‘I don’t think those guys want to’: Adam Lambert nixes idea of a world tour

I know you don't like Adam Miss R. And I respect you for that. But to all the others who think Adam is "trying to ride Queen's coattails to fame, he has said many times that he was ASKED by Brian and Roger to sing with them. Why would he say no? Brian and Roger genuinely LIKE Adam and respect his talent and that's why they keep asking him.

Adam is working on his own album#3, got a role on Glee this fall and just cut a great record with world-famous DJ Avicii. I don't think he NEEDS Queen for fame and fortune. Their career is coming to an end. His just beginning.

From a recent interview (cue the negative comments and disparaging remarks:

The flame-voiced former frontman for Queen, Mercury’s original band is now on tour, and being fronted by glam-rocker Adam Lambert.

Adam’s fronted the band a few times, since the “American Idol” finale in 2009. He’ll reunite with Queen’s original members in Las Vegas this month, at the iHeart Radio Music Festival.

And he thinks Freddie Mercury would approve of his taking the mike for classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Will Rock You.”

“I think he’d be down,” Adam told Wild 106.1 FM.

“Brian [May], Roger [Taylor], and the band, they’ve been really cool about telling me stories about Freddie,” Adam revealed. “And kind of letting me into the kind of guy that he was…

“They always keep saying: ‘Oh, you guys would have gotten such a kick out of each other!’” Adam added. “‘You probably would have made each other laugh.’ It’s quite a compliment.”

But deep down, Adam confesses he knows he’s just a “temp” replacement for the king of flamboyant rock n’ roll.

“There will only be one Freddie Mercury,” he said. “There’s just no comparing. I’m just up there when I sing his songs, just trying to kind of pay tribute.”

Lambert isnt worthy of licking freddies microphone wand, and i honestly cant believe you saying he dont need the fame with Queen,
err well you will find he does actually, cos he was only a glorified west end star who got lucky, and his voice does not have the fantastic ranges that freddies voice had.
As for Brian and Roger telling lambert what kind of person freddie was, well they should be telling the devoted fans in - stead
of lambert, by the way how is lambert glam rock?
Behind all the eye liner and make up, lambert only wishes he had only a tinge of genius that freddie had in bucket loads!
another american jerk!

"Well, now you're just baiting SWLA to start posting quotes from that British opera singer (Anastasia? Angelique? Something like that?) who thinks Adam has the most perfect voice that ever existed in music and who writes essays analyzing his voice."




The point is to provide some insights into his appeal and assess whether American Idols glam prince has what takes to become a superstar.

So meet the judges and find out what they have to say.

Nicolas Reveles, Geisel Director of Education and Outreach at San Diego Opera

Adams voice: As an opera professional this is probably going to sound strange, but I love his voice! I imagine hes a baritone but he masks that with a terrific head voice (falsetto) that is incredibly well trained, fluid and able to communicate emotionally. Its particularly good in his slower, lyric numbers like The Tracks of My Tears and Mad World. I also reviewed his performance of Black and White, where it seemed to me that at times he was driving the voice a little hard. But one has to accept that with pop and rock singers. His pitch is excellent, even in those crazy coloratura-like passages; the only pitch issue I had was with the initial moment of the very last note in Mad World but he obviously heard the problem and fixed it on the spot. That was very professional, very self-aware, and its something that opera singers often have happen to them as well. So hes in good company.

His looks: Adam has a distinctive look that makes him stand out from the crowd and this is all to his benefit for a career in pop music. Hes attractive but mysterious and has a kind of dark thing going for him that makes audiences want to know more about him. The only thing that Id caution him on would be that hes a bit wide in the hips and tends to a bit of pudginess in the face. Hell have to continually work with hair stylists and wardrobe designers to minimize these features. I foresee what happened to Elvis in his later years if Adam doesnt carefully watch his physique. But when he wins American Idol (thats when, not if, as far as Im concerned), hell have plenty of money for a physical trainer!

Charisma: Adam Lambert has the world on a string. He moves with incredible sex appeal but shows us moments of vulnerability and purity as well. The audience obviously loves him, and so does the camera. He knows that and he works it honestly without coming off as a poseur. I feel like hes serving the song every time he steps up to the mic. He most certainly has that certain something, that rare combination of talent, ability to communicate on many levels, an interior sense of a song, inherent musicianship and cockiness that demands attention from an audience and offers it something new.

