There is a difference between reinventing your own creation, and simply not being able to play someone else's song correctly.
Just about every cover band member says the same thing "people like when we put our own flair on it". However, given the hundreds of people I've talked to in bars they always judge a cover band on "If I can close my eyes, and not be able to tell it's not the original artist...then they are a good cover band".
It's one thing for an original band to put a twist on a cover. However, when it's a cover band....people expect to hear a reproduction of the original recording, and will judge how good a cover band is on that.
That is one reason it can cost up to $150 to see the original artist do the material, but only a $5 cover to see someone copy them.
Bob suffers delusions of grandeur. That is why he is so over sensitive about the issue, and sees my point of view as an attack, and why he became such an ass (well that and it seems to be in his nature.
) If he would change his messy diaper, CAREFULLY re-read this thread, he would understand that since he has written original material...then he would be considered an artist. Instead he acted like someone took his rattle away. I can only hope he reads his music more carefully, as it might make him a better cover player.
Again, this is NOT taking anything away from the skill, and musicianship of anyone that plays in a cover band. I've seen some of the best musicians I've ever encountered playing in cover bands. However, some can not write, and have never written one original lick. Until they do.....they are not artist. They are either good, or bad copy machines.
What it really boils down to is...
...if you are happy doing what you do...why the hell do you give enough of a crap about what I think to throw a temper tantrum, attack anyone personally, flaunt your "experience" as "more than anyone", including the people you know nothing about, and stomp your feet screaming "you haven't done as much as I have!!!"?
Clearly my view stuck a nerve of truth that one does not like to face.