Well, food for brain of some people in this thread. Just two quotes from Brian talking about how he got into AC30s.
'I went to see Rory Gallagher at the Marquee club one night - and Rory had the sound that I was looking for. I just completely fell in love with it. I loitered around after the show to ask him how he got his sound, and Rory, being a real gentleman - I was only a kid and he was a star - told me "Well, Brian, it's basically the AC30 and I have this little treble booster, it's a Rangemaster. That's what makes it sing." So the very next day I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30 and a Rangemaster'
- Brian, January 2008
'I plugged into all different amplifiers and I never could quite get what I needed. One day I walked into Top Gear in Wardour Street and there were some AC30s. I plugged into an AC30 with a little treble booster and suddenly the sound was there, it just sang to me. And that was it.'
- Brian, Autumn 2005
Both quotes not contradicts each other - he went to the shop (I've not idea about Top Gear being the secondhand shop though) and there was AC30, but guys, let's be honest stories are a little bit different. He went for AC30 because Rory told him and he loved the sound or he 'plugged into all' and then SUDDENLY the sound was in AC30? There's still possibility that the sound could be in Rory's guitar and there wouldn't be magic with the Red Special so he tried and suddenly the sound was there, okay, assumption only though, but anyway 'plugged into all' and 'I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30' are not identical.
I'm not declaring that Brian is liar, who am I to judge and open my mouth on the man who wrote '39? But his words are really fishily different from the year to year.
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This thread is still very interesting to me and there have been some really good posts in the last 24 hours. I nominate this as thread of the year. Haha.
Interviews are usually about the current or upcoming project - for promotion purposes only, but it is a waste, really. Some of the stuff could just be taken from a press release. I did think the Guitar Player magazine article did a good job. But there is so much more interesting information there I think. Probably a lot of these interviewers are not knowledgeable enough to ask a good follow-up question.
It would be great to read a book on all this with lots and lots of original information from Brian and Roger (and hopefully John). Maybe they are working on such a thing but are not talking about it at this point. I hope so. If they wait until they are in their 80's I think they might need the help of brain stimulation. But maybe by then it will be a common thing, like going to the dentist. Ha.
Interviews are usually about the current or upcoming project - for promotion purposes only, but it is a waste, really. Some of the stuff could just be taken from a press release. I did think the Guitar Player magazine article did a good job. But there is so much more interesting information there I think. Probably a lot of these interviewers are not knowledgeable enough to ask a good follow-up question.
It would be great to read a book on all this with lots and lots of original information from Brian and Roger (and hopefully John). Maybe they are working on such a thing but are not talking about it at this point. I hope so. If they wait until they are in their 80's I think they might need the help of brain stimulation. But maybe by then it will be a common thing, like going to the dentist. Ha.
Whether or not Brian is full of shit about this Paul Rodgers stuff, let's remember that at the time, Queen was struggling to get out there and just get their first album released. Paul Rodgers was the front man in a rock band that was popular and respected. Freddie Mercury was selling his drummer's jackets in a clothing stall to avoid the indignity of having to travel on a bus. Why wouldn't or couldn't Paul Rodgers be a hero to him? He was "doing it" and Freddie was a clothing salesman. Look at Sir GH. I think the musical's goofy, haven't seen it and won't see it because it holds no attraction to me. But as I sit in my room and jam along to Queen on my iTunes, would I trade places with Sir GH? In a heartbeat. He's out there "doing it", he loves what he's doing and there is a great honour and getting out there and living your dreams. Paul Rodgers was living his dream, and Freddie's dream also. I find that worthy of admiration, and if he didn't use the words "Paul Rodgers is MY HERO", I would bet that Paul Rodgers was "A" hero to Freddie because he was doing it.
'A' hero maybe, as well as many many others. 'One of his all-time favourites', absolutely not.
Agree with the above post. Paul should have been one of the singers Freddie would have looked up to in the early days. As a beginning singer/frontman looking at other artists for inspiration or learning Paul is a very good bet for one of the places where he would have looked.
Also: tried to post this earlier but it seems it got lost somehow.
