Spinner

No Singer? No Problem! Bands Carry On With Replacement Frontmen

The frontman is quite literally the voice of the band, so when a group loses its iconic lead singer you'd think it would be time to pack it in. Well, that's not the strategy the following bands took: Some found a sound-alike (or even a sound-nothing-alike); others promoted someone from within its ranks. However, none of them fooled anyone, except themselves -- and surely not their longtime fans.

Queen

Old Singer: Freddie Mercury
New Singer: Paul Rodgers

It'd be hard to imagine a band more tied to the personality of its lead singer – right down to its name – than Queen. For years, Mercury's comrades allowed him to rest in peace, until Brian May and company hired the uber-macho Rodgers, ex of Bad Company, to fill their fallen comrade's unitard. Fortunately, Rodgers hasn't taken that mandate literally, having so far sworn off the spandex.

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Charlie Mc

I'll have to agree with Grizzlylin. OR COURSE Freddie was Freddie, no matter what, but everyone's missing the point here. If the rest of the band still can and wants to play, let them. And that still gives people like me a chance to see at least part of the band. Paul Rodgers didn't come along to replace anyone. That's why it's Queen (remaining members) AND Paul Rodgers. Two different artists who are friends and get along. The band needed a singer, and the singer needed a band. That's it. So they decided to tour and play BOTH eachother's songs. Nobody is trying to replace anybody. Just two artists that can still play, and want to.
If you go to classical music program today, are you gonna complain that MOZART wasn't there to conduct it???

April 10 2010 at 2:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
GrizzyLyn

While I loved Freddie Mercury, and will be always be a huge Queen fan, the main point that is being missed by most of the comments is the fact that Queen is a band. I agree that Freddie Mercury is irreplaceable, but to imply that the rest of Queen stop playing (or using the name Queen) because of his death is ridiculous. They acheived success as a group; every one of them played an important part in the success of the band. Even Freddie Mercury himself wanted them to keep going!! Whether they continue on with Paul Rodgers, (or someone else for that matter), they are a band that deserves to be supported. They hardly deserve the negative comments being placed on here because the singer they chose doesn't sound like a Freddie Mercury clone.

October 27 2009 at 5:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kelso Horror

Queen+Paul Rogers are no more!

October 13 2009 at 7:41 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
amanda

seriously, I thought that was Danny Bonaduce. It really looks like him. I love Queen, been a huge fan my whole life. I think FM is the only singer for Queen, but I tend to think that way about replacements. What ever makes em happy!

September 20 2009 at 4:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Keith Harden

What does this have to do with Queen or Paul Rogers? This isn't a forum to promote your views of animals or their treatment. GO PAUL AND QUEEN

November 03 2008 at 12:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RuRalph

I thought (and still think) the lead singer from Sparks could have done a very good job singing the songs Mercury sang. Same operatic style.

July 04 2008 at 12:51 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
gb

sammy hagar replaced david lee roth successuflly. i much prefer roth, but hagar was equally successful as far as commercial sales. he was also in the band longer than roth.

April 10 2008 at 2:40 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
steve

Dude, Wikipedia can be edited by anybody. If I wanted to, I could make N'SYNC Britain's all-time best band.

April 04 2008 at 6:53 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to steve's comment
Francesca

the problem with that argument is the the knowledgeable majority will prevail and someone is bound to correct that. oh, the beauty of editing.

August 28 2008 at 9:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laura

I've loved Queen for 30 years, adored Freddie's voice and style, and mourned his death and the end of the band. That said, when Queen + Paul Rodgers played the Hollywood Bowl in 2005, I was skeptical ... for about 30 seconds. I was overjoyed to see/hear Brian & Roger, just as I was when Queen + PR toured in 2006. Everything's a bonus as Queen continues to make music with PR.

April 03 2008 at 2:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
boognish

People of All Stripes, George Michael has filled in for Freddie Mercury before, performed and sounded Fantastic. I'm still surprised that they didn't invite him to join Queen.

April 03 2008 at 1:59 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to boognish's comment
steve

I always thought he would be a great fit for them also

November 17 2009 at 6:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply