# if you were in a cover band, who would you do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 14, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236 "2003-11-14T14:03:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RTA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@RTA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTA)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/1 "2003-11-14T14:03:27Z")
If I could be in any cover band, I would want to play covers of **The Cult**. They rock. I would play guitar, of course. Just as soon as I learn how. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/2 "2003-11-14T14:34:30Z")
I have been in bands and some of them played covers, at one gig we played a medley of: Immigrant Song (Zep), Ace of Spades (Motorhead) Let’s Dance (Bowie) White Light White Heat (Velvet Underground) and The Lonesome Death of Ian Penman (Soft Boys). The pattern here suggest that I don’t think I could cope in a tribute band just doing one band’s stuff. (I was nearly in a Smiths tribute band but it never happened, but I learned a lot of Smiths songs). Maybe a different band each week? Week 1 Pink Floyd Week 2 Nirvana Week 3 The Who Week 4 Slipknot OK maybe not the last one. BTW I play guitar. ---
**Author:** ![ravage2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d07c76/32.png) [@ravage2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ravage2)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/3 "2003-11-14T14:35:33Z")
If I had the ability, Metallica. The cool stuff, of course ---
**Author:** ![slu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@slu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slu)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/4 "2003-11-14T15:06:21Z")
I would start writing my own songs and then quit the cover band. BTW I play guitar, bass, drums… ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Interior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@Lux\_Interior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Interior)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/5 "2003-11-14T15:11:25Z")
> [@](#): > > if you were in a cover band, who would you do? Britney Spears. Now, as for who’s _music_ I’d play… ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/6 "2003-11-14T17:02:41Z")
Hell, I’d play everything. I’d love to be in a cover band. ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_Pittiful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Brad\_Pittiful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Pittiful)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/7 "2003-11-14T17:40:54Z")
The Ramones ---
**Author:** ![Brad\_Pittiful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b3f665/32.png) [@Brad\_Pittiful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brad_Pittiful)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/8 "2003-11-14T17:42:03Z")
oh crap i meant to put the Clash too so it would be The Ramones or Clash ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/9 "2003-11-14T19:12:49Z")
(I’m probably the only one of my generation who is going to post in this thread, but here goes anyway.) I’d be in the trumpet section of a band that covers early Chicago, and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. ---
**Author:** ![Wyld\_Stallyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Wyld\_Stallyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wyld_Stallyn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/10 "2003-11-14T20:00:55Z")
CCR Alice in Chains (both the grunge era and the acoustic era) Slayer Metallica (all of it is fun to play, the newer stuff just takes about 3% of the time to learn compared to the old stuff) I play the geetar and the bass geetar ---
**Author:** ![Lux\_Interior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@Lux\_Interior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lux_Interior)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/11 "2003-11-14T20:09:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wyld Stallyn \* > \*\*CCR > Alice in Chains (both the grunge era and the acoustic era) > Slayer > Metallica (all of it is fun to play, the newer stuff just takes about 3% of the time to learn compared to the old stuff) > > I play the geetar and the bass geetar \*\* What!?! You wouldn’t do Wyld Stallyns? Be excellent to each other, dudes! ---
**Author:** ![Wyld\_Stallyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Wyld\_Stallyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wyld_Stallyn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/12 "2003-11-14T20:18:50Z")
…and I would also play join Algernon’s band for their encore - “25 or 6 to 4” to play the fleet-fingered Terry Kath solo’s. ---
