BOY.. I am sure glad I jumped ship when I did...

Scott_Mercury wrote:

Yes, I am a die hard Queen fan that happens to feel that John Deacon is the only one with a brain left.

Queen died 14 years ago....let it go.

I just really wish they would drop the Queen name.
When I hear Queen, I think Freddie Mercury.
I doubt if he's going to be there.

Like its been mentioned above... this is a money motivation tour. It was probably thought from the beginning that Queen would pull in more numbers than "Bad Company" or "Free"....

If you are what I call a TRUE Queen fan, than while you may like Deacon, Taylor, May.... you have to agree that Freddie vision and presence is what made the band....
The others no doubt contributed.

But the Rolling Stones is a perfect example.
If Mick Jagger died tomorrow, The Rolling Stones wouldn't have a 2007 tour with Barry Manilow.

Whatever.... I'm just going to have to get Deacon to dust off his bass so he, I, Bette Midler, and Nathan Lane can tour as Queen also.

Maybe Jim Hutton, Peter Freestone, Mary Austin and Tim Staffel would like to join forces in a band???

With 2 gay guys on board... I have just the perfect name! Queen....

That name used to stand for something...now, well, you've heard.

Well Said Scott!!!! And quite hilariously too!!

Can I sing back up with you, John, Bette & Nathan!
I've been told I play a mean tambourine!

Seriously...I will happily Pay to go to see a tour billed as Brian May & Roger Taylor..and I would love to hear and see them perform for the memories, for THEIR integral contributions as being..yes..a major force of Queen, for which, yes, they were amazing songwriters and musicians, and for their solo work as well.

But this is NOT Queen..more so when Mr. Bluster hack Paul Rodgers fronts them. No offense, but Freddie, wherever he is, hopefully in heaven, is either laughing his ass off, or plotting to haunt the tour to get back at this shameful travesty...

Queen_forever_87 wrote:
Please folks... calm down....

I'm sure Bri and Rog wouldn't have picked Paul Rodgers if they didn't believe he could do it...

Just give 'em some time...

I'm not supporting Paul or something... because I think his singing just sucks... I don't like his style... but if Bri and Rog pick him... I'm sure they have a damn good reason for it...

Just leave them... It's there choice...

If they screw up... then it wasn't because of their playing... it was just because of the wrong choice of singer...

But who knows... he might be a lot better in some weeks....

Take it easy... and let's wait and see...




Well said Queen_Forever_87,
I couldn't have put it better, I agree with every single word.

Many posts say Paul Rodgers did a pretty good job at 46664 except for a few moments. I have seen him 5 times in concert since 97 and his performances have been exceptional each time. He is a legend in his own right and will prove it by the time this tour gets in swing. He can sing the rockers and the ballads. Check out the 2002 DVD
"Merchants of Cool". There you will see a true indication of what he will do on the Queen Tour this year.
Yes I am a PR fan, but I'm also learning the Queen catalogue. Freddie Mercury is not my favorite singer nor Queen my favorite band but I am enjoying listening to their stuff. Just because FM is not fronting Queen is no reason to dismiss the current line-up. I for one plan on seeing them when they tour America. You will not see the quality of talent like PR,BM or RT again.
They can easily out perform live any of the current (new) rock stars today. Appreciate it while you can, the window is closing for them to perform at a professional level(which they still can)

Arlene is a girl out for my heart.

Brian and Roger are 2 of my favorite musicians in the world. They make up 50% of my favorite band.

They have nothing left to prove, and they are in the September of their years.

I would love to have seen a tour billed as Brian May + Roger Taylor and friends....

Have Paul Rodgers come up, sing a few of his own classics, then maybe a "Tie Your Mother Down".... then, maybe a Robbie Williams comes up...and hacks his way through "We are the champions"...you get the idea....maybe like a tribute concert part 2.

Just in case anyone cares, the reason why John Deacon is so out of the public eye is 1) he wants to retire to a peaceful life with his large family ....which is a good reason, he deserves it.

2nd, and more importantly, John has said that the others are going directly against his wishes, and what they agreed upon as the 3 principals after the FM tribute concert in 1992....and that is:

John was saying immediately after Freddie's death that "Freddie is not replaceable, we should end the band now".
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY: John's biggest fear is that he DID NOT and DOES NOT want there to be any other versions of his songs other than with Freddie on vocals.

As in a conversation like this:
First person: "Dude, I love Another One Bites the Dust".
Second person: "The Freddie Mercury verson, or the ______ _______ version"??

