Queen+ Paul Rodgers NEW single & album details

[Michael Allred]

Queen+ Paul Rodgers announced a bunch of details recently regarding their new single "C-lebrity" taken from the soon-to-follow studio album "The Cosmos Rocks."

While "C-lebrity" has made the rounds on the internet courtesy of a live performance of it last month on a UK TV show, the full studio recording has now hit, check it out courtesy of www.youtube.com. Here's the link;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBfvDfuZXuE

I have to say the song has really grown on me and I definitely prefer the studio cut to the live performance. I've read reviews of the song saying it's "All Right Now" meets "Somebody to Love" and I think that's about right. The kind of combination you would have expected from the three of them getting together.

BTW here's the live performance of "C-lebrity"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_rmW0pysG4&feature=related

The new single and album releases will be in the following formats :

SINGLE – C-lebrity
Released: September 8th – All formats

CD
1. C-lebrity
2. C-lebrity (All Murray’s Happy Hour Video)
3. C-lebrity (Now Play It Tutorial)

7”
1. C-lebrity
2. Fire & Water (Live In Japan)

Digital Bundle
1. C-lebrity
2. Fire & Water (Live In Japan)

iTunes Exclusive bundle
1. C-lebrity
2. Fire & Water (Live In Japan)
3. The Show Must Go On (Live In Japan)

ALBUM – The Cosmos Rocks
Released: September 15th 2008 (UK/ROW) / October 14th 2008 (US/Canada)

Tour Edition – Queen Online Only
Standard CD
Special Edition CD and DVD
Gatefold Vinyl
Itunes Album Exclusive format

Also...
A new Official Queen You Tube Channel has been launched with a selection of (currently 19) classic Queen videos, plus a couple of Queen + Paul Rodgers live cuts and of course the performance of ‘C-lebrity’, the new single (out September 8th!), taken from the band’s performance on Al Murray’s show earlier in the year.

More and more official Queen videos will be added over time, plus, hopefully, some rare and unseen bits if possible.

Link here: http://www.youtube.com/queenofficial

Queen are also hitting the other major networking sites now with official profiles on http://www.myspace.com/queen and www.facebook.com/pages/Queen/17337462361

I don't understand why the album is coming out in America about a *month* after the UK release but whatever, I guess I'll just buy the import as I see no reason in waiting that long.

It should also be noted that "C-lebrity" isn't technically the first single from the album though it's the first to get any real promotion. "Say It's Not True," previously only heard as an accoustic number during their live shows, was also recorded in the studio for inclusion on the upcoming album. It was reworked with Roger Taylor, Brian May and Paul Rodgers sharing lead vocals and given a Queen-ified rock ending. You can hear this version on www.youtube.com as well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYl-_uZcu64

"Having between them sold more than 300 million albums, it is only to be expected that the first studio collaboration between rock giants Queen and revered rock legend Paul Rodgers in the form of the upcoming album The Cosmos Rocks is one of this year’s most eagerly anticipated.

For the music we will have to wait a little longer: the album does not reach stores until September 15 (October 14 in the USA), but for anyone wondering how Queen and Paul Rodgers circa 2008 visualise themselves the band this week revealed the cover art for the forthcoming CD album.

The thematic image is the work of award winning photographer Edgar Martins who has been hailed ‘one of the most influential artists of his generation working within the medium of Photography’. Widely represented internationally in various high profile museums, public, corporate and private collections, Martin’s awarded books and series include ‘Black Holes & Other Inconsistencies’ and ‘The Diminishing Present’, work, according to critical observers, ‘positioned in the grey area of fact and fiction, reality and allegory’.

So beyond Martin’s striking cover image, what lies in store with The Cosmos Rocks?

Tantalisingly, the Queen + Paul Rodgers’ point of view is: “People really, truly playing together in the studio – you don’t get that much these days. But, you will get it on the new Queen and Paul Rodgers album.”

The Cosmos Rocks, featuring 13 all-new tracks written and recorded by Queen + Paul Rodgers, is released by EMI/Parlophone throughout the world excepting North America where it is a Hollywood Records release."

