5 Singers Who Could Replace Freddie Mercury In Queen

How does one replace the irreplaceable? As one of the most unique, charismatic and gifted lead singers in rock history, Freddie Mercury is not someone that you could just insert a new face as lead vocalist for Queen and go on like nothing happened. This has been a challenge to the surviving members of Queen, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor (bassist John Deacon has been retired from the business since 1997) as they attempt to keep the band’s name and legacy alive and kicking in the 20+ years since Mercury’s death. There have been tours, one off singles and TV performances to be sure but no permanent solution which of course might be their plan all along, find a singer to fill a certain gap for a limited amount of time then move on when it has run it’s course. The band has come to use the name “Queen+” to indicate that whomever they are working with is NOT a member of the band but rather an equal collaborator.

However as May and Taylor are getting on in years, perhaps they would like to make one last real go of it and bring in someone to the band proper instead of a fill-in. A balanced partnership where they challenge each other’s ideas and have equal footing in the studio as well as on stage, a collaboration where they play to each other’s strengths instead of stepping back and letting the other lead the way.

So with the following list I’d like to present five singers that I believe could provide such a partnership. True, Queen have worked with them in some capacity in the past but not in the way I have described. Some are likely to happen, others have a snowball’s chance in hell of occuring but never the less makes one salivate over the musical possibilities.

http://whatculture.com/music/5-singers-who-could-replace-freddie-mercury-in-queen.php

It's just five people who have already sung with them at some point.

Kind of lame...

(EDIT: until I read someonewholikesadam's comment in another thread, I didn't realize Michael Allred is responsible for this. Interesting.)

Please, get Adam Lambert off that list.
Same goes for Robbie Williams

Wouldn't mind a Queen + Muse collaboration tour. A little more robust version of the Black Crowes with Jimmy Page which sounded fantastic.

Matthew Bellamy's voice would fit the bill.

Next 4...

1. James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers) could definitely hit the high notes, but I can't see him singing Crazy Little Thing Called Love or Bicycle Race (if you know the Manics, you know what I mean).

2. Rob Halford... he's a fan - would be interesting if it were a "Queen Rocks" tour... may even work for an interesting rendition of Love Of My Life... He'll bring the leather.

3. Liam Gallagher. This may not be a popular choice... but I just want to hear him do Fat Bottomed Girls and Stone Cold Crazy... even Now I'm Here... Buuuuuut... he can't do the high notes - so BohRhap and TSMGO or even Somebody to Love would be impossible given his "relatively" limited range.

4. If HE were still alive - Jeff Buckley. I would just be interested to hear his interpretations of Freddie's songs. He would change the approach and make you rethink it. Much like he did with Cohen's Hallelujah.

Gary Cherone.

NONE. No one can replace Freddie Mercury although George Michael did a great job at the 1992 FM tribute concert. For me he was the best of the evening.

^ agreed.

We shouldn't be replacing Freddie, but I wouldn't mind seeing a Q+PR effort again. I loved the CR tour!

I don't like the word replace.

I would love to see Brian and Roger play live again, with:

Paul Rodgers
David Lee Roth ( That would be something different)
George Michael


Well let them just do a small venue tour, band name : Brian & Roger, without any 'guest' singer, some solo and some Queen.

One can only dream.

[QUOTE] [b]dsmeer wrote:[/b]

let them just do a small venue tour, band name : Brian & Roger, without any 'guest' singer, some solo and some Queen.

One can only dream.[/QUOTE]

I'd go for that one, too :)

1. Frank Sinatra
2. Nat "King" Cole
3. Elvis Presley
4. Luciano Pavarotti
5. Enrico Caruso

Unfortunately they all have this small problem in common, so let''s forget about replacing Freddie and finally lay this hollow shell of a band to rest.

^ Caruso would be my vote over the others. Wait....he's dead. No! Hold on.....they all are.......

MY BRAIN HURTS

I think Sacha Baron Cohen is missing on that list..

I made a reply at the bottom of the page, and ironically, because it disagrees with the views of the original author, it rather coincidentally hasn't been displayed, yet there are a few comments that agree with him and, surprise surprise, they are there for all to see! Oh the joys of free speech...

Anyway, artists I feel would be good as collaborators (not replacements, there is no replacement!):

- Gary Cherone - What with Extreme's amazing Queen medley and his outstanding vocals on Hammer To Fall, He really should be considered, and at least he has a rock music background rather than a certain American Idol reject that I can think of. Amazing vocals, nearly as much range as the old Fred meister himself, and a spade-full of power in his delivery, I could think of no better person!

- Matt Bellamy - And if Mr Cherone wasn't able to, I'd certainly love Mr Bellamy to have a go! His vocals are just superb, not Freddie standard, but getting there. Similar credentials to Mr C, but a bit of a softer tone in places. Cracking!

- Mika - Before I get shot down for suggesting Mika, there has been suggestions in the past that he does sound a bit Freddie-ish (unless I'm much mistaken) and with his wide range and powerful vocals, he'd go pretty well with Queen I reckon. What's more, he can play the piano, so he could take over the duties from ol' Spike every now and then in true Freddie style.

- Tom Chaplin - Well hopefully we've all seen that version of 'It's A Hard Life' sung by him in 2011 with Bri and Rog at the Prince's Trust concert, and he was bloody brilliant!

Of all of the suggestions made in that article, I'm still struggling to get to grips with his reasoning for Robbie Williams. Has he not seen his recent "Take the Crown Live at the O2" performance? Woeful is not the word...

[QUOTE] [b]Narudge wrote:[/b]

I made a reply at the bottom of the page, and ironically, because it disagrees with the views of the original author, it rather coincidentally hasn't been displayed, yet there are a few comments that agree with him and, surprise surprise, they are there for all to see! Oh the joys of free speech...

[/QUOTE]

Paranoia and utter drivel into the bargain: it happens to us all sometimes, and a quick refreshing of the page would have sorted it. If your logic was true, then your post above would vanish, too.

Welcome to QZ, "newbie": it's amazing how you talk like some of the paranoid users (particularly on the Fanthology threads) already, but have only been here 5 minutes lol :p

[QUOTE] [b]MackMantilla wrote:[/b]

I think Sacha Baron Cohen is missing on that list..[/QUOTE]

Erm.......

NO!

Jeremy kapone!!!!

Get with the programme, Mack :p