# So you are a member of a tribute band... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 16, 2009, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604 "2009-08-16T06:04:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2009, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/41 "2009-09-21T23:12:00Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **BigShooter** I connected up with an old college band-mate a few months ago - he’s now the bassist in an AC/DC tribute band called Riff Raff… > > …Now back to my vacation…carry on! Another AC/DC fan here…hm, how about call us **Bad Boys Boogie-ing** and I’ll drum. Guess that would make me Phil Rudd but I kinda dig Chris Slade. Signature piece is “Let There Be Rock”. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/42 "2009-09-22T14:01:37Z")
> [@](#): > > The Bonzo Dog Band, of course. Probably named “The Urban Spacemen.” You can tour with my Bonzo Dog tribute band - the Normal Hawaiians. We’re also our own opening act - the Rutles tribute band Cheese and Onions. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/43 "2009-09-22T14:05:59Z")
> [@](#): > > I was JUST thinking of that earlier today: why couldn’t you do that with a rock band? I thought of it as I was “singing” along with a Journey guitar solo. “Hey”, thought I, “what if I could find someone that could beatbox as well as Neil Peart?” And a castrado like Steve Perry… There’s an amazing band called the Bobs that does this. They do a capella versions of “Purple Haze” and “White Room”. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/44 "2009-09-22T14:22:21Z")
Stones tribute band. “Brainbell Jongleur and his Four Hip Malchicks”. I’d be Charlie (drums). We would love it when our pal the saxophonist would play with us for a few numbers (“Brown Sugar”, e.g.). The hardest thing would be to sound good doing stuff from such different eras (if you can sound good doing something from _Between the Buttons_ AND from _Emotional Rescue_, you’re too amazing to be just a tribute band). I’d probably get bored pretty quickly with “Start Me Up” and “Tumblin’ Dice”. ---
**Author:** ![picker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/picker/32/13969_2.png) [@picker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picker)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/45 "2009-09-22T14:36:17Z")
IRL I’m in two different tribute bands: The Dead and Bob Dylan. Same lineup for both, and we just change the name to suit the show. The Dead version is called _Reckoning_ for the acoustic shows and the electric band has been billed as _Sage and Spirit_ and _The Estimated Prophets_ (briefly). The Dylan group is billed as _Desolation Row_ I play lead guitar, and generally play the Jerry parts. In the Dylan group, I’m usually singing lead, so I guess that makes me Bob. We used to gig more, but it’s a side project for all involved, so we’re lucky to work every 6-8 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/46 "2009-09-22T19:30:54Z")
> [@NoClueBoy](#): > > [Zebra](http://thedoor.com/html/discography.html) > > Tell Me What You Want! > > Of course, I would be Felix Hanemann. I’ve already got the hair. And a Yamaha DX-7 Way to unmask Batman **NoClueBoy**! When I saw this thread back I was sure someone wanted to be in a Zombie tribute band. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/47 "2009-09-23T09:45:44Z")
[hijack] > [@panache45](#): > > Definitely **The Mamas and the Papas**. I guess we’d be called **The Daughters and the Sons**. I want to look like John, but sing like Denny. Just look like? Good. You wouldn’t want to be like John any other way. > [@panache45](#): > > My favorite song is “Creeque Alley.” I have no “least favorite.” Same here, on both, I loved that group, but damn. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to listen to them again without thinking of [John drugging and raping his own daughter](http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20307481,00.html). [/hijack] ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/48 "2009-09-23T20:17:53Z")
I’d be in a Rush tribute band. So many good possibilities for names–maybe YYZ? Or Subdivisions, since that’s one of my favorite Rush songs. I’d be Neil Peart. The idea of being able to play drums as well as him (or even half as well!) would be amazing. Favorite songs to play: Subdivisions, Distant Early Warning, The Rhythm Method (Peart’s awesome drum solo), 2112 Least favorite: Closer to the Heart (I think I’m the only Rush fan in existence who doesn’t like that song), Spirit of Radio (ditto) If not Rush, I’d be in an Alan Parsons Project tribute band called Some Kind of Hovercraft (some APP fans actually did this a few years back). In this one, I’d be Ian Bairnson, the lead guitarist. Favorite songs to play (from memory): Prime Time, Oh Life (There Must Be More), Fall Free, The Raven, Freudiana Least favorites: Anything from A Valid Path (which is really Alan Parsons solo, but…yeah) ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/49 "2009-09-23T20:37:25Z")
