I have nothing against tribute bands, personally I find the tribute band culture and phenomenon fascinating and I’ve definitely considered that perhaps when I’m in my mid-forties with a large round girth where my slender boyish tummy used to be (Read: Beer Gut), I’ve run the clock out on the originals circuit and I need to make money for rent, I myself will end up singing for an AC/DC or Guns N Roses tribute band. (Check back with me in a few decades to see this self-fulfilling prophecy come to fruition).
Speaking of dressing
up as Axl Rose... Who wore it better, Scott Weiland or Fred Durst?
Over the course of the last few years while combing through the catacombs and leaky basement of the internet and also while reading copious amounts of back issues of Classic Rock Magazine. I have discovered some very interesting things about tribute bands and the multiple facets and tangents upon which they have developed and evolved over the last few decades. I’m very happy to report that there is a thriving scene of all female tribute bands who are killing it right now, including but not limited to The Iron Maidens, Lez Zeppelin, AC/DShe, Judas Priestess and Hymen Moments (Which is a great name for any Misfits tribute band, if you ask me) but beyond the fresh wave of all-female tribute bands and beyond the valley of the mountain upon which the world class Queen and Abba tribute bands from around the globe have built their small fortunes, I’ve found bands that are much less tribute and more like a bizarre reimagining. In the tribute band covers system, strange concepts are considered especially hilarious. Around the world, the wacky bands who play these delicious (and sometimes not so delicious) melodies are known as the weirdest tribute bands ever. I’ve put this list together to shine a light on a few of my favourites.
Here are their stories.
Coming from North England, the first band on this list is Joyce D’Vision, the world’s first drag queen tribute to Joy Division. Semi-famous English Comedian Harry Hill called them ‘’True keepers of the Joy Division flame’’ and according to someone named George Henry they’re also "a discrace (sic) to manchester’’ the latter is a critique the band are very proud of….
Musically the band reinterpret Joy Divisions biggest hits in a bossa nova style and visually the show is recreated, not with the usual Ian Curtis impersonator that typically comes equipped with a heavy bottom end voice and the whole arsenal of Curtis’s frantic and minimalistic stage moves memorized and ingrained into their brains right down to the molecule. No, here we are treated to a bearded man in a dress.
Singer Joyce, whose real name is Joe Spencer, was a
contestant on the reality TV show ‘May The Best House Win’ which is exactly the
same as ‘Come Dine With Me’ except instead of judging dinner parties, the
contestants judge each other’s homes. The episode featured a cameo from Joe’s
alter ego Joyce and thankfully Harry Hill saw the show and loved it. Which is
why he invited them to perform on his own show ‘Harry Hill’s TV Burp’ the
show’s basis was a farcical, wacky, retrospective look at the highlights of the
past week of television in Britain (We had our own version here in Australia
just called ‘TV Burp’). The show was broadcast right before ‘X Factor’ so it is
possible that vocalist Joyce D’vision and keyboard player, Noel Order are the
only band members on this list to be featured on primetime television.
4. The Pizza Underground
You can forget what I just said about Joyce D’vision being the only band on this list with members featured on primetime TV because the ‘Home Alone’ movies have a monopoly on primetime television every year around Christmas and the (former child) star of those movies, Macaulay Culkin, sings and plays the kazoo in a pizza themed Velvet Underground tribute band called The Pizza Underground. Why? Because of course he does, that’s why.
4. The Pizza Underground
You can forget what I just said about Joyce D’vision being the only band on this list with members featured on primetime TV because the ‘Home Alone’ movies have a monopoly on primetime television every year around Christmas and the (former child) star of those movies, Macaulay Culkin, sings and plays the kazoo in a pizza themed Velvet Underground tribute band called The Pizza Underground. Why? Because of course he does, that’s why.
I didn’t think pizza and music could have had a better collaboration than the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ‘Coming Out Of Their Shells’ live musical tour that was funded by Pizza Hut back in 1990 but as Ian Malcolm/Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park…“Life, Uh, Finds a Way”.
The concept for The Pizza Underground began as a joke back in 2012 when the group realized you could replace any word in just about any song with the word ‘slice’ or the word ‘cheese’. From those humble and most definitely also stoned beginnings, the band would go onto record a demo in 2013 at Culkin’s house and play a Lou Reed tribute show at a café in the East Village in New York that same month.
Things we’re looking good for the deep pan potheads when in December that year they released footage of Culkin parodying the ‘Andy Warhol eating a hamburger’ scene from Jørgen Leth's documentary ‘66 Scenes from America’. The four and a half minute fromage homage of the bands leader eating a slice of pizza went viral and garnered a lot of attention on social media.
