Founded in 1989, the Liverpool based GaGa is now billed as presenting the ultimate tribute to perhaps one of the world's greatest rock bands.
The present line up of guys - Graham Patrick (drums/vocals), John Holmes (lead vocals, guitar and keyboards) and Tony Pilling (bass guitar, vocals) do not try to impersonate Queen, but focus on recreating the same sound, energy and excitement of an original live Queen show.
Having tended to avoid tribute band concerts - one i did dare to see last year appearing like cheap caricatures of the originals - I ventured forth to this ultimate tribute show.
The Corn Exchange was packed with people of all ages, an excited and interactive audience soon rocking to some of this famed band's lesser known songs which led to a second half full of all of their best loved anthems - Radio Ga Ga, Killer Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody and We Will Rock You.
A rapturous crowd were on their feet singing along. A really great atmosphere - a really great night!
SANDRA DUDLEY
Lat week's day of rest was brought to life by a crowded and enthusiastic audience at the Floral Pavilion. A diverse audience of all ages welcomed one of the guitar festival's regular favourites, the three members of Queen tribute band GAGA.
Plasinly dressed in the own taste GAGA didn't need any cheesy Queen imitation costumes to entertain the audience, their unaided musical talent was more than enough.
As they ran through the whole range of Queen songs, many classic, some very familiar and some not so well known, GAGA included the audience throughout inviting them to join in with the vocals creating an excellent atmosphere. "We Will Rock You" and "We Are The Champions" were saved for the finish causing a standing ovation and had people dancing in the isles, this really was an excellent concert for any fan of Queen to thoroughly enjoy.
GaGa was the first band to receive permission from Queen's management to record Queen songs onto CD.
Queen's guitarist, Brian May, asked for a copy of their first CD entitled 'A Tribute to Queen' released back in 1995.
He later stated that he thought GaGa were excellent and stylish musicians.
GaGa has played in a diverse catalogue of shows with artists
such as Squeeze, Frank Skinner, Spice Girls, Space, Mike Reid, 911 and Lindisfarne.
The band do not dress up and for this they make no apologies.
Those expecting to see a band where the musicians look and dress like Queen will leave the show sadly disappointed.
GaGa's two hour performances have built up an excellent reputation with both fans and critics alike.
This year should prove to be no exception.
With a fresh bass player, an even bigger, better light show, a sound system to match and with audience participation encouraged throughout, the show promises to be 'a kind of magic'.
ABBA and the Beatles have already been and the Rolling Stones are heading for Swansea next month. Not the real bands, of course, because they have either split up or the city has failed to get a suitable site for the big gigs.
The latest group to hit town were Ga Ga, appearing at the Grand Theatre to keep the music of Queen and the memory of Freddie Mercury alive.
The music spanned three decades and was performed for an enthusiastic audience ranging from grans to grandchildren.
Meaty drumming and some sparkling guitar recreated the brilliant sounds of one of the world's most successful rock bands.
Ga Ga did their best to give a concert feel to a theatre setting and at the end had people on their feet - dancing, swaying, clapping and singing.
Just the way Freddie would have wanted it.
JIM from Dudley had his teeth specially fixed by a London dentist, to make him look even more like Freddie Mercury.
Such is the height of devotion inspired by the great rock band Queen. And such was the warm, friendly atmosphere at this concert, that Jim and I were able to exchange such snippets of information.
GaGa - John Holmes, Dave Harding and Graham Patrick - make no attempt to look like their idols, but perform Queen's greatest hits with enormous dexterity.
The latest attraction to their live shows is the inclusion of selected tracks from Made In Heaven, the final album Queen recorded before Freddie's death in 1991. The albums opening song, It's a Beautiful Day, made a fitting start to the two-hour gig, putting the audience in headbanging mode.
Such classics as I Want To Break Free, A Kind of Magic and Killer Queen were lapped up by the voracious crowd. And John's version of Brian May's Brighton Rock solo received a well-deserved standing ovation.
In the second half, the frenzied dancing started with a vengence. A stampede before the stage heralded the sound of such masterpieces as We Will Rock You, One Vision and the magnificent Bohemian Rhapsody. Naturally, the highlight was Radio GaGa, an excellent live track with a stomping hand-clapping chorus.
GaGa went out with a bang, ending - as the real Queen did at their 1986 Wembley extravaganza - with the anthemic We Are The Champions and a rendition of God Save The Queen.
An amazing experience was shared by all. As Jim would say, "Absolutely bostin"!
Leigh Rowley
Denise Silcock - A Kind Of Magic
Winged Messenger
Pop Life magazine
Liverpool Echo
THERE are tribute bands and there are tribute bands.
Some leave you elated - others leave you cold.
Well Ga Ga come into the first category.
Their "Serious Queen" tour is a pure delight and a fitting tribute to the late Freddie Mercury and his unforgettable group.
From the moment they stepped on to the stage at the Victoria Hall, Hanley, the three lads from Liverpool were on to a right royal winner.
The audience loved them, the atmosphere was brilliant and most of all the three dedicated fans dished up a musical treat to their idols.
Everyone joined in as John Holmes sang the emotional "Love of my Life" and by the time the group reached "Radio Ga Ga" and "We Are The Champions" everyone in the hall was on their feet swaying, clapping and singing to those memorable tunes.
It looked great from the balcony. Those guys from Ga Ga put on an absolutely cracking performance.
They have been invited to play at the prestigious 1996 Queen Convention which doesn't surprise me because they have shown they are a force to be reckoned with.
Review Dianne Gibbons