Cover Bands

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Last updated 04 08 11

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What are Cover Bands: 

A cover band (or covers band), is a band that plays mostly or exclusively cover songs. New or unknown bands often find the cover band format marketable for smaller gigs, and these bands may be known as a wedding band, party band and function band.

A band whose covers consist mainly of songs that were chart hits is often called a top 40 band. Many bands, however, start as cover bands and then grow to perform original material. For example, the Rolling Stones released three albums consisting primarily of covers before recording one of original material.

Cover bands play songs written and recorded by other artists, usually well-known songs (as compared to "original" bands which play music they themselves have written). There are a wide variety of cover bands - some cover bands play material from particular decades, for example a 1980s cover band. Others focus exclusively on the music of a particular group, usually iconic groups, and are called tribute bands: it is not uncommon to find Led Zeppelin tribute bands, Pink Floyd tribute bands, Oasis tribute bands, Aerosmith tribute bands, or U2 tribute bands.

Some cover bands will play a variety of song styles, of widely different artists, genres and decades. Another type of cover band is one that covers songs in a different genre or style than that of the original composition (e.g., jazz versions of what were originally hard rock songs).

Cover Bands

Aspiring musicians who wish to form a band have several different career paths from which to choose. Some may compose and perform original material created by the band members themselves, as in the case of Pink Floyd or Radiohead. Others, such as pop bands N'Sync and Backstreet Boys, may allow a management team to select material from outside songwriters. Another option is to cover the material of established bands, hence the designation cover band.

A cover band generally selects its material from a collective pool of musical interests and abilities. Individual cover band members may already have dozens of popular songs in their repertoire, but they must come to a meeting of the minds to decide which songs will remain on their performance list as a band. A cover band often limits its set lists to specific genres of music, such as country, blues, classic rock or Top 40.

Cover Bands

Many professional musicians begin their careers as members of a cover band, which gives them the opportunity to perfect their instruments or strengthen their voices before embarking on solo careers or original songwriting. Even the legendary British rock group the Beatles spent years working as a cover band in Germany, performing raw versions of American pop hits in local bars and nightclubs. As the band's interest in songwriting grew, they eventually added more original material to their set lists.

A cover band usually works in local or regional venues, primarily bars and small nightclubs. Occasionally, a very popular local cover band may be invited to open for a national act, but most work in relative obscurity. Many local bars hire a cover band in order to attract and retain customers, trusting that the band will perform a wide variety of songs. A cover band is not the same as a tribute band, however. While a cover band may work very hard to recreate the distinctive elements of the original artists, it is not obligated to create a note-for-note duplication.

Cover Bands

Some musicians find working in a cover band to be a satisfying experience. They have an opportunity to perform music by their favorite artists, and the work itself can be steady once the band becomes established. Others find working for a cover band to be restrictive artistically, since the material does not evolve over time and few cover bands break into the larger musical scene. It is not unusual to see a number of personnel changes within a local cover band, as individual members either quit the music business or pursue other musical interests.

A cover band is also not to be confused with a wedding band. A cover band may be hired to perform at private events such as weddings, but their song lists are not usually as varied as those of true wedding bands. A cover band is more likely to be hired as entertainment for local festivals, private parties or fundraisers.

Cover Bands