Pink Floyd

[Geoff Endacott]

Life would be awfully boring if all I did was run model railway exhibitions. That's one reason I have become a concert promoter.

 

What do people think of these guys?

 

http://www.neeld.co.uk/whats-on/all-floyd/

 

Please spread the word - and even better buy a ticket. (Or lots of tickets.)

 

Geoff Endacott

[spikey]

... What do people think of these guys?

Not a lot. Been a Floyd fan since 67/68, but wouldn't pay to see somebody else playing their music.

Edited August 25, 2018 by spikey

[gismorail]

Saw Floyd in Liverpool in the old stadium (sadly pulled down many years ago) what a fantastic experience. From the clip they sound good remember going to see a tribute band called 'Lets Zepp' and was impressed. Will look out for them coming to the North West 

[Siberian Snooper]

Seen the Floyd twice, great shows, I have also seen the Aussie Floyd, not bad, but some of the vocals lack a bit.

[Tony Davis]

Saw Pink Floyd, also saw "Think Floyd", I quite enjoyed it, not as good as the original of course, but competent musiciansns and loved what they were doing. Anyway, most bands do covers, so why not an whole concert covering one band? Plus, it's live music.

[Horsetan]

I liked Keith Floyd.

[RANGERS]

Saw Floyd in the eighties and Roger Waters earlier this year, who proved he is still at the top. Anything other than the genuine article would I fear, be a let down.

[jonny777]

They sound ok to me, but the problem I find with tribute bands is the lack of spontaneity when playing live. They can play all the precise notes to songs and even the solos, but I prefer a bit of originality that only occurs when the original band are playing live purely because they are not compelled to stick precisely to the script. 

[ejstubbs]

Never saw Pink Floyd live, but have seen the Australian Pink Floyd Show and thought they were pretty impressive.  One of the guitarists in particular sounded so like David Gilmour it was almost scary.

 

Nothing wrong with tribute band shows IMO, so long as the tickets are priced appropriately ie recognising that you're not getting the real thing!

 

There seems to be a subculture of female heavy metal/rock/punk tribute bands such as Lez Zeppelin, AC/DShe, The Iron Maidens, Mistress of Reality (a Black Sabbath tribute band) and The Ramonas.  If you feel tempted to check any of them out on YouTube all I can say is stay well away from the comments...

[ejstubbs]

They sound ok to me, but the problem I find with tribute bands is the lack of spontaneity when playing live. They can play all the precise notes to songs and even the solos, but I prefer a bit of originality that only occurs when the original band are playing live purely because they are not compelled to stick precisely to the script. 

 

A fair point, but I would suggest that one thing Pink Floyd themselves were not renowned for was their 'spontaneity' in live performance.

[Geoff Endacott]

Nothing wrong with tribute band shows IMO, so long as the tickets are priced appropriately ie recognising that you're not getting the real thing!

 

That's why the tickets are £18.

 

Geoff Endacott

[Andrew F]

I liked Syd Barrett and Dark side of the moon was quite good. After that I thought they were a bit boring. Wish you were here is a good song.

[tomparryharry]

Never saw Pink Floyd live, but have seen the Australian Pink Floyd Show and thought they were pretty impressive.  One of the guitarists in particular sounded so like David Gilmour it was almost scary.

 

Nothing wrong with tribute band shows IMO, so long as the tickets are priced appropriately ie recognising that you're not getting the real thing!

 

There seems to be a subculture of female heavy metal/rock/punk tribute bands such as Lez Zeppelin, AC/DShe, The Iron Maidens, Mistress of Reality (a Black Sabbath tribute band) and The Ramonas.  If you feel tempted to check any of them out on YouTube all I can say is stay well away from the comments...

 May I suggest Zepparella? There is one lady from Oregon who is well, well  worth listening, and watching as well.

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

[tomparryharry]

I've seen Floyd twice. Dark Side & sometime later, The Wall. Some of the trbutes are very good, but you can mis the expectation of the event. After all, you know what's coming, despite what is usually excellent rendition.

 

Cheers,

 

Ian.

[steve1]

What I find difficult to understand is, if you can play an instrument well, is why wouldn't you want to play something you had written yourself? Yeah, ok, chuck in the odd cover, Quo have done that successfully for years (RAOTW is a John Fogarty original), but what about creativity?

 

A further point is, if it's a trib to a band with the virtuosity of Floyd you have to be really good. The same applies to Rush, Muse, Zep and Yes tribs. And if I was good enough to be able to play as well as Gilmour, Page, Wakeman, Lee or Bellamy* which, surely you must be able to or you couldn't play their material, I sure as hell would want to create rather than merely copy.

 

I have seen 2 tribute acts (not bands, acts. There's a difference.) in the last 30 years, Bjorn Again and State Of Quo. I walked out half way through BA in disgust and got drunk at SoQ, which made them sound acceptable.

 

steve

 

* Caveat. I have the musical ability of a railway sleeper.

[Arthur]

 

Ability to play is not the same as the ability to compose, and certainly not to compose something outstanding. Even if you can and do, unless you are a name, no-one wants to book you or listen to you. You either end up playing in your bedroom or in a tiny venue to three people, your mum and the pub dog.

 

If you like to play, and like a particular band, there’s a lot of fun and satisfaction to be had in playing your favourites. I play drums, this afternoon I’ve been working through a few Zeppelin and Hendix numbers just because I like playing them and working out how Bonham and Mitchell played them in particular.

 

Seeing the real band is usually the best but not always, they can have off days, want to play all the stuff off their latest album that no one has bought, or feed ther egos with noodling and improvisation (which can be great or tedious). Some no longer tour, e.g. Zeppelin or tour rarely.

