Informative interviews at the Queen Fan Club Conventions

On another posting here today, relating to the UK Queen convention last weekend, Benn Kempster asked this question... Did any news of substance come out from the recent Convention?

The response has been minimal thus far, as it generally is each year, which makes me think few people here are likely to have attended. I don’t ever recall seeing many people covering a convention in any detail - maybe just the odd one or two comments. No one seems particularly interested in what goes on and what new info comes forth. It's certainly not covered in the detail that other innocuous subjects are covered - such as how long was Freddie's cat's tail - that's for sure. This baffles me.

It surprises me that relatively little is written about this event and that it is curiously overlooked for the most part, when it is (I think it fair to say) THE Queen fan event of the year. I’m intrigued to know how many QZ-ers attend the event. Is it 50? 25? 10? 2? Does anyone here attend?

This year for example, two people who worked in recording studios with Queen in the latter years - and indeed during the final sessions with Freddie - were on stage to offer some enthralling and rather personal recollections. Noel Haris and John Brough sat on stage for over an hour telling some of the funniest and/or interesting stories I’ve heard, including some of Freddie's last vocal sessions, and imparting details that were fascinating to everyone in the room - even the die-hardest (if there is such a word) fans like Jim Jenkins and myself were moved by certain anecdotes. The chaps were amusing, entertaining, informative and always respectful. I expected to sit and watch perhaps the first 5 minutes and then discretely disappear, but actually I was immersed in every word for the entire 75 minutes. They also showed photos of Freddie in the studio which have never been made public before.

The same was true of Freddie’s dear friend Peter Straker and Mike Moran (Freddie’s ‘Barcelona’ collaborator) on stage together also generously imparting wonderful stories and recollections which you simply won’t hear or read about anywhere else. They were like a comedy partnership at certain points and very entertaining.

Half of the Do-Ro team, who made probably a dozen or more of the most memorable Queen videos, Hannes Rossacher, was on stage too, and he also gave details that you’re just not gonna encounter in any book. Has that even been mentioned here on QZ, I wonder? Producer Mack was at the convention last year (or maybe the one before that) and that too was an amazing interview. Isn’t this stuff of interest to you guys?

I struggle to grasp why encounters like this are not all over QZ being discussed and scrutinized for every ounce of new information they proffer, but they’re not. They are hardly even mentioned. Instead there are postings like.. Did Freddie have Autism / Brian's rig on Queen I and The Works / Unreleased Photo Of Freddie At The Dominion Theatre

Can someone please tell me…. How many of you attend the annual UK Queen Fan Club convention (put together by Jacky Smith, secretary of the QFC since 1982)? I'm genuinely curious. Thanks

I did. I go every year, but quite often it's not easy to relate what was said, short of recording everything and spending days transcribing it.

Loved your little video of the 3D Queen pics Greg.
Was that really 1/4 of the photos in the book.
Didn't seem that many (although I wasn't counting)

Oh noes, Sir Archivist disapproves of the topic content on QZ. May as well pack it in guys, without the support of this community pillar we're done for anyway. How dare people who are actually musically inclined discuss Brian's equipment? Why would anyone be interested in how the music was put together when you can get real genuine 1975 replica balloons with a box set? Why discuss musicians when you could just as well go out and buy their branded vodka?

Just to be fair I'll answer your question as well. I did not attend the convention as it was not possible to travel to England just for the weekend. Some of us actually live outside the UK (yes, there is life there) and work for a living. Your description of some of the programme items certainly sounds interesting and entertaining and I can imagine most of us here would feel it's worth attending if it's within their reach.

If you feel the need to plug the convention, fair enough, we all stand to benefit from keeping the interest in Queen alive. Just do so without slagging of the other topics of conversation as they are just another manifestation of that same interest.

well i am extremely curious about the convention. I doubt I will ever be able to attend, but I would definitely appreciate being there.
New stories told from professionals working with the band is exactly what I find interesting. I've read many books about the band, but for the most part, it's the same stories told over and over again. It would be amazing( to me) if someone could relate some of these interesting new stories on here.

And guys; maybe if you were a tad bit nicer to Mr. Brooks, he will share some of the Queen archive with you as he has for me. He's sent me 3 cd's from the Night at the opera sessions so far. Interesting collection I must say. And all because I've always been polite and respectful to the man.

I would LOVE to be able to attend. Living in the US though it's out of the realm of possibility. Heck, most of the time even Breakthru is if I'm honest...I did go to the first BT and really enjoyed myself. But indeed I would love to see these interviews and always scan for people talking about them but I get was brianswig is saying too. How to condense it for forum discussion?

I was a member for 38 years, I never attended one, I am into Queen for the music, tales of what goes on in their private lives or anecdotes from associates do not interest me.