John wants the legacy left alone.
When it became clear that Bri and Rog were doing this....I have heard that John, through attorney asked them to "Please not play any of my (John) songs, and as few of Freddie's as possible"...

This is were the fireworks have began with the other members.

You know whats sad in all of this is, and I hate to sound like I am Paul bashing....but... I really hate the idea of the surviving members of Queen not getting along.....
and it would be different if Freddie had fathered a son, who is now 30 years old, and sounds similar and acts similar to his father....

All of this back biting and character assasination is over Paul Rodgers.

Thats sad.

jeez, some people are just so negative!

Sorry to be the one to break this to you, but QUEEN are touring again! woohoo! and there's nothing you can do to stop them! mwahahahaha!

I reckon some of you need to get over it, and at the end of the day, it's YOUR LOSS!

Its a Hardlife ~ Freddie Mercury

I have a great article from the January 30, 2005 U.K.'s Sunday Mail. It's a detailed article by reporters Wendy Leigh & Adam Luck, about John Deacon's distancing himself from ANY Queen Reunion that has ANYONE but an Original Queen member in, the band, and his dismay at Freddie's passing and ANYONE trying to sing in Freddie's place.

The 2 reporters who wrote this detailed article say that contrary to suggestions that John Deacon opted out of the Queen/Paul Rodgers tour due to..

..wanting to retire, live a nice family life, and avoid the stress of touring...that that is all PR BS malarky...

that in actuality..John thrived off of Queen and adores the band, the music, making music with his bandmates, and of course Freddie.

The reason he opted out of the Queen/Paul Rodgers tour is his extreme discontent at someone trying to front and sing in Freddie's place,

and for ANY musician, other than an ORIGINAL member of Queen, going out and touring or recording as Queen.

According to the 2 reporters listed above, that after Freddie's death,
"Freddie's death affected him badly", says Deacon's college friend and musical collaborator Robert Ahwai. "Maybe he thought Freddie WAS the band, so what's the point?"

The 2 reporters go on to say, quote,
"While May & Taylor rushed to pay tribute to Mercury, Deacon DIDN'T approve of the HYPE surrounding his (Freddie's) death and avoided speaking in public."

The 2 reporters go on to say "His (John's) only comment on the idea of Queen reforming came when it was suggested that Robbie Williams might fill Mercury's shoes."

Quote directly from John-"I don't want to be nasty, but Robbie Williams is no Freddie Mercury. Freddie can never be replaced, and certainly not by him."

So John is not "enjoying" retirement, he chose to opt out of this Queen/Paul Rodgers tour in the sake of preserving his own dignity, Freddie's dignity, and the dignity of Queen.

thank you, Arlene. You, myself, and Scott need to start our own band.

i've always wondered why more Queen fans don't get that. and the spite towards John and insuations that he doesn't "care". this man didn't choose a retirement, he was forced into a retirement under tragic circumstances, when someone he worked with and was very close to passed away. if freddie had lived, it isn't as John would be "retired".

people live their lives through this band, and sometimes cannot see any other viewpoint from a different perspective. the bashing of Jon is bad, but so is the "leave him alone, he chose to retire, lets respect that"- well, no- he just accepted reality, and realized his life's work was basically completed, after 'made in heaven'.

arlene wrote:

So John is not "enjoying" retirement, he chose to opt out of this Queen/Paul Rodgers tour in the sake of preserving his own dignity, Freddie's dignity, and the dignity of Queen.

How the hell do you know thats true?

Each thing in human history has followers and those who wish not to follow that path. Music is one example. Same thing can be applied to events inside that music. An example here is reunion of two ex Queen members under the name of Queen which is their right. I see no point of discussion who is right or wrong here. Touring is their decision and it is ONLY their right. You and I may like it or not. I bought the ticket because I want to see those 2 guys and Paul playing together. Not because I wish to seem them together as that is irrelevant to me, but to hear their music. I know that music won't be the same as it was and that is not the problem for me. I'm capable to understand that is not possible. Their reasons for touring are not to satisfy my (our) needs/requests/wishes but their own. Those who wish to see it and hear it will attend concert probably if they can. Those who don't probably won't. As now so it will be after tour people who will like the idea and those who will dislike it. It is matter of opinion (taste) and not argument from fan side I would say. That's why I don't see any point in this and similar discussions.

Because though John rarely publicly speaks, when he does, he is quite vocal on his discontent at things.

He never wanted to "Retire". He loves music, and he loves Queen, and he Loves and misses Freddie.

