Wait a minute...we're a cover band?!?!?!

[Conner Malvecino]

Now after kind of stepping back from enjoying the game, I came to realize...the virtual Rock band I am in...is rocking out and traveling the world playing music made famous by other bands!!!

So, that got me thinking, are there REALLY any bands that really really made it to the big time arena rock fame by strictly only playing music made famous by others? (I'm discounting "bands" such as the Monkees that had music written specifically with them in mind.)

Dread Zeppelin comes to mind but I'm not sure that they made it that big.

OR am I suppose to assume that the songs are really 'OURS' that we wrote and suspend my reason and judgement. :)

[WildBillKickoff]

GnR covered Knockin on Heaven's Door, Live and Let Die, a few others IIRC. Of course, there were a couple of minor hits that were original. :)

To answer the question with no sarcasm, most of the best cover bands end up in Vegas, A.C. or Branson as "tribute" bands. I think you're supposed to just suspend disbelief.

[Kylekillgannon]

I just tell myself it's in a fictional universe where you wrote the music, you popularised it, and you perform it with your other alternate-universe Band members

[Conner Malvecino]

I just tell myself it's in a fictional universe where you wrote the music, you popularised it, and you perform it with your other alternate-universe Band members

Agreed...and that your female vocalist sometimes growls like Ozzy :)

[Kylekillgannon]

Agreed...and that your female vocalist sometimes growls like Ozzy :)

I just say my singer had an amazing vocal range.

[King_Nuthin]

Dread Zeppelin had original music.

The closest thing is probably Me First and the Gimme Gimme's who do punk rock covers of everything from light rock to R&B to show tunes. If the Warped Tour counts as hitting it big.

[erickOnasis412]

i was just about to comment on the (sometimes) transexual singer during sets

[Brutal]

Richard Cheese perhaps?

[luminary pants]

I think you are overthinking it just a tad.

[A Lumbee Indian]

Agreed...and that your female vocalist sometimes growls like Ozzy :) That's funny!

[Loozinit]

mini-kiss ;)

[Credge]

Many bands have about 20 covers, some big, some not so big. You'd be surprised at how many non-originals there are in the game.

[Oblong]

Two groups come to mind.

Beatlemania continues to sell out shows across the world as a Beatles tribute band.

Then you have Hayseed Dixie who does bluegrass style covers of AC/DC, Zep, Queen, Sabbath etc. Check them out....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0t7HLkldXbg&feature=related

[560sdl]

Lets not forget that you are having this mental delimmea while staring at a tv showing you what to play while banging or strumming a plastic toy.

But..... Having a way to write and create original songs in RB would be kind of cool.

[Hanover]

The Mamas and the Papas were basically a cover band with just a few original tunes.

Dream a Little Dream,
This is Dedicated to the One I Love,
My Girl,
Dancing in the Street...

[Conner Malvecino]

Lets not forget that you are having this mental delimmea while staring at a tv showing you what to play while banging or strumming a plastic toy.

But..... Having a way to write and create original songs in RB would be kind of cool.

This I can see as totally awesome..."Studio mode" where at least for the first offering, it wouldn't be necessarily be 'writing' the song but that you can have a pallet of drum loops, guitar riffs, and vocal lines, at your disposal to create a "customized" song...and that you'd have an 'overall difficulty' rating to achieve before the song can get published.

And yes, I guess I am thinking about this too much. I've never been into cover bands in real life unless by chance I happen to walk into a place with live entertainment by happenstance.

[jonfitzsimon]

what about that red-headed guy and his band from the movie "Old School"? I know they play songs and tweak them a bit like at the wedding in Old School.

[Bakkster]

Rock Band Band (http://www.vh1.com/shows/events/rock_band_band/)

[Conner Malvecino]

Rock Band Band (http://www.vh1.com/shows/events/rock_band_band/)
YES! Unfortunately, I watched every episode and was hoping that it was funnier :( However, I was impressed by the lead singers voice.

Good to see that Kurt Loder doesn't have to take himself too seriously :o

[Nekura20x6]

I used to be pretty active in the Chicago music scene. (I co-operated the now defunct ChicagoLocalBands.com and LocalBands.com) There is a "success cap" that cover bands will hit. It is very unlikely that you will be able to do any kind of touring (or even break out of the local "bar band" circuit, for that matter) if most or all of your set list is cover tunes.

Again, this excludes bands or performers that do songs specifically written for them. I'm talking about bands that do nothing but play music made famous by others.

Having one or two awesome covers in a show is great, though. I saw Heart when they last came through Chicago and they did a Led Zepplin medely as their encore that brought the house down. There are plenty of indie bands that do it as well, with "Straight Outta Junior High"'s punk cover of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" coming immediately to mind. "Life In General" does fantastic covers of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and Lyle Lovett's "If I Had A Pony".