though ? Let me know in the comments!

All rights to the music used in this post are retained by the recording artist. This site claims no rights over it.

Keep Up To Date With Fox Reviews Rock

Subscribe to get the latest rock and metal posts to your email.

42 responses to “How Do You Feel About Tribute Bands?”

  1. missparker0106 avatar
    missparker0106

    Tribute bands are fine as long as they make the songs their own and don’t try to sound like the original band. Once they start dressing up like the band they’re covering and affecting voices and sounds, I lose interest.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Michael Sammut avatar
    Michael Sammut

    Perfectly said.

    Like

    Reply
  3. J.B. Norman avatar
    J.B. Norman

    Well, it was the closest thing I’ll ever get to a real Zeppelin concert…

    Like

    Reply
  4. Roger avatar
    Roger

    The band Start Making Sense did a lot of aping – and aping well – the first part of the Stop Making Sense tour. It didn’t bother me when I saw them, in no small part, because the crowd was so enthusiastic. And my wife, who didn’t see Talking Heads in the early 1980s as I did, was quite captivated. https://www.rogerogreen.com/2025/01/24/start-making-sense-tribute-to-talking-heads/

    Like

    Reply
  5. Del Franklin avatar
    Del Franklin

    I’ve nothing against them, in fact last year saw an incredible David Bowie tribute which blew me and the wife away.

    Like

    Reply
  6. lyndhurstlaura avatar
    lyndhurstlaura

    I think I agree with you. There does seem to be a growing trend for tribute bands, and I guess it’s a way to give younger people who missed out on the original band the chance to experience a flavour of that, but I’m not sure a proliferation of tribute bands is a good thing. I can’t say why, just a feeling. 😐

    Like

    Reply
  7. cookie avatar
    cookie

    with tribute bands sometimes it feels like we’re clinging to echoes instead of making space for something new to move us.

    Like

    Reply
  8. Kit Nichols avatar
    Kit Nichols

    Meh, unless they are really serious. I saw a Beatles tribute and they were money. Even the bassist played lefty.

    Like

    Reply
  9. Stacey Lwyd avatar
    Stacey Lwyd

    I enjoy tribute bands. They can be a fun experience, obviously they won’t be better than the actual bands, but it’s awesome seeing fans of these bands having fun.

    Like

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Its true the fun factor needs to be a part of it!

      Like

      Reply
  10. Maddie Cochere avatar
    Maddie Cochere

    I agree with your sentiments. If the original band is out of the question, tribute bands can be pretty great. Recently saw a surprisingly good ELO tribute band and am seeing a Scorpions tribute band in October.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  11. Lucy Rebecca avatar
    Lucy Rebecca

    I love this, and very well-written! Thanks so much for sharing 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Glad you think so 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. robjtriggs avatar
    robjtriggs

    i have absolutely no problem with tribute bands, so long as they’re not taking money/gigs from original acts. The industry being what it is right now (shit), it’s the only really secure way for musicians to survive. That and holiday camps/cruise liners, with a guaranteed run of gigs.

    Because capitalism, even the biggest bands have to charge ridiculous amounts for tickets. I mean seriously, I wouldn’t expect to have much change from a hundred to see Muse, Rolling Stones, Springsteen, Metallica, even The Killers. Add travel, accommodation etc, plus venues that many people will avoid for crowd-fearing reasons and that charge similarly painful prices (and you’re forbidden from bringing your own stuff, of course) and many/most people are pushed right out.

    Tribute bands fill the gap. They also tend to be more fun – they know they’re not the real thing, you get top quality music and they may or may not act like the act they’re subbing. Maybe it’s a fad that’ll fade, but why sweat it? Crack open your Aldi beers and enjoy music you’d never see otherwise

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      You know that is a really great point about them filling the gap between the expensive gigs etc.

      I guess for me its when the tribute bands take things a bit too seriously ?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. robjtriggs avatar
        robjtriggs

        Yeah, maybe that’s fair. Do tribute bands do that? The whole idea seems faintly tongue in cheek to start with, so if they take themselves too seriously they’re missing to point? Unless they’re trying to fully represent the band? I could imagine a GnR tribute with a full-diva Axl, but were you thinking about anything specific?

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          I have seen many a tribute band take things too seriously !

          Like I saw an oasis tribute band recently and it was a bit forced.

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          1. robjtriggs avatar
            robjtriggs

            You sure that wasn’t actually Oasis?

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
            1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
              Fox Reviews Rock

              Haha! Not at those prices matey!

              Liked by 1 person

              Reply
  13. richardbist avatar
    richardbist

    I’m fine with them. I saw Dread Zeppelin a few times and they were fantastic. I also saw The Back Doors (Doors trib band) and they were spookily good.

    What bothers me is when a band doesn’t have any original members left and continues to tour as that band. Foreigner is a good example, as is Molly Hatchet.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Ah so you object to the real band that in reality is a full new member band.. I get that! I also dont like when that happens, and I dont think it even makes sense.

