It's the same with all bands that have lost members. I think it's better to keep it alive and kicking rather than just live. What's the harm in writing a new album? Yes, Freddie was the biggest influence on the band but would Freddie rather have had the band continue or just stop right there and then? Look at other bands like The Who; Keith Moon and John Entwistle were as big a part of the band as Pete and Roger and they're still going.

Yeah Keith and John were an essential part of the Who's markup as they both brought a very unique sound to the band. After Moon they turned to a lot more of a pop orientated sound but still managed to play some good stuff thanks to Townsend's creativeness. I think losing a singer or the main songwriter from a group would hurt the group more though. For example if Townsend died instead of Moon then that woulda been the end of the Who I think. The others apart from maybe John Entwistle didn't write a good song between them.

Queen will never be the same as they were, just like the Who are. Ask me a year ago and I woulda said no, Queen should call it a day. However the Who's new material, and the great performance of Paul Rodgers on the new Queen DVD have made me believe that this could be a good idea. The new rock opera by The Who, Wire and Glass, though it may not quite be Who's Next quality is surprisingly very good. Zak Starkey does a good job on the drums, certainly better than anyone has done for the Who since Keith died. The basslines aren't as prominent, and Daltery is losing his range like JBJ is, but Townsend is as good as ever. Wire and Glass is very well written and works for me. I just hope the new material is going to be good by both bands.

I agree I dont know why they call it Queen. why not just start a new band a call rename it like when that guy from Joy division died and they formed New Order

I agree, I have no problem with them startin a supergroup with Paul Rodgers but don't call it Queen, it just isn't.

Also you cannot compare losing the drummer and bass player to the lead singer (especially this one) or even the lead guitar player (Especially when he's as distinctive as Brian May). Keith Moon may have been an iconic drummer but you can get over it. Bon Jovi could continue without Tico and Alec and we'd all still buy the records and go and see them. I'd think twice about going to see Bon Jovi if Richie or Jon wasn't involved.

Going back to Robbie I'll give you that Angels is a good song, any pub band can sing it as well as him but it's a good song. It's his only one though. I don't have a problem with ego's, all good frontmen have them. I just think he goes on stage and arses about like some guy you'd call a wanker if you saw them at a disco. Some people like Ozzy and David Lee Roth can pull that kind of thing off but not him. Not for me anyway although judging from the amounts of tickets he sells I guess I'm in the minority.

Yeah or even call it 21st Century Queen or Queen 2 or something like that.

It's just a name, it's brand, it's an industry. I mean Axl still calls it Guns n' Roses altough it's freakshow. WOuld anyone go to his show if it was called Axl and The Ugly Ones? Probably not! Now Brian May and Roger Taylor have found a guy who they think is a good singer for what Queen was supposed to be when they started off. Paul Rodgers said it a xillion times that he is not trying to replace Freddie as this is impossible. Fair enough. They will write some Queen-type of songs - bombastic choruses, annthemic lyrics, mind-blowing guitars. There's going to be a different voice, yes, but if they feel they can be QUEEN than let them try. Fans, critics and posterity in general will judge them.

However, no matter if the album is great or a total flop, QUEEN's rock-legend image will take no harm. It will be Brian May and Roger Taylor who have failed, no way the allmighty QUEEN.

this being said, I am actually looking forward for some new Queen rythms.

I agree that Paul Rodgers should have some writing influence on new material

are they actually definetly gonna call use just the Queen name, or Queen + Paul Rodgers like they did on tour?

Not ALL.

(and yes I know I'm being overly literal, I understand your point.)

A Tico fan, cool! Don't worry I'm not dissing Tico, he would be sadly missed. I for one am still a little sad that Alec is no more and it's not the original 5 members. I would be saddened by the loss of Tico as he is an awesome and underrated drummer and it would lessen the enjoyment of Bon Jovi the more diluted they became. However I would not even consider going to see Bon Jovi without Richie Sambora.

Queen + Paul Rodgers will release their new album, "The Cosmos Rocks", in Europe on September 15 and the U.S./Canada on October 14 via EMI. A single, "C-lebrity", will precede the album on September 8.