| If you have a musical hero to which you can | | | | heckling and throwing various items at them. |
| claim a passing resemblance, and have an okay | | | | These acts tend to appear in local theatres or |
| voice, you could earn yourself quite a good living | | | | venues where there is enough room for all their |
| as a member of a tribute band. So there won't | | | | equipment. The 3 foot square stage in a bar in |
| be the star studded events and the sell out arena | | | | Majorca may be big enough for Frank Sinatra, but |
| tours, but you are getting to play at being your | | | | you'd only get a quarter of the Beetles on there. |
| favourite singer and making a bit of money out | | | | Tribute bands to the Beatles, Queen and Abba |
| of it! | | | | are in high demand. They put on a good show; |
| Tribute bands and singers are nothing new, but | | | | everyone knows the words and a good time is |
| they have increased greatly in popularity. The key | | | | had by all. They are finding a niche at evening |
| thing is to not to take them too seriously. If you | | | | wedding receptions and are guaranteed floor fillers. |
| have a favourite band who never tour in your | | | | These bands go to great lengths to find lead |
| country and you just want to enjoy hearing their | | | | singers, the musicians, let's be honest, can sit at |
| music played live, then a night out at your local | | | | the back in a wig, but the front man must really |
| theatre watching a tribute band can prove to be | | | | stand out. There is one Queen tribute act who |
| a great night out. | | | | spent a year finding their perfect Freddie Mercury, |
| There are by far the greatest amount of tribute | | | | now that's dedication, and also shows how serious |
| singers and bands for those who, for whatever | | | | they were about being a tribute as opposed to a |
| reason, or no longer with us. You don't need me | | | | parody, which sadly many are. |
| to tell who the most copied superstar is | | | | If you are a tribute to the Beatles, Queen et al, |
| worldwide, yep, Elvis. Unfortunately, for every | | | | you may make a better living than others as |
| decent tribute singer, there are 100 fat men in | | | | people who never got to see the real thing have |
| white suits who think they look like Elvis and, | | | | a chance to experience their favourite group |
| even worse, sing like him. There is a good living to | | | | playing live. They will suspend reality fro a few |
| be made as a tribute singer, go to any holiday | | | | hours and imagine they are witnessing the real |
| resort around the Mediterranean and the boards | | | | thing. Groups of this standard regularly do sell out |
| outside the bar will proclaim that appearing tonight | | | | tours throughout medium sized venues and are |
| they have Elvis, Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson, | | | | living their dream; they get to dress up as their |
| Freddie Mercury and the list goes on. Not bad | | | | heroes and play their favourite music to |
| work if you can get, a summer in the sun, singing | | | | appreciative audiences, that's a pretty good way |
| a few songs in the evenings to drunken British | | | | to earn a living if you ask me! |
| holidaymaker who, by the time you come on, | | | | So if, like me, you're too young to have had the |
| aren't even sure who you're meant to be and | | | | opportunity to see your musical heroes live, get |
| don't care! | | | | online and check out their tribute acts. The better |
| Tribute bands take things a lot more seriously, | | | | ones all have websites and the review sites are a |
| they have to be able to play musical instruments | | | | must. You may have been born too late to see |
| for a start. They also have to be able to play | | | | John, Paul, George and Ringo, but Jim, Pete, Gerry |
| them well enough so that the die hard fans of the | | | | and Roger will do their best to entertain you! |
| original band can appreciate the music without | | | | |