Music Report: Queen to Return

Well, sort of. Although the British rock band Queen lost lead singer Freddy Mercury a few years ago from AIDs related illnesses, the band has refused to quit. Apparently the two remaining members of Queen is hooking up with Bad Company and Free vocalist Paul Rodgers. (Editors note: previously that lout DeDurkheim had written BadFinger, he be wrong. Props to RH readers for catching it. DeDurkheim has been tormented by the comfy chair) Now, from where I sit he is kinda sorta the anti-Freddy, much more of a blue eyed screaming soul sound than the rock theatre and operatics of Mercury.

For most folks, Freddie Mercury is the public face of that band, and any version of Queen without him just isn't right. I mean, come on... What is the first thing any music fan thinks of when the think of Queen? I bet it isn't Brian May's hair, albeit it is a strange curosity.

If Rodgers wants to play with May (guitar) and Taylor (drums) under some other name, now that's fine. Founding member and bass player John Deacon bowed out of the band after Mercury's death. But I think they're polluting the legacy by trotting out this ersatz version of the band. Its just sad isn't it.

For my music money its like Pink Floyd without Roger Waters or Journey without Steve Perry (just some guy trained to sing like him). Something important is missing.

Ok, back to your regularly scheduled political disgust.