It was All Right Then.... and it's All Right Now.
What was the problem?
Brian said (on his soapbox)
"We're looking for something completely different, someone who can bring the pitch down a bit. Our background vocals aren't what they once were. Paul was Freddie's singer. He told me that after my 2nd solo album."
Quite honestly, alot of people were expecting Paul Rodgers to fit the role of Freddie. Yet Brian said straight away not to expect it, and if you didn't like it, don't come to the shows. PR has never been my 'favorite' singer. Though for what they were doing, I think he fit the bill well. It WAS meant to be different, and yes they did alot, ok, mostly Queen tunes in their shows. But Pr did a good job on them IMHO, and it got Brian and Roger back on the road again as well, which for people like me who were much too young to see Queen perform with Freddie, this was the next best thing (Queen stopped performing here in the States in '82, which at the time I was only 2). I've seen many many different bands, most of whom are still some of my favorite bands, but when I saw Queen and Paul Rodgers in San Diego with my friend Matt on April 2006, that wasn't a concert, that was an event...something that has spoiled me as far as seeing bands in concert. I've never seen ANY band play with that much fire and power, as I did that night. Every one of those people on stage just gave it their all, and it so fucking showed.
So am I upset with your view? Absolutely not, to each is own...I think The Cosmos Rocks was not up to what they could have done, but was still good. But the tours and everything else, it was something that was phenominal! Had they stuck together and maybe did another CD, they may have been able to put something together that may have really blown everyone's minds. I think the band just needed a bit more time to gel, honestly.
It was as good as might be expected for 3 old codgers, but it lacked inspiration. TCR was very very average. What's a guitar "god" doing playing bog-standard 12-bar blues and writing completely inane crap like Still Burnin'? If you're not going to make an effort, Brian, then retire (or do theatre shows with Kerry Ellis, which is basically the same thing as retirement). Roger still rocks though.
I'm with Paul too, he is a great singer, with a very powerful voice, he didn't want to replace Freddie, just make great shows every night, and he did too.
For Brian and Roger the collaboration was very productive too, the did the Hyde Park and the Karkhiv gigs, along with another great venues, like a stadium in Argentina. Only bands like U2, Muse, Coldplay or the Foo Fighters could do great gigs like these.
And the lack of suscessful of Cosmos Rock was for the bad promotion of the album, for me the record is ok, and more if you see the actual standards of the mainstream music. Only a few bands could do brilliant records and be suscesfull (see above).
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And think about the ''ego'' of Paul Rodgers, he sold millions, was nº1 in a lot of countries at the time with ''Live in Glasgow'', but every night the band only played a few of his songs (4 or 5, for 25 or more from Queen). And was Ok for the guy.
Even after the rupture between him and Roger / Brian he only talk good things about Queen.
For all this i only can say ''Thanks'' to Paul for sing with Queen.
SiriuslySmitten wrote: Am I the only one who didn't like Paul Rodgers singing with them? Please don't slam me, I just didn't like it.
Nope, you're not the only one. I don't like it too. But if they didn't tour, it wouldn't turn out into the biggest Queen concert ever given in Kharkov, a.k.a. my hometown.
SiriuslySmitten wrote: Am I the only one who didn't like Paul Rodgers singing with them? Please don't slam me, I just didn'tlike it.
seriously ... there have been moons or even years of discussion and fight ... just search the board.
:-)
As a long time fan of both Free and Queen, Q+PR was like a dream for me, so I've never had any complaints. It annoys me when people say he can't sing etc. just because he isn't Freddie.