Harold May MSG story

The Real Wizard wrote:

So, the oft-told story about Brian May's dad coming to Madison Square Garden to see his son play in America for the first time, and finally giving his approval...

Which show was it?

Well, it turns out we can even ask what *year* was it ?


I'd always thought it was the February 5, 1977 show. It was the first time they played the Garden. Brian flew his folks in on the brand spanking new Concorde that his dad helped create, which had only existed for a year. Makes sense, right?

But then the story popped up in the Days Of Our Lives documentary, in the News Of The World segment. So maybe it was December 1 or 2, 1977 ?

This quote from the new "Queen in 3D" book seems to corroborate with that:

"Only a year later we played MSG again, and this time I wanted my
family to share the experience."

The pic attached to this post is from Brian's website, which he footnotes as 1977.

And then there's this quote:

"Our first night ever in Madison Square Garden in New York was very special for me, partly because it was the realisation of a dream, and partly because I had flown my Mum and Dad, and my wife and newborn baby Jimmy out to see us play. I think it was the moment that my Dad realised that I hadn't really thrown my life away!"

Jimmy was born in June 1978. So then was it November 16/17, 1978?

But surely not the 17th - Brian wouldn't have had his folks at the show with naked strippers on bicycles.


what.
the.
hell.


Chime in, experts - which show was it?

In the photo the stage outfits on the rail my be the biggest clue. Just behind Mrs May is what looks to be Brian's black outfit and white waist coat with the black buttons which I believe was only used for the Jazz tour dates

???


http://adamtopia.com/thread/2452/17-lot-press-next-msg?page=9

"???" What are you trying to say?

This is the trouble when they don't ask me, lol.

GT wrote:

This is the trouble when they don't ask me, lol.

Since they don't ask you, you can maybe tell us :-)

My two cents:

Josef made it clear that it is not during the ADATR tour as Clark has no beard. So forget ADATR tour.

Jimmy was born in June 1978 and Queen was already big at this time, I don't think they were considering themselves as newbies at this time and it was their third time in MSG.
The story of his parents attending a MSG show is a long shot story but the story of parents+wife+newborn son attending the show is quite new (source is a 2014 the Guardian article?). I guess the older the article is, the more accurate it is, memory seems to fade out with years. So I'm quite sure his parents did not attend the Jazz shows.

By looking at the photo, I'm quite convinced it is from late 1977.

So I guess Brian May is mixing up events, his parents attended a NOTW MSG show and his wife and baby came to a Jazz show.

Vocal Harmony: ""???" What are you trying to say?"


... just citing:


"Dr. Brian May ?@drbrianmay 12m
Who is that young boy ? 1977 it was. Boy oh Boy. See ya tonite, dear NYC Folks.
Let's Rock !!!
Bri pic.twitter.com/uakjHA4WUg"

To 'little foetus' - I agree with you ... :-)

Vocal harmony wrote:

In the photo the stage outfits on the rail my be the biggest clue. Just behind Mrs May is what looks to be Brian's black outfit and white waist coat with the black buttons which I believe was only used for the Jazz tour dates

Good eye !

That photo is almost certainly from 1978 then.

Of course it is possible that his folks came to more than one gig.

But the excitement of it being the first time still tells me that the stories Brian fondly recalls have to be February 5, 1977.

Colour me stumped.

The real trouble is not Brian's memory - we all know this has some serious (and understandable) holes in it, but more the people they employ to proof check cold, hard facts once it's down in black and white on the page. In acknowledgments section Brian even refers to someone in the QP camp as 'the man who knows more about the band history than he does'....laughable!!

Defo!

I wonder when the story was first told, if anyone has the fan club magazines from 77-78, Brian May might
have mentioned it in one of his letters, or it was part of that quarterly write ups on highlights of the tour. I somewhat remember it being discussed right after it happened, and my memory serves me as it being on the DATR tour.

rschoorl wrote:

I wonder when the story was first told, if anyone has the fan club magazines from 77-78, Brian May might
have mentioned it in one of his letters, or it was part of that quarterly write ups on highlights of the tour. I somewhat remember it being discussed right after it happened, and my memory serves me as it being on the DATR tour.

I checked the magazines - no mention of it there.

Yeah, I think all signs are pointing to their first MSG date in 77.

And we can't blame a guy for confusing a few 40 year old memories. They played MSG five times in two years, so I'm sure it's easy to get the dates mixed up.

Why don't they actually consult you guys?


Hire you on as "conditional interns" who get exclusive autographed New releases or something easily arranged like that. ....just to be the brains of the operation?


It's really pretty terrible. This stuff is going down in "THEIR BOOK" (of history) with implausibilities galore.

Anyways. Those are my two cents until QZ compiles an unauthorized (*but ACCURATE) bio work.

Seems like two likely factions. If the QZrs do it. The financing and royalties would create discord among contributors (*unless done like ' THE MIRACLE ')

But (!) With QPL and an approval system. ..the fans win! (While still alive) and maybe SOME OF THEM will be able to listen to the anthology stuff that WILL NEVER BE RELEASED IN THEIR LIFETIMES. ...just food for thought.

That "live at the Odeon" cover should've been the last straw. Ridiculous.