I wish to ask you a question that I hope will inspire some interesting and meaningful responses. It's been asked before, but I'll ask it again. Why are you dedicated to Queen? What makes them so unique and special to you? Here is my answer to the question I've sought after for quite some time...
Queen, without a doubt, is one of the most diverse artists in terms of musical styles and genres. That's the main reason behind why I've been so dedicated to them, it's because they were more than just a rock band. Before I ever got into Queen I was a diligent musician in the high school band who, for the most part, spent his time in the classical realm of music. So, once I picked up my first Queen album I was amazed at the sophistication of their music. They truly loved music, not just rock and roll. They simply used the rock and roll scene to channel their creative thoughts and ideas. It's truly unique. The only time they went too far into one genre/style of music was in 1982 with Hot Space, otherwise they remained quite diverse and varied throughout their career.
The band also immersed themselves in harmony. As a musician and recreational composer, I absolutely adore their delicately structured orchestrations. Paul Rodgers noted that it takes Brian May very little effort to orchestrate his harmonies, and as for Freddie Mercury, just listen to 'You Take My Breath Away'. The vocal harmonies are magnificent.
I'd like to add that their diversity in taste of music is equivalent to that of their influences. Not only that, but the people who influenced the band were quite diverse. Consider this, one of Freddie Mercury's all time favorite singers was a gospel/pop singer; Aretha Franklin. Later on, Freddie Mercury became fascinated with and performed with the famous opera singer Montserrat Caballe'. In fact, I think Freddie Mercury spent more time listening to opera, gospel, and other various types of music (including classical composer Chopin), than rock and roll. That's not to say, however, that he didn't like Jimi Hendrix, because it's a known fact that was one of his influences as well. As for Brian May and Roger Taylor, well, there goes your typical rock and rollers. They were particularly influenced by The Beatles among many other rock acts of their time. As for John Deacon, listening to his compositions tells me that he was quite fond of funk and latino sounds (to some extent). I suppose the key word when it comes to Queen is 'diversity'.
Thread
Posts in chronological order
I got into Queen very early in their career.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I got into Queen very early in their career.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)
my story is very simple,i fell in love with his voice
I have to agree with the previous posters—I am dedicated to Queen because of their diversity, their obvious love of music and dedication to putting out the best material they were capable of producing. There have been some other bands who brought a lot of diversity to their music (The Beatles come to mind) but I think Queen did all those different styles infinitely better. All four members wrote songs and brought to their music a far range of musical influences. And I can’t think of any singer who has the tremendous versatility of Freddie Mercury.
I enjoy the fact that Queen didn’t follow the musical trends (with a few exceptions) and just continued to do what they knew they did best. Because of that, I think their music doesn’t sound as dated as some of the music of that era tends to do; most of it sounds as good today as it did decades ago. That is one of the reasons they are still attaining new fans, old and young. It is also the reason I come back to listen to them so often and find myself discovering things in their music I never noticed before.
I enjoy the fact that Queen didn’t follow the musical trends (with a few exceptions) and just continued to do what they knew they did best. Because of that, I think their music doesn’t sound as dated as some of the music of that era tends to do; most of it sounds as good today as it did decades ago. That is one of the reasons they are still attaining new fans, old and young. It is also the reason I come back to listen to them so often and find myself discovering things in their music I never noticed before.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]saltnvinegar wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I got into Queen very early in their career.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)[/QUOTE]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)[/QUOTE]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun.
talent, unity, diversity, sound, voice, guitar, live
I've been a casual Queen fan since the seventies, and, for me, it was the melodies which drew me in. Brian's guitar, and, Freddie's voice, along with, of course, the compositions and harmonies made for a unique and powerful sound, which really made an impression on me, as a kid. I also had a friend who was a professional singer--someone I greatly admired. I was just a kid, around eleven/twelvish, and, she used to take me to concerts(among them: Led Zeppelin), and, she was a HUGE Queen fan. She used to tell me that she wished she could have a couple hours with Freddie, as she thought he had the most exquisite voice!
Didn't become a freakish fan until, years later, seeing an interview on television where someone was describing Freddie's voice, tearfully, and, realized I missed Queen, and, their melodies. Went out and bought a GH cassette(yes, casette...I am ancient), and, fell in love, all over again. I also realized that, though I had always loved Queen, I had, in fact, taken them for granted.
Great thread! I have enjoyed reading about everyones experiences!
