Wednesday, Dec 14, 2005

Queen + Paul Rodgers London Hyde Park 2005 Downloads

“BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY” 30TH ANNIVERSARY

5 EXCLUSIVE DOWNLOADS INCLUDING QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS, LONDON HYDE PARK, 2005

Thirty years ago this week it was at No. 1. It was a historic moment for Queen and a milestone in popular music. It stayed at No. 1 for 9 weeks, and even thirty years on, Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody continues to be a song that has impacted on every generation since.

It was voted the favourite single of all time by the readers of the Guinness Records book of British Hit Singles, and Radio 2 listeners recently picked it as their favourite song of the 70’s. It is the only song in pop history to have been a number 1 single twice for the same artist, selling a million copies both times.

Over the years there have been versions – Elton John and Axl Rose rocked Wembley Stadium with their interpretation of it at the Freddie Mercury Concert in 1992 - and such unlikely artists as Elaine Page, Rolf Harris and Bad News have all paid their respects to Queen with their own individual treatments of the song.

But no-one ever sang the song with Freddie, that is, until Queen took themselves back on the road this year with Paul Rodgers out in front singer/songwriter and multi- instrumentalist of Bad Compnay & Free fame.

How to present Bohemian Rhapsody was perhaps the most challenging issue in deciding the tour set. But Brian May and Roger Taylor’s decision to let Freddie himself, through the medium of previously unseen video footage , deliver the lead vocal leading into a collaboration with Paul Rodgers in the final section of the song, proved a masterstroke, and one of the outstanding highlights of the recent Queen + Paul Rodgers concerts across Europe, the USA and Japan.

To mark the 30th anniversary, this utterly unique version of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ is finally available to the thousands of fans who have demanded to hear it again. This live performance of the song – taken from the band’s stunning Hyde Park concert in July - is being made available for download on the official Queenonline site and on iTunes from December 19. Also available for the first time is the video of that performance at Hyde Park, when a crowd of more that 60,000 witnessed Queen’s triumphant return to Hyde Park after a gap of more than 29 years. Many consider the concert to be the highlight of the band’s return tour. (Video available only on www.queenonline.com and iTunes).

If it’s the original track and video you’re after, this is also available to download, and there’s a special bonus: the audio only of the fabulous London cast of the musical We Will Rock You performing their very special version performed as the grand finale of the show every night. Interestingly, the show version became the first ever live performance of the entire song – something even the mighty Queen never accomplished.

30 years of history: 5 downloads to celebrate the everlasting ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. For more info, please visit www.queenonline.com.

Wednesday, Nov 09, 2005

Return of the Champions hits No1!

1 - Queen & Paul Rodgers Return Of The Champions (Parlophone)
2 - George Harrison & Friends The Concert For Bangladesh (Warner Music Vision)
3 - Bob Dylan - No Direction Home (Paramount Home Ent)
4 - Cream - Royal Albert Hall (Warner Music Vision)
5 - Peter Gabriel - Still Growing Up - Live & Unwrapped (Warner Music Vision)
6 - U2 - Rattle And Hum (Paramount Home Ent)
7 - 2Pac - Live At The House Of Blues (Eagle Vision)
8 - Rat Pack - Greatest Hits (Delta)
9 - Blink 182 - Greatest Hits (Geffen Home Video)
10 - Audioslave - Live In Cuba (Interscope)

Also. DVD goes gold in Germany!

Saturday, Oct 22, 2005

Classic Rock Magazine

Band of the Year - Queen + Paul Rodgers

Tuesday, Sep 27, 2005

Long time friends Robert Plant and Paul Rodgers back stage at Plant's SOLDOUT Vancouver concert. Plant's new CD Mighty Rearranger is getting fantastic reviews world wide as is his performance. Visit www.robertplant.com

"I've got "Mighty Rearranger" on my CD player. It has great songs and great textures. Sometimes reminiscent of Zeppelin, but I think Robert is breaking new ground here!" - Paul Rodgers

Tue, Sep 13, 2005

QUEEN + PAUL RODGERS LIVE CD
RETURN OF THE CHAMPIONS

IN RECORD STORES NOW

available at amazon.com

Friday, July 22, 2005

Queen + Paul Rodgers invited all of London's emergency-response workers to their Hyde Park concert July 16 to thank them. Tickets were distributed with the help of Capital Radio. More than 6000 emergency service staff enjoyed the concert along with 60,000 fans. A statement issued by Paul Rodgers, Brian May and Roger Taylor read, "We felt it was fitting to thank London's emergency services for their extra-ordinary response in dealing with the effects of the bombing attacks and to indeed celebrate the historical resilience of Londoner's". "We Are The Champions" was dedicated to the guests of the evening during which two large screens featured photos and live video footage of the emergency crews at the concert.

Clever to use song rather than speeches Rodgers, May and Taylor joined together for a heart felt version of John Lennon's "Imagine".

Sunday, July 3, 2005

OUT NOW

RELIVE THE MOST HISTORIC MOMENT IN GUITAR HISTORY

Eagle Vision release ‘The Strat Pack’ DVD in aid of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy – released 2 May 2005

On Friday 24 September 2004 at Wembley Arena, guitar history was made when David Gilmour, Hank Marvin, Brian May, Joe Walsh, Ronnie Wood, Paul Rodgers, The Crickets, Phil Manzanera, Mike Rutherford, Paul Carrack and Albert Lee joined forces in a concert of epic proportions, to celebrate the 50 th Anniversary of rock n’ roll’s greatest icon, the Fender Stratocaster guitar.

Released on the 2 May 2005 through Eagle Vision, The Strat Pack DVD captures the night that some of the best loved guitarists in the world came together to not only celebrate the monumental occasion in guitar history but also to raise money for the inspirational Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy, which celebrates its 30 th anniversary this year.

Filmed in High Definition and presented in both DTS and Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound for the best possible picture and sound quality this is a fantastic reminder of a truly unique occasion. Over two and a half hours of the most classic music ever recorded including Buddy Holly’s legendary ‘Peggy Sue’, performed by the original members of Holly’s band The Crickets, the Clash’s seminal ‘I Fought The Law’ performed by The Crickets, Albert Lee and Queen’s Brian May, Hank Marvin’s timeless ‘Apache’ performed by the legend himself, old friends Mike Rutherford and Paul Carrack teaming up to pay tribute to the ultimate Strat player Jimi Hendrix with their rendition of ‘All Along The Watchtower’ and Paul Rodgers collaborating with Brian May for an historic version of Free’s monster anthem ‘Alright Now’, a partnership that, following the concert, has blossomed into a more permanent relationship with Paul Rodgers joining the remaining Queen members as lead vocals on the current Queen tour.

The night came to a stunning climax when Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour performed hypnotically epic renditions of the Floyd classics ‘Marooned’, ‘Coming Back To Life’ and ‘Sorrow’, before handing over to Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood for the upbeat sing-along ‘Ooh La La’. The 10,000 Wembley revellers were afforded one final treat when all the stars of the night hit the stage to finish up with a triumphant finale of The Faces classic ‘Stay With Me’.

The Strat Pack was a night to remember; some of the heroes of the Stratocaster’s 50 year history, on one stage, raising funds for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy. A truly awe-inspiring moment in music history.

Buy it at: Amazon.com