"Is this the real life" by Mark Blake

Hi !

Just finished reading "Is this the real life" by Mark Blake. Although I've heard that it is generally well-received book by Queen fans there are few things which in my opinion are controversial.

First, base for the book are author's interviews with Brian and Roger made for Mojo and Q. In many cases author just used interviews made by other author and for other media (for example, interviews with Freddie's school-friends, books by Jim Hutton, Peter Freestone, Peter Hince). In other words, after a couple of pages, you lose a sense that Mark Blake sat down with Brian and Roger and is telling us a story with their help.

Secondly and this is important question concerning Freddie, which I'd like you to address. In the section concerning years 1977-1986 Mark Blake through others' eyes, especially Freddie's school friends depicts the singer as a person who is blatantly egoistic, full of himself, a diva prancing around. This is the most harsh image of him that I've seen in a non-conflict situation. Can anyone clarify if Freddie really was like that at the time ?

Thirdly, the last couple of pages (30 or so) are lazy-written, author is throwing at as events from the Queen and surviving band members life after the 1991 without a thought that would make sense of all that.
What's more, here we came to a point in which things get ugly, Freddie's death is depicted as nothing happened in the music history, sure we get to know about Brian and Roger's struggle to cope with the fact that they lost someone close to them but you're reading all that and then the author skips to the Tribute concert and Queen collaborations.

The thought that a unique voice, a voice recognizable at the first seconds of a Queen track, a fine composer, outstanding musician.... It's like the last few pages are like a sentence, "Well, Freddie died but Queen survived it and are still going strong because there are always the likes of Rodgers and Lambert to take the stage"

Sounds terrible. I'm definitely not buying it. Thanks MercurialFreddie, you saved me some cash.

Suspicions should be aroused by perhaps the most imaginative title you could possibly have for a book about Queen.

I've heard that there is some fantastic book about the band which was written by someone of the band's inner circle and at the same time Queen fan but I don't know the title. Can somebody recommend me some good, well-written books about Queen ?

Queen - the early years. Matt Hodgkinson, - surprisingly good.
Queen unseen. Peter Hince ('Ratty') - superb.

I recommend Peter Hince's book as well; memories of his time spent with Freddie on the road, backstage and even after he left to open his own photography studio.

Yeah I've read Peter Hince's book, I have it, I agree it is superb, what about the biographies by Phil Sutcliffe, Peter & Nigel Goodall Lewry, Laura Jackson, Richard Gray. Are any of these books really good ?

Many years ago, when I had a small website running called “ghost of a smile”, Blake contacted me requesting to use some information for his book. I obliged and asked if I could get credit listed plus a free copy of the book.

At the time he said no problem at all but once the book was published, I saw no credit to the use of my site or VERY FEW websites big or small.

So that sort of stung. And to add salt to the wound, I was told in response to the free book “yeah I’ll see if I have a spare copy lying around ... “ or some sort of snuffy remark to that effect.

I did buy the book for $5 but was neither impressed by it or disappointed. It’s just another rehashing if the same old story. Nothing original.

Sounds like a douche.


Maybe we should start a thread about Biggest Douchebag associated with Queen circles (fandom, collections, publishing et al.)

I know "the one and only David R. Fullershit" would be up there.

I'd be curious to see what the community could leave. Maybe each name in a poll: with a dedicated short bio about person and offenses

I took the Phil Sutcliffe book on holiday a couple o' years ago, sumptuous. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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

I've heard that there is some fantastic book about the band which was written by someone of the band's inner circle and at the same time Queen fan but I don't know the title. Can somebody recommend me some good, well-written books about Queen ?[/QUOTE]

'Queen: As It Began' written by Jackie Gunn and Jim Jenkins is the book you are asking for. I've also heard this book is fantastic. I think it's time to read it soon.

The first Queen /Freddie book I ever owned was bought for me by a relative,not long after Freddie died, it was a book called The Show Must Go On by someone called Rick Sky, who I believe was a tabloid journalist but, from the way the book is written, he was Freddie's best mate as well. The book is riddled with quotes preceded by "Freddie once told me" and "as Freddie once said to me" etc. There's also a chapter on the Barbara Valentin nonsense,straight from the horse's mouth.

I had a book published around the time of A day at the races I can't think what it was called but I'm sure its in the loft somewhere. It covered the very early years through to Hyde Park. Last time I saw it it was falling apart think I read it 3 or 4 times over the years. If memory serves It didn't dig too deep into childhoods but concentrated on university Smile, Wreckage etc. It was a paperback with a painted image of the band on the front. Think it was written by George someone and was part of a series of books covering the major rock bands of the time?

'The Queen Story' by George Tremlett.

http://www.queenzone.com/forums/1435101/book-review-the-queen-story-1976-.aspx

I have it. Read it years ago. Don't really remember anything on it! :P