Invasion of the tribute bands

Cover bands are big business...and these are the biggest

The Flaming Lips' cover version of Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" is out on vinyl in April and disc in May, and the band is even performing it in its entirety live in Central Park, the Bonnaroo Festival and various other venues this summer. But they're not about to quit their day job for Floyd. The Lips will leave that to these notorious tribute bands (like ABBA tribute act Björn Again, pictured), for whom homage is a full-time job. And who have actually become big business in their own right, bringing reliable showmanship, smarts and popular song catalogs to paying fans looking to hear music they love in the flesh—even if that flesh is someone else's.—Scott Thill, Special to Metromix

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