Iowa bill would ban acts without original members

A member of the Iowa legislature has proposed a bill that would make it unlawful to advertise or produce a concert by an act claiming to be a classic group if it didn’t have at least one original member.

Bob Dvorsky said he introduced the legislation after talking about the idea with Jon “Bowzer” Bauman, a former member of Sha Na Na, during a recent tour stop.

Similar bills have passed in 33 other states. The bills differentiate between “performing groups” and “recording groups,” with the latter being seen as legitimate because at least one member appeared on a recording under the group’s name. All bets are off if the performing group has a right to the name through trademark.

The Iowa bill would block performances that don’t meet the standard and administer a civil penalty of up to $40,000 per incident.

That’s all well and good, and from a legal standpoint it makes sense. But it in no way ensures a level of quality even in groups that pass that test. There are many bands on the road with just one original member, or even less in the case of some, where a latter day drummer or bassist carries on under the name. Having covered my share of fairs, holiday celebrations and such as a newspaper critic, I can assure you that plenty of acts would be deemed legal but yet be criminal in the court of taste.

One of the worst offenders I have witnessed is Creedence Clearwater Revisited (pictured above). Yes, they altered the name to indicate their “tribute”status, but original CCR drummer and bassist Doug Clifford and Stu Cook give the group a cachet that leads listeners to expect something special. It’s not just that the group’s singer does a sorry impersonation of John Fogerty, but that the band doesn’t understand its own music. Introducing Fogerty’s poignant anti-war song, “Who’ll Stop the Rain,” Clifford said, “This is one that goes down smooth, like a good brewski.” Such cluelessness ought to be against the law, but sadly, it’s not.

Then again, if these acts were forced off the road, every county fair in the country would be left with little more than karaoke as an entertainment option (unless, of course they ponied up for the real thing… highly unlikely). So, we’re destined for festivals with marquee acts anchored by the third drummer or second bassist of an act we once knew and loved, pale imitations of the real thing.

Still this bill and those like it already on the books are a start.