A tribute band (sometimes tribute group or tribute act) is a musical group created in order to specifically play the music of a well-known band, often one which has disbanded or ceased touring, for example The Iron Maidens are an all female band that pays tribute to Iron Maiden. A tribute band rarely includes any members of the original band whose music is being honored, although guest appearances occur. For example, former Motorhead guitarist 'Fast' Eddie Clarke appeared with Motorhead tribute band, Motorheadache, in Croydon in 2005. The Iron Maidens are an all-female, Iron Maiden tribute band formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 2001. ... Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from east London. ...

The typical tribute band differs from a cover band that simply plays songs by other artists by striving to capture every nuance of the imitated artist's actions and appearance for a perfect imitation. Some tribute bands imitate the appearance but re-interpret the original works in a particular genre or for comic effect. For example Dread Zeppelin plays Led Zeppelin songs in a reggae style with a lead singer who looks like Elvis Presley, while Gabba perform the songs of ABBA in the style of The Ramones. Dread Zeppelin is an American band best known for covering the songs of Led Zeppelin in a reggae style sung by an Elvis Presley impersonator, though their act now encompasses many other songs and other styles of music. ... Led Zeppelin were an English rock band who formed in 1968. ... Elvis Aron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), often known simply as Elvis and also called The King of Rock n Roll or simply The King, was an American singer, musician and actor. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... ABBA was a Swedish pop music group active from 1972 until 1982, and the most successful to come out of Scandinavia. ... The Ramones (L-R, Johnny, Tommy, Joey, Dee Dee) on the cover of their debut self-titled album (1976), cementing their place at the dawn of the punk movement. ...

History

The first tribute bands to emerge may have been Beatles tribute bands, who attempt to look and sound like The Beatles while playing their songs. However, one might argue that Elvis impersonators qualify as well. The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. ... Elvis Impersonators An Elvis impersonator is someone who impersonates or copies Elvis Presley either as a hobby, career in entertainment or occasionally for fun. ...

Although initially created to honour the original bands, many tribute bands have grown to have their own fan base. Tribute band names are often a pun on the original name or the names of band members, or are derived from a famous track or record album released by the original band.

Those bands and artists that have inspired a cult following in their fans tend to have a significant tribute band presence as well, such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, KISS, Madonna, The Misfits, The Grateful Dead, Van Halen, ABBA, The Rolling Stones, and Neil Diamond. At the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival the Japanese Beatles appeared, accompanied on a few songs by someone billed as the Japanese Eric Clapton. It made for an incongruous sight, since the former wore the familiar Beatle suits while their guest dressed in contemporary clothes. For other uses, see Black Sabbath (disambiguation). ... Led Zeppelin were an English rock band who formed in 1968. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde style and for being pioneers of progressive rock music. ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ... Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as simply Madonna, is a six-time Grammy[1] and one-time Golden Globe award winning American pop singer, songwriter, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and fashion icon. ... For the movie of the same name, see The Misfits (film). ... Jerry Garcia later in life The Grateful Dead was an American rock band, which was formed in 1965 in San Francisco from the remnants of another band, Mother McCrees Uptown Jug Champions. ... Van Halen is an American rock band. ... ABBA was a Swedish pop music group active from 1972 until 1982, and the most successful to come out of Scandinavia. ... “Rolling Stones” redirects here. ... Essential Neil Diamond album cover. ... Categories: Festival stubs | Edinburgh ... Eric Clapton CBE (born 30 March 1945), nicknamed Slowhand, is a Grammy Award winning English guitarist, singer and composer, who is one of the most successful musicians of the 20th century,[1] garnering an unprecedented three inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. ...

