| david (galashiels) 17.05.2012 18:35 |
do you think that queen in there original line up would have been as big a hit if the lead singer had been diffrent?. had brian/rog/john had ,say paul rodgers or brian ferry/steve harley/or paul mccartney. would the band have such great sucess. or even would freddie have been such a star without ,.bri/rog/john. queen made freddie lead singer(not leader of the band). but had someone else came along would we now have or had such a fantastic legacy of music?. remembering in the 70s bands changed quick time,singers?guitarists were replaced on a regular basis. even now it happens. guns and roses(just axel rose i beleive), what do you think,did queen become a hit because of freddie .or could have any rock star from that era have carried of that crown. and a final point. would have queen/brian/rog/.have had todays exposure without freddie.. |
| waunakonor 17.05.2012 20:56 |
Of course the other three wouldn't have been nearly as successful without Freddie. Freddie is the face everyone remembers. He's the one with the iconic poses and amazing stage presence. Brian and Roger might have rocked together for a little while, but never got anything real big going, and John would never have any part in it. Freddie probably wouldn't have gotten very far either without Brian/Roger/John. He would try for a little while, because he was very confident, but eventually be forced to give up. Brian would probably end up being the happiest and most famous of the four working as a respected astronomer who doesn't have to worry about riled up fans calling him hypocritical, or ruining the legacy of astronomy, and instead able to focus on whatever he wants with little to. John would be happy working with computers of some sort, perhaps in regards to musical instruments. Freddie would end up as a stripper at some joint he designed the logo for, being immensely unsatisfied that no one would ever discover his true potential. Roger would be somewhat unhappy doing who-the-hell-knows-what. That is all speculation of course. Who really knows? |
| DragonflyTrumpeter83 17.05.2012 21:07 |
Roger would be somewhat unhappy doing who-the-hell-knows-what.Ha... He'd probably be the town drunk somewhere in Cornwall. |
| madmetaltom 17.05.2012 21:12 |
Drunk on vodka! hehe |
| The Real Wizard 17.05.2012 22:39 |
I'd say Queen made Freddie. Listen to the recording of Freddie's band playing "Green" in 1969. It's awful. Then listen to the Smile recordings from 1969. A fair portion of the Queen sound was already there. From day one it was a highly creative environment. They all influenced each other. This is what makes the greatest bands. |
| Sebastian 18.05.2012 03:05 |
Of course Green sounds awful because it's a home recording (AFAIK). Smile's record was at one of the top studios in the world, having a professional producer, professional engineers and a high quality mix. Brian and Roger were/are excellent musicians, but to use Smile vs Ibex/Wreckage/SMS is unfair all things considered. |
| A Word In Your Ear 18.05.2012 09:14 |
Sebastian wrote: Of course Green sounds awful because it's a home recording (AFAIK). Smile's record was at one of the top studios in the world, having a professional producer, professional engineers and a high quality mix. Brian and Roger were/are excellent musicians, but to use Smile vs Ibex/Wreckage/SMS is unfair all things considered.I agree with Bob, the track "Green" home demo, or if it was a studio version does not have the standard of the "Smile" recordings, but saying that, it was only Freddie in his "musical infancy". what's to say that in a few years after wreckage, he wouldn't have turned out some classic tracks even without the Queen influence? it's one of those things we'll never know. |
| Micrówave 18.05.2012 09:27 |
John made Queen. The other three were just hanging on. They didn't start selling records until John joined the band. They finally "made it" in the USA once John's song came out. People actually bought Queen Rocks because John was on the "new" song post Freddie. After that, people started complaining how it wasn't Queen anymore. Once John left, they started bringing in sub-par players and holograms. |
| matt z 18.05.2012 10:16 |
