Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words

Geez there's some sour cunts on here! :(

[QUOTE] [b]GB: Queen Archivist wrote:[/b]

Dear Queenzoners

Greg Brooks here. Co-editor compiler of this book.

Not much has changed here since I last looked, probably 3 or 4 years ago, and that's why many good people have inevitably drifted away from this website over the years, towards forums with fairer balance, perceptive observations, consistently serious debate, relevant helpful informative findings, constructive and considered comment. In your various comments about the book, I note I have been referred to as a fat bastard and lazy, etc, which is fine, and to be expected here, but it has nothing to do with the book or anything else. It's just tedious. Why would anyone serious feel compelled to offer anything serious here?

I'm saying this not because it bothers me greatly - I'm not here enough for anything written about me to bother me - but because if all that tedious puerile crap was put aside, and people commented only on Queen, or Freddie, and the matters in hand, and offered interesting original refreshing comment, rather than inane drivel (too often) this forum would be the nice place to be that it once was, when it began... before the plebs spoilt it for everyone else, and continue to. There are some good people here, obviously, with good and interesting things to say, but they're posting to individuals desperate to find error and to take the piss or be insulting... all the while offering NOTHING interesting or remotely creative of their own of course. Such is life in the world of certain people who have no real lives to speak about, so mock others. I've always found people like that large irritating, and I wonder what purpose they serve! Answers on a postcard please, to....

ANYWAY... here is some considered, thought-about, information on the book, to answer the points most often mentioned. I hope it helps...

Why didn't we offer the source for EVERY quote? We would have loved to do that - if it were possible - but it wasn't, unless you wanted to see a complete mass and mess of source stats and dates at the back of the book, which would have been even more boring and tedious than a post by dudeofqueen.

As we said in the book's Introduction, Freddie's quotes for each subject covered were compiled and edited from MANY sources, not just one or two, or even 6 or 7. It was often the case that we took everything he said about a given subject, from 30 or 40 or more source interviews, spanning his entire career, not just one part of it, then pieced together the most informative, flowing, articulate, logical, consistent sentence that was possible to achieve. It wasn't easy because Freddie flitted about all over the place in a typical interview.

For example, taking a random paragraph of FM comment from... let's say Chapter 6, if we were to offer details of the source for EVERYTHING there, gathered from 20 years of interview encounters with 15 or 50 different people, we'd have to put... Chapter 6. Paragraph 1. Sentences 1, 3, 4 and 7: taken from Blah Blah interview with John Smith, Radio XYZ, USA, November 1976. Sentences 2, 5, 12, 16 and 21: taken from Blah Blah interview, with Pete Peters, Radio ABC, Japan, May 1982. Sentences 14 from blah blah, Norway 1976, Sentences 24 from blah blah, France 1979, and so on.

And then... Chapter 6. Paragraph 2. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Chapter 6. Paragraph 3. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Chapter 6. Paragraph 4. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Chapter 6. Paragraph 5. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Chapter 6. Paragraph 6. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Chapter 6. Paragraph 7. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Chapter 6. Paragraph 8. Sentences 1, 2, 3.... 30
Right up to Paragraph 78 of Chapter 6.

Then the 93 paragraphs of Chapter 7
Then the 37 paragraphs of Chapter 8
Then the 42 paragraphs of Chapter 9
Then the 50 paragraphs of Chapter 10
Then the 29 paragraphs of Chapter 11

And so on...

Until EVERY word, every sentence, or indeed half sentence, in every paragraph, was given a source.

Some paragraphs would need masses of source details, while other entire paragraphs will have come from only one source. Over all, realistically, to offer the reader accurate details of where every word came from; every sentence in all 930 paragraphs over 194 pages, would have been a mass of ugly tedious text, probably spawning 30 or 40 pages, if we were to do it thoroughly.

Is that REALLY what you want? To do so would have added a tenth more cost to the book, and people would have complained about that too. We wanted (and succeeded) in keeping the book price under £10.

Before anyone says this... let me say... we did consider offering a huge list of the 200-300 sources that our book represents, and giving each source a unique number - such as David Wigg (33), Ray Coleman (28), NME (1975) (12), Circus Magazine (1975) (17), Unknown Source (1) and then adding a number to every sentence and paragraph. But can you imagine how horrible that would look?

