A modern-day Freddie Mercury tribute concert?

Today marks what would’ve been the 65th birthday of the late, great Freddie Mercury. Additionally, this November also marks twenty years since Freddie died, so this year is quite poignant for fans of rock’s greatest frontman.

In that vein, I’ve been thinking lately about what a modern-day version of 1992’s Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert would be like or, to be more specific, who would perform? Here are my thoughts, feel free to chime in with your own in the comments.

First of all, let’s set the stage – the 2011 version of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert would take place in the new Wembley Stadium. Sure, it isn’t the same as it was when Queen stole the show at Live Aid all those years ago, but hey, it’s Wembley. Where else could you do it, really?

Secondly, the format of the show would be the same as the original. Bands/artists play short sets of their own stuff, then Queen do a bunch of their own stuff with the other acts guesting on vocals.

So, who’s on the list?

FOO FIGHTERS

Bit of a no brainer here- they’re massive Queen fans, and can fill Wembley Stadium themselves. In the second set, Dave Grohl does Tie Your Mother Down with Queen.

LADY GAGA

Double no-brainer. Also a massive Queen fan, has worked with Brian May. In the second set, she does Radio Gaga. Duh.

MUSE

We’re three-for-three on no-brainers here. I kind of think they’re like a modern version of 70s Queen. Second set, Matt Bellamy does Death on Two Legs.

TAKE THAT

They’re massive, and they’ve come out with some cracking pop tunes. For the second set, I’d either have them doing Bohemian Rhapsody (I figure between Bri, Rog and the five TT’ers, they could just about pull off doing the opera section for real) or have them as the finale, with Robbie doing We Will Rock You before the rest of Take That come out, Gary Barlow sits at the piano and the assemblage go into We Are The Champions, with all the other performers coming out as a big ol’ choir for the last chorus.

BIFFY CLYRO

Bit of a personal choice, this one, as they’re local lads, but they also happen to be big enough names to play something as big as this would hopefully be. Dunno what song Simon Neil would do with Queen though. Sheer Heart Attack maybe?

MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE

Not a band I listen to, but they’re apparently big Queen fans, and the kids love ’em, so why not? Second set, Gerard Way does…I dunno, let’s say Keep Yourself Alive.

IRON MAIDEN

Sure, this choice might bamboozle some of the kids who turn up to see Gaga and Take That, but said kids can prepare to have their faces melted by one of the best live bands going. Second set, Bruce Dickinson strolls out and does Innuendo.

Anyway, that’s a starter for ten. Weigh in with your own suggestions!

This entry was written by NeiloMac, posted on September 5, 2011 at 5:36 pm, filed under music, musings and tagged Brian may, Freddie mercury, music, musings, queen, Roger Taylor. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.