One of the best-known members of a tribute band is Tim "Ripper" Owens, who went from singing in a Judas Priest tribute band to becoming the group's actual lead singer in 1996. This story was used as the basis for the 2001 movie Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg, although neither Owens nor Judas Priest assisted in the film's production. Owens recorded two studio albums and a live album with Judas Priest before leaving in 2003 to make way for the band's reunion with former frontman Rob Halford. Owens would later become the singer for the band Iced Earth. Tim Ripper Owens, born as Timothy S. Owens on September 13, 1967 in Akron, Ohio. ... Judas Priest are a heavy metal band formed in 1968 in the northwest midlands of England, near Birmingham. ... Rock Star is a (2001) movie starring Mark Wahlberg and directed by Stephen Herek. ... Mark Robert Michael Wahlberg (born June 5, 1971) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor and television producer, formerly known as rapper Marky Mark. ... Robert John Arthur Halford (born August 25, 1951) is an English singer and songwriter. ... Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band that combines influences from thrash metal, power metal, progressive metal and NWOBHM. In 1999 their leader and songwriter Jon Schaffer teamed up with Blind Guardian vocalist Hansi Kürsch to form a side project called Demons & Wizards. ...

In 1998 two men who were in a Blues Brothers tribute band changed their names officially by deed poll to Joliet Jake Blues and Elwood Jake Blues. They also are the only men in the UK to have their sunglasses on their passports and driver's licences. The Blues Brothers: Dan Aykroyd (left) and the late John Belushi The Blues Brothers is the name of a blues band fronted, incognito, by comedians Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi. ... A deed poll is a legal document binding only to a single person or several person acted jointly to express an active intention. ... This article is about the international travel document. ...

In 1997 the British journalist Tony Barrell wrote a major feature for The Sunday Times about the UK tribute-band scene, which mentioned bands including Pink Fraud, the Pretend Pretenders and Clouded House. In the piece, Barrell asserted that "the main cradle of the tribute band... is Australia. Starved of big names, owing to their reluctance to put Oz on their tour itineraries, Australians were quite unembarrassed about creating home-grown versions. Then, like an airborne seed, one of these bands just happened to drift to Britain." The band in question was Björn Again, who staged a successful publicity stunt in the early 1990s, arriving at Heathrow airport in white one-piece outfits similar to the ones worn by ABBA on the cover of their 1976 album, Arrival. Tony Barrell (born 23 February 1958) is a British journalist, known for his humour and his exploration of the unusual and the unexplained. ... The Sunday Times is the name of several Sunday newspapers. ... Björn Again is an ABBA tribute band, taking their name from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA, and a pun on the phrase born again. This tribute band has become so successful that as of 2002 there are five Björn Agains performing in various parts of the... London Heathrow Airport (IATA airport code: LHR, ICAO airport code: EGLL, and often simply Heathrow) is the United Kingdoms busiest and best-connected airport. ...

In 2000, filmmakers Jeff Economy and Darren Hacker produced a documentary film ...An Incredible Simulation that examined the tribute band phenomenon. Produced separately and independently in 2001 was the documentary Tribute by directors Kris Curry and Rich Fox which also covered the movement.

An exception to the impersonation style are The Muffin Men, who play the music of Frank Zappa in their own style, do not look like, or attempt to look like original members, and often tour with former band members. Jimmy Carl Black is a regular in the band, and they have in the past played, recorded and toured with Ike Willis, Bunk Gardner, and Don Preston. The Muffin Men is a British band which primarily plays the music of Frank Zappa. ... Frank Vincent Zappa[1] (December 21, 1940 – December 4, 1993) was an American composer, guitarist, singer, film director, and satirist. ... Jimmy Carl Black at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, October 3, 1968. ... Ike Willis WebsiteIke Willis is a singer and guitarist who was a regular sideman for Frank Zappa, first joining Zappas band for the fall 1978 tour and remaining in the band for several years. ... Donald Ward Preston also known as Dom DeWilde or Biff Debrie born September 21, 1932 in Flint, Michigan. ...

In 2002, the first biography of a tribute band was published by SAF in London. Entitled "Being John Lennon", the book is a humorous account of life on the road in The Beatles' tribute "Sgt. Pepper's Only Dart Board Band", written by the group's founder- Martin Dimery.

In 2005, tribute band Beatallica received attention when they were threatened with a lawsuit over their unique interpretation of Beatles songs done in a Metallica style. They won their legal battle, and still record and tour today. The logo of Beatallica. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal band, formed in 1981,[1] which has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ...

List of well-known tribute bands

Some well-known tribute bands include (alphabetically by covered band, and alphabetically for each):

Playing music by ABBA [external list]: ABBA was a Swedish pop music group active from 1972 until 1982, and the most successful to come out of Scandinavia. ...

