Your opinions on dodgy Cure/Sisters/DM cover bands?!

[Phono Paul]

How do all, thanks to the wonders of facebook I've just discovered there's a covers band called "The Sisters of Mercy Experience", and I wondered if any of the Heartlanders had seen this combo and could venture an opinion as to whether they're any good or not?!

Similarly, even I've heard of the Cureheads, but are they any good?!

Finally, I seem to remember there was Depeche Mode covers band knocking about... are they still going, and indeed, are they any good too?!

[Quiff Boy]

How do all, thanks to the wonders of facebook I've just discovered there's a covers band called "The Sisters of Mercy Experience", and I wondered if any of the Heartlanders had seen this combo and could venture an opinion as to whether they're any good or not?!

Similarly, even I've heard of the Cureheads, but are they any good?!

Finally, I seem to remember there was Depeche Mode covers band knocking about... are they still going, and indeed, are they any good too?!

mesh?

[Bartek]

can anyone tell why they're doin' this (i meant cover bands) ? 'cause i serioulsy don't get it.

[weebleswobble]

can anyone tell why they're doin' this (i meant cover bands) ? 'cause i serioulsy don't get it.

Have you ever seen the late, great Smurphs?

[radiojamaica]

can anyone tell why they're doin' this (i meant cover bands) ? 'cause i serioulsy don't get it.

Have you ever seen the late, great Smurphs?

Or the mighty Body Electric?

[Bartek]

but what's the point of doing this ? i mean, a lot of bands (if not all) starts/ed from covering but most of them are trying to do/wirte their own music.
of course sometimes it's better to stop on covering but i still don't see the point of that kind of activity. besides of midless, meaningless fun. for me it's just trying to shinie reflected light.

i didn't meant to ofend or insult anyone but that's just my opint of view.

[Norman Hunter]

but what's the opint of doing this ?

Ask Noel Gallagher

[Bartek]

or the Strokes.

[Maisey]

t i still don't see the point of that kind of activity. besides of midless, meaningless fun.

Isn't that point enough? But since it doesn't seem to be I shall continue...

Artistically...

Just because you play guitar doesn't mean you're a songwriter. Sometimes the thrill of playing a song you love on an instrument you love is enough satisfaction.

Then if you happen to love playing The Sisters and meet 3 other people that feel exactly the same way AND you get more joy playing the songs as a full band, why not do a covers band?

Then, if people enjoy hearing you play them and you enjoy performing, why not play them live?

Economically...

When you're an artist of any kind it's hard to earn money. For ever one person/band that makes a fortune another 99 never make a penny. On the other hand, covers bands usually make a good fee. Whereas people may not be into say, Legion, in every city in the UK I can guarantee you'll find a decent few Sisters or Cure fans in each, many of whom would come and see a tribute band - thus you have a wide market and more potentially to make a bit of money.

So let's say you want to make some money out of doing what love (i.e. playing the guitar) does it not make MORE sense to start a covers band?

[markfiend]

Add in the fact that the original acts for a lot of tribute bands are defunct for one reason or another; for example The Beatles, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, The Pink Floyd, none of these bands is likely to tour again so if you want a "live experience" you've only got tribute acts.

For the originals for whom this doesn't apply (like the three bands Paul mentions) tribute acts tend to be cheaper (both for concert promoters and concert-goers) than the originals.

I seem to recall complaints on this very forum that The Sisters are little more than a Sisters tribute band these days...

[Bartek]

and as i wrote some bands should stop on covering.
and trying to shinie reflected light was about money.
money and fun sounds reasonable and nice but i thought that in art (if covering is art) ought to be something deeper. let's say that is enough.
ok, so have fun then.

mindless and meaningless fun could be fun for a little of time. don't know why but i want to at least try live my life and creating myself by myself and avoiding ctrl +c --> ctrl + v from somone else. even fail, but try.

end on this topic.

[Chairman Bux]

Imitation is the most lucrative form of flattery.

[_emma_]

Cover bands, at least, are honest in what they do: we love The Cure so we become a The Cure Cover Band. We'll have fun and earn money. Some people will enjoy our gigs, some will be unable to see the point of such activity, fair enough.
What is much much worse in my opinion is the legions of wannabes. The clones. The "if I wear shades and chainsmoke on stage and become anorexic, I'll be the new Eldritch for the masses" types. The "let's make a crap tune with crap words but sing them in deep voice and add some wailing female and we'll have the new Temple Of Love for the masses" types. Oooooooh how I hate them, how embarrassing and sad I find them, oh my.

[Bartek]

Amen Sister!

[James Blast]

I blame the Australians

[boudicca]

They are comedy gold though, those bands. I did laugh heartily the first time I heard The Merry Thoughts...

[markfiend]

They are comedy gold though, those bands. I did laugh heartily the first time I heard The Merry Thoughts...

Aye, there is that.

