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Tribute Act History

May 12, 2015/in Tribute Bands /by

The first tribute acts to emerge may have been Beatles tribute bands, such as The Buggs, who attempted to look and sound like The Beatles while playing their songs. However, one might argue that Elvis impersonators qualify as well.

Although initially created to honor 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 Status Quo, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Black Sabbath, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Styx, Pink Floyd, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Kiss, Madonna, The Misfits, Queen, Alice in Chains, Grateful Dead, Van Halen, ABBA, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Rammstein, Neil Diamond, and Steely Dan.

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 the ABBA tribute 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. Other Tribute acts such as The Beatnix (Beatles), Zeppelin Live, and The Australian Pink Floyd Show have experienced continued popularity for over a decade.

Oasis tribute band No Way Sis took the notion of tribute bands a step further in 1997 by achieving a UK top 20 hit single with their rendition of “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”. In addition to this, the band were asked to step in for Oasis and play to a sell out audience in Paris after Oasis canceled their show.

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.[1]

In 2000, filmmakers Jeff Economy and Darren Hacker produced the documentary film …An Incredible Simulation, which 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. In 2007, producers Allison Grace and Michelle Metivier produced a four-part documentary series called “Tribute Bands” for Global TV which features tributes to The Police, Queen, Rush and The Tragically Hip.

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 2003, Mandonna, an all-male tribute to Madonna, was formed in response to the rise of all-female tribute acts such as The Iron Maidens, Lez Zeppelin and AC/DShe.

In 2005, original Lynyrd Skynyrd members Ed King (co-author of “Sweet Home Alabama”), drummers Artimus Pyle and Bob Burns, and “honkettes” Leslie Hawkins and JoJo Billingsley all played with The Saturday Night Special Band, a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute from New York. This was the first tribute band to be composed of more original members than the current touring lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

In 2005, tribute band Beatallica received attention when they were threatened with a lawsuit by Sony Music Entertainment over their unique interpretation of Beatles songs done in a Metallica style. With the help of Metallica drummer/co-founder Lars Ulrich, Beatallica won their legal battle, and still record and tour today.

Original Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice has played with members of Deep Purple tribute band Purpendicular in 2002, 2004 and 2007, and the whole band in December 2008 on European tours.

Not all tribute acts use the impersonation style. An example is 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 was a regular in the band, and they have in the past played, recorded and toured with Ike Willis and Don Preston.

Tribute acts do not always receive full acknowledgment from the original acts they are patterned after. canada On April 2009, Bon Jovi sued the Los Angeles-based all-female tribute Blonde Jovi for copyright infringement. After temporarily using the name Blonde Jersey, the band reverted back to Blonde Jovi before disbanding on February 2010.[2]

Tribute Act To Real Thing

May 12, 2015/in Tribute Bands /by

There have been several instances where members of a tribute band have been called up to join the actual band they were paying tribute to or a related band that features members of that band. This is often done to either replace a deceased member or just one who has simply chosen to leave the group. domain owner data This is often seen as a great way for bands to carry on since tribute band members have usually studied their part and can closely replicate the musical parts of the original artists. Some examples include:

Lead singer Rob Halford left Judas Priest in 1992 and was replaced by Tim “Ripper” Owens from the tribute band British Steel in 1996. This was the first publicised example of a tribute performer joining the band they were paying tribute to and was the inspiration for the 2001 film Rock Star. Owens eventually left Judas Priest in 2003 when Halford rejoined the band.

Tommy Thayer, who once played with the Kiss cover band Cold Gin as Ace Frehley, became Frehley’s replacement in Kiss in 2002. Prior to these events, Thayer had worked with Kiss as a songwriter in their 1989 album Hot in the Shade and a session guitarist in the 1998 album Psycho Circus, and had assisted Frehley in re-learning his guitar parts to old Kiss songs for a reunion tour after the latter’s long long hiatus from the band.

When original drummer for The Jam, Rick Buckler formed the band The Gift in 2006, which performed Jam material, guitarist Russell Hastings joined on guitar. Hastings had been a member of a Jam tribute band. Later that year original Jam bassist Bruce Foxton joined the band as well and they changed their name to From The Jam. Even though Buckler has left, Hastings still performs in the band with Foxton.

When singer Jon Anderson was unable to rejoin progressive rock band Yes in 2008 due to health problems, Benoît David replaced him after bassist Chris Squire discovered a video of him performing with a Yes tribute band called Close to the Edge.[3]

In 2009, original Grateful Dead members Bob Weir and Phil Lesh formed the band Furthur, whose repertoire consists primarily of Grateful Dead songs. website analysis for seo They selected guitarist John Kadlecik from the renowned Dead tribute band Dark Star Orchestra to play the parts of the late Jerry Garcia.

In 2010 singer Dave Brock joined original Doors members Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger in their Doors reformation project Manzarek-Krieger. Brock had performed in The Doors cover band, Wild Child, for over 20 years.

Mobile DJ’s History

March 17, 2015/in Entertainment /by

In the past, mobile DJs utilized formats such as vinyl records or cassettes. During the disco era of the 1970s, demand for Mobile DJs soared. Top disc jockeys in this era would have hundreds of vinyl records and/or cassette tapes. The equipment used in this era was enormous and usually required roadies (similar to those who work for bands) to set up. While many club disc jockeys still use vinyl, most mobile DJs currently use compact discs, computer-based files (such as MP3s), or a combination of sources. In addition, professional-grade equipment created by a variety of companies expressly for mobile DJing has allowed for faster set-up and break-down, as well as improved quality of performance.[2]

Mobile DJs typically perform at various types of events including wedding receptions, bar and bat mitzvah receptions, company parties, school dances, anniversary and birthday parties, etc. Mobile DJs also perform in public at bars, taverns, nightclubs, and block parties.[1]

In the 1980s and 1990s, mobile DJs began to form and expand associations and create professional business networks, which now include annual trade shows and internet discussion forums. Today, many mobile DJs also promote themselves as event planners, organizers, and MCs (Master of Ceremonies). rent a car Working closely with their customers, their guests, and other vendors (such as venue staff and photographers / videographers), today’s professional mobile DJs strive to provide quality entertainment that fits the event in question in terms of style and performance.[1]

Today, a large selection of music, professional-grade equipment, good organizational skills, vocal talent as an MC, mixing skills, quality lighting, insurance for liability, and on-site back-up equipment are typical customer expectations when purchasing mobile DJ services.[2]

Since the early 90′s, mobile DJs have raised the bar with organized professional trade shows such as the Mobile Beat Show in Las Vegas, NV and DJ Times Expo in Atlantic City, NJ. Seminars by numerous respected DJs such as John Rozz, Ray “Ray Mar” Martinez, Stacy Zemon, Mark Ferrell, Peter Merry, Randy Bartlett, Steve Moody, Mike Walter, and many more have helped DJs to better understand their profession as well as running their businesses more professionally rather than treating it as a hobby.

By furthering their education at these trade shows combined with a number of books that have been written about this legitimte trade, the poor perception that mobile DJs have had by their clientele has dramatically improved. Mobile DJs who once were averaging $350–500 dollars per four hour event in the 70′s, now on a national average for a wedding can command anywhere from $1,200-2,500 per four hour event.

The American Disc Jockey Awards Show was established and held in Las Vegas, NV, since then thirteen mobile DJs have been elected to the American Disc Jockey Hall of Fame. The thirteen members include, John Rozz, Al Lampkin, Joe Martin, Robert A. Lindquist, Jon Michaels, Mike Buornnaccorso, Sid Vanderpool, Bobby Morganstein, John Roberts, Ken Knotts, Ray “Ray Mar” Martinez, Cesar Cosio and Bernie Howard-Fryman.

The DJ of the Year Winners at the DJ Times Expo include, Three-time winner Marcello Pedalino, Roxanna Greene, K.C. KoKoruz, Shawn “Big Daddy” McKee, Marz Lawhorn, Gerry Siracusa, Adam Weitz and Steve Moody.