• Björn Again
• Gabba (performing the songs of Abba in the style of The Ramones)

Playing music by AC/DC: Björn Again is an ABBA tribute band, taking their name from Björn Ulvaeus, a member of ABBA, and a pun on the phrase born again. This tribute band has become so successful that as of 2002 there are five Björn Agains performing in various parts of the... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... This article is about the band. ...

• Hayseed Dixie (country tribute band)
• Acca Dacca

Playing music by The Beatles: The band Hayseed Dixie Hayseed Dixie is a U.S. band that has been described as A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC, recording cover versions of hard rock songs in their own distinctive cross of bluegrass and rock which some have termed rockgrass. The bands sense of humor is... This article is about the band. ... The Beatles were an English rock band from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. ...

• 1964
• Beatallica (combining Beatles and Metallica songs)
• Beatlemania
• The Bootleg Beatles
• The Cast of Beatlemania (former members of the Beatlemania musical)
• The Fab Faux
• Hello Goodbye the band (Florida's premier musical tribute to The Beatles)
• Yellow Matter Custard (with Paul Gilbert and Mike Portnoy)

Playing music by Blondie: 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... The logo of Beatallica. ... Beatlemania was a Broadway musical revue focused on the life and music of The Beatles. ... The Bootleg Beatles is one of the best-known Beatles tribute band in the world. ... The Cast of Beatlemania is the best known, most successful and the longest running tribute band to The Beatles in the world. ... The Fab Faux is a musical tribute band performing the works of The Beatles. ... Hello Goodbye is the premier musical tribute to The Beatles in Florida. ... Yellow Matter Custard is a Beatles cover band consisting of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Neal Morse (ex-Spocks Beard), Paul Gilbert (Racer X, ex-Mr. ... Blondie is an American rock band that first gained fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s. ...

• Bootleg Blondie

Playing music by Cheap Trick: Bootleg Blondie is a London-based tribute band, featuring the songs of Debbie Harry and Blondie. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

• Cheap Chick
• Dream Police

Playing music by Depeche Mode: Cheap Trick is an American rock and roll band from Rockford, Illinois that gained popularity in the late 1970s. ... Dream Police is a 1979 studio album by Cheap Trick. ... Depeche Mode are an electronic band formed in 1980 in Essex, England. ...

• Sweetest Perfection

Playing music by Grateful Dead: Violator is Depeche Modes seventh full-length album. ... The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in San Francisco, California. ...

• Dark Star Orchestra

Playing music by Guns N' Roses: Dark Star Orchestra (or simply DSO) is a U.S. tribute band to the Grateful Dead, formed in 1997 and based in Chicago. ... This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ...

• Appetite for Destruction

Playing music by Iron Maiden: Appetite for Destruction is the 1987 debut album from hard rock band Guns N Roses. ... Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from east London. ...

• The Iron Maidens

Playing music by Jethro Tull: The Iron Maidens are an all-female, Iron Maiden tribute band formed in Los Angeles, California, USA in 2001. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

• The Dayglo Pirates (UK based)

Playing music by KISS: Flautist Paul Forrest plays at a Dayglo Pirates gig The Dayglo Pirates are a UK-based Jethro Tull tribute band. ... Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in 1973. ...

• Mini Kiss (a little person band)

Playing music by Led Zeppelin: Image:MINIKISS05new. ... Led Zeppelin were an English rock band who formed in 1968. ...

• Dread Zeppelin
• Get the Led Out
• Lez Zeppelin
• Michael White & The White

Playing music by Madness: Dread Zeppelin is an American band best known for covering the songs of Led Zeppelin in a reggae style sung by an Elvis Presley impersonator, though their act now encompasses many other songs and other styles of music. ... Please wikify (format) this article or section as suggested in the Guide to layout and the Manual of Style. ... Lez Zeppelin are a New York City-based all-female tribute band, performing the work of Led Zeppelin. ... Michael White & The White is a Hard Rock combo and occasionally Led Zeppelin tribute band formed around singer Michael White. ... Madness are an English pop band that formed in 1976. ...