Ultimately... we simply offered Freddie's thoughts and opinions delivered in his own words. No more, no less. Can you imagine if Freddie were around today, what he'd say if we asked, "Should we inform the readers of the origins of EVERY single word you utter in this book, Freddie?" I don't think he would give a damn about that. All that surely matters is that we have Freddie's words gathered together in ONE place, for you to read and hopefully enjoy. Is it so essential to know which utterances were to Mary Turner in 1984, which were to Mike Read in 1989, or Jo Bloggs in Italy, and which were from a 1975 radio interview?

Imagine if movie makers did that with every movie they made. The Sources list for Oliver Stone's JFK movie would have been 7,000 sources long !!! And imagine if recording artists did that for every song they released; offering you the listener details of the origins of each line of song lyric and which exact session it came from, and when....

Here's how the sleeve for Free's classic single ALL RIGHT NOW might have looked.

There she stood (take 6, 22/5/72) in the street (take 2, 8/5/72)
Smiling from her head to her feet (take 22, 9/6/72)
I said hey, what is this (take 11 or 12, 26/5/72)
Now baby (take 3, 10/5/72), maybe she's in need of a kiss (take 16, 19/5/72)
I said hey, what's your name baby (exact take unknown, probably 17 or 18)
Maybe we (take 6, 22/5/72) can see things the same (take 22, 9/6/72)
Now don't you wait or hesitate (take 6, 22/5/72)
Let's move before (take 7, 22/5/72) they raise the parking rate (take unknown)
All right now (take 11, 26/5/72) baby, it's all right now (take 3, 10/5/72 and take 28)
All right now baby, it's all right now (takes 6, 7 and 22, dates already given)

My God! How boring it would be to be told the origins of literally EVERY single line of that work.

We did not want the detail, the behind the scenes trivia, to get in the way of what Freddie had to say. It's what he said that mattered, not who he said it to, or when.

If there had been perhaps 4 or 4 sources per page, we may well have offered those details, but where it was 30 or 40 or more.... no. That would have been Ever Boring!


[/QUOTE]


I believe you did a great job but sorry Greg, We most wanted Live Killers box Moreover, they even deprived us of the Miracle box set

Greg, lame asshole, its time for a nice boxset with demos, outtakes.

Greatest videohits 3?
All the videos + making offs in BluRay

Im not sucking your balls just like mostly everyone here.

Its time for some change!!!

NObody here likes Greg, but when he´s posting something ooh maaan,,,

Everybody is licking his ass, please stop it.

Oh please Kuijpy (and others), the playground is down the road, just go play in the dirt like nice children.
Mr Brooks, good luck to you in what you do and playing the challenging, frustrating but I expect richly rewarding and exciting role that you have. People seem to forget that you are essentially an employee of Queen Productions and not in anyway a Jim Beach, Roger, John or Brian. Thank you for what you have done over many years. Now leave this place, and go back to your loved ones and the life that really matters. Have a nice day.

It s now time to close QUEENZONE administrator. !!!

-----------------------------------------------------

WHAT A BRAINLESS People here for just personal attacking Greg . Lots of opinions have nothing to do with Queen. But just frustrations !

Thank you Greg for all your efforts.I know you work hard for it and I can imagine you can't release products without input / permission of Brian/Roger and Jim. Unfortunately this isn't the forum where they show some respect.
What a disgrace.

I think the time has changed a little. More boxes of queen will come out sooner than later. I really hate the negativity on this forum.Onbelievable these people still exists.

Have a fucking nice day everybody !!!

[QUOTE] [b]GB: Queen Archivist wrote:[/b]

Dear Queenzoners

Greg Brooks here. Co-editor compiler of this book.

Not much has changed here since I last looked, probably 3 or 4 years ago, and that's why many good people have inevitably drifted away from this website over the years, towards forums with fairer balance, perceptive observations, consistently serious debate, relevant helpful informative findings, constructive and considered comment. In your various comments about the book, I note I have been referred to as a fat bastard and lazy, etc, which is fine, and to be expected here, but it has nothing to do with the book or anything else. It's just tedious. Why would anyone serious feel compelled to offer anything serious here?

I'm saying this not because it bothers me greatly - I'm not here enough for anything written about me to bother me - but because if all that tedious puerile crap was put aside, and people commented only on Queen, or Freddie, and the matters in hand, and offered interesting original refreshing comment, rather than inane drivel (too often) this forum would be the nice place to be that it once was, when it began... before the plebs spoilt it for everyone else, and continue to. There are some good people here, obviously, with good and interesting things to say, but they're posting to individuals desperate to find error and to take the piss or be insulting... all the while offering NOTHING interesting or remotely creative of their own of course. Such is life in the world of certain people who have no real lives to speak about, so mock others. I've always found people like that large irritating, and I wonder what purpose they serve! Answers on a postcard please, to....


[/QUOTE]
Thank you for your efforts in restoring Queen's and Freddie's legacy. Not only for this book that I haven't read yet but also all the countless other projects. For example, I was part of the Innuendo outtakes sessions in Metropolis studios last year and I can not thank you enough for this beautiful experience. Without you, this would not have been possible.

I suggest to ignore all the negative comments here and only react in a constructive way, even though the level you receive is abominable.

I believe you should stop calling other people names and stop reacting on their childish comments. It doesn't make you any better with the passive aggressive comments in this opening posts.

You don't need to defend yourself, you are the archivist and do not own Queen Productions. Few people seem to understand that.

Additionally, you are representing Queen Productions and need to take that responsibility by securing constructive posts.

Keep up the great work and look forward to see more of great Queen stuff.

Thank you for everything you have accomplished.

Sunshine, re:

>You don't need to defend yourself, you are the archivist and do not own Queen Productions. Few people seem to understand that.
>
>Additionally, you are representing Queen Productions and need to take that responsibility by securing constructive posts.
>
>Keep up the great work and look forward to see more of great Queen stuff.
>
>Thank you for everything you have accomplished.

How many accounts do you actually have these days Greggy Boy?

And the usual retards have come out of the woodwork again to display how tough they are and how to redefine the term human waste.
You have the chance to talk to the Queen archivist but instead take that chance to shout, moan, cry, curse and speak utter nonsense. Well done rats of Queenzone. Well done.

Stick, re:

>You have the chance to talk to the Queen archivist but instead take that chance to shout, moan, cry, curse and speak utter nonsense. Well done rats of Queenzone. Well done

"The chance"? Fuck off. Don't be so bloody naive.

Unless you're another GB Queenzone account, you'll have missed the continual visits here by this legendary sponge. I'm sure, if you bothered to read any of the threads that he's (ahem!) "contributed to" in the past, you can draw your own conclusions as to how he's entirely responsible for the level of vitriol levelled at him.

Remember, you telling everyone how wonderful he is or how incredible it is to have contact with **THE ARCHIVIST** won't gain you anything whatsoever.

Greggy-Boy makes appearances here as and when he needs something, be it information for an as-yet (and unlikely) unreleased project or his nuts tickled by the t-shirt-wearing-Lambert-praising mob.

Been here for years and years and I know all about what you are referring to. I also know about how you post on this forum.
You are one of those delusional people who see someone with a different opinion and think they know some hidden motivation behind it. And let's not forget the many times you acted like a child and still do.
I have much more respect for someone like Greg than the retard you are. Like I said. Human waste.

Some people on here moan over the slightest thing.
I think this is a well written book and i own a copy and in fact i am half way through the book.
It is in Freddie's words so that is good enough for me!
Reading this book only makes me even more aware how Freddie had a vision how to get Queen massive, his leadership skills prove he was the one that directed that band with skill and determination to be the UKs biggest band ever !
King Mercury will always be the most important member of Queen.

Stick, re:

>You are one of those delusional people who see someone with a different opinion and think they know some hidden motivation behind it.

I'm certainly not delusional. I''d love nothing more than for Greggy-Boy to pop up here and *add value* - he has added NOTHING yet taken credit for the work of others. He's been unable to accept any criticism; look at this thread - why not just put your hands up and say "You know what; yep. We got it wrong." He won't because in the weird world that is Queen, controlled by MayLor and Beechy-Boy, any criticism is a desecration of Freddie's memory.

Childish, yeah, maybe but, hell's teeth, there's plenty of need to drop a few IQ points when communicating with many of the buffoons that populate this place. After all, I appear to have engaged you a number of times, so our "levels" are probably pretty close.......

Retarded. Nope; not unless the above applies.

>I have much more respect for someone like Greg

Wow - this has to be a first....... And I'm utterly intrigued by the concept; why do you respect Greg? What has he done to deserve that respect?

Thanks for the response Greg.

[QUOTE] [b]Stick wrote:[/b]

You have the chance to talk to the Queen archivist [/QUOTE]

What a time to be alive ...