50 replies to this topic

[High_Speed_Train]

While I wouldn´t attend any of their shows (I agree with most people here that it´s better, it would have been better to see the real R.E.M.) I stand behind my initial argument that they haven't done anything wrong.

If anything, they're spreading the image of the band here and there and maybe indirectly they have contributed to the sale of a few R.E.M. albums.

Michael Stipe is a unique and extraordinary human being that we can´t expect everyone in the world to behave like him. As a general rule we can agree here that we don't, we can't like every person in the world, that's the richness of this planet, its diversity. As long as the lead impersonator does a good show, I don´t care about his personality.

But between these R.E.M. UK and the Monsters in HiFi I definitely choose the latter. I'd like to be part of those performances where they play in front of a small, intimate crowd. Plus, the Monsters do not try to impersonate R.E.M., they just try to emulate the music without pretending to be someone they're not.

These bands aren't doing any harm to anybody, they're paying homage to R.E.M., they're pursuing their lifes' ambitions as musicians and touring together as a cohesive unit, which can't be said of other bands today.

It boils down to personal choice. It's fine if someone goes to their concerts, fine if someone else does not, there's no wrong or right here.

[Driver Nate]

High_Speed_Train, on 24 January 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

These bands aren't doing any harm to anybody, they're paying homage to R.E.M., they're pursuing their lifes' ambitions as musicians and touring together as a cohesive unit, which can't be said of other bands today.

Actually, it can. LOTS of 'em.

[stipeeyes]

High_Speed_Train, on 24 January 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

While I wouldn´t attend any of their shows (I agree with most people here that it´s better, it would have been better to see the real R.E.M.) I stand behind my initial argument that they haven't done anything wrong.

If anything, they're spreading the image of the band here and there and maybe indirectly they have contributed to the sale of a few R.E.M. albums.

No one said they did anything wrong.  A couple people said they are awful.  The last tour Michael didn't wear Make up.  He gave it up.  So if the lead singer of the REMUK band needs to lose it too. Michael changed his make up for every tour.   This band can have their own image and still do their homage to R.E.M.  None of them look nothing like Mike, Peter or Michael and they shouldn't try.

Quote

These bands aren't doing any harm to anybody, they're paying homage to R.E.M., they're pursuing their lifes' ambitions as musicians and touring together as a cohesive unit, which can't be said of other bands today.

How can that not be said about other bands today?  Other bands tour, Hello Radiohead, Pearl Jam.  The real R.E.M. should still be together and out touring but that's another story.

If this so called tribute band were pursuing their dreams they would have their own original band and write and perform their own material.   I mean for example Michael didn't become a successful lead singer by being a Patti Smith tribute artist.  What he did was take a lot of inspiration from her and mix it in with his own style.  So the real R.E.M. would be a prime example of a band who pursued their dreams.

[welliwonder]

I think the quality of tribute is the thing. The Bootleg Beatles do a fabulous show apparently ,their show covering the whole career from mop tops , to finale on the roof gig all impeccably played , in the correct clothes for each period of the career etc

Whereas REMUK just don't do rem any justice because they're simply not good enough.

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

2headedcow, on 24 January 2012 - 01:32 AM, said:

Yes he was a member at one point.

I believe he sang 'west of the fields of barley' and 'try not to breathe every breath you take'
Also 'walking on the moon unafraid'

I think there may have been a few more!  Anyone remember?

Don't Go Back to Roxanne
Englishman Leaving New York

ETA- Orange Crush In A Bottle

[Sweet Fanny Addams]

I don't think they've done anything wrong on an ethical level. They just sound horrible. There have been some great tribute band names over the years
Bjorn Again (ABBA)
Think Floyd
there's abother one I can't remember right now.

[fredrik]

Sweet Fanny Addams, on 30 January 2012 - 01:56 PM, said:

There have been some great tribute band names over the years
Bjorn Again (ABBA)
Think Floyd
there's abother one I can't remember right now.

Of course, the Dire Straits tribute act I'm playing with: Money For Something.

[Mottje t.H.]