Mini-review: I chose The Tracks of My Tears, which can be downloaded from iTunes. Adams diction in this song is impeccable, something thats the hallmark of a great singer in any genre (Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald come to mind, but also Renee Fleming and Bryn Terfel). That ability helps him to bend syllables and color certain words, making the communication of the overall song a joy to experience. He seems as if hes improvising his embellishments (licks) on the spot; it doesnt matter if theyre plotted within an inch of their lives. He makes it seem completely fresh which, after all, is the whole point. The phrasing makes me realize that he knows this song from the inside and is letting us in on the secret of the song, giving us some precious insight that only he might have known before. The register breaks in his falsetto are masterfully covered so that everything sounds seamless and perfectly legato. A wonderful, engaging and touching performance.

Chances of becoming a superstar: High. This guys going to become a major star, no question about it. And Ill tell you a secret: I will probably buy his first solo album. There. I said it.


Leon Natker, General Director of Lyric Opera San Diego

Adams voice: Adam is a Broadway-style lyric tenor. He supports his voice well, which is no small achievement in heavy metal rock. He also doesnt rely on falsetto tricks in the upper register; hes really singing the notes with his full voice. His diction in Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love is better than the original recording so he definitely is trying to communicate with an audience. He has been on the road with Wicked so we know he has the stamina to last eight performances a week. Its hard to tell from recorded media how big the voice is but it clearly has potential on a microphone. My questions would be: How long can he do this style of singing and is it the best style for his voice and for a long career? He seems to have the voice under control; I think its a matter of choices for him. What does Adam want in ten years?

His looks: I know the Idol staff styles these kids and I have to wonder what theyre really going for with Adams look. We all can tell that theyre thinking of him as a Rock Star but are the make-up and the funky hair the best they could do? Appearance in the pop scene is very important; I just dont see whom this look appeals to.

Charisma: Im probably the wrong person to ask this. He has a great deal of energy and charisma when he performs. He clearly is comfortable in front of an audience. I just dont know whom it appeals to. Of course Im not in the business of selling pop CDs to a very young age demographic.

Mini-review: I watched his performance of Led Zeppelins Whole Lotta Love. His voice was right on pitch and well supported, his diction was excellent and for that type of number I think his phrasing was good. Many rockers breathe at awkward moments because theyre pushing the voice and are out of breath. Adam doesnt have this issue. I think its a good rendition of that heavy metal style of singing.

Chances of becoming a major star: Medium.


Valerie Scher, the SDNN Arts & Entertainment editor and a San Diego correspondent for London-based Opera magazine

Adams voice: Impressive. But not easy to categorize. Adam has tenor-like qualities along with some of the darker shadings of a baritone. He can also soar into the stratosphere with a fearless falsetto. Lean, supple and attractive, his voice is versatile enough for a variety of styles. And his attentiveness to pitch, phrasing and breath control indicates hes combining his musical instincts with a firmly grounded technique. That should prolong his career.

His looks: Dark nail polish and glittery guyliner may not work for everyone, especially someone singing Mozart or Massenet at New Yorks Metropolitan Opera. But it works for Adam. If anything, his kind of androgynous chic has expanded his fan base. Combine the shaggy black hair, skin-tight pants and leathery jackets with an unpretentious, nice-guy persona and you get a singer who looks like a bad boy without being scary.

Charisma: Are you kidding? Adam oozes charisma. If he could bottle the stuff, he would make a fortune. That kind of allure cant be faked. Some of it has to do with confidence, the way a performer takes command of the stage. Legendary opera singers from Caruso to Pavarotti had that ability. Adam has it, too. He seems comfortable with who he is and attuned to his own aesthetic. He almost dares you to watch and see what he can do. And people are watching, by the millions.

Mini-review: I picked Born to Be Wild, the Steppenwolf classic thats often credited with being the first heavy-metal song. What I like about Adams version is that it blends wildness and control, passion and sophistication. Much like an opera singer enhances a melodic line with ornamentation, Adam supplies his own virtuosic flair. He bends notes, makes wide leaps, adds elaborate embellishments and pumps up the volume to an ear-tingling fortissimo. Its all proof of his vocal mastery.

