7.6.12 Adam News and Info

I'm not sure I understand the question exactly but I will talk about the forums. I'm obviously there (i'm soxtalon there). Beware a long post to get to a shorter answer. SKIP to the end for the summing up if you don't want a history of Queen since Freddie's death.

I think it's been a LONG time coming there. Some fans have grown disillusioned with Brian and Roger for a number of reasons. Despite all four members really being equal and important to the Queen sound, Freddie was the most loved member and the one who would be missed the most. It's unfair but Freddie's death cemeted that because Freddie couldn't make any "bad" choices. He left on a high note so to speak.

When Freddie died, Brian really kind of wanted to leave Queen behind due to pain, etc. The band issued a statement that said that the band was not going to be active & that there was no point in continuing without Freddie. Brian went so far as to say we wouldn't see them going out on tour as Queen again. He delved into a solo career and really had to be cajoled back by Roger and John to finish off the Made In Heaven album. Somewhere around 1998-1999 while Brian and Roger were touring solo releases they really started to kind of gel again and wanted to explore Queen again as that's what everyone really wanted to hear. John on the other hand became more and more reclusive before retiring.

Along the way Queen became a sort of relic from the past while the music business went on to do AI type of shows and pop stars were more created than discovered in a way. In Queen's day bands would travel around building a repetoire and a fanbase and were given more than one album (or in some cases one song) to make it. Queen's first album wasn't a success and Queen II wasn't much better. It wasn't til the Sheer Heart Attack album that they started making it.

Queen was really the antithesis to all the reality show stuff and all the boy band stuff. Then 5ive came along. A real boy band that covered We Will Rock You and was able to get Brian and Roger to guest with them. Queen fans overeacted a bit against the idea of them with this manufactured group.

Then the musical came. That was the first real divisive point. It wasn't too big a deal because the band was still not really active but it definitely wasn't rock and roll, it was far more homogenized. Now you can argue (and I would agree) that Queen was far more than rock and roll and that was one of the reasons it is so universal BUT it's base (especially the early years) was rooted in rock. This seemed to some to be the antithesis of rock and it was driven through by Brian and Roger. BUT even then it would be forgiven given the subject matter where it basically through satire lashed out at AI and the like. (likewise the track C-Lebrity they did with Paul Rodgers seemed to be more of the same - on a personal note I will say it's unfair to use this song when attacking the QAL collaboration because it really is meant to attack the game (the show itself) and the C-Leb types like the Kardashian and Hiltons who are famous for being famous...and not the players (the singers who are talented)).

Then came QPR. This became another big divisive moment. Many fans felt betrayed. They felt Brian sold out since they still agreed with the statement that there was no point in going on as Queen. It's simple but if they went out under a new banner or as Brian May/Roger Taylor/Paul Rodgers - there wouldn't be half the bitching but using the name Queen was a betrayal of sorts. (I don't agree with that because to me it's the active members of the band performing the Queen catalogue - what else would you call it?) But that's me. I understand the issue and empathize - it just doesn't bother me.

Then there have been other interesting choices. The decisions to go on AI and X-Factor etc was considered selling out given their stance on the shows. To me again, (maybe I'm an apologist) but I think they can not like the shows but still realize that in today's world that's how music is marketed right or wrong.

Brian further made waves by instead of working with Roger or on archival products he championed West End star Kerry Ellis and has been working a TON with her in a very non-rock move.

In addition things that have pissed off the fans the most is the lack of Queen product that we know is out there. Brian and Roger have been pushing a lot of items aimed at the casual music buyers. A lot of greatest hits type material, compilations and bareboned reissues with only a few interesting bonus tracks - re-releasing live albums fans already have. AND we know there is good stuff out there that we've heard in bootleg form etc. We know the band have high quality live gigs waiting to be released - ESPECIALLY from the 70s era where we have NO DVD releases and NO live audio (bar Live Killers from 79 and that is far from comprehensive.) As early as 1994 Queen productions have made mention of an Anthology type project with tons of demos and unheard Freddie gems. Here it is nearly 20 years later and the fans are still waiting.

Roger in particular has loose lips when talking about possible things that never seem to come to fruition - his new solo album has been mentioned for at least 4-5 years. He was going to go on a solo tour with Taylor Hawkins.

So one of the major problems the band has is that instead of rewarding the long term fans with Freddie product, it gets pushed aside for more GH or tours with "c-lebs" etc.

I think the vitriol would be FAR less if they could release some interesting items alongside doing what they are doing.

I guess to SUM up. In the eyes of a very vocal minority

1. Brian and Roger have been hypocritical by going on AI/X-factor (and a tour with a product of one of those shows makes it 10 times worse) and working with Manufactured pop stars rather than artists who came about the same way they did.

2. Without Freddie there is no Queen. Brian and Roger once felt that way so it's a bit of a betrayal for them to try to move on now...and worse so to do so the way they have.

3. It feels as if the band is completely ignoring their hardcore fanbase in favor of the casual greatest hits crowd - some believe because they feel that's where the $$ is.

4. They have intimated things and then not come through on them for a fair while now.

All in all it's frustration that is leading to vitriol. I think it's fair to say that all major Queen fans feel some of the above at times or can at least empathize...but there is a definite vocal minority that feel all of the above and beyond.

Sorry for the long post but there was no quick and easy way to answer that

As to MY personal opinion?

I think that Brian and Roger have quite often let themselves go down a few too many flights of fancy a times. I think that they have a real solid chemistry and should work more together (even on their own) just to get some of the archival work out and even newer work IN the Queen field. I also think that QAL for example wouldn't attract nearly the negativity it has if it was accompanied by releases of archival Queen material with Freddie as well.

To me that's the way it should be done - it keeps both sides happy.

BUT I understand that they owe me nothing and that they should be able to do whatever it is that makes them happy. I just hope they can throw a bone or two to their really hardcore fan base.