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Brian May is giving the thumbs down to my review of the Queen + Adam Lambert concert on July 14 at the SAP Center in San Jose.
The legendary guitarist, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Queen in 2001, particularly took issue with the “tribute band” label I used to describe his current touring outfit.
“I have to say that being called a ‘tribute band’ by some half-assed critic in the local paper is an insult I will not quickly forget,” May posted on Instagram. “We don’t need your condescension, Sonny Jim. That’s my life’s work you’re dismissing there.”
It should be noted that the review was positive overall, filled with such comments as “the music sounded pretty great as Lambert, the two longtime Queen rockers — guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor — and their sidemen opened the show with ‘Now I’m Here’ and then continued through such gold nuggets as ‘Somebody to Love,’ ‘Keep Yourself Alive’ and ‘Killer Queen.'”
Yet, those type of compliments were apparently lost on May.
“I guess you’re the only one who didn’t really ’get it’ in that wonderful rockin’ crowd tonight in the good ol’ SAP Center,” he continued in the post.
May wasn’t the only one who wasn’t happy with the “tribute band” comment. It also riled up several fans, who let their dissatisfaction be known on social media.
YOU SAID “…. at its core, a highly paid tribute act.” Obviously, you don’t have a clue! You insulted Brian May and Roger Taylor! 😱. Rock Royalty! Loved them for years – rock on QUEEN! 🥁🎸 Bad review Jim 👎
— SouthernGirlnLA (@RicosDD) July 15, 2019
This article lost me at "cover band" which is the ultimate insult to Brian & Roger…It would serve you well to dust off your dictionary and look up the definition of your cringe worthy term "Cover Band" describing a legendary show of epic proportions
— debbielynn (@canadaluvsadam) July 15, 2019
https://twitter.com/eva_friederike/status/1150737600052891650
https://twitter.com/robininny/status/1150785424555675648
https://twitter.com/QueenieOfNorway/status/1150782644071948288
