The "people who play in covers bands aren't musicians and have just sold their souls etc" thing is pure snobbery, and the sort of attitude that pisses me off quicker than almost anything else (with the possible exception of the Daily Mail, wasps and Simon Cowell). Anyone who trots out that line is basically a twunt of the highest order.
Pete summed it up for me when he said[quote]the integrity lies in using whatever talent you have to produce the best results that you can and in doing that, giving your audience a good time[/quote]
EDIT: NWOBHM = New Wave Of British Heavy Metal. In the main, it was pretty much as dreadful as it sounds.
With the obvious exceptions, e.g. Johngh's band, whoever they were.