9.4.14 Q+AL comes to an end -- for now, DVD? more news

There is an odd optical illusion in the photo in today's banner -- looks like Adam has wings! Well he does sing like I imagine Angel Gabriel sings so he deserves wings.


UPDATE: Sign up for Queen Live Stream - Live at the Rainbow '74

Queen

***Queen - Live At The Rainbow '74***



30 minute stream of Live At The Rainbow on Freddie's Birthday!



REMINDER: In celebration of Freddie For A Day, don’t miss your chance to watch the first 30 minutes of Queen “Live At The Rainbow ‘74” on the 5th September, to celebrate Freddie's birthday and support the Mercury Phoenix Trust.



To gain access to the 30 minute stream be part of this great event head over to www.LiveAtTheRainbowFFAD2014.com to signup now.



Order 'Live At The Rainbow '74' @ www.queenonlinestore.com/Queen/Live-At-The-Rainbow-74/



www.queenonline.com

www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com


One more concert – and then it all ends! (for now)
9.4.14 by Q3

Well it has been a hellofa summer (or winter) depending on what side of the world you live on.

But all amazing things need to come to an end – if only for a bit.

So today/tonight in New Zealand, the Queen + Adam Lambert Half the World Tour draws to an end.

And then Adam heads back to LA to work on his solo album. Brian and Roger will go into promo mode to support the September 9, 2014 release of Live at the Rainbow ’74. And all of us will get a brief moment to catch our breaths, catch up on sleep, and get prepared for the next chapter in the Amazing Rollercoastery Adventures of Adam F. Lambert.

From Twitter today....





Intriguing Video on YouTube:
Title is “queen dvd shoot sydney 27 8 14”
Posted by George Barrington.

It includes a “fly over shot” of the pre-concert Queen production team meeting. The title may be just random but it was the concert they announced they were recording and the concert with 20 cameras vs. the normal 9 cameras. So it makes me optimistic. It is also “cleaner” video versus some of the more random camera movement videos he posted from some other shows. (See below.)

youtu.be/Cm7nh_OUyOk

More tour videos from his YT channel that include a lot of behind-the-scenes footage. (You probably want to turn down the sound on you device.)

Queen tech day LA

youtu.be/759xo0PwlBk


Queen Melbourne 20 8 14

youtu.be/NJhH-jCvLdE


queen

Backstage and setup video scenes.

youtu.be/deq95AcI1i0


Queen Seoul August '14

youtu.be/dYElMsyiKR8


McB Elstree

More backstage and setup footage.

youtu.be/5opCyNmRQ5U



Concert review: Queen + Adam Lambert, Vector Arena
By Russell Baillie
1:00 AM Thursday Sep 4, 2014

Even in their heyday, Queen was a band with a grand sense of the ridiculous.

No gesture was too extravagant, no genre was left unmolested.

They might have started out as an early 70s hard rock band. But they somehow became a pop perennial, like Abba or the BeeGees, with hits just as enduring too.

And when frontman Freddie Mercury passed away, Queen endured.

Sure, affection for those hits kept them there, as did the likes of stage musical We Will Rock You and a thousand Idol show covers of Somebody to Love.

So seeing what's left of Queen - original members guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor but not long-retired bass player John Deacon - bringing in American Idol's biggest breakout talent Adam Lambert as frontman was always going to take some getting used to.

Lambert proved he had plenty stage presence along with a winning personality and very busy costume department.

But vocally, it sounded as if his strengths are up top.

Still, his takes on many of the songs did - as they say in Idol land - make them his own. That's whether it was his Michael Jackson-like tilt at Another One Bites the Dust or his Elvis lip-curl on the rockabilly of Crazy Little Thing Called Love near the end.

And the more theatrical numbers and challenging melodies like Killer Queen, which had him propped upon a purple chaise longue at the end of the stage runway, proved his forte more than the straight rockers.

Yes, there were inevitable moments when Mercury held sway over proceedings with posthumous duets delivered via video screen footage.

But the show largely kept the belated eulogies in check.

Another question with a Queen live show was how do they pull off those old grand studio concoctions live?


Queen with Adam Lambert at Vector Arena. Photo / Dean Purcell

In the case of Bohemian Rhapsody they kind of cheated, surrendering the song's operatic middle section to the recorded version (and video), but then bursting back into life in what a generation or now two know as "the Wayne's World bit".

It was head-bangingly terrific.

Elsewhere, the once-epic Sevens Seas of Rhye became part of a medley and there were a few songs - like I Want to Break Free, among others - that felt merely ticked off the list.

