Queen news..

[lights1961]

I think Bad Company is legendary in the talent and power house history of the band and the bands that other members have been in. Combined, they will all hold a place in history. Paul and Simon Kirke coming from Free. Paul's work with The Law(with Kenny Jones of the Who), The Firm(with Jimmy Page), along with Bad Co. Swan Song was started by Led Zeppelin and they took Bad Comany under their wing and Jimmy Page and Paul Rodgers have been long friends, collaboraters, and band mates. Rick Willis: Bad Company and Foreigner, Boz Burrell from King Crimson...the people and talent that have come through that band is what makes it legendary, not that they sold a few records.

good answer!!

[Enigma869]

the people and talent that have come through that band is what makes it legendary, not that they sold a few records.

Well, for what it's worth, I think I made my point quite clear about album sales being the only barometer, when I mentioned that New Kids On The Block has an album that has sold double the copies of anything Bad Company has ever put out. There is obviously more that goes into the equation than pure sales. My larger point is that there are probably a whole lot more people who do not consider Bad Company to be a "legendary" band than those who do feel that way. I guess I'm someone who just feels the term "legend" should be used MUCH more sparingly! For what it's worth, Journey is my favorite band, and I don't consider them to be "legends", just because I happen to like the music. I would venture to guess that the average music fan (obviously, I'm speaking of non Bad Company fans here) has never heard of a single Bad Company song, other than "Feel Like Makin' Love". For what it's worth, I do feel like that one song is a "legendary" song, and as good of a song as I've ever heard!

John from Boston

[larryfromnextdoor]

Well, for what it's worth, I think I made my point quite clear about album sales being the only barometer,

John from Boston

john,, its pronounced THERMOMETER...

[Moon Beam]

Larry

[Uncle heFTy]

its just a rock concert... simple, you go to be entertained for a couple of hours.. these guys have known each other for many years, they are mates, they get along, all have written great songs,, its a way for people to get out and hear some cool tunes with others.. and hear incredible musicians play real loud some great stuff.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOWH53oqmiE

Sorry Larry but Paul Rodgers singing Freddie is just awful to me. I cannot dig it. I would NOT be entertained during a show. My 2 favorite singers in the whole world are Freddie & Perry. I'm glad they're all having fun doing these numbers. But to me it is sacreligious. I would LOVE to see JSS do them live. That would be a treat for me. Hearing the way he does them, he pays them the homage they deserve. Paul Rodgers, no. It is not my schtick. But I'm glad it works for u & others.

Let me ask you a simple question - its not loaded in any way. Did you get to see any of the European and US shows with Q+PR. I did, in fact I saw 8 in Europe 1 in Aruba 2 in the US and one in Canada - all in all they were great shows. They were not Queen as they were originally performed, that is without doubt, but they were very entertaining. I am biased about Jeff, having worked with him for almost 4 years and I too would have loved to have seen him out front, but it wasn't to be for many reasons. The shows were a real mixture of solid Queen numbers, Free and bad company as well as a couple of solo slots from each of the three. What they didn't do was try to be the Queen of old. PR brought a grittier bluesy edge to some Queen songs - and Brian and Roger added their 'Queen' fingerprints to the way in which the Free and Bad Company material was delivered

It isn't to everyone's taste, but then to many the thought of JSS fronting Journey was just as big an anathema.

Life changes.
FT

[The Ghost Rider]

And, I'd add this...


I hear a lot of people say "Freddie WAS Queen." And of course, Freddie was a huge part of what made them a great band. But...I would argue that Brian May's guitar was every bit as important to Queen's music as Freddie's voice was.

[ArnelRox]

What the hell makes a band or singer a "legend"? There has to be more to it than just liking the music. For instance...I despise the Rolling Stones and think my parrot can sing better than Mick Jagger. That said, I don't know how anyone can't say the Stones are a legendary band!

Exactly. They broke new ground in music & they've been around forever. Bad Company? Well I know their songs yes, & they're decent songs, but they just never did anything that wasn't being done before. When I think of legends, I think of Freddie & Queen of course, The Beatles, David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson...people like that who broke out of the mold. Elvis was definitely a legend. Those are my idea of legends. Bad Company, nah. I'd even begrudgingly pop Madonna into the legendary category. & even maybe Boy George for that matter. Just because of what they did.

