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An awesome and ridiculous film that leaves you thrilled beyond the point of your natural endurance
2012
Theatre
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Always been a fan but never seen them live. I was ecstatic to be part of this epic event. WOW!
London,
John Aizlewood's rating
Reader rating
Description: The Free, Bad Company and Queen vocalist performs blues-rock.
Phone: 0871220 0260
Website: www.theo2.co.uk
Email: customerservices@theo2.co.uk
Trains: Tube: North Greenwich, BR: Westcombe Park Railway Station 
, Tube / Bus: 108, 129, 161, 188, 422, 472, 486 
Extra info: Telephones, Food, Pub, Air Conditioning
Queen? Not really. Freddie Mercury cannot be with us for well-documented reasons, bassist John Deacon prefers to sit at home counting his money and polishing his dignity, leaving guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor as the half who wouldn’t let things lie.
The joy and genius of Queen was the outrageously camp Mercury vying for supremacy with three blokey blokes. More often than not, the tension in a band of four songwriters and three singers resulted in what was genuinely a kind of magic.
Since 2004, May and Taylor have replaced Mercury with Paul Rodgers. Once of Free and Bad Company, Rodgers is a harmonica-playing, microphone-stand-twirling, great British bawler. Alas, the 58-year-old Teessider married to a former Miss Canada is too sexually uncomplicated to strut in Mercury’s shoes.
Rodgers was a curious figure, occasionally brilliant, as when tearing through I Want To Break Free and wrestling in manly fashion with The Show Must Go On. Yet he fluffed more than one line and when a lighter touch was required, he struggled. Radio Gaga is a nostalgic paean to an idealised childhood, not a hairy-chested romp, although the spellbinding Leni Riefenstahl-esque syncopated clapping brought out the latent totalitarian in everyone. Strangely, he needed an autocue, although you suspect May and Taylor hoped their newish singer would be familiar with Queen’s songs by now: after all, by unhappy osmosis even I know every last lumpen line of the loathsome (“no time for losers”) We Are The Champions.
So, in a Faustian accommodation with Rodgers, May and Taylor have re-written Queen’s history to re-position them as meat ’n’ potatoes rockers and omitted the bulk of their great songs (You’re My Best Friend, Now I’m Here, Las Palabras De Amor, Innuendo, Don’t Stop Me Now among many others). It was as if the dazzling, ground-breaking, reflective, wry Queen had never existed.
Instead, there was Fat Bottomed Girls; new songs, including We Believe (improbably even more pompous than its title with its “we believe there’s a deed of obligation to bring reconciliation” line), while comedian Al Murray appeared on Cosmos Rockin’. There was a torturous drum solo, an interminable guitar solo and Free’s All Right Now (a song that is always too soon to hear yet again). Most tellingly of all, Mercury’s appearance on screen during Bohemian Rhapsody only emphasised that, in Queen’s case, the past is a superior place and nobody present last night thought otherwise.
Queen + Paul Rodgers play the 02
Arena 7 November and Wembley Arena 8 November (0870 534 4444)).
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
saw queen /paul rodgers at wembley last saturday thought they were amazing. cant wait till next time.
- Linda, norwich norfolk
I saw them last night in Newcastle - and they were great - superb show with some wonderful music - and despite what the review said there were many great Queen concert songs (it's difficult when you produce so many great songs to cram them in) Sadly some bits got left out for the newer stuff (greatly missed 'Feel like making love') and was replaced by the new album tracks - most of which worked, though some were a bit weaker.
All in all they work well together - and seem to thoroughily enjoy themselves on stage with music that we all enjoyed.
I'm glad they made the effort to record new material - as it shows they are progressing and not living on former glories (glorious though it was)
I was just glad to have finally got a chance to see them - and would go again (and again)
- Neil Sutcliffe, Preston
Who let that Muppet into the O2 on Monday night?! He should have been kicked out on his "fat bottomed" a**e the same way anyone would who gatecrashes a party only to try and ruin it for those who went to enjoy it. Freddie may have been the "King" of Queen but when a king dies a sucessor must be found. Long live Queen and their new king!
