This spring, Queen fans got to find out for the first time since Mercury died, way back in 1991. Queen did a few posthumous albums, did more greatest hits offerings, and even supported their own “We Will Rock You” musical. But they never hit the road in America until now. They did so with former Bad Company/Free frontman Paul Rodgers, whom they played some one-off concerts with in Britain over the past couple years.
So was this a real concert? Did it work? My answer is only about 25 percent. I'm a traditionalist, and watching Rodgers sing “Another One Bites the Dust,” besides being the low point of the show, was nothing more than a karaoke performance that I could have seen from a good bar band.
Rodgers didn't try to be Mercury, and that's respectable. But his style of raw rocking and '60s blues singing just doesn't match Mercury's beautiful and explosive tenor. The songs just didn't fit.
Still, the crowd didn't care. Including myself, most of the time. I became a Queen fan in during their 1990s popularity resurgence, and I've been waiting for a chance to see any member of Queen live, even if he had to be rolled out in a wheelchair. And there was a good portion of the crowd in my boat. The other group were the concert veterans who certainly saw Queen in full the first time. But I can imagine that no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't revive that full-on Queen concert feeling.
Still, there were highlights. Remember, I estimated that 25 percent of the songs worked. Rodgers sounded best on “The Show Must Go On,” “Dragon Attack,” and “Hammer to Fall.”
And my own favorites were when the Queen members sang. Guitarist Brian May wrote many Queen songs and sang at least a song per album. He played and sang “Love of My Life,” on his own in the middle of the stage. He claimed it was one of his favorite songs and dedicated it to Freddie.
Drummer Roger Taylor wrote a bit as well, and also sang spot lead vocals. He took the lead with “Radio Ga Ga,” probably his biggest hit. He rocked out on a version of “I'm in Love With My Car,” and took the lead in front of the stage for Freddie's “These are the Days of Our Lives.”
May and Taylor also took center stage with 10- and five-minute solos, respectively.
Missing from action was still-retired bassist John Deacon. But keyboardist Spike Edney, who has accompanied Queen live for decades, was on hand.
The band also ran through some of Rodgers' hits. Included were “All Right Now” from Free and “Feel Like Makin' Love,” and “Bad Company” from his Bad Company days.
An unexpected highlight also came with the song I least expected Queen and Rodgers to play, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” How did they pull it off? With Freddie, of course! On screen, Freddy kicked into the song, playing his piano, and the band backed him. In the rocking part, Rodgers stepped in, and Mercury returned for the slow ending. It was a great rendition, and it made me want to see Freddie in Rodgers' place all the more. I said to my friend after the show, “Man, can you imagine a concert with Freddie? No question it'd be the greatest show ever.”
A recording of “God Save the Queen” played while the band bowed at the end of the show, just like old times. And it felt great, having finally seen half of Queen. It was sad, majestic, nostalgic and bittersweet. May and Taylor are old, and worn down. May even said at the beginning of the show that he didn't feel the greatest that night, but that the warm crowd reception had encouraged him.
Queen will always be known for their songs with Freddie. They really can't do anything new. So there's not much alternative to playing with another singer, such as Rodgers. They sold well on the tour, and they may make another trek in a few years. But honestly, even being the devoted Queen fan that I am, Queen has little to offer anymore.
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