A collection of Little Dreamers

The cover band. Part punchline, part bad combover, this unique form of entertainment typically lives on the outer realms of an acceptable Saturday night. Either grasping for dreams best left unattained or simply looking to score with the chicks down at the local bowling alley, these bastard children of rock live off the lyrics of others. The good ones act, sing, play and dress like the heroes they mirror. The bad ones usually don't accomplish any of the four. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, it's also damn funny to watch online.

The following collection represents the best and worst "tribute" bands we could find (although a tribute to what we're usually not quite sure). Some of them actually pull it off. Others pull nothing but finger pointing and ridicule from drunks who you envision getting pissed at learning the real Sammy Hagar isn't up there playing in front of them for a $4 cover charge and all the free pretzels they can eat.

So with that, sit back, grab a cold one, turn up your speakers and take a magic carpet ride with us through the underbelly of roller-skating rink entertainment that is the Tribute Band. (Note: when your Windows Media player appears in a new window, resize it to make it a little smaller. This will cut down on pixelation and make your eye candy run smoother.)

Freebird. A Lynyrd Skynyrd experience you'd just as soon not.

Peace Frog. A Doors cover band complete with the "hold out the mic to let the crowd finish the lyric and then scream for no reason" gesture.

Hollyweird. A Poison cover band that sucks almost as much as the original one.

Iron Maidens. The only all-female Maiden tribute band. Sounds weird, we know, but the chick can freakin' play.

Rock of Ages. What can we say about this Def Leppard cover band. They're Canadian.

2U. One guess who this band dreams of being one day. They even swiped the band's music video intro.

The Boy George Experience. As gay as it sounds. Seriously. Sorry 'bout this.

Bad Medicine. Think Bon Jovi without, well, Bon Jovi.

Almost Queen. Almost is right. They guys aren't bad at all.

The Bryan Adams Experience. We'll admit it. We love this song. Too bad it only lasts 30 seconds.

Prophecy. Give this Queensryche cover band credit. Their lead guitarist looks like Geddy Lee and their singer looks like Meatloaf in sunglasses but he hits the first high note. Not well, but he hits it.

Frontiers. A Journey band that's not bad. Not good, mind you. But not bad.

Theater of Pain. Guess you play wherever you can, including the lobby of the local TV station.

Not Quite G'nR. Although we'll give 'em credit for being pretty damn good anyway.

The Atomic Punks. Not only are they pretty good, but you'll never guess who sits in with this Van Halen tribute band during a gig at the House of Blues...

But during our journey to county fairs, small-town fall festivals and trailer-park weddings across the country in search of the ultimate tribute band, we stumbled across something different. No, it's not a tribute band per se, but rather a tribute song to the greatest rock-and-roll tune ever written. Watch the whole thing and you'll agree that it's, hands down, the finest tribute on the planet.

And if you don't agree, you probably think Caddyshack is a waste of time, too, you poor bastard.