Freddie: If anyone left Queen, that would be the end of Queen

Freddie Mercury: 'If anyone left Queen, anyone of the four, that would be the end of Queen. We are four equal, interwoven parts. And the others just couldn't function the same without each quarter.'

- An excerpt from an interview for Circus Magazine (1978):
http://www.queenarchives.com/index.php?title=Group_-_01-19-1978_-_Circus_Magazine

First person to leave the band was John Deacon...

i'm confused by this post - the first one - what was the point here?

Trying to point out that Queen aren't Queen (and when Freddie died, the band died) no doubt. Everyone is welcome to an opinion. I actually feel that way, but that's just my personal feelings and thoughts - I still wouldn't deny the rest of the band their right to the name or carry on playing just because I don't like it. I even gave it a chance.

They are/were 4 equals, and can do what they want. They can also change their minds, given this was over 40 years ago. Also, this is a discussion that has been done to death.

My initial reaction was - not this shit again!

"Trying to point out that Queen aren't Queen (and when Freddie died, the band died) no doubt. Everyone is welcome to an opinion. I actually feel that way, but that's just my personal feelings and thoughts - I still wouldn't deny the rest of the band their right to the name or carry on playing just because I don't like it. I even gave it a chance. "

+1

It might well have referred to that point in time. Circumstances, as we know, changed.

[QUOTE] [b]Martin Packer wrote:[/b]

It might well have referred to that point in time. Circumstances, as we know, changed.[/QUOTE]

Indeed - it was 1977, and they had just conquered the US arena circuit. Doing anything else but being that configuration of four people was not even remotely an option.

Five years later, on the other hand...

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

[QUOTE] [b]Martin Packer wrote:[/b]

It might well have referred to that point in time. Circumstances, as we know, changed.[/QUOTE]

Indeed - it was 1977, and they had just conquered the US arena circuit. Doing anything else but being that configuration of four people was not even remotely an option.

Five years later, on the other hand...
[/QUOTE]

I know you already know this, but Roger released I Wanna Testify in 1977. So he had the option of releasing something solo, and he sure did.

But he didn't release it as 'Queen' and didn't leave the band.

As others have pointed out, circumstances have changed. To me, Maylor aren't Queen... but my opinion is completely irrelevant: it's their choice, not mine. And by choosing to continue touring (with Paul, Adam or whomever they pick), they're being happy and making millions of people happy, so that's great.