**Author:** ![Wyld\_Stallyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8dc957/32.png) [@Wyld\_Stallyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wyld_Stallyn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/13 "2003-11-14T20:23:11Z")
Bold move, **Lux Interior**. Surprisingly, he’s one of a very small few on myeah who have correctly linked the etymology of my handle. Also, disregard the poor grammar in my prior post (“play join…”), I’m pretending that I’m loaded; moreover, my brain is still all jacked up from watching the worst college basketball game of all time last night at MSG. ---
**Author:** ![Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@Capt.Ridley\_s\_Shooting\_Party](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt.Ridley_s_Shooting_Party)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/14 "2003-11-14T20:33:18Z")
Either The Verve or The Stone Roses ---
**Author:** ![rackensack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@rackensack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rackensack)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/15 "2003-11-14T21:40:23Z")
I’ve been in a couple of ad hoc cover bands; our set lists usually included a couple numbers each from: [ul][li]The Velvet Underground[/li][li]The Clash[/li][li]The Ramones[/li][li]The Modern Lovers[/li][li]Doktors for Bob[/li][/ul] and a cover of “Take Me to the River” that degenerated into a free-form jam over the bass line with the lyrics to nearly every well-known Talking Heads song chanted over that (this was to initially sucker in, then piss off, the crowd around our college who seemed to be aware of no bands in the world other than the Talking Heads and the Grateful Dead). That was seventeen years ago, however. These days, I’ve actually been playing bass and a little guitar again, and I’ve been thinking about what things I’d like to play. I’ve gotten very fond of playing '60s R&B and soul stuff. So, my set list would include . . . [ul] [li]“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”[/li][li]“Knock on Wood”[/li][li]“Shotgun” (assuming I can round up a sax player)[/li][li]“Cold Sweat”[/li][li]“Signed, Sealed, Delivered”[/li][li]“But It’s Alright”[/li][li]“Can’t Turn You Loose”[/li][li]“I Can’t Stand It” (a fairly obscure Chambers Brothers album track that I’ve always wanted to cover)[/li][li]“Time is Tight”[/li][li]“Trying to Live My Life Without You”[/li][/ul] Assuming I could find other folk with similar tastes, I’d want to consider: [ul] [li]“Cath” (the Bluebells)[/li][li]“Here Comes My Baby” (by Cat Stevens, covered by the Tremoloes and later by the Jags)[/li][li]“Watch Your Step” (Elvis Costello and the Attractions)[/li][li]“I Knew the Bride (When She Used to Rock and Roll)” (Nick Lowe)[/li][li]“Surrender to the Rhythm” (Brinsley Schwarz)[/li][li]“Girl of My Dreams” (Bram Tchaikovsky)[/li][li]“When I Write the Book” (Rockpile)[/li][li]“Is She Really Going Out With Him?” (Joe Jackson)[/li][li]“Suspicious Minds” (Elvis)[/li][li]“Start!” (the Jam)[/li][li]“One Step Beyond” (Madness)[/li][li]“Till the End of the Day” (Kinks)[/li][li]“Twenty Flight Rock”, “Something Else”, and “Pink Pegged Slacks” (Eddie Cochran)[/li][li]“Rumble” (Link Wray)[/li][li]“Get Over You” (the Undertones)[/li][li]“September Gurls” and “When My Baby’s Beside Me” (Big Star)[/li][/ul] If we had a female vocalist with something of the edge Chrissie Hynde once had, I’d love to do a cover of the Shocking Blue’s “Venus” (Bananarama be damned). If we’re talking about _tribute_ bands, that only do covers of one particular group, then about my only hope would be the Modern Lovers or Brinsley Schwarz – otherwise I have to pick and choose individual songs that I’m actually able to play. Looking back over the lists, it seems that what I really want to be in is a British pub rock band in about 1977. Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![gyt\_fx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@gyt\_fx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gyt_fx)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/16 "2003-11-14T22:00:56Z")
Bigwig Thrice AFI ---
**Author:** ![DeVena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/17 "2003-11-14T22:04:24Z")
Janis Joplin ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/18 "2003-11-14T22:16:59Z")
Steely Dan and The Who. ---
**Author:** ![silly\_duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c6cbf5/32.png) [@silly\_duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silly_duck)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/19 "2003-11-14T23:44:52Z")
Rancid Sex Pistols Ramones AFI ---
**Author:** ![SJSB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@SJSB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SJSB)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236/20 "2003-11-15T00:17:02Z")
**Type O Negative** , as my voice isn’t that high for a gurrlies 🙂 But yes, **The Cult** do rock. Big time. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-were-in-a-cover-band-who-would-you-do/213236.md?page=2)