[Debaser]

Imitation is the most lucrative form of flattery.

Aye, my mate Kelvin got a whopping 27p when someone's band covered a Delta 5 track.

edit: I neglected to remember a decimal point, 2.7p

[Pista]

I've not seen too many tribute bands tbh.
The Smurphs were stellar though.

There are a couple of pretty good Italian Cure tributes. The Easy Cure are one of the better ones.

[Prescott]

They are comedy gold though, those bands. I did laugh heartily the first time I heard The Merry Thoughts...

Aye, there is that.

For the record, we do not want TBOT to turn into a Sisters cover band, as alluded to elsewhere. Yet what's this about clones? I'm sure a number of Joy Division, David Bowie, Suicide and Pere Ubu fans got loads of laughs when they first heard The Sisters.

Love Performance and Gangwar and especially 25men, but why don't they ever get accused of being clones, but tMt and Rosetta do? How 'bout picking on The Daughters of Bristol or The Wake?

[abridged]

Certain towns, in fact probably most towns are destined to get tribute acts rather than the real thing. As long as it's in a pub and entrance is a couple of quid it's great for a good night out. Unfortunately, in Derry we get Pink Floyd and Meatloaf tributes at our council run major venue showing a lack of imagination and innovation in programming. It's entertainment passing as art, not necessarily the fault of the tribute band, rather a lacking of those in power.

[Big Si]

What is much much worse in my opinion is the legions of wannabes. The clones. The "if I wear shades and chainsmoke on stage and become anorexic, I'll be the new Eldritch for the masses" types. The "let's make a crap tune with crap words but sing them in deep voice and add some wailing female and we'll have the new Temple Of Love for the masses" types. Oooooooh how I hate them, how embarrassing and sad I find them, oh my.

I seem to recall complaints on this very forum that The Sisters are little more than a Sisters tribute band these days...

[Maisey]

For the record, we do not want TBOT to turn into a Sisters cover band, as alluded to elsewhere. Yet what's this about clones? I'm sure a number of Joy Division, David Bowie, Suicide and Pere Ubu fans got loads of laughs when they first heard The Sisters.

Love Performance and Gangwar and especially 25men, but why don't they ever get accused of being clones, but tMt and Rosetta do? How 'bout picking on The Daughters of Bristol or The Wake?

Firstly, there is a big difference between ripping off a combo of Bowie and Suicide as opposed to ripping off a combo of The Sisters & The m*****n if you see what I mean. Just because you can occasionally hear their influences doesn't mean the Sisters sound like anyone else..

Secondly, Rosetta and tMT get accused of being Sisters rip offs more often because more people have heard of them. The Wake and tDoB aren't known to such a wide audience and thus don't get named dropped as sisters soundalikes (even if they are). As it happens I think Rosetta owe FAR more to The m*****n soundwise than they do to The Sisters.

Lastly, James Ray's entire musical career was frought with accusations of riding in the wake of Eldo and gand when actually the hard and heavy sounds of Gangwar are quite unlike anything Andy ever put out.

This band on the other hand I think are utterly dispicable, for reasons which will be apparent to everyone on here.

[Maisey]

They've changed their location to fucking Leeds. AAAAHHHHH they're from the sodding USA. I'll put good money he's never been to Leeds in his entire life. Does he think he looks cool? Surely he knows it makes them look rediculous.

American's shouldn't be allowed Goth - they just don't get the joke.

[Prescott]

For the record, we do not want TBOT to turn into a Sisters cover band, as alluded to elsewhere. Yet what's this about clones? I'm sure a number of Joy Division, David Bowie, Suicide and Pere Ubu fans got loads of laughs when they first heard The Sisters.

Love Performance and Gangwar and especially 25men, but why don't they ever get accused of being clones, but tMt and Rosetta do? How 'bout picking on The Daughters of Bristol or The Wake?

Firstly, there is a big difference between ripping off a combo of Bowie and Suicide as opposed to ripping off a combo of The Sisters & The m*****n if you see what I mean. Just because you can occasionally hear their influences doesn't mean the Sisters sound like anyone else..

Secondly, Rosetta and tMT get accused of being Sisters rip offs more often because more people have heard of them. The Wake and tDoB aren't known to such a wide audience and thus don't get named dropped as sisters soundalikes (even if they are). As it happens I think Rosetta owe FAR more to The m*****n soundwise than they do to The Sisters.

Lastly, James Ray's entire musical career was frought with accusations of riding in the wake of Eldo and gand when actually the hard and heavy sounds of Gangwar are quite unlike anything Andy ever put out.

This band on the other hand I think are utterly dispicable, for reasons which will be apparent to everyone on here.

I concede. You make valid points. As far as G0th is concerned, this American doesn't want it anyway. Especially since such lovely creatures like the fine gentleman at that myspace music seem to have it fully under control.

On the other hand, I like sunglasses, whether or not Andrew Eldritch wears them.