Re-Formed Queen to tour in '05

[fe_lung]

Saw this on Yahoo - must say, I'm not too happy about this!



Rodgers Replaces Freddie Mercury in Queen

1 hour, 13 minutes ago Entertainment - AP Music


By The Associated Press

LONDON - The '70s rock band Queen is planning a tour next year with guitarist-vocalist Paul Rodgers (news) replacing frontman Freddie Mercury (news), who died of AIDS (news - web sites) in 1991.




Details about what would be the first Queen tour since Mercury's death were being worked out, but it could include shows across Europe beginning this spring, the band's spokesman said Wednesday.


Rodgers, from '70s blues band Free, impressed the remaining members of Queen when he joined them for several performances this year.


Rodgers and Queen guitarist Brian May (news) performed Free's hit "All Right Now" at a concert in London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar earlier this year. May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor then asked Rodgers to stand in for Mercury when the band was featured on a British TV channel's music hall of fame program.


In a note on his Web site, May said there had been "amazing chemistry" when he played alongside Rodgers, adding: "It seems blindingly obvious that there was something happening here."


The official Queen Fan Club welcomed the promised tour, even though it wasn't known whether bass player John Deacon, the other member of the band, will join it.


Queen's stadium anthems "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" were played to packed audiences worldwide. During the late 1980s, when the band had to give up touring because of Mercury's illness, Queen reached new fans with recordings such as "The Miracle" and "Innuendo."


___

[bighank66]

Chemistry or not I just don't see Rodgers hitting those notes like Freddie did.

I just think this is a bad idea.

[Fairwrning]

I don't see this working too well..kinda like replacing Roth...you just can't do it!!!

[BITEYOASS]

Dear god! Is Paul Rodgers gonna be in drag singing "I want to break free"?!?! I'd rather see Freddie on a big screen than a replacement.

[Leo VanNewhouse]

I have some hopes for this to work out, one way or another. Atleast if they role into my town, I will be able to see Brian May live again.

[DLR7884]

This is gay.

DLR7884
I would never pay to see this mess.

[Marlowe01]

Although it's not going to be anything anything like playing with Mercury....I'll still pay money to go to see Queen. Paul Rodgers or not. I was never old enough to see them when they were around so I can at least see QUEEN, and not Freddie Mercury. Should be at least decent.

[DLR7884]

Marlowe--why would you settle to see this crap?

I'm 26 and I never saw Queen live either, but I'd rather just watch footage of Freddie than pay to see the crap they are gonna sell.

Let's put it this way....Queen without Freddie is like VH without Dave.

DLR7884
I won't pay to see either.

[Golden AWe]

Yup, no one could replace Freddie (not even Sammy Hagar!)

BUT

Those few clips from the charity concert are better than I expected. They're actually amazingly good. Rodgers is singing perfect, he's not trying to imitate Mercury, his doing it with his own raspy style, but IS hitting high notes too.

As long as they call it "Queen with Paul Rodgers" instead of just "Queen" I'll support this 100%.

[rob100]

Queen were great, Rodgers is great. But they should not call this Queen.

[Nickdfresh]

I've heard it said that Roger's has one of the most underrated voices in Rock. This could be interesting.

[sambo]

Tough call, there is only one Freddie, and he was brilliant.

I guess I'd have to hear / see a sample first.. maybe get a hold of one of those clips. A sort of "try before you buy" you might say.

But it's not really Queen.. .is it?

It was sort of like when Jon Stevens (Noiseworks - Aust. band) replaced the late Michael Hutchence in INXS. Jon could sing amazingly and you really couldn't fault his performances, but to me..still calling it INXS automatically made you compare the 2 frontmen, and there was no comparison.

Same deal here I guess.

[aesop]

I know I would be tempted to go, and still might if they come by...But not as Queen, please. And as a warning, DO NOT WATCH THE LIVE AT WEMBLEY '86 DVD BEFORE YOU GO... Or listen to the Live Aid recordings. That's just not fair. That concert...we'll...there's just not words to describe it. They had the soundtracks for "Highlander" (Still an AMAZING movie) and IRON EAGLE with "A Kind of Magic" and FM was BACK in MO'FKing business!!!! They were coming on strong BIG TIME with the triumphant Live Aid shows and bringing back arena rock in true FM style. Too bad it ended the way it did.

