Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but these bands took it to another level! Join us as we count down our picks for the most notorious musical copycats in rock history. From sound-alikes to style thieves, these groups built careers following closely in others' footsteps. Which band do you think is the biggest musical doppelgänger?
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00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the music
00:11groups that might be heavily influenced, copying and or in debt to another act.
00:17In the early 2000's, Hinder emerged during a new phase of modern rock.
00:47Their intense sound fits right in with other post-grunge acts.
00:52While you could compare them to other 1990's bands, you could argue that they live in the
00:57shadow of Nickelback.
01:12That's not the nicest comparison when their tracks could be considered derivative and
01:16safe.
01:17They might come from a familiar style, but Hinder also toured with Nickelback.
01:22In a similar vein, Creed is another contemporary thrown in with these artists.
01:29It doesn't help that all three bands have deep-voiced vocalists and an emphasis on heavy guitars.
01:49Number 9.
01:50The Knickerbockers
01:52Unsurprisingly, the Beatles influenced a number of artists in the 1960's.
02:12This includes a less-remembered group named the Knickerbockers.
02:16In terms of pop rock and singing styles, their song, Lies, sounds more than a little like
02:22I Want to Hold Your Hand.
02:35The British Invasion likely struck a chord with the band, with this act's brief success partially
02:41tied to the movements.
02:43Unable to maintain commercial attention, the lineup didn't survive too long.
02:47Their original run only lasted until the early 1970's, with many members leaving for other
02:53ventures.
02:54The New Jersey band might be best remembered in the context of the Liverpool juggernauts.
02:59I got a one-track line, maybe I'm a stubborn fool, somebody please tell me what to do.
03:09Number 8.
03:10Wolfmother
03:11Arriving in the 2000's, this band came ready with some musical firepower.
03:16Their punchy songs, like Woman, walk in the footsteps of other hard rockers.
03:21You could mention Zeppelin, but they also have a spirit that reminds people of Black Sabbath.
03:37Frontman Andrew Stockdale has a bit of Ozzy Osbourne in his voice, reaching high notes with an almost
03:44metal flair.
04:00Stockdale even mentioned guitarist Tony Iommi as one of his musical influences.
04:06If Sabbath was reimagined for a wild party, Wolfmother would be just the band to pull it
04:12off.
04:13They were easily able to translate classic ideas into modern tracks.
04:18As she's standing in the field of global, watching our lovely dance, what a wave of heaven
04:28even took away.
04:30Number 7.
04:31Jet
04:32Unless you're a die-hard fan, you probably know this band for their biggest single.
04:37Jet came on the scene with their hit, Are You Gonna Be My Girl.
04:40It's a catchy tune, but it bears some resemblance to an Iggy Pop number.
05:00Band members like Nick Sester argue it's a Motown ripoff, but it's fair to say Pop's Lust
05:06Lust for Life is another potential match.
05:20Not only that, the Australian group could have had a formal connection to ACDC.
05:25Sester even auditioned to fill in for Bryan Johnson at one point.
05:30Rhyphs and rhythms feel at home in another decade, earning them both new and old fans.
05:34and old fans.
05:51Number 6.
05:52Number 6.
05:53The Struts
05:54One glimpse at this band and you'll imagine any number of old rock stars.
06:11Once they start playing, their glam and hard rock influences emerge.
06:15This includes some homages to The All-Powerful Queen.
06:29With songs like Could Have Been Me listeners can hear the lineage of British music.
06:39they bring the same kind of upbeat and arena-like style rock to their tracks.
06:44Singer Luke Spiller could even be a match for Freddie Mercury's 1970s looks.
06:49With a focus on vintage sounds and sensibilities,
06:52the Struts bring back a fun-filled take on rock.
06:56They've even covered classics like We Will Rock You.
07:09Number 5, Airborne.
07:12I gotta get away, get your head on my life, you got me running, running, running.
07:18On your first listen, you know these Aussies love the history of rock and metal.
07:23You can also hear fellow countrymen and their sound.
07:26Listening to a single like Runnin' Wild,
07:29the band seems to channel the artist behind Highway to Hell.
07:33My friends are gonna be there too.
07:35There's lots of 1970s and 1980s influence running through their albums
07:46like No Guts, No Glory to Bone Shaker.
07:49On some tracks, audiences might hear something close to Angus Young's guitar.
07:53It might be unfair to put Australian icons up against them,
07:57but it's not a bad thing to be spoken of in the same breath.
08:00Together we stand, together we fall.
08:05Cause it's all for one, it's one for all, it's all for rock and roll.
08:15Number 4, Creed.
08:17Can you take me higher?
08:23To a place where the line can see.
08:28When Creed came out, they helped fill the void after a decade of alternative releases.
08:33Their rock productions featured fuzzy guitars and a notable vocal sound.
08:38As Scott Stapp's voice washes over you, you might even compare him to Eddie Vedder.
08:43The group arguably owes some of their success to bands like Pearl Jam.
08:46Some people have made the comparison, but rarely does the younger group come out on top.
09:06One of Stapp's bandmates went after Vedder in the press.
09:10But they've avoided any kind of real feud.
09:13On the surface, listeners might find the similarities hard to dismiss.
09:17With arms wide open, under the sunlight.
09:24Welcome to this place, I'll show you everything.
09:31With arms wide open.
09:33Number 3, Kingdom Come.
09:35Before Greta Van Fleet, Kingdom Come received criticism for being too close to Led Zeppelin.
09:41There are those lonely times and then there's happiness.
09:47Now we're tired and we're gonna do what we do best.
09:52Get it on!
09:54The German band released their self-titled debut in 1988.
09:58Upon further reflection, the group did have something of a link to the British legends.
10:03They have a splash of Zeppelin mixed with a number of acts from the 1980s hard rock scene.
10:09I'm in the last of the ice, I saw from the midnight set, my my eyes were still.
10:14I'm fur of the corner.
10:17I tried to shoot the blue light.
10:20Unfortunately, they weren't able to replicate their success.
10:25The comparisons are hard to deny after hearing what love can be.
10:29Singer Lenny Wolfe has the tone of a young Robert Plant,
10:33making anthems and ballads sound pretty close to the older musicians.
10:37Now that you've come and set me free.
10:45Now that I know what love can be.
10:48Number two, Greta Van Fleet.
11:03If you like classic rock, Greta Van Fleet certainly delivers on a nostalgic sound.
11:12They also seem a lot like one band in particular.
11:15When you hear a song like Highway Tune, you'll hear some familiar wailing from the singer.
11:21To call Led Zeppelin an influence might be an understatement.
11:24Maybe it's a word that only leaves you guessing.
11:29Against your policy, you really ought to know.
11:37Fleet deserves some credit for their production values,
11:40mimicking some of Zeppelin's tunes with pinpoint accuracy.
11:44They've received mixed reactions for being able to imitate the older group.
11:48Haters might call them a glorified cover band,
11:51but that doesn't discount their ability to play catchy hooks and grooves.
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12:22Number one, Led Zeppelin.
12:27Many musicians have ripped them off, but Led Zeppelin isn't exactly an original concept.
12:33They culled together plenty of influences from blues and rock history.
12:37When they aren't covering legends, they're running dangerously close to other people's songs.
12:55Their classic, Stairway to Heaven, was even the subject of a plagiarism dispute.
12:59While they won that case, the band members haven't denied how much they've been inspired by others.
13:20The songwriter Willie Dixon was given credit on a whole lot of love after a lawsuit.
13:40Zeppelin might be the epitome of turning a predecessor's work into an international success.
13:57Did we forget another band that might have been a ripoff?
14:00Let us know in the comments below.
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