A music video was delivered in January of 2014 and not long after that their demo was released on cassette by Bitter Melody Records. The tape was available in three different colours: red, yellow and white. The hype was real and the cheese was warm, so the band embarked on an 18 show tour of North America which was aptly titled the ‘Fresh To Your Door’ Tour. For a short time it looked like 2014 was going to be the year of The Pizza Underground until in May the band were pelted with beer and booed off stage at a show in Nottingham, England. One angry punter said they were making a "mockery of one of the greatest bands of all time". In response to the beer being thrown at his face and at his band, Culkin jeered back at the audience "Why are you throwing those!? ...I'd rather drink them!" The band walked off the stage only 15 minutes into their set.
Not even celebrity fans like Ron Weasley and clever
song titles like "All Pizza Parties" ("All Tomorrow's
Parties"), "Pizza Gal" ("Femme Fatale") ‘’Sicilian’’
(‘’Heroin’’) and "Take a Bite of the Wild Slice" (Lou Reed's
"Walk on the Wild Side") could save the band from the disgruntled
audience in Nottingham.
Undeterred the act soldiered on and expanded their repertoire to include piss takes on other famous musicians such as Nevermound: Nirvana songs all sung in past tense, #PUSSYJOEL: Billy Joel songs with feline themed lyrics and Plop Dylan: Bob Dylan songs about taking a crap. The last news on the band was that they were soon going to release a new album on vinyl that would include a symphony orchestra and a children’s choir. Don’t let anybody ever tell you that you’ve beaten a joke to death, because as this band has proven, even the cheesiest of jokes can hang around forever.
3. Nudist Priest
If you’ve ever wondered what Judas Priest might look like underneath all of the leather and studs than look no further. If you’ve ever pondered as to what a show with heavy metal, devil horns AND swinging dicks might look like than I am proud to introduce you to the band Nudist Priest. Manowar may have showed a lot of tanned, greasy muscle and flesh back in 80’s. They practically only wore loincloths but bass player Joey Demaio still lives in his mum’s basement and Manowar were too scared to get their dicks out. Unlike Nudist Priest who aren’t shy at all to let their beer guts and their family jewels out while they play ‘Diamonds And Rust’.
Undeterred the act soldiered on and expanded their repertoire to include piss takes on other famous musicians such as Nevermound: Nirvana songs all sung in past tense, #PUSSYJOEL: Billy Joel songs with feline themed lyrics and Plop Dylan: Bob Dylan songs about taking a crap. The last news on the band was that they were soon going to release a new album on vinyl that would include a symphony orchestra and a children’s choir. Don’t let anybody ever tell you that you’ve beaten a joke to death, because as this band has proven, even the cheesiest of jokes can hang around forever.
3. Nudist Priest
If you’ve ever wondered what Judas Priest might look like underneath all of the leather and studs than look no further. If you’ve ever pondered as to what a show with heavy metal, devil horns AND swinging dicks might look like than I am proud to introduce you to the band Nudist Priest. Manowar may have showed a lot of tanned, greasy muscle and flesh back in 80’s. They practically only wore loincloths but bass player Joey Demaio still lives in his mum’s basement and Manowar were too scared to get their dicks out. Unlike Nudist Priest who aren’t shy at all to let their beer guts and their family jewels out while they play ‘Diamonds And Rust’.
"We were drunk at this barbecue," Which is always how a good idea begins, Vocalist John Ramirez said while recounting the inception of the band in a bare it all interview with the LA Weekly back in 1999, "and my friend Alex said that his friend Wampus had this idea for a band called Nudist Priest, but he's never going to do anything with it, and I just said, 'Let's do it,'’. Whenever I end up breaking the law in my birthday suit it usually begins while drunk at a barbecue for me as well, so I can definitely relate with this origin story.
The
band have been inactive since 2007 but one can hope that if Rob Halford leaves
Judas Priest again and they hire a singer from a tribute band, it’s not this
one. You can see footage from their last show of them covering Judas Priest’s
cover of the Fleetwood Mac song ‘The Green Manalishi’. Thankfully the uploader
has blurred out the bands junk.
2. Black Fag
Black Fag are a Black Flag tribute band, a tribute injected with a large dosage of gay stereotypes. Seriously, the stereotypes are dialed all the way up to eleven. Henry Rollins wouldn’t have a problem with this, as he’s very happy to sign fan copies of ‘Henry and Glenn Forever’ the miniature comic set in a fictional universe where original Misfits singer Glenn Danzig and Henry Rollins are gay lovers. Hall and Oates also appear in the comic as their satanic neighbours.
