Starting from now, they will also appear here.
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The Chancellor of Liverpool John Moores University paid a visit to the city last night with some colleagues, not something that would normally draw more than 10,000 people to an arena you might think. When you discover that the aforementioned university head is Dr Brian Harold May, CBE, you soon see why it did!
Brian (or should I say, Dr May!) has been a frequent visitor to our city over the past year, mainly in that capacity, but here at the Echo Arena, he was in his more famous role as guitarist, along with Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers. The Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration has split the Queen fanbase down the middle since it was launched; although May and Taylor have been at pains to say that Rodgers does not, and never would wish to, imitate the iconic Freddie Mercury, still the fact that he is up there singing Mercury's songs on stage does not sit well with everyone. Others take a more pragmatic view: why should Brian or Roger pack their gear away when they feel they still have something to offer? Even with such polarised views from Queen die-hards, there were still plenty who wanted to come along and see this band, and the Echo Arena was just one of the string of sold-out dates they are playing in the UK.
The new album 'The Cosmos Rocks' was more Paul Rodgers than Queen to this listener, however in the live setting, the Queen + Paul Rodgers billing makes a lot more sense. It's a full stage production featuring a high-tech lighting rig as befits a Queen show, and a giant screen over the stage providing visuals. The set was heavily weighted towards the harder-rocking Queen hits, presumably chosen to suit Rodgers' bluesy delivery.
The set is broken up so that all three main men get some time in the spotlight (and some time off stage!), Rodgers gets to play the Bad Co song 'Seagull' (dedicating it to the recently-departed Levi Stubbs) before giving the stage over to Brian May, he came to the front of the ramp for the traditional 'Love of My Life' singalong. After a rousing '39' during which he brought the band over, including Jamie Moses on guitar, keyboard player Spike Edney, and returning bassist Danny Miranda (now recovered from illness which ruled him out of two shows, replaced by Neil Murray), he left it to Roger Taylor to play a bizarre drum solo. Starting off with just a bass drum, he had a kit built around him, all the while playing the expanding kit! Finally he got a microphone, in order to sing 'I'm In Love With My Car' with the band back on the main stage.
Brian May's solo spot was a little different to the 'Brighton Rock' improvisation of old; it was shorter, and included a short burst of The Beatles' 'I Feel Fine'. He also included 'Bijou', from the 'Innuendo' album. When the voice of Freddie Mercury came through the PA the crowd roared, as May played on.
'Bohemian Rhapsody' closed out the main part of the show. As was the case in 2005, they used video footage of Freddie for the song, while the band played below. It is very spooky indeed to see a huge projection of Freddie on screen while May and Taylor are playing in front of you. I can only imagine how spooked out the guys must be themselves! During the 'Galileo' bit (always on tape, the original band never performed that bit live) the screen showed a montage of Freddie photos, to another loud cheer. They also put in several slides of John Deacon, Queen's bassist who elected not to participate in this project. The 'headbanging' bit sees Rodgers come to the stage and sing that part, before he 'trades vocal' with Freddie at the end. That was the main set, and it was a long one. They were not quite finished of course, returning to play 'The Cosmos Rocks', then 'All Right Now', and ending with the traditional 'We Will Rock You' and 'We Are The Champions' pairing.
All in all it was a triumphant night for Queen + Paul Rodgers, Rodgers in particular looked delighted with it all, he is in his element playing to such large crowds. My only real quibble was the shortening of some songs, it was a long set still and I realise they have to fit as much in as possible, but still it was a shame that stuff like 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' - a song that takes on a new life when done live, was shorn of its usual jam at the end. It's not 'Queen' as they were, it never could be, but those that came along had a great night with three legends of rock. Perhaps it's this which keeps them going, all three represent a golden era of music unlikely to be replicated in the current 'c-lebrity' climate. On this showing, there is no reason why they should not carry on for as long as they wish.
Set list (from www.brianmay.com)
HAMMER TO FALL (Short Version)
TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN
FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
I WANT IT ALL
I WANT TO BREAK FREE
C-LEBRITY
SURF'S UP… SCHOOLS OUT
SEAGULL
LOVE OF MY LIFE
'39
BASS IMPROVISATION / DRUM SOLO
I'M IN LOVE WITH MY CAR
IT'S A KIND OF MAGIC
SAY IT'S NOT TRUE
BAD COMPANY
WE BELIEVE
GUITAR SOLO
BIJOU
LAST HORIZON
RADIO GA GA (Short Version)
CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE (Short Version)
THE SHOW MUST GO ON
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
COSMOS ROCKS
ALL RIGHT NOW
WE WILL ROCK YOU
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
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