I hate Tribute Bands, background music, Muzak and a lot of Pop Music. I like my music to have some passion and individuality to it. I like my music raw, meaningful and with creativity.
John Fowles summed it up for me:
‘Once Joyce has written, Picasso painted, Webern composed, it requires only a minimal gift, besides patience and practice, to copy their techniques exactly; yet we all know why this type of technique-copy, even when it is so painstakingly done – for instance, in painting – that it deceives auction-house experts, is counted worthless beside the work of the original artist. it is not of him or hermit is not art, but imitation.’
I don’t really care if a tribute act sounds exactly like the Beatles, Stones, Led Zep or Pink Floyd. They are not them. They cannot conjure up the same excitement for me.
Music has to be real!
This is my story of my search for the best Rock Music on the planet!
You’re taking it all too seriously and to a degree out of context.
Some of these bands such as ‘The Bootleg Beatles’ also do private bookings and fulfill what’s required – a band that plays Beatles’ stuff for dancing to. I booked them 4 times for corporate events 1990/91 and they brought the house down.
I don’t think anybody ever said the audience had to sit there and deeply immerse themselves into the ‘artistic integrity’.
It’s all a bit of a laugh really.
I wouldn’t mind them for a dance! That’s a bit different though isn’t it? It’s when you’ve got a concert. That is just phoney! Now a Simon and Garfunkel tribute act – that’s on a different level! If I could only find one of those!
Of course it’s phoney! That’s self evident with names such as The Australian Doors, The Australian Pink Floyd, Genesis Revisited – all brilliant. How come their likes constantly tour and sell out all over Europe and USA? They can’t be crap!
But you’ve said before that you’ve never actually been to a tribute show – except the Magic Band.
What you’re expressing is tantamount to saying that Beethoven or Mozart shouldn’t be played in 2016 by anybody either.
But why would you want an S&G tribute? – they didn’t have a stage show, had minimal presentation as any old film confirms, they were like watching paint dry. Melodic tunes fit for the ears of Americas conservative youth. ZZZzzz.
Well I accept that. But I don’t like it. It is mimicry and it lacks the spark of creativity and authenticity that the real creators put into it. I don’t doubt they do a good job. The Magic band are at least mainly the original members – John French actually did all the music arrrangements in the band. But I’ve seen loads of others – Animals, Yardbirds, Dr Feelgood – without the driving force they are pale. I prefer the whiff of real.
If I could play I wouldn’t want to be copying – I’d want to be creating!
How do you feel about orchestras “covering” the works of Mozart, Beethoven et al?
Stop taking it all so seriously. Music is music.
Lol Brian – I can’t understand why great musicians would rather pretend to be someone else. I don’t think Mozart or Beethoven actually played or sang their music. But I take your point. I just would rather see the real thing with the real authentic vibe. But I take your point.