I find good tribute bands are good. Sometimes you can`t see the real band as they are either dead, or packed up.
When does an original band become a tribute band. Lynyrd Skynyd? I saw the Four Tops a few years ago and there was only one member left. Were they really a tribute band?Are From The Jam a tribute band as it contains Bruce Foxton? Queen without Freddie Mercury? Even if they have all the band in it, without Freddie, is it just a tribute.
I think most decent tribute bands have a place. You can pay £15 at the local guildhall, or pay £80 for a crap seat plus travel and added extras for the original.I think it is telling when I pay the same for original bands, as I do for Limehouse Lizzy for example. Which brings me to, were Thin Lizzy only a tribute band after Phil Lynott died?