[Enigma869]

Well, for what it's worth, I think I made my point quite clear about album sales being the only barometer,

John from Boston

john,, its pronounced THERMOMETER...

Come on Larry...Don't you watch the weather report?? How can you not know what a barometer is??? I'm guessing you failed out of Meterology 101


John from Boston

[Enigma869]

What the hell makes a band or singer a "legend"? There has to be more to it than just liking the music. For instance...I despise the Rolling Stones and think my parrot can sing better than Mick Jagger. That said, I don't know how anyone can't say the Stones are a legendary band!

Exactly. They broke new ground in music & they've been around forever. Bad Company? Well I know their songs yes, & they're decent songs, but they just never did anything that wasn't being done before. When I think of legends, I think of Freddie & Queen of course, The Beatles, David Bowie, Prince, Michael Jackson...people like that who broke out of the mold. Elvis was definitely a legend. Those are my idea of legends. Bad Company, nah. I'd even begrudgingly pop Madonna into the legendary category. & even maybe Boy George for that matter. Just because of what they did.

Elvis defined the word legend. Everyone else is just an impostor. For the record, I don't count myself as a huge Elvis fan. That said, I don't know that any of the music we grew up on would have existed, if not for Elvis. I'm not much of a Madonna fan either, but would agree she definitely deserves the "legend" word. You lost me completely with Boy George! Sorry, but there was nothing too revolutionary about "Karma Khameleon"!

John from Boston

[yulog]

Bad Company a legend? Pffft.

Yes, Bad Company IS a legend. In the grand Rock-and-Roll world...I'd say much more so than Journey.

lets see first album ---#1 single------Cant get enough---also album went # 1
second album-----grammy and another top 10 hit album reaches number 3

If you look at it objectivly bad company did more in their first year of existence then Journey and many other bands did in their lifetime. id say Rodgers is a legend bigtime, anyone who cant see that .....well i guess thats just pure ignorance

[ArnelRox]

Elvis defined the word legend. Everyone else is just an impostor. For the record, I don't count myself as a huge Elvis fan. That said, I don't know that any of the music we grew up on would have existed, if not for Elvis. I'm not much of a Madonna fan either, but would agree she definitely deserves the "legend" word. You lost me completely with Boy George! Sorry, but there was nothing too revolutionary about "Karma Khameleon"!

John from Boston

I totally agree about Elvis. He paved the way. Next up were The Beatles really. Without them, who knows? Altho I'm not a fan of them really.

Boy George, well he changed the "look" & made it possible for people to get funkier than they had before. I guess Bowie did some of that w/Ziggy Stardust but not in quite as much of the same way. Was the music legendary? No. But it sure was good dance music in high school.

[ArnelRox]

anyone who cant see that .....well i guess thats just pure ignorance

Well we already know u think I'm ignorant, so what else is new?

[yulog]

Bad Company a legend? Pffft.

Yes, Bad Company IS a legend. In the grand Rock-and-Roll world...I'd say much more so than Journey.

Yes, even though Journey is my favorite band i could never be stupid enough to not acknowledge everything BAD CO. brought to the rock industry,more importantly Paul Rodgers.

[yulog]

when comparing numbers, remember that 1970's numbers are different than 80's,,, selling 1 million in the early 70's might be compared to 5 million now.. you just didnt sell 5 or more million unless you were the Sound of Music, or Frampton Comes alive... West Side Story, before that,,

Thank you Larry ----some one knows what they are talking about---i thought this was pretty obvious especially in the early 70's.

[yulog]

And, I'd add this...


I hear a lot of people say "Freddie WAS Queen." And of course, Freddie was a huge part of what made them a great band. But...I would argue that Brian May's guitar was every bit as important to Queen's music as Freddie's voice was.

Agreed no one like him-his style is like no one else.

[yulog]

the people and talent that have come through that band is what makes it legendary, not that they sold a few records.

Well, for what it's worth, I think I made my point quite clear about album sales being the only barometer, when I mentioned that New Kids On The Block has an album that has sold double the copies of anything Bad Company has ever put out. There is obviously more that goes into the equation than pure sales. My larger point is that there are probably a whole lot more people who do not consider Bad Company to be a "legendary" band than those who do feel that way. I guess I'm someone who just feels the term "legend" should be used MUCH more sparingly! For what it's worth, Journey is my favorite band, and I don't consider them to be "legends", just because I happen to like the music. I would venture to guess that the average music fan (obviously, I'm speaking of non Bad Company fans here) has never heard of a single Bad Company song, other than "Feel Like Makin' Love". For what it's worth, I do feel like that one song is a "legendary" song, and as good of a song as I've ever heard!

John from Boston

I'd be willing to bet money otherwise---------to this day anytime "Cant get enough" or "Shooting star" is played on a radio,everyone around except maybe children respond with as much passion as "Feel like makin love".

[Tom Jrnyfn]

My only experience listening to "Queen" with Paul Rodgers was during the VH1 Rock Honors where they were honored with Def Leppard. I came away from that thinking "YIKES"! That is not Queen, period! I'll be the first to admit that I don't know a whole lot about Rodgers (although, interestingly enough, I've heard some on message boards refer to the guy as a "legend"). If that voice makes a "legend", then Perry is God! None of the "old" Queen music he was singing sounded even remotely familiar to me. I just can't believe a band with the legacy Queen has would completely re-arrange such classic songs...Sacrilege, in my opinion. I realize that we can't bring Freddie back, but, at least retire the name Queen with some dignity!


John from Boston

The VH1 honors show did not do them justice..I was skeptical about seeing them live, but it was one hell of a show..Brian is worth the price of admission

Paul's body of work is amazing..The guy is pushing 60 and still can bring it..Legend? Pretty damn close

[Enigma869]

Thank you Larry ----some one knows what they are talking about---i thought this was pretty obvious especially in the early 70's.

For what it's worth Yulog, not everyone who doesn't share your taste in music is "ignorant". If you think Bad Company is legendary with their 15 million albums sold, I say more power to you! I simply don't put Bad Company into the "legendary" category...Different strokes for different folks! Also, for the record, at the age of 36, I was barely born in the "early 70's", so I'm not really up on who the "flavor of the month" was, at that particular time.

John from Boston

[johnroxx]

What some people fail to see is that musicians don't write songs so the songs can die with them. The songs are supposed to last forever.

Post -of-the-month right there.

Q+PR puts on a fantastic show. Anyone slagging the group is misguided at best. Anyone who skips an opportunity to see them live is just plain silly.

;^)

[ArmaniJeans]

While I can name a short list of talented vocalists (Jeff included) who I prefered to listen to fronting the remaining members of Queen, I must say that Paul or no Paul, the remaining members of Queen should soldier on as they see fit for as long as they want. I think they've earned it. Queen was, at the time it occurred (and may still be, I'm not sure), the only band to have all four members pen a Top 10 single...the Beatles never accomplished that, but I think it speaks volumes to the fact that the group was and is, indeed, a collaborative effort, and not just one person; perhaps more-so that almost any other band in history.

That said, maybe they should have snagged Mr. Soto when they had the chance.

[Lilla_Forever]

And, I'd add this...


I hear a lot of people say "Freddie WAS Queen." And of course, Freddie was a huge part of what made them a great band. But...I would argue that Brian May's guitar was every bit as important to Queen's music as Freddie's voice was.

For certain! Not to mention Taylor's drumming and the backing vocals supplied by both Taylor and May.

[Matthew]

And, I'd add this...


I hear a lot of people say "Freddie WAS Queen." And of course, Freddie was a huge part of what made them a great band. But...I would argue that Brian May's guitar was every bit as important to Queen's music as Freddie's voice was.

For certain! Not to mention Taylor's drumming and the backing vocals supplied by both Taylor and May.

Queen and Journey are so similar in that the guitarists represent 50% of their signature sound. However without Mercury and Perry these two bands are diminished by 50%...no matter who they hire....and even if both bands can provide an entertaining night out let's not kid ourselves that they aren't a shadow of their former selves.

At least Queen has always shown the utmost respect for Mercury...by touring as "Queen with Paul Rodgers". There's none of that 'let's hope the crowd doesn't notice the orginal guy isn't on stage' type of attitude from May and Taylor.

And if Queen use old video footage on the screens in concert I'd be surprised if they edited out Mercury...for fear that the crowd might remember how great he was.

Also...Queen had the class and ambition to hire one of the all-time great hard rock singers...who sounds and looks nothing like Mercury - and who doesn't even try to.

