I think Brian said that Spike was an unofficial 5th member of the band.Bearing in mind that Spike could write aswell as play various instruments,was there ever a case for making him a 5th member of Queen ?I am not saying it would have worked or not,just a thought.
He was involved with queen between '84 and '86. Mostly for extra keyboards/guitars/vocals during live shows. He did some keyboards on A Kind of Magic album.
to call him a 5th member is a bit much i think.
Freddie apparently once commented that he would loved to have made Mike Moran the 5th member of Queen, but he knew the others would never stand for it.
It was around the time of making Barcelona, he was blown away by Moran's musical ability and ideas, and he mentioned it to a journalist when asked about Moran's contribution, I read it at the time, it may have been a David Wigg interview, but I may have that wrong.
Calling Spike the "5th" Queen member is a bit too much in my opinion. He did great on stage/rehearsals etc. but I can see no reason( except on stage) for a "5th" member.
Like the fifth Beatle discussions, there are plenty of candidates. Considering how instrumental Roy Thomas Baker was on Queen's classic albums (Queen II through ANATO), he could easily be considered by many as the fifth member of the band at the time of their creative peak.
Thanks Andyb1968, I would love to find the quote to send to Mike Moran.
Fred Mandel did a lot in Radio Ga Ga, the solo of I want to Break Free, the rock piano of Man on the prowl, also played in Hammer To Fall...the second leg of Hot Space, he played in two or three songs in Mr. Bad Guy, also in Star Fleet Project...
Queen asked him to do The Works tour, but he was compromised at that time with Supertramp and later Elton John.
Spike did very well on concerts, and played in two songs in A kind of magic, Pain is close to pleasure and the other...I think Don't loose your head if my memory is right.
The Real Wizard wrote:
Considering how instrumental Roy Thomas Baker was on Queen's classic albums (Queen II through ANATO), he could easily be considered by many as the fifth member of the band at the time of their creative peak.
Personally, I think Mike Stone was more instrumental:
* Nevermore: It's got Mike but not Roy, still sounds fantastic.
* All the 'Races' album: It's got Mike but not Roy and still sounds fantastic.
* All the 'News of the World' album: It's got Mike but not Roy and still sounds fantastic.
* 'Jazz': It's got Roy but not Mike, and even though creatively it's one of their best IMO, in terms of sound... again, IMO, it's not.