Queen and synthesizers

We all know Queen famously had the 'no synthesizers' disclaimer throughout the seventies.....and I remember Brian said a few times something to the effect of that they started using them in 80s because the ones that were out there at the start of Queen's career were relatively primitive and they could now do things on them they couldnt before.

I always kinda wondered about that, though.........

I'm sure it's true to some extent, but then what about bands like ELP and King Crimson that were doing crazy stuff with synthesizers even before then? Maybe Queen was just behind the technological curve on that one? lol

It's like George Lucas and special effects. Certain things should be kept away from certain people. Everything in moderation.

Some synths like the mellotron were really tricky and limited, you can hear how the tapes went out of tune (because of the heat produced by the lightning, I think) in the old Zeppelin bootlegs.
According to Rick Wakeman, a non working moog would take hours to repair, even for their inventors. Also, I think it was just a way to be creative, using all those layers of sounds and studio tricks.

Perhaps it was just a matter of ego: To show that they could do things nobody could achieve before...

[QUOTE] [b]The King Of Rhye wrote:[/b]

We all know Queen famously had the 'no synthesizers' disclaimer throughout the seventies....[/QUOTE]

To be fair, they only had the disclaimer in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976. That's 40% of the seventies.

[QUOTE] [b]The King Of Rhye wrote:[/b]

I remember Brian said a few times something to the effect of that they started using them in 80s[/QUOTE]

To be fair, they started in the seventies. Even ignoring the stylophone at the end of the second album (reportedly recorded in August 1973), there's the OB-X on 'Coming Soon' and 'Sail Away Sweet Sister', both of which were recorded in 1979.

I think unless you were an out and out keyboard player the early synths were very difficult to use and get a 'human' feel, they were fine if you wanted to spend month programming like Pete Townsend, but trying to play them in the way Brian likes to play was nearly impossible at first, pitch bending came in later and then things got more easy to produce notes the 'sing' To be honest I always really classed the electronic piano in You're My Best Friend as a type of synth... even though I guess it's not officially one.

Interesting input here........guess I dont really know that much about synthesizers after all.........lol

"a non working moog would take hours to repair"

Tis true :-(

[QUOTE] [b]Togg wrote:[/b]

To be honest I always really classed the electronic piano in You're My Best Friend as a type of synth... even though I guess it's not officially one.[/QUOTE]

Not just officially, but in terms of its mechanics. It's like categorising Brian's guitar as a balalaika.

I don't believe they didn't use synthesisers early on as any kind of artistic snobbery, but simply didn't deem them necessary; they put the disclaimer purely because they didn't want people to hear some of the sounds Brian's was able to produce on his guitar and assume they were synths.

[QUOTE] [b]cmsdrums wrote:[/b]

I don't believe they didn't use synthesisers early on as any kind of artistic snobbery, but simply didn't deem them necessary; they put the disclaimer purely because they didn't want people to hear some of the sounds Brian's was able to produce on his guitar and assume they were synths. [/QUOTE]

That's it...I think Brian said that they put the disclaimer there because people were saying KYA had 'nice synthesizer work'...

[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]

Perhaps it was just a matter of ego: To show that they could do things nobody could achieve before...[/QUOTE]

Innovation = ego... ?

Really ?

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]

Perhaps it was just a matter of ego: To show that they could do things nobody could achieve before...[/QUOTE]

Innovation = ego... ?

Really ?[/QUOTE]

Innovation =/= ego but it is clear that the band's innovation was partially driven by their egos. Nothing wrong with that, cause their ego was the reason why they wanted to be the best.

There are different kinds of ego, of course! Its clear that their ego was not the kind of ego who drives Malmsteen's behavior!

A few more recent comments on the 'no synth' bit contained in this recent thread

http://www.queenzone.com/forums/1410352/was-flash-bit-of-a-tease-album-.aspx?page=2

Had a friend way back who was a pretty good guitar player. He became hooked on the band after listening to ADATR because he could not fathom how a guitar could sound that way. So the 'no synths' statement garnered at least one appreciative fan to the band.

[QUOTE]

[b]winterspelt wrote: [/b] [QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]

Perhaps it was just a matter of ego: To show that they could do things nobody could achieve before...[/QUOTE]

Innovation = ego... ?

Really ?[/QUOTE]

Innovation =/= ego but it is clear that the band's innovation was partially driven by their egos. Nothing wrong with that, cause their ego was the reason why they wanted to be the best.

There are different kinds of ego, of course! Its clear that their ego was not the kind of ego who drives Malmsteen's behavior!
[/QUOTE]

Too many egos for today... ;)

[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]winterspelt wrote:[/b]

Perhaps it was just a matter of ego: To show that they could do things nobody could achieve before...[/QUOTE]

Innovation = ego... ?

Really ?[/QUOTE]

Innovation =/= ego but it is clear that the band's innovation was partially driven by their egos. Nothing wrong with that, cause their ego was the reason why they wanted to be the best.

There are different kinds of ego, of course! Its clear that their ego was not the kind of ego who drives Malmsteen's behavior!
[/QUOTE]

Ha, yes ! Fair play.