 

Tribute acts generally play the bands best known numbers, note perfect from the album and generally have a fun aspect about the proceedings. An enjoyable combination.

 

Last week I went to the Chepstow Castle Rock Night and saw four tribute bands, a ZZ Top band free in the local pub, followed by Guns n’ Roses, Whitesnake and Zeppelin (Let’s Zepp) at the Castle. All did great sets, all were fun and it was local. A great night out.

 

.

[jjb1970]

Nowt wrong with cover versions, conductors and orchestras make a good career s performing and recording cover versions.

[Zomboid]

I have this band, and we write all our own songs. Which is why we've been going for about 6 years and have amassed all of 7 songs - songwriting is not something that comes easily to everyone, even if you can play.

 

I saw Think Floyd a couple of times, it was enjoyable. You'll probably be waiting a long time to see the real thing live now, so a tribute act is the only way you're going to get Pink Floyd songs in a live setting.

[steve1]

Interesting replies, from the coalface so to speak, Arthur and Zomboid.

 

Is it better to play in a trib than not at all then?

 

I knew a superb guitarist who I used to see at jam nights. He made a couple of self-produced CDs and, last I heard, he was earning a living in a covers band but also plugging his self-penned material. Guess he's not an isolated example.

 

steve

[Arthur]

 

I knew a superb guitarist who I used to see at jam nights. He made a couple of self-produced CDs and, last I heard, he was earning a living in a covers band but also plugging his self-penned material. Guess he's not an isolated example.

 

He certainly isn’t, a very common story amongst those trying to carve out careers with their own material.

 

As for playing in a Tribute act. I’m not sure better comes into it Steve. It depends what, as a musician, your goals and aspirations are. Global fame or just doing a bit of playing live?

 

All of this needs to be considered against the old music truism that ‘people know what they like and they like what they know’.

 

So, presuming you want to play live;

 

If you are talented enough to be able to write your own material then you can pursue that. It will be a hard road, initially no, then sporadic, bookings, empty venues, disappointment and poverty though, eventually, a fortunate few will make it big time, fast cars and a pad in LA. Many will give up well before that. The market for unknown bands is small. Like the guitarist you quote, I know a few talented enough people who have tried to pursue their own road and have either given up or ended up doing a mix of their own stuff, playing in covers bands, doing studio sessions and teaching.

 

Alternatively, you set your sights lower, play covers, make it a hobby/semi-pro venture and have fun playing pubs, bars, clubs, social events etc. There’s always a market for live bands playing songs people know. You can choose to play just locally or travel as far afield as you want.

 

Tribute bands are just specialist cover bands. They’ll copy the show, the dress and mannerisms of their inspiration but, ultimately, they’re just playing music people know. And there are clearly plenty of people who will pay to see a tribute act of their favourite bands. Some of them make decent money. To play regularly you will need to be prepared to travel/tour. There’s only so many nights a year, probably one, that a Zeppelin tribute band will fill Chepstow Castle for example.

 

An interesting tribute act story is that of Filipino, Arnel Pineda.

Steve Perry, long standing front man for US band Journey, had quit. After a fruitless search for a replacement guitarist Neal Schon came across a young guy doing cover versions of Journey’s, and other band’s, songs on YouTube. He invited a sceptical Pineda over to the US for an audition and he got the gig.

He’s fronted them since 2007. They earned 35 million dollars on their 2008 world tour. Not too shabby a living.

 

.

[Zomboid]

Interesting replies, from the coalface so to speak, Arthur and Zomboid.

 

Is it better to play in a trib than not at all then?

 

I knew a superb guitarist who I used to see at jam nights. He made a couple of self-produced CDs and, last I heard, he was earning a living in a covers band but also plugging his self-penned material. Guess he's not an isolated example.

 

steve

Like in every other hobby, up to the individual. It's much easier to get gigs and make a bit of money in a covers band, but that doesn't satisfy everyone. I'd probably enjoy being in a covers/ tribute act and playing live, but there's only so many hours in the day, and I wouldn't want to play the "obvious" songs that everyone would want to hear, because I'm awkward that way. And who would go to see a band who play b-sides and album tracks by unsuccessful 90s bands? If anyone *does* want to form a Honeycrack covers band then PM me...

 

My band doesn't do covers because the only songs we can agree that we all like are the ones we've written ourselves!

[Oldddudders]

An interesting tribute act story is that of Filipino, Arnel Pineda.

Steve Perry, long standing front man for US band Journey, had quit. After a fruitless search for a replacement guitarist Neal Schon came across a young guy doing cover versions of Journey’s, and other band’s, songs on YouTube. He invited a sceptical Pineda over to the US for an audition and he got the gig.

He’s fronted them since 2007. They earned 35 million dollars on their 2008 world tour. Not too shabby a living.

 

A lovely tale! Some years back, I heard of a set of guys - sorry, no idea who - at the bottom end of the musician market, who were, one Saturday morning, practising in one band member's house. His mum popped her head round the door and said "Stan Getz is on the phone." Someone's future took off from that moment.  It happens. 

['CHARD]

 

If anyone *does* want to form a Honeycrack covers band then PM me...

 

 

Whoa!  There's a name from '90s obscurity!!!

 

https://youtu.be/xCPVNzjv4c4?t=15

[Zomboid]

Back when we did try a few covers, we did King of Misery. And pretty well, if I do say so. Then the bassist left...

['CHARD]

Back when we did try a few covers, we did King of Misery. And pretty well, if I do say so. Then the bassist left...

 

Given the instability of the real deal, I'd describe that as life imitating art