...Most of us have been there. I grew up in the midwest. I know there are idiots out there that don't know what they are talking about. My advice especially for the teenagers cuz I was one not that long ago: Don't back down from them. Tell them so what??? if Freddie was gay. Ask them: Are you concerned about your sexuality? Were you hanging out at the gay nightclubs?? Is that how you found out Freddie was gay??? I always throw it back on them.
I always put Queen confidently into the category of the Beatles and Led Zepplin (bands that U.S. people believe are the best) when others start to bash Queen. I make sure to know what I am talking about... I make sure to let them know that Plant himself admitted that nobody had the voice of Freddie Mercury. I remind them that Brian May has jammed and is revered by the "rock gods" recognized by U.S. people as Iommi and Van Halen. I remind them that the great rock players today as Green Day, Foo Fighters, and the Darkness were hugely influenced by Queen. I remind them that Queen has sold more records worldwide than Kiss, Zepplin, U2, and others the U.S. favors.
The key is to not get too definsive about it, throw it back in their face instead. Keep your head up. Anyone that is huge into Queen in the U.S. knows what I am talking about. Queen's legacy depends on people as you and me. I really believe that.
I myself am in a band. My bandmates and friends that jam out all love heavy metal and punk. I've got them into Queen. I give them the tabs and they kind of smirk as if "We're really going to try this???" They do it and realize that they cannot cover May's licks. They cannot match Freddie's power. They come back frustrated and impressed that all of those "big hits" that Queen is familiar are very difficult to play... unlike the so-called "great" bands in the states.
So, here I am 25. Life is great. In college I found that many started opening to Queen. I found out that I was far from the only one. I believe most people actually love Queen in the U.S. Because of media as Rolling Stone bs and other factors, Queen's legacy is threatened. When people see Jagger and Plant on all of the covers, they believe they are the best naturally.
Queen fans in the U.S.: Here's our chance. Queen is back albiet different but they can still kick the crap out of almost any band with their full original lineup. As with me that are 25 or younger, this may be our last and only chance to witness the tour and tell others some day that we were there. Sooner or later, time will tell and you will look like geniuses for backing Queen! Hope to see many fans in D.C. on Thursday!!!