[MikeNoun]

A recent article in SPIN Magazine targeted some of the classic rock bands that are currently on tour, warning that you may be disappointed to learn that even though your ticket says you're seeing one of your favorite groups, there may not be many members left in the group that actually recorded their hits.

Question : Is it ok for artists to use famous name of a band sell tickets, when in reality they're essentially a cover band?

FOREIGNER - 6 original members that recorded all their hits in the 70's and 80's, but only 1 original member still with the band (Mick Jones) who plays guitar and keyboards. No idea who their singer is, but their original singer was a big part of their sound.

BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS - 9 original members that recoded their hits in the 60's and 70's, but currently touring with 1 original member (guitarist).

FOGHAT - 4 original members that recorded all their hits in the 70's and early 80's, currently touring with only 1 original member (drummer).

LYNYRD SKYNYRD - 7 original members that recoded dozens of top hits in the 70's, currently touring with only 1 original member (guitarist)

SURVIVOR - 5 original members recorded all their hits in the 70's and 80's, currently touring with 1 original member (guitarist)

SWEET - 4 original members with many hits in the 70's, currently touring with 1 original member (bass player).

ASIA - 4 original members recoded several top hits in the early 80's, currently touring with NO original members, but the singer-bassist was with them in 1992, several years after their star faded.

Like or dislike these bands, I'm wondering at what point are they ripping their fans off?

Some other classic rock groups that toured without key members:

JOURNEY (without Steve Perry)
CREEDENCE (without John Fogerty)
BOSTON (without Brad Delp)
THE BEACH BOYS (without Brian Wilson)
PINK FLOYD (without Roger Waters)
THE GUESS WHO (without Burton Cummings)

A reunion is one thing, but I think touring under the band's name, when key members are not part of the group anymore, is a bit of a ripoff.

Can you think of any more? What are your opinions of seeing bands where only 1 member was with the band when they were making hits, and that member was not one of the songwriters or vocalists?

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by MikeNoun

A recent article in SPIN Magazine targeted some of the classic rock bands that are currently on tour, warning that you may be disappointed to learn that even though your ticket says you're seeing one of your favorite groups, there may not be many members left in the group that actually recorded their hits.

Question : Is it ok for artists to use famous name of a band sell tickets, when in reality they're essentially a cover band?

FOREIGNER - 6 original members that recorded all their hits in the 70's and 80's, but only 1 original member still with the band (Mick Jones) who plays guitar and keyboards. No idea who their singer is, but their original singer was a big part of their sound.

BLOOD SWEAT & TEARS - 9 original members that recoded their hits in the 60's and 70's, but currently touring with 1 original member (guitarist).

FOGHAT - 4 original members that recorded all their hits in the 70's and early 80's, currently touring with only 1 original member (drummer).

LYNYRD SKYNYRD - 7 original members that recoded dozens of top hits in the 70's, currently touring with only 1 original member (guitarist)

SURVIVOR - 5 original members recorded all their hits in the 70's and 80's, currently touring with 1 original member (guitarist)

SWEET - 4 original members with many hits in the 70's, currently touring with 1 original member (bass player).

ASIA - 4 original members recoded several top hits in the early 80's, currently touring with NO original members, but the singer-bassist was with them in 1992, several years after their star faded.

Like or dislike these bands, I'm wondering at what point are they ripping their fans off?

Some other classic rock groups that toured without key members:

JOURNEY (without Steve Perry)
CREEDENCE (without John Fogerty)
BOSTON (without Brad Delp)
THE BEACH BOYS (without Brian Wilson)
PINK FLOYD (without Roger Waters)
THE GUESS WHO (without Burton Cummings)

A reunion is one thing, but I think touring under the band's name, when key members are not part of the group anymore, is a bit of a ripoff.

Can you think of any more? What are your opinions of seeing bands where only 1 member was with the band when they were making hits, and that member was not one of the songwriters or vocalists?

A few minor corrections:
Foghat:The bass player(Craig McGregor) replaced Tony Stevens early on and was there thru the 80's.Earl & him are one of the better rytms sections going today.THey sound extremelt good...BUT there is no replacement for Pevrette & Price.

Skynyrd:Ricky Medlocke was originally in LS-he was the drummer in the beginning.And the arguement can be made that they sound better today.

Grand Funk is out with .38 special's old lead man.

Outlaws are on life support with two original guys.

[fiedlerh]

The Marshall Tucker Band comes to mind. I think Doug Gray is still playing. Once a nationally known act, now relegated to playing local fests, bars, and county fairs. People still want to hear them, just not a huge draw with most of the original members gone. Saw MTB at Carpentersville (IL) fest around 1990. Lead singer was drunk on his ass, but it was free.

