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Alrighty... there we are again, almost after exactly 3 1/2 years, including another living cell theraphy, having recieved the doctorat for astrophysics for Brian May, and with even whiter hair, what's up to Mr. Taylor, not to forget a brandnew album in the luggage. Yeah well... and not to forget, they have visited the Octoberfest one day before tonight. And of course they have been discovered by the yellow press and have been pictured for next day's newspaper. Whereby my compliment goes to exactly those journalist, who apparently exchanged the band's session bassist with the legendary drummer on his photo. - The usual excuse by the press: 'noone is gonna realize this anyway'. - Oh no boys, we actually do, and it is one more reason to take the local reporter less serious. 
But well, that was yesterday and today in the papers here. And tonight we are a little  north of the Octoberfest and also live at the Olympiahalle in Munich, where Queen and Paul Rodgers  play for the second time now. At least now we can be sure, that this here up there is really Paul Rodgers, Brian May and Roger Taylor, accompanied by an excellent background band including also this bassist, who had to stand in for Roger in today's newspaper. 

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We are sold out for weeks now in drunken Munich, which means, there are aprox. 12.000 souls, most of them remembering an era, where holy Freddie Mercury,did smeter with his proud chest the chorals in his microphone. But as we know, noone ever has come back from beyond yet. And so Freddie probably looks down from cloud 375 on the blueish-white bavarian sky  and sends his blessings.

There is no supportact. We don't need it, Queen have probably thought, - like last time. We do it on our own and offer you a 2 1/2 hours show, carrying you up in majestic spheres and into the Cosmos.

The physical condition is very clever split into the various solo stints, so nobody gets exhausted. And yes, there are a few weak points and spots, but thanks to the unbelievably enthusiasm of the audiance, those drown somewhere in nirvana. Thanks god. 
Some critical voices are complaining about the bad sound conditions and a rather weak voice of the ever youthful looking Paul Rodgers..... Hmmmmm. hard to say, because 1) this place here is anyway known for it's difficult acoustic. 2) It's always a matter on which spot you stretch out your hearing. 3) these guys have already played dozens of gigs, so it's no surprise, when even the best tenor starts weakening. And 4) Everybody can have a bad day. (exspecially having spent the evening before on the Octoberfest.)  And last but not least does a a little weak vocie of Paul Rodgers still sound better, than most of all singers in Rock'n'Roll. So who cares.
For a fact, - 12.000 friends of acoustic art and Freddie nostalgics are getting absolutely nuts and have not regret yet the high ticketprices, they have paid to see the show. Although the magic starts rather slow, thanks to the new tunes
‚Surfs Up... Schools Out’, the following ‚Tie Your Mother Down’ makes good for it, and let's you forget the start. - Last time the band actually started with this song, and the ecstacy was there from the very first second. Yeah well, last time there was no new album either to get promoted... However, you can realize, that this song truly fits to Paul Rodgers, same like the next one - ‚Fat Bottom Girls’ after Brian May's introduction and welcoming the audiance. 


Whoever has also the comparison to the last concert 42 months ago, will quickly discover, that this singer has now fit even better into the band. Last time it seemed more like a Paul Rodgers concert feat. 2 members of Queen. This time it is truly Queen & Paul Rodgers. And Pauls has fit in perfectly into the concept. Let's be honest, for him this move has been certainly the best thing what happened to him. Because in the other case, you mustn'd even think where the former Free and Bad Company frontman  would be standing today, despite his huge talent. But with Queen he has shot straight back into the Rock'n'Roll sky. And like we say so... one hand helps the other, doesn't it. Because without Paul Rodgers,  Dr. May would maybe rather spend his time nowadays with exploring radiowaves coming in from space. Long Talk short sense, the Rock'n'Roll has won, the legend, thanks to Freddie's spirit has survived. And the nostalgic wave reminds me on a Tsunami, returning with an invitation to a wellness bath in memories. - The new record 'The Cosmos Rocks' ain't that importatn by that, exspecially when they play songs like Another One Bites The Dust’ und ‚I Want It All’ .


And like I had described in my last review 3 years ago, Paul Rodgers doesn't even try a wink to copy the former frontman. Therefore he's got too much of an ego himself, and it would be impossible anyway. Paul ain't no paradisekakadu like Freddie was, who had defined himself on stage with bombastic and theatralic movements. No, Paul is more or less pretty sportive and the naturel kind of guy, who, aged 59, rather seems like 45, without wrinkles and ... you know what....... and with quite impressing arm muscles. Yeah well, it's this bodybuilding kinda thing and living cell theraphy.... maybe.... and of course missing all those unhealthy appetizers from the past. It's only the voice, which has never changed. And he knows this. Compared to him, drummer Roger Taylor, who is the same age like Paul, seems rather like methusalem  or Merlin the magician. jes....wept... the tooth of time has taken it's toll. - 'It's kinda magic' in the truest sense of the word. 


Bryan showing his Octoberfest Souvenir

The rest of this show illusion is made up with great limelight expressions, the screen in the back of the stage and of course the catwalk presence. The boys hail the Octoberfest, dedicating this event - "39" - in a humpa humpa style.


Radio Gaga (thanks god only the short Version) comes up of course and the rather untypical Queen song 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'. - Fortunately one track is missing - 'Bicycle', the song with the most silly lyrics ever....



Rodgers is living up  even more, performing his own songs - 'Bad Company' and 'All Right Now'. You can feel, he now in 100% in his elements. And once again I think, how nice it would be, if Bad Company came back in the Original Line-up. Actually recently there was such a happening in the states at some award occassion. But that was only a unique happening for once. - No, he doesn't need to anyway, because he earns enough with his Queen collegues, is up to the top again and includes good old Freddie in his evening prayer every night. His life insurance is surely paid for good. 

’The Show Must Go On’ - is the slogan therefore and is followed by 'bohmenian Rhapsody'. The encore then includes another 4 songs, most of all 'All Right Now' and closes finally down with.... yes of course..... 'We Are The Champions'... and this is no lie in whatever way, including changing their shirts for at least five times during the whole show time. 


So, who gives a f..... about these little voice problems and some other weak spots, most fans didn't get aware of anyway. Fact is, that 12.000 people freak out when the level of 180 on the blood pressure scale has been reached. The devotion and applause is endless and the next band - 6 figures fee,  is secured. That's why I'm pretty sure, that the next and third visit of Queen and Paul Rodgers is already fixed in their second hometown Munich, whenever this will be in the future. And we all will be back again as well and will enjoy another dejavu with Freddie, who became eternal in the music, also with Brian May's guitar playing ad Roger Taylors serious pensioneers aura. And yes of course.... we will listen again, to one of the greatest voices accompanied by the most charming smile ever in Rock'n'Roll... Paul Rodgers - we luv ya' as well.... 
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