It clearly means that Queen were influenced by Free in their formative years. Brian has numerous times said that Paul Kossoff was an early hero of his, but maybe he is lying about that too. It also shows that the Paul Rodgers/Free mentionings dont come from nothing. Both Brian and Roger has also mentioned the band going to Free concerts.
Furthermore Free as has been mentioned were the centre of the same musicscene that members of Queen were part of during that time. There is no arguing about Frees influence on British rock in those days. Next to Led Zeppelin they were the cream of the crop. Edison Lighthouse were a studio-only non-hit wonder bubble-gum band, Dave Edmunds was associated with the London blues-rock-scene, but mostly recorded novelty songs like sabre dance on those days. Black Sabbath were a Birmingham-band.
Why Paul hasnt been mentioned earlier is anyones guess, maybe the band were to image-conscious too mention Free that virtually everyone in the same position as themselves were influenced by, maybe they didnt want to associate themselves with the more macho-rock of Pauls later band Bad Company, maybe they wanted to gain a mystique about themselves. Also these kind of mentionings seem to turn up when the artist in question is newsworthy somehow. Lennon for example after he died, Hendrix has had numerous revivals. Paul has always been very much been musicians favourite.
My main point is that what Brian and Roger has said seems rather logical to me. Apart from Rogers quote about Paul being one of Freddies all-time favourite singers I cant see them saying anything else than that Paul was a favourite of Freddie in the early days. But maybe we interpret it differently:)
Also: tried to post this earlier but it seems it got lost somehow.
It clearly means that Queen were influenced by Free in their formative years. Brian has numerous times said that Paul Kossoff was an early hero of his, but maybe he is lying about that too. It also shows that the Paul Rodgers/Free mentionings dont come from nothing. Both Brian and Roger has also mentioned the band going to Free concerts.
Furthermore Free as has been mentioned were the centre of the same musicscene that members of Queen were part of during that time. There is no arguing about Frees influence on British rock in those days. Next to Led Zeppelin they were the cream of the crop. Edison Lighthouse were a studio-only non-hit wonder bubble-gum band, Dave Edmunds was associated with the London blues-rock-scene, but mostly recorded novelty songs like sabre dance on those days. Black Sabbath were a Birmingham-band.
Why Paul hasnt been mentioned earlier is anyones guess, maybe the band were to image-conscious too mention Free that virtually everyone in the same position as themselves were influenced by, maybe they didnt want to associate themselves with the more macho-rock of Pauls later band Bad Company, maybe they wanted to gain a mystique about themselves. Also these kind of mentionings seem to turn up when the artist in question is newsworthy somehow. Lennon for example after he died, Hendrix has had numerous revivals. Paul has always been very much been musicians favourite.
My main point is that what Brian and Roger has said seems rather logical to me. Apart from Rogers quote about Paul being one of Freddies all-time favourite singers I cant see them saying anything else than that Paul was a favourite of Freddie in the early days. But maybe we interpret it differently:)
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Serry... wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Well, food for brain of some people in this thread. Just two quotes from Brian talking about how he got into AC30s.
'I went to see Rory Gallagher at the Marquee club one night - and Rory had the sound that I was looking for. I just completely fell in love with it. I loitered around after the show to ask him how he got his sound, and Rory, being a real gentleman - I was only a kid and he was a star - told me "Well, Brian, it's basically the AC30 and I have this little treble booster, it's a Rangemaster. That's what makes it sing." So the very next day I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30 and a Rangemaster'
- Brian, January 2008
'I plugged into all different amplifiers and I never could quite get what I needed. One day I walked into Top Gear in Wardour Street and there were some AC30s. I plugged into an AC30 with a little treble booster and suddenly the sound was there, it just sang to me. And that was it.'
- Brian, Autumn 2005
Both quotes not contradicts each other - he went to the shop (I've not idea about Top Gear being the secondhand shop though) and there was AC30, but guys, let's be honest stories are a little bit different. He went for AC30 because Rory told him and he loved the sound or he 'plugged into all' and then SUDDENLY the sound was in AC30? There's still possibility that the sound could be in Rory's guitar and there wouldn't be magic with the Red Special so he tried and suddenly the sound was there, okay, assumption only though, but anyway 'plugged into all' and 'I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30' are not identical.
I'm not declaring that Brian is liar, who am I to judge and open my mouth on the man who wrote '39? But his words are really fishily different from the year to year.[/QUOTE]
You should try talking to my grandmother. Well, I also don't see the two versions as conflicting. I guess it would just be a matter of asking for clarification. It could be put together like this:
"I plugged into all different amplifiers and I never could quite get what I needed.... I went to see Rory Gallagher at the Marquee club one night - and Rory had the sound that I was looking for. I just completely fell in love with it. I loitered around after the show to ask him how he got his sound, and Rory, being a real gentleman - I was only a kid and he was a star - told me "Well, Brian, it's basically the AC30 and I have this little treble booster, it's a Rangemaster. That's what makes it sing." So the very next day I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30 and a Rangemaster.... I walked into Top Gear in Wardour Street and there were some AC30s. I plugged into an AC30 with a little treble booster and suddenly the sound was there, it just sang to me. And that was it."
'I went to see Rory Gallagher at the Marquee club one night - and Rory had the sound that I was looking for. I just completely fell in love with it. I loitered around after the show to ask him how he got his sound, and Rory, being a real gentleman - I was only a kid and he was a star - told me "Well, Brian, it's basically the AC30 and I have this little treble booster, it's a Rangemaster. That's what makes it sing." So the very next day I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30 and a Rangemaster'
- Brian, January 2008
'I plugged into all different amplifiers and I never could quite get what I needed. One day I walked into Top Gear in Wardour Street and there were some AC30s. I plugged into an AC30 with a little treble booster and suddenly the sound was there, it just sang to me. And that was it.'
- Brian, Autumn 2005
Both quotes not contradicts each other - he went to the shop (I've not idea about Top Gear being the secondhand shop though) and there was AC30, but guys, let's be honest stories are a little bit different. He went for AC30 because Rory told him and he loved the sound or he 'plugged into all' and then SUDDENLY the sound was in AC30? There's still possibility that the sound could be in Rory's guitar and there wouldn't be magic with the Red Special so he tried and suddenly the sound was there, okay, assumption only though, but anyway 'plugged into all' and 'I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30' are not identical.
I'm not declaring that Brian is liar, who am I to judge and open my mouth on the man who wrote '39? But his words are really fishily different from the year to year.[/QUOTE]
You should try talking to my grandmother. Well, I also don't see the two versions as conflicting. I guess it would just be a matter of asking for clarification. It could be put together like this:
"I plugged into all different amplifiers and I never could quite get what I needed.... I went to see Rory Gallagher at the Marquee club one night - and Rory had the sound that I was looking for. I just completely fell in love with it. I loitered around after the show to ask him how he got his sound, and Rory, being a real gentleman - I was only a kid and he was a star - told me "Well, Brian, it's basically the AC30 and I have this little treble booster, it's a Rangemaster. That's what makes it sing." So the very next day I went out scouring the secondhand shops for an AC30 and a Rangemaster.... I walked into Top Gear in Wardour Street and there were some AC30s. I plugged into an AC30 with a little treble booster and suddenly the sound was there, it just sang to me. And that was it."
Yes, it's possible, but as you see we have to mix those quotes in the special way, add some of our imagination, then add a dash of salt and say 'It could be like that'. Could? Could. Couldn't? Couldn't. But why the story can't be the same whenever someone asks about it (meeting with Rory wasn't that important? He said himself 'he was a star' and he was a boy, this legend about Rory's advice should be repeating thru the decades, IMO, just like another one about Hendrix asking 'Which is way')? Why the new details are always appearing to the event that was short in terms of time and which happened damned 40 years ago? I don't make conclusions, I'm asking - why?
It's like to talk with the girl when you wanna know if she's single or not:
I was married once...
Was? Great!
Now I'm married for the second time.
Ouch...
And I have the kid.
Jesus...
Three. Three kids actually.
New facts come with new quotes about the SAME event. That's just an example how Brian's memory works, it's not something like 'He didn't met with Rory', it's more like (IMO) - he still can't find the answer for himself what was more important for him - Rory's advice, the sound, the illumination of truth about the amps in the secondhand shop Top Gear.
It's a well-known that Brian is a good friend of Paul for many years. 'Smile' was billed once above 'Free' on one event and that thrilled Brian; Brian's invited Paul on Guitar Legends in 1991; Brian's thanked him in Back To The Light; Brian's played on Paul's track, 'cause bass line was 'reminiscent' of Crazy Little Thing Called Love for Brian, etc. etc. etc. But on other hand some biographies says that Paul Rodgers and Queen knew each other very well since the mid-70s though Paul himself (or someone else, I don't remember sorry) said that he met with Freddie just once, told him 'Hello' and that's it. No any "knew each other very well".
Paul's quotes about Freddie are respecteful, but sober on other hand, "I didn't always rush out to buy the Queen's new albums"; he's trying not to talk about Freddie, not to make remarks about him, he's more level-headed towards Freddie than Freddie towards him in Brian's version.
It's like to talk with the girl when you wanna know if she's single or not:
I was married once...
Was? Great!
Now I'm married for the second time.
Ouch...
And I have the kid.
Jesus...
Three. Three kids actually.
New facts come with new quotes about the SAME event. That's just an example how Brian's memory works, it's not something like 'He didn't met with Rory', it's more like (IMO) - he still can't find the answer for himself what was more important for him - Rory's advice, the sound, the illumination of truth about the amps in the secondhand shop Top Gear.
It's a well-known that Brian is a good friend of Paul for many years. 'Smile' was billed once above 'Free' on one event and that thrilled Brian; Brian's invited Paul on Guitar Legends in 1991; Brian's thanked him in Back To The Light; Brian's played on Paul's track, 'cause bass line was 'reminiscent' of Crazy Little Thing Called Love for Brian, etc. etc. etc. But on other hand some biographies says that Paul Rodgers and Queen knew each other very well since the mid-70s though Paul himself (or someone else, I don't remember sorry) said that he met with Freddie just once, told him 'Hello' and that's it. No any "knew each other very well".
Paul's quotes about Freddie are respecteful, but sober on other hand, "I didn't always rush out to buy the Queen's new albums"; he's trying not to talk about Freddie, not to make remarks about him, he's more level-headed towards Freddie than Freddie towards him in Brian's version.
I'm sure Freddie amdired many many people. And Paul was a star when Queen wasn't even founded. So at that time all talented artists who made it were probably huge examples for the guys from Queen who wanted to make it themselves. Freddie was not the incredible singer we all adore in the early 70's so I can easily believe Brian. And it has been said before: Brian and Roger KNEW freddie personally. Brian stated in an interview for ' seven ages of rock' that Freddie tought The Police was going to be huge. I don't think Freddie even said that himself either and we all believe Brian there.
Serry: Yes, it's possible, but as you see we have to mix those quotes in the special way, add some of our imagination, then add a dash of salt and say 'It could be like that'. Could? Could. Couldn't? Couldn't. But why the story can't be the same whenever someone asks about it (meeting with Rory wasn't that important? He said himself 'he was a star' and he was a boy, this legend about Rory's advice should be repeating thru the decades, IMO, just like another one about Hendrix asking 'Which is way')? Why the new details are always appearing to the event that was short in terms of time and which happened damned 40 years ago? I don't make conclusions, I'm asking - why?
Donna: I would guess that it would be a matter of how long Brian wanted his answer to be. For example, if he wanted to cut it short, he would probably go with the version where he walked into that one shop and plugged into an AC30 for the first time and how he remembered that special moment. Maybe he doesn't always want to go into the Rory thing. So, maybe it is a timing issue with the interview and Brian's schedule.
Serry: It's like to talk with the girl when you wanna know if she's single or not:
I was married once...
Was? Great!
Now I'm married for the second time.
Ouch...
And I have the kid.
Jesus...
Three. Three kids actually.
Donna: Did this really happen to you? Haha.
Serry: New facts come with new quotes about the SAME event. That's just an example how Brian's memory works, it's not something like 'He didn't met with Rory', it's more like (IMO) - he still can't find the answer for himself what was more important for him - Rory's advice, the sound, the illumination of truth about the amps in the secondhand shop Top Gear.
Donna: Hmm. You could ask him.
Serry: It's a well-known that Brian is a good friend of Paul for many years. 'Smile' was billed once above 'Free' on one event and that thrilled Brian; Brian's invited Paul on Guitar Legends in 1991; Brian's thanked him in Back To The Light; Brian's played on Paul's track, 'cause bass line was 'reminiscent' of Crazy Little Thing Called Love for Brian, etc. etc. etc. But on other hand some biographies says that Paul Rodgers and Queen knew each other very well since the mid-70s though Paul himself (or someone else, I don't remember sorry) said that he met with Freddie just once, told him 'Hello' and that's it. No any "knew each other very well".
Donna: It might be the writer thought "knew each other" (music/talent/career) meant that they all knew each other as friends, Freddie included.
Serry: Paul's quotes about Freddie are respecteful, but sober on other hand, "I didn't always rush out to buy the Queen's new albums"; he's trying not to talk about Freddie, not to make remarks about him, he's more level-headed towards Freddie than Freddie towards him in Brian's version.
Donna: True. I think he was aware of Freddie's talent, but obviously, he was not a big fan of their music. (I need some little emoticons here: laughing, questioning, sad, crying, rolling eyes, blank stare, mouth open....)
Donna: I would guess that it would be a matter of how long Brian wanted his answer to be. For example, if he wanted to cut it short, he would probably go with the version where he walked into that one shop and plugged into an AC30 for the first time and how he remembered that special moment. Maybe he doesn't always want to go into the Rory thing. So, maybe it is a timing issue with the interview and Brian's schedule.
Serry: It's like to talk with the girl when you wanna know if she's single or not:
I was married once...
Was? Great!
Now I'm married for the second time.
Ouch...
And I have the kid.
Jesus...
Three. Three kids actually.
Donna: Did this really happen to you? Haha.
Serry: New facts come with new quotes about the SAME event. That's just an example how Brian's memory works, it's not something like 'He didn't met with Rory', it's more like (IMO) - he still can't find the answer for himself what was more important for him - Rory's advice, the sound, the illumination of truth about the amps in the secondhand shop Top Gear.
Donna: Hmm. You could ask him.
Serry: It's a well-known that Brian is a good friend of Paul for many years. 'Smile' was billed once above 'Free' on one event and that thrilled Brian; Brian's invited Paul on Guitar Legends in 1991; Brian's thanked him in Back To The Light; Brian's played on Paul's track, 'cause bass line was 'reminiscent' of Crazy Little Thing Called Love for Brian, etc. etc. etc. But on other hand some biographies says that Paul Rodgers and Queen knew each other very well since the mid-70s though Paul himself (or someone else, I don't remember sorry) said that he met with Freddie just once, told him 'Hello' and that's it. No any "knew each other very well".
Donna: It might be the writer thought "knew each other" (music/talent/career) meant that they all knew each other as friends, Freddie included.
Serry: Paul's quotes about Freddie are respecteful, but sober on other hand, "I didn't always rush out to buy the Queen's new albums"; he's trying not to talk about Freddie, not to make remarks about him, he's more level-headed towards Freddie than Freddie towards him in Brian's version.
Donna: True. I think he was aware of Freddie's talent, but obviously, he was not a big fan of their music. (I need some little emoticons here: laughing, questioning, sad, crying, rolling eyes, blank stare, mouth open....)
I think it all boils down to the fact that Freddie's death was a powerful, all too powerful blow on Brian and Roger and John. Losing Freddie was like losing a part of himself - the guy, as a musician, had always Freddie in the back of his mind and was as shaped by Freddie as a musician as he was as a human being. This sentence is likely true: "Freddie IS such a huge influence on Brian's music and life".
