I can understand Brians stance on this topic, even though it would disappoint me if I had waited a long time.
If you put yourself in his shoes ... After a long day at work each time leave there are strangers wanting your time and having to always sign bits of paper.
When you are out minding your own business you do not get time to yourself as complete strangers are always coming up to you.
I had the fortune to get Brians signature when he was signing the WWRY books in Virgin, and he was most polite and patient. Even though you could argue it was "business" it is still time that you are not spending with the family and away from the limelight.
I would also be peeved if I was signing and then found the articles on ebay. This was proved with one of the WWRY books.
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its part of being a celeb and always has think of the millions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After a long day at work...
Poor Brian... anyone still wonders where he got this tenosynovitis from?
Will you stop asking him for autographs please!!! :-)))
I don't think he's obligated to sign autographs. Autograph signing is mostly Public Relations. I don't know too many musicians who are really into PR.
It may not have been be prudent to express disdain for autograph seekers since most are loyal fans. If he'd said nothing you all would still think he's a great guy.
BTW...Rosie O'Donnell LOST her fans and got ALOT of BAD press..for very vocally saying the same stuff as Brian...She says she HATES doing and giving autographs. Yeah...and now her fans deserted her. Her TV show was cancelled, Her career is going nowhere....
Arlene try and get your facts straight for a change.
Rosie O'Donnell quit because she was tired of doing the show and wanted to spend more time with her family.
The show was not cancelled because of her comments.
She "quit" because her ratings dropped to zilch after a PR fiasco when her "real" side as not the "queen of nice", but as Howard Stern calls her "the queen of mean" came out.
Then Oprah's show hammered hers in the ratings, so she "quit".
Yes Oprah hammered her in the ratings. She did not quit because of that. In fact she had a chubby Canadian comedienne replace her and that is when the show was dropped. You love to take the piss out of celebs with inaccuracies.
As far as celeb behaviour and autographs ... everyone wants an autograph but it isn't always fair to expect it. And when a celebrity chooses not to sign autographs for whatever reason we assume we have the right to one. Nobody owes us anything. See how you feel when people constantly make demands on your private time. And then add in that some people do not care about you but want to make a buck on your back.
I doubt that it's an easy thing but if Brian May chooses to not sign autographs then that is his perogative. If he is rude or abusive toward people then you might have a valid complaint.
On a lighter note if he ever writes a book and goes on a book signing tour he may have to rethink this.
Apparently you like to not thoroughly read my posts and take the piss out of them as I said earlier...
The Only thing I agree with Brian on, is if people ask for autographs..ONLY to sell them for profit and NOT for their own keepsake, then THAT is wrong.
But as long as fans are not violent, intrusive (like stalking a star at home or with their family), and PATIENTLY and POLITELY ask..and want the autograph only for themselves as a sentimental keepsake and NOT to sell, then any star should be ok with it.
No...a celebrity does NOT owe fans anything. But there is something called courtesy, giving back, being appreciative..to the fans who made their careers and are in fact, THEIR source of income, tahnk you very much.
Read my earler posts about people from SUPERSTARS like Tom Cruise, to Lucille Ball, to country music stars, to actors & authors who appear at conventions and book signings, what they do, and WHY they do it, BECAUSE they understand and don't lose their value system or appreciation of WHO buys or pays for their records, movies, books, concerts, etc., and WHO is their source of Income, getting to do WHAT they love, in a lavish lifestyle...far above the working class everyday joes who work a 40-60 hour crap job doing what they HATE to barely put food on the table...
...and STILL buy the celebrities' records, movies, concerts, books, etc.....
No celebrity OWES me a damn thing. But...if you also read my earlier post about The Allman Brothers Band....Brian does sounds suspiciously similar to them....happy and grateful to sign autographs and mingle with the fans...when the artist is struggling to ESTABLISH a NEW career or REBUILD a FADING career....then when they become suc
Having read Brian's comments on his soapbox (for those who have only read the comments in this thread - read it!), I have to say I have some sympathy with his view. He does apologise for genuine fans being tarred with the "selfish" brush - but think for a moment how annoying and frustrating it would be to be constantly pestered for photos and autographs by complete strangers in the little personal time you have to yourself.
Just because you achieve excellence and adoration in your chosen field shouldn't condemn you to having no life of your own.
Just because you achieve excellence and adoration in your chosen field shouldn't condemn you to having no life of your own.
I'm not trying to defend him, after all I guess I'd be disappointed if I spent a long time waiting to get my bit of paper signed... Oh well, that little scrap would mean the whole world to me if it was signed by Brian, my sweet hero :) But then again, maybe he has his reasons to do so and maybe he got angry seeing his signature on eBay, I don't blame him.
But I don't think I could ever get to hate him just for not wanting to give me an autograph. His music came to me when I deeply needed something to make me live again and I guess I'll always be grateful to Queen for that. They've done me good, so I don't think I'll ever be able to hate them and... ahem, refuse to spend money on them, not buying discs and dvds anymore. I dont feel like punishing Brian for not answering the letters I wrote to him. There were people who got their answer from him. They were the lucky ones; I wasn't. But I have no hard feelings against him. After all, I wouldn't have given a damn on him or Roger if I didn't love their music. I don't like him (only) because he has curly hair or because he is tall, cos there are plenty of curly haired tall guys in this world. I love him because I love his music, because his guitar still makes me smile and dream, because I owe him lots of happiness and because his music is still the comfort I need when I'm sad and lost. What on earth could he ever do to get me angry and make me hate him?! I don't think he could ever do anything that bad. The good things relating me to Queen and Brian are simply too overwhelming... and I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel this way. I'm pretty sure that almost every fan loves him for the great musician he is, not for his curly hair (although very cute and sexy, btw)... I mean don't get me wrong, if he turned me down when asking for an autograph, I'd certainly be very very very disappointed, I'd feel like crying... and I'd go to soothe my heart listening to Las Palabras De Amor or Dreamer's Ball. I think I'd still go back to Queen in spite of all...
After all, aside from being a great guitarist, Brian is still a human being. And no man is perfect. I don't agree at all with his views and I certainly wouldn't like to be turned down after a show, but I guess this is just another case of "c'est la vie mesdames et messieurs". Only he shouldn't have spoken his mind in public...
But I don't think I could ever get to hate him just for not wanting to give me an autograph. His music came to me when I deeply needed something to make me live again and I guess I'll always be grateful to Queen for that. They've done me good, so I don't think I'll ever be able to hate them and... ahem, refuse to spend money on them, not buying discs and dvds anymore. I dont feel like punishing Brian for not answering the letters I wrote to him. There were people who got their answer from him. They were the lucky ones; I wasn't. But I have no hard feelings against him. After all, I wouldn't have given a damn on him or Roger if I didn't love their music. I don't like him (only) because he has curly hair or because he is tall, cos there are plenty of curly haired tall guys in this world. I love him because I love his music, because his guitar still makes me smile and dream, because I owe him lots of happiness and because his music is still the comfort I need when I'm sad and lost. What on earth could he ever do to get me angry and make me hate him?! I don't think he could ever do anything that bad. The good things relating me to Queen and Brian are simply too overwhelming... and I'm sure I'm not the only one to feel this way. I'm pretty sure that almost every fan loves him for the great musician he is, not for his curly hair (although very cute and sexy, btw)... I mean don't get me wrong, if he turned me down when asking for an autograph, I'd certainly be very very very disappointed, I'd feel like crying... and I'd go to soothe my heart listening to Las Palabras De Amor or Dreamer's Ball. I think I'd still go back to Queen in spite of all...
After all, aside from being a great guitarist, Brian is still a human being. And no man is perfect. I don't agree at all with his views and I certainly wouldn't like to be turned down after a show, but I guess this is just another case of "c'est la vie mesdames et messieurs". Only he shouldn't have spoken his mind in public...
I agree with you,dimcyril. I think it's disappointing for the fans, if Brian says something like this. It is a big difference if he just thinks that, but doesn't spell it out.
I'll defend Brian.
He doesn't have the luxury of being about to walk down the street and without being recognized - like everybody else does. I'm sure that after 30+ years of this, he's entitled to get a bit aggravated over it all...I've seen many autographs hounds (I even know some who constantly go to get athletes autographs - the players know who these folks are and they avoid them at all costs...) - they are rude, obnoxious, and yes, a good many of the autographs DO end up on e-bay, etc.
He's just a person...gets up in the morning, drinks his coffee...reads the newspaper...whatever...
Don't you enjoy your freedom to move about without being noticed - well, he can't. Constant cameras in his face...I personally would hate it, too.
There are times when he does accommodate fans - and it is more often than you think. I personally only think he goes off on his rants when he has a bad experience with an over zealous fan.
If I ever run into him again (yeah, I met him once, & I made him put on the dog and pony show for me...I got a picture taken with him and an autograph...), but I'm a lot older and a lot wiser now - I can think of about a million different conversations that I'd like to have with him - and THAT would probably keep his interest and attention.
Strike up a conversation first...he'll probably give you an autograph in the process.
He doesn't have the luxury of being about to walk down the street and without being recognized - like everybody else does. I'm sure that after 30+ years of this, he's entitled to get a bit aggravated over it all...I've seen many autographs hounds (I even know some who constantly go to get athletes autographs - the players know who these folks are and they avoid them at all costs...) - they are rude, obnoxious, and yes, a good many of the autographs DO end up on e-bay, etc.
He's just a person...gets up in the morning, drinks his coffee...reads the newspaper...whatever...
Don't you enjoy your freedom to move about without being noticed - well, he can't. Constant cameras in his face...I personally would hate it, too.
There are times when he does accommodate fans - and it is more often than you think. I personally only think he goes off on his rants when he has a bad experience with an over zealous fan.
If I ever run into him again (yeah, I met him once, & I made him put on the dog and pony show for me...I got a picture taken with him and an autograph...), but I'm a lot older and a lot wiser now - I can think of about a million different conversations that I'd like to have with him - and THAT would probably keep his interest and attention.
Strike up a conversation first...he'll probably give you an autograph in the process.
It's difficult. A lot of what he seems to write on his soap box is written in haste. he could do well to have someone to vet his postings.
But, what he said in this is largely about people who either sell signatures or who seem to want him to sign their whole back catalogue. and that is asking too much. i mean, you've got to remember that at any one gig, there may be only one such person, but over a tour there may be many and that would have an impression on the person - Brian - who experiences it. Imagine if you left your place of work every night to have people asking for more of your time.
Yes, you can say they're well paid for it, but I still don't really think that they deserve the intrusion. Even Posh and Becks - I think that they should be allowed to court the press when they want it, but be left alone when they don't. the press is part of their work, but it shouldn't mean that the press have a right to follow them around 24 hrs 7 days a week. there should be laws to stop them tipping off the press and the press from intruding. this could be achieved by having legal documents available agreeing to a press opportunity. without this it would be illegal for press to "hound" a celebrity at home or whatever. it means they couldn't tip the press off themselves because the press would need an official press release or invitation. it would open up the media and mean there was more true and unbiased press.
But celebs and the press don't want this because the way it works is, overall, best for both parties. Even Brian subscibes to this to a certain extent by allowing the press he derides for intruding on his personal life to promote his professional life. Although it could be more his management team interacting with the press than him.
but the point is, that I can understand his view point. The general opinion of Brian is that he's a nice person, but night on night, he's bound to be irritated with people who seem to want lots of his time when he's already spent a day working. A gig doesn't start when he walks on the stage and end when he leaves the stage. There's a lot more to it than that, I'm sure of it.
I'm not saying he's perfect. He definitely could be a little more subtle in his soap box, but try and think of it from his point of view. He might be a multi millionaire 'cause of all the stuff we've bought, but he's put his fair share of work into it, and given himself over to this thing called Queen over the years, so cut him some slack and forgive his rather rash comments.
YOU TRY IT, AND THEN SEE HOW YOU HANDLE ALL THOSE DEMANDS!!!
But, what he said in this is largely about people who either sell signatures or who seem to want him to sign their whole back catalogue. and that is asking too much. i mean, you've got to remember that at any one gig, there may be only one such person, but over a tour there may be many and that would have an impression on the person - Brian - who experiences it. Imagine if you left your place of work every night to have people asking for more of your time.
Yes, you can say they're well paid for it, but I still don't really think that they deserve the intrusion. Even Posh and Becks - I think that they should be allowed to court the press when they want it, but be left alone when they don't. the press is part of their work, but it shouldn't mean that the press have a right to follow them around 24 hrs 7 days a week. there should be laws to stop them tipping off the press and the press from intruding. this could be achieved by having legal documents available agreeing to a press opportunity. without this it would be illegal for press to "hound" a celebrity at home or whatever. it means they couldn't tip the press off themselves because the press would need an official press release or invitation. it would open up the media and mean there was more true and unbiased press.
But celebs and the press don't want this because the way it works is, overall, best for both parties. Even Brian subscibes to this to a certain extent by allowing the press he derides for intruding on his personal life to promote his professional life. Although it could be more his management team interacting with the press than him.
but the point is, that I can understand his view point. The general opinion of Brian is that he's a nice person, but night on night, he's bound to be irritated with people who seem to want lots of his time when he's already spent a day working. A gig doesn't start when he walks on the stage and end when he leaves the stage. There's a lot more to it than that, I'm sure of it.
I'm not saying he's perfect. He definitely could be a little more subtle in his soap box, but try and think of it from his point of view. He might be a multi millionaire 'cause of all the stuff we've bought, but he's put his fair share of work into it, and given himself over to this thing called Queen over the years, so cut him some slack and forgive his rather rash comments.
YOU TRY IT, AND THEN SEE HOW YOU HANDLE ALL THOSE DEMANDS!!!
I don't think he's obligated to sign autographs. Autograph signing is mostly Public Relations. I don't know too many musicians who are really into PR.
It may not have been be prudent to express disdain for autograph seekers since most are loyal fans. If he'd said nothing you all would still think he's a great guy.
BTW...Rosie O'Donnell LOST her fans and got ALOT of BAD press..for very vocally saying the same stuff as Brian...She says she HATES doing and giving autographs. Yeah...and now her fans deserted her. Her TV show was cancelled, Her career is going nowhere....
Arlene try and get your facts straight for a change.
Rosie O'Donnell quit because she was tired of doing the show and wanted to spend more time with her family.
The show was not cancelled because of her comments.
She "quit" because her ratings dropped to zilch after a PR fiasco when her "real" side as not the "queen of nice", but as Howard Stern calls her "the queen of mean" came out.
Then Oprah's show hammered hers in the ratings, so she "quit".
Yes Oprah hammered her in the ratings. She did not quit because of that. In fact she had a chubby Canadian comedienne replace her and that is when the show was dropped. You love to take the piss out of celebs with inaccuracies.
Apparently you like to not thoroughly read my posts and take the piss out of them as I said earlier...
The Only thing I agree with Brian on, is if people ask for autographs..ONLY to sell them for profit and NOT for their own keepsake, then THAT is wrong.
But as long as fans are not violent, intrusive (like stalking a star at home or with their family), and PATIENTLY and POLITELY ask..and want the autograph only for themselves as a sentimental keepsake and NOT to sell, then any star should be ok with it.
No...a celebrity does NOT owe fans anything. But there is something called courtesy, giving back, being appreciative..to the fans who made their careers and are in fact, THEIR source of income, tahnk you very much.
Read my earler posts about people from SUPERSTARS like Tom Cruise, to Lucille Ball, to country music stars, to actors & authors who appear at conventions and book signings, what they do, and WHY they do it, BECAUSE they understand and don't lose their value system or appreciation of WHO buys or pays for their records, movies, books, concerts, etc., and WHO is their source of Income, getting to do WHAT they love, in a lavish lifestyle...far above the working class everyday joes who work a 40-60 hour crap job doing what they HATE to barely put food on the table...
...and STILL buy the celebrities' records, movies, concerts, books, etc.....
No celebrity OWES me a damn thing. But...if you also read my earlier post about The Allman Brothers Band....Brian does sounds suspiciously similar to them....happy and grateful to sign autographs and mingle with the fans...when the artist is struggling to ESTABLISH a NEW career or REBUILD a FADING career....then when they become successful, they become full of themselves and lose their value system and get snotty when they are famous....
...but watch what happens when some of these stars fall...like The Allman Brothers have done MANY times in their career, they have gone UP and DOWN and UP and DOWN, and UP again...
..always gracious on the bottom, always jerks at the top.
And I have experienced this meeting other celebrities who have gone up & down & up the food chain as well...they all did the same thing...
Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Guess Who, The Atlanta Rhythm Section, Exile, Neil Schon of Journey, James O'Barr (author of "The Crow"), etc.....
Have started to post an opinion here three times and have stopped myself, but have thrown better judgment to the wind . . . first off, I like and have a great deal of respect for Brian May. Can't explain it, but I just do. I have always thought of him as a good and decent person regardless of his "celebrity status" whatever that means, but also recognize that I am only aware of him because of his involvement with Queen. Had he stuck to astronomy, I likely wouldn’t have run into him even at the (dare I admit this?) local astronomy club, of which I am a card-carrying member. Truth is, I admire his musicianship, and am somewhat awed by his mastery and merging of the artistic and scientific sides of his brain. To be honest, I'd probably never say a bad thing about the guy, even if I thought it.
Recent discussions with a number of people have given me a bit more insight into another aspect of those who actively seek autographs or "chance" encounters at almost any cost to Mr. May. You might or might not believe some of the stories I've heard about what people do to try to get an autograph or a picture with this guy, and I'm not talking about the encounters with the paparazzi--just fans and admirers. I read one story right here on Queenzone that about curled my hair! And the prize of that encounter? A photograph of the person and Brian May, whose expression indicates that he is indeed in one of the circles of Hell. I'm sure it was a special moment for all. It's a wonder he leaves his house. Imagine going virtually anywhere, at any time, with the knowledge that someone is likely watching your every move, or planning their next, to try to intercept you for the purpose of getting something from you.
Regarding demos: Yes, he was once a struggling musician too. But whether he chooses to "give something back" is his decision and his alone. But he DOES help others and work to promote the careers other artists at varying stages of their careers. Look at all the people who are actively working right now because of his (and the other members of Queen's) creative efforts--the casts of all the WWRY productions, would be one example. Look at the musicians whose names and gigs appear on his web site. Personally, I've gone to at least four gigs this year just because I've become aware of those artists via Brian's web site. And they've all been good. Who? Katie Melua and Soul SirkUS, to name two, vastly different styles. Further, because I saw Soul SirkUS, I'm going to see Journey this summer, and Jeff Scott Soto's solo act, and Marco Mendoza's jazz stuff in LA, sorry Virgil (Donati), I can't get to Australia this year, but I know I'll see you play again! I will see Joss Stone in a few weeks. (Remember, it was Joss Stone's performance he was trying to enjoy while people were asking him to sign things at the Brits.)
