re: How awesome was Freddie Mercury?

I'm surprised no one has posted this video. I've been to hundreds of concerts and probably watched hundreds more on TV, video, in theaters, etc. over the years. I have never seen anyone own a crowd like Freddie did at Live Aid. (31 years ago today, btw.)

Radio GaGa

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I might come across someone who knows A Night At The Opera well, but say, Queen II or The Miracle - almost never.

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The is a true bipolar nature to their music, with regards to success/popularity in the U.S. and their native Britain.

Take Sheer Heart Attack, for example. UK it peaked at #2. In the U.S., it didn't crack the top 10 (#12). Most Americans could only name Killer Queen, while songs like Now I'm Here and Stone Cold Crazy influenced many young British (and some American bands).

Hell, Stone Cold Crazy is arguably the first speed metal record. Freddie also raps some verses on there - in 197fricking4.

(It's Late - from News of the World - has a recording of Brian May tapping several months before Eddie Valen recorded VH's debut album, but I digress.)

This difference in what the band's fans on either side of the pond preferred was so stark it resulted in the issuance of 2 different "greatest hits" packages on vinyl - "Queen's Greatest Hits" is the best selling album in UK history. Didn't crack the top 10 in the U.S., although it sold well over time.

Classic Queen - shortly after Mercury's death, and to capitalize on the resurgent Bohemian Rhapsody from Wayne's World - was oriented more towards the U.S. "rediscovery" of Queen during that time period.

I was a casual fan, but as a well-known Def Leppard fan, I gave them closer scrutiny in the 1980s because of Queen's influence on the boys from Sheffield.

And, as I've said in other threads - it was easy for Mercury to overshadow the other players, just because of his larger than life personality, but that was a solid band, top to bottom. Brian May is underrated as an influential guitarist on the evolution of rock music - particularly the heavy acts that followed - Page and Iommi largely overshadow the early/middle part of the 70s, but May was every bit as innovative and probably a better technician than either.

He built that red guitar practically from scratch, as a school project. He has a PhD in astrophysics. Your move Tom Scholz.

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Agree 100%. There were few, if any that could match Tate's ability on the first 3 queensryche records.

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Absolutely. The quality of his vocals live was astounding

The Lady Wore Black
Take Hold Of The Flame

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He was very, very good. GOAT? These types of discussions are really fruitless.

Hendrix vs SRV vs Clapton vs Beck vs Atkins vs Duane vs etc etc rah

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Yeah, there really isn't a GOAT or there is dozens of them. It's all subjective.

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However, I'd call him the greatest FRONT man for a band in my lifetime.

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As big a fan as I am of Mercury and Queen, I think when you take his relative advantage in raw, pure singing ability over some of his competitors, this competition is robust. I mean "front man" - you have guys like:

Mick Jagger

Jim Morrison

(technically) Jimi Hendrix

Robert Plant

Ozzy

Kurt Cobain

Axl


Just a shite ton of folks for whom arguments can be made for mega selling, hugely influential bands whose front man was larger than life.

Now, do I buy that oscilloscope bullshite about Axl having the greatest voice? Hell no. His voice was "right" for the late 80s/early 90s GnR music, but I would have him way, way down the list on singing ability. And he's batshit crazy and nearly impossible to work with. And he has fricked over the fans with his eccentricities dozens/hundreds of times.

Doesn't make him not one of the greatest front men of all time.

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As big a fan as I am of Mercury and Queen, I think when you take his relative advantage in raw, pure singing ability over some of his competitors, this competition is robust. I mean "front man" - you have guys like:

Mick Jagger

Jim Morrison

(technically) Jimi Hendrix

Robert Plant

Ozzy

Kurt Cobain

Axl

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Once again, all subjective. In that group I'd only put Plant (and MAYBE Jagger) up with Mercury. But IMO Mercury's showmanship puts him over the top.

I was listening to Night At the Odeon this morning. Every time I listen to it, I'm gobsmacked at how good of a band this was (at full strength). The version of "White Queen (As it Began)" from this is a great example.
Queen I / II were recorded at the "state of the art" Trident Studios, which were fairly new at the time. Even though Roy Thomas Baker was producer, you can't forget that the band was only allowed to record only during the "down time" in the studio, because they weren't actually signed to a label yet. In essence, the studio acted as their label for a while.
They were basically allowed to do whatever they wanted to do in the studio, and May has said that they decided to explore the full potential of the studio, essentially using the studio as a 5th member of the band.
When you consider the technology that was available at the time, the first 4-5 albums are arguably masterpieces, and show just how innovative this band truly was.

Saw Queen at the Municipal Auditorium in NOLA on Halloween night in 1978. It was my first concert. If there were one night of my life I could revisit, that would be pretty high on the list.. Freddie in his prime. He's the best ever. No contest. The difference between him and the rest is that he was the total package - vocalist. lyricist, front man, etc.

Even some of their later material is good. I Wanna Break Free and These Are The Days of Our Lives are good

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party at The Fairmont Hotel after that show is legendary...

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How so?