2. Black Fag
Black Fag are a Black Flag tribute band, a tribute injected with a large dosage of gay stereotypes. Seriously, the stereotypes are dialed all the way up to eleven. Henry Rollins wouldn’t have a problem with this, as he’s very happy to sign fan copies of ‘Henry and Glenn Forever’ the miniature comic set in a fictional universe where original Misfits singer Glenn Danzig and Henry Rollins are gay lovers. Hall and Oates also appear in the comic as their satanic neighbours.
It could be argued that the whole ‘Daryl Hall is a Satanist’ thing is steeped
in some reality though..
Henry Rollins is also best mates with Ru Paul too, so he’s definitely down with the campy and queer faction of show business. Bibbe Hansen formed Black Fag with her friend Vaginal Davis. Bibbe also gave birth to the man who would go on to sing ‘I'm a loser baby so why don't you kill me?’ That’s right. Beck’s mom started this band but that’s nowhere near the most random thing about Beck’s family as they have strong ties to Andy Warhol, Scientology and his dad has played on every album, that you and everybody you know, has ever loved. (Seriously, his album arrangement credit list is infinite). But that’s a story for another article.
Some people have taken offense to Black Fag as a percentage of its members are heterosexual and not gay. Some believe that this contributes to straight audiences laughing at gay stereotypes. Others think it’s poking fun at homophobic punks in an intelligent way. It would be a lot worse if they were promoting a very hateful, dim witted stereo type like ‘All gay people have aids’ but the stereotype they’re promoting is this…
Henry Rollins is also best mates with Ru Paul too, so he’s definitely down with the campy and queer faction of show business. Bibbe Hansen formed Black Fag with her friend Vaginal Davis. Bibbe also gave birth to the man who would go on to sing ‘I'm a loser baby so why don't you kill me?’ That’s right. Beck’s mom started this band but that’s nowhere near the most random thing about Beck’s family as they have strong ties to Andy Warhol, Scientology and his dad has played on every album, that you and everybody you know, has ever loved. (Seriously, his album arrangement credit list is infinite). But that’s a story for another article.
Some people have taken offense to Black Fag as a percentage of its members are heterosexual and not gay. Some believe that this contributes to straight audiences laughing at gay stereotypes. Others think it’s poking fun at homophobic punks in an intelligent way. It would be a lot worse if they were promoting a very hateful, dim witted stereo type like ‘All gay people have aids’ but the stereotype they’re promoting is this…
Absolutely fabulous. They also donate 10% of
their income to charities within the gay community.
Much like Marilyn Manson’s band took their stage names from Hollywood starlets and serial killers, Black Fag’s stage names are a combination of the names of gay icons and members of Black Flag. Guitarist Greg Streisand’s name is the combination of Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn and gay icon Barabara Streisand. Greg Streisand also dresses as Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz on stage. There’s no doubt that if you love Black Flag and you love camp, this is the band for you.
Much like Marilyn Manson’s band took their stage names from Hollywood starlets and serial killers, Black Fag’s stage names are a combination of the names of gay icons and members of Black Flag. Guitarist Greg Streisand’s name is the combination of Black Flag guitarist Greg Ginn and gay icon Barabara Streisand. Greg Streisand also dresses as Dorothy from The Wizard Of Oz on stage. There’s no doubt that if you love Black Flag and you love camp, this is the band for you.
Like Malcolm, that’s Eric Wilson from Sublime in
the middle wearing a Black Fag t-shirt.
1. Jewdriver
Jewdriver is my favourite band on this list. Not because I love their music but because their one line joke is a powerful one. Jewdriver are a Jewish tribute to the white supremacist band Skrewdriver. To take music that is so hateful and bigoted to then turn it around and make it into something empowering to Jewish people, while at the same time being really funny through the medium of comedy and music is something I really respect and admire.
1. Jewdriver
Jewdriver is my favourite band on this list. Not because I love their music but because their one line joke is a powerful one. Jewdriver are a Jewish tribute to the white supremacist band Skrewdriver. To take music that is so hateful and bigoted to then turn it around and make it into something empowering to Jewish people, while at the same time being really funny through the medium of comedy and music is something I really respect and admire.
Curb stomper to kosher. Skrewdriver fans throw
glass bottles, Jewdriver fans throw bagels.
