speaking of groups that went downhill...

[MisterBulbous]

A&E or Biography channel had an awesome 2hr documentary on Queen last night. In the '70's and early '80's I absolutely loved that band - and most guys here know that Brian May absolutely delivered the goods when he needed to. Anyways, the fascinating part of the documentary was when they phased into their disco and bowie era. I had forgotten how creepy Freddie Mercury had became and how John Deacon became one of the main riff-writers for the band (...another one bites the dust, Under Pressure, etc). The ending years were extremely sad as Freddy worked so hard but was so overtly gay and of course famished from the HIV virus. Also, the band made literally no money for their first several albums, including Night at the Opera. Really great documentary.

 

[AndyK]

I wouldn't say Queen went downhill, Freddie got sick and died, and they broke up. Sad story. I have to check out that show, thanks for the heads up!

 

[Subclavian]

Yeah...I agree with Andy...they didn't go downhill...Freddie just died.

That being said...the last few years, there's been some very successful Queen related projects, including the musical "We Will Rock You"...featuring Paul Crook on guitar (Anthrax, Meatloaf, Sebastian Bach) and several great movie projects. Good stuff.

Thanks for the heads up on the new documentary...I'll have to look it up.

 

[blackba]

Saw the documentary and it was great. Other than the album 'Hot Space', I really like Queen's 80's output. Sure it was not as good as their 70's work, but I liked it.

The ending years were sad, it were tough to watch. They said that America did not get the 'I Want to Break Free' video where they all dressed up in Drag, I still don't get the video, but like the song.

 

[Red_Label]

The ending years were sad, it were tough to watch. They said that America did not get the 'I Want to Break Free' video where they all dressed up in Drag, I still don't get the video, but like the song.

LOL... I started singing that goofy song in my head right as I clicked on this thread.

My favorite Queen songs are "Hammer To Fall" and the ending theme to Flash Gordon when he jumps up at the camera lens and the drums come pounding in.

 

[MisterBulbous]

"downhill" might not be the best word, but in general, their next few follow-up albums after Night at the Opera, (such as Day at the Races and Jazz) were considered flops by many people. In fact, they took a lot of public ridicule for naming an album "Jazz" without having jazz tunes. Also, their transition into dance and disco type songs was initiated years before Freddie even acknowledged his homosexuality. In fact, they really alienated a lot of their older fans and nearly had to ask the crowd for permission to play their newer stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I really love the band, but to say "Freddie died" and there was no decrease in music quality before that is not as portrayed in the biography.

 

[MisterBulbous]

Saw the documentary and it was great. Other than the album 'Hot Space', I really like Queen's 80's output. Sure it was not as good as their 70's work, but I liked it.

The ending years were sad, it were tough to watch. They said that America did not get the 'I Want to Break Free' video where they all dressed up in Drag, I still don't get the video, but like the song.

I agree, it was extremely sad. The footage from the live aid show nearly brought tears to my eyes.

 

[Marshall Law]

A&E or Biography channel had an awesome 2hr documentary on Queen last night. In the '70's and early '80's I absolutely loved that band - and most guys here know that Brian May absolutely delivered the goods when he needed to. Anyways, the fascinating part of the documentary was when they phased into their disco and bowie era. I had forgotten how creepy Freddie Mercury had became and how John Deacon became one of the main riff-writers for the band (...another one bites the dust, Under Pressure, etc). The ending years were extremely sad as Freddy worked so hard but was so overtly gay and of course famished from the HIV virus. Also, the band made literally no money for their first several albums, including Night at the Opera. Really great documentary.

you think. here is one off their last album, listen to it, turn it up, then get back to me

 

[droptrd]

The highlander soundtrack was one of their later works. I think thats pretty good

 

[MisterBulbous]

A&E or Biography channel had an awesome 2hr documentary on Queen last night. In the '70's and early '80's I absolutely loved that band - and most guys here know that Brian May absolutely delivered the goods when he needed to. Anyways, the fascinating part of the documentary was when they phased into their disco and bowie era. I had forgotten how creepy Freddie Mercury had became and how John Deacon became one of the main riff-writers for the band (...another one bites the dust, Under Pressure, etc). The ending years were extremely sad as Freddy worked so hard but was so overtly gay and of course famished from the HIV virus. Also, the band made literally no money for their first several albums, including Night at the Opera. Really great documentary.

you think. here is one off their last album, listen to it, turn it up, then get back to me

Dude...completely familiar with their work....listened to this the other day. If I recall, Freddie died about 8 or 10 months later. Again, I absolutely love the band and remember buying Night at the Opera when I was about ten years old (I actually thought the Osmonds sung it!).

