Q+AL - a musician's perspective

I'm a bit late to this thread.

But i think Mr Wizard's post really hits the nail on the head. A thoughtful and well written post, from some one viewing the subject from inside the industry.

There'll always be those who like and those who dislike what ever any band does. Really any music is down to how the performers want to perform it, whether they are a busker or one of the biggest bands in the world,

At any level some music will make us stop and listen while some wont. As Queen fans we are actually really lucky that they are still willing to take the time and make the effort to still go out and perform

[QUOTE] [b]Zebonka12 wrote:[/b]

But it really comes across as though people who go to these shows want them to be all things to all people.[/QUOTE]

Finally getting around to reading the rest of this thread. As always, your input is fantastic and your approach to critique is very original - and often amusing, in all the right ways.

But I felt the need to highlight this one point of yours - the only one I vehemently disagree with. I haven't seen a single person asserting how everyone should enjoy this collaboration for any reason. The target audience here is people who claim to be die hard Queen fans, full stop.

I can't speak for others, but when I see people saying "I'd rather watch a DVD than see this" ... it's just preposterous.

So, to those people (in the UK and Europe now)...

This is possibly your last chance to experience two members of your favourite band play your favourite music in the flesh. Show your love for these two people who have been the soundtrack of your lives.

It's not like Bri and Rog are pulling a Richie Blackmore and are playing Medieval versions of Deep Purple tunes. They're playing the tunes as they always did. It sounds like Queen as much as ever. But if you're not a big Queen fan, then sure, give it a pass and go see The Who or Billy Joel instead.

But if you insist you're a die hard Queen fan - the dislike or indifference for one person on stage should not somehow supersede the love for the two band members whom you've supposedly loved for decades. So I call extreme bullshit on that stance. These people are not hardcore Queen fans - they're Freddie fans.

The same goes for hardcore Yes fans who don't like the singers they've worked with these past few years. If you have the money and don't jump on every opportunity to see Steve Howe let it rip during Starship Trooper purely because Jon Anderson isn't in the band, then you're a Jon Anderson fan more than a Yes fan. And that's perfectly fine. Just cut the crap and say it like it is.

Most of the rock stars from the 60s and 70s are going to be dead in 20 years, and a lot of people are going to be kicking themselves for missing later incarnations of their favourite bands because they were too short-sighted to realize what they were missing. Cliche as it may sound - they saw the glass as half empty instead of half full.

When that day comes, you'll still have your DVDs. Watch them then.

Brilliant post. Sums up my feelings exactly.

Really good point Mr Wiz, totally agree.

I completely agree with you Mr Wiz,

I am too young to have seen Queen with Freddie, but I was desperate for them to do something in the 1990s. I went to see Roger, and Brian on their solo tours in 94 and 98, and although it was excellent, it didn't feel like the Queen experience.

Having watched Queen and Adam Lambert on YouTube, and X-factor, I can safely say that they look like Queen, sound like Queen, feel like Queen, and that the quality of the playing is as good as it ever was (in fact, in some ways better).

Adam Lambert is not Freddie Mercury. In some ways it feels like he doesn't have the raw energy of Freddie Mercury, but in other ways he's better. Actually, he has a stronger vocal technique than Freddie. That's a simple fact down to his rigorous training - whether you like the end result or not (i.e. the actual sound of that voice). Adam Lambert does sing the songs like an interpreter, and Freddie sang the songs like a composer. Think about it, there is a difference, and that can be heard. But you know what, I could go on for hours about how Adam is this and Freddie was that, and none of it is really relevant. Why? Because at the end of the day, we can't ever go and see Queen with Freddie, because Freddie can't come back. We CAN go and see Queen with Adam Lambert, and I bought tickets, and when I realised I'd bought tickets to a Queen concert - seeing and hearing the original creators of the music perform the songs I grew up with - I got quite emotional and very, very happy.

I'm so looking forward to hearing them live. I don't agree that they should have stopped performing either as Queen or altogether. I think that the Queen brand is so strong it would have been stupid not to use it for this tour, and that is the realisation that the Queen brand is stronger than any one of them (including Freddie!). Also, they are musicians. It is in their blood. They can't help but create and play music. They need neither the fame nor the fortune of the tour. I feel that they are doing this because they wanted to give a new generation of fans, and those of us who just missed them by a few years, the chance to hear them. Brian and Roger are actually giving us a great gift and a wonderful opportunity, and Adam Lambert is a worthy frontman for the greatest band of all time.

I missed the Paul Rogers tour for various reasons, although I did buy the album. To me it wasn't a Queen album per se, but it was good to hear that they were still creating music together. Paul Rogers was, to me, Queen trying to remove themselves from a particular identity. I don't mean that in a sexual orientation way, but a theatrics way. They were experimenting with going back to a more bluesy feel, and they knew Paul Rogers would never be compared to Freddie. Now they have someone who can deliver the theatrics and has elevated the band once again to the marvellous high camp spectacle that they were known for being.

