Queen Doesn't Need Paul Rodgers

When I learned about Roger Taylor and Brian May planning to tour as Queen, I grumbled not. But touring with Paul "Bad Company" Rodgers? Now we've got a problem. Here's a guy who ruined two perfectly good bands: Free, by causing every other member to bolt, and Mott the Hoople, by tempting their guitarist, Mick Ralphs, with the promises of rock stardom and, more importantly, rock royalties. The Firm were simply beneath my contempt.



A certain friend of mine, we'll refer to him as Dan Nester, had this to say about it:

Paul Rodgers, to my mind, is a singer from their generation, a meat-and-potatoes rock and blues guy, which is where Brian and Roger began back in the day--they were a jam band, playing blues. I'm looking forward to them doing "Son and Daughter" from the first album, or maybe "Sleeping on a Sidewalk" from News Of The World. If anyone is going to call themselves Queen, it's gonna be them. Who else would? This, to my mind, is a more appealing idea to the fans than a Queen-themed musical.

Rationalization, anyone? I think most ideas on this earth hold more appeal than a Queen-based musical. This is hardly the point. Freddie Mercury was more than a singer, he was practically the band's very identity. As a long-suffering Who fan, I barely was able to tolerate the idea of The Who minus Keith Moon; minus John Entwislte is an entirely different matter. They should hang it up. It's over.



Also, the idea of an old singer who is obviously past his prime regurgitating old songs hardly seems a fitting addition to this band's legacy. At the very least, they should have someone who is capable of putting on a show. That's right, I'm talkin' Diamond Dave himself. David Lee Roth is still pretty much in top physical shape, and you gotta admit, it would be interesting to hear him sing "Seven Seas of Rhye." C'mon Roger and Brian, give Dave a chance. you know he's good for bringing the rock. And at least Dave's been a member of one great band, unlike Paul Rodgers (Free is a seriously overrated group, people).