But...if you watch the documentary (as I did), the band had a long series of let-downs after Bohemian Rhapsody. Again, I'm speaking more from the sense of the UK music critics and general fan base. Since I grew up on the early stuff, I personally considered the funk/disco/gay-referenced music to be a "downhill turn" for the band. Sure, Innuendo has moments, but I don't consider it the pinaccle of Queen.

 

[thiswaythatway]

How bout Kiss? It's amazing how bad they were in the 80's. Actually, were they ever good?

 

[Robotechnology]

Believe it or not I heard and owned Innuendo before I heard and owned A Night at the Opera. The opening and closing songs of Innuendo are for me the highlight of Queen! Have to check out this biography!

 

[Doubleneck]

The highlander soundtrack was one of their later works. I think thats pretty good

I agree, It's such a shame that Freddy died so young.

 

[Ventura]

How bout Kiss? It's amazing how bad they were in the 80's. Actually, were they ever good?

No. They were terrific performers, terrific stage show cats, terrific showmen, but NOT terrific musicians. I mean hell, Ace Frehley has said it many a time in interviews, he knew shit about playing guitar when auditioning for the band. Nothing. And Paul and Gene were in the same boat. They just tuned down a step, allowed Paul to take centre, and threw a lot of fanfare into the mix... 10 year old boys were their driving consumers for the longest time!! Then came the chicks, but of course...

So it goes. I think KISS owes a LOT if not ALL of their musical 'success' to production; and after that, showmanship. That's it.

V.

 

[skoora]

A&E or Biography channel had an awesome 2hr documentary on Queen last night. In the '70's and early '80's I absolutely loved that band - and most guys here know that Brian May absolutely delivered the goods when he needed to. Anyways, the fascinating part of the documentary was when they phased into their disco and bowie era. I had forgotten how creepy Freddie Mercury had became and how John Deacon became one of the main riff-writers for the band (...another one bites the dust, Under Pressure, etc). The ending years were extremely sad as Freddy worked so hard but was so overtly gay and of course famished from the HIV virus. Also, the band made literally no money for their first several albums, including Night at the Opera. Really great documentary.

you think. here is one off their last album, listen to it, turn it up, then get back to me

Dude...completely familiar with their work....listened to this the other day. If I recall, Freddie died about 8 or 10 months later. Again, I absolutely love the band and remember buying Night at the Opera when I was about ten years old (I actually thought the Osmonds sung it!).

But...if you watch the documentary (as I did), the band had a long series of let-downs after Bohemian Rhapsody. Again, I'm speaking more from the sense of the UK music critics and general fan base. Since I grew up on the early stuff, I personally considered the funk/disco/gay-referenced music to be a "downhill turn" for the band. Sure, Innuendo has moments, but I don't consider it the pinaccle of Queen.

It just sounds weird that you say your a long time fan but this documentary has "set you straight". Day at The Races is awesome as is Jazz. News of The World may be my favorite after The Game. Anyway who cares what a documentary says. What do you remember? I don't remember Queen ever not being huge and no-one I knew was bummed out about stuff after Night At The Opera. Even Hot Space has some bad ass songs on it but if you can't get past the "gayness" I'm not sure how you could handle Queen ever. He was "overt" from day one.

It was a good doc. I think a band is always a lot more critical of their work than the fans. Plus when you become a financial entity like they did towards the later 70's it's hard for them to not measure things from a sales perspective. Artistically is another story though.

 

[blackba]

So what is everyone's favorite Queen Album. For me its 'Sheer Heart Attack'. 'Night at the Opera' had to grow on me. When I first hear it, it was not in my top 5, now it is number 2. Their are some different songs on 'Night of the Opera', which is why initially it was not my favorite and why now its my 2nd favorite album.

'Hot Space' does have some good songs, its just the only Queen album where I am likely to skip over songs. The song 'Under Pressure' with David Bowie is obviously the albums highlight.

I must say, gotta give props to 'Wayne's World', that movie and soundtrack introduced me to Queen and Hendrix.

 

[IHateRap]

All of their albums up to and including The Game are great. After that it's hit or miss for me. The song Innuendo, though, is awesome and sounds like it could fit right in with their 70's stuff.

 

[sinfish]

Queen to me was always good. KISS Sucks, always have and always will.

Black Sabbath definitely took a hard turn to the worse before Ozzy split.

 

[Atropos_Project]

I grew up listening to this band as well as Kiss, Boston, etc in their heydays. I remember being absolutely mortified when The Game came out, and hearing AOBTD for the first time.

 

[Nico]

To add to the list of bands that went downhill

Metallica post Black Album and especially St. Anger
Yngwie post Fire and Ice
Van Halen with Gary Cherone and a little before too
Guns N' Roses with Spaghetti Incident although they broke up in time before fucking up the name of the band with numerous releases thereafter...

Those come quickly, there are tons of others.

Bands that never lost it:

Iron Maiden
Megadeth
AC/DC