If Freddie was not bisexual/gay, or if he hid it better (it was not dragged out of him)- perhaps like a Rob Halford(Judas Priest), I really think Queen would have been the biggest band on the planet throughout the 80s including the USA...I think bigotry, culture shock, individual sensitivities to his sexuality really harmed the success of the band....remember in 1980/81 when they truly were the biggest....bigger than Zeppelin...and if they somehow carried that on it would have continued to be bigger than U2 etc today....They have always been the most talented when it comes to musicianship, performance and songwriting combined. I really believe that if they had marketed themselves better, had a better understanding of individual markets (countries)....they may have doubled their sales.....out there for your thoughts???
Thread
Posts in chronological order
absolute crap! they are still bigger than all of the artists you have mentioned! look at the sales! queen have the best sales per unit than any other band apart from (OBVIOUSLY) the beatles.
Thats bigger than the stones, u2 or any other band you care to mention.
AS for "the marketing" of the band hey........if the us dont like homosexuals then fuck em. that was the attitude then and it should be now.
good post tho very thought provoking stuff!
Thats bigger than the stones, u2 or any other band you care to mention.
AS for "the marketing" of the band hey........if the us dont like homosexuals then fuck em. that was the attitude then and it should be now.
good post tho very thought provoking stuff!
Newcastle, have you been to the US before?
Do you feel your homosexuality is more accepted in the UK then in the States?
Do you feel your homosexuality is more accepted in the UK then in the States?
If Freddie hadn't contracted Aids, which inhibited them from any further touring they would probably have been bigger.
Around the mid eighties their popularity was beginning to expand due to Live Aid. The popularity ofthe Magic Tour proved that.
Around the mid eighties their popularity was beginning to expand due to Live Aid. The popularity ofthe Magic Tour proved that.
If Freddie wouldn't wear women clothes in IWTBF video, if Freddie wouldn't talk about his sexuality etc. etc. etc. - it wouldn't be Freddie, therefore Queen wouldn't be the biggest band in the world neither.
All these modern bands are so damned serious about themselves and what? They're nothing.
All these modern bands are so damned serious about themselves and what? They're nothing.
Newcastle, have you been to the US before?
Do you feel your homosexuality is more accepted in the UK then in the States?
why don't you grow up?
or better still - go subscribe to a playschool forum
So what you're saying GrantCDN, is that Queen were the biggest band in the world, bigger than Zeppelin, in 1980 and 1981, at the time of The Game. Wasn't that the tour that sort of brought out the gayest Freddie to date, with the 'tache and Village People look? So wouldn't it make sense that no one would have bought The Game or saw the tour since Freddie was getting gayer?
For the millionth time, Queen were an FM staple in virtually every North American ROCK market until Hot Space. Fat Bottomed Girls and Bicycle Rice were, and are still played a ton of times in North America on CLASSIC ROCK stations. Play the Game did nothing on rock radio, CLTCL did get played a lot, and AOBTD was played begrudgingly on rock formats. Then came Greatest Hits, and Under Pressure got played, but it was a one-off and not an indication of an album style. When Hot Space came out, the band's singles Body Langauage and Back Chat didn't get played at rock radio. Then came The Works, and Ga Ga and IWTBF didn't get played on rock radio. So by the time One Vision was released as a single, Queen had virtually no music on rock radio from 1978 until 1985. They tried to find a new audience and in doing so they lost 90% of their old audience. No shame in trying, but it didn't work.
For the millionth time, Queen were an FM staple in virtually every North American ROCK market until Hot Space. Fat Bottomed Girls and Bicycle Rice were, and are still played a ton of times in North America on CLASSIC ROCK stations. Play the Game did nothing on rock radio, CLTCL did get played a lot, and AOBTD was played begrudgingly on rock formats. Then came Greatest Hits, and Under Pressure got played, but it was a one-off and not an indication of an album style. When Hot Space came out, the band's singles Body Langauage and Back Chat didn't get played at rock radio. Then came The Works, and Ga Ga and IWTBF didn't get played on rock radio. So by the time One Vision was released as a single, Queen had virtually no music on rock radio from 1978 until 1985. They tried to find a new audience and in doing so they lost 90% of their old audience. No shame in trying, but it didn't work.