Without first reading the other comments, I was tempted to just respond STFU - this question will go nowhere But since I wanna be civil. All the initiated fans know that the band's strength was the sum of its parts. Go back and listen to Smile and then to Ibex; and you will clearly see that Smile was better, while Ibex showed FM as an oddity diamond in the rough. Seeing how they didn't mesh until they got John Deacon, and that the songwriting was varied, and that their voices complemented each other (yes, I'll include Johns bass voicing, he's an unusual bass player---melodious and emotive) Neither. THE GOD***MNED BAND MADE THEMSELVES! |
| matt z 18.05.2012 10:20 |
Haha...ruining the legacy of astronomy.... That's gotta be one of the top 10 |
| brENsKi 18.05.2012 10:24 |
queen had broekn america before ANOBTD..so the John argument doesn't work. I think Freddie made queen. but from one perspective only. smile were a band and had made a recording, but were going nowhere....TS decided to join a band called Humpy Bong for fuck's sake - that shows how successful he felt smile would ever be freddie brought a new direction to a standard (for the times) band formula.... brian still plays that silly solo that appeared on that smile lp which |
| waunakonor 18.05.2012 11:19 |
Brenski, I think that Microwave isn't referring to AOBtD, bu Misfire. Queen didn't make it big until Mifire came out. It ALMOST sounds like a valid argument. |
| MackMantilla 18.05.2012 11:22 |
Queen made Adam Lambert |
| pittrek 18.05.2012 11:45 |
Freddie + Brian + John + Roger made Queen. Leave any member out and you get something MUCH worse than the original band |
| brENsKi 18.05.2012 12:59 |
waunakonor wrote: Brenski, I think that Microwave isn't referring to AOBtD, bu Misfire. Queen didn't make it big until Mifire came out. It ALMOST sounds like a valid argument.sorry, i completely misread the intonation of his missive. it's clear now that amongst the sarcasm there was some valid points, however i think that "misfire" was part of the sarcasm.....? |
| MERQRY 18.05.2012 13:35 |
They both made each other... |
| Holly2003 18.05.2012 14:01 |
One way to look at it is to ask would they have been sucessful if they had never met and formed Queen? Firstly luck plays a big part: there are many great musicians who never made it "big" because they weren't in the right place at the right time. That aside, Roger easily has the charisma, looks, voice and terrible fashion sense to have been a frontman in his own right in the 1970s and 80s. I've no doubt he would have found a way to be a rock star. For example, think how much better Def Leppard would be with Roger on lead vocals :) Brian is too talented and too strong willed not to have made it in the rock business. Deaky -- I get the impression that he was very fortunate to have met the band when he did and although he's a very skillful musician I don't think anyone would have heard of him today if Queen hadn't come along when it did (although what a great session musician he would have made!)As for Fred, he could've been anything -- rock star, artist, weirdo, theatre luvvie -- there's just no way to know how his career would've developed if he had never met Smile. So, as others have stated, they were successful because of the blend of personalities and talent. |
| greaserkat 18.05.2012 14:42 |
Can the same arguement be made for the Beatles? |
| Micrówave 18.05.2012 15:12 |
UPDATE Yes, Misfire was how they tackled America successfully, but now that you mention it, AOBTD was their biggest seller. Another point in John's favor. Even Freddie knew this was going to be an issue... so he made them call him Deacon John on the first album. How'd that turn out? After he demanded his name represented correctly on the 2nd album, things started happening for Queen. |
| brENsKi 18.05.2012 16:32 |
Roger in Def Leppard? really? he was ten years too old for that group..they were NWOBHM kids and he was 30.... secondly, his voice would not have fitted their stuff ever |
| waunakonor 18.05.2012 16:59 |
brENsKI, haha, yes I am aware that Misfire was part of the sarcasm, you were just reading the sarcasm the wrong way so I felt the need to correct you for some reason. That's why I said his argument was ALMOST valid. It is a little compelling, though...