And it's all paid off for Queen...they are playing huge headlining tours...and the vast majority of the fan base have accepted the 'new guy'.

[Lilla_Forever]

And, I'd add this...


I hear a lot of people say "Freddie WAS Queen." And of course, Freddie was a huge part of what made them a great band. But...I would argue that Brian May's guitar was every bit as important to Queen's music as Freddie's voice was.

For certain! Not to mention Taylor's drumming and the backing vocals supplied by both Taylor and May.

Queen and Journey are so similar in that the guitarists represent 50% of their signature sound. However without Mercury and Perry these two bands are diminished by 50%...no matter who they hire....and even if both bands can provide an entertaining night out let's not kid ourselves that they aren't a shadow of their former selves.

At least Queen has always shown the utmost respect for Mercury...by touring as "Queen with Paul Rodgers". There's none of that 'let's hope the crowd doesn't notice the orginal guy isn't on stage' type of attitude from May and Taylor.

I agree with you that the abscence of both Perry and Mercury does take something away from each band. On the other hand, something different is just that: Something different which can be good in another way. I think it has much to do with the level of pretense you bring to it, as you say. If the rest of the band starts to pretend that the new guy is a replacement for the old, then problems come along.

I also agree with you that Taylor and May continue to show great respect for Mercury, which is only fitting. It is perhaps even true to say that Mercury meant even more to Queen than Perry did to Journey because of his very flamboyant stage and music video presence. He very much defined the image of the group.

[Uncle heFTy]

And, I'd add this...


I hear a lot of people say "Freddie WAS Queen." And of course, Freddie was a huge part of what made them a great band. But...I would argue that Brian May's guitar was every bit as important to Queen's music as Freddie's voice was.

For certain! Not to mention Taylor's drumming and the backing vocals supplied by both Taylor and May.

Queen and Journey are so similar in that the guitarists represent 50% of their signature sound. However without Mercury and Perry these two bands are diminished by 50%...no matter who they hire....and even if both bands can provide an entertaining night out let's not kid ourselves that they aren't a shadow of their former selves.

At least Queen has always shown the utmost respect for Mercury...by touring as "Queen with Paul Rodgers". There's none of that 'let's hope the crowd doesn't notice the orginal guy isn't on stage' type of attitude from May and Taylor.

And if Queen use old video footage on the screens in concert I'd be surprised if they edited out Mercury...for fear that the crowd might remember how great he was.

Also...Queen had the class and ambition to hire one of the all-time great hard rock singers...who sounds and looks nothing like Mercury - and who doesn't even try to.

And it's all paid off for Queen...they are playing huge headlining tours...and the vast majority of the fan base have accepted the 'new guy'.

In fact, Matthew, Q+PR made footage of the 'old band' and in particular Freddie a key point in the proceedings with Freddie being seen as the opener for 'Bohemian Rhapsody' on a large screen. All in all the gigs were wonderfully done, if not universally acclaimed - in fact the gig they recorded and released as a DVD (Sheffield, UK) was not the best (Vancouver or Dublin, or in fact the first ever Q+PR gig in Brixton all deserve that title) and the audience were somewhat quieter (perhaps down to the presence of a huge video crew).

Your point about the substantial difference between FM & PR is well made and that Paul doesn't try to be Freddie in anyway has endeared him to many - as well as giving him huge exposure. there has, in a similar way to Journey and JSS, been signficant cross-fertilisation of their separate fan-bases.

I am looking forward with great anticipation to the output from Brian, Roger and Rodger's studio sessions - hoping it will be (and I have described it thus way elsewhere) "Something borrowed, something new, something blue(s)".

I watched Roger Taylor' performance last night on UK C4's coverage of the UK Hall of Fame and his skills have not diminished, I couldn't help wishing that Brian had been there too.

Uncle heFTy

[conversationpc]

At least Queen has always shown the utmost respect for Mercury...by touring as "Queen with Paul Rodgers". There's none of that 'let's hope the crowd doesn't notice the orginal guy isn't on stage' type of attitude from May and Taylor.

Journey has never made it a secret that Perry isn't in the band. Perry also isn't the "original guy". There was one lead singer for several years before they even knew who Steve Perry was.

Also...Queen had the class and ambition to hire one of the all-time great hard rock singers...who sounds and looks nothing like Mercury - and who doesn't even try to.

