Brian May comments about Lambert/Freddie.

You say that they aren't trying to replace Freddie with Adam, but then you go on about them trying to get the magic back.

That video sounds pathetic, worse than a cover band. The whole band is off, not just the vocals.

After watching that video above....whenever I see Lambert now, as much as he does the job when it comes to fronting Queen, in that he hits the notes, he comes off like a cheap and tacky imitation of the real thing, even though he's not trying to be Freddie in any way (get that crown off your head Lambert!). The whole thing comes over as way too Broadway, so much so that it's become almost unbearable for me. I don't put that down to Brian and Roger - they're much the same as ever, though older (and a bit slower at playing the faster numbers, which is understandable). It's Lambert's whole look, his moves and his voice. He just doesn't come across right for rock music, imo.
The more I watch and hear him, the more I see it that way. I wish I didn't, so I could enjoy it more. I've heard and watched recordings of Freddie sing those songs for years now, but Lambert's voice sounds thin and harsh. It grates. It's an X Factor style singer fronting Queen, and that's not said out of malice in any way. But just the way it is for me. And there's something a bit painful about watching it happen.

Sorry Adam fans. he seems a nice enough guy, I saw them play n 2012 and enjoyed it for what it was at the time, Lambert was alright when I hadn't heard too much of him back then, but mainly, I got to hear Queen songs live and see Brian and Roger. But that's as far as it went. Lambert fronting Queen has gone on too long for me now. I can't get into this part of what'll become Queen's history (even though it's 50% of Queen playing Queen songs).

I'm a long time fan of the original line up. I heard Queen on record before I saw them. I loved the tunes, and Freddie's voice. It was after, when I saw Freddie in action on stage, that it wasn't just about their songs or his voice anymore, it was also that the guy put on an outstanding show - he was interesting, charismatic, larger than life (all those cliches) that no other performer, in my view, has ever come close to since, or ever did before.

I can't do with make do anymore (of course, there's no choice in that while they continue to play if I wanted to carry on watching/listening). But I don't have to make do. I'll continue to enjoy all the material Queen left us during the Freddie years. Having said all that, I'm pleased for Roger and Brian and the fans that still enjoy what they're doing, but yeah... it's just not for me.

When I say it comes across a bit Broadway, all I meant was that it seems much more 'rehearsed' (probably wrong word) than the 70s and 80s shows. It seems that it doesn't quite have the same improvisatory element that the old shows had.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, in my book, whatsoever.

I respect that there are people who can't bear the Adam Lambert collaboration, and those who do have their reasons, but for me I still think, well, it's only entertainment. There should be no moral issue with Adam Lambert fronting Queen, or Roger and Brian using the Queen brand without John Deacon. They obviously have the blessing of JD to go out as Queen, because JD is one quarter of Queen productions (perhaps, he simply doesn't care, of course, and doesn't think it's cool to get involved. Either way, fine).

I don't think Adam is trying to be Freddie, per se, but I think he is capturing something of the spirit of Queen. Freddie was definitely a huge part of that spirit, and it works very well for legions of fans, and it's only natural that a theatrical performer such as Adam Lambert, will have *something* of Freddie about him, especially when performing these songs with that band. That's all fine.

Paul Rodgers took it very far in the opposite direction, and that was fine too, but it seems that, for many fans - genuine fans, and even those that may have seen the original lineup - that Queen are back as a proper touring band in the proper sense of being Queen. I think many thought that while the PR shows were good (and they were good), they weren't Queen.

Now it seems that Roger and Brian are really happy to be on tour again, they feel like a proper band again, and they are justly proud of Adam Lambert being out the front.

We have to remember that Brian and Roger knew Freddie better than anyone else on this forum does (unless Peter Freestone is contributing, or his family, or Mary Austin), and they knew him as a musician and as a friend. For me, that alone is qualification enough for them to go on with Adam Lambert for as long as they feel right doing so. To my point about it being only entertainment, even if they weren't friends with Freddie, it doesn't matter to me. They are, for me, an excellent touring band who are well worth going to see.

It's true that this will bring up emotions for many fans, but I think, honestly, it's none of our business if they go on tour and we don't like it. It's simply giving us the choice of whether or not we go to see them. Those that don't like it, won't go.

I know what you mean about it being an X-factor style singer (he did win American Idol), and I can understand why people think that's not such a great thing, but the fact is that x-Factor is a huge force in the music industry now, and a lot of artists are found through the X-factor, and some of these artists are very, very good.

One thing that makes me chuckle a bit though was Brian's comments about X-factor and talent contests not being that healthy (I do understand what he means), but then using an American Idol winner to front his band, and appearing on X-factor quite a few times himself. Classic Brian though (classic anyone - Manics said they'd make one album and split up, and didn't like those bands that stayed around for 25 years as rock dinosaurs..... 25 years later we still have the Manics...)

^^^ great post! (again)

OK, I see what you mean, I guess it is a tad more rehearsed and all that..........but I'd just say that Queen was never really much of an 'improvisational' band in concert anyway......barring the occasional Brighton Rock/guitar solo jam (ie Chicago 78! Although Freddie wasnt at his best, great bootleg!) or something like that........

and it's kind of a popular misconception, I guess, but Adam actually did NOT win American Idol.......he was 2nd place! (not the first time someone who didnt win went on to more fame than the person who did)

[QUOTE] [b]Day dop wrote:[/b]

After watching that video above....whenever I see Lambert now, as much as he does the job when it comes to fronting Queen, in that he hits the notes, he comes off like a cheap and tacky imitation of the real thing, even though he's not trying to be Freddie in any way (get that crown off your head Lambert!). The whole thing comes over as way too Broadway, so much so that it's become almost unbearable for me. I don't put that down to Brian and Roger - they're much the same as ever, though older (and a bit slower at playing the faster numbers, which is understandable). It's Lambert's whole look, his moves and his voice. He just doesn't come across right for rock music, imo.
The more I watch and hear him, the more I see it that way. I wish I didn't, so I could enjoy it more. I've heard and watched recordings of Freddie sing those songs for years now, but Lambert's voice sounds thin and harsh. It grates. It's an X Factor style singer fronting Queen, and that's not said out of malice in any way. But just the way it is for me. And there's something a bit painful about watching it happen.

Sorry Adam fans. he seems a nice enough guy, I saw them play n 2012 and enjoyed it for what it was at the time, Lambert was alright when I hadn't heard too much of him back then, but mainly, I got to hear Queen songs live and see Brian and Roger. But that's as far as it went. Lambert fronting Queen has gone on too long for me now. I can't get into this part of what'll become Queen's history (even though it's 50% of Queen playing Queen songs).

I'm a long time fan of the original line up. I heard Queen on record before I saw them. I loved the tunes, and Freddie's voice. It was after, when I saw Freddie in action on stage, that it wasn't just about their songs or his voice anymore, it was also that the guy put on an outstanding show - he was interesting, charismatic, larger than life (all those cliches) that no other performer, in my view, has ever come close to since, or ever did before.

I can't do with make do anymore (of course, there's no choice in that while they continue to play if I wanted to carry on watching/listening). But I don't have to make do. I'll continue to enjoy all the material Queen left us during the Freddie years. Having said all that, I'm pleased for Roger and Brian and the fans that still enjoy what they're doing, but yeah... it's just not for me.

[/QUOTE]

^^^^ Perfectly put.
Brian and Roger have every right in every way to tour as Queen with whoever they want, but this cheesy collaboration is really not for me.
(Have you noticed that Brian keeps mentioning in his interviews how similar Adam is to Freddie in terms of showmanship, style, singing.. and yet keeps saying they do not want a Freddie clone?)

[QUOTE] [b]discosucks wrote:[/b]

You say that they aren't trying to replace Freddie with Adam, but then you go on about them trying to get the magic back.[/QUOTE]

That's right. Those two ideas aren't mutually exclusive.

Try to step outside of the binary thinking box and consider that there are more than two ways to view this situation.

The pretense of your position is that 100% of the magic of Queen was in the one member who is dead, and that the two remaining members of the band are mere figureheads who shouldn't be allowed to do anything with the Queen name (except perhaps perform a resurrection).

This position additionally assumes that the concept of replacing implies an intention to somehow supersede the accomplishments of their original singer.

I see much flaw in that logic.

^^^^ unfortunately the truth and logic in this post will fly so high over certain peoples heads it will appear as a distant satellite!

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]discosucks wrote:[/b]

You say that they aren't trying to replace Freddie with Adam, but then you go on about them trying to get the magic back.[/QUOTE]

That's right. Those two ideas aren't mutually exclusive.

Try to step outside of the binary thinking box and consider that there are more than two ways to view this situation.

The pretense of your position is that 100% of the magic of Queen was in the one member who is dead, and that the two remaining members of the band are mere figureheads who shouldn't be allowed to do anything with the Queen name (except perhaps perform a resurrection).

This position additionally assumes that the concept of replacing implies an intention to somehow supersede the accomplishments of their original singer.

I see much flaw in that logic.
[/QUOTE]

One could equally say that your logic is flawed, because you seem to assume that the "magic" is in the name, and it doesn't matter who is in the band...


I propose that what you are feeling is in fact nostalgia:
The longing for something that is in the past, and cannot be reached anymore.

You don't actually think that the work of Queen+Adam Lambert is magical by itself, and you wouldn't go to see Adam Lambert's band playing the same exact music. (And I do mean EXACT, with the only difference being Brian and Roger standing up on the stage.)

The "magic" is in seeing Brian and Roger on stage, and in thinking about the past when Queen were on tour with four members.

Am I right?

To me Adam is a more than adequate vehicle to get Brian and Roger out on the road again (where they seem to want to be) and I don't care about Rock vs Pop vs Blues - after all the range of styles Queen with Freddie did way transcended those boundaries.

And if they come up with some interesting recorded material with Adam I'm happy with that, too. I more worry that Brian won't than that Roger won't, by the way.

[QUOTE] [b]tero! 48531 wrote:[/b]


The "magic" is in seeing Brian and Roger on stage, and in thinking about the past when Queen were on tour with four members.

Am I right?[/QUOTE]

the magic is in seeing Brian and Roger stage, playing their songs with a singer thats just freakin great................yeah, we'd all love to go back to the 80s or something, when it was Freddie, Brian, Roger and John................it aint happening, unfortunately!


Brian and Roger are sounding pretty good, Adams a hell of singer (at least I think so, some might disagree........)...........its a good show............theres the 'magic' right there.........

[QUOTE] [b]The King Of Rhye wrote:[/b]
Brian and Roger are sounding pretty good, Adams a hell of singer (at least I think so, some might disagree........)...........its a good show............theres the 'magic' right there.........
[/QUOTE]

So... Would YOU go to see the Adam Lambert tour with the same performances?

If he had the best tribute players duplicating Brian and Roger, would it still have the same "magic"?

Honest answer, please!

would I see Adam playing all Queen songs with other musicians, if the Queen+Adam thing never happened? Possibly, but I wouldnt be as excited about it as I was and am about the Queen+Adam tour..........

[QUOTE] [b]tero! 48531 wrote:[/b]



So... Would YOU go to see the Adam Lambert tour with the same performances?

If he had the best tribute players duplicating Brian and Roger, would it still have the same "magic"?

Honest answer, please![/QUOTE]


I dont see what point you're trying to make here..........it has the 'magic' because its Brian, Roger, and Adam, in my view.......

You know what the highlight of the Queen+Lambert shows are? When they put Freddie up on the screen, and the recording of him sings along.

Now, if only they could do an entire show like that.

[QUOTE] [b]The King Of Rhye wrote:[/b]
I dont see what point you're trying to make here..........it has the 'magic' because its Brian, Roger, and Adam, in my view.......
[/QUOTE]

My point is, where exactly is the "magic"?

Is it in the familiar songs being played in front of thousands of people?
Is it in seeing your childhood idols live?
Is it in hearing Adam Lambert sing the songs?


It's perfectly acceptable to feel the "magic" from any of those, but it's just as acceptable to NOT feel any "magic" if you're missing any of those ingredients.


I understand that some Queen fans really like Adam, and get a special kick out of hearing HIM sing the songs.

But equally I understand (from my own personal experience above all) that some people just don't get that feeling if all the ingredients aren't correct.

I went to see QPR, it was the first time I saw Brian and Roger in concert, they played the Queen hits, and Paul Rodgers was a good singer... But it just didn't have that "magic" for me.
Neither does Adam Lambert.