Same as Graeme - been a fan club member for 30 years but never been. The interviews with the likes of Mack, John Brough etc.. would be of great interest to me, as I'd love to know more of how the music was created, what other tracks were worked on, stories behind the studio sessions etc.....unfortunately sitting through a weekend listening to tales about Freddie's home life, plans for Queen based board games/t shirts/mugs etc... and listening to third rate cover bands just doesn't appeal to me. As a rule the convention is a long way for me to travel too.

As is also stated above, unless a particular interview is videoed or transcribed it would be hard to relay full and more importantly ACCURATE details of what was said.

Interesting to see that The Darkness are having a fan convention day in London on October with masterclasses with the band, table tennis vs Justin and Rufus, costumes, photos, interviews etc all topped off with a three set (one new stuff, one rare stuff, one hits) live gig by the band in the evening. I wonder if Rufus' Queen experiences have helped shape this??

[QUOTE] [b]cdrom wrote:[/b]

well i am extremely curious about the convention. I doubt I will ever be able to attend, but I would definitely appreciate being there.
New stories told from professionals working with the band is exactly what I find interesting. I've read many books about the band, but for the most part, it's the same stories told over and over again. It would be amazing( to me) if someone could relate some of these interesting new stories on here.

And guys; maybe if you were a tad bit nicer to Mr. Brooks, he will share some of the Queen archive with you as he has for me. He's sent me 3 cd's from the Night at the opera sessions so far. Interesting collection I must say. And all because I've always been polite and respectful to the man. [/QUOTE]

Are you joking about A Night At The Opera sessions?

I've been to the convention twice,last year being the latest. I enjoyed listening to you Greg last year and I appreciate the hard work Him and Jacky out in for the event. However I didn't attend this year partly due to family commitments and partly because I was disappointed at the accommodation at Southport. Glad to see it was changed for this year.

I'm interested to know though Greg,after listening to you on stage for an hour last year,I felt your comments always seemed to say much without really revealing much. I wonder,would it not be possible to have a Q and A session with the conventioners? Has this been done in the past? Maybe last year the conventioners weren't asking the right questions,but I came away learning nothing new. I heard a lot about the job you do but little or nothing in the way of the what archive product you have. That isn't meant as a criticism; as I say,maybe the right question wasn't asked.

One question I would like to ask though if your able to answer is this. Who is it that decides what product to release? I feel there is a general concencus amoungst the fans that we aren't getting the product we're all wanting. A specific case in point this year was Hyde Park 76 release. Queen on Air is ok but the live content as bonus tracks on the deluxe edition,at least in my opinion,could and should've been more expansive. And 2 CD's of interviews? Really?

I think we are all aware you as an archivist are not the one responsible for these decisions and perhaps some Queenzoners have wrongly accused yourself of shortchanging the fans. Apologies are perhaps in order from some.

Hope you have found time to read this Greg and have the time to answer my question.

Correction jondickens1. 3 cds of interviews. A shame... And just one of concerts highlights? A joke... And i think it's just not my opinion. it was much better if they release 3 cds of concerts and just one of interviews. I'll buy it for sure. But in this format i will buy only the BBC Sessions. There's no need to spens a lot of money in the rest. A waste...

Here is the DoRo interview at the convention

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KepjnnHif_I

Peter Straker & Mike Moran (part of it)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olgPnV_nXkw

Not from the UK convention 2016, but from Queensday in Holland

September 24th 2016
A Conversation with Mike Moran, Peter Freestone and Peter Straker

Duration: 1 hour 9 minutes
Audio Quality: Excellent

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBmMAj1E2jk

Great shares, thanks!

I grew up without the internet. Back then those informations were really rare or second / third hand at best. Nowadays it`s completely irrelevant. We will have all the content....sooner or later.

Don`t get me wrong, the Convention itself is surely a nice thing.

My personal reasons for NOT attending. Would have cost me at least 800 Bucks ( traveling by my standards) plus beeing away from my business.

The Convention was never really something that interested me to be honest; I could never bare to think of being in a holiday camp (my idea of absolute hell) with a couple of hundred people wearing Queen t-shirts (outside of a Queen gig) and singing (mostly bad) karaoke.

Each to their own sewerage (as Townshend so beautifully wrote) I have always thought, but for me I just wouldn't enjoy it other than spending the whole time trying to record the material off of Queen TV.

HOWEVER, the value is ABSOLUTELY in what Greg has highlighted here. In trying to be all things to all people, the Convention HAS to appease both them and me and the contributions from the likes of Mick Rock, Mike Moran, Crystal et al must be absolutely invaluable. Personally, I'd probably pay to stream interviews like this, but provided that the questions were anything BUT questions about Freddie's love life and Brian's hair.

I'm glad Queen fans feel that they can still keep this tradition going - it's amazing to know that the band can still do this. BUT, not for me I'm afraid.