MY 2 cents worth.
I had a choice. Go to my nieces 5th birthday party or stay home and watch 46664. Admittedly, I wanted to see Queen w/ Paul Rodgers, no one else. I had been looking forward to the show since it's 1st announcement in late 2004. Know what? Aside from every other act who performed flawlessly, Queen w/ Paul Rodgers was horrid stat to finish, plain and simple. The singer for "Too Much Love Will Kill You" and the kids from the choir for "We Are The Champions" were way much better than the others in that set.
Back in 1985, I had two months or so to learn word for word, line for line, the entire 150 plus page script for "The Hobbit", a High School play and I was Bilbo Baggins. Several hours a day, everyday and did I make a mistake? You bet and only once. Anyone notice? Nope, not the audience, all 800 strong and more.
The point is, well, Paul Rodgers, he is old enough to be my Dad and I'm 37. The man is a professional singer who's been in front of crowds that'd make the Farcourt audience look tiny. He's got up and played songs that are totally obscure compared to "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions". Those blues tunes with other bands, not one error that I recall. Until Paul Rodgers showed up at 46664 #2, since 1974 when I was introduced to Queen via AM radio, I'd never ever heard anyone, anywhere at anytime that was or is a performer mess up one word of either "We Will Rock You" or "We Are The Champions" since they came out in 1977. Each word of each verse, I'm not counting adlibs like Liza Minelli's after each verse and chorus at the Mercury Tribute. Paul Rodgers had already did a stand up grade A job at the music awards show earlier this year 2005. Come to think of it, for the record, the man as you probably know or not, loused up the chorus to "Tie Your Mother Down". He just sang somthing like, "ah, um, um, um" and did get the words, "Tie Your Mother Down" right. He is the first singer and a world reknown blues singer from America who loused up Queen's two biggest anthems (known more than "Bohemian Rhapsody" here in the U. S. A.). It was inexcusable and he ought've made at least an apology of some sorts (and I know you are maybe thinking "too much to ask" or "it'd never happen".
As far as the comment someone made about not making it past the drum riser. I guarentee you, I'd get more than rousing applause, it is that "We Will Rock You" & "We Are The Champions" are that known to me, again since 1977, 1000's of times heard too, live official, bootlegs and the studio versions. The man, Paul Rodgers at 46664 just plain was horrid. I like thousands of others, have only heard the 4 song set via the net, not the 15 songs actually performed, nor have I read a quality review of the entire performance, song for song. Come to think of it, the only times I've ever enjoyed "Tie Your Mother Down" live was during the Races and News tour, that's it regarding bootlegs and of course, the "Live Killers" version. Every other performance, especially at 46664 #2, both Roger and Brian, lackluster. As if it's been played one too many times and or it was by the "dull at the edges" numbers.
I can't base whether or not I'd go see them just on 46664 #2, thanks to the internet and many unbiased writers/fan reviewers and of course, audience audio that is essentially "naked" audio, untouched by the band or their personnel, at least this American, who wants to see them here in the USA, will know some truths. I'm the same man that pitched the idea of them here in the U. S. A. at Gillette Stadium and other places and to end this, based on 46664, I'm truly embarrased!
Thanks,
William K. Mahler link