Did you notice , while Adam Lambert was onstage singing “We Are The Champions,” that Brian May really lit up and sort of leaned toward Adam in a kind of Statesman-like manner? As if the wheels in his head started to turn and burn with the idea that with Adam, Queen could abandon the Casino Circuit and get back to the Arena Circuit… I think it would be one of the great stories in Rock for the century so far.
A reporter asked Gene Simmons of Kiss if Adam had what it took to sing with Kiss. Gene said he didn’t think Adam had a Rock Voice, but was better suited for ballads and such. BUT… he did offer Adam the opportunity to tour with Kiss, presumably as an opening act.
There’s been plenty of Facebook chatter about Gene Simmons saying Adam would be better suited to sing with Queen – and then being labeled as a homophobe for the comment. I haven’t been able to find any verification of not only gene’s supposed comment nor the homophobe tag. But I do believe it is true that Adam would be GREAT with Queen. (By the way, just about everyone on the web has comments on Adam’s orientation, some entertaining stuff from Perez Hilton…
Look at the dynamics: Paul Rodgers has announced that he’s parting ways with Queen, which leaves Brian May with a void at lead singer. Adam is very Freddy Mercury-esque: he’s theatrical, he’s flamboyant, he’s probably either gay or the “soft” rocker that the rest of the band won’t go out for a smoke with on breaks (is there such a thing as a vegan-rocker?) Regardless what he is or isn’t, I think the possibility of Adam as Queen’s new front-man opens a mega opportunity for the brand.
I think Queen would announce a US tour and sell out every arena they book and in some cities would do 2-3 shows. HUGE MONEY.
I think you get a “Queen; Best Of..” album in the can with Adam singing the vocals. You could even just have him lay down replacement tracks over the original recordings and get that baby on the market fast! It would probably go double platinum in a month. This, of course, would introduce an entirely fresh new demographic to the Queen library and existing release sales would increase from that: the new album would sell to not only the new demo but also to those of us who listened to Queen when they were current.
The next thing would be to record a new album of new Queen material. No doubt Brian May has some new stuff he would love to record with a voice like Adam’s and surely Adam has some ideas of his own, that when touched by Brian would probably be brilliant.
I hope someone is trying to broker that deal right now. But here’s the sticking point….
Every contestant on American Idol signs a release before they audition that basically gives up their artistic souls to Simon Fuller for a minimum of three years, with a perpetual first-right-of-refusal for ongoing contract renewals held squarely in the hands of Simon, not the artist. EVERY American Idol artist that now has a national singing/recording career is still under management contract by Simon. Do you think Simon has made any money on that deal? So how would Adam structure a contract with Queen? Would he forfeit a percentage of his income relevant to his cut from the Queen proceeds? Where would the royalties reside? Would Simon have legal input to song selection to preserve his financial interests? I can’t see anything like that happening. It all is a very mucky mess.
Bottom line is this: I think that because of the Idol contracts and clauses, Adam cannot join anyone that is an existing brand. He’ll be relegated to doing his own solo act, with heavy input from the Idol brass- at least on the first release – and maybe he does a Queen number in his show. Oh well. It is called the music business after all…
That’s probably why Gene Simmons limited his offer. Gene knows the business. He’s a business man, after all and a brilliant one. I’ve met him in person – actually sat next to him and Shannon Tweed at a taping of The Sinbad Show, when that was on the air. He’s an impressive guy and no question he knows a mess when he sees one.
At this point we’ll have to wait and see. I’m curious what your comments are….
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