The situation with Prenter was not obvious to anyone until midway through the Hot Space period. Even then the extent of the damage caused was really only evident later.
JRD1951's view is way off. Freddie was dressing in Leather from 78 not 82 he appeared live with a moustache for the first time in 1980. . . .it was never bushy!
Musical direction did have a lot to do with their US downfall. As Roger has said, they weren't "rock enough " for the mid west. But also Prenter made it hard for anyone outside the organisation to contact or reach Freadie. He carefully positioned himself into an area of trust and had influence over Freddie to some degree. There was a time when Prenter was always seen with Freddie both in Queen circles and away from them.
Some thought that Prenters goal was to lure Freddie into a personal management situation, he already had some influence on Freddie's solo aspirations.
Don't forget that when Prenter was found out and fired, his first port of call was the gutter press.
Daniel Nester · Member since
This is a letter from Brian May, which originally appeared in News of the World: The Newsletter for Queen Fans. He is attempting to answer the question of whether Queen “gave up” on American fans after the 1982 tour behind the Hot Space album, which failed to go gold. He is addressing the newsletter’s editor, Cola Todd.
26th March 1997
Dear Cola:
Now I would like to answer the Big Question that you ask.
America was our great pride and joy as we grew of age as a band. Throughout the late 70s we worked very hard, touring many months of every year, and a large proportion of that time was spent in the States. I guess we took pride in the fact that every time we came back, usually with another album on the shelves, the response got bigger and bigger. We felt that we were earning our wings, as it were, and that the following we had was a genuine word-of-mouth thing, based on the uniqueness of the Queen shows, etc. We also put in time at Radio when we were passing through, particularly Roger and I, so that there was a continuing direct connection between us and the public.
As far as I can tell, a number of things happened with the last Queen U.S. tour:
1) The Hot Space album was perceived by Radio as Queen forsaking Rock and Roll for Disco – out timing was perhaps a little premature, which was evident when you compare with material with what Michael Jackson was to be doing with Ed Van Halen and Slash in years to come.
2) Relations with Radio was not taken care of – we had a new man in charge of Promotion on the road, who, unknown to us at the time, was very high handed and rude with the media people and gave them the impression that we no longer cared. We only later discovered the huge extent of the damage much later, when trying to get Freddie’s solo record played. There was great resentment (radio people, like the rest of us, need to feel loved, and important!), and word of mouth on our tour was distorted by people who now wanted to see us fail.
3) We got caught in the crossfire of an attempt by Capital Records to withdraw from the Independent Promotion Circus (a.k.a. Payola) which dominated radio plays at that time. Capital dropped the man who was the lynch pin of their connection with the network of the radio station bribery, and the next week, 95 per cent of radio stations dropped our record, Radio Ga Ga. You can check this out in the record books. There was also the convenient rumours that the lyrics of the song were demeaning to Radio programmers, so there was a handy excuse available. Capital had been made an example of, by those in control, and we were the instrument.
4) We made a video in drag, as a spoof on a soap series, which was viewed as very funny, and something of an innovation, in Europe, but to the media in the U.S., it was seen as a threat to Morality. Yes, seriously – I was around to see the reaction of the TV people first-hand – they were horrified! Again, some of the media were looking for fuel for the fires of hatred (or at least distrust!), and a Homophobic undertone that further undermined Queen’s image in the U.S. The rest of the world did not seem to find this a problem. Which brings us to:
5) When the question of touring came up, we always looked at reactions to our latest album around the world. There was a massive explosion of interest in most of the countries of South America, in Africa, in the East, in Eastern Europe, and part of Western Europe which had been slow in the early days while were enjoying great recognition in North America. It made sense (and fun!) to go touring in the countries where there was growth and even hysteria, rather than flogging a Dead Horse in the US, where we felt there was a tide of something which for our interests and purposes was not dissimilar to McCarthyism which has driven the previous generation’s artists out. And there was a stubborn streak in Freddie, it has to be said, which was determined not to go back anywhere where we would be SMALLER then we had been before. Having toured football stadiums in most of the civilized world, it would have been depressing to go back to the U.S. and do theatres – or at least Freddie was adamant that this was so. To be honest, without this insistence we probably would have eaten humble pie and gone back, as Elton did, and with respect all over again. But in the event, the decision was to wait. For a renaissance that never came. I guess I was eager to show my feelings later; my blind faith in touring my own Brian May Band in the States, was a nice reaffirmation that we have loyal fans and great friends, but a disastrous demonstration of how little the word spread, and how-to-lose-a-lot-of-money-very-quickly! It was also very hard for me to keep up morale of my band, playing a show designed for fair-sized arenas to audiences in tiny clubs.
So you see, we did not really give up the U.S.A. without a fight – we just postponed it, in hopes that the Right Time would come. We certainly dreamed, the quality of Made in Heaven being acclaimed so highly, and sales around the world being so phenomenal, that America would respond after Freddie’s death if not before. But it was not meant to be. I guess we just didn’t play the necessary games. Or maybe it’s in the Future…! But I doubt it. Music becomes a huge part of people’s emotional life, but always at the moment when it is ringing in the ears everywhere. There is a huge chunk of Queen music which rang from Budapest to Buenos Aires to Beijing, but was silent in America. That can never be changed now.
But there are people like yourselves who tuned in regardless, and all I can say is “Thanks Folks!”
- Brian May
RadioDaDa · Member since
Great stuff Daniel. Thank you.
RadioDaDa · Member since
Great stuff Daniel. Thank you.
master marathon runner · Member since
Cheers Daniel. - Just about the most valuable insight as to where it turned bad.
Star* · Member since
Brian stated in tv documentary that the band never liked where Paul Prenter was leading Freddie too
around all the nasty cheap bars and pubs where Freddie could be in grave danger.
Brian Roger & John did despise Paul Prenter.
Queenman!! · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]Daniel Nester wrote:[/b]
This is a letter from Brian May, which originally appeared in News of the World: The Newsletter for Queen Fans. He is attempting to answer the question of whether Queen “gave up” on American fans after the 1982 tour behind the Hot Space album, which failed to go gold. He is addressing the newsletter’s editor, Cola Todd.
26th March 1997
Dear Cola:
Now I would like to answer the Big Question that you ask.
America was our great pride and joy as we grew of age as a band. Throughout the late 70s we worked very hard, touring many months of every year, and a large proportion of that time was spent in the States. I guess we took pride in the fact that every time we came back, usually with another album on the shelves, the response got bigger and bigger. We felt that we were earning our wings, as it were, and that the following we had was a genuine word-of-mouth thing, based on the uniqueness of the Queen shows, etc. We also put in time at Radio when we were passing through, particularly Roger and I, so that there was a continuing direct connection between us and the public.
As far as I can tell, a number of things happened with the last Queen U.S. tour:
1) The Hot Space album was perceived by Radio as Queen forsaking Rock and Roll for Disco – out timing was perhaps a little premature, which was evident when you compare with material with what Michael Jackson was to be doing with Ed Van Halen and Slash in years to come.
2) Relations with Radio was not taken care of – we had a new man in charge of Promotion on the road, who, unknown to us at the time, was very high handed and rude with the media people and gave them the impression that we no longer cared. We only later discovered the huge extent of the damage much later, when trying to get Freddie’s solo record played. There was great resentment (radio people, like the rest of us, need to feel loved, and important!), and word of mouth on our tour was distorted by people who now wanted to see us fail.
3) We got caught in the crossfire of an attempt by Capital Records to withdraw from the Independent Promotion Circus (a.k.a. Payola) which dominated radio plays at that time. Capital dropped the man who was the lynch pin of their connection with the network of the radio station bribery, and the next week, 95 per cent of radio stations dropped our record, Radio Ga Ga. You can check this out in the record books. There was also the convenient rumours that the lyrics of the song were demeaning to Radio programmers, so there was a handy excuse available. Capital had been made an example of, by those in control, and we were the instrument.
4) We made a video in drag, as a spoof on a soap series, which was viewed as very funny, and something of an innovation, in Europe, but to the media in the U.S., it was seen as a threat to Morality. Yes, seriously – I was around to see the reaction of the TV people first-hand – they were horrified! Again, some of the media were looking for fuel for the fires of hatred (or at least distrust!), and a Homophobic undertone that further undermined Queen’s image in the U.S. The rest of the world did not seem to find this a problem. Which brings us to:
5) When the question of touring came up, we always looked at reactions to our latest album around the world. There was a massive explosion of interest in most of the countries of South America, in Africa, in the East, in Eastern Europe, and part of Western Europe which had been slow in the early days while were enjoying great recognition in North America. It made sense (and fun!) to go touring in the countries where there was growth and even hysteria, rather than flogging a Dead Horse in the US, where we felt there was a tide of something which for our interests and purposes was not dissimilar to McCarthyism which has driven the previous generation’s artists out. And there was a stubborn streak in Freddie, it has to be said, which was determined not to go back anywhere where we would be SMALLER then we had been before. Having toured football stadiums in most of the civilized world, it would have been depressing to go back to the U.S. and do theatres – or at least Freddie was adamant that this was so. To be honest, without this insistence we probably would have eaten humble pie and gone back, as Elton did, and with respect all over again. But in the event, the decision was to wait. For a renaissance that never came. I guess I was eager to show my feelings later; my blind faith in touring my own Brian May Band in the States, was a nice reaffirmation that we have loyal fans and great friends, but a disastrous demonstration of how little the word spread, and how-to-lose-a-lot-of-money-very-quickly! It was also very hard for me to keep up morale of my band, playing a show designed for fair-sized arenas to audiences in tiny clubs.
So you see, we did not really give up the U.S.A. without a fight – we just postponed it, in hopes that the Right Time would come. We certainly dreamed, the quality of Made in Heaven being acclaimed so highly, and sales around the world being so phenomenal, that America would respond after Freddie’s death if not before. But it was not meant to be. I guess we just didn’t play the necessary games. Or maybe it’s in the Future…! But I doubt it. Music becomes a huge part of people’s emotional life, but always at the moment when it is ringing in the ears everywhere. There is a huge chunk of Queen music which rang from Budapest to Buenos Aires to Beijing, but was silent in America. That can never be changed now.
But there are people like yourselves who tuned in regardless, and all I can say is “Thanks Folks!”
yes spot on! Brian forgot the Body Language was banned in the US by MTV due to sexual content.
Well great to know my memory isn't that bad ... now I can sleep well.... :)
Sheldon · Member since
It's funny when Trump says something like this, or in a way like this, people go crazy mocking him, but when Brian does it no-one bats an eye :D
"We certainly dreamed, the quality of Made in Heaven being acclaimed so highly, and sales around the world being so phenomenal, that America would respond after Freddie’s death if not before."
runner_70 · Member since
How can Brians statement be compared to Trumps drivel????
RadioDaDa · Member since
Happystar— we all know how most felt about Preter. In all honest if he didn’t run to the tabloids with the hurtful stories for $$$ I don’t think he would be as hated. The forum was mostly on explaining Brian’s comments about Prenter being almost the sole reason queen lost America.
Tattermalion · Member since
In the book 'Somebody to Love', it suggests no tours in the USA for The Works or AKOM because Freddie wouldn't get the health insurance required for the US.
Daniel Nester · Member since
I saw that mention in Somebody to Love, and thought it was interesting albeit lightly sourced. I suspect Freddie could have figured out a way to out-wing the insurance people if he truly wanted to tour North America.
When I re-read this letter and hear Brian talking about the 'huge chunk of Queen music which rang from Budapest to Buenos Aires to Beijing, but was silent in America' and 'can never be changed,' I remember the QPR and QAL tours and how responsive crowds were to WWTLF and TATDOOL and other tracks, and hope he feels differently now about re-framing the band's legacy in North America. I know I do, and never thought I'd see the way where Brian and Roger would be playing something like "I Want It All" on Jimmy Kimmel and people losing their minds, cheering.
FunLovinCriminal · Member since
Not sure if Freddie really wanted cheat on the insurance company covering the Magic Tour. Imagine what would have been happening if there really would have been an accident that might have forced him to be taken care of in a hospital in the US. Him already showing signs of KS would have made doctors suspicious that he might have been suffering from AIDS right there and then.
Brian's comments on Indie Promo Men (aka Payola) makes a lot of sense as an explanation of the US being turned away from Queen. When Pink Floyd started their first run of The Wall-shows in LA, somebody at CBS records, their label in the US then, refused to pay those promo-criminals for their "services" in having Another Brick In The Wall on heavy radio-rotation, which caused some confusion among the Pink Floyd-management. Just as the band started to roll into LA, no radio station in the area was playing their big hit. The band's manager cried foul, the promo guys were payed and the tune was back on the radio. Having said that, I really don't think that any of the tracks on Hot Space would have really appealed to Americans at the time. The tracks from that album were just not good enough to appeal to either the "black music“ market nor the mainstream market.
Regarding Paul Prenter: Freddie was intelligent enough to have Prenter get in the way of him communicating with the band and its management. It might have been Freddie himself who told Prenter to tell the US-radio to fuck off, as it's well known that he wasn't really into doing intrerview - to be putting it mildly.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]runner_70 wrote:[/b]
How can Brians statement be compared to Trumps drivel????[/QUOTE]
Because a lot of people are really, really stupid.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]RadioDaDa wrote:[/b]
Happystar— we all know how most felt about Preter. In all honest if he didn’t run to the tabloids with the hurtful stories for $$$ I don’t think he would be as hated. The forum was mostly on explaining Brian’s comments about Prenter being almost the sole reason queen lost America. [/QUOTE]
Even without the tabloid episode, he is still the worst thing that ever happened to Queen.
