This may just be a stupid question, considering their solid status as rock legends, but I was watching a documentary a couple weeks ago about them and all most of the rock stars they interviewed seemed to almost be damning them with faint praise. It got me to wondering if more serious musicians see them as a shallow, theatrical flashy group with not much real substance.
Rush takes a pot-shot at them in liner notes to one of their 80’s albums. Maybe Grace Under Pressure? Don’t remember.
Basically it was,* “We recorded this album over six months. Queen did three albums while we were there”.* Something to that effect.
Oh, Snap!
When they first recorded, there was a lot of hostility toward them in the UK, who characterized them as a second-rate Led Zeppelin (who were not critical darlings themselves).
Freddy Mercury’s flamboyant stage persona probably didn’t help. I remember one quote talking scornfully about his skintight jumpsuits. US fans were less likely to see that.
Things changed with A Night at the Opera.
To my knowledge they are loved and respected by most musicians. Speaking to the one I know best, Brian May is highly respected guitar hero.
Imo, I would listen to Queen any day of the week over Rush.
That’s been my impression as well from the interviews I’ve read. Thanks for confirming it.
I’m not entirely sure how that’s a pot shot. Sounds more like they could record three solid albums in the time it took Rush to do one.
And Freddie Mercury is unquestionably one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
Well what do you define as “serious musicians”? Classical and jazz musicians? Most of them have attitudes from neglect to outright hostility to rock music.
Critics? Well back in the 70s a lot of critics hated Queen (Rolling Stone did a ridiculous review of “Jazz” that called them the “first facist rock group”) but that was standard for most huge acts in the 70s that had no roots in the sixties rock scene (Zeppelin, Sabbath, Eagles, etc.). And most of those same critics (and most modern day ones) praise the band.
As far as other rock musicians, just check out the “influences” section of Queen’s Wiki article.
That’s exactly what I was going to ask. I make my living as a musician, but by no means am I a classical or jazz player, and I’ve never described myself as a “serious musician”. If you’re still interested in my opinion, haha, I love Queen. I mean, I’m only familiar with their greatest hits, not their deep cuts, but Freddie Mercury’s voice is astounding, and the rest of the band is stellar as well. Great melodies, (mostly) strong lyrics… what more could you ask for?
Yeah, I question the idea of “serious musicians”, too. There are all flavors of musicians out there. Most of us take it pretty seriously. I’ve never made my living on music, but I rarely play for free if it’s not a benefit. I can play some baroque pieces on a completely incorrect instrument, and I know plenty of theory; but my current band would be described as “Garage Rock” by most.
Now, if you mean people with music degrees; I also went to a school that had one hell of a music department (no, I was nowhere near good enough to be in there, I was in the Fine Arts department). I knew plenty of Jazzers and people going for performance and composition degrees. I didn’t take a poll, but I don’t remember people badmouthing Queen. Sure, there were the folks who couldn’t be bothered to know who any rock band was, but they were rare.
But, if there was anything I was surprised by the “serious musicians” latching on to from Rock, it was The Doors. Almost everyone I knew who could actually play a keyboard (i.e. could move beyond chord accompaniment) would rip out “Riders on the Storm” or “Light My Fire” on occasion, and seem to be actually enjoying themselves, even if they laughed about it being an incredibly simple song to them while playing it.
Either way, even my Beatles-hating* drummer likes himself some occasional Queen. I myself lurve myself some queen, except for “We are the Champions” – I like over the top, I just never liked that song much.
*No, seriously. He hates the Beatles. The singer and I sometimes play the intro to “Day Tripper” to irritate him. He’s the only person I’ve ever seen actually take sides in the Stones Vs. Beatles thing, and means it.
Good thing Weird Al rescued them from declining popularity and eventual obscurity.
:D:D:D
Seriously, listen to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, followed by Weird Al’s Ringtone. There’s a definite Queen influence on that one.
Also, check out this crowd at a Greenday concert in London a few days ago with 65,000 voices in unison singing Bohemian Rhapsody. 
That’s because it’s a Queen style parody.
John Lennon and “maybe” Freddie Mercury were the only two songwriters that Roger Waters was willing to rank above himself.
I knew that. 
I know a fellow who is a seriously gifted musician. He’s played (filled in for missing permanent band members) for everyone from Kings of Leon to Heart to Sarah McLachlan. He also used to play and write songs for a band in NYC that enjoyed moderate local success. And he’s still not successful enough to give up his day job.
So while I haven’t asked him, I think most “serious” musicians would love to experience the joy of writing one hit song, let alone several. I think most would give their right foot to experience playing to a sold out crowd at Wembley, and having tens of thousands of fans singing along, and it doesn’t matter if you’re a cellist in an orchestra or the lead singer of a rock band. It doesn’t take but a bit of imagination to realize how cool that would be. And I think most are jealous as hell at anyone who can make a living, let alone serious cash, by playing music.
So, even if they might sneer a little bit at the insipid lyrics of “I want to ride my bicycle!” it’s very hard to argue with success.
I don’t see the problem. Serious musician. Agree?
A really nice source for casual reading about great musical artists is Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Artists. Each of the reviews is written by another musician. Queen rank between The Allman Brothers Band and Pink Floyd at No 52. Their writeup is from Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance:
My favorite quote in all the pieces is Dave Grohl Talking about Led Zeppelin (No 14):
True. Also, Queen’s bassist, John Deacon, is very highly respected among bassists, myself included. Incredibly inventive, melodic bass parts that are intricate and ornate, yet never in the way of the other instruments or not serving the song.
From what I hear, Roger Taylor is a highly rated rock drummer, as well. Freddie as a world class vocalist and frontman is general knowledge. I have never met a musician that didn’t think so. So, all members of the band are favorably viewed by serious musicians.
What Queen lack, IME, is some cred in the song-writing / album department. They wrote a whole bunch of classic songs, but loads of duds, as well. The early albums rock hard in places, but also contain quirky vaudeville numbers and ultra-sappy ballads many Menly Men can’t stomach too well (I love both), while their later albums are patchy, weird disco rock potpuris. Too poppy for rockers, too rocky for popsters. Disposable pop, as Mercury himself said sometime in the 80’s.