Chances of becoming a major star: Medium to high. The reason Im hedging is that the pop music world is notoriousl

With all due respect, Gerry, you don't know what in the bloody hell you are talking about.

i know you are probably a huge fan of adams, but he aint in the Queen league honey,
Ardent Queen fans are terribly choosey, having been weened on Mercury juice for over 40 years,
and lambert to us is just like chewing polystyrene!
We all have our favs, but i will never be convinced about lambert, and he hasnt set the uk on fire,
one direction are more popular than adam!
American talent judges talk pure crap.

for me the comment [i][b]“I don’t think those guys want to do an 80-city tour”[/b][/i] is just crying out for some "piss-my-pants- laugh-out-loud" punchline

what'd work for me would be if, they (Bri/Rog) say [i][b]"thanks for the US gig Adam, we're off for our winter hibernation now, maybe give you a call next August"[/b][/i]
and the next thing is AL is reading a music mag in the spring and sees a
full page advert for a new Queen worldwide release:

[b]Queen: Live Killers II [/b]
[i]"recorded live from over 100 concerts on sell-out winter/spring tour - with new permanent lead singer: George Michael"[/i]

(someone who likes adam) i know what im saying believe me, im an ardent Queen fan for over 40 years
and i can tell you adam just doesnt cut the mustard, plain and simple.
where was Brian And Roger before freddie came on the scene? yes in a dead end group called "smile"
who were not going anywhere, then freddie came on the scene like a bright white flash, he shaped the group
and took them on to becoming the biggest group on the planet, im sure your wonderful mr.lambert couldnt have done that!
Lambert is no match for Mercury, infact no one ever will be!

Gerry, I agree wholeheartedly with your last post. In fact, if you were paying attention, so does AL. Where you don't know what you're talking about (and I do) is that AL doesn't need Queen to help him in his career. No, he won't ever reach the degree of fame that Freddie did. Most don't. But in his own right he has a thriving career without Queen and is focusing on that. He does the Queen gigs because Bri and Roger ask him to, I'm sure he gets paid well for them, he has loads of fun, and it's a not a bad thing to put on one's resume.

[QUOTE] [b]someonewholikesadam wrote:[/b]

Nicolas Reveles, Geisel Director of Education and Outreach at San Diego Opera

Leon Natker, General Director of Lyric Opera San Diego

Valerie Scher, the SDNN Arts & Entertainment editor and a San Diego correspondent for London-based Opera magazine
[/QUOTE]

Hook. Line. Sinker. :D I'm not reading all that because I don't need other people to tell me what I'm supposed to like; I can figure that out on my own. :-)

When it comes to creative endeavors, you can't persuade people with intellectual arguments anyway. An artist will either appeal to a person's emotions or not, and no amount of "expert" testimony can change that. Experts in creative fields are really only good for preaching to the choir, i.e. people who already have at least a mild interest in a work of art or artist.

Wow. Listen to the music created before Queen and their solo projects. There's phenomenal stuff there. Freddie Mercury is not the end all to be all. I still hope not only will they continue but get a new line-up too. It's all worked since whenever. Why stop? They haven't yet.

AdamMethos,

I was just responding in jest to this comment about me.

"Well, now you're just baiting SWLA to start posting quotes from that British opera singer (Anastasia? Angelique? Something like that?) who thinks Adam has the most perfect voice that ever existed in music and who writes essays analyzing his voice. ;-) "

To (AlexRocks)

In my opinion Queen does and never will work without the regal majestic qualities of Freddie,
Brian and Roger are first class entertainers but without a decent front man, it goes down like a lead balloon.
The closest thing to Freddie was George Michael, but even he didnt have regal qualities like fred.
i think a lot of real Queen fans would agree, that May and Taylor are loosing the plot,
taking on a young kid like lambert, they sell themselves short!

Your use of enjambment in your posts must have some deep meaning beyond my comprehension :)

[QUOTE] [b]AlexRocks wrote:[/b]

Wow. Listen to the music created before Queen and their solo projects. There's phenomenal stuff there. Freddie Mercury is not the end all to be all. I still hope not only will they continue but get a new line-up too. It's all worked since whenever. Why stop? They haven't yet.[/QUOTE]

That's true - I enjoy Smile's music a lot, but as others have mentioned, Brian seems to be really losing the plot musically (or just selling out). It's not really a matter of there being no Queen without Freddie - the issue is they're going about continuing Queen in ways which make them look like buffoons.

As ive said before us Queenies were weened on Mercury juice from 1971 to 1971
take that away and we are going cold turkey!
Brian and rog should really concentrate on all those Queen tracks that were never
finishes and there is loads in the pot cos freddie said so!
Ditch the Lambert buffoon and think of the all the fans that adore Fred!