Cover and tribute bands - definition and differences
Those who cannot afford to hire a well-known band for a wedding party or city festival will find affordable alternatives at appropriate agencies. DJs or “one-man” bands can serve as solo entertainers. The so-called cover or tribute bands are more interesting and varied. Some of these are very good - but the difference between the two is not always clear.
What is a cover band?
A cover band "covers" the songs of other bands. She mainly plays the original songs from other bands and soloists. The program is mostly mixed. It is usually tied to a musical genre. It is typical for a cover band that it re-enacts chart hits and danceable songs by well-known groups from this genre. You could also say it pays tribute to the songs of other bands. Therefore the terms "tribute band" and "cover band" are often used synonymously. The term "tribute" for a cover song is not wrong, but also not entirely correct.
A cover band in the rock and pop area plays well-known songs that come from current and past chart listings. The line-up is chosen in such a way that the most famous pop and rock songs can be reproduced authentically to a large extent. So there are also oldie cover bands that focus primarily on the most popular pop and rock pieces of the sixties and seventies. Stylistically, however, a cover band can also poach in other music genres - for example there are jazz cover bands or Schlager cover bands.
A cover band tries to reproduce the well-known songs of others relatively faithfully. Sometimes it works more, sometimes less. How good a cover band is depends on the cast and the quality of the musicians. A band is wisely advised to only play covers that fit their line-up. The biggest weaknesses of a cover band are often the attempt to imitate the vocal qualities of the role models 1: 1. The singers in a cover band usually only manage that to a very limited extent. It is better if the covers are reproduced true to the original, but presented without vocal contortions.
Some cover bands also dare to write their own compositions in between. If these match the musical level of the chart hits, that's fine. It can be assumed that a band can learn a lot from re-enacting other people's songs. Therefore, many bands or individual members of such groups switch from just playing cover songs to their own pieces at some point. Incidentally, cover songs are also subject to GEMA. Re-enacting well-known pop or rock songs results in royalties for the songwriter. The more often a cover of a “chart breaker” is played in public, the more the composers and lyricists of the song earn from it.
What are the characteristics of a tribute band?
In contrast to a "cover", a "tribute" is only dedicated to one artist or a specific band. Not just a Pink Floyd song will be included in the program, but the entire live show by the British. While cover bands play up and down the charts, a tribute band focuses on material from a single band or solo artist. So there are Beatles tributes that only re-enact the songs of the Liverpool mushroom heads. Usually, but not always, their look is also copied. Whether a bald fellow member of the band wears a wig on stage is different.
A tribute band already makes it clear what their program is by being close to the band. The band name of a tribute band is based on the name of the band whose songs they play. Either the name of the original artist is included in the band name of the tribute band - or it refers to one of the better-known songs or a member of the musical role models. For example, a "Nirvana" tribute band is called "Novana". Both terms are similar in English pronunciation. An ABBA tribute is called "Bjorn again" after one of the original members. "Motörhead" becomes "Motorheadache". Many tribute bands show humor when choosing a name.
Every performance of a tribute song is subject to GEMA. The original interpreter or lyricist and composer earn money from others copying them. No tribute band may simply go on stage with songs by other artists without GEMA fees being paid by the organizer. The fees for a tribute are, however, significantly lower than those for the original band. That is the reason why it is better to engage ten cover and tribute bands at the "Kieler Woche" and other big city festivals instead of one big show act. It's just a question of price. The audience's enthusiasm is still certain.
Requirements that a tribute band must meet
Occasionally a tribute band is allowed to perform as a support act for the original. Only one thing must not happen: the tribute band must not steal the show from the main act. The "tribute" to a well-known band or individual artist often includes copying their show, including the light show and clothing style contained therein.
The instruments are also chosen accordingly in order to get the original sound as close as possible. While a cover band often gets by with normal technical equipment, a well-booked tribute band often requires greater technical effort.
The fans of tribute bands appreciate the effort to bring the songs of their favorite band live on stage. Mostly the originals don't often play shows in Europe. Occasionally the modeled band no longer exists - or the singer has died. In this case, a tribute becomes the main live act.