      Like

      Reply
  14. ajeanneinthekitchen avatar
    ajeanneinthekitchen

    We like seeing tribute bands. My husband has a great theory. Tribute bands play ALL the music we love from the bands we love, and they play them as we know and love them. The actual bands themselves often change the songs that everyone loves to sing and rock out to, or they get sick of playing their popular songs, and won’t play them anymore. The tribute bands get. They play what we love to hear.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      You know that is a great way of looking at it i think! 🙂

      Like

      Reply
      1. ajeanneinthekitchen avatar
        ajeanneinthekitchen

        Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          🙂

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
  15. Mike Hartley avatar
    Mike Hartley

    I don’t have an issue with tribute bands and some have some very talented musicians. But after seeing the originals I have a hard time wanting to see the tributes. I’ve seen Skynyrd, Zeppelin and Pink Floyd live. I’ve seen the tribute bands for these groups and they just don’t touch the originals.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Yeah i think that is my issue half the time it is impossible not to view the tribute acts as a mere karaoke band in comparison…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  16. jacquesthespectator avatar
    jacquesthespectator

    Tribute bands, together with bands like Yo La Tengo that aren’t hesitant to perform covers, contribute to the experience of sharing vintage music with new audiences.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      That is a very good point , and one I had not considered! Thank you!

      Like

      Reply
  17. Greg Dennison avatar
    Greg Dennison

    I don’t have a problem with tribute bands as long as I know I’m not seeing the real band. I agree that seeing the real band is preferable, but tribute bands can be entertaining too. I have mixed feelings about seeing real bands with key members from their heydays missing, though, although many of the bands I’ve seen mutiple times over long periods of time have had at least some membership changes.

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      What membership change from a band made the most impact on your enjoyment of a show?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Greg Dennison avatar
        Greg Dennison

        I didn’t go to live shows often until just the last few years, and most of the shows I’ve been to are bands from my time that have been around for decades, but still have their original vocalists, so I can’t really compare and say I have a definite answer to this.

        One thing that does come to mind, though; one time a couple years ago The Guess Who played a show at the fair here on a day I was already planning on going. I didn’t know much about them except a couple songs I’ve heard on classic rock radio. I had looked it up before the show and noticed that the drummer was the only member left from the band’s hippie-era heyday. I thought it was funny during the show how the drummer was the only one who had fun stories about the band’s past, because he was the only one around for it.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply
        1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
          Fox Reviews Rock

          Totally , I have always wonder if bands have been like …. Hey jim! Do you remember when we did this?

          Tony my name is Keith and ive been in the band for 15 years and no i dont remember it because that was another person!

          Liked by 1 person

          Reply
          1. Greg Dennison avatar
            Greg Dennison

            😂

            Liked by 1 person

            Reply
  18. NAE avatar
    NAE

    A horse a piece. Some play some good music, but the real bands just make the music REAL.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      I couldnt agree more 🙂

      Like

      Reply
  19. valenciartist avatar
    valenciartist

    I reckon some may be good but I really don’t waste my time with them…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      If you HAD to pick one artists tribute band to go and see who would it be and why?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. valenciartist avatar
        valenciartist

        Hmm… I recently found out that a Dire Straits tribute band was playing in my city and thought about it, but in the end I did not go, but I did think about it. Later I heard from friends that they really enjoyed it. Maybe it would have been them…

        Like

        Reply
  20. writinstuff avatar
    writinstuff

    In theory I like tribute bands but in reality I’m rarely a fan. They often change the composition of favorites and seem too much of a caricature. And with all the online content I can just watch The Eagles sing Hotel California live in 1977 or Skynyrd on 4th of July, so…that. I’m always up to see a tribute band but just like a lot of movie re-makes, I’m often left regretting it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Fox Reviews Rock avatar
      Fox Reviews Rock

      Yep my thinking entirely 🙂 well put!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  21. Claudio D'Andrea avatar
    Claudio D’Andrea

    I’m okay with cover bands, providing the audience knows they’re cover bands.
    Recently, I saw the Australian Pink Floyd Show perform the entire Wish You Were Here album (my favourite Floyd lp) and many others songs from the classic rockers. I never saw the originals but, man, were these guys good!
    I also saw Brass Transit, a Chicago cover band. I also saw the original Chicago years ago (or, at least, what’s remaining of the original band) and actually thought Brass Transit was better.
    The problem I have is when a band tours as the original act and turn out to be a cover band. I’ve seen lots of acts who retain only a few original members (e.g. Styx, Supertramp, Jethro Tull) and I’m okay with that because I know going in that’s what I’m getting.
    However, I once got tickets to see ‘Foreigner’ and was very disappointed. Going in, I knew many of the original members had left. In fact, most were gone. But I thought one or maybe two would still be performing. Imagine my surprise when the band came on and I scanned the stage and could recognize no one from the original lineup! Not even Mick Jones, the brains behind the band.
    I felt cheated. The rest of the crowd didn’t seem to mind but I was pissed and wrote about it here:
    https://medium.com/cd-critical-appraisals/undercover-cover-rock-bands-fb0cd6c4c57e#.lmz34hwtz

    It comes down to integrity. If you’re a cover band and everyone knows you’re a cover band, it’s fair game. If you’re the original band and you’ve lost some members but still retain some from the original lineup, that’s okay too. Just don’t go by the original band’s name and pass yourself like you’re the real deal. Otherwise, you’re not Foreigner, you’re Fraudeigner.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a reply to Stacey Lwyd Cancel reply

Welcome to Fox Reviews Rock! A corner of the internet where you can take in all things rock and metal.

  • Album & Song Reviews
  • Weekly Polls
  • Weekly Cozzer’s Questions
  • Band Interviews
  • Podcast
  • So much more!