In May of 1974, at least 3 U.S. cities slated for the Queen/Mott The Hoople tour lost out
completely on the Queen portion due to cancellation (Brian's serious illness at the time).
I've been thinking about those "lost" US cities from 1974, venues that never were, and concert
goers who lost their chance to see Queen for the first time in the USA, just as Queen II was rising
in US charts. For anyone who had a ticket, those stubs became an echo of what could have been.
I went looking for those lost cities and dates. So far, they appear to be as follows:
May 20, 1974 - Detroit, Michigan
May 21, 1974 - Chicago, Illinois
May 26, 1974 - Columbus, Ohio
The concert venue that was missed in Detroit was the Masonic Temple (Google it for int/ext photos).
It has gothic architecture and would have been a great Queen setting (given the set list). Imagine,
just for a moment, how it would have unfolded for that Detroit audience to see Queen for the very
first time in such a setting with great songs from Queen I & II. It's a tragedy those performances
never were. Instead, concert goers heard Kansas open for Mott the Hoople. If you know of any
additional lost cities from the 1974 USA tour that I missed please post.
In 1975, Queen returned to the USA (this time as the headliner) and all 3 cities above were on the
tour (Queen's triumphant return - I like to think - and a universe righting itself once again).
The point of this post is to enjoy every concert opportunity you have to the fullest because you
never know when and if you'll be a "lost" city.
So I encourage anyone within striking distance of the Anthems tour to go. Take nothing for granted - it
beats an echo every time.
Great post, QueenUSA.
Here's the whole list -
14.05.1974, USA, Boston, Orpheum Theatre - cancelled (rescheduled from 4-26)
15.05.1974, USA, Washington, Construction Hall - cancelled
16.05.1974, USA, Charleston, Municipal Auditorium - cancelled
17.05.1974, USA, Atlanta, Fox Theatre - cancelled
18.05.1974, USA, Knoxville, Coliseum - cancelled
20.05.1974, USA, Detroit, Masonic Temple - cancelled
21.05.1974, USA, Chicago, Auditorium Theatre - cancelled
22.05.1974, USA, Milwaukee, Auditorium - cancelled
23.05.1974, USA, South Bend, Morris Civic Center - cancelled
24.05.1974, USA, Toledo, Sports Arena - cancelled
25.05.1974, USA, Cleveland, Allan Theatre - cancelled
26.05.1974, USA, Columbus, OMershon Auditorium - cancelled
27.05.1974, Canada, Toronto, Massey Hall - cancelled
28.05.1974, Canada, London - cancelled
29.05.1974, USA, Pittsburg - cancelled
30.05.1974, USA, Philadelphia, Schubert Theatre - cancelled
31.05.1974, USA, Philadelphia, Schubert Theatre - cancelled
02.06.1974, USA, Richmond - cancelled
Taken from this great website - link
^ Thank you for supplying the complete list. It's even worse than I imagined - 16 performances lost in the USA and 2 in Canada. Disaster. To fully recognize the magnitude of all those lost U.S. and Canadian performances one need only consider the magic of Rainbow 1974.
Massey Hall is my favourite concert venue, and it saddens me that Queen never played there now that we know the gig was planned. Even Brian didn't play there in '93 - he played the Danforth Music Hall instead. It's a smaller venue, holding less than a thousand. I saw Jon Anderson there last year and it was magical. Saw Rick Wakeman there too, actually.
Bob,
There are several corrections/additions to the list you posted from qliverecordings. See below (bolded):
Here's the whole list -
13.05.1974, USA, Boston, Orpheum Theatre - cancelled (rescheduled from 4-26) (5/13, not 5/14)
15.05.1974, USA, Washington, DAR Constitution Hall - cancelled (DAR Constitution, not Construction Hall)
16.05.1974, USA, Charleston, Municipal Auditorium - cancelled
17.05.1974, USA, Atlanta, Fox Theatre - cancelled
18.05.1974, USA, Knoxville, Coliseum - cancelled
20.05.1974, USA, Detroit, Masonic Temple - cancelled
21.05.1974, USA, Chicago, Auditorium Theatre - cancelled
22.05.1974, USA, Milwaukee, Auditorium - cancelled
23.05.1974, USA, South Bend, Morris Civic Auditorium- cancelled (Civic Auditorium, not Civic Center)
24.05.1974, USA, Toledo, Sports Arena - cancelled
25.05.1974, USA, Cleveland, Allan Theatre - 7:00 p.m. show cancelled
25.05.1974, USA, Cleveland, Allan Theatre - 10:30 p.m. show cancelled (2 shows cancelled in Cleveland)
26.05.1974, USA, Columbus, Mershon Auditorium - cancelled (typo - Mershon, not OMershon)
27.05.1974, Canada, Toronto, Massey Hall - cancelled
28.05.1974, Canada, London - cancelled (questionable - I hadn't seen this date before on any tour itinerary)
30.05.1974, USA, Pittsburgh - Syria Mosque - cancelled (the Syria Mosque gig was scheduled for 5/30, not 5/29)
31.05.1974, USA, Philadelphia, Schubert Theatre - cancelled
01.06.1974, USA, Philadelphia, Schubert Theatre - cancelled (the Philly gigs were for 5/31 & 6/1, not 5/30 & 5/31)
02.06.1974, USA, Richmond - The Mosque - cancelled (scheduled for The Mosque)