Didn't become a freakish fan until, years later, seeing an interview on television where someone was describing Freddie's voice, tearfully, and, realized I missed Queen, and, their melodies. Went out and bought a GH cassette(yes, casette...I am ancient), and, fell in love, all over again. I also realized that, though I had always loved Queen, I had, in fact, taken them for granted.
Great thread! I have enjoyed reading about everyones experiences!
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun. [/QUOTE]
Thanks RMT (may I call you that?!) and believe me, I really wish I could go back to the 70's and see Queen from the beginning like you did.
It's strange, I shouldn't really care about rags like Record Mirror, NME etc but I do. I think it's because back then, they were responsible for influencing (or should I say brain washing) an awful lot of impressionable young people regarding what was and wasn't 'cool' to listen to. There's a certain generation today, my friends included, who still go by the articles they read in such publications and consequently treat Queen with disdain. They haven't even listened to their vast back catalogue but you can just trace their sneery condescension to something they read in an old Melody Maker.
I am also a huge Beatles fan but, to be honest, if Queen had written something like 'Ob La Di Ob la Da', those 'rock journalists' would have pulled it to pieces but because the Fab Four created it, it gets a more affectionate respect.
Anyhow, to get slightly back on topic, that attitude is one of the reasons why I love the band so much. They had a certain irony and humour to them that went over the heads of so many detractors. To be a Queen fan is to be in on the joke and while you laugh you can also marvel at the amazing music they produced.
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun. [/QUOTE]
Thanks RMT (may I call you that?!) and believe me, I really wish I could go back to the 70's and see Queen from the beginning like you did.
It's strange, I shouldn't really care about rags like Record Mirror, NME etc but I do. I think it's because back then, they were responsible for influencing (or should I say brain washing) an awful lot of impressionable young people regarding what was and wasn't 'cool' to listen to. There's a certain generation today, my friends included, who still go by the articles they read in such publications and consequently treat Queen with disdain. They haven't even listened to their vast back catalogue but you can just trace their sneery condescension to something they read in an old Melody Maker.
I am also a huge Beatles fan but, to be honest, if Queen had written something like 'Ob La Di Ob la Da', those 'rock journalists' would have pulled it to pieces but because the Fab Four created it, it gets a more affectionate respect.
Anyhow, to get slightly back on topic, that attitude is one of the reasons why I love the band so much. They had a certain irony and humour to them that went over the heads of so many detractors. To be a Queen fan is to be in on the joke and while you laugh you can also marvel at the amazing music they produced.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Dusta wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
I also realized that, though I had always loved Queen, I had, in fact, taken them for granted.
[/QUOTE]
That's a very good point and honest too. The old saying 'you don't realise what you had till it's gone' may be appropriate for you there Dusta. Luckily now though we have all their music and dvds to enjoy. I shudder to imagine if I'd never discovered them at all!
I also realized that, though I had always loved Queen, I had, in fact, taken them for granted.
[/QUOTE]
That's a very good point and honest too. The old saying 'you don't realise what you had till it's gone' may be appropriate for you there Dusta. Luckily now though we have all their music and dvds to enjoy. I shudder to imagine if I'd never discovered them at all!
I love their diversity. They also really know how to connect with the listeners. I remember my friend just had them on her iPod. She told me to listen to You're My Best Friend. That's when my obsession started :). I am working on obtaining all their dvds and albums and almost anything of Queen by the time I'm 20. No one at my school really knows Queen. But I saw a guy wearing an awesome Queen black shirt. I complimented him and he just said thanks, but he looked angry. My friends suggested that he didn't have a Queen spirit.
So true, and, sometimes, in the back of my mind, I wonder if Freddie really knew how appreciated his voice and, other musical endeavors, truly were. Brian, Roger and John are around, now, to see the legacy, but, I think Freddie left before the legacy was fully realized, and, understood.[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]saltnvinegar wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Dusta wrote: [/QUOTENAME]
I also realized that, though I had always loved Queen, I had, in fact, taken them for granted.
[/QUOTE]
That's a very good point and honest too. The old saying 'you don't realise what you had till it's gone' may be appropriate for you there Dusta. Luckily now though we have all their music and dvds to enjoy. I shudder to imagine if I'd never discovered them at all![/QUOTE]
I also realized that, though I had always loved Queen, I had, in fact, taken them for granted.