His career and life went into a tailspin after Freddie's death, and what I didn't want to have to go into that has also been much ballied about all over the UK press, is John's (recent run of EXTREMELY self destructive behavior not in keeping with this "quiet family man" where he has been frequenting strip bars on nightly binges and keeping a stripper as a mistress (which he recently ended) Thank God...

and that John has become quite depressed over the last 14 years and seems lost without Freddie who he very much saw as his musical and professional soulmate.

I don't think his self destructive behaviour is an answer and actually it's kind of hypocritical (in keeping with wanting to preserve the dignity of Queen...it probably would still be better to join Roger & Brian on the tour with Paul Rodgers I agree)...

But, I guess every person handles their grief differently, and while John needs to repair his own life, I totally understand his feelings and overwhelming sense of loss.

Answer this then Arlene. If John really didnt want to retire as you say, then why didnt he either go on tour with Brian and Roger or start a band of his own and then tour with them? Somehow your argument doesnt stand up there...

It's NOT my argument. From what I have followed in the UK press, there is alot of ill will between John...and Roger w/Brian, in that Brian & Roger want someone....as stated on this topic MANY times,..to sing in Freddie's place.

John does NOT feel comfortable with that. Period. Maybe a tour with John, Brian, Roger...but NO NON Queen Original member trying to sing in Freddie's place.

He does NOT want that, but Brian & Roger..do!!

So call it "Creative" differences or what have you. And as I said, John's run of destructive behavior is NOT an answer, won't "Block" out his grief, and is as I said hypocritical..not to mention dangerous and irresponsible, because if he keeps that up, I am actually most concerned that he will wind up LIKE Freddie, dead.

John needs to deal with his grief and work it through.

As for maybe starting his own band, I know John actually did try that, and his attempts at a solo career failed. He put together a band I believe it was in the 1980's (I have the band's name & song in my files.) The band fizzled and disbanded after like one single. And John, since he doesn't sing admitted that it has been tougher for him to engage a solo career, unlike Brian & Roger who DO sing.

So without Queen, John feels lost.

They could give a shit about the money. They are already filthy rich

I also find it ironic that the people who claim they are the biggest Queen fans are the ones giving two members of their favorite band the most shit.

Scott Mercury,
Brian and Roger knew and loved Freddie more than you or I ever could. How can you sit here and claim they would knowingly do ANYTHING to disrespect their memory of him.
In Brian and Rogers mind, playing Freddie's music live is a great way to honor thier fallen friend.
It's too bad that you are too bitter and cynical to see that. A fucking shame really.

Geez, and how many times did Mega Rich Mr. Don Henley...who had a MULTI-platinum record selling, Grammy Award winning solo career say when The Eagles reunited for the "Hell Freezes Over Tour", that "None of us are in it for the money. We all have plenty money from our solo careers. We're good friends who want to make music together again".

But they all made 10 kagillion times that in that one tour, along with the DVD/CD of the tour, merchandising, and MTV preview, yada....

Yeah, and there's some swamp land I can sell you real cheap that will turn out to be PRIME real estate, along with The Brooklyn Bridge...as they say here in the USA.

Oh...what about Natalie Cole who I Am sure Dearly loves and misses her own Father Nat King Cole, and she has always had a very successful, financially rewarding solo career....but she made kagillions when she blasphemically and creepily, edited in her own vocals and image in a
re-recording and video of "Unforgettable" with her father's Original record/vocals, and performance footage.

A ton of people bought it, but an equal ton of people not only thought it was the ultimate sellout, it was very...creepy..and that was her own deceased FATHER, who she DID love and have a GREAT relationship with. But really folks...

arlene wrote:

Geez, and how many times did Mega Rich Mr. Don Henley...who had a MULTI-platinum record selling, Grammy Award winning solo career say when The Eagles reunited for the "Hell Freezes Over Tour", that "None of us are in it for the money. We all have plenty money from our solo careers. We're good friends who want to make music together again".

But they all made 10 kagillion times that in that one tour, along with the DVD/CD of the tour, merchandising, and MTV preview, yada....

Yeah, and there's some swamp land I can sell you real cheap that will turn out to be PRIME real estate, along with The Brooklyn Bridge...as they say here in the USA.

I take it you never got to feel that energy wave comming back from the crowd when you are on stage and playing and it's all meshing and you are almost in a timeless state. THAT's what they are going for sister.

The money is nice sure, but I know as a musician myself that there is no greater rush than when the music is happening. It's on par with or even better than great sex. I'm not lying. I'm sure that any other musicians on this board will vouch for me on that.