GrillSgt's Firepit

DGS

There are a lot of tribute bands out there. Some are really good… others, not so much. (And, of course there are impersonators… lots of Elvi in Las Vegas; but this is about tribute bands, not impersonators). Some of the more famous tribute bands (at least in Las Vegas) are…

• Atomic Punks (early Van Halen)
• Iron Maidens (Iron Maiden)
• Hotter Then Hell (KISS)
• Black Diamond (KISS)
• Metalshop (80s Hair Metal)
• Metal School (80s Hair Metal + comedy)

I came up with a different idea for a tribute band, Dead Guitarist Society. Rather than stick with one band, era, or genre, I thought it would be a cool idea to create a tribute band in which the only songs played are those that were performed by guitarists (bass included) who have died. With this idea, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of guitarists to choose from in a wide variety of genres (country, rock, pop, metal, jazz, etc.) from decades of recorded music.

I ran it by my good guitar jamming partner (’til I moved), Allen, and he liked the idea. We came up with a list, which you see below. Guess I need to start learning some tunes! More guitarists will be added to the list as I do research.

LET THERE BE ROCK!!!

Dead Guitarist Society Roll Call

Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix Experience

"Dimebag" Darrell
Pantera, Damageplan

Randy Phoads
Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne

Kurt Cobain
Nirvana

Jerry Garcia
Grateful Dead

Stevie Ray Vaughn
Stevie Ray Vaughn & Double Drouble

Elvis Presley

Steve Clark
Def Leppard

Criss Oliva
Savatage

Brian Jones
Rolling Stones

John Entwistle
The Who (Bass)

"Lonesome" Dave Peverett
Foghat, Savoy Brown, Lonesome Dave’s Foghat

Duane Allman
The Allman Brothers, Solo

Steve Gaines
Lynyrd Skynyrd

Allen Collins
Lynyrd Skynyrd

Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention

John Lennon
The Beatles, Solo

George Harrison
The Beatles, Solo

Duane Roland
Molly Hatchett

Johnny Ramone
The Ramones

Sid Vicious
The Sex Pistols

Robbin Crosby
Ratt

Ty Longley
Great White

Phil Lynott
Thin Lizzy

Hillel Slovak
Red hot Chili Peppers

Joe StrummerThe Clash, The Mescaleros

Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly & the Crickets

Robert Johnson

Albert King

John Lee Hooker

Jaco Pastorius (Bass)

Roy Orbison
The Travelling Wilburys, Solo

Gene Clark
The Byrds, Gene Clark Group

Rick Nelson

John Denver

Jim Croce

Richie Valens

Waylon Jennings
Buddy Holly & the Crickets, The Highwaymen, Solo

Johnny Cash
The Highwaymen, Solo

Cliff Burton
Metallica (Bass)

Benjamin Orr
The Cars (Bass)

Tom Fogerty
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Solo

Paul Kossoff
Free

Scott Smith
Loverboy (Bass)

Boz Burrell
Bad Company (Bass)

Johnny Thunders
New York Dolls

Tim Kelly
Slaughter

Brad Delp
Boston, Orion the Hunter, Barry Goudreau, Beatlejuice, Return to Zero

Luther Perkins
Johnny Cash

John Cipollina
Quicksilver Messenger Service

T-Bone Walker

Albert Collins

Alan Wilson
Canned Heat

Carl Wilson
The Beach Boys

Graham Parsons
The Byrds, The Flying Burrito Brothers

Cub Koda
Brownsville Station

Chuck Schuldiner
Death

Jeff Healy
Jeff Healy Band

Bo Diddley

more to come…