Maynard James Keenan + Billy Howerdel - Bohemian Rhapsody

"Maynard and I played 'Bohemian Rhapsody' with the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra and a choir of I believe over a hundred people. It was just Maynard and I, the choir and the orchestra. He and I were on this catwalk, Bon Jovi style circa 1985, at the Staple Center in LA playing that song, and I'd never played it, never knew a piece of it. I got the call three days before, so it was a huge cram session to learn that song. That was certainly a highlight of my musical career, being in front of a lot of people just feeling completely naked and having to just let it go, and trying to remember the song right up to the very very last second." - Billy Howerdel, 5/10/2011

"There was a party at the Staples Center in L.A. for the release of 'Guitar Hero' and apparently Brian May (legendary guitarist of Queen) was going to play guitar, and had to back out. Somehow, there was some kind of production mix-up. This is the story I heard -- someone thought, 'Oh, we'll just have a guitar on tape.' Then production freaked out -- the theme of the thing is 'Guitar Hero,' after all. They freaked out, realizing they needed a guitar player. Maynard literally texted me right then when they were talking about it, and said, 'If it's all right, come down and do it.' I came down and did it, and it was nice to be back onstage together again, and I think it sparked the idea of making this (A Perfect Circle) tour happen." - Billy Howerdel, 8/4/2011

Maynard James Keenan & Billy Howerdel - Bohemian Rhapsody Queen Cover Live from Activision E3 2010 Video Game Conference with full choir LA philharmonic orchestra players. Thanks to bulljazzable for taping gear to get the audio track.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Maynard
• James
• Keenan
• Billy
• Howerdel
• Bohemian
• Rhapsody
• Queen
• Cover
• Perfect
• Circle
• TooL
• Guitar
• Hero

[inphanta]

Never mind this, Maynard how about you and the rest of the Tool boys get together and record a new album?

[3libras1971]

73 people need hearing aids and probably weren't even alive when Freddy was. Quite a nice tribute if you ask me. FM would be proud of his performance. As far as the high notes, what do you think the choir was there for? MJK has the vocal range and can easily hit those highs but this was an ensemble performance.

[BradyGoldie]

@MagicRazor8 i think it's Maynard. Talkin backstage thro a mic on accident.

[jasonite]

It's a nice tribute, but some of this just sounds terrible.

[MagicRazor8]

"I can do whatever I want" Did anybody hear that 14 seconds in?

[MrArenVartanian]

wow how good was freddy mercury , that Manyards amazing voice is having trouble singing the notes

[Psychoreu]

Wait....is that maynard singing? then why does the guy on guitar look exactly like him? o.O

[Psychoreu]

3:46 Maynard replies on his phone "dammit, brian, you owe me!"

[Seth6581]

@inphanta I feel the same way...Tool could be just as spectacular as this if not more.

[truthinsubmission]

They should've went straight into Momma Sed after this.

[JestersGeneration]

the very ending haha!

[killerzebra75]

There needs to be Danny Carry drums in this