Queen touring again with Paul Rodger singing lead - I'm troubled by this

[LynneSin]

http://www.queenpluspaulrodgers.com/

Queen is probably one of my all time favorite groups (2nd to Led Zeppelin) and I was devestated when I found out that Freddie Mercury had died of AIDS. Freddie Mercury was the heart and soul of that band, with his amazing vocals and stage charisma moving Queen out of the pack and making it one of the greatest Rock bands ever. Don't get me wrong, the rest of the band of Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor are all talented, but I think they would have been a lesser band if they had had any other lead singer other than Freddie Mercury.

Since Mercury's death, the surviving members of Queen have performed together, but usually for benefit concerts where a guest singer(s) would do the vocals, but this time it's a full fledge tour and Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company, The Firm) will be the lead singer. I'm challenged by this, very challenged. Plus from viewing the website, I don't see that bassist John Deacon is a part of the tour. I'm almost feeling as disgusted as I did when Page tried to tour with Robert Plant wannabe David Coverdale. Heck, even when Page & Plant did reunited, they called their projects Page & Plant and NOT Led Zeppelin out of respect to those members deceased (Bonham) or not invited (Jones).

How does anyone else feel about Paul Rodgers trying to fill Freddie Mercury's shoes?

[GOPisEvil]

1. I think George Michael would have done a better job.

But, he may not have wanted the job. :shrug:

And, maybe John Deacon didn't want to tour but gave his blessing to the use of the name. :shrug:

[Orsino]

4. Fo' shizzle.

I never actually heard Michael front the rest of Queen, but I would guess that he is one of the better fits.

Paul Rodgers? He sounds nothing like Freddie. WTF?

[Orsino]

7. Check out these downloads!

They sound like... well, Paul Rodgers fronting the rest of Queen.

Not bad, exactly, but an inappropriate mix.

[GOPisEvil]

10. Michael performed with Queen at the Freddie tribute.

They did "Someone To Love". It was awesome. That's when the Michael/Queen rumors started.

[LynneSin]

15. I would have been ok with that provided...

...that Michaels would be doing only Queen songs and not adding some of his songs to the playlist like Paul Rodgers is. Don't get me wrong, I like George Michaels and own several of his CDs. But if he were to tour with Queen I would want him to only do Queen songs

[GOPisEvil]

22. That would be my preference as well.

[AntiCoup2K4]

34. George Michael's voice might be closer to Mercury's, but....

Queen was primarily a rock band. Wham was not. I don't see George pulling off the heavier material at all.

[Bunny]

2. No one can replace Freddie, and frankly, I don't care to hear

anyone try it. Freddie was simply great, he cannot even be imitated, much less replaced.

[asthmaticeog]

3. Indeed, that cannot be good.

Rogers' voice, while I have no quarrel with it as such, just isn't even in the range. If they were forming a new band together a la Velvet Revolver or whatever, I'd be inclined to give it a chance, but to have this totally inappropriate guy trying to sing an established and beloved body of work just makes no sense. I fear suckitude most foul.

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. They replace one of the best showmen ever,

with a guy that has as much flash as a curling tournament. It just doesn't add up.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. I Saw The Interview About This

They are taking it quite casually. They are making it VERY clear that Paul is NOT replacing Freddie. It's a completely different concept, but apparently, Freddie told the guys that he would disappointed if they never played again just because he was going to die.

So, using the name was sort of "pre-cleared" with Freddie, and they all get along with Paul very well.

In addition, the bit is going to be an amalgam of both Paul's stuff and Queen material. So, they're not trying to fool anybody.

The interviews about this on VH-1 classic were excellent. You should try to catch it. You probably will be OK with it if you see them.
The Professor

[LynneSin]

13. I'm still troubled and here's why

Yes, you're correct that Paul Rodgers isn't replacing Freddie Mercury - no one can! And that's good information that Freddie Mercury wanted the band to continue on after his death.

But I'm still very troubled with this combination and here's why. Paul Rodgers has a decent voice, but I was never a big fan of his music (Free, Bad Company, The Firm). In fact the only PR music I own is the 2 Firm albums only because Jimmy Page played on some of them.

Yet I look at the playlists from the Queen/PR website and it's not just Queen songs we're getting but several selections of PR songs to boot. Personally, I think that takes away from this Queen reunion tour because now it's not just Queen, but instead a Queen with Bad Company songs. Personally, BC is a decent group but they could never hold a torch to the greatest that Queen achieved.

So if Queen/PR comes to America, I'm going to have to pay good money to see a singer who I wasn't very impressed with both his vocals and the groups that he belonged to and it doesn't really make me excited to see Queen play again. I would have rathered Queen had found a lesser name to do lead vocals for the group than to bring a Paul Rodgers in there and forcing Queen to include music from a lessor band into their concert playlist.