I love Rogers voice, but FM truly paved the way for DLR. HE was the definition of Showman and Frontman. And like Dave, he could write amazing songs. Rogers taking over should be sounding some warning bells to everyone. Kinda like SH joining VH and still calling it VH...

[PHOENIX]

This thread is in the wrong forum.

Will someone move it to House of Music.

[DavidLeeNatra]

Queen was my first concert ever in 1982 and it was fucking great...saw them again on their last tour in 1986 and freddie is simply irreplaceable...some tried when they did the FM-tribute and most failed (have to admit that toilet-man george michael did a good job)

I can understand that may and taylor want to play and I'd love to see them live again...but they should not call that queen...then it would be okay for me...

[FORD]

So then we can assume that John Deacon is at least grounded in reality and is not taking part in this blasphemy?

Paul Rodgers is a great singer - still has the voice he had in Bad Company, which ain't bad considering he's gotta be at least in his late 50's. I'd love to hear him collaborate with Brian May on some original material.

But sing Queen songs? FUCK NO!

It's just wrong. Freddie Mercury IS and always WILL BE Queen

[Antman]

Why bother? That's as absurd as Van Halen replacing David Lee Roth with, oh, I don't Know, Sammy Hagar.

[scottydabodi]

Paul Rodgers in Queen... Holy fucking shit... Maybe if they toured with George Michael singing.

[FORD]

All the Van Hagar mentions reminded me of a painful memory I had suppressed for years - the Brian Howe cheese ballad factory that called itself "Bad Company" which was as bad as Van Hagar if not worse.

I know Paul Rodgers hated that shit as much as I did. He really should know better than to fuck around with someone else's band like that asswipe did to his.

[rustoffa]

Originally posted by FORD
So then we can assume that John Deacon is at least grounded in reality and is not taking part in this blasphemy?

Paul Rodgers is a great singer - still has the voice he had in Bad Company, which ain't bad considering he's gotta be at least in his late 50's. I'd love to hear him collaborate with Brian May on some original material.

But sing Queen songs? FUCK NO!

It's just wrong. Freddie Mercury IS and always WILL BE Queen

May writes on his official website, "It really all came about because of the Fender 50th Anniversary gig that I did with Paul Rodgers."

"We were both so amazed at the chemistry that was going on in (Free hit) "All Right Now," that suddenly it seems blindingly obvious that there was something happening here."

Unbelievable....

[Panamark]

I would have to hear this Paul Rodgers dude sing with Queen before making a judgement.... Freddie is a hard act to follow..

[Fabulous Shadow]

Actually, Gary Chrone kicks ass on the Queen tracks. Dis any of you see him play with them on the Quessn tribute? He was amazing!

[blueturk]

This whole trend sucks.You've got bands calling themselves Lynyrd Skynyrd,The Doors,and Thin Lizzy,without Ronnie Van Zant,Jim Morrison,or Phil Lynott.Paul Rodgers? He's one of the greatest singers on the planet in my opinion,but I don't know if the Queen catalogue will sound right with his voice.It would be hard to call this band Queen.

[FORD]

Originally posted by Fabulous Shadow
Actually, Gary Chrone kicks ass on the Queen tracks. Dis any of you see him play with them on the Quessn tribute? He was amazing!

Cherone actually might have been a better fit - at least in 1992. But that was before his throat surgery or whatever it was that made him sound like Sammy Hagar with a bad stomach ache.

But that doesn't change the fact that NOBODY can take Freddie's place - even an acknowledged Mercury worshipper like Cherone.

[Carmine]

Paul played my cities summer festival in 03. He was really good, doing the Bad Co. stuff as well as his own. I dont know about this....

[Golden AWe]

Originally posted by Fabulous Shadow
Actually, Gary Chrone kicks ass on the Queen tracks. Dis any of you see him play with them on the Quessn tribute? He was amazing!

Cherone was horrible on "Love of my life". I sing it better...

[Matt White]

Originally posted by Panamark
I would have to hear this Paul Rodgers dude sing with Queen before making a judgement.... Freddie is a hard act to follow..

I agree Panamark. Gonna have to hear it first.
But, Paul Rodgers has about the best voice in rock. Went to a show about 4 years ago in the summer in Pontiac Michigan. He sounded EXACTLY like the record, on Bad Co., Free & Firm material. Absolutely amazing singer.

[Bill Lumbergh]

There are only a handful of rock singers who are irreplaceable........Freddie is one of them.

