Queen + Paul Rodgers review... (+ pics)

... sort of

There's something about seeing legends on stage that I quite enjoy; especially when these legends are some of my long time favourites when it comes to music! I've never had the change to see Brian May & Roger Taylor somewhere on stage, let alone Queen when Freddie was still around. But yesterday it finally was my time . In Gelredome stadium ( which hardly is a 'real' stadium anymore with the roof closed and big curtains excluding half of the seating places / field) in Arnhem, Holland!

We were stood second row halfway the catwalk. Quite a nice spot. We had a good view on both the main stage and the catwalk.

The setlist apparently is anything but original. They play more or less the same songs everynight. But I don't care at all! And it seems noone does really. Everyone seems to be happy enough with beeing able to see these guys on stage and hear those songs. They played mainly the big hits, songs everyone in the world knows, even non-Queen fans . But also a few Paul Rodgers / Free / Bad Company songs (ie Wishing Well; picked up quite good by the audience).

My personal highlights were 39 (Brian May alone... oh how I dig this song!), I Want It All, The Show Must Go On. The "ready Freddie" bit in Crazy Little Thing Called Love ... Love Of My Life, performed just by Brian May; the complete silence of the audience when there was nothing to sing, wow . Actually, the whole night was one big highlight .

Bo Rhap was a real tribute to Freddie. The song starts with Freddie on vocals, with footage from a live show from back in the days. The band joins in later into the song. It was as if Freddie was there all the time, which made it really cool.

I really liked the way Paul Rodgers performed. He kinda turned the songs into his own, with a couple of little changes. He never tried to be Freddie, which I think is a good thing. Noone can even come close anyway . Also sometimes he sort of disappeared into the background to focus on Brian May and Roger Taylor. I think most people in the audience are there for Brian May & Roger Taylor and not necissarily for Paul Rodgers. I think it was a good thing he did!

Anyway, a lot of respect to the band that performed yesterday. If you've got a possibillity to go to a Queen + Paul Rodgers show; don't hesitate. It'll be worth it every single second!

And now the pics...











Roger Taylor performing Say It's Not True. Note the screen with the lyrics the guys apparently didn't know all the lyrics by heart!


Brian May on 39








Brian May in front of the big screen going wild on Brighton Rock guitar solo





Bo Rhap with Freddie Mercury on vocals

Great pictures

They were supposed to be coming to the US in the fall but the last I heard they had cancelled the tour and were only doing 1 show I wanted to go.

Kathleen

They were good live, I saw them in April.

Sara - Roger always forgets lyrics!! Especially to his own songs.. I think the teleprompter was a good idea!

I got the bootleg already sounds like a great show.

Whoa Paul Rodgers has changed over the years. The only time I've seen him is in the All Right Now live video from the 70s with long hair.

Brian looks the part. He always did with those huge locks. A good player too. I guess it won't be the same without Freddie though.

it was not just Roger . There were lyrics on the screens throughout the whole show. Exept for Brian when he did 39 and the Free songs Paul Rodgers did lol .

nope it's not

but as long as you don't expect it to be the same, it's a great show!

Axl Rose has been using a prompter ever since he could afford one. Steven Tyler uses it, even Bon Jovi sometimes tape the lyrics sheet on the stage. No big deal.

Ice

yup it's more a safety net than anything. if you forget a line or whatnot, better to have a teleprompter help you out than balls it up. especially when there's alot of die hard queen fans out there thinking he cant compare to freddie

the only person it annoys me with is michael stipe because he has a ****ign music stand 3 feet from his eyes and it does look like he reads every line apart from the massive hits from it.