I'm assuming, that with the tour to start in a couple of months, that rehearsals are under way. So...any ideas as to how they would proceed? I'm figuring that Brian, Paul, and Roger have sat down and reviewed a library of songs, have perhaps narrowed the field down to 35 songs or so. They're listening to CD's, discussing the possibilities of each track. They're seeing what the fans have to say, going back, reconsidering certain tracks. I can see this conversation:
Paul: "What's this song Ogre Battle everyone keeps asking for?"
Brian: "Oh, it's a heavy metal song from the first album."
Roger: "The second one, Brian."
Brian: "Oh, yeah. We haven't played it in years."
Paul: "Let's give it a listen."
Brian & Roger: "Hahahah, no we can't do that song."
Paul: "Put it on..."
Then the CD is played...
Okay, I'm dreaming here. But at this point, I'm sure that they have the list whittled down to 30-35 songs. Now...have they started jamming yet? And, if so, who's there? With the tour only two months away, they MUST have the band pretty much in line. So...why are they waiting to officially announce Spike, or a Bass player? Are they auditioning bassists?
Have they discussed a stage show yet? Lights? Any theories here?
The band will almmost certainly reflect that which appeard on the Brits TV show.
Depending upon Pino's commitments with The Who - and no, he's NOT contracted to them - and how successful their recording sessions were over the last few weeks, he will appear on bass. The Who have also recently used Greg Lake (a better bassist), so they may not necessarily miss him if it's a toss up between them and the Queen + Paul Rodgers tour.
There will be certain songs that they HAVE to play (decided by record companies / management) and they will then formulate the setlist around those numbers. It also will depend very much upon how long they are playing for and what they want to achieve. If they are trying to use this tour as a springboard into further work (ie recording sessions and further touring), then you can expect more challenging material. If it's simply the "last tour" as Brian was 'quoted' as saying, then it'll just be an exercise in churning out the hits again as per The Magic Tour.
Benn wrote:
There will be certain songs that they HAVE to play (decided by record companies / management) and they will then formulate the setlist around those numbers. It also will depend very much upon how long they are playing for and what they want to achieve. If they are trying to use this tour as a springboard into further work (ie recording sessions and further touring), then you can expect more challenging material. If it's simply the "last tour" as Brian was 'quoted' as saying, then it'll just be an exercise in churning out the hits again as per The Magic Tour.
I'm certain this will be the last tour Queen will ever do; so the 2005 tour will be a serie of Queen hits combined with Pauls work. So no doubt they will play WWRY, WATC, TYMD, BoRap, Hammer to Fall, Radio and so on .. but they will do a new studio cd .. so maybe one new song as a sneak preview? :)
Why on earth would they bother with studio sessions if this is to be the only tour Queen + Paul Rodgers undertakes? How would they promote the new material?
It will be either:
1 - The one and only tour.
2 - A tour that leads to studio work which leads to further touring.
That's the nature of the beast.
Benn wrote:
"There will be certain songs that they HAVE to play (decided by record companies / management) and they will then formulate the setlist around those numbers"
Can you believe this guy? Ever the conspiracy theorist!
I know from personal experience that recordcompany's have a very big say in what their acts do and how they do it. One of the few things though that they can NOT do is tell you which songs to play in a regular concert!
So sorry, Benn, but what you suggest is simply not true. Though I do think that they will do some songs, simpley because they feel they HAVE to for the general audiance. (But no BoRhap please ;-)