But there were still plenty of other Big Queen Anthems that were just madly thrilling.

Among the great big loud ones, were those feminist anthems Fat Bottomed Girls and Tie Your Mother Down.

Among the quiet ones, was Brian May's sweet affecting singalong solo take on Love of My Life.

Though a few of the Queen old boys' other microphone excursions - especially Taylor's A Kind of Magic - took the show close to karaoke.


Queen with Adam Lambert at Vector Arena. Photo / Dean Purcell

And then there was May and his electric guitar. With his hair still looking like it last saw a barber in the Stuart Period, he delivered the guitar heroics which were once Queen's second great distinctive voice.

While witnessing Queen live show without Mercury might never quite feel like the genuine article, seeing May fire off another raygun solo over the heads of a very happy Vector crowd made this feel anything but a group becoming a cover band of itself.

More a reminder of who invented this stadium rock stuff in the first place.

Yes, Queen + Adam Lambert = the sum of their very good parts.

* Queen perform at Vector Arena again tonight.

Queen
Where: Vector Arena, Auckland
When: Wednesday, September 3
- nzherald.co.nz

Link: www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=11318692




Review: Queen + Adam Lambert
By Taylor SincockOnline Reporter
Thursday 4 Sep 2014 6:25 a.m.



When most people think of Queen, they think of Freddie Mercury. But now that Freddie's not around and the band are touring with Adam Lambert, are they still worth a ticket? You bet they are.

Last night, Queen – plus Lambert – played the first of their two New Zealand shows to a packed Vector Arena in Auckland.

Lambert was no Freddie, and he didn't try to be. He sang the band's songs in his own style, whilst staying true to the original melodies.

His fierce and theatrical attitude, impressive vocal range and superb glam rock voice proved he was an appropriate artist for the band to work with – it amazes me how someone who had their career take-off after American Idol can end up fronting Queen.

But the concert wasn't just about Lambert. Original Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor were there too, and still as talented as ever.

May got his chance to shine with a lengthy guitar solo, as well as performing 'Love of My Life' accompanied by video footage of Freddie. It was a chilling moment.

Taylor showed the crowd his drumming skills are still intact. He even gave his vocal chords a solo workout with 'A Kind of Magic', and then 'Under Pressure' with Lambert.

My favourite moment of the concert – and I am sure it was for most people – was the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' performance. I was reminded why it is one of the greatest songs of all time. I even had to pinch myself to let me know it was real.



The show was truly the work of some of the music industry's best. It was just as much about the instruments as it was about singing, which is something I don't think we see enough of at concerts today.

A woman who sat beside me said she had waited 39 years for the show – let's just hope she enjoyed it as much as I did.

3 News

Read more: www.3news.co.nz/entertainment/review-queen--adam-lambert-2014090406#ixzz3CJjOKkri


This comment was posted below the article. And this is the sign of a great concert.




Adam Lambert and Queen rock Vector Arena
Wednesday 3 Sep 2014 11:54 p.m.

Tonight the Paul Henry Show got a sneak peek at tonight's sold out Queen concert at Vector Arena in Auckland. It is the first of two nights in Auckland for the group.

American Idol's Adam Lambert is stepping in for late singer Freddie Mercury. However, earlier in the year Lambert told the media he would be staying true to himself and would not be channelling his inner Freddie.

A small number of tickets for the final show tomorrow night have just been released.

Link to the news report video: www.3news.co.nz/tvshows/paulhenryshow/adam-lambert-and-queen-rock-vector-arena-2014090323#ixzz3CJiBQ6uy

Note: They have strict licensing rules, please leave this video on their site. Thanks, Q3.



Adam Lambert thanks Kiwi fans after Auckland show
Published: 5:30AM Thursday September 04, 2014 Source: ONE News


Adam Lambert live in Auckland - Source: Brad Roberts

Adam Lambert has thanked his Kiwi fans after hitting the stage with legendary rock band Queen last night.

The show was held at Auckland's Vector Arena, with Lambert fronting the band in place of the late Freddie Mercury.

Lambert took to Twitter following the show, posting: "Thank you Auckland."

Fans shared their praise for the band online.

One Twitter user posted: "Thank you @adamlambert @drbrianmay @queenwillrock for awesome night in Auckland! You rocked us all!"

Twitter user Patrick Barnes tweeted: "Queen was A. Maze. ING. If you are in Auckland tomorrow night, go and see their final concert of the entire tour. Just do it."

