An article about this documentary series is online:
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Go on, satisfy your morbid curiosity
by: Dana Gee
The new four-part series Tribute Bands is a classic example of slowing down to look at a wreck.
Part of you knows it's not a good idea, but another part of you is intrigued by the sight.
In this case, the view is of a bunch of people fulfilling their musical desires by pretending to be somebody else.
A staple of the small-town bar circuit, the tribute band's actual history is as murky as a rum and Coke. Best guesses have The Beatles spawning the first real band-a-like movement, although Elvis by far has to be the most impersonated performer.
While most toil away playing small hotel lounges, legion halls and sports bars, some tribute types end up in the big time, well, for a brief time at least.
Tim "Ripper" Owens went from singing in a Judas Priest tribute band to becoming the group's actual lead singer in 1996.
Owens -- whose story was loosely drawn on for the movie Rock Star starring Mark Wahlberg -- did three records with the band before Rob Halford returned to front the group.
Björn Again is now an institution, with six or so versions of the ABBA tribute group touring the globe.
And now Miles Copeland, brother of Police drummer Stewart and the band's former manager, is featured in Tribute Bands putting together the tribute act The Police Experience.
"I've seen these Police tribute bands and I've always thought it would be fun to take one on and do something with it," says Copeland in tonight's opening episode. "Why should someone else cash in our heritage?"
And so the hunt for the perfect, well, near-perfect, Sting, Stewart Copeland and guitarist Andy Summers begins.
Copeland sets up auditions and a bunch of guys with bleached-blond hair who have memorized "Roxanne" show up for a shot at being Sting.
Some of these guys are really good and, in the case of L.A.'s Fallout, may be too good, as they mimic not only musical dynamics but personal ones as well.
"There's been times when I've wanted to kill Dave," says Mike Neiland, a.k.a. Stewart Copeland, about Dave Rasner, who fancies himself Sting.
See? Even fake rock is tough.
So tough that dreams are dashed faster than you can say, "Sting can't even sing that high any more."
Case in point is Toronto's Paul Pimental. A 38-year-old guy who works in the mailroom during the day and the barroom at night, Pimental gets the call to audition for Copeland, but a cold ends his dream of being a super-Sting.
"Guys my age don't get these opportunities," says a disappointed Pimental, after squeaking and sputtering his way through his big chance.
The series also includes looks at Rush, Queen and The Tragically Hip.
The Rush episode is interesting as members of the actual band weigh in on their fans and imitators. Imitators that include a guy named Spageddy Lee, who has fronted the Rush tribute band Freewill for the last 13 years.
Freewill, for the record, is just one out of apparently 200 Rush tributes around the globe. The Arizona trio even attract what is known as the "superfan," the types of guys who stalk -- er, um follow --their favourite groups from gig to gig.
Narrated by Suzie McNeil, a finalist from Rock Star: INXS, Tribute Bands, is equal parts cheese, cringe and curiosity.
While at times it is easy to judge these guys -- and those close to them -- and wonder what are they thinking, it's also easy to see how their love of music and their respect for other musicians keeps them keen. And boy, are they keen.
Rasner, the Police guy from L.A., has the same basses and bass setups as Sting. He fancies the Brit pop star's wardrobe, right down to the customized English Beat T-shirt.
Spageddy Lee, a.k.a. Dave Cornwall, knows 60 Rush songs, has all of Geddy Lee's gadgets and keyboards and he even drags around the trademark washer-and-dryer set.
Now that's a real fan -- or something like that.
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Catch Dana Gee on The Morning News on Global Fridays at 8:45 a.m.
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TRIBUTES WITH A TWIST
If being in a tribute band isn't gimmicky enough, how about another twist to the concept? Here are a few tribute acts that, like Spinal Tap's guitar player, have gone one step further to add a little oomph to their gimmick.
- Dread Zeppelin plays Led Zeppelin reggae-style with a lead singer who looks like Elvis.
- GABBA does ABBA songs in a Ramones style.
- Mini KISS is made up of little people.
- Tiny KISS is the same thing, except its singer is a 350-pound woman. (Reporter's note: the two small KISS acts don't like each other very much.)
- Cheap Chick is the all-female version of Cheap Trick.
- Girls Girls Girls is an all-female Mötley Crüe band. Not a big stretch if you look at actual Mötley pictures from the day.
- Mandonna is self-explanatory.
- Iron Maidens is a female tribute to the metal men.
- Beatallica combines the sounds of the Beatles with Metallica.
- Oasis tribute band No Way Sis had a U.K., Top-20 hit single in 1997 with "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing."
- Ladysmith, Hollywood is the music of Aerosmith done by females.
You guys were great, especially Trevor(CRAP!) You guys didnt come off as nerds either, although you could of had me there with a Leaf cap and flag cape to macho it up a little :lol: Lil bones were the best band out of all 3 IMO.Dean Hughes is quite the character. :thumb: