Roger Taylor exclusive interview for Ultimate Classic Rock

Roger interview.
He talks about the upcoming release of The Lot in the USA, Queen Forever, Queen, Freddie, Adam and his solo stuff:

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/roger-taylor-queen-interview-2014/?trackback=tsmclip

There have been quite a few live releases of Queen material from the ‘80s, so I think folks were pretty happy to get something from the ‘70s era of the band. What else is there in the vaults from those years that exists?

Very little. I believe that there is film of our free concert in Hyde Park, but I think it’s not complete and I don’t think it’s particularly good quality. I can’t think of anything else.

I read that article too. My heart sank when I read the piece about Hyde Park and 80's gigs. Hope this isn't true. Doesn't sound like Queen productions plan on releasing anything else from the 70, even tho he never mentioned Earls Court or Houston.

Sorry,70's gigs not 80's.

Well, he didn't say that there IS nothing else, he said he can't think of anything else. Anyway he's gone on record as saying he'd completely forgotten about the Rainbow (perhaps not literally, but it wasn't something that ever occurred to him as a potential release), so we probably shouldn't let this crush our hopes right away.

We know they have Hammersmith 79, for a start, don't we?

I know that there was some other stuff that Freddie worked on with Michael. Did you guys look at those tracks too?
We did, yeah. But we had to really go along with what Michael’s record company and his estate would release. So, we had talks with them and that’s what they would agree to.

So, we can assume that they've worked on the other FM/MJ tracks but the Jackson Estate had the final say to which of the tracks will end up on Queen Forever. - one mystery solved.

As to the recorded gigs (70's) here I will remind you what Greg Brooks knew was in the archives on a PROPER format: (topic from 2007 so from that time they could've found more material):

Earls Court 77
Hammy Odeon 79
Hyde Park 76
Houston 77
Japan 79 (bits)
Munich 79
Paris 79

PS. He either forgot about Hammersmith 1975 :) :) or they didn't have it at the time as it isn't listed on his Live Archive List.

I wouldn't rely on Roger's opinion on what's there in the archives as they (QProd.) have their own archivist and it is his job to know what they have and what isn't stored in the archives / haven't been found yet.

Also it looks like Roger alone admitted (non-verbally) that he really isn't an expert of what's there in the vaults as he avoided the last question and just ended the interview :).

I do wish there was a way of contacting Brian or Roger even if it's via there archivists that there is a huge market for 70's concert official releases and the apparent wealth of material they have. The success of The Rainbow release surely must make them realise, or so you'd think.

Roger has clearly been instructed to promote the CURRENT incarnation of Queen; why on earth any journalist worth their salt would refer back to the 1970's after Roger so openly reveals his hand in praising Adam Lambert is a complete and utter mystery..........

People forget that for every artist, they see the past in a different way than the fans: Most artists are looking forward to new releases, gigs, business etc while we, the fans, listen closely to previous gigs. Its natural that not only in Queen but in every band, a fan can tell in which gig the guitar player dropped the guitar pick in the middle on the solo.

Now, his comments about the 70s stuff, he kind of avoided the real answer: We all know there's enough material to make another release (box set, a live album etc) his answer is more a business minded answer: If he says something that clearly confirms more material, people wont be buying planned releases.

I dont think he "has been instructed" to promote the "current line up" he was clear stating that Adam's priority is his solo stuff and he clearly said that he and Roger COULD do some collaboration with Adam but nothing more than that. Which leads me to the idea that both Roger and Brian could appear in Adam's new album.

By the way, Adam changed record label, said he had new executive producer(s) etc which may means that someone from the Queen camp MAY BE working with him on an artistic or business level...

Let's wait and see...

[QUOTE] [b]MercurialFreddie wrote:[/b]

Earls Court 77
Hammy Odeon 79
Hyde Park 76
Houston 77
Japan 79 (bits)
Munich 79
Paris 79

[/QUOTE]

We have no confirmation of whether or not multi-track audio of Houston and Munich exist, as those weren't filmed by the band.

Of that list, the most realistic thing is a 1979 box set with a few songs from each show.

And there is more Japan 79 footage than you may realize. There are at least two nights worth.

Two nights, with a hundred nights worth of vocal cracks, that is.

Already commented on, but I'm commenting again anyway.

[b]"I know that there was some other stuff that Freddie worked on with Michael. Did you guys look at those tracks too?"[/b]

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[b]"We did, yeah. But we had to really go along with what Michael’s record company and his estate would release. So, we had talks with them and that’s what they would agree to."[/b]

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Motherfucker... (me being annoyed)

@The Real Wizard
I've lifted the info straight from the topic created by GB and if he states that they have those shows on "proper" format then we can assume that the multitrack of those shows exist but yes we have to be prepared for anything concerning that video from Knebworth 86 wasn't recorded.

Here's the GB's original topic: http://www.queenzone.com/forums/1027435/the-queen-live-archive-list-finally-sorry-for-the-delay.aspx?page=1.

PS. Does anyone know why it's been so long since he has written on this forum ?

The only way they could release the footage of Tokyo 79 is dubbing it with the vocals of another gig, And fans won't be happy about it, but the truth is that show was painfully to listen.

Shame, the Budokan is probably the venue where they played most and we don't have a good show profesionally released from there.