Several fans posted pictures and videos from last night's concert online.



youtu.be/18JB2v0tJqg

There will be another show at Vector Arena tonight.

Earlier this year Adam Lambert told fans that he would be staying true to himself throughout the tour.

Speaking to The Advocate Adam said "I'm Adam onstage. I'm not playing Freddie."

Link: tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/adam-lambert-thanks-kiwi-fans-after-auckland-show-6070442



Another Q + AL Sold Out Show – Perth!

20 Queen + Adam Lambert Perth Arena Perth, Australia Aug. 22, 2014 $2,008,590 13,285 /
13,285 1 / 1 $188.07, $95.27 Dainty Group


Q3 note: This article inspired me to go back and read the original Billboard article it was derived from -- the relevant portion posted below. Not only is this a thought-provoking view of the role of pop stars in social and political issues, in the Billboard article, Adam is in great company, sandwiched between Lady Gaga and Madonna.


Rapper T.I.: Pop stars who failed to speak out about Ferguson were 'cowards'
Date: September 4, 2014 - 1:09PM

Influential American rapper and actor T.I. says pop stars who didn't speak out at the MTV Video Music Awards about the shooting of black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, last month were "cowards".

The MTV Awards, which were held last week, set the stage for Ferguson to be a talking point by running two public announcements. MTV president Stephen Friedman even called the clips "a call to action". The rapper Common also made a statement and asked for a moment's silence - noticeably ignored by the Kardashian clan.

But since the VMAs, senior Billboard magazine writer Jason Lipshutz also raised the question in an article headlined 'Where is pop's response to Ferguson?'. Lipshutz pointed out that Lady Gaga and Adam Lambert were among the few who have said anything.

The MTV Awards, which had a total US television audience of 13.7 million and generated 12.6 million tweets, was the perfect platform - but most pop stars failed to take the chance to talk about much apart from themselves.

T.I., who is in Sydney promoting his upcoming album Paperwork, also wrote two open letters "to America" last week about Ferguson, saying he was "disgusted" with the treatment of black people, whose neglect had "created a monster".

T.I. told Fairfax that major pop stars were too cautious to speak out against the shooting of Michael Brown and the police brutality that followed, and while he understood why many didn't speak, he refused to defend those stars.

"It was a delicate situation, a lot of people wanted to step back, they didn't want to ... respond to pieces of evidence. Some people would like to make sure they had all the facts before they respond and some people are just cowards and scared to say something. I'm not going to make excuses for them."

T.I. did not name any particular stars, but the big winner at the VMAs was Beyonce, who enjoyed more of the spotlight than the rest of the winners combined. Other major winners included Miley Cyrus (who did not mention Ferguson but drew praise for using her award for Best Video to draw attention to youth homelessness), Drake (who did not accept his award), Katy Perry, Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran, Lorde, 5SOS and Fifth Harmony. Jay-Z also had the microphone, when he introduced his wife's performance ahead of her Video Vanguard Award presentation.

T.I. acknowledged not every pop star was cut out to be a spokesperson for a cause, even if many felt they were obliged to be.

"Sure enough [they have responsibility but] even though you are a pop star but being an example or role model or revolutionary that is a separate calling. You can be talented, gifted, successful, wealthy but to answer the call as a leader of generation and speak for voices that go unheard ... that is a separate list of obligations and not everybody is fit for it."

Read more: www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/rapper-ti-pop-stars-who-failed-to-speak-out-about-ferguson-were-cowards-20140904-10c84z.html#ixzz3CJfPNvdT


As chaos raged in Missouri, most of pop's brightest stars said nothing about the situation. Why didn't anyone want to speak?
By Jason Lipshutz, New York | August 28, 2014 5:00 PM EDT

"For the past two weeks, the eyes of the nation have been on Ferguson, Missouri," Common said at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday night (Aug. 24), unexpectedly puncturing the carefree atmosphere of the ceremony for about 90 seconds. The veteran rapper was tasked with addressing real-world horror on a night of ass-shaking performances and who-wore-it-best debates; wearing a mocha sweatshirt and a grim expression, Common spoke slowly and deliberately, a world-weary father in a room full of giddy kids. "The people in Ferguson and St. Louis, and communities across the country, have used their voices to call for justice and change -- to let everyone know that each and every one of our lives matters," Common said. He then led a moment of silence for Michael Brown and for "peace in this country and in the world," which was observed by all in attendance at the Forum in Englewood, Calif., publicly acknowledged by few artists after the VMAs, and supposedly texted through by the Kardashians.

.....