One of the major Southern rock bands of the '70s, the Marshall Tucker Band was formed in Spartanburg, SC, in 1971 by singer Doug Gray, guitarist Toy Caldwell (born 1948, died February 25, 1993), his brother bassist Tommy Caldwell (born 1950, died April 4, 1980), guitarist George McCorkle (born 1947, died June 29th, 2007), drummer Paul Riddle, and reed player Jerry Eubanks.

[MikeNoun]

But at what point should the band NOT tour under their original name?

I just heard some other 60's bands (mildly successful) are going to tour under their original names, but there's only 1 member left in some of those groups, and that member did not sing or write anything. I feel the ticket buying public should know, or at the very least, the ticket prices should be adjusted accordingly.

By the way, when did The Beatles break up?

[Cobrabill]

Yeah...MTB.Doug Gray's voice once was considered an"instrument" he is now basically narrating the songs.Sad.MTB died with Tommy in his jeep.

[stevek0629]

Saw them at thio Ho-Chunck Casino last month in Wisconsin after a 30-year abstinence. What Doug has put togther is as good as the original. He has retained the original expertise in each instrument and the overall sound as possible.

Good stuff. See them if you can!

[Bruce Meyer]

Deep Purple has been touring with 1 original member. The drummer Ian Paice.
Once my favorite band, you couldnt pay me to see them.

[fiedlerh]

Band names are often trademarked and whoever has the rights, I assume can tour under that name or assign others to tour under that name. For example the "Marshall Tucker Band" used to be trademarked, but is dead now, so there is no federal protection under the USPTO. Technically anyone can start a band called The Marshall Tucker Band, but since the name is well known and still used in commerce, the original band members and their heirs may have their lawyer calling on you. Another example; Led Zeppelin is a valid trademarked name owned by the estate of John Bonham.

I suppose if a band has at least one surviving member and attempts to recreate the original music, then for all intenets and purposes it is the current version of the band. The band may sound nothing like the original and may even suck. I agree they should list members so discerning individuals can decide for themselves if the price of a ticket is worthwhile. With internet research and YouTube, it's easy to see what the current version of the band sounds like.

[Cobrabill]

Originally Posted by stevek0629

Saw them at thio Ho-Chunck Casino last month in Wisconsin after a 30-year abstinence. What Doug has put togther is as good as the original. He has retained the original expertise in each instrument and the overall sound as possible.

Good stuff. See them if you can!

No-one and i mean NO-ONE plays like TC did.McCorkle was one of the best rythm players on the planet.And Tommy was the leader.


I suggest you look at teh two selections below and see what the real MTB was

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0L5L...eature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy6n5...eature=related


Then this one.The talent assembled here is mind blowing and todays MTB couldn't hold a candle to them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ggxf...eature=related

[codyyy]

The first thing that comes to mind is Guns N' Roses. I'm pretty sure Axl is the only one left now in that band, and it really doesn't sound anything like their original stuff. Especially since in their newest album they decided to use so many different people to play the instruments.

[MikeNoun]

I forgot about Guns N' Roses, that's a great example of a guy who kept the name, and is now touring as "the band" he made famous. No one's left other than ol' Axl....

I think even more annoying though is when a band appears where NO ONE is original, or to a lesser degree, where only ONE member is original, and that member was a background bass player or something. Just really ripping people off. The die-hard fans will know who they're seeing, but regular fans that don't know all the details about every group may feel very cheated.

Missing key members?

- The Doors, of course playing without Jim Morrison.
- Alice In Chains is touring again, but the lead singer died almost 10 years ago. The guitar player wrote (and sang) a lot of the songs, but it just seems like there's something wrong here.
- Queen....obviously, not going to see Freddie Mercury, but they replaced him with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company), and now they broke up too.
- The Who - playing without Entwhistle and Moon, but Townsend and Daltrey were most of the show....
- The Beach Boys, fought over rights to use the name. In fact, at one time there were TWO Beach Boys bands simultaneously touring, each with 1 original member.
- And then the Pink Floyd debacle, suing for rights to use the band's name when Gilmour and Waters realized they couldn't sell tickets as solo artists.

When do they become cover bands, and when do you consider them "the real thing"?

[codyyy]

I'd kinda consider it a cover band when like, one of the members is left in it. Otherwise I'd say it is legitimate only if the majority of the members of the band are still in the band.
There might be some exceptions though, like if the main member of the band has their name as the band name i.e. Dave Matthews band. Obviously if Dave Matthews left, how could it be still the Dave Matthews band? On the other end of the scale, if Dave was the only one left, I'd say he could still be the Dave Matthews band. Same thing with the Jimi Hendrix Experience.

[Greg Reid]

Creedence Clearwater Revival actually sued John Fogarty for singing CCR songs once...His OWN songs.
Also, there are occasionally TWO acts touring at the same time, claiming to be a particular act, both with one member of the original group.
EDIT: I see that Mike already mentioned my second point with the simultaneous Beach Boys acts.

