Steve,

Tribute bands became very popular in the 90's because of the competition in the market place and the ability to draw people based upon another group's music and reputation. Now they are everywhere. There is even a group out of Canada that does all Eagles songs with symphonies worldwide.

There are royalties and rules about tribute bands. they do have to positively reflect the band's music, and are somewhat regulated when they get to a stage like Vegas. I have heard that Yoko Ono and Paul have some say so on certain shows or bands.

In the past few years, there have been movies and musicals based around bands, like ABBA and Mama Mia, and other musicals that are out based around songs, groups or artists. I have a friend, Bob Guadio who has a play written around the music of Frankie Vali and the Four Seasons. Mel Brooks even rehashes his own movies for plays now, The Producers and Young Frankenstein, are the latest examples.

There are tributes on about every level from the smallest clubs to the largest arenas. But when it really gets fun are when they get creative. In Nashville we have a lot, Beatles Bands are the most popular but there are others, Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Steely Dan, some really challenging things. There is one band called "The Long Players" that are headed up by some of the top musicians and singers in Nashville, who recreate an entire album from start to finish. they have done Dylan's "Hiway 61 Revisited, and The Band's "Music from Big Pink." They have celebrity guests who come out and sing and play. A real cool thing on the Dylan night was when Al Kooper,who played the organ part on "Like A Rolling Stone" came out and actually played the organ with the Long Players.

For a while we had groups like "Run C&W"
which did the songs on Motown, "Bluegrass Style. We even had "Hayseed Dixie" which did AC/DC songs bluegrass style. I actually have an idea to do bluegrass songs like "Rocky Top" in a "Motown R&B" style called "Bluesgrass." Whatever.

The basic point is great musicians playing the music they grew up with and enjoying themselves while making money. It can be very cool. Maybe the modern way to get started is to form your own tribute band around your own music. That way people won't know you really didn't have stuff out. They will get all awash in the nostalga and claim they remember you from them growing up.

Hey, you got to be clever here.

MAB