The EM Poll

Send in the Clones

Mar 14, 2008 5:03 PM, By David Simons

           

TRIBUTE BANDS: GIGGING IN THE LAND OF MAKE BELIEVE

Aerosmith

By day, guitarist Dennis Neil seems like just another L.A. musician, working around his home, answering e-mail, and contemplating future bookings. By night, however, Neil undergoes a strange and startling metamorphosis guaranteed to strike fear in the heart of an unsuspecting 'N Sync fan. For when the sun goes down, the mild-mannered Neil dons a pair of ripped jeans, a flannel shirt, and a black leather jacket and becomes … Neil Young, shaggy scourge of the slick and superficial.

Of course, Dennis doesn't really become Neil Young, but he does manage to conjure an amazing facsimile. Dennis fronts a band called Heart of Gold, a group devoted to keeping alive the memory of the unkempt Canadian maestro (even if the original is still around).

Welcome to the world of the tribute band, a unique form of musical idolatry that's been a noble pursuit for thousands of talented imitators for years. Tribute acts come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors, whether it's the casually attired quartet paying heartfelt musical homage or the full-tilt, spitting-image variety with an obsessive devotion to detail. Any band that's had even the slightest brush with fame is potential tribute-band fodder — no act is too big, small, good, bad, obscure, loud, or fast, or even too offensive, to be copied.

Onstage's intrepid leap into world of the tribute band uncovered faux versions of a"bote range of acts, from the Beatles to Black Sabbath, Steely Dan to Stevie Ray Vaughan. We also found bands mimicking made-for-TV acts such as the Monkees and the Partridge Family. Don't forget Elvis Presley, who probably spawned more imitators than anyone. Although bands modeled on acts no longer touring (or alive) definitely have a leg up — people generally want what they can't have — even fresh faces such as Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, and Creed have inspired their own tributes.

If you want to get in on the tribute-band scene, there seems to be plenty of room at the top — even for the most, shall we say, time-tested concept. For example, at last count more than a dozen gainfully employed facsimiles of AC/DC were roaming the countryside, sporting names such as Dogbone, TNT, and Dirty Deeds, pumping out Angus riffs for anyone within earshot.

Imitation Initiation

As you might expect, tribute bands are more often than not the by-product of a long and unabashed devotion to the parent act. “We're all big fans of Neil Young's music, we all love great guitar work and vocal harmonies, so it was a perfect match for us,” says Dennis Neil. “Four of us had been in another tribute band doing Crosby, Stills, and Nash music. It only made sense to join together, and that's how Heart of Gold was formed. The sound was right on from the beginning, and with just two rehearsals, we were on our way and gigging.”

Not that past fanaticism is necessarily a requirement. Take, for example, L.A.-based guitarist Lenny Mann of the fancifully named Zep sound-alike Led Zepagain. Mann accepted the job of imitating Jimmy Page with little prior experience.

“Actually, I knew about four Led Zeppelin songs when I was approached to audition for this gig,” Mann says. Still, the position seemed like a perfect fit. “What better challenge for me professionally than to emulate such an influential artist?” he says. “Besides, I get a kick out of wearing Jimmy's black dragon suit.”

Although some may find the notion of copying a rock 'n' roll superhero laughable, many of the players toiling in tribute bands are first-rate. They have to be if they're to convincingly imitate the moves, licks, and harmonies of some of the greatest rock musicians of all time.