Virtual Queen was born last year, when a few of us started working on a musical project to see whether we could record cover versions of Queen songs completely via the Internet.
As the project moved on and was obviously working, we decided that we should try to do some good with the fruits of our labours. We came up with the idea of making the songs available for download and donating all the money raised to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
We are now almost ready to launch the project. We have contacted Queen asking for permission, but while we wait for a response, we thought people might like a taster of what we will have on offer. To this end we have set up a MySpace site containing short edits of the first two songs. We have also set up a message board which we hope will grow as the project does.
Please visit them both, let us know what you think, sign up to the message board and, hopefully soon, download the full versions of the songs.
Cheers,
Matthew Harffy (Beobrand), Simon Mann & Paul McCluskey.
www.myspace.com/virtualqueenproject
http://virtualqueen.proboards79.com/
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So you're a tribute band that doesn't want to play live - so what's the difference between you and the guys at home who make the fan cover recordings featured on this site? Without live performances to build a fanbase, how do you expect anyone would want to purchase your versions as opposed to the real ones, and why would QPL licence you to do so, when they themselves donate millions to the MPT for the real thing? I guess I just don't get the point of a "virtual tribute band". To me it just sounds like any other amateur fan project.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]kagezan1313 wrote: [/QUOTENAME]So you're a tribute band that doesn't want to play live - so what's the difference between you and the guys at home who make the fan cover recordings featured on this site? Without live performances to build a fanbase, how do you expect anyone would want to purchase your versions as opposed to the real ones, and why would QPL licence you to do so, when they themselves donate millions to the MPT for the real thing? I guess I just don't get the point of a "virtual tribute band". To me it just sounds like any other amateur fan project.[/QUOTE]
Hi there.
It isn't that we don't want to play live - we would love to!
The thing that makes us different is that we record in complete isolation, only communicating over the Internet. We have recorded the first two songs with no face to face communication at all and have attained a pretty high standard in the process (I think you would agree - have you given the preview edits a listen?). Playing live would be quite difficult given that the members of the band and guest musicians we have worked with so far, live in the UK, Spain and the US. We hope to work with people in other countries as the project progresses, making it a virtual global tribute band! That is the beauty of it!
Why would people want to buy them? Well, there is a market for covers, that are different from the original songs, as ours are (remember the album of covers called Killer Queen last year?).
You ask why QPL would give us permission. I think a better question would be why wouldn't they? We are going to donate ALL of the proceeds to the charity they set up, so whether we make £10 or £100 or £10,000, it is all profit for their charity and no loss to them.
I understand that some people will not want to buy the songs, that is their choice. But if you wanted to donate a small amount of money to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, you could do worse than end up with a new version of a classic Queen tune into the bargain.
Hi there.
It isn't that we don't want to play live - we would love to!
The thing that makes us different is that we record in complete isolation, only communicating over the Internet. We have recorded the first two songs with no face to face communication at all and have attained a pretty high standard in the process (I think you would agree - have you given the preview edits a listen?). Playing live would be quite difficult given that the members of the band and guest musicians we have worked with so far, live in the UK, Spain and the US. We hope to work with people in other countries as the project progresses, making it a virtual global tribute band! That is the beauty of it!
Why would people want to buy them? Well, there is a market for covers, that are different from the original songs, as ours are (remember the album of covers called Killer Queen last year?).
You ask why QPL would give us permission. I think a better question would be why wouldn't they? We are going to donate ALL of the proceeds to the charity they set up, so whether we make £10 or £100 or £10,000, it is all profit for their charity and no loss to them.
I understand that some people will not want to buy the songs, that is their choice. But if you wanted to donate a small amount of money to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, you could do worse than end up with a new version of a classic Queen tune into the bargain.
And who knows, one day we may get to meet up and play live. I'd certainly love to do just that.
Once the website is open, you'll be able to see how we got together and why we decided to do it. The fact is it started as a bit of fun, a kind of "Can we actually pull this off?" type attitude and when we realised that it could be done, we figured we might as well try to do some good with the fruits of our labours.
