David Cheal finds rapture in singalong city at Trent F W Arena, Nottingham
Freddie Mercury's death in 1991 left a hole in the heart of Queen that will never be filled. Who, after all, could replace the world's most flamboyant frontman?
So it came as a bit of a shock to learn in 2005 that Queen's guitarist, Brian May, and drummer, Roger Taylor, had teamed up with Paul Rodgers, the former Free and Bad Company singer. Now, Rodgers is a terrific vocalist, but he's hardly Mr Charisma, being a bit on the short side, rather unprepossessing, and quite hairy. And yet the opening night of their UK tour turned out to be a thoroughly entertaining and at times joyous occasion. How did they pull it off?
Partly, of course, it was because they were working with a back catalogue of songs that are among the most crowd-pleasing tunes ever written. But it was also thanks to the cleverness with which they worked around the absence of Mercury, not attempting to replace him directly, but always giving the show a focal point.
To begin with, it was May who took the limelight, strutting around with his big, bouncy hair, firing off little solos as the band - including three supporting players on bass, guitar and keyboards - warmed up with Hammer to Fall and Tie Your Mother Down.
His assurance was in contrast with Rodgers, who looked frankly a bit awkward and exposed; he strikes me as a singer who is happiest behind a microphone stand rather than parading and preening.
Rodgers seemed to grow in confidence, though, and Another One Bites the Dust was a chance for him to gauge the crowd's enthusiasm with a bit of call-and-response. They came back at him with gusto.
But the show really ignited when May sat on a stool with an acoustic guitar and said: "There's someone from our party who couldn't make it tonight. He sends his love. His name is Freddie Mercury." Rapture. Love of My Life followed, and suddenly Nottingham was singalong city.
After that, it was - barring a boring drum solo from Taylor and a couple of so-so songs from the new album, The Cosmos Rocks - downhill all the way: Radio Ga Ga, The Show Must Go On, plus a couple of diversions into Rodgers's past with Bad Company and All Right Now. And Bohemian Rhapsody was performed with the help, on the video screen, of the only man who could replace Freddie Mercury: the magnificent, the magnetic, the one and only Freddie Mercury.
everyone talks about about freddie being the best frontman as if thats the most important thing he was! thats NOT why they cant replace him, the reason they cant replace him because he was the best SINGER with the best VOICE of all time!
Well, if you are reviewing a concert it is natural to concentrate on Freddie's showmanship and him being the best frontman ever, instead of discussing his obvious talent as a singer.
He was one of the best rock-pop singers ever, without contest, and he was also a great songwriter. But, let's face it, his live vocals were inferior than his vocals in the studio. It is normal, as it is a live situation and he also has to run around and concentrate on involving the crowd. He was THE BEST at doing so, while delivering excellent versions of their songs, usually a bit different than the version in the album.
Paul Rodgers has a great singing voice live and I don't recall listening to one particular show in the QPR tours where I said "Damn, he really messed up that night".
Paul's only mistake in this tour is, actually, NOT being Freddie.
Fuck me, I agree with Treasure Moment for once! Never mind the crawling on all fours, it's Freddie's vocals that made the difference.
I disagree with the review that Paul isn't charismatic nor showman. He's not the type who'll bend and jump, but he's laid-back and magnetic, and contributes to the atmosphere. And his deceptively simple vocal style has expressiveness and control second only to Chicago masters. I don't think highly of his writing, but his singing is top notch.
I have always wanted to see Queen (with Freddie Mercury) but he died before my wish came true! I went to the concert on Friday 10th October at the Ice stadium in Nottingham and i was not disappointed. It was absolutely fantastic. I thought Paul didn't try to be freddie but sang with passion and has a great voice.
It was an excellent tribute to Freddie. I thought it showed how much Brian loved him when he said his bit on stage and the night seemed almost spiritual.
I loved it and wanted the music to go on all night. It is the best concert I have ever been to
Treasure Moment wrote:
everyone talks about about freddie being the best frontman as if thats the most important thing he was! thats NOT why they cant replace him, the reason they cant replace him because he was the best SINGER with the best VOICE of all time!
I agree with you! And the best frontman certainly!!!
We all know that Freddie left a large hole and I don't think that Paul Rogers is trying to fill the gap, however, when I read a review of a concert I want to read about what that concert was like and not what it once was or should have been if FM had still been around.
I am looking forward with relish to the concert on Sunday.
I am going to watch and listen to Queen and Paul Rogers, not Queen less Freddie Mercury and John Deacon but including Paul Rogers.
... And then maybe listen to the Shadows minus Cliff Richard on the way home... :-)