The Problem.

Cover bands, cover bands, everywhere you go.

Imagine a music business where all the music press talked about, all day long, was cover bands of old rock and pop groups.

Beatles cover bands, Rolling Stones cover bands, The Who cover bands, Led Zeppelin cover bands. Cover bands, cover bands, everywhere you go.

Meanwhile: Nirvana, Madonna, U2, Stevie Wonder, Vanessa Mae, Garth Brooks, and Daft Punk each get one paragraph in a “roundup” article.

Journalists constantly ask Metallica if the success of their new album means they’ve had “the call” to record a Zeppelin cover album, yet.

Every Shania Twain interview ends with someone asking: which Beatles album have you always wanted to cover, given the chance?

When Bono begs people to stop asking him about cover bands, and to talk about U2's own music instead, he gets called a snob.

No, no reason. You all carry on.

Antony Johnston
antonyjohnston.com | @antonyjohnston