Life On Two Legs by Norman Sheffield

The Real Wizard 12 February 2017 23:03 · Member since August 2002

Has anyone got a copy of this book they're willing to part with?

I'd love to have a copy, but I just can't bring myself to pay $40 for a paperback book off Amazon.

Thanks !

M

master marathon runner 13 February 2017 02:02 · Member since July 2008

Can't help I'm afraid, but as an aside, I always found it remarkable that Queen coughed up compensation, or whatever name it was given as, to Sheffield, for implied slur . Short of Freddie holding his hands up and stating that it was about him, how the he'll was it ever substantiated?!!.
Could of just been denied, or have I missed something?

M

master marathon runner 13 February 2017 02:04 · Member since July 2008

/ \ Sorry, for the uninitiated, I'm referring to 'Death on Two Legs'

B

bodwinnumber2 13 February 2017 03:30 · Member since February 2012

yeah you've missed the fact that at nearly all of the gigs on the 1979 tour Freddie mentioned that Death On Two Legs was about a previous manager who was a real mother ****** of a gentleman, thus leading to the beeps on Live Killers. Quite good proof it was about Norman.

M

Mr Mercury 13 February 2017 04:51 · Member since July 2001

The Real Wizard wrote:

Has anyone got a copy of this book they're willing to part with?

I'd love to have a copy, but I just can't bring myself to pay $40 for a paperback book off Amazon.

Thanks !

Amazon UK has it at half that price (around $19 US). Dont know about shipping charges though.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Two-Legs-Record-Straight/dp/0957513313/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1486982709&sr=8-1&keywords=Norman+Sheffield+Life+On+Two+Legs

M

master marathon runner 13 February 2017 06:57 · Member since July 2008

bodwinnumber2 wrote:

yeah you've missed the fact that at nearly all of the gigs on the 1979 tour Freddie mentioned that Death On Two Legs was about a previous manager who was a real mother ****** of a gentleman, thus leading to the beeps on Live Killers. Quite good proof it was about Norman.

"This is about a certain beep beep beep - we call him death on 2 legs". Doesn't sound conclusive to me.

B

bodwinnumber2 13 February 2017 07:16 · Member since February 2012

no, the Live Killers version isn't conclusive, (because leaving what Freddie said is slanderous) but anyone who had been at any of the gigs on the tour would have heard what was said in it's full glory and I'm sure people who knew him (or Norman himself) may have been at these gigs.

S

Sebastian 13 February 2017 07:48 · Member since July 2001

I'm not a lawyer and have no expertise, so I'm happy to take someone else's word for it, as long as they're qualified, but I don't see how 'this is about a former manager' could be used as evidence that he meant 'this is about Norman Sheffield.'

It could be one of those cases of 'I never said it. You may have heard it, I may have thought it, and it might be true, but I never said that.'

.

. 13 February 2017 08:33 · Member since May 2012

Allegedly.

V

Vocal harmony 13 February 2017 08:39 · Member since June 2011

Sebastian wrote:

I'm not a lawyer and have no expertise, so I'm happy to take someone else's word for it, as long as they're qualified, but I don't see how 'this is about a former manager' could be used as evidence that he meant 'this is about Norman Sheffield.'

It could be one of those cases of 'I never said it. You may have heard it, I may have thought it, and it might be true, but I never said that.'

But there would be no way he could deny saying what he said numerous times to sold out arenas.

I'm sure I read, at the time that A Night At The Opera was released, an interview in which Brian said what the song was about (Sheffield's management) and that he didn't feel comfortable with the lyrics.

Also around the same time Freddie clearly stated in an interview in the British music press (Sounds, NME, Melody Maker or Record Mirror, don't remember which that Death On Two Legs was about their former manager who had ripped them off and "we have the pleasure of discarding like excreta"

I think the best legal tam would have trouble tunnelling their way out of that one, while an equally good team would have no problem proving it.

N

noorie 13 February 2017 12:38 · Member since June 2013

Perhaps the very title of Sheffield's book suggests that he was at least aware the song was about him...?

N

noorie 13 February 2017 12:40 · Member since June 2013

BTW, Wizard, you can get the Kindle edition for just 3.32 CAD, Amazon.ca

M

master marathon runner 13 February 2017 15:13 · Member since July 2008

'One leaves them behind, like excrement ' -remember reading that one back in The day.
Ha!

T

The Real Wizard 13 February 2017 15:15 · Member since August 2002

noorie wrote:

BTW, Wizard, you can get the Kindle edition for just 3.32 CAD, Amazon.ca

I don't have a kindle.

Call me a dinosaur, but I like holding, feeling, and smelling a book.

W

Wijnand 14 February 2017 02:36 · Member since June 2005

There is one for sale at the Facbook group: Auction This Day! for GBP 10 excluding shipping (from UK).
If you are not a member of that group, or don't want to become one, let me know if I can be of any help to get it to you.

Cheers,
Wijnand

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