The bottom line is, we know he doesn't want to sign things. We know he doesn't want to pose for pictures. He's made it clear, but people keep asking him anyway. He doesn't owe us anything. Don't get me wrong. It would mean a lot to me to have him sign my guitar, but I don't think it would be meaningful to him, and to me, it's not worth making him do something he doesn't want to do just so I could take a little piece of him. On the other hand, if he were to approach me at dinner in a restaurant where I was with friends, and say in one long, run-on exclamation, "I'm really sorry to bother you, as you’re obviously in the middle of your meal and enjoying your conversation with friends, but it would mean the world to me if you would let me sign your guitar. I've been wanting to do this for X years, and I really love playing guitar and since you HAVE a guitar and just happen to be sitting there, this is quite an amazing coincidence, and as long as I'm at it, could I please get a photo with you? All I have is this sub-standard mobile phone camera, and the battery is alw
Recent discussions with a number of people have given me a bit more insight into another aspect of those who actively seek autographs or "chance" encounters at almost any cost to Mr. May. You might or might not believe some of the stories I've heard about what people do to try to get an autograph or a picture with this guy, and I'm not talking about the encounters with the paparazzi--just fans and admirers. I read one story right here on Queenzone that about curled my hair! And the prize of that encounter? A photograph of the person and Brian May, whose expression indicates that he is indeed in one of the circles of Hell. I'm sure it was a special moment for all. It's a wonder he leaves his house. Imagine going virtually anywhere, at any time, with the knowledge that someone is likely watching your every move, or planning their next, to try to intercept you for the purpose of getting something from you.
Regarding demos: Yes, he was once a struggling musician too. But whether he chooses to "give something back" is his decision and his alone. But he DOES help others and work to promote the careers other artists at varying stages of their careers. Look at all the people who are actively working right now because of his (and the other members of Queen's) creative efforts--the casts of all the WWRY productions, would be one example. Look at the musicians whose names and gigs appear on his web site. Personally, I've gone to at least four gigs this year just because I've become aware of those artists via Brian's web site. And they've all been good. Who? Katie Melua and Soul SirkUS, to name two, vastly different styles. Further, because I saw Soul SirkUS, I'm going to see Journey this summer, and Jeff Scott Soto's solo act, and Marco Mendoza's jazz stuff in LA, sorry Virgil (Donati), I can't get to Australia this year, but I know I'll see you play again! I will see Joss Stone in a few weeks. (Remember, it was Joss Stone's performance he was trying to enjoy while people were asking him to sign things at the Brits.)
The bottom line is, we know he doesn't want to sign things. We know he doesn't want to pose for pictures. He's made it clear, but people keep asking him anyway. He doesn't owe us anything. Don't get me wrong. It would mean a lot to me to have him sign my guitar, but I don't think it would be meaningful to him, and to me, it's not worth making him do something he doesn't want to do just so I could take a little piece of him. On the other hand, if he were to approach me at dinner in a restaurant where I was with friends, and say in one long, run-on exclamation, "I'm really sorry to bother you, as you’re obviously in the middle of your meal and enjoying your conversation with friends, but it would mean the world to me if you would let me sign your guitar. I've been wanting to do this for X years, and I really love playing guitar and since you HAVE a guitar and just happen to be sitting there, this is quite an amazing coincidence, and as long as I'm at it, could I please get a photo with you? All I have is this sub-standard mobile phone camera, and the battery is alw
There is two sides to this situation. One is that, today everyone is cheap and just want it for money and not for the real value and memory of what it really is, so i can kind of agree with him. The other side is that some of us are actually loyal fans, it's the least he can do, i mean don't get me wrong i idol him but still he should, if they do come over to the US i would hope to meet him and Roger. :)
I dont think Brian would mind signing a boob or ass off a hot chick, all rock star seem to love that.
At least Brian is nicer than a lot of other rock stars. Even though he complains, he still does it. Some rock stars don't even care if they hurt their fans' feelings.
I dont think Brian would mind signing a boob or ass off a hot chick, all rock star seem to love that.
Well, yeah. That's a given. ;-)