As stated in the May issue of Rollingstone: Other tracks from the new album include “We Believe,” an “epic in Queen’s traditional style,” according to May, and “Call Me,” which he says sounds like it would fit right in on Queen’s 1974 classic, Sheer Heart Attack. Also Q+PR recorded a cover of the classic "Runaway" but it will not be featured on the album. What they decide to do with it is anyone's guess right now, a future B-side? Digital single on itunes? Who knows?

In Paul Rodgers news, Bad Company will ride again this summer -- for one night only.

The '70s rock troupe plans to reunite for a one-off show on Aug. 8 at the Seminole Hard Rock & Casino in Hollywood, Fla., the group's first performance since a 1999 reunion tour. And although frontman Paul Rodgers tells Billboard.com that "it'll be great to see the guys and play and go back down that road again just for one night," there's also a business component to the gig.

"What I'm doing is protecting the legacy that we have built ... cementing the rights to the trademark Bad Company for touring," explains Rodgers, acknowledging that the group has learned of plans for at least one bogus Bad Company planning to hit the road. "I can't really go into that because it's kind of in the hands of our lawyers at the moment. But there are a lot of things that make it necessary to reinforce our rights here. He continues, "By doing this one-night stand with Bad Company, we will be cementing our right to the trademark 'Bad Company' for touring, and anyone who attempts to challenge us and tour misuing our trademark and mislead the fans will be liable to legal action."

Rodgers will be joined in August by original Bad Company guitarist Mick Ralphs and drummer Simon Kirke, who continued the group with other singers after Rodgers left in 1982. Lynn Sorenson from Rodgers' solo band will take the place of late bassist Boz Burrell, who died in 2006.

The show will be dedicated to the memory of Steve Weiss, the longtime attorney for Bad Company, Led Zeppelin and Swan Song Records, who passed away last week in Florida. It will also be recorded for a DVD that will accompany a Bad Company compilation expected out later this year.

"I think it should be pure Bad Company and nothing else," Rodgers says of the show's repertoire. "We're gonna dig into the catalog a little bit. There are some great songs there I'd like to revisit, like 'Simple Man,' and of course the favorites, too," such as "Can't Get Enough," "Bad Company," "Feel Like Makin' Love" and "Rock'N'Roll Fantasy."

Rodgers does not expect to do more with Bad Company after this show, however, owing to his solo career and to his involvement with Queen + Paul Rodgers, which is working on final mixes for a studio album,
tentatively titled "The Cosmos Rocks" and due out this fall. The group will start a world tour in September in Europe, and it recently previewed a new track, "C-lebrity," on British TV.

"We're in great shape, actually," Rodgers says. "I think it touches a lot of emotions. Every song is different from every other song, but I do think there is a very powerful emotional content in every song. I'm a great believer in variety in music, and so are the other guys."

 

[SpideyLad]

I'll be buying it as soon as it comes out. Seeing them live aswell on 4th November.

 

[Nirvana]

Have they announced tour dates?

 

[SpideyLad]

Have they announced tour dates?

They have for the UK and Europe, but not for the US yet.

 

[Michael Allred]

Have they announced tour dates?

Check out www.queenonline.com as the dates for Europe should be posted there. America looks like it'll have to wait until next year.

 

[Lemon]

I will hopefully be seeing them at the O2 Arena teehee.

 

[Nirvana]

The day Queen announces a US tour is the day I can die happy.

 

[jaguarr]

I like the new single, but I have honestly disliked Rodger's voice on all the old Queen material. He has a tremendous voice, but it just does not fit the stuff Mercury used to sing at all.

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

When Bruce Dickinson dies of AIDS, Tom Waits should join Iron Maiden!

 

[ampersand]

I agree with jag. I'm totally cool with new stuff, but you just can't replace Freddy Mercury's voice on classic Queen songs. I really wish that Queen + Paul Rogers had just been renamed as a different band.

 

[JP]

I like Queen + Paul Rogers, but I hate when Paul sings old Queen songs.

