I just spent about an hour on the QueenOnline forum... It made me feel for the people who worship someone who is no longer here ... doing this for 20 years!... and some have grown bitter...The thing that struck me most is their lack of respect towards Brian and Roger...I am truly shocked and upset for them... (I am in love with Brian, so I feel hurt I suppose)
Talon, if you are here, and you are a thinking, reasonable person - what is your opinion? I would understand if the forum were a "Freddie" only forum, but it is not. and the vitriol towards B&R and their feelings and their opinions is astounding...I can totally understand not liking Adam or anyone else who is "replacing" their idol. As I said before - I am so imprinted on Adam's voice and Adam's delivery that I totally relate to someone being imprinted on Freddie's voice. But Queen sound is much more than one voice...
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.
(NOTE: :)My comments are not meant towards YOU but to the fan base in general, and I stipulate my writing comes off as very direct but it's just my "way" from being in a hurry and having been a tech writer for so long.)
In my research, the "vocal minority" is what? About 30 people if that?
LOL Adam official members size versus Queen Online.
If I were Brian I would never link to that site while it still has a forum. I don't know who pays for that site but the forum needs to GO.
Anyway, IMO these disdainful, opinionated, smug entitled group are a bunch of Truthers. I never saw so many willfully uninformed and such an unenlightened bunch. I stipulate there are cultural differences, which, of course they refuse to acknowledge.
We won't even go INTO how rude they are towards Adam's fans and enjoy the practice of kicking kittens.
When unencumbered with facts they just lie. Like swearing Adam said he was the perfect replacement for Freddie because he's gay. Or that he's using a prompter because he doesn't know the words evidenced by the fact he glanced downward once at Kiev during Radio Gaga.
TBH I think they're also quite challenged in the reading department. I never saw so many people not understand what someone writes. Then we have the outrage and flailing about why ADam Lambert's name is mentioned so much and why his fans are there...on a thread titled "Queen + Adam Lambert". [img src="
![]()
i770.photobucket.com/albums/xx348/Quu3/Adam%20Smilys/Other%20Smileys/OMGlam.gif"][/IMG]
There was no internet and Idol type shows in 1991. B&R are exploring the CURRENT TREND in POP CULTURE. They owe their old fans NOTHING but what they're giving them.
New releases of known material, and playing favorites on tour, as per ROGER, because it's DEMANDED of them. They are FINALLY able to throw a couple of old tracks in the new show
BECAUSE OF ADAM. HOW do these "fans" think B&R are going to replace OLD FANS DYING OFF with the current generation if they don't engage them? Ridiculous.
Furthermore, maybe they don't FEEL LIKE LIVING IN THE PAST and think it's simply FUN.
Roger already said if he had the secret to churning out pop music singles he wouldn't have to be touring in his 60's.
OTOH, I have NEVER SEEN Brian having so much FUN on tour INCLUDING with Freddie. Freddie NEVER did stuff to crack Brian's shit up right on stage like ADam is doing. So when Freddie purists can REWARD Brian with something equal, instead of their entitlement, maybe he'd give a damn lol.
LOL the homophobia is pathetic! Some 50 year old hetero Queen fan living in some village somewhere proselytizer with their "rights of free speech" and their own definition of homophobia, and/or the dismissal of the entire concept of homophobia.
UK LGBT pretty much has the same official position on equality as the US see
www.stonewall.org.uk/LOL though, they purloined OUR USA Stonewall movement without giving credit on their site. No shock there.
Of course, these people have no idea about LGBT history, what homophobia REALLY is, while they allow on the official site and in fact
promote their hate speech about Adam being effeminate, "NAUSEATING", too gay, child of Liza Minnelli, wearing gay clothes, might be a woman, is a drag queen etc etc etc. Oh and he's a disgusting ginger. WTAF.
Long live the memory of the transgender drag performer who changed the world at Stonewall! God save the Queen fans if they ever have to deal with the subject of transgender.
FACT: Freddie sacrificed his entire life for that fanbase, unable to live a fulfilled life and courageously live out HIS dreams. Professionally: The first thing he did was put out a pop album when he left. So this crap about Adam and pop is truther talk. AND his album wasn't so greatly received by these so called die hart fans who never even charted his #1 single until it was remixed long after his death.
Personally: His sacrifice speaks for itself. Because of his notoriety he was completely unable to pursue happiness and experience a complete and fulfilled life - with Mary Austin he was locked into her emotionally unable to pursue a true relationship with a man. And at the end, had to mask his male partner as the gardener for six years. The tragedy of his life is completely overshadowed by his so called "fans" demands for Freddie purity and "more music, more music, more music". No Freddie No Queen. PFFFT Even Freddie's death bed statement was clinical. He was unable to be true to himself and put out the message for his LGBT community including asking for research and funding to put the ghey plague in the forefront of research because of this "fanbase" and public opinion.
Adam is flamboyant? Because Truthers like to pretend Freddie's birthday video with drag queens doesn't exist.
They were 4 individuals and just because fans have stunted emotional growth for the past 21 years is completely irrelevant to Roger and Brian's life paths. And if we're being honest, Smile did NOT include any Freddie Mercury until later. But then...honesty would require the admission that Freddie, while perhaps a vocal genius at one point in time, had his own shortcomings and was simply human.
IMO the vitriol about Adam is easily explained. He's the first perceived THREAT to Freddie truthers that's come along, so let's take the low road and make up silly criticisms and take him and his silly fan base of blue haired sparkle cows with him. HOW DARE they not know God Save the Queen is LEGEND to be performed at every show! And WHY AREN"T Queen+Lambert doing that!!!! It's all that American Lambert's fault!! (oh played it or something in Moscow? *crickets*)
Why should B&R give up a year of their lives if THERE EVEN IS some old stuff from before 1991? How do they know it is even resurrect-able?
And all this talk about Michael Jackson + Freddie release? They make not a dime on that, most likely so let someone else pay and do the labor to put it out.
"We know the band have high quality live gigs waiting to be released"
BTW do the fans know if Freddie's old material never put out by Queen before 1991 is royalty to Mary Austin OR Queen? No, I didn't think so.
Freddie had 7 years to get his affairs in place and unless Freddie Truthers have access to his documents they really don't know WHAT is available and WHAT the benefits to Queen B&R may be. Nor do they know the relationship among them. My mother changed her will 5 times before she died.
Meanwhile, while this radical small "fanbase" is blowing dust off of their old records and claiming to cry every time they see Freddie's face they're completely insignificant to the lives of Brian, Roger and Adam Lambert, the person who breathed new LIFE into "QUEEN".
Today's discussion over there is what constitutes a "Queen fan". There's criteria you know! If you are not a fully informed FANATIC on their LEVEL, you have no right to use that word. THIS coming from the ADMIN. LMAO. Do they think the 300K people who saw Kiev are like THEM?
Please pass this message on, referencing the brilliant memory of an Atop poster upthread or on a different thread. Adam favorited this tweet, B&R&A should have tee shirts made up with this on it, no shade:
"You cannot imagine the immensity of the fuck I do not give."
:Clap: :2tears: :Clap: