Thursday, December 16, 2004

We Will Rock You (gently to sleep) (from Martin Pollard)

Brian May and Roger Taylor have just announced that they are going to tour as 'Queen' next year, with former Bad Company/Free signer Paul Rodgers as their frontman. All self-respecting Queen fans (is there such a thing? - ed) should be appalled, and here are some reasons:

1) Freddie Mercury was one of the greatest frontmen ever, and summed up everything Queen stood for (loud, camp, self-confident).

2) Although it's true that May and Taylor had an important role in the band, ask anyone about Queen and they'll think first of Mercury. They're also likely to think of his songs first and foremost: Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Don't Stop Me Now, We Are the Champions, Somebody To Love. To many people, Queen IS Freddie Mercury.

3) John Deacon has no interest in being involved (presumably he has some self-respect).

4) After Mercury's death, May, Taylor and Deacon publicly announced that they would never again work as Queen (though they've broken this rule a number of times already).

5) It's clearly an attempt to relive the fame and glamour of their younger years, especially as none of them has had any success as a solo artist since Mercury's death. This may be acceptable for the Who, Black Sabbath or Deep Purple, but all the above reasons surely mitigate against Queen regrouping.

6) Brian May's hair still looks the same as it did in 1973. At 56 years old, he is clearly an old man wearing a wig, or a freak.

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