maybe he resents his dying, even after all these
years. he always seemed to praise him, and then at times he seems to downplay freddies part. I know john was very deeply affected by freddies death that he said thats it, without freddie theres no more queen.
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true. there is still queen without freddie, but no one can really replace him, right?
I think this question could be re-phrased as "Did any of these humans have problems/feelings about things and were they ALLOWED ot voice it?" nice. what kind of things do you have feelings about that weren't really "legit" but still EXISTED?
they may be "piqued" at Freddie, yes, but in my opinion they just shouldn't...not anymore after so many years...what happened most of the time, is that when the guys came in the studio together to start recording for a new album, they would all put their ideas on the table, sit and listen to what they had come up with, and start trying to play these ideas and work them out. Sometimes there were songs of a much too personal character that wouldn't be fit as a Queensong on an album. Freddie wrote loads of too personal stuff, that the band didn't want on a Queen-album. So, Freddie gathered many of them in the end, and put them on a solo album. Brian saying now, that he feels abused and kicked away by Freddie, stating on the album that he is thanking them for not interfering with this project, is also partially his own fault, as they could have chosen some of these songs as Queen ones....but that is always afterwards... I think he shouldn't be too negative about all this. It is all in the past, and nothing can be changed...ever...it is history now. But then again, one will only regret in life, those things one didn't do, when the chance was there. Freddie gave them a chance, they did't take it then, so now they shouldn't be "picked" at Freddie now....but if they do now...it says all about them, an nothing about Freddie.....
All I have to say is that Brian knew him
well, I believe that in interviews around 1985 Fred said he didn't want the solo album to be a "Queen" sound, but if he then says to Brian in private, I've got this bloke to copy you etc, then that might have annoyed Brian, I guess. you can tell he's annoyed, because he kind of had a small dig at the poor guitarist Fred hired, and normally Brian is extremely modest and generous to other musicians etc, so he must have been piqued!
Sounds a bit of a strange contridiction from Freddie IMO.
I think it's good in a way that Brian can say what he felt and be "real". Obviously his overriding memories are positive ones, but it's probably healthy to retain at least some negative aspects or he would just seem like he's deifying Freddie. It's up to us to do that!!!
Sounds a bit of a strange contridiction from Freddie IMO.
I think it's good in a way that Brian can say what he felt and be "real". Obviously his overriding memories are positive ones, but it's probably healthy to retain at least some negative aspects or he would just seem like he's deifying Freddie. It's up to us to do that!!!
I think Brian has the right to sound off when something annoys him. After all it's his site and he doesn't hold back from ranting about other subjects close to his heart, why not Freddie too. Of course the fact that so many more people read his 'blog' means the word gets spread more quickly and is more open to analysis.
I also guess that he gets a bit pissed off when almost every interview he does manages to encorporate a 'Freddie-related' question. And now, even 15 years after his death we're all gearing up to celebrate his 60th birthday! Brian was probably in such a mood when he typed that piece about Freddie's solo work...I felt the part at the end when he praised his voice seemed a bit of a last minute repair job but he's entitled to say what he wants..even a negative Freddie anecdote goes to keeping the legend alive!
I also guess that he gets a bit pissed off when almost every interview he does manages to encorporate a 'Freddie-related' question. And now, even 15 years after his death we're all gearing up to celebrate his 60th birthday! Brian was probably in such a mood when he typed that piece about Freddie's solo work...I felt the part at the end when he praised his voice seemed a bit of a last minute repair job but he's entitled to say what he wants..even a negative Freddie anecdote goes to keeping the legend alive!
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Oberon wrote: [/QUOTENAME] ...Obviously his overriding memories are positive ones, but it's probably healthy to retain at least some negative aspects or he would just seem like he's deifying Freddie. It's up to us to do that!!! [/QUOTE]
lol. Very true - deifying Freddie is up to us. :)
And yes, you can clearly tell Brian's annoyed. It's out of place after all this time though, no? That's why I asked if this was legit – not so much his feelings but the facts. Did things happen the way he says they did? Or has time skewed his memory/emotions?
What would be Freddie’s reason for including them only to cut them out? He was always so tongue-in-cheek, the comment thanking them for staying out of the project could have been Freddie’s way of saying they WERE involved rather than being the slap in the face Brian now implies it was.
Like Adolfo said, Brian knew him, but at the end of his post, Brian wonders why Freddie did this since he was always so generous with them. That says to me he should keep this kind of musing out of a public forum. It's all supposition on his part and it casts shadows over Freddie’s character. I think that’s unfair especially since Freddie can't clarify his motives - if there were any motives.
lol. Very true - deifying Freddie is up to us. :)
And yes, you can clearly tell Brian's annoyed. It's out of place after all this time though, no? That's why I asked if this was legit – not so much his feelings but the facts. Did things happen the way he says they did? Or has time skewed his memory/emotions?
What would be Freddie’s reason for including them only to cut them out? He was always so tongue-in-cheek, the comment thanking them for staying out of the project could have been Freddie’s way of saying they WERE involved rather than being the slap in the face Brian now implies it was.
Like Adolfo said, Brian knew him, but at the end of his post, Brian wonders why Freddie did this since he was always so generous with them. That says to me he should keep this kind of musing out of a public forum. It's all supposition on his part and it casts shadows over Freddie’s character. I think that’s unfair especially since Freddie can't clarify his motives - if there were any motives.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]saltnvinegar wrote: [/QUOTENAME]I think Brian has the right to sound off when something annoys him. After all it's his site and he doesn't hold back from ranting about other subjects close to his heart, why not Freddie too. Of course the fact that so many more people read his 'blog' means the word gets spread more quickly and is more open to analysis.
I also guess that he gets a bit pissed off when almost every interview he does manages to encorporate a 'Freddie-related' question. And now, even 15 years after his death we're all gearing up to celebrate his 60th birthday! Brian was probably in such a mood when he typed that piece about Freddie's solo work...I felt the part at the end when he praised his voice seemed a bit of a last minute repair job but he's entitled to say what he wants..even a negative Freddie anecdote goes to keeping the legend alive! [/QUOTE]
I agree with everything you said here, and I'm not trying to put Brian down for voicing his feelings. I think everyone should be able to do that.
But... there's that word... it's the facts I question.
No, I don't think Freddie was perfect, but he isn't here to tell his side of the story, and I think it's wrong of Brian to taint the re-release of Freddie's solo work with his own perception of events from years ago.
Now, if Brian's right, that puts a whole different spin on things. But how do we know? It's his word against... what?
I also guess that he gets a bit pissed off when almost every interview he does manages to encorporate a 'Freddie-related' question. And now, even 15 years after his death we're all gearing up to celebrate his 60th birthday! Brian was probably in such a mood when he typed that piece about Freddie's solo work...I felt the part at the end when he praised his voice seemed a bit of a last minute repair job but he's entitled to say what he wants..even a negative Freddie anecdote goes to keeping the legend alive! [/QUOTE]
I agree with everything you said here, and I'm not trying to put Brian down for voicing his feelings. I think everyone should be able to do that.
But... there's that word... it's the facts I question.
No, I don't think Freddie was perfect, but he isn't here to tell his side of the story, and I think it's wrong of Brian to taint the re-release of Freddie's solo work with his own perception of events from years ago.
Now, if Brian's right, that puts a whole different spin on things. But how do we know? It's his word against... what?
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]magicalfreddiemercury wrote: [/QUOTENAME]No, I don't think Freddie was perfect, but he isn't here to tell his side of the story, and I think it's wrong of Brian to taint the re-release of Freddie's solo work with his own perception of events from years ago.
Now, if Brian's right, that puts a whole different spin on things. But how do we know? It's his word against... what?[/QUOTE]
Quite true, and there lies the problem. It's similar to the whole "Mercury and Me" debate plus the stuff quoted in documentaries like "Freddie's Loves" etc. These people can (and do) say what they want as there's no way of disproving it but that doesn't mean it's the truth. Of course I don't mean to compare Brian to some of those money-grabbing people I mentioned above but I think he has his own ego to keep massaged and we only have his word about what happened concerning Mr Bad Guy. I agree about the whole timing of his comments being somewhat awkward, almost like trying to steal some thunder whilst underlining his own musical importance/influence...if Freddie did hire a session guitarist to sound just like Brian...then maybe he should take it as a compliment, after all 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' isn't it....?!
Now, if Brian's right, that puts a whole different spin on things. But how do we know? It's his word against... what?[/QUOTE]
Quite true, and there lies the problem. It's similar to the whole "Mercury and Me" debate plus the stuff quoted in documentaries like "Freddie's Loves" etc. These people can (and do) say what they want as there's no way of disproving it but that doesn't mean it's the truth. Of course I don't mean to compare Brian to some of those money-grabbing people I mentioned above but I think he has his own ego to keep massaged and we only have his word about what happened concerning Mr Bad Guy. I agree about the whole timing of his comments being somewhat awkward, almost like trying to steal some thunder whilst underlining his own musical importance/influence...if Freddie did hire a session guitarist to sound just like Brian...then maybe he should take it as a compliment, after all 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery' isn't it....?!
He has every right to feel that way - because as stated here before HE knew him, and I thought this was relly honest. In that same message he talks about how nice it is to hear Freddie's solo stuff again.
He talks about a friend, and friendship always includes differences. For me it is an appraisal of Freddie's compositions and that Brian would have loved to contribute more to his solo stuff.
Perhaps now we finally know why they did include MIH and IWBTLY on MIH in the first place. I was always critical about that, but now I see it as a tribute to Freddie's writing abilities.
Interesting in that context is Freddie's 1984 interview with Mary Turner for "Off the record", in which he talks about the possibility of Queen playing his solo songs on the tour, and how he is looking forward to the guys input to the songs and "how the are going to take them a step further". And the credits on "Mr. Bad Guy" not only include the passage about the others, but also "Thanks to Barbara Valentin for big tits and misconduct". So it was all tongue-in-cheek. For me Brian's comments are far from being disrespectful, it's the opposite. He would've given his best if Freddie had allowed him to contribute more to the album. And that he could'nt is still in his mind. Don't want to sound too psychological though...
And the thing about the album not selling too good: first of all it was Top10 in the UK, but outside england it did not cause much interest. Then he also talks about Mick Jagger solo stuff not selling, which is true, and thus we're talking about the singer of THE biggest band in the world (personal preferences aside). And non of Brians own stuff charted really high in major markets outside the UK and he is clearly aware of that. So that is in no way insulting... it's just true !
IMHO this message is nothing to be too critical about, and after reading it I still have no doubt that Brian loves him and respects him as the brilliant musician he was.
He talks about a friend, and friendship always includes differences. For me it is an appraisal of Freddie's compositions and that Brian would have loved to contribute more to his solo stuff.
Perhaps now we finally know why they did include MIH and IWBTLY on MIH in the first place. I was always critical about that, but now I see it as a tribute to Freddie's writing abilities.
Interesting in that context is Freddie's 1984 interview with Mary Turner for "Off the record", in which he talks about the possibility of Queen playing his solo songs on the tour, and how he is looking forward to the guys input to the songs and "how the are going to take them a step further". And the credits on "Mr. Bad Guy" not only include the passage about the others, but also "Thanks to Barbara Valentin for big tits and misconduct". So it was all tongue-in-cheek. For me Brian's comments are far from being disrespectful, it's the opposite. He would've given his best if Freddie had allowed him to contribute more to the album. And that he could'nt is still in his mind. Don't want to sound too psychological though...
And the thing about the album not selling too good: first of all it was Top10 in the UK, but outside england it did not cause much interest. Then he also talks about Mick Jagger solo stuff not selling, which is true, and thus we're talking about the singer of THE biggest band in the world (personal preferences aside). And non of Brians own stuff charted really high in major markets outside the UK and he is clearly aware of that. So that is in no way insulting... it's just true !
IMHO this message is nothing to be too critical about, and after reading it I still have no doubt that Brian loves him and respects him as the brilliant musician he was.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Adolfo wrote: [/QUOTENAME]All I have to say is that Brian knew him[/QUOTE]
Hear, hear!
Hear, hear!
This most be a thorn in his side. I have an interview from the Innuendo radio promo tour from June 91. I recorded it off local radio. During it the DJ askes about Freddie's Barcelona project w/ wasn't released in the states at that time and it morphed into Brian mentioning Mr.Bad Guy. Saying the same thing about if Freddie wanted the guitars to sound like Brian why not just use Brian. (Light chuckling ) It didn't go any deeper than that. But it is something that has stayed w/ Brian for over 20 years. We all have our own little grudges. It part of being human.
Brian didn't taint anything. Good for him for being honest about how he felt. He didn't say anything negative so I don't see what the big deal is. The way Brian described Freddie gleefully playing it for him, there wasn't any intentional malice on Freddie's part. I don't want to say all of us, but many of us have made mistakes like that were we misjudged how someone would take something.
It's better for Brian to let things like this out instead of keeping them bottled up(I'm sure people close to him already knew how he felt though).
It's better for Brian to let things like this out instead of keeping them bottled up(I'm sure people close to him already knew how he felt though).
Correct me if I am wrong - but legend has it that John, Brian & Roger did not feel comfortable releasing another disco-influenced album, after the reaction to Hot Space. Freddie's Mr Bad Guy album is that other disco-influenced album, in my opinion "Hot Space no. 2". Of course it is a Freddie solo cd and therefore his complete influence is stamped all over the project; the sound being part of it. Having previously made 12 albums with Queen he would want to go with what he knew, surely? (Barcelona was a completely different kettle of fish.) This was also his first solo album, don't forget.
So perhaps his comment of thanking the others for staying out of it is sarcastic?
Remember that in 1985 the band had intended to take another break but Live Aid changed all that...
So perhaps his comment of thanking the others for staying out of it is sarcastic?
Remember that in 1985 the band had intended to take another break but Live Aid changed all that...