"Freddie was still alive..."
If Freddie wouldn't wear women clothes in IWTBF video, if Freddie wouldn't talk about his sexuality etc. etc. etc. - it wouldn't be Freddie, therefore Queen wouldn't be the biggest band in the world neither.
All these modern bands are so damned serious about themselves and what? They're nothing.
I do agree with you, too.
I'm sure Queen were the "biggest band in the world" at some point.
I doubt they ever will be again. Even if Freddie was still alive.
I doubt they ever will be again. Even if Freddie was still alive.
Once again, some one is posting using Sharon G.
only with two rr's. Not me. I am the original bitch.
Freddie - We love you and miss you.
only with two rr's. Not me. I am the original bitch.
Freddie - We love you and miss you.
absolute crap! they are still bigger than all of the artists you have mentioned! look at the sales! queen have the best sales per unit than any other band apart from (OBVIOUSLY) the beatles.
Thats bigger than the stones, u2 or any other band you care to mention.
AS for "the marketing" of the band hey........if the us dont like homosexuals then fuck em. that was the attitude then and it should be now.
good post tho very thought provoking stuff!
Correction:
lED ZEPPELIN have sold more than a 100 million albums In the USA alone ( i really don´t know how this is possible. i´m a big fan of the Zeppelin, but to sell this amount of records in one country...- and this is only album sales because they never released singles)
The Stones have sold more albums and singles than Queen (this is documented.
Of course the Beatles are untouchable. Even ten years ago they have already sold more than a Billion albums and singles.
Barbara Streisend has sold more than Queen.
The Abba, five years ago have already sold more than 300 million albums and singles. They beat Queen!
Elvis Presley beats Queen.
For what i read, Queen have sold almost 200 million albums and singles.
In a couple of years i think that Celline Dion will reach them, and Mariah Carey too...
And we´re only talkin about artists from USA and England but the world is bigger than this.
Take care
Also - I don't care if Freddie was gay, bi or whatever, he still is the hottest guy I will every lay eyes on.
Freddie Forever
Freddie Forever
I did the if's just for fun....because I'm sure there are a number of ifs when you look back....sure if Freddie was alive that would be a HUGE help, if they toured etc.......I also think if Freddie was completely straight and did the I Want To Break Free video in drag, America might have got it as a joke (for example if David Lee Roth did it - the masses would have thought it was funny...at least most anyway)....I think that video made them question whether the whole band was gay or their music was gay - naturally completely false but I think that really killed them in the U.S.....combined with the lack of Rock singles after Under Pressure...another IF....
Another One Bites the Dust - a rockier version would not have hurt it among the rock circle, though it is one of Queen's most *generally* popular songs.
Stronger single choice on Hot Space - instead of stupid Body Language, perhaps Put Out the Fire? I think that song could have been big, especially with a good music video.
The Works tour in America - we're a attention-grubbing audience. We need tours to keep bands in our minds, and since Queen didn't tour for this album, it was easier for America to slip away for them during this period.
Elektra (?) scandal - Bri mentioned the exposure of the label's practice of bribing DJs hurt Queen's US radio play during the Works.
AKOM being rockier - Queen got a rep of being a Europop band. More guitar tracks!!
After that, Queen gained slight presense again in America, and the Miracle and Innuendo are pretty much perfect as is, in my opinion.
Stronger single choice on Hot Space - instead of stupid Body Language, perhaps Put Out the Fire? I think that song could have been big, especially with a good music video.
The Works tour in America - we're a attention-grubbing audience. We need tours to keep bands in our minds, and since Queen didn't tour for this album, it was easier for America to slip away for them during this period.
Elektra (?) scandal - Bri mentioned the exposure of the label's practice of bribing DJs hurt Queen's US radio play during the Works.
AKOM being rockier - Queen got a rep of being a Europop band. More guitar tracks!!
After that, Queen gained slight presense again in America, and the Miracle and Innuendo are pretty much perfect as is, in my opinion.