- Graham Hill, Kilkenny, Ireland
Did we see a different show on Monday John? Unfortuantely I never had the opportunity to see Queen with Freddie and have waited many years for an opportunity to see them at all. So for me, the Show was fantastic - a great balance of past and present, innovatively intertwined using the large video screen. Brian May and Roger Taylor's solo pieces were fantastic and the build up of the drum kit was exceptional. Putting aside the reasons for John Deacon's absence, I for one was delighted, after waiting 30 years, to enjoy the Queen experience on Monday night.
No matter, I enjoyed the show immensely and appreciated Brian, Roger and Paul's efforts. Thanks for a great evening guys!
- Dave, Blackpool, Lancs
I do miss Freddie but I love Paul Rodgers too. They are are both equal. Queen + Paul Rodgers are still rocking even without Freddie. Paul is keeping the band alive. I sit in a Queen + Paul Rodgers concert for 2 hours and I just can't believe this is still happening and I do not suffer.
- Lucy, United Kingdom, Burgess Hill
Poor John Aizlewood - I can only feel sorry him - to have to go to a Queen & Paul Rodgers gig and sit there for two hours or more and suffer like this - well, it's just heart wrenching. And to have undoubtedly one of the best seats in the house for the purpose of doing his job...
All I can say is that thousands of people would have given their eye teeth to have been in his position on Monday night, "The Cosmos Rocks" is a very impressive new albumn for these rock legends, and we should all be thankful that they are out there willing and able to perform for us at the highest level. I simply cannot wait to be there with them on 7th November.
Yes, John, I do feel sorry for you - you have seriously missed the magic!
Rock on Queen!!
- Amanda, London
'the past is a superior place and nobody present last night thought otherwise'
I'm sorry I must of missed you when you did the survey!
Did you not notice the audience who were having the time of their lives? This was a great show from three wonderful musicians (and friends), as for the 'torturous drum solo' I and many others were blown away, a lovely touch having the kit built up as RMT played and the bass playing with sticks had me on the edge of my seat. Paul's voice was in fine form, giving old favourites a fresh feel, the whole band have a tighter feel than the 2005 tour.
You missed out two refrences by the way - comparisons to the Nuremburg Rally and the awfullness of We Will Rock You the Musical - no review of Queen is complete without them.
- Lynn, E. London
We Queen fans all miss Freddie. Sadly (for Mr. Aizlewood), Paul does not try to be Freddie. It is not Queen. It is now Queen + Paul Rodgers. Get over it.
- Momo, London
For those of us who let the Cosmos rock last night at the O2 would suggest to J Aizlewood, to seek medical attention for his eyes and ears. He obviously looks and listens through a glass which is less than 1/2 empty. The utterly superb musical roller coaster we experienced, which exhilerated, thrilled and and threw us around in an emotional rocket ride left the souless one at the barrier. I think next time go to a Sugarbabes singalong you may just cope with that.
Thank you Queen for utter magic.
- Pamela K Bentley, Teddington. UK
I'm actually glad that John Aizlewood wrote this review and was up-front and honest about his feelings... because I now know who the guy was standing behind me in the mosh-pit last night clearly not enjoying himself very much at all! Tell me John, are you about 6ft and were you wearing a green and white t-shirt, perhaps??
I think you are picking on what you see as the obvious weak point i.e. the absence of Freddie as lead singer. If you were a true fan however, you would have known that even when Freddie was alive both Brian and Roger sang vocals on their own songs. Although without doubt he was the brightest star of the show, Queen's live performances were not always just about Freddie. Roger's performance of 'I'm in love with my car' was as good last night as it was back in the day.
Whilst being Queen fans means that we are undoubtedly biased, it also means that we are in a much better position to judge whether or not it was a good performance. Personally I had a fantastic time and the show just confirmed to me that Queen were and still are one of the greatest bands of all time.