[Carmine]

Originally posted by Bill Lumbergh
There are only a handful of rock singers who are irreplaceable........Freddie is one of them.

David Lee Roth is another......but you knew that already!

[Mr Badguy]

Rodgers is a legend himself don`t forget.

What if they called it "Free" and had May take the late Paul Kossoff`s place and Roger Taylor on drums?

That would be the same kind of thing.

I know, call it "FREE QUEEN".

At least that will get the pooftas queuing at the turnstiles.

[PHOENIX]

They shouldnt use the name Queen.

[DLR7884]

No way.

DLR7884
That would be a crime.

[LoungeMachine]

Please file this under.........



ANYTHING FOR A BUCK

[LoungeMachine]

Originally posted by rustoffa
May writes on his official website, "It really all came about because of the Fender 50th Anniversary gig that I did with Paul Rodgers."

"We were both so amazed at the chemistry that was going on in (Free hit) "All Right Now," that suddenly it seems blindingly obvious that there was something happening here."

Unbelievable....

Fan - Fucking - Tastic, Brian

Glad to hear you guys had great chemistry. Wonderful when something"happens"

BUT THAT DOESNT MEAN YOU HAVE TO THEN GO AND SCAM PEOPLE BY CALLING IT QUEEN FOR CHRIST'S FUCKING SAKE.

Make music for the sake of music

Or start a fresh band under a new name

Or do nothing at all but enjoy the moment

BUT WHY ELSE WOULD YOU SLAP THE QUEEN NAME ON IT IF IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE FUCKING $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Lame

[BITEYOASS]

I wouldn't call it Queen. I hope they play both Queen and Bad Company tunes. It would be fun to hear how Brian plays "Shooting Star" on his red special. And if John Deacon doesn't want any part of it, than get Bob Daisey, the genius behind "Blizzard of Ozz".

[Top Jimmy]

I felt the same as all of you when I first read about this.
Actually....I laughed my ASS off, out loud...at work...


Then I saw the two clips from theV Show in the UK......
All Right Now, and We Will Rock You-We Are The Champions....

I have this to say.....I am a changed man.

This is no money grab.......this is a joyus celebration of a great era in music. Serious shit here..

Paul walks on stage after Brian intros him, and just takes command of the whole thing with a very smooth confidence, and lets out a yell to let you KNOW he is in the driver's seat. Backup singer chicks (who weave FLAWLESSLY in and out of the mix with Rodgers.....extra guitarist...not just paint by numbers...and Paul's rephrasing of the songs to suit his voice is just about the most intelligent, brilliant, and RESPECTFUL interpretations that I have ever heard. Not to mention them jamming on All Right Now, and hearing that opening chord come from Brian fuckin' May was VERY COOL indeed....
Hearing the way he sings the first line of Champions ("I've paid my dues, time after time") gave me serious fucking goose bumps. Fucking BEAUTIFUL singing.

"We'll keep on fighting..." he hit's that note, surprising even himself with his delivery, because right after he hits the high note there at the word '...fighting'...he looks back at the singer-chick whose job it was to cover that note for him, and smiles.....

These guys are having an anniversary soon, and this is a GREAT way (imho) to hit the road, and CELEBRATE the band, and the music, while maintaining respect for Freddie by not trying to BE Freddie....which is IMPOSSIBLE. There is only one Freddie Mercury, period. To get some high-note wanker like the guy from the Darkness, would have been a silly characature of Freddie and the band....This is a WAY better way to go, then finding a clone and being overly literal, THAT would have been the insult.

This is GOOD stuff, people. Open your mind and REALLY listen to it.....Brian is and ALWAYS has been very respectful to the memory of Freddie Mercury, and VERY protective of the image and legacy of Queen....and his heart is in the right place on this one folks. The are not doing this for the cash, but to have one good road trip to celebrate the legacy.....and the picked a great guy to help them do just that..
Having said that....open your mind, and watch this:
http://www.mercuryparadise.com/video...allOfFame).wmv

and this:
http://www.mercuryparadise.com/video...allOfFame).wmv


Now...What do you (honestly) think after watching both of those, all the way through?

[LoungeMachine]

I think THEY SHOULDNT CALL IT QUEEN.

[Top Jimmy]

there's no way you watched em that fast.....open your mind a little....

[Top Jimmy]

what if they call it Queen feat. Paul Rodgers?

[DLRdelight!]

Fred's voice is astonishing to me, i just love the way he sings, im glad i bought those greatest hits cd's