Who hasn’t dreamed of being his favorite rock star, onstage in front of thousands of adoring fans, hoisting a guitar above his head and pumping his fist in the air?

This must surely lie at the heart of the current trend of tribute bands that seem to be gracing stages from Santa Cruz to San Francisco. If you didn’t see Mark Wahlberg in the movie "Rock Star," or if you’ve just never heard the term "tribute band," a tribute band is generally a group of musicians and hard-core fans of one particularly influential band.

They learn an entire set list of said band’s songs, often study and dissect the music to make sure they get it right and honor the band correctly, and in certain cases, dress and move onstage like the real band members themselves.

Tribute bands run the gamut from those who bestow grace on the Beatles, laud the legend of Led Zeppelin, salute the sweetly textured guitar and vocal harmonies of Steely Dan, hail Jimi Hendrix as supreme being, and pose as Poison to appease the masses of their guilty love of 1980s hair metal.

While some may find the concept of a tribute band something of a waste of time ("Why would I want to see someone other than the original band?" or "Why don’t they play their own original songs?" are two oft-heard comments), playing in a tribute band is actually more challenging than it may appear at first glance.

Think of it. Everyone knows Led Zeppelin’s songs. We’ve all heard U2 on the radio ad infinitum. Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath are revered among the heavy-metal and hard-rock crowd. The point is, to get up on stage and attempt to play these songs, you had better know them and know them well.

Formed in 1998 in the South Bay, this is the ultimate in Led Zep tribute bands. From the wardrobe, to the musical equipment, to the nuances of onstage movement, these guys are eerily similar to the original 1970s giants of hard rock.

If Led Zeppelin really did sign a deal with devil, then these guys were the co-signers and have taken over Zeppelin obligations.

"It’s a real challenge to hit all those right high notes that are on the record," said Jefrey James, who portrays Robert Plant. "We all know this material, we’ve been playing it for years, but it’s still difficult. You have to be on your toes."

Made up of four schooled and seasoned musicians with thousands of gigs under their collective belts, this is not some group of teenagers bashing out "Whole Lotta Love" in the garage. And that’s where the artistry is. They focus so hard on the details of the songs, that the love affair they formed with the music back when they were the teenagers bashing out Led Zep in the garage, is clearly evident. Pay homage at www.zeppelintribute.com.