Sparkly's music-related mission

Bootleg Beatles was definitely one Beatles tribute band, but I imagine there were a few!

Nice! Well played, the Smyths. Simple is best, as my tortuous most recent effort above (below?) proves. 

Occasionally Mistaken -for-them in the Dark?  

Good question! I think it was "The Smyths".

Ex-Simple Minds because it had Derek Forbes and Brian McGee and the singer was a potential singer before Jim Kerr - he was very good and had some success himself back in the day.

I can't remember what the other were called.

Did they have clever names? 

Even Simpler Minds?

OMG? 

One of the strangest and most farcical things that ever happened in my little corner of the world was a very puritanical politician and his followers trying, in 1993. to get the ELO banned from performing a concert because of concerns over the 'sin, sex, and satanism' (I remember those exact words being used by these guys on the local news) that would supposedly explode in the local population should they strum as much as one note on their guitars or sing one lyric. 

I remember looking at my dad and going 'Did I hear that right? ELO!? The Mr Blue-sky guys?!' It caused much laughter when we realised that we had not misheard. Still not sure to this day if the protesting councillors had mixed them up with someone else, or if parts of this place were still such a throwback that they believed - like those who first heard rock and roll in the American bible belt - that listening to even the uplifting and optimistic of songs in the non-classical genre was the road to damnation. As opposed to, certainly in that case, merely a pleasant and nostalgic night out before going home for a nice cup of tea. 

Anyway, the ban didn't happen. Sanity prevailed! 

Tribute Acts were, for so long, panned by Bands. Back at the turn of the milenium, everyone wanted to sound like a cross between Jeff Buckley and Radiohead; having witnesssed everyone ape the Sixties Greats for half-a-decade.

However, people are sick of the modern tripe. So, we yearn for the old greats.

Every time I see your posts, I think what a lovely relationship you have.

I quite enjoy tribute bands. If you get a good one, they can be better in a way because

1. They are not so bored of playing the same songs that they do a downtempo twist of your favourite song and therefore ruining it.
2. They are not trying to plug their latest album and so mostly play the songs that you want to hear.

I've seen these tributes and loved them all.

• The Beatles
• The Smiths
• Simple Minds
• OMD

Thanks Debbie.

I found the following promo vid on YouTube. Although the lead vocalist's voice isn't quite the same as Jeff Lynne's and there are fewer members, the overall effect is pretty damn close. 

https://youtu.be/z08-lvNTDrg

Sporadic Sparkly said:

they won't look like ants on the stage.

Unless they are ants.

Tribute bands can be really good.

I hope you both have a thoroughly good time.