2headedcow, on 24 January 2012 - 01:32 AM, said:

...I believe he sang 'west of the fields of barley' and 'try not to breathe every breath you take'
Also 'walking on the moon unafraid'

alchemist2, on 24 January 2012 - 02:16 AM, said:

Haha others were Don't Stand (so close to me) and Dream of the electron blue turtles!

fredrik, on 24 January 2012 - 02:21 AM, said:

Right. Not to mention "Out of time all this time", "It's probably me in honey" and "Time after time (RoxanneElise)".

2headedcow, on 24 January 2012 - 02:52 AM, said:

And 'around the invisible sun', 'king of painful comedy' and 'low life'

Hahahahaha! The right fun I was longing for. "King of painful comedy" made me laugh the most!

I joined a gig of a tribute band called "Automatic People", had a lot of fun and saw it as my way paying tribute to people who play the music I love so much. That's all. And it was fun to hear "Stand" and "Shiny happy people" live.

[twistedkite]

Mottje t.H., on 31 January 2012 - 09:59 AM, said:

I saw it as my way paying tribute to people who play the music I love so much. That's all. And it was fun to hear "Stand" and "Shiny happy people" live.

I think that's the draw for most people--seeing songs you love played live. I can completely see the draw of seeing competent muscians play songs you love to hear...but then we get to the singing/singer and that's a real turning point for some: sound/look too much like the singer and you're an "unoriginal douch-bag copycat!"...don't look or sound like them enough and you're berated for even trying. The paradox...  

I've been reading this thread somewhat cautiously to see if the whole "owenshire" thing came up--and it didn't because either people were too polite or just didn't think of it (which is also good). So, from REM UK's perspective, I can totally see the excitement of playing songs you love and being in a band. In that regard, I can't really begrudge what they do--they are an REM tribute band. Are they successful? Potentially. Are they competant? Perhaps...to some. The same applies to any tribute band I suppose.

From the REM fan's perspective, I can see how these guys can be considered "cheap" knock-offs in a contemptable way (although their studio cover of Good Advices wasn't that bad)--I think someone else said it best--they just aren't good enough imitators in every way to earn the hard-core REM fan's respect (if such a thing is possible).

From the music fan's perspective, I can see how one group of people--the people who just want to listen to some REM songs live (considering not many people get that chance, let alone in a small club)--might like them; yet, I can also understand the contempt other music fans have for people who don't write their own songs or have their own image...I hate that shit too.

It's funny because I am sensitive to all this stuff as well--when I began my "remember every moment" nonsense, I was quick to point out that Owenshire is its own band and that this is just a big "life's goal" tribute project. To me, there was a big difference between being my own band with my own image/songs doing a slew of REM covers vs. some half-baked tribute band. It's a small distinction, I suppose, but it keeps me from feeling like a complete cheeseball douch-bag copy-cat.

So, the verdict? Like it or not, REM UK are the best REM tribute band the world has right now....next to Coldplay! BOOM! SNAP!!

[Driver Nate]

What about bands that tour without any original members? Such is the case with the latest version of Blackfoot (best known for the songs "Train, Train" and "Highway Song"). They apparently have the blessing of founding member Rickey Medlocke (who has been playing in the band that calls itself Lynyrd Skynyrd for a number of years now) but that doesn't really change anything from my perspective. Medlocke handpicked the new members and is producing the new Blackfoot album but again, that really doesn't make it any more legit as it doesn't change the fact that the band has NO original members. If they were calling themselves a tribute to Blackfoot that would be one thing and perfectly fine but they're not.

[AsktheSky]

I'm sure REM UK are trying to do a good job (Michael was having a chuckle at them in the studio when they performed on The One Show) but I think what it is about tribute bands (personally I don't like them) is that folk who are not fans of that particular band, or people who don't really get music (and there are many of those!) may like to go and watch the cover band. The cover band will do the biggest hits of that band and numbers that the audience will know.

I think that most real REM fans wouldn't go to see a REM cover band, not just because they probably won't play their favourite songs (which are not usually the hits), but the most important reason is that the cover band is not the real band. The fans want the real band with all the idiosynchronicies and familiarity of the real band members who they love (and usually wrote the songs for reasons that the fans know about).