[/QUOTE]
That's a very good point and honest too. The old saying 'you don't realise what you had till it's gone' may be appropriate for you there Dusta. Luckily now though we have all their music and dvds to enjoy. I shudder to imagine if I'd never discovered them at all![/QUOTE]
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]saltnvinegar wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I got into Queen very early in their career.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)[/QUOTE]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun. [/QUOTE]
Didn't Roger Taylor say "If John Peel was here now, I'd give him a good thumping"?????
I think so, and it had to do with John Peel commenting on Queen and aparthied, calling Queen 'Sun City Boys' or something like that. And Roger and Freddie were upset, and Roger threatened him.
I have the article somewhere... it's also probably on QueenCuttings.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)[/QUOTE]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun. [/QUOTE]
Didn't Roger Taylor say "If John Peel was here now, I'd give him a good thumping"?????
I think so, and it had to do with John Peel commenting on Queen and aparthied, calling Queen 'Sun City Boys' or something like that. And Roger and Freddie were upset, and Roger threatened him.
I have the article somewhere... it's also probably on QueenCuttings.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME].*.Messenger: Jake Pyndle.*. wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]saltnvinegar wrote: [/QUOTENAME][QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Roger Meadows Tailor wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I got into Queen very early in their career.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)[/QUOTE]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun. [/QUOTE]
Didn't Roger Taylor say "If John Peel was here now, I'd give him a good thumping"?????
I think so, and it had to do with John Peel commenting on Queen and aparthied, calling Queen 'Sun City Boys' or something like that. And Roger and Freddie were upset, and Roger threatened him.
I have the article somewhere... it's also probably on QueenCuttings.[/QUOTE]
About John Peel.
Sorry Jake,i never realised there was animosity between Queen and him.I read somewhere in one of his biogs that he seemed to be ok with them.
I stand corrected.
I was fortunate enough to see them live supporting Mott The Hoople in '74 before i bought my first Queen album.
I can remember being impressed with them and thinking here's a band who are attempting to play different styles of music in the one gig.
Harmonies wise,i know they ripped off Sweet and to a lesser degree The Beatles.Queen,for me,took their ideas and did them better.
When i bought Queen,just after that show,i listened to it and loved the fact that they were so meticulous in their approach to their music (even then).They didnt stick to any one formula like bands like Yes or Deep Purple did.Queen's music was pushing boundaries never heard of in Rock music.Thats what probably got up a lot of the journalists arses at the time.
Freddie certainly did bring ballet to the masses and thats absolutely fine by me. [/QUOTE]
Thanks for sharing your story, I love to hear from people who were there 'as it began' so to speak. You mentioned the journalists in your post, would you say they were 'anti-Queen' from the start or was it more of a gradual move? I think that back in the 70's, they once did a session on the John Peel show but I know for a fact that all the Peelie disciples would balk at the mention of Queen now. I'm curious to know the exact events leading to the critical backlash.(Apologies to the OP for going a bit off topic)[/QUOTE]
Hi saltnvinegar
Yes i would say that journalists had a problem with Queen right from the beginning.You see,they liked to play a game of "lets pidgeon-hole every band that exists" and they couldnt do that with Queen.Some of them even had a problem with Freddie's sexuality and also because of the fact that he didnt look and act like Robert Plant.I remember one journalist in the Record Mirror (a totally shit music rag that existed in the UK in the 70's and 80's) describing Freddie as being "too poofy".Totally ignoring the fact that he was a utterly consummate singer and performer,even in the early days.That's why for years Freddie wouldnt give any interviews(or very little)
You have to remember that John Peel was a champion of more or less unsigned bands and so therefore people of that ilk looked upon bands like Queen with disdain,claiming them to be the hierachy.John ,of course ,did not.I think he might even have been considered to be a freind of the band.
I wish i could take you back to the 70's to see Queen as i saw them.It would be fun. [/QUOTE]
Didn't Roger Taylor say "If John Peel was here now, I'd give him a good thumping"?????
I think so, and it had to do with John Peel commenting on Queen and aparthied, calling Queen 'Sun City Boys' or something like that. And Roger and Freddie were upset, and Roger threatened him.
I have the article somewhere... it's also probably on QueenCuttings.[/QUOTE]
About John Peel.
Sorry Jake,i never realised there was animosity between Queen and him.I read somewhere in one of his biogs that he seemed to be ok with them.
I stand corrected.
Someone once described Queen's music as angelic and orgasmic at the same time. I thought this was a great way to describe it. The level of emotion in their music compares to no other band.