The tribute act is big business. Ever since they came into fruition in the 1960s, almost anyone who’s had a big hit has been impersonated. It’s not just sounding like the artist; you have to dress like them, and if they play an instrument, make it sound like it’s them in the room. When there are hundreds of bands trying to be a tribute act to the same artist, then you need to stand out. You need to find a new gimmick. Put a comedy twist or merge the band with another extreme style. So, as the Big Fake Festival is this weekend, we scoured the internet to look for some of the weirdest and most extreme tribute bands and chose five (with some honourable mentions) to give attention to. This week, The Beat Marches On to 4th September 2026, the start of the Big Fake Festival.
Dread Zeppelin
What do you get if you cross one of the world’s biggest rock bands, give their songs a reggae revamp, and give them a late-career Elvis Presley impersonator as their singer? Well, you get Dread Zeppelin.
Formed in 1989 and arguably the first tribute act to change the style of the original band significantly, the band took LA by storm. They released several albums on IRS Records (label mates with REM at the time), and even Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant said he was a fan and actually preferred this band’s version of Your Time Is Gonna Come.
Like most 1970s bands of the era, they had a disco moment with their third album, It’s Not Unusual, but then they went back to covering Zeppelin afterwards.
They went on hiatus in 2016 after performing in 49 countries and 1001 mash-ups. The band came into the limelight again in 2024 when a documentary was produced. It’s available on YouTube.
Mac Sabbath
Formed in 2014 and self-described as drive-thru metal, Mac Sabbath is a mash-up of Heavy Metal pioneers Black Sabbath and fast-food restaurant McDonald’s. They consist of Ronald Osbourne on vocals, Slayer McCheese on guitar, Grimalice on bass and the Catbugular on drums. They all dress as their McDonald’s counterparts on stage.
They started to get attention in 2015 when a few of the music press sites started reporting about them. Then in 2018 they performed for Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne as part of a reality show he and his son Jack was recording, and he loved it.
They haven’t released many songs and aren’t even on Spotify, but there are a couple of videos on YouTube. Par-A-Buns (Paranoid) and Sweet Beef (Sweet Leaf). The band’s live repertoire does consist of other Sabbath song punery such as Frying Pan (Iron Man) and Zipping Up the Uniform (Symptom of the Universe)
The Mac are still touring throughout the US and have a new tour starting in October. With Clownvis Presley as support.
Richard Cheese
Have you ever wondered what rock and rap music would sound like if one of the Rat Pack sang it? Well, good news because that is exactly what you get with Richard Cheese and the Lounge Against the Machine.
The band formed in 2000 and features Bobby Ricotta on piano, Frank Feta on drums, and Billy Bleu on bass, along with Cheese singing. They have released 30 albums and are arguably the only band to feature in the Lego Batman Movie and Dawn of the Dead.
Some of their lounge covers include Guns N’ Roses’ Welcome to the Jungle, where the intro on piano may sound better than the original guitar, a flamenco version of U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday, which is hilarious, and a surprisingly good mash-up of Metallica’s Enter Sandman and Mr Sandman. You can also hire him for your wedding, bar mitzvah, and corporate events, which the royal family allegedly did for Prince William and Kate’s wedding.
Koi Division
Not to be confused with the aquatic supplies shop, Koi Division are a Joy Division covers band where the members are dressed as fish. Self-described as the only fish goth Joy Division parody covers band that matters, they use fish puns in their song titles: Lures Will Catch us a Carp (Love Will Tear Us Apart) and Trout Fishin’ (Transmission).
The band consists of Ian Clownfish on guitar and vocals, Hook on bass and sea synth, Bernard Salmon on guitar and Steve Moray on drums and are based in LA. They have a few videos on YouTube and have released an EP called An Ideal for Fishing, released in 2020.
Unfortunately, that was the last time the band’s website was updated, and the band’s live performances are now quite sparse, with the last one in December 2024; maybe the world isn’t ready for a fish-based goth parody band just yet.
The Ian Duncan Smiths
How do you get political satire into your cover band? Of course you take one of Manchester’s premier bands, a forgettable ex-conservative leader and mash them together.
Formed in 2015, releasing many anti-Tory songs through the website Bandcamp based on the party’s policies. They consist of Ian ‘Psycho’ Duncan Smith, Ian ‘Laughing Boy’ Duncan Smith, Ian ‘The Quiet One’ Duncan Smith, and Ian ‘The Other Quiet One’ Duncan Smith, all on guitars and vocals. They even released an album named after the politician’s memoir.
Over the years, they have ventured out from just Duncan Smith criticising ex-Prime Minister David Cameron about the pig-gate scandal; they added a fifth member, ‘Borissey ’, and criticized his reaction to the Covid pandemic, and even parodied Keir Starmer with ‘Starmzy ’, and have ventured out to the Royal Family. As there are only so many Smiths songs, they’ve had to venture into other artists’ back catalogues such as ELO and The Police. Unfortunately, the band have seemed to have gone quiet recently, as their last release was three years ago.
Honourable mentions
GABBA – An ABBA tribute band played in the style of the Ramones.
Beatallica – A mash-up of The Beatles and Metallica.
Blobbie Williams – A fat Robbie Williams tribute act.
Elvana – A Nirvana tribute band with an Elvis impersonator singing.
Mini-Kiss – A little person Kiss tribute act.
The Red Hot Chilli Pipers – A Red Hot Chilli Peppers tribute with bagpipes.
The Misfats – Punk band The Misfits on the larger side
The Beat Marches On is a music blog written by Jimmy Whitehead. Jimmy has been blogging for nine years, specialising in Sports (especially American Football). If you want to follow Jimmy on Twitter: @Jimmy_W1987
The Beat Marches On has a Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/The-Beat-Goes-On-Blog-107727714415791 and an X page: @TheBeatGoesOnB1
Websites used for research were:
10 Of The Funniest Ever Tribute Bands
Dread Zeppelin — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews | AllMusic
Koi Division is the only fish-based Joy Division cover band you need
RICHARD CHEESE & LOUNGE AGAINST THE MACHINE – WELCOME!
The Iain Duncan Smiths Albums: songs, discography, biography, and listening guide – Rate Your Music
If you want to request a story for The Beat Marches On blog, you can contact jwhiteheadjournalism@gmail.com. We cannot guarantee that the story will be published, but it will be considered.