Do you consider Queen one of the greatest rock bands of all time?

[TAC]

Not as old as you!

[Nekov]

It's all a matter of opinions. If someone doesn't know John Entwistle or Roger Daltry, I'll be questioning their knowledge about rock music. Queen was not a great rock band, but a great singalong band, perfectly suited for drunks on a Saturday evening in the pub. I agree FM and BM stood out, the other two were nothing (even if they wrote songs).

So you would question their knowledge about rock because they don't like the same bands you do? I could talk a lot about pink floyd, queen, yes, the beatles, deep purple, black sabbath, led zeppelin, and I wasn't around during that era but because I don't know much about 1 specific band you like a lot you would question my knowledge? As you said it's opinions, if I don't like the music 1 band makes why would I spend time learning about them? Should I just stop listening to music?
Also, the poll shows a vast majority of people think they were one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Does that entitle us who voted yes to question your knowledge?

[mikeyd23]

To the OP - yes.

[Silent Man]

How old are you SM?

67

[Silent Man]

It's all a matter of opinions. If someone doesn't know John Entwistle or Roger Daltry, I'll be questioning their knowledge about rock music. Queen was not a great rock band, but a great singalong band, perfectly suited for drunks on a Saturday evening in the pub. I agree FM and BM stood out, the other two were nothing (even if they wrote songs).

So you would question their knowledge about rock because they don't like the same bands you do? I could talk a lot about pink floyd, queen, yes, the beatles, deep purple, black sabbath, led zeppelin, and I wasn't around during that era but because I don't know much about 1 specific band you like a lot you would question my knowledge? As you said it's opinions, if I don't like the music 1 band makes why would I spend time learning about them? Should I just stop listening to music?
Also, the poll shows a vast majority of people think they were one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Does that entitle us who voted yes to question your knowledge?

Like I said, it's a matter of opinions. The OP asked for opinions, and gave mine, as well as a reason behind it. Go ahead, sing 'We will, we will rock' you as much as you like - but really songs of this nature make me sick...

[The Walrus]

That does sound kind of silly to dismiss someone's knowledge of rock based on one or two artists like that, though. I know a hell of a lot about rock music but I couldn't tell you anything about several big names from way back when. It's not like the number of artists in the world has slowed down since then or anything. There is way too much for everyone to keep up with every big name in the wide world of rock from 40 freaking years ago. I know a whole lot about metal but couldn't really tell you much about most Sabbath albums, would that invalidate my opinions on everything related to metal? I would hope not.

[King Postwhore]

How old are you SM?

67

You were around for Queen then and how big they were.  Sure they dropped off in the State in the 80's and 90's but that was affected by them not touring here after 1982.

[King Postwhore]

Not as old as you!

How old are you SM?

67

Tim you suck at math.

[TAC]

The Silent Man is 67??

What's next, are we going to get schooled on Elvis Presley's rhythm section?

[Lowdz]

Apart from Satisfaction, and a song in the 80s tha5 was on mtv a lot, I haven’t heard any Rolling Stones songs.

How is that possible?  Just from film and tv, you should have been exposed to quite a bit of their music.

Now that I think of it, I'm vastly ignorant about Rolling Stones. I know Satisfaction, Angie, Paint it Black, and that there was a video with them walking as giants in the streets and... that's it. Oh, I also know there's a song called Jumping Jack Flash. Probably Brown Sugar is also from them (didn't Gn'R cover it?)

(Speaking of Paint it Black, there's an awesome version in Westworld, and an excellent orchestral cover by Rage)

Oh yes, now you mention those songs I am aware of them, but wouldn’t hav3 thought of them off the top of my head.
Paint it Black I do like but I first heard it done by Guy Mann Dude as an instrumental, then by WASP. And Great White did a medley of a song or two.
Let’s say I’ve never really listened to any of their stuff but I’ve heard those songs above.

And I’m from the UK. We have to like Queen.

[King Postwhore]

The Silent Man is 67??

What's next, are we going to get schooled on Elvis Presley's rhythm section?

You mean Jerry Scheff whose son, Jason Scheff went on to play with Chicago from 1985 to 2016?