Once the website is open, you'll be able to see how we got together and why we decided to do it. The fact is it started as a bit of fun, a kind of "Can we actually pull this off?" type attitude and when we realised that it could be done, we figured we might as well try to do some good with the fruits of our labours.
How did you record with each other over the internet? Was everything done as an overdub, or did you actually find a way to work with each other online? Just curious...
When the website (www.virtualqueenproject.com) is open to public view, you will be able to read all about it, but the short answer is that we each recorded our parts as separate tracks and then one member of the band mixed them together.
Just a quick note to let you all know that the preview tracks play fine on the MySpace profile now (www.myspace.com/virtualqueenproject).
We will very shortly be launching the full website (www.virtualqueenproject.com) and hopefully the songs will be available for download soon.
Come and pay us a visit and add to the comments others have already left, as we want to know your thoughts.
Thanks!
We will very shortly be launching the full website (www.virtualqueenproject.com) and hopefully the songs will be available for download soon.
Come and pay us a visit and add to the comments others have already left, as we want to know your thoughts.
Thanks!
sounds maybe stupid to ask, but if i want to sing Queen song[i have good voice, belive me :)] can i join the virtual band?
Well, the core band is made up of three of us, and we hope to have many guest musicians taking up all manner of roles for different songs in the future.
So far, we have a guest drummer (on the two completed songs) and a guest pianist (on a song in progress). There is no reason why we can't have a guest singer at some point. To become a guest musican, your best bet is to sign up to our forum (http://virtualqueen.proboards79.com/) and post in the relevant section.
Then, when a song is available, you will be asked to provide a demo to effectively audition for the band.
HTH.
So far, we have a guest drummer (on the two completed songs) and a guest pianist (on a song in progress). There is no reason why we can't have a guest singer at some point. To become a guest musican, your best bet is to sign up to our forum (http://virtualqueen.proboards79.com/) and post in the relevant section.
Then, when a song is available, you will be asked to provide a demo to effectively audition for the band.
HTH.
Just a quick thank you to all those who have come and listened and left comments on the MySpace page.
If you haven't visited yet, come along and let us know what you think.
With any luck, soon we will be able to sell the songs in aid of the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
If you haven't visited yet, come along and let us know what you think.
With any luck, soon we will be able to sell the songs in aid of the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
Had a listen the other day, sounds fun I like it, I too sometimes work this way with a friend over the internet, we get some interesting results sometimes coming back with something the other had no idea was going to arrive.
Good luck I enjoyed it.
Good luck I enjoyed it.
Thanks for the nice words, Togg.
Yes, it is great getting new takes back from the other band members. You never know what you are going to hear, but so far, I have always been impressed (I'm not sure they can say the same of my contributions!). ;-)
Like you sig too, BTW!
Yes, it is great getting new takes back from the other band members. You never know what you are going to hear, but so far, I have always been impressed (I'm not sure they can say the same of my contributions!). ;-)
Like you sig too, BTW!
The Virtual Queen Project website http://www.virtualqueenproject.com) is now live!
There you can find out all about the project, the members of the band, how we record and the equipment we use.
You can also sign up to our Email updates(http://www.virtualqueenproject.com/contact.php) to keep up-to-date with all major developments, like when we release the full versions of songs for download.
Come and have a look around the site and let us know what you think.
Thanks.
There you can find out all about the project, the members of the band, how we record and the equipment we use.
You can also sign up to our Email updates(http://www.virtualqueenproject.com/contact.php) to keep up-to-date with all major developments, like when we release the full versions of songs for download.
Come and have a look around the site and let us know what you think.
Thanks.
Hi guys!
The full version of We Will Rock You is now available to be heard at www.virtualqueenproject.com.
If you like it, please preorder the song from our indiestore shop. All proceeds will go to the Mercury Phoenix trust.
Tie Your Mother Down will be available for preorder very soon.
Thanks.
The full version of We Will Rock You is now available to be heard at www.virtualqueenproject.com.
If you like it, please preorder the song from our indiestore shop. All proceeds will go to the Mercury Phoenix trust.
Tie Your Mother Down will be available for preorder very soon.
Thanks.
I totally came up with this idea about a year ago! Minus the charity thing, nice touch.