My suspicion is that that haters are not really listening to Adam Lambert. They are not listening to the qualities of his voice, the quality of his interpretation, they are not listening to the amazing things he can do with the songs. In their minds, they are witnessing a blasphemy. It's easy to elevate Freddie to the status of legend/god and feel that nobody should be a pretender to his throne. However, let's be honest. Freddie was a wonderful creative force, with a beautiful voice, but he was a human being.

In my opinion the one who would be happiest about this collaboration is Freddie. Adam Lambert is like a continuation of Freddie, almost like he could be Freddie's son (NO, I'm not suggesting he is, not for a minute, not even pretending to). Musically speaking, Adam Lambert is Freddie Mercury's protegee if you like. Freddie would have loved Adam and would have encouraged him to go on and to this tour. And for a young rock star, starting out today, having a full course in stadium rock with the group who invented it as your mentor and backing band, I mean, Adam Lambert must be pretty f***ing happy right now!!!

Great post, miraclesteinway................I totally second of all of that! I saw em back in July, fantastic show, you should love it........:)

Maybe its the cynical side of me.........but I think they ARE doing this at least partly for the money...............like maybe they thought Adam would bring in new fans (and new money)..........I saw a link a while ago that had the 2014 tour ticket sales...............recently I looked at again...........for some reason the sales figures are down from the first time I saw it................but they still had better sales than on the Q+Paul tour of the US (which I saw, and enjoyed!)

But I do think they honestly love working with Adam, though................

perhaps they ARE doing this for the money, but let's imagine this: a 67 year old man (Brian May) and 65 year old man (Roger Taylor) who are already worth close to 100 million pounds each, with that money carefully invested they could look after their grandchildren's great grandchildren! I mean, they don't actually need the money and are probably maxed out with just what money can buy. They have the lifestyle, the homes, they've had the rock and roll dream as young men (and lived through hell because of it), and financially they are as secure as secure can be.

No, I don't think money is the motivation here, although I think they'll be happy that it comes in.

I remember Freddie saying in 1989 - 'none of us need the money, do we? we do it because we're hungry'.

[QUOTE] [b]miraclesteinway wrote:[/b]

My suspicion is that that haters are not really listening to Adam Lambert. They are not listening to the qualities of his voice, the quality of his interpretation, they are not listening to the amazing things he can do with the songs. In their minds, they are witnessing a blasphemy. It's easy to elevate Freddie to the status of legend/god and feel that nobody should be a pretender to his throne.[/QUOTE]
Excellent post. But I needed to highlight this one point in particular. Of course it's a case by case basis with people since we're talking on a deeper psychological level, but I'd say you're bang on nine times out of ten.

[QUOTE]Adam Lambert must be pretty f***ing happy right now!!![/QUOTE]
Yup. It's the best gig he'll ever have.

[QUOTE] [b]The King Of Rhye wrote:[/b]

Maybe its the cynical side of me.........but I think they ARE doing this at least partly for the money[/QUOTE]

They don't need the money.

Brian and Roger are proud of their music, and they're doing everything they can to make sure the next generations know who they are. Lambert is an excellent vehicle for that.

As businessmen they absolutely are not stupid.

But it's all for the exposure and glory, not the money. They haven't had to look at their bank balance for over 35 years.

^^^ this.

If the tour was a money making exercise they would have played a handful of stadiums to between 50 and 60 thousand a night around the world. Probably 10 shows or less. They would have saved on the touring expense of crew, equipment, trucks, busses, etc having to be paid for months on end.

If they'd chosen to do that they would have made more money a lot quicker. They are doing what they are doing because they enjoy doing it.

I was really saying they might be doing it for BOTH reasons..........that they are enjoying it, and the money doesn't hurt.......

I shouldnt have said I was being 'cynical'.............I dont think theres one darn thing wrong with wanting to amass obscene amounts of money...........:D

[QUOTE] [b]The King Of Rhye wrote:[/b]

I was really saying they might be doing it for BOTH reasons..........that they are enjoying it, and the money doesn't hurt.......

I shouldnt have said I was being 'cynical'.............I dont think theres one darn thing wrong with wanting to amass obscene amounts of money...........:D[/QUOTE]

Indeed - especially if you're not extorting it in some way. I've yet to go to a ticket booth or website where a gun is pointed at anyone's head or wallet.

I missed Queen + Paul Rodgers live and I really regret it. The Ukraine DVD is fantastic, so much energy. I feel this tour has given me a second chance, and I'm not making the same mistake twice. I'm booked for the O2 London both Saturday and Sunday.