[Motleyfan]

My wife and I saw YES this summer for our 25th anniverary. (Definately Classic Rock). While only 1 original member from 1968 remained (Chris Squire the base player) the majority if the band shown here made up the "Classic" lineup. These memebers made the majority of their hits from the 70's and 80's. The only difference from seeing this line up and one for 30 years ago was the lead singer and the keyboard player Oliver Wakeman (Rick Wakeman's - (who was part of hte classic linup) son). I would consider them the real deal.

Nick

[bigpop]

Sorry Brad Delp couldn't make Boston's reunion tour- he's dead!!

[Cobrabill]

[QUOTE=Greg Reid;4078904]Creedence Clearwater Revival actually sued John Fogarty for singing CCR songs once...His OWN songs.
Also, there are occasionally TWO acts touring at the same time, claiming to be a particular act, both with one member of the original group.
EDIT: I see that Mike already mentioned my second point with the simultaneous Beach Boys acts.[/QUOTE
Actually Fogerty was sued by a picee of crap producer Paul Santz.Listen to the tune "Vantz can't dance" on his Centerfield album.I saw JF a couple years ago.Talk about a time machine.

[Coach]

Well, one thing I consider, many of the lead singers I grew up with can no longer hit the notes that made them famous. I saw Journey with Arnel Pineda on TV which was a great show. Now it is a bit disconcerting to see a young Asian kid doing the lead vocals, but you close your eyes and he is dead on.

On the other hand I saw John Fogerty a couple of years ago and he was pretty much spot on. He was also the loudest band I have heard in at least 25 years.

Considering how freaking depressing "The Final Cut" was I am just as glad to see Pink Floyd without Waters. Besides Gilmour's guitar and vocals were pretty much the "sound" from Dark Side on.

I saw the Who maybe 8 years ago doing a Quadrophenia tour. It was a mixed bag, Ringo Star's kid was playing drums and was awesome, but Daltry just could not hit the notes. Then again I saw what was left of them on the halftime show for the last Super Bowl and that was a really good set.

The two bands that are consistently good each time we see them are Tom Petty and Neil Young. Of course the argument can be made that neither has any kind of singing voice, but they do rock out! ! ! !

-Harry

[Cobrabill]

THe Who needs a drummer and a bass player.
The Beatles need a singer & a guitar player.

Put them together and call them the Whootles.

[Don Keefe]

Two summers ago, I saw Boston and Styx on a double bill, neither one had their original lead singer, Brad Delp having committed suicide the year before and Dennis DeYoung leaving the band years before.

However, that being said, the replacements were all very good, Lawrence Gowan for Styx and Tommy DeCarlo and Michael Sweet for Boston. DeCarlo's voice live was pretty much a dead ringer for Delp's sound in concert- how that will translate to a new album remains to be seen but Tommy did a great job, especially considering he had never been in a band before. Gowan was absolutely amazing Michael Sweet also has a fantastic voice (Stryper lead singer) and is a great guitar player.

I have seen Boston six times ('87, '95,'97, '02, '07 and '08) and the sound was very comparable, even though the lineups were different for each tour. They put on a fantastic show and we're going to the NY State fair on Saturday to see Styx again. I'm really looking forward to it.

So, to answer the question, if they still have the sound but not every original member, I'll still go to see them, people leave, die etc., but that doesn't mean the music has to stop. Brian Johnson stepped into some very big shoes back in 1980 and he certainly delivered.

If they are one of these acts with no original members touting themselves as the real deal, I'll pass...

[MikeNoun]

In the case of Journey, Boston, and Yes, if you see them live, you can close your eyes and they sound exactly the same as they did with their original lead singer....isn't that a cover band?

They (the band) can use whomever they like to replace original members, but when the promoters (and the group) charge ticket prices similar to what you would expect to pay if this was the original band, I think that's ripping off the public.

They should have an asterisk next to their name, so when you see an ad, it may say something like,

"Come see Journey* in concert"
* - One or more members of the original band may have been replaced.

I can't imagine seeing YES without Jon Anderson, he's "the voice" of the band, and a huge part of their sound. Now, if they replace him, isn't that a cover band?

And Deep Purple is touring with only Ian Paice, the original drummer? Seriously? Just not right, they should not use the band's name....

I know band mates frequently sue to keep ex-band mates from using their band name or logo, and it must be a tough thing to deal with. They pour their hearts into songs, had dozens of hits, lived a great life, but now it's over. Then one of the members that had nothing to do with writing or singing any of the songs decides to make a buck and goes out on tour, using the bands name. It's sort of dragging the band's name through the mud. The other members don't want to see their reputation tarnished.