Top 25 Cover Band Songs Every Classic Rock Drummer Needs to Should Know

[Vistalite Black]

Let's say you have a fill-in gig in a month at a bar near the beach (or big lake) nearest you. To get ready for the 2 or 3 rehearsals the classic rock cover band may have, tell me what are the songs you'll most likely be playing.

For inspiration, here's the Top 25 Rock Songs You Need to Know to Play in a Classic Rock Cover Band:

25. Long Train Runnin’ – Doobie Brothers

24. Rock and Roll All Night – KISS

23. Crazy Train – Ozzy Osbourne

22. Your Love – The Outfield

21. Brick House – The Commodores

20. Rock and Roll – Led Zeppelin

19. Pride and Job – Stevie Ray Vaughan

18. Tush – ZZ Top

17. I Want You Want Me – Cheap Trick

16. Walk This Way – Aerosmith

15. I Love Rock and Roll – Joan Jett and the blackhearts

14. Roadhouse Blues – The Doors

13. Mustang Sally – Wilson Picket

12. Hard to Handle – Black Crowes

11. You Shook Me All Night Long AC/DC

10. American Girl – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

9. Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry

8. Summer of ’69 – Bryan Adams

7. Brown Eyed Girl – Van Morrison

6. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond

5. Jessie’s Girl – Rick Springfield

4. Livin’ on a Prayer – Bon Jovi

3. Sweet Child of Mine – Guns N’ Roses

2. Sweet Home Alabama – Lynyrd Skynyrd

1. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Journey

50 Rock Songs That Every Cover Band Musician Should Know

Having an extensive catalog of songs that you know how to play is essential for any successful musician and cover band. These are the songs that just about every band plays at some point (with lyrics).

spinditty.com

 

[Trilock_Gurtu]

Argh...I'm having flashbacks of bikers yelling for 'Born to be Wild'...

 

[JDA]

Count on VB! For every band in town to have the same set list I knew you'd come thru..

Always wanted to do " Starship Trooper"
Back (when 20 years old) then (1975) we did " 21st Century Schizoid Man" few could claim that in our area.

In Fact I'd like to do " Starship Trooper" now when/if gigs ever return
hmm. Wonder if that can be arranged in a funk/hiphop/ vibe..

 

[Houndog]

I hope I never do another classic rock gig .

 

[JDA]

100% Dog..I can't do 'em.

8 minutes of "Going Down" or " Before you Accuse Me" and I'm calling' an ambulance..not to mention the " Black Magic Woman " trilogy
"Cold Shot" could lead to a murder scene

For a while there " Gimme One Reason" was the cause of many bar rioting
I like to Blow Audiences away- not give them what they expect
Or play a kinder gentler music to another (type of) crowd

 

[TomR]

Argh...I'm having flashbacks of bikers yelling for 'Born to be Wild'...

...and Magic Carpet Ride.

I would add to the list: a few CCR songs, Can't You See, Folsom Prison, Honky Tonk Women, a few Eagles songs, Keep Your Hands Off Yourself, Listen To The Music, Margaritaville, Stuck In The Middle, Wonderful Tonight.

 

[Polska]

Funny, I've been playing in all kinds of cover bands for 35 years and I think I've only ever played 4 of those songs live.

 

[Houndog]

Funny, I've been playing in all kinds of cover bands for 35 years and I think I've only ever played 4 of those songs live.

You are fortunate and very smart as well , I can surmise by the Marillion influence ..

 

[mpungercar]

I've played 23 of those 25, along with several hundred others. The only two I haven't done are I Love Rock and Roll, and Jessie's Girl.

 

[Grooovepig]

These songs, as well as others, afford me the opportunity to have a good time.....playing music...with my friends...to large amounts of dancing people....with free food and drinks (usually)....AND I get paid!!! I'll take that deal all day long.

I never understood the snobby, look down your nose attitude that some have toward cover material. I like to work. But hey, that's me.....carry on.

 

[cworrick]

So, where's the list for the Country Gigs?

and the Western Gigs.

 

[Houndog]

These songs, as well as others, afford me the opportunity to have a good time.....playing music...with my friends...to large amounts of dancing people....with free food and drinks (usually)....AND I get paid!!! I'll take that deal all day long.

I never understood the snobby, look down your nose attitude that some have toward cover material. I like to work. But hey, that's me.....carry on.

I’ve played tons of cover only gigs .
It just ceased being fun for me . Once you’ve been in bands that do originals it spoils you . I’m fortunate to not need the $$ and I just grew really tired of being in bars every weekend .

 

[Tama CW]

I don't think even one of those songs was played by the band in "Road House."

 

[DSDrummer]

I've played half of them over the years.
I'm one of the few musicians I know -- the only? -- who likes playing Mustang. It's got a great groove, and the full dance floor always makes this drummer feel good.

 

[Polska]

I'm of the belief that there are plenty of popular songs out there that will still get you gigs, and still keep the crowd happy and/or dancing, without having to resort to "Mustang Sally" for example.

 

[JDA]

"Yes there's a certain point where education can be harmful"..

I never understood

"Best sometimes, to just stay in one spot. Like Forever."
(how do people do that? I've never understood...."
I've actually found it in high-end jazz players; I'd notice they'd repeat/play/same songs/ over and over/ gig to gig/ so it works in mysterious ways..

 

[moodman]

is this leading to hybrid drums?
Covering has more than one form, there is 'tribute' covering, note for note, and then making it fit the strengths or weakness's of your particular band, or making it your own, I've heard the quote "why cover something unless you can improve upon it?" I would consider the note for note to be where you might want samples but, as other discussions here point out, the audience might not notice.

 

[Rufus T Firefly]

Count on VB! For every band in town to have the same set list I knew you'd come thru..

Always wanted to do " Starship Trooper"
Back (when 20 years old) then (1975) we did " 21st Century Schizoid Man" few could claim that in our area.

In Fact I'd like to do " Starship Trooper" now when/if gigs ever return
hmm. Wonder if that can be arranged in a funk/hiphop/ vibe..

I remember one night, I was playing with a band in the Chicago-land area. I don't recall what song we were playing but we were losing the crowd's attention. We kinda looked at each other like, "hey if they're not into it lets just do something for ourselves" and we somehow morphed into the jam section towards the end of "Starship Trooper". We'd never played it together before but we were all big Yes fans and knew the song well. Anyway we were having a blast - and the kicker is that we got the crowd back in the process. This would have been around 1984.

 

[mfry2112]

I like the B-sides, and when it comes to classic rock there’s definitely enough to keep everyone real interested

 

[JDA]

18 or 20..

 

[hsosdrum]

Let's say you have a fill-in gig in a month at a bar near the beach (or big lake) nearest you. To get ready for the 2 or 3 rehearsals the classic rock cover band may have, tell me what are the songs you'll most likely be playing.

For inspiration, here's the Top 25 Rock Songs You Need to Know to Play in a Classic Rock Cover Band:

....[snip]....

In my cover-band days (mid-late '70s, before it was called 'classic rock') we played prog: Yes, ELP, Jeff Beck, Zep, Hendrix and Deep Purple, as well as originals and a few 'contemporary hits' like "Slow Ride", "Ridin' The Storm Out", "Frankenstein", "Shinin' On", "Ballroom Blitz" and others.

At 67+ years old my days playing other people's dance music are LOOOOOOOOOOONG gone, although some of those songs (like "Ballroom Blitz" and "Frankenstein") were a blast to play!