Flightless Bird: "Tribute Bands"

Host: David Farrier
Date: January 13, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, David Farrier dives into the strange, thriving world of tribute bands—groups who meticulously re-create the music, stage presence, and production of iconic acts, often outlasting the originals themselves. David, a New Zealander marooned in America, sets out to unravel the appeal of tribute bands, what sets them apart from cover bands, their unique culture, and why so many musicians find their home performing as someone else. The episode mainly follows the story of Dirty Deeds, a highly successful ACDC tribute band based in Massachusetts, and explores the broader tribute scene through interviews with its members.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Defining Tribute Bands vs. Cover Bands

• Tribute bands aim not only to perform the songs but to inhabit the original band/artist's persona, sound, and theatrical style.
• Cover bands play a broader selection of songs, often casually, and aren't focused on faithfully re-creating a single act.
• Notable quote:
  • Jimmy (Dirty Deeds, 22:18):

    "A cover band... just for the drunken people at the bar. A tribute band, to me, is when you're each playing a real person's role in the original band or you're trying to replicate the sound of the album. So it's like you're tributing something that exists in a way that you’re familiar with versus just throwing the music out there."

2. The Origin and Popularity of Tribute Bands

• Tribute bands started to thrive in places like Australia and New Zealand, where access to global acts was rare.
• The phenomenon has exploded in America, especially as classic acts retire or certain members pass away, growing into a lucrative, organized circuit with dedicated rosters and fans.
• Notable quote:
  • David (3:48):

    "Tribute bands have always fascinated me. I think they're almost more interesting than the actual bands because there's just so much weird stuff going on."

3. Dirty Deeds: Inside a Professional Tribute Band

• Jimmy, the 30-year-old rhythm guitarist, entered the world via another tribute band ("ADHD"), before getting tapped for Dirty Deeds after being seen in a Facebook video.
• Dirty Deeds is marked by a wide age range—from Jimmy to their founder and frontman Bob, age 76.
• The band averages 50–70 shows a year in 500–1,000 seat theaters, mostly on the US East Coast and Midwest.
• Performance is theatrical and immersive, likened to a Broadway production, involving media, pyrotechnics, and careful recreation of ACDC’s live feel.
• Notable quote:
  • Jimmy (23:03):

    "We think of it more of a Broadway production... there's media, there's pyrotechnics, there's things that go along with each song. So it's like a flow from the beginning to the end of ACDC’s career."

4. The Bizarre, Competitive, and Emotional World of Tributes

• The tribute scene is "booming," featuring festivals composed exclusively of tribute acts for every major band.
• The ecosystem: Some tribute bands are now tributes to other tribute bands; others combine two classic bands in one (e.g., "Foreigner's Journey").
• Competition can be fierce and sometimes comical, with rival bands seeking each other's proprietary stage designs.
• Even original members like Mick Fleetwood have started tribute acts to their own bands for business reasons.
• Notable quote:
  • Jimmy (31:02):

    "Some tribute bands are not tributing the original band, but they're tributing another tribute."

5. Why Musicians Choose the Tribute Path

• There’s an external perception that playing in a tribute band means you're not "good enough" for original music.
• Many, however, are passionate musicians, turned to tribute work for stability, joy, and love of the music, often after close brushes with wider fame that didn’t pan out.
• Chris (in his 50s) and Bob (late 70s) both came from original band backgrounds and highlight how tribute work has sustained their careers and love for performing.
• Notable quote:
  • Chris (34:16):

    "When you love to play...[music] motivates us to just...be better. Because his band [Bob’s] was so good, you know, it just blew us away."

6. Audience & Community

• Tribute bands often perform in restored, community-run theaters in small towns, bringing classic music to people otherwise unable to see the real deal.
• The crowds range from die-hard fans who never got to see the originals to families introducing the next generation.
• The band sees their role almost as ambassadors, connecting music with overlooked communities.

7. The Art of Imitation & Fandom

• Tribute musicians obsessively study their counterparts—not just the notes, but the on-stage mannerisms and even “genetic similarity” in vocalists.
• There's pride in perfecting "the moves" to delight dedicated fans, sometimes to the point of neurotic commitment.
• Memorable story:
  • Jimmy (41:26):
    A mishap with a stage wig leads Jimmy to knock over an entire wall of amps at a festival—he recovers, keeps playing through the chaos, guitar intact.

8. The Elusive Bob: Legacy and Philosophy

• The band’s founder, Bob, is depicted by others as a “mythical legend,” difficult to pin down for an interview, but the heart of Dirty Deeds.
• Ultimately, David corners Bob in the tour van, who emphasizes that real tribute requires love and care for both music and persona—you can't fake it.
• Bob wants the band to outlast him, continuing the tradition and spirit long after he's gone.
• Notable quotes:
  • Bob (46:42):

    "To be a tribute band, you’ve got to be into the people you’re doing, the character, the music, what they stand for...what makes you a good tribute band is everyone...cares about who they’re doing and why."

  • Bob (49:42):

    "I want this band to continue when I’m done...when I pass this on, pass the torch, they’re all younger, and I want to keep bringing younger people in...I want them to continue for another 10, 20 years."

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On why tribute bands exist:

  • David (3:35):

    "Tribute bands are more than just cover bands. They exist to encapsulate not just the music, but also the personalities and stage presence and production of the real band. Sometimes they exist while the actual band still exists. Others live on after..."

• Jimmy on skill vs. imitation:

  • Jimmy (24:00):

    "There's a difference between playing the song, and playing it like the artist...if you don’t play it like Malcolm Young, with the ferocity of his pick attack...it just sounds boring. You have to really put the effort in to get those little things down."

• Chris on highs and lows:

  • Chris (34:16):

    "I've been in a huge studio with a Grammy Award winning producer...And to watch it all just go away and then be right back to square one...but you pick up the pieces, because if you love to play..."

• On the emotional endurance of performance:

  • Chris (45:15):

    “When we’re on stage, our age dynamic doesn’t matter... we’re all 20, we’re all kids. You just feel like a kid when you play.”

• Jimmy on audience reaction:

  • Jimmy (42:24):

    "We do get a fair share of kids, which is cool...but definitely people that like, love AC/DC and always did...It's the best. Like, people, you know, seeing these people let loose..."

• Bob’s view on the band’s future:

  • Bob (49:44):

    "I’m hoping that they get the experience from me that I’ve dealt with all these years. So when I pass this on, pass the torch, they’re all younger...I want it to continue..."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:25–04:56: Opening banter; What even is a tribute band?
• 05:25–13:09: David and Rob’s initial take on tribute bands, American/LA experience, and snobbery factor
• 16:01–24:38: Chapter 1: Sunderstruck — Jimmy's introduction to ACDC and early tributes
• 27:30–32:43: The touring/venue circuit and the parallel universe of tribute band festivals
• 32:43–37:00: Chris’s career trajectory and reflections on fame, failure, and tribute
• 38:02–40:17: The elusive Bob and the band’s age-range dynamic
• 40:17–45:09: Living as "Malcolm Young" and audience/fan impact in small town America
• 45:53–50:27: Interview with Bob; philosophy, passion, legacy
• 53:54–63:06: David and Rob’s analysis, reactions, personal experiences, and business questions
• 63:06–64:54: Tributes, the business model, and the future—plus on franchised tributes (like The Hives)
• 65:05–67:20: The “un-AI-able” human element in performance and podcasting
• 67:56–End: Closing banter, Patreon announcements, community building

Tone and Language

• The episode is curious, irreverent, self-aware, and empathetic, with David’s signature blend of fascination and Kiwi dry humor.
• There’s a mix of playful ribbing, personal anecdote, and deep respect for both the weirdness and the heart of the tribute band scene.

Conclusion

Flightless Bird’s "Tribute Bands" episode explores how tribute acts offer more than nostalgia—they are vibrant communities, creative outlets, and in many cases, the glue connecting legendary music to fans in every corner of America. For Dirty Deeds and their peers, it's both passion and profession, sustained by pride in the act of perfect emulation and the joy of giving a crowd what they want—even if it’s just a little bit of borrowed thunder.

For fans of live music, pop culture oddities, and the strange American ecosystems between icon, imitator, and audience, this episode is both a fun ride and unexpectedly moving.