Joined a Priest Tribute, need opinion....

[sully]

being someone whose been in a trib band, i say pick the songs you want and play em. since you're not the real band, don't get all caught up in the "authenticity" of it all.

when we had good shows and completed the entire set, sometimes we'd play bark at the moon. it confused the living shit out of people, and it was a hell of a lot of fun. nothing like seeing paul stanley sing ozzy tunes.

your band should be called "steel dragon" though.

sully

[SEEGERMANY]

IMO, if you're going to be a "tribute" band, you need to do as much as possible to look, sound, and act like the band you're paying tribute to. Anything less and you're a Judas Priest "cover" band. I'm pretty sure Sully dressed as Ace, nevermind, I know he did and he more than likely played a Les Paul. Imagine a flyer drawn up and posted showing a picture of a Judas Priest Tribute band and everyone looks like BillZ!

People are going to say "WTF! These dudes don't look anything like Priest! Tribute my ass!"

[Cleveland Metal]

Yeah, Tribute does lead you to believe it's the whole shabang... You're right...

Essentially, we're just a Priest cover band... Sigh... (Hangs head in shame)

At least we sound like them, haha...

[lerxstcat]

IMO, if you're going to be a "tribute" band, you need to do as much as possible to look, sound, and act like the band you're paying tribute to. Anything less and you're a Judas Priest "cover" band. I'm pretty sure Sully dressed as Ace, nevermind, I know he did and he more than likely played a Les Paul. Imagine a flyer drawn up and posted showing a picture of a Judas Priest Tribute band and everyone looks like BillZ!

People are going to say "WTF! These dudes don't look anything like Priest! Tribute my ass!"

The Iron Maidens don't look like the guys in Iron Maiden and they are probably the biggest tribute band around, except maybe the Atomic Punks. They have toured the world which I don't think the Atomic Punks have even done.

[Robert Hendrix]

I think it depends on the band you're paying tribute to. If you're tributing a band that relied on image and looks ala Poison, Motley Crue, Styper or just about any of the 80s style "Glam/Hair" Bands, then, yeah, you'd probably want to come as close as you can to the looks as possible, at least in the costume category. If you're tributing a band that uses a certain look as part of thier signature, yeah. I could you imagine going to see an AC/DC tribute act without seeing the lead guitarist in the schoolboy suit?

On the other hand, I've seen some tribute acts that look totally rediculous because of thier attempt to look like the band. Like the ZZTop tribute I saw recently with the obvious fake beards, or the Van Halen Tribute where the singer was wearing the DLR "Eat em and Smile" makeup and head dress.

Personally, I don't worry near as much about the looks as I do the music and the show. but there should at least be elements of the look and with Priest, there should be leather, and a good amount of it. There hair would be a plus, but to me, it wouldn't be as important as the music.

[Soap]

Yeah, Tribute does lead you to believe it's the whole shabang... You're right...

Essentially, we're just a Priest cover band... Sigh... (Hangs head in shame)

At least we sound like them, haha...

I don't want to get too ahead here, but its certainly a thought I'd be having if I was in John's shoes.
That is, play the music as accurate/identical as possible and you will not only draw crowds, but musical doors/opportunities will avail themselves.
These tribute bands that stand out "musically" get scouted, bottomline.

Its having the right perspective that sustains and solidifies what you do.

Stay pure to the music and this will be an enjoyable and memorable ride.
Wigs, leather, ear rings, chains and etc come and go but musicians never go out of style.

[SEEGERMANY]

Yeah, Tribute does lead you to believe it's the whole shabang... You're right...

Essentially, we're just a Priest cover band... Sigh... (Hangs head in shame)

At least we sound like them, haha...

Hey, I'm just stating my opinion. It's not about being right or wrong. I just know that when I've seen tribute bands (KISS ARMY, Satisfaction, etc, etc), they did the whole routine. The most important thing to remember is to have fun. When you do, that gravitates to the audience and they have fun too.

Hell, keep the shaved heads and call yourself The Halfords.

[Top Jimmy B]

Play the Fight and Halford songs and enjoy playing live again, man.

[Cygnus X1]

Play the Fight and Halford songs and enjoy playing live again, man.

That is the bottom line.
I happen to fall on the Priest side of metal anyways, so I'm biased.

If your Type A singer wants to do it, go for it.
I would would happy (as a Priest fan) to hear the Halford material, just not too much.
It's not as if the you're comparing Van Halen to Van Hagar.
Not enough attention drawn away to really worry about.

[toejam]

The problem with your analogy is that MOM sucks REALLY badly, while Halford's solo stuff is great, other than TWO.

But John Lowery played in TWO, and he's better than both Glenn and K.K.

[VitaminG]

But John Lowery played in TWO, and he's better than both Glenn and K.K.

he also played in Marilyn Manson, proving that his involvement doesn't necessarily make the music good

[85 San Dimas]

I think it depends on the band you're paying tribute to..........the Van Halen Tribute where the singer was wearing the DLR "Eat em and Smile" makeup and head dress.

:ROTF::ROTF::ROTF::ROTF::ROTF:

God what I would have given to see that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pix? Youtube? ANYTHING!!!!!!!! Best story I've heard in months!

There is NO WAY you could have seen something that tremendous and not have taken pictures. LOL. That would be like witnessing the Hindenburg crash, Gandhi, Jesus, or Nils Lofgren!
Someone in THAT Roth get-up is probably in that makeup to hide his face from potential neghbors or co-workers in the audience.

[442w30]

I voted for doing the newer songs, but now having second thoughts.
If I want to see a cover band, I want the covers - not solo stuff. Now if it's a Halford cover band, that would be more correct.

I dig the obscure stuff too - but my favorite album is point of entry too, so FWIW.....

I'd say pull out the more obscure ones that I'd do are:
- reckless
- burnin up
- starbreaker
- bloodstone
- dissident aggressor
- devil's child

or do my preference and go with the not-so-ambiguously gay songs like

- don't go
- take it all the way
- raw deal
- jawbreaker
- ram it down
- hard as iron
- you say yes
- troubleshooter
- hot rockin'
- pain and pleasure


If you did do halford tunes, these are some of my favorites:
- crucible
- wrath of god

good luck , but I would at the very most sneak 1-2 Halford/fight tunes in and see how they are recieved or bill it as a "halford of priest" cover band.

You couldn't pick a better band to cover!

[Evol]

Or going to see a Van Halen Tribute band that has a keyboard player and does Van Hager songs!!!

Kinda funny since the real Van Halen did "I Can't Drive 55" live....

Coming from someone who played in a "tribute" band for years (Kiss band with a female Paul haha) I say play what you want, the solo stuff has a connection, and if the singer can pull it off and the crowd loves it, then there you go, that's worth WAY more than what some "purist" thinks.

[Cleveland Metal]

This is what we're working on now. Pretty much what the singer thinks he does well and pretty much the order played.

Resurrection/Halford
Painkiller
Burn In Hell/Jugulator-Owens
The Sentinal
Victim Of Changes
Life in Black/Halford-Fight
The Ripper

The Hellion
Electric Eye
Another Thing Coming

Into the Pit/Halford-Fight
Heading Out To The Highway
Beyond The Realms Of Death

Hell Bent For Leather
Breaking The Law
Metal Gods/ ugh...
Sinner
The Green Manalishi




Soon to add:

Screaming for Vengeance
Riding on the Wind
Cheater
Tyrant
Diamonds and Rust

and a few others...