I think the whole thing is a compromise. They should have found a singer who would be doing it just for Queen and not so he could have another outlet to market his own music

[ProfessorGAC]

16. Ah, I See! I'm Taking The Completely Opposite View

By finding someone with whom they could form an amalgamated setlist, it would be more obvious that it wasn't a Queen "let's milk the cash cow" tour.

So, i'm not troubled by it for the exact same reasons you are. Different POV's are a good thing. Life would be boring otherwise.
The Professor

[kedrys]

8. That just seems totally wrong

Even though they'll mix Queen materials with Rodgers' own stuff, I dunno. Freddie is quite unforgettable, and it's going to be next to impossible to avoid comparisons.

[jswordy]

9. Are they gonna sing "Money Makes the World Go 'Round"?

Money makes the world go around,
the world go around, the world go around,
Money makes the world go around,
it makes the world go round.

A mark, a yen, a buck or a pound,
a buck or a pound, a buck or a pound,
Is all that makes the world go around,
that clinking clanking sound,
Can make the world go round.

If you happen to be rich, and you feel like a night's entertainment,
You can pay for a gay escapade.
If you happen to be rich, and alone and you need a companion,
You can ring ting-a-ling for the maid.
If you happen to be rich and you find you are left by your lover,
Tho you moan and you groan quite a lot,
You can take it on the chin,
call a cab and begin to recover on your fourteen carat yacht.

Money makes the world go around,
the world go around, the world go around,
Money makes the world go around,
of that we both are sure.
(Raspberry) On being poor.

When you haven't any coal in the stove and you freeze in the winter
And you curse to the wind at your fate.
When you haven't any shoes on your feet and your coat's thin as paper
And you look thirty pounds underweight,
When you go to get a word of advice from the fat little pastor,
he will tell you to love evermore.
But when hunger comes to rap, rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat, at the window
See how love flies out the door.

For money makes the world go around, the world go around,
the world go around.
Money makes the world go around,
the clinking, clanking sound
of Money, money, money, money,
Money, money, money, money,
Get a little, get a little,
Money, money, money, money,
Mark, a yen, a buck or a pound,
That clinking, clanking clunking sound
is all that makes the world go round,
It makes the world go round.

--from "Cabaret"

[ProfessorGAC]

12. NO!

Read my post to Lynne. I saw the interviews on VH-1 Classic. None of these guys need another dime. They admit it's got nothing to do with needing or wanting more money.
The Professor

[CanuckAmok]

11. Hey, what's that high-pitched "whirring" sound?

Oh, it's Freddie Mercury spinning in his grave.

[MissMillie]

14. Paul Rodgers is a good singer, but..

I don't see him singing Queen songs.

[johnnie]

17. I am a fan of Queen, and here is my thoughts on it

Freddy isn't with us anymore. Taylor, May and Deacon were no slouches in what they contributed to Queen music. I think they have every right to continue with the band as Queen and I think they also want to play. I don't think it's about money, I think it's about three guys who loved what they did and lost their lead singer. I don't think they would tarnish the band's reputation by putting just anybody up front to sing with them. Rogers has a good voice and I can bet he sounds pretty good with the other three.
It doesn't seem to me that he is trying to fill Freddy's shoes, he is just a singer that was chosen by the remaining players of the band to hit the road and have a good time playing in front of people. Freddy was great, but as I said..the other guys contributed a hell of a lot to those songs and there should be no reason why they shouldn't go out and play their music, the way they want to play their music.

[LynneSin]

23. I have no problem with the remaining Queen members touring again

although mind you it's only Taylor & May. Deacon is retired.

My problem is by bringing on someone like Paul Rodgers, now it's a Queen/Bad Comany concert since they'll be doing some songs from BC. I would have rathered they found someone new who would come in there to do Queen music and not push his own agenda. I just think Paul Rodgers takes away from the Queen tour. I know he's not Freddie Mercury - no one could ever fill Freddie's shoes. But I just don't think Paul is the right replacement. I'd rather they just call themselves Rodgers, Taylor & May on tour and not Queen.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

18. They should have chosen another name.

"President" or something. This sounds like a mockery.

I didn't like a Fish-less Marillion -- this is a million times worse. :mad:

[johnnie]

20. I disagree

Freddy was a great singer, but he was only 1/4th of the band. Roger Taylor started the band and I believe that Freddy was the last to join.

[LynneSin]

25. Actually only half of Queen is performing

John Deacon retired

[johnnie]

26. Oh, I didn't know that

Well, still... Roger started the band. But yeah, two out of four might be pushing it.

[LynneSin]

38. Actually, I know what Queen should have done.....

They should have found an extra drummer and let Roger Taylor lead the group. We keep forgetting that Freddie Mercury did NOT sing every Queen song out there. Taylor and guitarist Brian May sang plenty of songs in the Queen library including Taylor's "I'm in Love with my Car" and May "'39".

Now, I'm not saying that we should replace Taylor totally on the drums, but I'd just like to see him out front singing some of the songs and yes, this would even include some of Mercury's songs. Taylor could sit in for drums when Brian May was doing vocals on some of his songs.