I'll bet if they were touring simply as "Queen" and without Rodgers, they probably would have hired someone who sounded like Freddie.

[MartyMoffatt]

the people and talent that have come through that band is what makes it legendary, not that they sold a few records.

Well, for what it's worth, I think I made my point quite clear about album sales being the only barometer, when I mentioned that New Kids On The Block has an album that has sold double the copies of anything Bad Company has ever put out. There is obviously more that goes into the equation than pure sales. My larger point is that there are probably a whole lot more people who do not consider Bad Company to be a "legendary" band than those who do feel that way. I guess I'm someone who just feels the term "legend" should be used MUCH more sparingly! For what it's worth, Journey is my favorite band, and I don't consider them to be "legends", just because I happen to like the music. I would venture to guess that the average music fan (obviously, I'm speaking of non Bad Company fans here) has never heard of a single Bad Company song, other than "Feel Like Makin' Love". For what it's worth, I do feel like that one song is a "legendary" song, and as good of a song as I've ever heard!

John from Boston

I thought the discussion was over whether or not Paul Rodgers was considered legendary, not Bad Co. Bad Co was just one of the many groups Rodgers has been associated with. before that he was in Free. I guess you've heard of them? Their signature song 'Alright Now', as a single, has probably earned more for Rodgers than the ENTIRE Journey catalogue did for Journey, and I think I read somewhere that the song is being played somewhere in the world on the radio something like every 10 seconds.

However, sales aside, what makes a singer legendary to me is what influence they've had on those that came after them. In Paul Rodgers' case, fusing rock, blues and soul at the tail end of the 60's and into the 70's, he is often described as the father of that particular style of singing. Probably more than 90% of classic rock band singers around today were influenced (either directly, or indirectly by people who themselves were influenced) by the singing style Rodgers introduced in those early years. Look at David Coverdale for instance. Every mannerism and every vocal technique he displays on stage was part of Rodgers' original repertoire.

The word legend is bandied around far too often and too freely in the music world. However, Paul Rodgers IS a legend in rock music and has been for the best part of 40 years.

Having said all that, I wasn't impressed when I saw him with Queen. I felt the mix of styles (the blues of Rodgers and the theatrical style of Quenn material) didn't gell well. That's not a criticism of the artists, just a personal opinion.

Marty

[Just Mindy]

I'll bet if they were touring simply as "Queen" and without Rodgers, they probably would have hired someone who sounded like Freddie.

I wonder if there's anybody that would come even close to sounding like him?

[Uncle heFTy]

I'll bet if they were touring simply as "Queen" and without Rodgers, they probably would have hired someone who sounded like Freddie.

I wonder if there's anybody that would come even close to sounding like him?

If you go to http://www.queenworld.com and navigate to the merchandise page there is a link to samples from a tribute album - there are probably half a dozen of the singers on there who are fairly close, by the way that doesn't include JSS who is also on the album - he doesn't try to sound like or look like Freddie.

Most of these bands are 'amateur' in the best sense of the word, even though they do perform regularly.

Uncle

[MartyMoffatt]

If you go to http://www.queenworld.com and navigate to the merchandise page there is a link to samples from a tribute album - there are probably half a dozen of the singers on there who are fairly close, by the way that doesn't include JSS who is also on the album - he doesn't try to sound like or look like Freddie.

Most of these bands are 'amateur' in the best sense of the word, even though they do perform regularly.

Uncle

Hi Frank, good to see you around.

I agree JSS doesn't sound particularly like Mercury but it doesn't stop him doing justice to the Queen material he covers. Jeff has a brashness and arrogance on stage that is, in my opinion, a better fit for the Queen image than the more laid back vocal virtuosity of Rodgers. That said, it will be interesting to hear some new stuff written specifically for the combination of talent, instead of Rodgers singing original Queen stuff or May playing Free & Bad Co guitar licks.

Marty

[Just Mindy]

If you go to http://www.queenworld.com and navigate to the merchandise page there is a link to samples from a tribute album - there are probably half a dozen of the singers on there who are fairly close, by the way that doesn't include JSS who is also on the album - he doesn't try to sound like or look like Freddie.

Most of these bands are 'amateur' in the best sense of the word, even though they do perform regularly.

Uncle

Thanks for that, the second band listed, The Royal Family, sounded pretty good, I'm impressed!