Hi, all...I'm attending the Breakthru Fan Convention in Detroit this year. It's looking to be pretty cool, Peter "Phoebe" Freestone will be there and Jacky Smith from the International Fan Club...but they've also got two tribute acts - Rick Rock and Celebrating Queen. Anyone have an opinion on either of these acts?
Just had a look at Celebrating Queen on You Tube, a rather overweight chap walking round stage in a long black coat doing his Karaoke versions of Queen hits. Might be alright after a few beers with your mates, but dont expect too much !!!!
In My Defence....lol
Ok Phil.....Im the guy you think is overweight. lol...gimme a break....
Fact - Freddie was a waif...thin...5'9-or so.....maybe a buck sixty...160 lbs......-170?
Fact - Overweight, or Athletic....um, I am 6'2 inches tall...215 lbs......
Im 49 years old and by all standards, I am very fit. Especially for my age.....
FACT: I play full court basketball 3 days a week...with college kids. I still play organized baseball, fast pitch hardball, not softball. To this day I possess pitching records in the state of Connecticut here in the states with a 28 win and 5 loss pitching record in semi pro baseball which has stoos since 1979. Recently, I have pitched against the Boston Red Sox Alumni.
I lift weights 3x per week and do an hour of cardio each day.
...at 5:30 am.....you will find me in private yoga class.
I don't drink or smoke.....
Our band is not attempting to do the look alike Freddie thing, it makes no sense. We honour the music. The songs.
The look alike thing is a bit of an insult....like the Elvis impersonators. There was one Freddie....and I am not about to attempt to sully his memory. He is sadly gone, but his music lives. That is what we do.
On the karaoke thing...ok...everybody get this straight....We all know Freddie was a genius....great singer, great writer, great performer...etc. I am here to tell you from a musical point of view...I can sing, ANYTHING he could handle vocally.
I have been tested on this. Piano, music, songs...etc. Probably with greater ease than he could. High register, strong head voice, light airy or strong falsetto.
I take pride in the fact that in a live setting, I can sing closer to Freddie studio performance than he did. Go to link and take a listen....then go into the page and listen to me singing Somebody To Love, etc.
While Queen has not performed the whole "The March Of The Black Queen" in a live setting, We do, and will be playing it in a live setting at Breakthru in Detroit on 7/17. It is fabulous. Honest to god....
I am one of 11 children from Bristol, CT. My father was a lead singer in the late 1940's and 50's.....and taught each of us to sing and or play instruments. My brother is also in the band as our voicestra leader....
I record music for the National Football League's Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns.
So remember all, I am not even attempting to look like Freddie, I honour him and his music. I do my best.
I try to say nice things instead of going out of my way like Philip to disparage me because I am not as thin as Freddie.
Philip, cmon friend....those who can "Do"......tell us all, what is your talent, besides pissing on my leg and forwarding your weak opinion?
Below is a picture, sans the long black coat that same night Philip is speaking of.....
Overweight folks, or......a big strong man??? 6'2 215 lbs
Come to Breakthru all. Lets have some fun...and we will see you in the UK in 2011. link
Here's a question for people...
Would you rather see an experienced and polished Queen tribute band live, or see existing authentic Queen concert video that we'll assume you've probably already seen, but in some novel way (like on a really large screen for example, and the best perforances cut from the best shows across their whole career, or multiple shows running back to back) in a bar/club setting? Assume a couple of hundred people from Queenzone are there with you. What would make a better night out, and if you wish, why? And where should this event be held?
I'd have to say I'd prefer a tribute band, if for no other reason than a DVD cannot talk to you, cannot interact with you, and cannot respond humorously to playful heckling or jibes. I can watch a DVD at home and not have to put up with assholes surrounding me.
Oddly, I'm having a hard time deciding the answer to my own question. I'm leaning towards the big screen videos, which is so odd because live music is usually the holy grail for me. I think it has something to do with Freddie, and the fact that he's gone. It all seems precious and irreplaceable because of that. Though I would have loved to see Queen+PR. So I don't know.
....well, no sore point...lol...just a clarification.......
......I have an interest in performing the music of Queen.....
I have money...
I have no problem getting the opposite sex.....
I have no problem with my television career....
Unless you are an olympian, I would have no problem defeating you in any sport....
....and no need to dress or attempt to look like FM. He is dead, and his music lives. There was only one Freddie.
Hey Andreas, is your real name Mercury...lol
Ask the breakthru 2010 people how we did, go to their myspace page....
lol.....
JJ link
....well, no sore point...lol...just a clarification.......
......I have an interest in performing the music of Queen.....
I have money...
I have no problem getting the opposite sex.....
I have no problem with my television career....
Unless you are an olympian, I would have no problem defeating you in any sport....
....and no need to dress or attempt to look like FM. He is dead, and his music lives. There was only one Freddie.
Hey Andreas, is your real name Mercury...lol
Ask the breakthru 2010 people how we did, go to their myspace page....
lol.....
JJ link
Here's the answer to my original question:
JJ Midnight and the Celebrating Queen show put on an AWESOME performance at Breakthru this year....They were fabulous and really had a big group of dedicated Queen fans ON their FEET!