Aside from a few exceptions -- Lady Gaga dropped one "Praying for #Ferguson" tweet, Adam Lambert posted one tweet asking for the violence to end, Madonna posted an Instagram vaguely decrying "corrupt regimes," John Legend wore a "Don't Shoot" t-shirt, and smaller pop artists like Sky Ferreira and Cat Power did their parts -- pop music allowed the news of tear-gassing and unlawful arrests in a U.S. city get lumped in with the international political conflicts (the bedlam of Israel and Palestine, U.S. troops re-entering Iraq, airstrikes in Syria) that few major pop celebrities care to comment on (Rihanna and Selena Gomez among the exceptions). It's not that pop singers are callous: artists like Gaga, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift have raised millions of dollars for various philanthropic projects, and should be commended for those efforts more often. However, speaking out against world injustices requires a different kind of fortitude, a personal risk that carries no guaranteed happy outcome, compared to raising money for charity. In a way, the dichotomy of the two social-awareness breaks in the VMAs telecast -- Common's speech getting passed over, Miley's act getting universally heralded -- mirrors the split between Ferguson and ALS fund-raising over the past month. Pop stars found time to dump ice water on their heads (for, again, a worthy cause), but couldn't find a moment to comment on the death of Michael Brown and its frightening aftermath.

Link to the entire article: www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6236404/ferguson-pop-music-superstars




Premiere: Marc Martel's 'Paradise'
Brian Mansfield, Special for USA TODAY 10:12 a.m. EDT September 3, 2014

Marc Martel had no idea what he was signing up for when he posted that YouTube video of him singing Queen's Somebody to Love three years ago.

As the lead singer for Canadian rock band downhere, Martel had received comparisons to the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury for years, so he didn't think much of it. But Martel's video went viral, getting millions of views and leading to his inclusion in the Queen Extravaganza, an official Queen tribute project organized by drummer Roger Taylor.

Martel still performs with the Queen Extravaganza, but he'll also release his own solo album, self-consciously titled Impersonator Sept. 30 on Be Music and Entertainment. The album's first single, a Muse-meets-Queen rocker called Paradise, premieres at USA TODAY and is now available for digital download.

"Stylistically speaking, Paradise is a Jekyll & Hyde song," says Martel, who recorded the album in Los Angeles with producer John Fields, known for his work with Switchfoot, Soul Asylum and the Jonas Brothers. "It starts very aggressive, then has this epic ending, which is probably my favorite moment of the whole album. You really have to listen to the whole song to get to the payoff.

"You're going to get the gamut of styles in one song that will be represented on the rest of the album. I think it's a great first offering, because it shows people what I'm doing on this record."

The creative tension of finding an individual artistic identity while touring the world singing some of rock's best-known songs runs through Impersonator.

In addition to the title track, Martel leads the album with a track called Dead Ringer. In another, he sings, "You ain't no Ringo Starr/You've got the rhythm, but you've got no heart."

"My wife was on me about that: 'Are there too many identity-crisis songs on this album?'" Martel says. "But that's kind of what my life is right now. If I'm being honest as an artist and writing what's going on in my life, that's what's going on."

Martel's gig with the Queen Extravaganza led to high-profile performances on shows like Ellen and American Idol. When Queen announced several shows and then a tour with former Idol runner-up Adam Lambert, he watched with bemusement as Internet skirmishes flared between fans of the two singers over which was the better interpreter of Mercury's songs.

"In my opinion, Queen has the current best male singer in the world singing for them," Martel says of Lambert. "I went to see their show in New York, and the dude does not strain or miss a single note. He's an incredible virtuoso.

"When people get so emotional and defensive — and offensive — about this whole thing, the first gut reaction to is to get defensive yourself, but it's just rock and roll. It's fun. I enjoy it."

With Queen wrapping its tour with Lambert tonight in Australia, Martel will begin a Queen Extravaganza tour of the U.K. on Friday. Later this fall, he hopes to tour with his own music, using a band that includes downhere bassist Glenn Lavender and Queen Extravaganza drummer Tyler Warren on guitar and keyboards. The crowds he pulls to those shows could be an interesting mix, combining the downhere fans who have followed him for years and people who have discovered his voice more recently through the Queen tribute shows.

"That's kind of what the album's about," he says, "having to be all things to all people and still having to be myself. Yet I know at the back of my mind that there's no way I can please everybody, so I still just have to be myself anyway."

Link to article and Marc’s single, “Paradise”: www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2014/09/03/marc-martel-paradise-premiere/14996237/


2014 Queen + Adam Lambert Tour Dates



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