If you keep in mind that, apart from losing a friend and a band mate, Brian actually lost one of his main musical references: he may have had whatever disagreements with Freddie on studio, but the fact is that he wrote the songs for Freddie and thinking about Freddie's voice and style and input.
He looks like a teenager watching Freddie's performance in Montreal, 1981, of "Save Me": he tells how beautiful was Freddie's rendition of the song. And then all gets silent, and the guy does seem to stop to listen to Freddie once again, and to watch him sing, and there's this feeling of: "That was the song I wrote? I couldn't have thought it was SO beautiful and good", and you can translate it as: "I dind't know Freddie knew me so much...".
So, it's a terrific blow.
You keep watching the guy being interview in the 90's, he's devastated. Freddie must not have been the only reason, for sure, but the guy is devastated.
In Budapest, 1993, in a famous interview, he even says what many people say TODAY: "There's no Queen team without Freddie", and he keeps repeating that he wants to "make that clear".
In an interview in 2008, he says, en passant, as a side comment when talking about the single for "say it's not true", that, well, they kept the name "Queen" because in fact he couldn't come up with a better name, so: Queen + Paul Rodgers. He says Rodgers sounds quite good, but then, what's really striking, he says: "It still sound like us, doesn't it?", because the ending has that, epic atmosphere. So it's like he's saying: "We still sound, here and there, as if we were the Queen team with Freddie, but we're not "us" anymore". It's kind of funny to listen to a guy say: "It still sound like us, doesn't it?". lol Well, it should because they are doing the music, but what he meant is that it sounds like us (Queen with John and Freddie), but it's NOT Queen as most people, and he himself I think, understand it.
The quotes are very easy to understand. The guy feels, still feels after all these years, that he has, on a personal and emotional level, to justify what he's doing in the eyes of a guy who passed away more than 10 years ago. He didn't have to - but I think it comforts him and gives him strenght to think that Freddie is in someway there, that Freddie would be saying his "ok" to it all and happy for the guys to keep going on with the music.
So, even if what they're saying is not quite accurate (maybe exaggerated, and so on) on the factual level, it's true on the emotional level: they do think that Freddie's there in someway and that saying that Rodgers was such an influence on Freddie is like saying they still have Freddie in someway or another: it's the way he deals with all this stuff. It's true on a personal, emotional level: I do believe that, for him, Freddie is still in the back of his mind as a musician and "there" with the guys, watching it all and so on.
Did he lie? Thinking about it better, no, I don't think so. Rodgers must have been an influence on Freddie's early career and a wrong perception of things isn't the same as a lie.
I think that's the way Brian actually see things: he needs Freddie on various levels and he's saying just that, the truth, that he still needs Freddie's influence, presence, friendship and approval. It was a very oblique way of telling something that I believe is true for him.
It'd be a lie if he was thinking: "I know Freddie
If you keep in mind that, apart from losing a friend and a band mate, Brian actually lost one of his main musical references: he may have had whatever disagreements with Freddie on studio, but the fact is that he wrote the songs for Freddie and thinking about Freddie's voice and style and input.
He looks like a teenager watching Freddie's performance in Montreal, 1981, of "Save Me": he tells how beautiful was Freddie's rendition of the song. And then all gets silent, and the guy does seem to stop to listen to Freddie once again, and to watch him sing, and there's this feeling of: "That was the song I wrote? I couldn't have thought it was SO beautiful and good", and you can translate it as: "I dind't know Freddie knew me so much...".
So, it's a terrific blow.
You keep watching the guy being interview in the 90's, he's devastated. Freddie must not have been the only reason, for sure, but the guy is devastated.
In Budapest, 1993, in a famous interview, he even says what many people say TODAY: "There's no Queen team without Freddie", and he keeps repeating that he wants to "make that clear".
