The Second Coming Of Queen

AP via Pollstar ^ | 12/16/04 | AP

[Rebelbase]

AP- London) Queen is planning a tour next year with guitarist-vocalist Paul Rodgers replacing frontman Freddie Mercury, who died of AIDS in 1991.

Details about what would be the first Queen tour since Mercury's death were being worked out, but it could include shows across Europe beginning this spring, the band's spokesman said December 15.

Rodgers, from the bands Free and Bad Company, impressed the remaining members of Queen when he joined them for several performances this year.

Rodgers and Queen guitarist Brian May performed Free's hit "All Right Now" at a concert in London to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster guitar earlier this year.

May and Queen drummer Roger Taylor then asked Rodgers to stand in for Mercury when the band was featured on a British TV channel's music hall of fame program.

In a note on his Web site, May said there had been "amazing chemistry" when he played alongside Rodgers, adding: "It seems blindingly obvious that there was something happening here."

The official Queen Fan Club welcomed the promised tour, even though it wasn't known whether bass player John Deacon, the other member of the band, will join it.

Queen's stadium anthems "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions" were played to packed audiences worldwide. During the late 1980s, when the band had to give up touring because of Mercury's illness, Queen reached new fans with recordings such as "The Miracle" and "Innuendo."

[Jasper]

He's just a poor boy, from a poor family.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

C'mon! "Gone, gone, gone" has the best line!

Don't know if I'll cry
Don't know if I'll die...

Laughin!

[Happygal]

''Is this the real life, is this just fantasy...''

[Petronski]

Well, it's all a matter of taste, but I found his voice to have excellent range and a uniquely intense sense of presence, especially in their more 'operatic' songs.

[TheBigB]

Caught in a landslide, no escape from reality....

[Bon mots]

It's like Zeppelin without Plant. .....a ridiculous idea.

When I was younger, I thought Led Zeppelin was the greatest, now when I listen to them, Plant's voice gets on my nerves.

Freddie Mercury of Queen, however, had an amazing voice. Yeah, so what, he was a pole smoker... he sang great.

[Delbert]

Geoff tate would be a better than Paul Rogers for Queen's music. I like Paul Rogers, just doesnt seem like a good fit.

[GeekDejure]

Don't know if I'll cry
Don't know if I'll die...
=====
Know that if I spy
Know that I will fry !!! ;-))

[MagnumRancid]

I've always thought that Rogers set the standard for a 70s era male rock vocalist with Bad Co. Loud, clear, powerful, not the greatest range perhaps but it's only rock and roll.

I've seen a few reunited dinosaur acts that had different front men. Most sucked. I almost felt sorry for G. Towens when he was with Yes and trying to sing like J. Anderson.

Rogers could pull this off if he doesn't attempt to imitate, lets the music play the songs, and keeps the focus on May.

[TheBigB]

Steve Augeri, the new front man for Journey is pretty good. I've seen them twice. He has a similar style to Steve Perry, if not the range.

[MagnumRancid]

Turn that thing down! :^)

[sully777]

Fun game: Count the number of times "gun" and "sun" are in the song Bad Company.

[MagnumRancid]

I could never get into Journey after it became the Steve Perry band. I wasn't aware they had new stuff out with a new singer. Is Greg Rollie back with them?

[mewzilla]

Without Freddie Mercury it ain't Queen!

I'll second that.

[Petronski]

Open your eyes, look up to the skies and see

[TheBigB]

Oh yeah, for a few years now. No, no Rollie. The current lineup is:

NEAL SCHON – Guitar
JONATHAN CAIN – Keyboards
ROSS VALORY – Bass
STEVE AUGERI – Vocals
DEEN CASTRONOVO – Drums

Augeri and Castronovo joined in '97. I wish Journey got more respect than they do. They've always been my favorite band and have sold over 50 million records.

[MagnumRancid]

Will you admit that the Journey video for Seperate Ways is one of the worst ever? :^)

Aspects of Journey I've always liked but Perry seemed to take all the progressivness out of their work, sing sappy songs and made them on par with Starship, Boston, and other lame-ass big sound bands.

I will check the newer stuff out

[drjimmy]

Saw him (and Queen) in '77 at the L.A. Forum, and it was a great show.
Saw them I think the same year in Syracuse. I believe Thin Lizzy was the opener. Great show from a great showman.

[Mr. Mojo]

Down by the River

I wish I could've convinced that particular band to cover some Neil, but no luck. "Down by the River" is just about the perfect song for bands with two guitarists who both like to take 10 minute solos. .....as is "Cowgirl in the Sand" and "Like a Hurricane."

[Mr. Mojo]

I believe Thin Lizzy was the opener.

Yep, good memory.

Ever get to see The Who by any chance? (Your screen name got me to askin'). I was a little too young to see them in the Keith Moon era, but I caught the "Who Are You" tour in 1980. Townshend was pulling off his windmill riffs despite having a cast on his right forearm.