So the premise of this thread is that because original music does not grow out of a vacuum but is influenced by other original acts, then by default cover songs are just as "artistically valid"? Yeah, ok...
And for the record; this is not me slagging off cover bands, I've been in one my self and I loved every minute of it. So if that's Your thing; more power to ya!
But there's still a huge difference between playing covers (even if you are doing Your own twist on them) and creating originals.
Oh yeah, in the spirit of the thread, this is what my band was doing 15 years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QH6yWD9WuE
I enjoy the music, but I must say, Rammstien and Sepultura