[The Walrus]

Wayne and Garth would say, uh, yeah, totally

[TAC]

The Silent Man is 67??

What's next, are we going to get schooled on Elvis Presley's rhythm section?

You mean Jerry Scheff whose son, Jason Scheff went on to play with Chicago from 1985 to 2016?

God Damn fogey!

[King Postwhore]

 

[wolfking]

I'm not really a big fan, but I vote yes.

[KevShmev]

Not at all IMO. They did some memorable songs (many singalong songs), but their fame rised after FM died. What defines a great rock band in my book is a band where alle members stand out due to their musicianship and personalities, which Queen did not IMO. Who'll ever remember the drummer and the bassplayer from Queen? Can you recognize their styles in a test? I guess the answer is no, because these two alone could have been replaced by anybody else, they were totally anonymous. Take another band: The Who. Here you can talk about one of the greatest rock bands of all time. Each member had a stand out personality with musical gifts which influenced the music in their time. So to not misuse the concept, I'd say Queen was not one of the greatest rock bands of all time. I'd mention Led Zeppelin, ELP, Dream Theater (of course), and many others - but not Queen.

So...much...fail.

[Cool Chris]

I'd take that argument and say that while each individual member of Queen wasn't the best at what they did (except maybe FM), they were able to take their skills and make something that, as a whole, was greater than the sum of their parts. Only great bands can do that.

[SleeperAwake]

Queen is definitely one of the greatest rock bands of all time.

[Stadler]

It's all a matter of opinions. If someone doesn't know John Entwistle or Roger Daltry, I'll be questioning their knowledge about rock music. Queen was not a great rock band, but a great singalong band, perfectly suited for drunks on a Saturday evening in the pub. I agree FM and BM stood out, the other two were nothing (even if they wrote songs).

Dude, I'm not sure I want to hang out at the same pubs you do.  "The Prophets Song" is hardly a "drunk in a pub singalong."

Opinions, yadda yadda yadda, but you also have some provably wrong facts in your assertion as well. 

[Stadler]

The Silent Man is 67??

What's next, are we going to get schooled on Elvis Presley's rhythm section?

You mean Jerry Scheff whose son, Jason Scheff went on to play with Chicago from 1985 to 2016?

God Damn fogey!

But admit it, you're impressed! 

[King Postwhore]

Stadler.  Queen a sing along band? Lolololol.


First why is that bad and 2, we know that has was kicking non radio songs.  Queen was so much more..... .

[King Postwhore]

The Silent Man is 67??

What's next, are we going to get schooled on Elvis Presley's rhythm section?

You mean Jerry Scheff whose son, Jason Scheff went on to play with Chicago from 1985 to 2016?

God Damn fogey!

But admit it, you're impressed!

Shit.  Let me take Viagra and let Tim measure.

[DragonAttack]

Dream Theater officially released more Queen covers than they did of any other band (SoA is even doing parts of two songs on their tour). I would guess they think they're one of the best.  Fourth in total record sales for a group. 

One of the best?  A no-brainer.  The best?  Nope.

[KevShmev]

Jumping back a bit, dismissing John Deacon and Roger Taylor as "replaceable" is ignorant and just plain wrong.

Deacon wrote and played two of the most recognizable and iconic bass lines in the rock and roll era - Under Pressure and Another One Bites the Dust.

Roger Taylor's voice was an integral part of the classic Queen harmonies, and he in fact does the crazy high note at the end of Bohemian Rhapsody's middle section, which is one of those lines that everyone tries to sing along to (miserably because who can actually hit that note in a bar and do it justice?).  Oh wait, but that is a sing along, so we have to discount it, right?

I could go on and on, but I think just about anyone who actually knows Queen knows that all four guys were important to the success of that band.

[MirrorMask]

I'm absolutely in the "Praise Deacon and Taylor" camp, but let me get this off my chest: Another One Bites the Dust is an horrible song. Maybe funk simply isn't for me, and I do recognize it's a memorable song and bass line, but I never ever liked it and I cringe when cover bands play it. I'd switch it for literally anything else in the Queen catalog.