In an interview in 2008, he says, en passant, as a side comment when talking about the single for "say it's not true", that, well, they kept the name "Queen" because in fact he couldn't come up with a better name, so: Queen + Paul Rodgers. He says Rodgers sounds quite good, but then, what's really striking, he says: "It still sound like us, doesn't it?", because the ending has that, epic atmosphere. So it's like he's saying: "We still sound, here and there, as if we were the Queen team with Freddie, but we're not "us" anymore". It's kind of funny to listen to a guy say: "It still sound like us, doesn't it?". lol Well, it should because they are doing the music, but what he meant is that it sounds like us (Queen with John and Freddie), but it's NOT Queen as most people, and he himself I think, understand it.
The quotes are very easy to understand. The guy feels, still feels after all these years, that he has, on a personal and emotional level, to justify what he's doing in the eyes of a guy who passed away more than 10 years ago. He didn't have to - but I think it comforts him and gives him strenght to think that Freddie is in someway there, that Freddie would be saying his "ok" to it all and happy for the guys to keep going on with the music.
So, even if what they're saying is not quite accurate (maybe exaggerated, and so on) on the factual level, it's true on the emotional level: they do think that Freddie's there in someway and that saying that Rodgers was such an influence on Freddie is like saying they still have Freddie in someway or another: it's the way he deals with all this stuff. It's true on a personal, emotional level: I do believe that, for him, Freddie is still in the back of his mind as a musician and "there" with the guys, watching it all and so on.
Did he lie? Thinking about it better, no, I don't think so. Rodgers must have been an influence on Freddie's early career and a wrong perception of things isn't the same as a lie.
I think that's the way Brian actually see things: he needs Freddie on various levels and he's saying just that, the truth, that he still needs Freddie's influence, presence, friendship and approval. It was a very oblique way of telling something that I believe is true for him.
It'd be a lie if he was thinking: "I know Freddie
Excellent post, Yara.
Im not really a big fan of calling it Queen+Paul Rodgers, but I also understand that the Queen name gives the project a completely different status that May-Taylor-Rodgers or something like that when it comes to marketing, the sort of venues they would play and so on. If they were called something new they it would be like their soloalbums and tours a matter for the biggest fans and I dont think they want to do that. It also seemed like Paul wouldnt have been so keen on doing the album if that had been the case. They can certainly handle the big arenas so why should they play in theatres.
They are in some way trying to carry on the Queen-legacy aswell, as much as it can be done today. I seriously believe that theyve wanted to do another album and tour for a long time, like theyve got unfinished business. Like Elton John once said "It must be like having a Rolls Royce in the garage and not have a driving license" And this is pretty much their last chance to do it. "So John doesnt want to be a part of it, thats bad but well do it ourselves instead."
Also as has been said many times, it was their band so they can do ultimately do what they want with it. Freddie is dead and John doesnt want to be a member anymore so that leaves them as whats left of the band. Apart from Freddies vocals they can still recreate that Queen sound aswell. And playing as a band with a fabolous singer like Paul is way better than being a cabaret-act playing We will rock you and We are the champions like in Amsterdam.
Personally I really want to hear some new music aswell, much more than having another repackaging of the same songs or another DVD with an 80´s performance. Being a fairly young fan, Ive never experienced the buzz of a new Queen album or even a soloalbum so Im excited about it for that reason aswell.
What Im trying to say is that while I dont really like the idea of Queen without Freddie and John I still support what Brian and Roger are doing for these reasons.
Got a bit off topic here but I felt this fitted in.
Excellent post Yara, youve got many good points in my opinion!
They are in some way trying to carry on the Queen-legacy aswell, as much as it can be done today. I seriously believe that theyve wanted to do another album and tour for a long time, like theyve got unfinished business. Like Elton John once said "It must be like having a Rolls Royce in the garage and not have a driving license" And this is pretty much their last chance to do it. "So John doesnt want to be a part of it, thats bad but well do it ourselves instead."
Also as has been said many times, it was their band so they can do ultimately do what they want with it. Freddie is dead and John doesnt want to be a member anymore so that leaves them as whats left of the band. Apart from Freddies vocals they can still recreate that Queen sound aswell. And playing as a band with a fabolous singer like Paul is way better than being a cabaret-act playing We will rock you and We are the champions like in Amsterdam.