- Nick, Bracknell, UK
Either that caption is wrong or Paul Rodgers badly needs a haircut
- Gwto, London, UK
Twaddle, for nearly 40 years Queen have had to put up with this kind of twaddle from the press, 5 years ago We Will Rock You was panned by critics and papers alike, and look its still rocking on. Look at Queen's history and you'll see that real quality always lasts.
- Stuart, Essex
I think it is plainly obvious from this review that the reviewer is no fan of Queen (his comment about We Are The Champions clearly shows this). Why send someone to review a gig when they are not interested? What a waste of time.
I was at the gig last night, and can only say it was superb. A great concert and great entertainment from real musical legends.
- Kevin, London
I obviously saw a different band last night. One where three very talented musicians showed how to entertain a crowd, non stop for over two hours. I thought that the references to Freddie Mercury were spot on - he clearly was a star and is sorely missed but by using some of the back catalogue featuring other vocalists, should have reminder long term fans that Queen were a rock group of four - none bigger than the others. As for Paul Rodgers, the biggest compliment was not a soul moved when Rodgers sang - acoustic and alone - a Bad Company number (I won't spoil the surprise for those attending next month). A great night out and a reminder that Night at the Opera is one of the best albums ever 
- Paul, London, UK
You should have given your no doubt free ticket up to someone that cares.
Queen have moved on sadly you haven't. They rocked the house, its just an opinion aftrer all.
- S Carter, Notts
I wonder if the press in general could hire some people who are able to give unbiased reviews of gigs? I was there at the gig like the rest of the 20,00 people at the O2 and I saw a very different atmosphere and show than is being described in this appauling review from someone who obviously hates Queen and therefore couldn't give a realistic opinion.
As for a boring drum solo...how many drummers have a solo while their drum kit is built around them, plays a bass guitar with drum sticks and proceeds to take lead vocals on two classic queen songs?
Don't bother coming in November John, you won't be missed.
- Samantha Poolton, London, UK
Paul Rodgers is excellent at singing a certain type of song like Free's "All Right Now" and the more anthem style songs from Queen's repertoire - "We Will Rock You", "We are the Champions" etc. Paul's voice and style of singing are just not suited to many of the classic Queen masterpieces though. I could not imagine Rodgers delicately and carefully enunciating all the words of a song like "Killer Queen" for example as Freddie did so beautifully. Indeed at times last night, Rodgers ran lyrics together in a way which resembled Vic Reeves' Nightclub Singer. This was a very good rock concert but I was disappointed at the absence of Queen classics like "You're my Best Friend", "Don't Stop me Now", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love" etc.
- Barbie, Ewell, Surrey
I can only assume that John Aizlewood went to a different concert. Now in their second tour together, Queen and Paul Rodgers are stronger than ever. Wisely, they have never pretended to be Queen - be it a new one or the old one. Instead they are Queen+ Paul Rodgers with Paul bringing his own style into the mix. The ethos has always been to play songs that work with the combined style of Queen and Paul Rodgers, not ones that are ill suited. I personally love the music from Queen II but I know that Rodger's vocal skills are better suited to the songs that they chose.
Turning to the concert. The songs shot along at a fabulous rate with the drum solo of Roger Taylor being simply stunning - especially when he played the bass guitar with the drum sticks. Brian's guitar solo was equally superb and is what every Queen fan loves and demands at a live show. The new songs were well chosen and highlight the best of Queens musical skills with Rodger's fine vocal range. The Bohemian Rhapsody fusion was as perfect as ever and Roger Taylor's vocals on A Kind of Magic were simply stunning.
Whilst there is no doubt that Freddie is deepy missed, Paul Rodgers is a worthy singer to join with the rest of the band, not as a replacement or successor, but as a new incarnation and fusion of the two rock legends. The noise and applause of an arena full of Queen fans shows how fabulous the show truly was.
- Nathan, London