This actually almost happened when I was in college, when my band was trying to decide what we wanted to do. We actually ended up going in a more original direction, as a metal band which did Iron Maiden/Castlevania-ish songs. We were The Self-Called Nowheres. A tribute to They Might Be Giants that would play tribute to their very neglected John Henry album (idea taken directly from TMBG’s own Sapphire Bullets, which would open for them (with the actual band members in disguises) by performing the Flood album) by performing it in its entirety. I was basically a mute John Linnell - I played keyboard & accordion but didn’t sing. Since this tribute band was basically my idea, I liked everything we played. Unfortunately none of the other band members (we had two guitarists, a singer/trumpet player, a bassist/singer, a drummer/drum machine, and my girlfriend at the time would have played trombone except that she never could make it to any of the rehearsals) were as enthusiastic as me – our main guitarist wasn’t even a TMBG fan, so they had plenty of dislikes. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/50 "2009-09-23T20:45:33Z")
I would be in a Big Country tribute band. We’d sing the hit song Big Country (from the album Big Country) and then call it a night. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/51 "2009-09-23T21:19:02Z")
I’d be in the **Sea of Cortez** , covering songs by The Promise Ring. I would be the drummer cause that’s the only instrument I can really play, and I have a buzzed hairdo which works for drummers. Our favorite song would be **Calm** , by the band _Maritime_. Which is not the Promise Ring. Just has two of the same members, and is my favorite song for the drums by either band. If I played the bass, our favorite song would be _Best Looking Boys_. Probably the best bassline in the history of rock, at least compared to the quality of the bassist who played it (Scott Schoenbeck, who now plays the bass for Dashboard Confessional. And while not that great (except in that one song,) he is unique, since I recognized something familiar about the bass playing when Dashboard went electric even before I knew that Scott was in the band.) If I played the guitar or sang I’d choose Red Paint, as it’s my second favorite Promise Ring song besides Best Looking Boys (a song I’d highly recommend if you like Such Great Heights by the Postal Service, or Float On by Modest Mouse.) ---
**Author:** ![Loisseau](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Loisseau](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loisseau)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/52 "2009-09-23T21:29:56Z")
would be fashioned after Steely Dan–of course we’d be called the “Dildos”-“Bodhisattva” every night, and “Caves of Altamira” only if you promised to meet me, Donald Fagen, after the show. ---
**Author:** ![malkavia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malkavia/32/5621_2.png) [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/53 "2009-09-23T21:38:02Z")
Ooh! Great OP. My first inclination is to be part of a Refreshments/Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers tribute band called “Reckless Troubador” OR, if we did an all girl line up, “Beautiful Disaster”. I’d be lead vocals/rhythm guitar. My favorite song to cover would be Mekong and Banditos would be my least favorite… because certainly EVERYONE would request it. However! Since they’re not really big enough to fetch a tribute band too many gigs, my second choice is Greenday. For this, we’d go by “She” and, of course, that would also be my favorite song to play (closely followed by All By Myself). My least favorite might be Holiday or Walking Contradiction. I would remain lead vocals and guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Buttfrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@Buttfrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttfrog)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2009, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/54 "2009-09-23T21:59:01Z")
I ACTUALLY AM in a Tribute band. We are called TOXICITY-Tribute to System of a Down. (search for us if your really bored) althought we dont play 6 times a week (more like 2-3 times a month). I play bass, I am Shavo Odadjian live. We do our best to look, sound, and act like them live. My favorite songs to cover are Suite-Pee and Aerials, we probably get our best audience reaction from Sugar. I am not a big fan of playing BYOB, but we have to play it every show or people would not be happy! There are actually a lot of good tribute bands around here. We are playing with a Rage Against The Machine tribute band tonight. Good times. ---
**Author:** ![Translucent\_Daydream](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/translucent_daydream/32/16170_2.png) [@Translucent\_Daydream](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Translucent_Daydream)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/55 "2009-09-24T00:09:06Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I would be in a Big Country tribute band. We’d sing the hit song Big Country (from the album Big Country) and then call it a night. That is the funniest thing I have heard all day. 🙂 I am in sort of a tribute band. We currently do ZZ Top and Drive-by Truckers. Yeah I know, I am from Texas. We don’t have a name, but I did suggest “AA Bottom” ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/56 "2009-09-24T01:57:31Z")
Robin Trower tribute band, called Earth Below, I’d be on guitar and every night I’d be counting the minutes 'til I got to play “Daydream”. ---
**Author:** ![ctywkr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@ctywkr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctywkr)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2009, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604/57 "2009-09-24T02:19:00Z")
Mott the Hoople tribute, called either Rock and Roll Queen or Honaloochie Boogie. I get to be either Mick Ralphs or Ariel Bender. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-you-are-a-member-of-a-tribute-band/506604.md?page=2)