• One Step Behind

Playing music by Madonna: ONE STEP BEHIND - THE MASTERS OF MADNESS One Step Behind are a Madness tribute band from London, UK. They were formed by Kieran McAleer and Sean Kelly in 1993 and have been at the forefront of the British Music Tribute Scene since then. ... Madonna Louise Ciccone Ritchie (born August 16, 1958), better known as simply Madonna, is a six-time Grammy[1] and one-time Golden Globe award winning American pop singer, songwriter, record and film producer, dancer, actress, author and fashion icon. ...

• Mandonna (all-male band)

Playing music by Metallica: The members of Mandonna Mandonna is a U.S. all-male tribute band to Madonna, formed in 2003. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal band, formed in 1981,[1] which has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ...

• Beatallica (combining Metallica and Beatles songs)
• Damage Inc (Southern California's Tribute to Live Metallica)

Playing music by Motorhead: The logo of Beatallica. ... Damage Incorporated is a computer game for Mac and Windows made by Paranoid Productions in 1998 that uses the Marathon 2 engine. ... Motorhead is a video game published in 1998 by Gremlin Interactive (Europa) and Fox Interactive (USA). ...

• Motorheadache

Playing music by the Pet Shop Boys: The capitalization of song titles in this article may be disputed. ...

• West End Girls

Playing music by Pink Floyd: West End Girls (left to right): Rosanna Jirebeck and Isabelle Erkendal. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde style and for being pioneers of progressive rock music. ...

→ See List of Pink Floyd tribute bands

Playing music by The Ramones [external list]: This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Ramones (L-R, Johnny, Tommy, Joey, Dee Dee) on the cover of their debut self-titled album (1976), cementing their place at the dawn of the punk movement. ...

• Gabba (performing songs of Abba in the style of The Ramones)
• The Ramainz (formerly The Ramains, featured two Ramones members)
• The Osaka Ramones (tribute act of Shonen Knife)

Playing music by the Rolling Stones: This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... The Ramainz were a U.S. tribute band to The Ramones. ... The all-female musical band Shonen Knife (少年ナイフ, Shōnen Naifu; lit. ... This article is about the rock band. ...

• Sticky Fingers

Playing music by The Shadows [external list]: Sticky Fingers is an album by The Rolling Stones, released in 1971. ... The Shadows are an English instrumental rock n roll group active from the 1950s to the 2000s. ...

• Nivram

Playing the music of The Smiths Nivram were a Shadows tribute band from Spain, who were active in the 1980s. ... The Smiths were an English rock group active from 1982 to 1987. ...

• Salford Lads Club

Playing the music of The Wurzels Salford Lads Club is a private mens club in the Salford district of Manchester. ... Adge Cutler and The Wurzels, renamed The Wurzels after Cutlers death, are a British Scrumpy and Western band. ...

• The Mangledwurzels

Playing the music of The Stone Roses The Mangledwurzels is an English Scrumpy and Western tribute band to Adge Cutler & The Wurzels. ... The Stone Roses were an influential English rock band from Manchester, active during the late 1980s through to the mid 1990s. ...

• The Stone Roses Experience
• The Complete Stone Roses

Playing music by T. Rex: live onstage Brief History The Stone Roses Experience are a Scottish tribute to The Stone Roses. ... The Complete Stone Roses was a 1995 compilation of singles and B-sides by The Stone Roses. ... T. Rex (originally known as Tyrannosaurus Rex, also occasionally spelled T Rex or T-Rex), were an English rock band fronted by Marc Bolan. ...

• T. Rex (A Celebration of Marc and Mickey) (formerly Mickey Finn's T. Rex)

Playing music by U2: Mickey Finns T. Rex is a T. Rex tribute band formed in 1997 by former T. Rex member Mickey Finn. ... This article is about the Irish rock band. ...

• Joshua Tree U2 tribute band

The Joshua Tree performing at Universal Studios Hollywood The Joshua Tree is a Los Angeles, California-based U2 tribute band. ...

See also

• Cover version
• Cover band
• Tribute album

In popular music, a cover version, or simply cover, is a new rendition (performance or recording) of a previously recorded song. ... A cover band (or covers band) is a band that plays only cover songs. ... A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of a specific artists songs. ...

External links

• ...An Incredible Simulation - Tribute band documentary website
• ... Tribute City - Tribute band website with band listings, reviews, etc.