The point with the earlier stats was that the Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration was more or less equal between the three men. I've read thoughts here and elsewhere along the lines of "Paul filling Freddie's shoes" or "they needed a singer...", which are both only accurate to a point. And I acknowledge I'm taking those statements slightly out of context.
Yes, Paul was singing songs Freddie had perfected, but Paul was not a hired gun to fill the Freddie-less void in Queen. I'm not saying everyone here thought that he was, but I sense some folks (here and in the real world) did view him as something like that.
When it comes right down to it, Paul was an equally contributing member of the team, which was not *QUEEN!!!* + paul rodgers (or vice versa). As an equal partner, he's allowed his share of the resulting promotion, renewed interest and expanded fan base. Wasn't that part of the original intent, to pool resources, talents and their *names*?
As I said before, I don't know what caused the end of the partnership, if it had anything to do with anything discussed here, but I think for those 5 years, Paul appears to have pulled his own weight and if so, deserves to reap some of the rewards for the effort (as do Brian and Roger!).
If I'm wrong, I'm wrong.
Oh, and no offence taken by the question about the stats.
:-)
john bodega · Member since
"It's like those Beatles fans who scoffed at the Across The Universe soundtrack because the arrangements were different"
Nah... it wasn't just because of the arrangements. It generally stank on ice. Not unilaterally, not entirely ... but for the most part it was piss on the sidewalk of music. It was kind of disappointing, as I'd liked the concept when it was described to me.
The Real Wizard · Member since
mike hunt wrote:
Just because he doesn't think pauls voice fits the Queen sound doesn't make him close-minded.
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Correct. But he did say that Paul Rodgers sucks for the sole reason that he felt he doesn't fit the Queen sound. That's a very different statement, and the very definition of closed-minded.
There's more to Paul than what he did with Queen, but some of these people are so obsessed with Queen to the point that they'll hate anyone who sings Queen songs in a new way. Not liking his interpretations is one thing, but to hate the artist in his totality for this reason is another.
I bet most of these Queen fans who hate Paul probably can't even name a single song of his that wasn't in the QPR setlists.
I guess it just saddens me that so many people are full of hate when it comes to music. Politics and religion are supposed to divide us, not music ... it should unite us. To actually hate a person who makes a living off entertaining people and hasn't done harm to anyone ... I just can't understand the mentality.
mike hunt · Member since
Sir GH wrote: mike hunt wrote:
Just because he doesn't think pauls voice fits the Queen sound doesn't make him close-minded.
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Correct. But he did say that Paul Rodgers sucks for the sole reason that he felt he doesn't fit the Queen sound. That's a very different statement, and the very definition of closed-minded.
There's more to Paul than what he did with Queen, but some of these people are so obsessed with Queen to the point that they'll hate anyone who sings Queen songs in a new way. Not liking his interpretations is one thing, but to hate the artist in his totality for this reason is another.
I bet most of these Queen fans who hate Paul probably can't even name a single song of his that wasn't in the QPR setlists.
I guess it just saddens me that so many people are full of hate when it comes to music. Politics and religion are supposed to divide us, not music ... it should unite us. To actually hate a person who makes a living off entertaining people and hasn't done harm to anyone ... I just can't understand the mentality.
Hates a strong word....how about dislike?....every group has these Obsessed fans. Queen has these, but fans of other bands are even worse....Most grow out of that obessed stage, some never grow up. On another note...... Nice comments by Paul Rodger's regarding Freddie in a recent interview. the More people learn about freddie the more respect they have for him. The more they dig inside the music and all the rare gems that wern't hits, and towards the end of his life still rocking away and never saying "poor me." just wanted to point that out......paul has nothing but good things to say about Queen.
OneTrackMind · Member since
I really hope they do it again.
I didn't go first time 'round, thinking "Oh this isn't Queen, I don't want to see some guy trying to replace Freddie", which of course was a stupid way of looking at it. I was sorry I didn't go, and I'd jump at the chance if they do it again. It's still half of the Original Queen at the end of the day.
pittrek · Member since
The Vienna concert on their 2008 tour was my first "Queen" concert ever. I didn't know that it will be my last, too :-(
I want more, of course
Thistle · Member since
GratefulFan wrote: Thistleboy 1980 wrote:
It does look pretty childish (about the T-shirt, that is, because he should remain professional. But maybe he wouldn't have reacted angrily, who knows? Maybe it was just an over-zealous official being too cautious???). However, if the situation is the way I am lead to believe it is, I cannot blame Brian for being pissed off. ======================
Thing is, Brian is perpetually pissed off. Truthfully I'm about worn out of his pissedoffedness, though never worn out of him. At some point I think you do have to start adjusting your filter for people who seem to be perpetually mad at everything and everyone that doesn't conform to whatever it is they think others ought to think/do/be. Like it or not, that does indicate a tendency to raging ego at least sometimes, or perhaps more accurately egocentrism. That can't be easy to work with all the time.