Personally I really want to hear some new music aswell, much more than having another repackaging of the same songs or another DVD with an 80´s performance. Being a fairly young fan, Ive never experienced the buzz of a new Queen album or even a soloalbum so Im excited about it for that reason aswell.
What Im trying to say is that while I dont really like the idea of Queen without Freddie and John I still support what Brian and Roger are doing for these reasons.
Got a bit off topic here but I felt this fitted in.
Excellent post Yara, youve got many good points in my opinion!
Yara, you continue to amaze me with your insight. Such a lovely post. And, damned funny, too. I was laughing out loud at your, "fan girl screaming," bits...
Are you quite certain you are not a fifty year old music professor?
Are you quite certain you are not a fifty year old music professor?
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Dusta wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Yara, you continue to amaze me with your insight. Such a lovely post. And, damned funny, too. I was laughing out loud at your, "fan girl screaming," bits...
Are you quite certain you are not a fifty year old music professor?[/QUOTE]
You were laughing? Ha. I was crying. This part from Yara got me reaching for my Kleenex:
"I think it all boils down to the fact that Freddie's death was a powerful, all too powerful blow on Brian and Roger and John. Losing Freddie was like losing a part of himself - the guy, as a musician, had always Freddie in the back of his mind and was as shaped by Freddie as a musician as he was as a human being. This sentence is likely true: "Freddie IS such a huge influence on Brian's music and life".
If you keep in mind that, apart from losing a friend and a band mate, Brian actually lost one of his main musical references: he may have had whatever disagreements with Freddie on studio, but the fact is that he wrote the songs for Freddie and thinking about Freddie's voice and style and input.
He looks like a teenager watching Freddie's performance in Montreal, 1981, of "Save Me": he tells how beautiful was Freddie's rendition of the song. And then all gets silent, and the guy does seem to stop to listen to Freddie once again, and to watch him sing, and there's this feeling of: "That was the song I wrote? I couldn't have thought it was SO beautiful and good", and you can translate it as: "I dind't know Freddie knew me so much...".
So, it's a terrific blow.
You keep watching the guy being interview in the 90's, he's devastated. Freddie must not have been the only reason, for sure, but the guy is devastated."
Are you quite certain you are not a fifty year old music professor?[/QUOTE]
You were laughing? Ha. I was crying. This part from Yara got me reaching for my Kleenex:
"I think it all boils down to the fact that Freddie's death was a powerful, all too powerful blow on Brian and Roger and John. Losing Freddie was like losing a part of himself - the guy, as a musician, had always Freddie in the back of his mind and was as shaped by Freddie as a musician as he was as a human being. This sentence is likely true: "Freddie IS such a huge influence on Brian's music and life".
If you keep in mind that, apart from losing a friend and a band mate, Brian actually lost one of his main musical references: he may have had whatever disagreements with Freddie on studio, but the fact is that he wrote the songs for Freddie and thinking about Freddie's voice and style and input.
He looks like a teenager watching Freddie's performance in Montreal, 1981, of "Save Me": he tells how beautiful was Freddie's rendition of the song. And then all gets silent, and the guy does seem to stop to listen to Freddie once again, and to watch him sing, and there's this feeling of: "That was the song I wrote? I couldn't have thought it was SO beautiful and good", and you can translate it as: "I dind't know Freddie knew me so much...".
So, it's a terrific blow.
You keep watching the guy being interview in the 90's, he's devastated. Freddie must not have been the only reason, for sure, but the guy is devastated."
Yara, why do you waste your talents in a music forum? your writing is amazing... you should be writing your first book instead, really!
You know exactly what do you want to say and how to say it. You almost convinced myself (an old Q+PR is not Queen supporter ;-)). Ok, you didn't convince me, but now I can see Brian's point of view under a different light.
Keep it up!
You know exactly what do you want to say and how to say it. You almost convinced myself (an old Q+PR is not Queen supporter ;-)). Ok, you didn't convince me, but now I can see Brian's point of view under a different light.
Keep it up!