DragonflyTrumpeter83 wrote:Yeah, I was thinking something along those linesRoger would be somewhat unhappy doing who-the-hell-knows-what.Ha... He'd probably be the town drunk somewhere in Cornwall. |
| Holly2003 18.05.2012 17:34 |
brENsKi wrote: Roger in Def Leppard? really? he was ten years too old for that group..they were NWOBHM kids and he was 30.... secondly, his voice would not have fitted their stuff everEr.. it was a comparison. I wasn't suggesting that there was ever a chance Roger would actually be in DL. As for his voice, it would "suit" because they play guitar based rock, with layered harmony vocals. A bit like Queen in fact. It wouldn't sound the same, of course, -- it would sound much better :) |
| Sebastian 19.05.2012 06:50 |
Roger was also at least a decade older than members of The Cross (sans Spike) and that didn't stop him. |
| andyboy 19.05.2012 13:58 |
In answer to the original question - both! |
| dsmeer 19.05.2012 14:13 |
Queen was made by Freddie, Roger, Brian and John. This is the Magic of 4 people. Replace 1 of the 4 and it would sound totally different. Some would have more influence in 1 song while others would have more influence n another song. Thank god they got together. For the love of music and the joy we feel for it every single day. |
| FREDDIEKINGOFQUEEN 24.05.2012 01:45 |
Queen is the perfect blend of genius/talent/magic. They had a beautiful symbiotic relationship, each one playing off the other, in creativity and brilliance. But, without Freddie, Brian and Roger would've just been a fading Smile (lol), perhaps making it big, maybe even huge. Freddie, though, catapulted them to another stratosphere of success! Freddie had such determination and belief in himself, not to mention drive and passion, that I think he would've become great with anyone w/ talent and ambition....which was key w/ the 4 of them. Freddie was such a dynamic force, so electrifying, mesmerizing, charismatic, exuding passion w/ every word that no one could've made Queen the greatest band ever Except for Freddie. Queen, w/ Freddie, was the best live show ever! All you have to do is look at their career since Freddie's been gone to know the answer....and that's After Freddie had already made them famous! It's quite obvious that, although Freddie wasn't Queen, per se, but he sure was the soul of Queen!! Queen = all 4 geniuses. Freddie = genius extraordinaire!!!!! |
| deleted user 25.05.2012 10:50 |
Quote: "Queen is the perfect blend of genius/talent/magic. They had a beautiful symbiotic relationship, each one playing off the other, in creativity and brilliance. But, without Freddie, Brian and Roger would've just been a fading Smile (lol), perhaps making it big, maybe even huge. Freddie, though, catapulted them to another stratosphere of success! Freddie had such determination and belief in himself, not to mention drive and passion, that I think he would've become great with anyone w/ talent and ambition....which was key w/ the 4 of them. Freddie was such a dynamic force, so electrifying, mesmerizing, charismatic, exuding passion w/ every word that no one could've made Queen the greatest band ever Except for Freddie. Queen, w/ Freddie, was the best live show ever! All you have to do is look at their career since Freddie's been gone to know the answer....and that's After Freddie had already made them famous! It's quite obvious that, although Freddie wasn't Queen, per se, but he sure was the soul of Queen!! Queen = all 4 geniuses. Freddie = genius extraordinaire!!!!!" Perfectly said! I agree 100%. |
| rhyeking 25.05.2012 16:19 |
They all needed each other in order to have been successful as they were, and they all acknowledge that. MAYBE one or two would have been successful if they'd not met, but until we can peek into alternate realities, we'll never know. Brian and Roger might have kept going, with a new band, and probably would have at least had a few albums out and some reasonably successful hits. They might have moved from band to band if the groups didn't stay together very long (as a lot of '70s bands came and went in a few years). I'm sure both would keep busy touring, appearing in bands and on albums, maybe later getting into the production side. Roger would likely have gone on the longest of the two, maybe with a solo album or two, before changing gears and producing other acts while touring on the side. Freddie would probably have gotten on with another band or two, same as Brian and Roger. His party lifestyle might have caught up with him early, like '81 or '82 and he'd be another overdosed rock footnote. Or, without fame, he might have settled down into graphic art (like Tim Staffell) or music production, led a quiet life and might still be working today. John, not being a singer and not having written anything we know of before "Misfire," would probably have gone into electronic or music engineering, being a weekend rocker with a local band or two for fun and extra money, married and had kids. Pretty much the same as he is now, though without the millions of dollars. More interestingly, we'd live a world without "We Will Rock You," "We Are The Champions" and "Another One Bites The Dust," songs that have become so ingrained in popular culture. On the other hand, there'd have been no "Ice Ice Baby," so I guess you take the good with the bad. |
