ESP Talk Radio

ESP have started what has amounted to a crusade against the cover bands which seem to be ruining our industry. To make their views known to the nation, Jason appeared on Tommy Boyds’ show on Talk Radio on June 1st. What follows is a transcript of that conversation.

Tommy     Jason calls from Stourbridge, your on Talk Radio Jason. Good afternoon what makes your angry ?
JasonGood afternoon Tommy
TommyJason
JasonTribute bands !!!!!
TommyHa, Ha, Ha, Ho Ho !!!!
JasonOh mate, there is such a problem in this country.
TommyYeah
JasonI play in a local band in the midlands called ESP
TommyYeah
JasonPeople will go and see these tribute bands on a Saturday night in their hundreds. We, as an original band, find it a constant struggle to get people to come out and see us play. For example, this weekend we are playing locally as support to an INXS covers band. The venue will not give original bands a chance on their own at weekends.
TommyOh god, this is good !!! I’ll tell you what really makes me angry is the way the word "tribute" is hijacked by so many nefarious, commercial activities whenever anybody dies. Other radio stations played Frank Sinatra records for about six weeks
JasonYeah
TommyAnd they called it "a tribute". It wasn’t a tribute it was another attempt to screw some dough out of anybody who’d listen. The same goes when Clint Eastwood dies. They will show all these Clint Eastwood films on Carlton and say it’s "a tribute" to Clint Eastwood. It isn’t, it’s just another excuse to sell some more chocolate bars or cars.
JasonHa, Ha, Ha. Yeah, I mean, all the people listening should pick up the local paper.
TommyYeah
JasonLook through the local paper and go out and see these original bands play, because if they don’t go and see and support these bands, eventually there will be no more tribute bands
TommyExactly
JasonBecause there will be no one to pay tribute too
TommyYes
JasonThese guys are making so much money
TommyYes
JasonOut of other peoples’ work
TommyYes
JasonAnd it really,really gets to me I’ll tell you
TommyAnd they’re not paying tribute
JasonThey’re making money
TommyYeah, but it’s not a tribute
JasonNo it’s not a tribute, it’s a scam.
TommyWhy don’t they call themselves what they really are, which is "Rip Off" bands
JasonRip off bands !!!
TommyRip off bands !!!
JasonI have often thought thought that our band would make more money if we were an ESP tribute band.
TommyYeah
JasonWe have often thought that to get noticed by anyone we’d have to become an ESP covers band. I mean, people seem to be more than happy to pay, I don’t know, £5 or £6 at a pub to see a bunch of kids who aren’t even close, they don’t look or sound like the bands they are paying tribute too. They don’t make any effort, in fact, they should put some effort into writing their own material and not copying other peoples work.
TommyWhat is a tribute band anyway, other than a bunch of failed musicians ?
JasonYeah !!!
TommyYeah !!!
JasonWho can’t write their own stuff !!!
TommyExactly
JasonI mean, we have a debut cd that we are have trouble moving simply because people say they haven’t heard of us. Of course they haven’t heard of us !!!!! They won’t go out and support these young, up coming bands.
TommyHmmmmm
JasonIt’s not just us though. There are thousands of other bands across the country with the same problem. It is killing the music scene in this country and it has got to be sorted out because it’s already gone too far !!!
TommyJason, thank you for your anger.