Now, we still have Queen intact and not Bad Company doing Queen

[Atlas Mugged]

19. Ugh.

Mercury's performance owed as much to style as it did to his own unique voice. I wasn't a big fan of the group, but I do respect Mercury as a major stage presence. He really was a well rounded entertainer. Fantastic theatrical timing, too.

And I like, somewhat, Paul Rodgers. Great voice, average lyricist. Acutally, he wrote some of the dumbest lyrics ever, but some argue that "dumb" is what R&R is all about. I don't agree; I'm just second guessing a flame war.

And INXS is currently producing a reality show in search of a new singer. Three Dog Night is on tour. What does all this say about the current state of music?

[GalleryGod]

21. Phil Collins on "Queen" at Wembley "Live-Aid" in '85 :

:blush: Nobody wanted to follow Freddy !:popcorn:

[malmapus]

24. And INXS is currently producing a reality show in search of a new singer.

WHAT THE HELL IS UP WITH THIS!!!???

I just saw the commercial on last night and my freaking mouth hit the floor so hard. I can't believe the original band members are up to this :wtf:!!!!

[Chovexani]

31. TLC is doing the same thing

They're having a reality show to replace Left-Eye, after all that stuff they talked about TLC not being TLC after she died and they were going to retire the group.

How fucking tasteless! :puke:

[malmapus]

36. omg, that is really tasteless

I remember them saying all that about TLC not being TLC without her, and now they're doing this?

[mitchum]

28. What it says is that while rock may not be quite dead...

it really is just a museum piece now for archivists and aging aficionados. It is no longer vital or the essential soundtrack of youth. C'mon, it had a good 40 year run. Isn't that enough?

[mitchum]

27. Are they changing the band name to "Butch"?

For commercial 70s rock, I ALWAYS prefered Bad Company to Queen.

When it came to Brits playing fey, overblown rock, The Sweet kicked the royal shit out of Queen. Now, that was a band :)

[mr blur]

29. Well at least he can sing

and he might help them to finally write a couple of decent songs.

[Chovexani]

30. Nobody can fill Freddie's shoes

NOBODY.

That having been said, I agree with the people that said George Michael would do a better job.

Look at it this way, though: at least they aren't going the totally tasteless route and having a reality show to fill the spot *cough*Inxs, TLC*cough*

[CrownPrinceBandar]

32. Ian Astbury (The Cult) would have been a better choice.........

I think his voice suits Queen better than Rodgers.

[Blue_In_AK]

33. I like Paul Rodgers, but he doesn't fit with Queen, IMO n/t

[chaska]

35. Much to address here.

I love Queen, but I loved Free (Paul's "one of the greatest rock bands ever") too. They were both awesome bands.

Freddy was a great writer but as a singer *technically* he was good but not great. Paul Rogers is often lauded as the best rock singer ever (listen to the Free live album - unbelievable - awesome guitar too from the late Paul Kossoff). In fact, Paul was one of the biggest influences on David Coverdale, who is actually one of my favorite singers from the Deep Purple days. Plant was not a major influence, if at all, on Coverdale.

To be fair, this is billed as Queen with Paul Rogers or something similar. It's not meant to be a recreation or even a simulation. Brian May just thought it was something special. I've no doubt that he's right. It ain't Queen, but till you figure out how to bring the dead back to life....

Smile. There's many permutations of beauty. This one will be right up there, friend. Don't miss it, if you get the chance.

[LynneSin]

37. Maybe Paul Rodgers had one of the better voices.....

.....but he, nor anyone else, could ever touch the stage presence that Freddie Mercury had. That's the reason why Queen was one of the best bands out there all time and Bad Company/Free fell way behind in the middle of the pack.

Freddie Mercury owned that stage in a way that Paul Rodgers could only ever dream of doing. And don't knock Mercury's voice. I'm watching "Live at the Bowl" right now and when you see 'Somebody to Love', Freddie just amazes you at his vocal range and his ability to reach out to every single person in that stadium and make them a part of his world.

I mean, I'm listening to these clips from the tour and basically I'm listening to Bad Company do Queen songs. The only clips that were great were the ones NOT sung by Rodgers - like Roger Taylor's "I'm in Love with My Car". I mean, geez, does Paul Rodgers know that you never sing "Love of my Life"? I have 3 DVDs with live versions of that song on it and Freddie leads the song off and lets the audience sing the rest of the song.

This is just me, but Queen should have found a lesser name singer, or better yet - let May & Taylor do the singer. Hell they have enough of their own songs that they song in the Queen library. Find a replacement drummer and let Roger Taylor sing lead

[Enraged_Ape]

39. I guess with the lead singer of Molly Hatchet recently dying...

they had to resort to Plan B.

[LynneSin]

40. I'm so upset, I was hoping for a Molly Hatchet reunion tour

:cry:

:eyes: