As writer Rob Garratt noted in The National's Arts & Life section yesterday, we are not only attracting the world's biggest artists, but are also awash with "tribute" acts. Musicians emulating Abba, Bon Jovi, The Killers, R Kelly and Madonna have graced our stages in recent months, and a band called Think Floyd is due on stage at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club tonight.
The attractions of copycat acts are many. Unlike the original artists, they always play the songs fans want to hear, they often appear at intimate venues and ticket prices are reasonable. In 1982, The Jam played five sold-out nights at London’s 12,000-seat Wembley Arena; last month, From The Jam performed to several hundred people in an Abu Dhabi hotel ballroom for Dh100.
While tribute acts may never be better than the real thing, in many cases – such as those who impersonate Elvis and Michael Jackson – they offer fans their only chance to relive the musical magic.
