Brian May: overly aggressive over songwriting credits

Is it just me or does Brian May seem overly obsessed with songwriting credits. For instance, he made a
big deal about how he played for like 2 seconds at the beginning of one of the songs in "Chinese Democracy"
and then didn't get credited. WHen someone once pointed out that Freddie was instructing him on his guitar playing during the making of "One Vision" he also got really defensive. Other times, it appears that he invents contributions that don't even exist. For instance, he made a big deal about how, during the line "shiver down my spine" in "Bohemian Rhapsody" he apparently added some special noise with his guitar. In fact, it turns out that this "special sound" was made by a percussion instrument called a bell tree and not by his guitar at all!

he has allot of passion within his work, and maybe on a day to basis people get thigns wrong and it's just tipped him of over the edge.

Look at how many fans have bashed Axle over not putting brian on the record.... now, if fan's are doin that, Imagin how Brian must feel...

I think he only needee to explian this isuuses. Nothing else.

By the way, remember the credit thing during Miracle/Innuendo sessions. So, no way of thinking of him as you put it.

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[b]tay120 wrote: [/b]































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































WHen someone once pointed out that Freddie was instructing him on his guitar playing during the making of "One Vision" he also got really defensive.





























































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































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...which is exactly why cameras should never be in the studio when a band is recording.  You won't believe how many people have used that one single video as "proof" that Freddie controlled the band's songwriting throughout their entire career.  The song was a band collaboration, so they were helping each other out.  Sometimes they argue over things.  A few years earlier, Brian wanted a guitar solo on Back Chat, much to John's dismay since it was his song, but he got his wish in the end.  Arguments lead to compromises.  Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.  It's how a band works.

If Roger wants credit for These Are The Days Of Our Lives, then he can do what he needs to do to make that happen.  But if he doesn't, his absence of action doesn't suddenly translate to "Brian is looking for the limelight" if he does make a move for one of his songs.  As far as I'm concerned, Brian is the most humble guy in the business, never wanting more than 25% of the credit when it comes to his band.

[QUOTE]For instance, he made a big deal about how, during the line "shiver down my spine" in "Bohemian Rhapsody" he apparently added some special noise with his guitar.  In fact, it turns out that this "special sound" was made by a percussion instrument called a bell tree and not by his guitar at all![/QUOTE]
Where'd you hear that?  As far as I know it was the strings being played to the right of the bridge.

[QUOTE] By the way, remember the credit thing during Miracle/Innuendo sessions. So, no way of thinking of him as you put it.[/QUOTE]
If so... why is now [i]IWIA [/i]credited to 'May' only, and [i]The Miracle[/i] and [i]Invisible Man [/i]are still 'Queen'? Why was [i]Mother Love [/i]'May/Mercury' and [i]Winter's Tale [/i]remained 'Queen'?

BTW, Bri didn't say he invented the 'shivers' effect, he said he played it, and it is true: the sound comes from guitar and not a bell-tree.

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[b]Sir GH wrote:[/b]You won't believe how many people have used that one single video as "proof" that Freddie controlled the band's songwriting throughout their entire career.  The song was a band collaboration, so they were helping each other out.......

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Except that Roger Taylor himself admitted in a TV interview about "One Vision" that the "rotter" Freddie "changed his song"

....also see the quote from John IIRC suggesting that they went with whoever had a strong idea, and Freddie had most of the strong ideas.

...also note their lack of success in coming up with anything that amounts to anything much since his demise....

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[b]Ken8 wrote: [/b]















also see the quote from John IIRC suggesting that they went with whoever had a strong idea, and Freddie had most of the strong ideas.













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Of course... nobody's denying that Freddie was a major creative force in the band.  But it certainly wasn't always his desires that were met.

[QUOTE]...also note their lack of success in coming up with anything that amounts to anything much since his demise.... [/QUOTE]
Fair enough.  But also note the Mr. Bad Guy album... it was Freddie without Queen, and it showed, often painfully.  They were a band of 4 very different individuals who were very good each in their own right, but an excellent, world-class combination when put together.  It's just publicly misunderstood that Freddie was at the helm of everything with the final word when that certainly wasn't the case.

Ridiculous thread assertion.  Y'know if Brian were in a band full of people who were actually aggressive over songwriting credit, he'd probably look conservative.
As it happens he had the bad fortune of picking a band that probably didn't mind sharing.[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

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[b]tay120 wrote: [/b]

In fact, it turns out that this "special sound" was made by a percussion instrument called a bell tree and not by his guitar at all![/QUOTE]

I don't suppose there's a retraction to this statement on the way?

I'm not sure 'big deal' would be the way I would describe any of those instances.

BTW the 'Special sound' WAS the guitar
One Vision video is just the way bands work in studios, and I have know doubt they each instructed each other on how to perform a part from time to time.
Brian just happens to comment more than the others about stuff, one thing I am sure about is that if Roger had a soapbox he would be far more vocal about his contributions than Brian ever will be.

There's no reason to say that about Brian. He's very hard-working person, and it's clear that he wants to tell about his achievments and contributions. Which is very normal. Everybody likes to talk about what he/she managed to achieve, especially when it took lots of time and skills.
About "Chinese Democracy"- Brian spent lots of time to help Axl with the album. Even if not much appeared there, he still did work on it.

Brian did not make a "big deal" about the Axl record at all. He only responded to it when people wrote to his soap box about it.

You can read his comments here

http://www.brianmay.com/brian/brianssb/brianssbdec08a.html

It's ridiculous to say he made a "big deal" about his missing songwriter credits when in fact he was very kind and generous and "totally relaxed" about the issue. You should check the facts before spreading such lies about Brian.

i sent an email to brian about him being left off chinese democracy, and he was not disappointed at all. it is all on his website.

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[b]tay120 wrote: [/b]

Is it just me or does Brian May seem overly obsessed with songwriting credits. For instance, he made a
big deal about how he played for like 2 seconds at the beginning of one of the songs in "Chinese Democracy"
and then didn't get credited. WHen someone once pointed out that Freddie was instructing him on his guitar playing during the making of "One Vision" he also got really defensive. Other times, it appears that he invents contributions that don't even exist. For instance, he made a big deal about how, during the line "shiver down my spine" in "Bohemian Rhapsody" he apparently added some special noise with his guitar. In fact, it turns out that this "special sound" was made by a percussion instrument called a bell tree and not by his guitar at all![/QUOTE]




Classic 'first' post. I guess it IS just you after all.

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[b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]


If so... why is now [i]IWIA [/i]credited to 'May' only, and [i]The Miracle[/i] and [i]Invisible Man [/i]are still 'Queen'?
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I don't have all their latter compilantions, but at least on Queen Rocks and Return of The Champions IWIA was credited to the whole band. On what releases it's been credited to May only? (I'm just curious.)