Freddie Mercury, Salute

Seventeen years ago last month, I experienced the news that the Great Freddie Mercury had passed. I was, like most Queen fans, devastated. During the last 17 years, Freddie fulfilled the prophecy of legend. His name still conjures visions of the handsome, incredibly talented musician and greatest front man of any group ever. Those memories are powerful and enduring.

Queen continues by the breath and talent of Roger Taylor and Brian May along with the vocal lead of Paul Rogers. Is it still Queen, you ask? Yes and No. Brian once made a statement that Queen was greater than the sum of the individual members and that is so true. Try as each of them did to produce music outside the realm of Queen, the results were at best passable but individually, none achieved the 'sound', the 'soul' that is Queen. As an extraordinary note, each of them wrote #1 hits and that has never been done by any other group. It is obvious to everyone that the talent of each member played off the strengths of the others and we will continue to benefit from that result for as long as the music can be played.

I could never believe that Freddie would have said his last goodbye expecting Roger and Brian to fade away. I'm no expert on every aspect of Queen, but I do know that with the last of his strength, Freddie kept laying down every note he could so they would have material, and not because he thought they couldn't produce without him. I think rather he wanted to leave them something to focus on, to tide them over and gentle them through the whole ache of missing him as best he could. He still had music in him and he was trying to get down as much as he could before he left. I don't know that the fans entered into that mix, but I know my heart was healed in some small measure to hear his voice after he was gone.

Freddie has been gone for 17 years. But that only means that we haven't heard his voice in anything new for the last 16 years. Queen endures because they are now doing exactly what they used to do. Innovate, write, record and perform. A part of Queen came from each one of the guys and I know the sound is there. I know the strengths of Brian and Roger will take up the hole left by Freddie's passing. It will take a little time and the sound may change just a little. But that is Queen, ever changing. I am thankful that Brian and Roger continue. I'm thankful because I am still able to hear Queen live. And I'm thankful that Brian and Roger continue to include Freddie in the mix and I'm thankful they are still writing and recording. The sound will change a little, but Queen never will.

I'm going to add a link here to a tribute recently added to YouTube and I hope you enjoy it as much as do. Now I'll close with a heart-felt thank you to Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. Thank you for the music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhbFeYeP4DE