 

[The-Dark-Knight]

Queen just aint Queen without Freddie Mercury, That man alone was Queen. Mercury had one of the best voices in music history, so versatile, Paul Rogers does not come close.

Paul Rogers singing songs that Freddie made legendary is like me getting up on Karaoke and doing the beatles, there really is no comparison. Queen should have just ended when Freddie sadly passed away, least thats my thoughts.

 

[JP]

Queen just aint Queen without Freddie Mercury, That man alone was Queen. Mercury had one of the best voices in music history, so versatile, Paul Rogers does not come close.

I'd have to disagree with that statement.

 

[Michael Allred]

Queen just aint Queen without Freddie Mercury, That man alone was Queen. Mercury had one of the best voices in music history, so versatile, Paul Rogers does not come close.

Paul Rogers singing songs that Freddie made legendary is like me getting up on Karaoke and doing the beatles, there really is no comparison. Queen should have just ended when Freddie sadly passed away, least thats my thoughts.

I don't mean for this to sound insulting but anyone who says "that man alone was Queen" simply has no real knowledge of the band or it's history. Freddie himself would stand up and correct you (as he often did when he was alive in fact.)

I think a some folks don't like Q+PR's versions of Queen hits because they want the same old same old. Paul brings an entirely new dynamic to the songs and as artists, the surviving members of Queen still feel they need to grow and try new things, Paul Rodgers gives them just that.

Now, if you had said "that man WAS a Queen" my response would've been a simple "you're 100% correct!"

 

[Motown Marvel]

ehh, i was kinda annoyed with the song by time i was half way through. the music is okay, but not particularly my bag (a little too 80's arena rock sounding). i didnt like rodgers voice or the lyrics (of the verse). i liked the chorus. and the guitar solo sounded good, but it was over as fast as it started...too short.

 

[Matrixo]

I don't mean for this to sound insulting but anyone who says "that man alone was Queen" simply has no real knowledge of the band or it's history. Freddie himself would stand up and correct you (as he often did when he was alive in fact.)

I think a some folks don't like Q+PR's versions of Queen hits because they want the same old same old. Paul brings an entirely new dynamic to the songs and as artists, the surviving members of Queen still feel they need to grow and try new things, Paul Rodgers gives them just that.

Now, if you had said "that man WAS a Queen" my response would've been a simple "you're 100% correct!"

Word, but Paul Rodgers just doesn't do it for me...



And just putting it out there, I think Brain May is very underrated...

 

[Ahura Mazda]

I looked for concert tickets but there are none here in Geneva. Paris is on a Wednesday meaning I would have to convince my GF to take days off of work which will never happen. Otherwise it would require a trip and the best looking one is Rome as it would be a Friday and then we could sepnd the weekend there.

The only thing is she neither likes Queen or Rock music......

 

[JP]

Word, but Paul Rodgers just doesn't do it for me...



And just putting it out there, I think Brain May is very underrated...

Brian May is my idol. :heart:

Also, "Say It's Not True" is another great song. If that and "C-Lebrity" are an indication of what the album will sound like.. it will be epic.

 

[jaguarr]

I don't mean for this to sound insulting but anyone who says "that man alone was Queen" simply has no real knowledge of the band or it's history. Freddie himself would stand up and correct you (as he often did when he was alive in fact.)

I think a some folks don't like Q+PR's versions of Queen hits because they want the same old same old. Paul brings an entirely new dynamic to the songs and as artists, the surviving members of Queen still feel they need to grow and try new things, Paul Rodgers gives them just that.

Now, if you had said "that man WAS a Queen" my response would've been a simple "you're 100% correct!"

Paul migt bring an entirely new dynamic to the old Queen songs as an artist but from a musical standpoint that dynamic is a force-fit at BEST. Paul has a bluesy voice and delivery (one of the best in rock) which is a very different style than what the music of the old Queen tunes call for. It doesn't fit well with the composition, style and arrangements of those songs. He sounds out of place the majority of the time because of it on those older tunes. When you listen to the new Queen stuff, you can immediately hear a difference in the musicality; May and Taylor obviously recognize that their music needed to move in a slightly different, bluesier direction than before to accomodate Rodgers' voice and make it sound like it truly belongs. I almost hear Queen meets Bad Company in the new stuff that has surfaced, actually.

jag

 

[Michael Allred]

I looked for concert tickets but there are none here in Geneva. Paris is on a Wednesday meaning I would have to convince my GF to take days off of work which will never happen. Otherwise it would require a trip and the best looking one is Rome as it would be a Friday and then we could sepnd the weekend there.

The only thing is she neither likes Queen or Rock music......

If I'm not mistaken I believe the tour has sold out already, they had to add extra dates to accomodate the demand.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

It must be weird to be Paul Rogers, because he played a bunch of shows with Queen...thousands and thousands of people....and then shortly after that, he came and played here at the Emerald Queen Casino with Bad Company.....so you go - Stadium, Stadium, Television, Stadium.........rinky dink casino circuit.


Also, whoever said Queen WAS Freddie.....what a LOAD,
Some of my favorite songs by Queen, he didn't even write or sing on.
And Brian May is in the Mega Pantheon of electric guitarists.

Like, listen to Freddie's Solo albums.......
They.....ain't Queen.

 

[JP]

Also, whoever said Queen WAS Freddie.....what a LOAD,
Some of my favorite songs by Queen, he didn't even write or sing on.
And Brian May is in the Mega Pantheon of electric guitarists.

Like, listen to Freddie's Solo albums.......
They.....ain't Queen.

 

[The-Dark-Knight]

Also, whoever said Queen WAS Freddie.....what a LOAD,
Some of my favorite songs by Queen, he didn't even write or sing on.
And Brian May is in the Mega Pantheon of electric guitarists.

Like, listen to Freddie's Solo albums.......
They.....ain't Queen.

Well thats your opinion, nothing more. Freddie may not have wrote some of the most famous Queen songs but that takes nothing from the man, the energy he brought to the band, his pure showmanship. Paul rogers does come no where near Freddie, he is a poor imitation. For me it would be like reforming the Beatles and replacing the un-replaceable Lennon, it just cant be done.

The public will always compare wether it be Brosnan against Connery or Rogers against Mercury, for me theresimply is no comparison. After Freddied passedaway the band should have left it as it was or as someone has already said rename the band with Rogers addition.

I cant help but think this is some nasty little cash in on the 'Queen' name and this new album will be like the ginger stepchild to there music backlog.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Well thats your opinion, nothing more. Freddie may not have wrote some of the most famous Queen songs but that takes nothing from the man, the energy he brought to the band, his pure showmanship. Paul rogers does come no where near Freddie, he is a poor imitation. For me it would be like reforming the Beatles and replacing the un-replaceable Lennon, it just cant be done.

The public will always compare wether it be Brosnan against Connery or Rogers against Mercury, for me theresimply is no comparison. After Freddied passedaway the band should have left it as it was or as someone has already said rename the band with Rogers addition.

I cant help but think this is some nasty little cash in on the 'Queen' name and this new album will be like the ginger stepchild to there music backlog.

Dude, you're making these either/or dividing lines at the wrong place.


I TOTALLY agree with your statement here:

Queen just aint Queen without Freddie Mercury,

But you just took it too far when you said:

That man alone was Queen.

You don't have to be so extremist.
It's much simpler to be accurate.

Queen was - Brain May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.

It was a band, of 4 dudes, not "one man".
3/4ths of Queen still want to play the old songs they wrote or helped write...but 1/4th of Queen died, so they got another dude and kept the name, and still do their old songs.

That, you can have negative or mixed feelings about, for sure...but you can't say that Freddie Mercury "ALONE" "was" Queen.
It's not true.
If that was true, then you could have:

Freddie Mercury: Vocals, Piano
C.C. DeVille: Guitar
Sid Vicious: Bass Guitar
Meg White: Drums

...and it would sound just as good as Queen.
Absurd, okay?
Okay.

 

[jaguarr]

The thought of C.C. DeVille trying to play (let alone write) anything Brian May ever did is HI-larious!

jag