Skrewdriver themselves weren’t always a racist band. During the 70’s they didn’t promote any sort of outward fascist or political agenda. They were more so known just for being very violent. An example of this is when Bob Geldof was beaten up onstage at a show where Skrewdriver were supporting the Boomtown Rats. ‘Doc Rat’ or possibly ‘Big Vince’ was a friend or fan, (depending on who’s telling the story, there are a few versions…) of Skrewdriver vocalist Ian Stuart Donaldson (Jewdriver’s vocalist calls himself Ian Stuartstein). Whoever it was, they either decided to beat up Geldof because they thought Skrewdriver’s sound had been hampered with by his band or as other versions of the story claim. It was purely because Boomtown Rats were terrible and Geldof’s pseudo-Jagger stage moves were crap. Maybe it was a little of both. Either way, this happened before Donaldson resurrected Skrewdriver in the early 80’s with a new line-up to help push his white nationalistic agenda.
Just like most of the bands on this list, Jewdriver was started during a drunken conversation between friends Ian Stuartstein, Max Bagels and Jay Oniskinswitz. The band originally toured under the name G.I. Jew for a while and played shows with then unknown bands like Green Day and Rancid. According to the bands Facebook bio, which I had to translate from German because the band has a large following over there (Post World War 2 Germany is very embracing of Jewish culture and art). Ian had a religious awakening and truly found his ‘’inner Jew’’ in 1996. He fired the entire band and formed Jewdriver. Bagels returned from a long stay in Israel in 2001 and rejoined Stuartstein in Jewdriver but not for long because Stuartstein fired the entire band again and started over with a new line up once more.
As I previously mentioned Jewdriver have a large following in Germany but also a large fan base of Zionist skinheads in their home country of America. Jewdriver is a great way for the band members and fans alike to celebrate their heritage and religion in a unique way. They also definitely piss of Nazis who can’t take a joke… which is hilarious.
Skrewdriver themselves weren’t always a racist band. During the 70’s they didn’t promote any sort of outward fascist or political agenda. They were more so known just for being very violent. An example of this is when Bob Geldof was beaten up onstage at a show where Skrewdriver were supporting the Boomtown Rats. ‘Doc Rat’ or possibly ‘Big Vince’ was a friend or fan, (depending on who’s telling the story, there are a few versions…) of Skrewdriver vocalist Ian Stuart Donaldson (Jewdriver’s vocalist calls himself Ian Stuartstein). Whoever it was, they either decided to beat up Geldof because they thought Skrewdriver’s sound had been hampered with by his band or as other versions of the story claim. It was purely because Boomtown Rats were terrible and Geldof’s pseudo-Jagger stage moves were crap. Maybe it was a little of both. Either way, this happened before Donaldson resurrected Skrewdriver in the early 80’s with a new line-up to help push his white nationalistic agenda.
Just like most of the bands on this list, Jewdriver was started during a drunken conversation between friends Ian Stuartstein, Max Bagels and Jay Oniskinswitz. The band originally toured under the name G.I. Jew for a while and played shows with then unknown bands like Green Day and Rancid. According to the bands Facebook bio, which I had to translate from German because the band has a large following over there (Post World War 2 Germany is very embracing of Jewish culture and art). Ian had a religious awakening and truly found his ‘’inner Jew’’ in 1996. He fired the entire band and formed Jewdriver. Bagels returned from a long stay in Israel in 2001 and rejoined Stuartstein in Jewdriver but not for long because Stuartstein fired the entire band again and started over with a new line up once more.
As I previously mentioned Jewdriver have a large following in Germany but also a large fan base of Zionist skinheads in their home country of America. Jewdriver is a great way for the band members and fans alike to celebrate their heritage and religion in a unique way. They also definitely piss of Nazis who can’t take a joke… which is hilarious.
The big tough racist
can’t handle people making fun of his favourite band? Mate, you should try
being a Juggalo.
There are A LOT more weird tribute bands out there. Here are a few honourable mentions:
There are A LOT more weird tribute bands out there. Here are a few honourable mentions:
Mac Sabbath: A McDonald’s themed tribute to Black Sabbath
Dread Zeppelin: They play reggae covers of Led Zeppelin with an Elvis impersonator on vocals. Even Robert Plant is a fan.
The Misfats: A Misfits tribute band who embrace fat culture. Check out ‘Hungry Moments’ and ‘Mommy Can I Go Out And Grill Tonight’.
Ace’s High: If you’ve ever seen early interviews of KISS, you’ll know he was most of the time. This is a tribute band that dress as different versions of Ace and only play songs written by him or related to him. There’s a short documentary about them on You Tube that is definitely worth checking out.
Beatallica: They play Beatles covers in the style of Metallica. Check out their album ‘Abbey Load’
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