[Nekov]

I'm absolutely in the "Praise Deacon and Taylor" camp, but let me get this off my chest: Another One Bites the Dust is an horrible song. Maybe funk simply isn't for me, and I do recognize it's a memorable song and bass line, but I never ever liked it and I cringe when cover bands play it. I'd switch it for literally anything else in the Queen catalog.

And that is a horrible use of English 

[MirrorMask]

I'm italian, I'm supposed to suck at english 

[King Postwhore]

I'm italian, I'm supposed to suck at english 

I'm American and "I" suck at English.

[Stadler]

I feel like Queen is one of the few bands that really is a unit, and the members acted like it.   Yeah, they wrote individually, but there are a handful of songs that cover just about every permutation of collaboration:  "Roger wrote that, but Fred made it his own" (A Kind of Magic falls here); "Freddie wrote that, but Brian gave it his twist" (a fair amount of Innuendo falls here); "John wrote that, but Roger added this part to make it work" (one of the songs on Hot Space; can't remember which); etc. etc.

I went on a Queen binge about a month and a half ago, and even went out and bought some of the more obscure stuff - Hot Space and Flash come to mind - and while I don't like all of it, and wish they were SLIGHTLY less eccentric (A Night At The Opera is a little too schizophrenic for me; I'd like to get into a mood or groove and it never really happens), they are no doubt a legendary band.   

They are weird though; I mean, I get the vibe that as people they are four odd characters.   Not just the flamboyant Freddie, but all of them. 

[erwinrafael]

It's all a matter of opinions. If someone doesn't know John Entwistle or Roger Daltry, I'll be questioning their knowledge about rock music. Queen was not a great rock band, but a great singalong band, perfectly suited for drunks on a Saturday evening in the pub. I agree FM and BM stood out, the other two were nothing (even if they wrote songs).

Wow, Queen a singalong band.

Play the bass line of Millionaire Waltz.

Play the drums of Stone Cold Crazy.

Layer your guitars like Brighton Rock. Heck, mimic a whole jazz band just using your electric guitar.

Play all the sections of It's Late.

Compose a short "prog" masterpiece like Bohemian Rhapsody.

Singalong band my ass.

[Cruithne]

They are weird though; I mean, I get the vibe that as people they are four odd characters.   Not just the flamboyant Freddie, but all of them.

They're just English... 

[soupytwist]

It's all a matter of opinions. If someone doesn't know John Entwistle or Roger Daltry, I'll be questioning their knowledge about rock music. Queen was not a great rock band, but a great singalong band, perfectly suited for drunks on a Saturday evening in the pub. I agree FM and BM stood out, the other two were nothing (even if they wrote songs).

Wow, Queen a singalong band.

Play the bass line of Millionaire Waltz.

Play the drums of Stone Cold Crazy.

Layer your guitars like Brighton Rock. Heck, mimic a whole jazz band just using your electric guitar.

Play all the sections of It's Late.

Compose a short "prog" masterpiece like Bohemian Rhapsody.

Singalong band my ass.

In the UK they really are. Queens first Greatest Hits is the biggest selling album in the UK (see link) and it's an absolute staple of every pub juke box.  They are also a staple of most UK sporting stadium events in the UK too.
Queen's GH's and ABBA Gold rarely leave the UK album chart top 100, both chalking up over 800+ weeks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_albums_in_the_United_Kingdom

Bit like The Eagles in the US maybe (but less shite  )?

[MirrorMask]

It would be curious to know how fans of different eras view Queen, based on their tastes. Are Queen a prog rock band that in the later part of their carreer went more mainstream? are Queen a pop rock band that in the early days experimented a bit with weird styles?

What do people who list The Prophet's Song and The March of the Black Queen as their favorite Queen songs think of tracks like Another One Bites the Dust and A Kind of Magic, and the other way around?

[eric42434224]

Their music was in Highlander, so the answer is yes.

Well yes for other reasons too

[KevShmev]

It would be curious to know how fans of different eras view Queen, based on their tastes. Are Queen a prog rock band that in the later part of their carreer went more mainstream? are Queen a pop rock band that in the early days experimented a bit with weird styles?

What do people who list The Prophet's Song and The March of the Black Queen as their favorite Queen songs think of tracks like Another One Bites the Dust and A Kind of Magic, and the other way around?

They were a rock band.  No more, no less.