A tour of over eighty dates over a year and a half in arenas and other large venues until April 2027, a tour bus that travels the country to bring the sixteen musicians and technicians of the group safely every morning: this is not the routine of a recent winner of a Victoire de la Musique, but that of the Goldmen, a group that hasn’t even written a single song.
Since 2010, this formation from Hauts-de-France has been covering the repertoire of Jean-Jacques Goldman. “Today, we benefit from exceptional conditions,” enthuses singer Alain Stevez, who recalls the days when musicians had to do it all. “My guitar is brought to me on stage, I no longer have to tune it. It’s such a comfort.”
The Goldmen are part of the family of tribute bands. These specialized formations in covering songs of a group or singer who generally no longer performs live, like Jean-Jacques Goldman, who last appeared in 2004 at the Francofolies de La Rochelle.
While dance bands have always played standards, tribute bands in the 21st century have elevated cover performances by specializing in the repertoire of an artist and often adding a scenography reminiscent of the original concerts. They offer true shows capable of attracting hundreds, even thousands of people for the most ambitious.
“Today, the public is willing to pay several tens of euros to see a tribute,” notes Philippe Tassart, the producer of Goldmen, who has contributed significantly to the success of one of the pioneers in the genre, the Rabeats. These success stories have led to the multiplication of tribute proposals for artists like Edith Piaf, Queen, Abba, Dire Straits, and more.
The phenomenon of tribute bands goes beyond just a trip down memory lane, as many of these musical clones pay homage to active singers or groups like Muse, Indochine, and AC/DC. The experience of attending a tribute concert offers a live and authentic experience, a shared moment with like-minded music lovers.
The popularity of tribute bands raises questions about their sustainability. As long as the original group has enough hits to offer a full show of covers, there’s no reason for the trend to fade. However, a saturation point may be reached if there are too many tribute bands covering the same artist in a geographical area.
In the end, what sets a tribute band apart is not just visual resemblance but also the voice and tone of the performers. Each tribute band brings its own interpretation to the music they cover, offering a unique experience for fans.
