Cover band content to roam just like the Rolling Stones

By: MICHAEL PROCHASKA

Posted: 11/20/08

Mimicking one of the greatest rock 'n' roll bands in history would seem like an impossible task, but for Chris LeGrand, impersonating Mick Jagger is just another day in the life of being a successful musician.

As the founder and lead singer of Satisfaction, the world's only full-time touring Rolling Stones tribute band, LeGrand and company will blast the Melting Point Friday with a repertoire of electrifying Stones' tunes.

Proceeds from the show will go to the National Lung Cancer Partnership.

After performing at the Georgia Theatre in 2003, LeGrand said he considers Athens to be a pleasant town with an respected university and a great music scene.

However, Athens is merely one stop on Satisfaction's 150-venue touring schedule.

"I've mostly been in the West Coast all my life, but now I get to travel and see the rest of the states - I feel like I know the country pretty well now," said guitarist Jim Riddick, who dresses the part of Keith Richards when performing.

All of the band members possess not only the sound but also the look of the original British rock band.

SATISFACTION: LUNG CANCER BENEFIT

When: 8:30 p.m. Friday
Where: The Melting Point
Cost: $25 in advance,
$27 day of show
More Information:
meltingpointathens.com

"The building block of a good [cover] band requires looks, sound and attitude. Those are the three essential things," LeGrand said. "It took a few years to assemble the current line-up, and [then things] dramatically changed in 2005."

That year, Satisfaction was invited to play for the Las Vegas show "Legends in Concert."

Throughout his life, LeGrand constantly received comments on his uncanny resemblance to Mick Jagger.

In 2001, he saw a couple of The Beatles tribute bands and was inspired to form a similar music group of his own.

"I have to admit, my family was more of a Beatles family," LeGrand said. "Then as I grew older, an uncle introduced me to the Stones and some heavier stuff."

After doing some research, LeGrand discovered there weren't many Rolling Stones tribute bands, and he recruited a drummer from another project to start playing at local venues.

With a drive to travel and play in all 48 continental states, the band abruptly gained national stardom.

Current members include Tony Fortuna as Bill Wyman, Carl Bass as Charlie Watts, Charlie Trador as Ron Wood and Riddick as Keith Richards.

Riddick, joined the band by accident while living in San Francisco.

"I heard about them and knew the music. I then had to learn how to play the part perfectly," he said.

Riddick's favorite song to play is "Midnight Rambler," a seven minute blues jam.

"It's a good song for a guitar player. [It] definitely has some great rifts," he said.

After touring this year, Satisfaction will perform in Las Vegas on Fremont Street for its famous New Year's Eve celebration. The band will then head to the famed Los Angeles' House of Blues and tour in the Caribbean and Canada in 2009.

Though never having met the real Rolling Stones, LeGrand said it would be an honor to play with them. But for now, he is happy just being "like a Rolling Stone."