BRIAN GIVES A WHINGING FAN A PIECE OF HIS MIND

yes. absolutely, the guy - a paying customer had no right whatsoever to voice his opinion

so either the guy's comments are wrong and Brian's are wrong too, or both comments are ok

[QUOTE] [b]tcc wrote:[/b]
Brian seems to be a scary person to meet.  I don't think I want to meet him in person in case I say the wrong thing and he will just let go his temper in public.[/QUOTE]

if you go dressed as a fox or badger Brian will be really nice to you

Yup, that's what you get for telling the truth these days. I agree with Mark on all counts, except the clothing which I find totally uninteresting. Freddie usually wore hardly anything at all and got away with it.

The Brighton Rock solo has become devoid of any subtlety throughout the years (compare to the Live Killers version, especially the clean part), and although many of the youngsters here may believe Jessie J. a much more reputable singer than Paul Rodgers, I beg to differ. That said, Mark was also right in concluding that Queen-something were still better than most acts on the day.

[QUOTE] [b]Holly2003 wrote:[/b]
Regardless of the views expressed about music and costumes, Brian really has made an ass out of himself again here. He has chosen this letter to make a grand statement that he doesn't only respond to gushing praise on his Soapbox. So what does he then do? He belittles the fan and tells him - and presumably anyone else not totally 100% in agreement with Brian's views -- not to write to his Soapbox again! He is seriously deranged. [/QUOTE]

Exactly.

Not deranged necessarily, insecure could be a word and in need of continual approval or validation.

I do understand how frustrating it must be for him to be a professional musician and carefully compose a great solo, just for some random bloke to tell him off for using (some of) it forty years later. I do, however, think Brian should've learnt how to cope with that a long time ago and, indeed, I think his response confirms he DOES have a lot of trouble when facing people other than stepfords.

...and the battle between stepfords and realists is raging again on QZ...

perhaps another reason why queen (these days) aren't taken seriously? brian's seems to want approval too much

his contemporaries, page, blackmore, gilmour, iommi, lifeson etc...just do their thing without having to rag someone who makes any kind of critical comment

God Brian is a bully sometimes. And how ironic is that disproportionate response to what we're presumably to see as discourteous and impetuous criticism when he's just fawned two and three letters up at people who make sweeping indiscriminate attacks on policy makers and farmers as murderous, shifty, greedy, dirty and general scumbags of the planet? Good Christ. The original writer was definitely a little obtuse, but the comment about Brian typically publishing only very positive correspondence, which is undeniably true, seemed linked to his next statement that he appreciated the response to the concerns about a lack of live 70s material. A negative gut reaction to these kind of fan comments is completely understandable, particularly initially, but a person reasonably in command of his ego and a sense of perspective is not going get through the delay inherent in written correspondence and various mental filters and come up with this response. The "don't bother writing again" is particularly off the charts. I saw a recent video interview of him in Tenerife and he talks about feeling a lot of loneliness. I'd be lonely too if I permanently banished everybody that presented uncomfortable or imperfect challenges to my thinking or actions and habitually stayed up all night alone answering email with no buffer of daylight or a partner or confidant to temper one's basest emotional reactions. I like and admire so much about Brian but this aspect of his personality when seen in the larger context of the way he deals with criticism on both the giving and receiving ends is truly a little staggering and a whole lot self defeating.

Gather your emotions Brian, poke a little fun at the guy for simultaneously telling you to leave your solo in the 70s while appearing to endorse more live 70s material right now, let the low rent comments about the clothing speak for themselves, and offer (or not) whatever insight you might like to about musical and costume choices. It's not rocket science Dr. Rocket Scientist(ish).

I liked his reply. A classy 'f off'.

It's not that classy though I don't think. At a glace it has the appearance of a measured response to intemperate criticisms but when you have the power of fame and a well visited 'Soap Box' and you're in complete control over the public presentation and the end of the "conversation", it's not that classy to be subtly belittling and publicly tell somebody never to write to you again. It's also fundamentally dishonest, or at least indicative of a pretty serious lack of self awareness, to present as an example of your willingness to engage criticism a response that telegraphs in no uncertain terms that critics risk closed-ended public rejection and a permanent vacation from corresponding with him at all.

I thought his coat looked great!

I want one!

Well, I liked 'Please don't bother writing again' to be followed-up by 'Cheers - Bri'

The guy was clearly being rude but what did strike me was Brian's response to the guy asking about the live 70s material. How difficult is it cleaning up some videotape footage for a release?

Out of all of us who didn't like Brian's public whiney reply to him, how many will write to him and complain about it? If so, what will Brian's reaction be?