| drmurph 26.05.2012 04:31 |
I'm not sure whether the four of them were geniuses rather they had certain strengths which complimented each others. Their intelligence and good sense aided them to make good decisions. Freddie certainly had a drive to push Brian and Roger to the next level, John initially was along for the ride but would become increasingly important. Without Freddie's drive I think Brian would have (taken the sensible decision) finished his PhD and have been working in a University (with short hair...wow...that's got to be worth a photoshop effort). Roger would have made many efforts to become a rock star (possibly sucessfully). If he hadn't made it he'd be a bit like "Saxondale". 70's rocker haircut, podgy etc. As mentioned above John would have got a proper job and played music as a hobby. Freddie is difficult to imagine. His will to make it may have meant he tried with other bands, probably unsucessfully based on his voice back then. He'd eventually have moved into graphic art stuff and settled down with someone. His life possibly not spiralling out of control without the exposure to the wild lifestyles. |
| deleted user 26.05.2012 11:07 |
I doubt that Freddie would have ever settled down to a quiet, 'normal' life. His talents, his ambition, his drive, his charisma would always make him successful. He was born to perform. The minute he walked out on the stage, he owned the audience! |
| Stelios 26.05.2012 15:53 |
You talk about Freddie and his drive and his performing ability forgetting you refer to one of the best voices of the planet. Of course his vocal ability evolved with time but come on...one way or another he would have got the attention and things would have start happening. Perhaps not on the grand scale they did but with a voice like that you cant get away from the spot light. |
| deleted user 27.05.2012 12:56 |
Quote: "You talk about Freddie and his drive and his performing ability forgetting you refer to one of the best voices of the planet. Of course his vocal ability evolved with time but come on...one way or another he would have got the attention and things would have start happening. Perhaps not on the grand scale they did but with a voice like that you cant get away from the spot light." That is exactly what I meant. I did mention his 'talent'..? he is the most amazing performer ever! And by performance, I mean his voice, his charisma, his sexy looks, everything. One perfect package! |
| FREDDIEKINGOFQUEEN 27.05.2012 22:58 |
tigrlily wrote: Quote: "You talk about Freddie and his drive and his performing ability forgetting you refer to one of the best voices of the planet. Of course his vocal ability evolved with time but come on...one way or another he would have got the attention and things would have start happening. Perhaps not on the grand scale they did but with a voice like that you cant get away from the spot light." That is exactly what I meant. I did mention his 'talent'..? he is the most amazing performer ever! And by performance, I mean his voice, his charisma, his sexy looks, everything. One perfect package! |
| Biggzy10 28.05.2012 15:05 |
All four of them made Queen. Without each other the music isn't the same and it never will be. Look at all of their solo careers. In my opinion, all of them where lack luster, not producing much hits or makeing any sort of headway. FREDDIE INCLUDED. All of them different styles of music that complemented each other perfectly. One cant say that one member made the band when all of them produced at least hit. |
| FREDDIEKINGOFQUEEN 30.05.2012 02:06 |
Did you just call Freddie "lack luster"????????????? Freddie was the most passionate person on the planet!!!!! Please! I realize that you meant that re: his solo career, but the words lack luster and Freddie do NOT compute in the same sentence, no matter what you think of the solo stuff. I actually love whatever Freddie sang or did. He could make Happy Birthday sound awesome! I don't doubt that Queen was just the right combination of talent, genius, and personalities to produce the best out of each other, and had brilliant success together, as a group, which might not have happened if anything was different. Of course, there's no way to tell for sure. I'm just thrilled it did work out the way it did! But I was simply speculating, not so much their solo projects, but if they went in different paths....what might've resulted. So, regardless of the solo stuff, which is not that good of a barometer, I do believe they would've had varying successes, nowhere near what they had w/ Queen, though. I'm pretty sure that Freddie's passion could not have been subdued, had he been w/ another group, either. Who really knows what might have been? But, I do know that other groups have been able to continue almost seamlessly when losing a member, yet Queen has not. Let's just be grateful that the stars aligned exactly the right way to give us the most amazing band ever! :) |