Comments on: When does a band become a tribute act?

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Sun, 29 May 2016 10:41:45 +0000

I haven’t seen the current Yes live, but will defer to those who have, and all the comments I’ve seen have been strongly positive.

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 29 May 2016 09:48:14 +0000

I cannot accept Yes as it is currently configured. It is totally ridiculous and a sad way to treat the legacy.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Wed, 04 May 2016 19:16:47 +0000

All boils down to how much are you going to see the performers and how much are you going to see the music being performed. It’s usually a bit of both.

By: Chuk

Chuk — Tue, 03 May 2016 22:14:32 +0000

Is a tribute act automatically a bad thing?

I’d almost say the same thing about a band touring again even with all the original members if they are just going through the motions.

Some bands really “are” one or a few of the members, though…is Queen any good without Freddy Mercury? (I haven’t seen them with or without him.) I have no interest in seeing the Dead Kennedys with no Jello Biafra.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Mon, 02 May 2016 16:57:46 +0000

Marillion were never the same after Diz Minett and Brian Jelliman left…

By: T.J. Swoboda

T.J. Swoboda — Mon, 02 May 2016 08:57:18 +0000

And then sometimes those who don’t know what they’re talking about will ask “are there even any original members?” in reference to a band whose original lineup is more or less intact. When people ask this about Rush, I respond with “Yeah, there *are* two originals, but it’s pretty much a joke without John Rutsey.”

Well, I will use that response, if I ever have anyone else present to get the joke…

Edited for typo

By: Synthetase

Synthetase — Mon, 02 May 2016 01:18:35 +0000

I read the article and found this at the end:

“If they do play at Londonâ€™s Olympic Stadium in June with a new singer, I will probably go. Just to see. To revisit my memories of one of my all-time favourite bands.

But I hope they donâ€™t. I hope, this time, they decide that AC/DC is too precious a thing to diminish.”

That, I think, says it all (incidentally it’s one of the most watered-down conclusions to an opinion piece I’ve ever read). Why would Young call it quits if he knows people will turn up anyway? These guys do it because they can, and I find I’m okay with that. It’s not my cup of tea, but who cares?

For the most part ‘authenticity’ is a marketing tool anyway. Used to sell everything from the blues to Kurt Cobain.

By: Tim Hall

Tim Hall — Sun, 01 May 2016 21:45:04 +0000

Last couple of times I’ve seen tribute bands have been co-headliners with Morpheus Rising – Heaven or Hell (Dio/Rainbow/Sabbath) and Iron-On Maiden (Imagine Iron Maiden fronted by Dumpy of Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts).

Have seen Fleetwood Bac (who are excellent), but that’s just because I know Lisa Fury from her days in Karnataka. But I’d still rather hear her sing her own songs.

By: Harold Pinkney

Harold Pinkney — Sun, 01 May 2016 21:32:52 +0000

I had seen every YES UK tour from 1971 until the last and current one; but I object to paying a large sum to see what has become a Steve Howe Band. In my opinion drummer Alan White just goes through the motions now as I witnessed the last time I saw YES at the Manchester Appolo.
The fine YES Tribute band Fragile (especially when Steve Carney was the singer) I can see at the intimate Robin at club prices. In fact they were ‘endorsed’ by Steve Howe who I saw play with them 3 years running also at the wonderful Robin.
The last Yes release – Heaven and Hell was hell to my ears!!!

By: Sam Lewis

Sam Lewis — Sun, 01 May 2016 21:22:55 +0000

Yeah UFO, while good live, are guilty of playing the same old songs each tour. It is strange really, as there probably aren’t many ‘fair weather’ UFO fans who the band have to placate live with the ‘hits’. Magnum do it better, they always play lots of new songs, as do Saxon – but those bands each have two original (and other very long standing) members, so that may be the difference?