I love, love, love Rodgers' work, but as a human being he's always struck me as kind of a shallow drip, entirely average in almost every way. That might get kind of annoying too. But one guy is talking reunion and one guy apparently has a 'very, very sore spot' and by coincidence that same guy also happens to be a bit of a festering pit of sore spots. So I'd be inclined to think that Brian would be the bigger part of the problem, particularly if 'the problem' is not only the original reasons for the falling out but the path to ironing out any issues and moving forward. =============================================================================================
But is there a need for them to "move forward" with Paul? Looks to me like PR is just trying to capitalise on Queen's recent resurgence....and you know the saying "once bitten twice shy". I really can't blame Brian.
ptr · Member since
I´d be happy to see them work together again. I think that some of you have a short memory a bit.... How I think that it really happened?
- in 2004/5 era, when QPR collaboration began, PR himself kindly said, that Queen songs were not played for long time live, so he wants to give fans the chance to hear basically this stuff. 20 from 25 songs were from Queen in setlist, Paul´s tracks were just basically "must be" tracks like All Right Now, Cant Get Enough, Feel Like Making Love or Wishing Well. That was compromise from him. Dont forget - before the tour, fans were almost "afraid" of 50:50 setlist and it was just a collaboration of 2 big artists (Queen / Paul Rodgers), so it would not be suprising.
- then they did their own new stuff, new album together. I believe that cause of friction was just because of setlist and that ballancing of old Queen songs (and almost all of them were done previously on 2005 Tour, so fans already had a chance to hear them before!), new stuff and Paul´s tracks. Go through the setlists of 2008 Tour and just think which tracks were dropped in favour of newly added QPR tracks.... Wishing Well and Feel Like Making Love were dropped for new tracks and NO Queen song was dropped beside of short version of One Vision.... After that came the problems with Surf´s Up Schools Out introduction which Paul and Roger liked, but Brian hated and then they made a biggest mistake of the tour with horrible opening Hammer To Fall.
Compare it - beginning of tour.... later tour: Bad Company.................... A Kind Of Magic (sung by Roger) Warboys...............................Bad Company Feel Like Makin' Love........We Believe Guitar Solo......................... Guitar Solo
Paul was doing to much compromises and I think that it was cause of problem between him and Brian.
john bodega · Member since
Q+PR was a great experiment that I was hugely in favour of at the start, but it ran its full course pretty quickly. Paul Rodgers does what he does, and that's okay. It's pretty obvious that he can bring little (if anything) more to the table. They played some great shows, made a lot of people happy, and recorded a fairly average album. (People seem to take the word 'average' as some sort of insult - I'm speaking about the album generally though, as it has some great moments that I will hold up against anything).
Having said all that, I'd be glad if they never worked together again. Onward and upward - I think Brian and Roger should seek some self esteem and just record together. They really are good enough.
Thistle · Member since
Zebonka12 wrote: Q+PR was a great experiment that I was hugely in favour of at the start, but it ran its full course pretty quickly. Paul Rodgers does what he does, and that's okay. It's pretty obvious that he can bring little (if anything) more to the table. They played some great shows, made a lot of people happy, and recorded a fairly average album. (People seem to take the word 'average' as some sort of insult - I'm speaking about the album generally though, as it has some great moments that I will hold up against anything).
Having said all that, I'd be glad if they never worked together again. Onward and upward - I think Brian and Roger should seek some self esteem and just record together. They really are good enough. =============================================================================================
Well put Zeb, so I'd second that!
Soundfreak · Member since
There was always friction inside Queen - as you could just hear in the new BBC documentary. So if there is or was some friction between Paul Rodgers and Brian May it should not be overrated.
I always wonder, if all those people who complain about Paul Rodgers ever have been to a show. Watching videos does not give the real picture. I saw them in Dortmund where I used to see the original Queen. And it was a night to remember ! There was more presence of Freddie in the building than in the days when he was really there. I have never witnessed something like that before. And Paul Rodgers did a great job finding the right balance. I have also seen the several videos and heard the recordings, but they do not give the full picture.
So if they decide to carry on - fine ! What goes on behind the scenes should not be our cup of tea. I don't know of any band without any friction from time to time....
The Real Wizard · Member since
mike hunt wrote:
Nice comments by Paul Rodger's regarding Freddie in a recent interview. the More people learn about freddie the more respect they have for him. The more they dig inside the music and all the rare gems that wern't hits, and towards the end of his life still rocking away and never saying "poor me." just wanted to point that out......paul has nothing but good things to say about Queen.
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Exactly my point ... Paul is an exemplary class act.
Well, he did beat Mick Ralphs up....and is also a band-hopper. Agreed RE the shows, in fact I couldn't agree more, but I think the signs point towards PR being the problem and the reason for the break-up. He is an ex-boxer and a 2nd degree blackbelt in oragami or whatever, so I reckon he does have some pent up anger issues lol
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That was, what, like 35 years ago? I don't think you can judge someone's present day behavior based on something they did decades ago. People grow up.
Like I said, I don't think anyone outside the trio and their immediate circles know what happened, and so I don't think it does any good to assign blame based on idle speculation and fannish biases. I mean, I love Brian May to bits but he does seem like a bit of a pill sometimes, so who knows.
OneTrackMind · Member since
Maybe they should get Gary Mullen in and have done with it :)
Thistle · Member since
Dr Zoidberg wrote:
I don't think anyone outside the trio and their immediate circles know what happened, and so I don't think it does any good to assign blame based on idle speculation and fannish biases. =============================================================================================
Could you please go back to page one and read where the story came from?
