Queen are back... yes, seriously.

[BOFH666]

This is slightly old news, but I heard something today that makes it worth bringing up and I know there are Queen fans on this board who may be interested.

Queen are touring in Europe this spring, starting with a warm up gig at Brixton, then playing 19 gigs throughout Europe before returning to the UK in May. The venues are mostly arena size as the band:

a) weren't sure what the demand would be like

b) want to learn 'to walk before they run', which is fair enough.

As far as demand goes... well, put it this way. Tickets went on sale this past Saturday for the UK and sold out "within hours" (some sources say Wembley went in an hour, give or take a few minutes). We managed to get two standing tickets for Cardiff (if anyone's going, feel free to PM) but it was a hell of a struggle to even get those.

As far as the slight technical problem of their lead singer not being with us anymore, Queen have called on the services of one Paul Rodgers. Former singer for Free and Bad Company, the tour will be billed as Queen + Paul Rodgers, with the set list reflecting this.

So, why bring this up? Because Brian May has indicated there's a probable Canadian / US leg in the works, most likely in the autumn, with shows in Ireland, Scotland and possibly a larger UK gig sometime in the Summer all being worked on.

For me this really is something I never thought I'd get the chance to do. I was far too young to go see Queen when they were touring and with Freddie gone it seemed that was that. Okay, it won't be Queen as we all know them, but to be able to stand in the crowd and listen to those oh-so-familliar quitar riffs pounding out... that's good enough. Hell, it'll be the realisation of a dream. If anyone's interested I'll try to post if I hear anything else about more dates or other details.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

The live gigs don't interest me, really...I think an album of new material with Brian May and the gang fronted by Paul Rodgers would definitely be appetizing, though.

Boffie, where ya been? Been quiet withoutcha...

 

[steph]

I am a fan (Queen & Paul both) but no one will EVER replace Freddie, IMHO.

XOXO

 

[Traveler]

It's good to hear that they are trying to keep their music going.But,I agree with Steph,Queen won't be Queen without Freddie Mercury.

 

[The Sean Man]

Yeah, same here....but I do think the one person who could come close would be George Michael. When he and the surviving members did "Somebody to Love" at the freddie mercury tribute concert eons ago, that was one hell of a rendition.



The Sean Man

 

[Dave2112]

While I'm not a fan of George Micheal (and not even the biggest Queen fan in the world), I think George would be a much better fit than Paul Rodgers. I like Paul, don't get me wrong, but the voice just doesn't seem to match the music. Of course, Paul could be capable of ranges he didn't use with Bad Company et al, and maybe the band wants to move in a new direction with future releases.

I do think that Micheal wouldn't be a bad choice for the band, though. Hell, it could even bring him some legitimacy as a performer.

 

[CaptainQuantum]

I'm a huge Queen fan. I too never got a chance to see them, as the last time they toured the USA was '82 and I was 9 years old. Not that I cared much about rock music then anyway. I had always liked their most popular songs, We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions, Another One Bites the Dust, etc. But I never considered myself a fan until after Freddie was already gone. It was the 1993 NBA Finals, between Michael Jordan and the Bulls and Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. The Bulls lead 2 games to 0, and in the pregame show, the local Chicago NBC affiliate played some highlights of the first 2 games to "Don't Stop Me Now." I had never heard the song before in my life, but Freddie's voice and Queen's layered vocals are of course unmistakable so I knew right away who it was by. I went out and bought "Queen Greatest Hits" because I HAD to hear that song again. I then started listening to the rest of the songs on the cassette. I was hooked.

In 1985, Freddie Mercury made a solo album on which he did an awesome cover of the Platters' "the Great Pretender." Here's to pretending you're still around, Freddie.

 

[TklDuo-Drew]

I was a fan of Queen in high school, and also really liked Paul Rodgers work in Free and Bad Company. But I don't think Paul is a good replacement for Freddie Mercury. Who would I put in his place? ("getting ready to dodge tomotoes") That freak from The Darkness, the guy has quite a range in his voice.


Drew

 

[Iwon'tgrowup]

Hmm . . . the voice of Feel Like Makin' Love doubling as the voice of We Will Rock You and You're My Best Friend?

You know, I think I can hear that!

 

[CaptainQuantum]

Pretty good choice. Not only does he have the range, but he has a similar flamboyance to Freddie. That's I think what will be missing more than anything when you have Queen without Freddie, that flamboyance, that larger than life personality. As far as range goes though, I was in an AOL chatroom once, and some people were talking about Amy Lee and Evanescence. Someone I guess thought some of their songs were too rock and not goth enough or something, and they said "if she wants to do that kind of music, let her tour with Queen." And I thought, interesting idea!

 

[Cokecan]

Amy Lee has incredible range, and almost no reverb - that's really her voice, unlike a lot of acts I know of.

She'd be an interesting choice, but Queen isn't Queen without Freddie Mercury. I never saw them live, but I have seen footage from a massive concert they did at Wembley Stadium, and nobody can showboat like Freddie did.

Plus he has an incredible range of vocals I haven't heard in a male performer yet.

The remaining members of Queen plus Amy Lee.. that would be.. interesting.

 

[Sultrybrunette]

I am a huge fan of Queen. As far as I am concerned they should start over completely. Don't even use the name. Queen was Queen with Freddie. I also don't agree with what the remaining members of INXS are doing. Very tacky. It will never ever be the same without Freddie or Michael. People are going to expect the same sound and be very disappointed.

 

[steph]

OMG, thank you! Total sacrilege!
XOXO

I am a huge fan of Queen. As far as I am concerned they should start over completely. Don't even use the name. Queen was Queen with Freddie. I also don't agree with what the remaining members of INXS are doing. Very tacky. It will never ever be the same without Freddie or Michael. People are going to expect the same sound and be very disappointed.

 

[CaptainQuantum]

Cokecan, if you can find it, buy or rent a video called Queen: We Will Rock You. It's a video of a concert they did in 1981 in Montreal. Their performances of "Somebody to Love", "Save Me" and "Play the Game" are worth the price alone. Incredible. They also perform "Under Pressure", even though the "Hot Space" album wasn't released yet.

 

[steph]

My absolute tear-jerking fav vid was released just after Freddy's death. It was called, "the show must go on" and chronicles his life as a performer with Queen. Took me years to find it but it was on the DVD "news of the world" a must for any Queen/Freddy fan.
XOXO

 

[Cokecan]

I remember the last Queen album that they released while Freddie was still alive - Innuendo. It had The Show Must Go On on it.

I remember saying to myself and anyone that would listen that this was their "Farewell Album" and that they were retiring...

Not long after Freddie made his announcement.. and then promptly died from AIDS. Was a weird feeling.

 

[CaptainQuantum]

Awesome album. Even songs that were never released as singles, like "All God's People", "Don't Try So Hard", and "Ride the Wild Wind" (it ain't dangerous...enough for me. Love that line), are such incredible tracks. And "Delilah" is funny because if it's your first time hearing it, it sounds at first like Freddie's singing about a woman instead of a cat, then he says something about peeing all over his Chippendale suite and you're like WHAT?? lol For me, that's rare to find an album where I like even the songs that weren't singles. But I can say that about pretty much every Queen album.