Paul Rogers @ MindSay 
**Fri 17 Mar 06**
ROYAL LINEAGE: A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF QUEEN
BUFFALO NEWS 3/17/2006 - Jeff Miers
June 6, 1971 - Queen gives its first public performance, in Hornsey Town Hall, London, England. The theatricality that will help catapult the band to the top - and the blend of searing, regal guitar tones, powerful vocal harmonies and propulsive rhythm section - is already in full evidence.
July 6, 1973 - Queen's self-titled debut album is released. It includes timeless tunes like "Keep Yourself Alive," "Great King Rat," "Liar" and "Jesus."
May 17, 1975 - The band grabs its first U.S. Top 20 hit, the eclectic "Killer Queen," from its third album, "Sheer Heart Attack."
Dec. 27, 1975 - "A Night at the Opera," the band's career-defining masterpiece, tops the U.K. album charts, partly on the strength of the groundbreaking seven-minute mini-opera "Bohemian Rhapsody." The band has officially broken through to the big time.
Feb. 4, 1978 - "We Are the Champions," backed with "We Will Rock You," both culled from the album "News of the World," is held back from the No. 1 spot on the U.S. singles chart by the dulcet disco tones of the Bee Gees' "Stayin Alive."
Feb. 23, 1980 - Queen finally gets its first U.S. No. 1 hit, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," from the massively successful "The Game" album. By September, "The Game" will top the album charts, where it will reign for five consecutive weeks.
March 3, 1984 - The band's "Radio Ga-Ga" hits the U.S. Top 40. The band will perform the song as part of its show-stealing set at the Live Aid concert, a few months later.
Aug. 9, 1986 - Queen plays its final show with Freddie Mercury, a powerful gig before an appreciative audience inside Britain's Knebworth Stadium.
Nov. 24, 1991 - Shortly after the release of his final album with the band, the passionate return-to-form "Innuendo," Freddie Mercury dies of AIDS-related illness, at his home in London.
March 19, 2001 - Queen is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 16th annual ceremonies by Dave Grohl and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters.
March 17, 2006 - Queen, with new vocalist Paul Rodgers, came to the HSBC Arena, for its first Buffalo show in 24 years.
Freddie's gone but was not forgotten, last night at HSBC Arena, a little less than 24 hours ago. It didn't take long for the mood to lift for just as the black curtain dropped and the band rocked with such naughty favorites as Tie Your Mother Down and Fat Bottomed Girls the croud roared with excitement. New singer Paul Rodgers of Free and Bad Company was backed up by some monstrously loud playing from Queen guitarist Brian May, and Queen drummer Roger Taylor, both decked out in head-to-toe white. The trio was also joined on stage by ex-Blue Oyster Cult bassist Danny Miranda, guitarist Jamie Moses of the Brian May Band, and longtime Queen sideman Spike Edney on keyboards. (Queen bassist John Deacon retired from touring.) Rodgers, naturally, really shone on the Bad Company anthem Feel Like Makin' Love, filled out by lovely harmonies from the other band members, not to mention monster playing by both May and Taylor. He later rose from the stage, playing a piano for Bad Company, and quickly followed that up with another great Bad Company hit, Can't Get Enough. But the first really poignant moment in the show came when May walked out to the tiny stage on the floor to play acoustic guitar and sing on his own. At least initially.
"You guys are great, fantastic, thank you for this welcome back," said the guitarist, 58. "I sincerely thought it would never happen. This is a great bonus in my life. I hope it's a great night in yours."
"This is for Freddie," said May before launching into Love Of My Life, which saw him accompanied by the crowd's voices. May then strapped on an electric guitar and was joined by Rodgers and Taylor, both 56, and the rest of the band for Hammer To Fall, which May described as "my little old song of peace." Taylor even took over on lead vocals on I'm In Love With My Car, after a drum solo, and These Are The Days, which saw black-and-white vintage footage of Mercury playing on video screens behind him to huge cheers from the audience. Speaking of Mercury, he would later return again to sing a videotaped concert version of Bohemian Rhapsody, before Rodgers and the rest of the band eventually took over the song live. This was a wise move on everyone's part given the song's legendary challenging vocals.
The Set List:
INTRO BEAUTIFUL DAY
REACHING OUT - FAT BOTTOMED GIRLS - TIE YOUR MOTHER DOWN - I WANT TO BREAKFREE - TAKE LOVE - CRAZY LITTLE THING - LOVE OF MY LIFE - HAMMER TO FALL - FEEL LIKE MAKIN' LOVE - UNDER PRESSURE (first time on US soil) - DRUM SOLO - I'M IN LOVE WITH MY CAR - GUITAR SOLO - LAST HORIZON - BAD COMPANY - CAN'T GET ENOUGH - ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST - DRAGON ATTACK - DAYS OF OUR LIVES - RADIO GA GA - SHOW MUST GO ON - BO RAP
Encore: WE WILL ROCK YOU - ALL RIGHT NOW - WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
