U.S. Tour - Better Luck Next Year

BHM 0271 wrote:

Someone made the point that Queen (or Brian and Roger) will only get into things if they think it will do well commercially. I don't think that they'd be playing anyhting but clubs or 2-3 thousand seat theatres in North America if they came here. Methinks that'd be bad for the ego and business side of things.

I have to agree here. I think they are concerned about this. BUT, if they DO decide to come here, I think the reason Brian is now inferreing NEXT year..is obvious...

Fall 2005..they would be competing with PRIME time tour season in the USA with U2, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, Duran Duran, etc.

The winter is out due to inclement weather and the holiday/family time season.

So Spring 2006 may look better for them...IF they still decide to tour the USA.

Ray D O'Gaga wrote:

From Mr. May's "Letters" section (in response to a fan's exhortation to play Houston on a North American Queen + PR tour):

"I don't think we'll get to Houston this fall ... but I'm hoping it may happen next year."

So the Fall definitely seems out, but he "hopes" it "may" happen next year. Not a lot of confidence there, eh? I'm afraid there are going to be a great many disappointed North American fans, compounded by Mr. May's earlier raising of expectations i.e. "90%" and "finger hovering over the button". Better to say nothing than string people along, even unintentionally.

See you in Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrruba, mis amigos!

And dont forget, this comes from the same person who "promised the Scots" some dates later in the year. Still no news of that either.

I love Brian, he's as close to a musical hero and fantastic person as I can imagine, but he picks his spots wisely like a politician. The Scottish thing is a good example. Same with the use of tapes and such. The examples given as songs that used pre-recorded material pre-tour were Fat Bottomed Girls, Radio Ga Ga and Days of our Lives. Here's what Brian said on his Soapbox:

"So - I hear on the grapevine - someone thought that for Fat Bottomed Girls at Fancourt we used backing tapes ? !! ha ha! We must be getting good !! We actually had a real concentrated go at polishing up the harmonies the afternoon of the gig, just quietly at the hotel. It must have paid off !! We're lucky - we have six singers in this band. It makes a big difference."

Surely "the grapevine" didn't only mention FBG? They are playing to a backing track, which to me is a cardinal sin. But no answer from Brian because it doesn't suit the needs of the "machine."

As someone who booked a vacation in Benidorm of all places because Brian said on his website he had been "reliably informed" that the 46664 concert would happen, I can only agree 100% with Ray D'O Gaga - the prospects for a US tour are dim. Too bad that there is no-one in QP who speaks the truth - all we get are hints, rumours and innuendoes.

YourValentine wrote:

hints, rumours and innuendoes.

Sounds like a good title for an album.

Is it time to take out a second mortgage so I can see them in Japan?

Zeni wrote:

Is it time to take out a second mortgage so I can see them in Japan?

I hear Aruba is beautiful if you don't mind the kidnapping.

"offensive" to the "large number" of people waiting?

1. Offensive??? Get a grip...
2. If it's 1 million people, it's .3% of the population - and no promoter would go for that.

*whistles away*


suggest--some people try and keep it in perspective and dont read too much into it....as it was previously said--he did not say they were not coming

please notice paul has not gone out and suddenly rebooked cancelled NA dates.... that should tell you something...

I completely agree with Deacon_Fan. If, indeed, US tour plans are scrapped, I will be sincerely disappointed and will, perhaps, join the "Freddie RIP, Queen RIP" Sharon G. bandwagon. I have always felt that America should be one of the tour highlights of any given major rock band. I think - I know, rather, American fans appreciate the music just as much as the many, many fans who attended Queen + Paul shows in Europe. Brian, Roger and Paul utimately control their schedules and would be the ones who ultimately determine whether a US tour is in the works or not.

As Mr. May tends to read letters and emails, how about we American fans start sending a few encouraging hints at stop or two in North America?

mrjordy wrote:

If, indeed, US tour plans are scrapped, I will be sincerely disappointed and will, perhaps, join the "Freddie RIP, Queen RIP" Sharon G. bandwagon.

[SLOW MOTION] NNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO [/SLOW MOTION]

Oh please no. She and the permed poodle are bad enough. Don't give in to the Dark Side, mrjordy. Come back to the light!

Or to Starfleet Project. Your choice. Just as long as you come back.

Glad to hear IE is still whistling ...

It will be nice if Queen plays NA soon, but I will survive if they don't ...

you know me well my friend

Deacon_Fan wrote:

Its offensive that they arent coming to North America actually. The fact that they would snub so many people who have waited so long to see them is disgusting.

Offensive and disgusting are inappropriate adjectives in this context.

If they come to the US.....they better play "House of Blues" type gigs......cuz they will not be drawing 15-20 thousand per show here. No way...no how.

That said, it would be fun to see them in small venues...3-5 thousand would seem about right for the states.

This is probably influencing the decision more than anything. Might be a real blow to their egos. They might have trouble drawing 3- 5 thousand in certain cities.

I believe Queen+PR could adequetly fill 8,000-12,000 seats a gig.

Yes has played in Cleveland 4 of the last 5 summers prior to this one, and every time in Cleveland they have performed at Blossom Music Center. It's a pavillion/lawn seating affair that states its capacity is 18000+. While I believe that number is a bit high, the pavillion is almost always full, that has to be at least a few thousand, and the lawn section isn't empty.

Yes has not had a good selling album in the states since 1987. They get no radio play other than the holy trinity of Fragile/The Yes Album/Close to the Edge on classic rock radio. (With a spattering of 90125) They do not even play the Rabin era stuff live (not in its proper form anyways).

I'd bet the house any given person on the street can name more Queen tunes than Yes ones off he top of his head. It's a safe bet many more people own a Queen album vs. a Yes one. Throw in the nostalgia factor and the time it's been since Queen has been here, I don't think Queen + PR would have to relegate themselves to clubs.

(by the way, I'd love to see them in a small venue.)