How To Form A Great Rolling Stones Tribute Act

Cover Band Explain Success As Mick Jagger and Co

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Rolling Stones Tribute Band - Andy Burgess
Rolling Stones Tribute Band - Andy Burgess
Rolling Stones tribute band frontman Andy Burgess discusses how his band 'The Bog Rolling Stones' went from cabaret singers to a hugely successful cover band.

By day, they're your average blokes who can be found bored out of their mind stood in front of a shop till or sat behind a computer.

But once night falls and the five friends from Portsmouth don their stripy trousers and mop head wigs, they transform almost effortlessly into five of Britain's 20th century music icons.

For together (from left to right) Jason Kaye, Ian Moss, Chris Gatland, Steve Wood and Andy 'Beefy' Burgess make the Bog Rolling Stones.

It was fourteen years ago that Beatles tribute act and pals of frontman Burgess, The Silver Beatles, suggested a move into the tribute scene.

Andy and friends all had experience playing cabaret shows and the like but none had achieved the success to suggest the band would even get off the ground.

However, the group seemed to click straight away and have grown to become one of the UK's most crowd-pleasing tribute bands.

From the classic guitar solos to the mad party atmosphere, the band are argued by many critics as THE most authentic Rolling Stones tribute band in the country.

How To Create A Successful Tribute Band

Andy told Suite101 it was two factors that have made the Bog Rolling Stones so popular. One of those is pure unadulterated love of Mick Jagger and the boys themselves.

He and his mates have all been to see The Rolling Stones live at least once and have made plans to go and see the guys perform at the new Wembley Stadium.

Andy insisted that you really have to appreciate the band you're imitating to do their act any sort of justice.

He pointed out the fact that the only member to have quit since the band formed in 1997 was the only one of them who hadn't heard the Rolling Stones live.

Andy's personal favourite tunes are 'Sympathy For The Devil' and '2000 Lightyears.' Both are classics which still send shivers down his spine today.

Beaming uncontrollably Andy said: "They were the innovators of this style of rock and roll and have inspired so many acts after them. They were all great showmen."

The other ingredient that has kept the band going so strong is simple; Fun. Fans can immediately grab hold of the pure enjoyment that the five Pompey lads radiate from the stage.

Yet despite the boys' skill and accuracy in recreating the Stones at their prime, their live performances remain very tongue in cheek.

Andy joked: "Sometimes I think I'm more Joe Cocker than Mick Jagger. Now and again I like to remind the crowd that I'm not Mick, I'm just having a bit of fun.

"I've seen a lot of tribute bands and some of them take themselves way too seriously. I've seen performers wear the costume in the car on the way home. That's too much.

"We just take the piss out of ourselves. We aren't serious. There's no management or money behind us. Venues just phone us up and if we're free we'll do it."

Bog Rolling Stones at The Wedgewood Rooms

Anyone who has recently spent New Year's Eve at Portsmouth's historic music venue The Wedgewood Rooms would find it easy to wholeheartedly agree with these sentiments.

Burgess and pals have seen many a New Year in by belting out their idols' hits with unmatchable energy and precision to an electric Wedgewood Rooms crowd.

Burgess said: "I'm spending New Year with my four best friends and hundreds more going wild below me. When midnight strikes, the first four people I shake hands with are my four best mates from the band. I wouldn't have it any other way.

"When midnight struck (last year) I was on stage, holding fake champagne in the air just taking it all in."

It is now thirteen years and counting and the Bog Rolling Stones are having so much fun that you wouldn't bet against them lasting as long as their real-life counterparts.

Joe Elvin, Joe Elvin

Joe Elvin - Having recently completed his BA (Hons.) Multi-Media Journalism degree from the globally acclaimed Media School at Bournemouth University, ...

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