I was out on ships when Rain was working as a “star act” for Royal Caribbean. I was told they were making about $10,000 per show at that time, so $40,000 per booking (4 shows over 2 nights. Obviously I never saw any check stubs, but it jibed given what other big acts out there were making at that time. Supposedly, the only act making more was Jerry Lewis, when he was out, which wasn’t often by then. This was mid-90’s.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Highest paid tribute band?
- Thread starter Swerve
- Start date
If you’re gonna go there, I’d say it would be the Stones or the Who in that regard. Sad decrepit nostalgia machines.
songwriter21
I have an obsession for wood. The musical kind.
I was in The Prince Project years back, and could've made it my full-time job (didn't want rely on the music biz for income, though). We/they got paid very well, and I have been filling in for them recently. They usually also get dinner provided, along with hotel rooms.
I remember a big distillery/brewery crowd that we played for in Virginia. All of the above, plus catering and two kegs of their beer just for us. Yeah, decent tributes can do well.
The attached pic is from a show I did with them last month, in Myrtle Beach. The crowd was spread out all over the venue, so a weird layout, but fun. Said show enabled me to pay off my Sweetwater account.
Attachments
Last edited:
My first concert was actually Skynyrd in the mid 90’s. I think they still had 3 or 4 original members then. I vividly remember the Mad Hatter himself on bass, Mr. Leon Wilkeson.
But now they are a true tribute act as no OG members are left in the band.
I know and have worked with a few regional / national tribute bands that are in the five digit price range and lots that are in the upper mid four digit price range.
Brit Floyd and Aussie Pink Floyd are at another level, they play LARGE thousands of seats venues in the Dallas/Fort Worth area every year, as I have friend who loves going to these shows so I usually tag along. No doubt both bands pay a hefty licensing fee to (re) use film footage and other graphical elements in addition to the music. Both appear to be full bands with backup singers. Great stuff especially if you want to hear those songs played pretty much like the album cuts we all know and love.
I was going to mention their name in jest. They are more of an evolution of an original band than a tribute band. I'm going to see them in September. Another example of that is Trooper. I don't believe they have any original members....weird.
There are a few out there making some serious coin. Tusk (Fleetwood Mac tribute) is one. Russian band Leonid & Friends is another. They do Chicago extremely well and they have been touring the states. There's a Prince tribute that's doing well. They're out there.
The 10 Most Popular Tribute Bands in the World (2026)
From Queen and Journey to Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, here are the 10 most popular tribute bands touring in 2026, plus dozens more worth booking.www.protributebands.com
I saw Tusq last year...very solid cover of Fleetwood Mac
That hippie band Darkstar Orchestra does real well. Quick google AI info: Dark Star Orchestra (DSO) income comes primarily from booking fees for private events and shows. They also generate income from royalties paid by venues for their performances. The band has been booked for events at costs ranging from $43,500 to $63,075 according to Seattle Entertainment Group
Passinwind
I know nothing.
- Dec 3, 2003
- 23,080
- 46,050
- Disclosures
- Designer/Toaster Tech @ Passinwind Electronics
Very, very well, going back to the mid-70s. Most don't worry about playing it like the record, the Dead certainly never did! Quite a few do replications of one specific show date though, which is easy given how many recordings are out there. So theoretically If I wanted to revisit my first show experience in NYC in 1971 I could...not that this has the slightest appeal to me personally.
The first ones that popped into my head were Aussie Floyd, The Fab Faux, and The Musical Box. Some might debate whether or not the Fab Faux is truly a tribute band because they are primarily focused on recreating the songs rather than going into character, replicating a stage show, etc., which is something The Musical Box has exceled at (though I don't think they're quite as good a show as they were in their first 10-15 years or so). But The Fab Faux are a DANG good show!
Of those three, I'd say that Aussie Floyd probably grosses the highest from their shows based on the sizes of venues I've seen them play in.
I always, somewhat jokingly, said that Heart could have been the world's best Led Zeppelin tribute band. They're huge fans of Zep to begin with and every time I've seen them them live in the past 20 years they've done at least a few Zep songs and absolutely nailed them.
Of those three, I'd say that Aussie Floyd probably grosses the highest from their shows based on the sizes of venues I've seen them play in.
I always, somewhat jokingly, said that Heart could have been the world's best Led Zeppelin tribute band. They're huge fans of Zep to begin with and every time I've seen them them live in the past 20 years they've done at least a few Zep songs and absolutely nailed them.
Last edited:
Skip, bassist from DSO is a friend of mine. He comes to lots of my gigs and sometimes sits in for a couple, just saw him Wednesday. I'll have to inquire.
Another close bud, Anthony Krizan, an amazing guitarist and song writer and played with the Spin Doctors recently started playing with an Eagles tribute. He's drumming and singing the Henley parts and both really well. They are doing huge shows. I must inquire.
Another close bud, Anthony Krizan, an amazing guitarist and song writer and played with the Spin Doctors recently started playing with an Eagles tribute. He's drumming and singing the Henley parts and both really well. They are doing huge shows. I must inquire.
I heard the title of the Who’s New album is going to be “Who’s Left?”
We opened for a Doors tribute act that filled a ballroom here in town way back in 1980.
I think they were called "Morrison Hotel ". Great guys, good hang.
But the tribute band thing wasn't as robust then. They were touring by van, old school.
Don't think they were getting rich, just getting by.
We were super impressed with their melty Psychedelic light show!
I think they were called "Morrison Hotel ". Great guys, good hang.
But the tribute band thing wasn't as robust then. They were touring by van, old school.
Don't think they were getting rich, just getting by.
We were super impressed with their melty Psychedelic light show!
Brass Transit has done very well indeed as a high-end touring Chicago tribute act, mostly playing to big soft seater audiences and with symphony orchestras. They're so good that the real Chicago (or what's left of them) poached Canadian Neil Donell from Brass Transit as their new lead singer back in 2018. Their drummer, Paul DeLong, is an amazing player and teacher. Many years ago, I had the very good fortune to play for a couple of years with him in a big band. (You know the old saying that you always want to be the worst player in the band...that may be, but it's nerve-wracking.) If Paul's the drummer for Brass Transit, you can imagine how good the players are. I suspect they are rewarded handsomely for their work.
