Queen Discussion Thread

talon
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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 3, 2012 20:53:53 GMT -5

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Post by talon on Sept 3, 2012 20:53:53 GMT -5

Sept 3, 2012 19:27:32 GMT -5 gabby said:

Question re: unreleased Queen songs ....

Just to clarify if you mean real unreleased Queen songs. Any songs from these posts are all Pre-Queen. So they do not count. So I will answer as if you mean true Queen songs...post Queen I

1. Were these songs recorded but not put together or included in any unreleased albums?

These songs from this list are all pre-Queen so they would not have been recorded. OTHER unreleased Queen songs could be unreleased for MANY reasons.

It has been documented by the band that many times they would write MANY songs for an album and would start recording almost all of them but it became easy to tell what was worth working on and what wasn't. So many times songs were discarded mid idea....but they are still very interesting to hear at this point.

Also though they would finish a few more than what was released on the album for whatever reason. Each song had their own reason why they weren't finished or released...AND when we get to such individual songs if I have any documentation or speculation, I will certainly put that in the listing

After an album was finished they usually kept some songs for future use but by the time the band started recording the next album, they wanted to start fresh so those songs were left in the vault.

2. Were these songs recorded when FM was sick or was recorded before he was sick but these songs didn't fit the theme of the finalized album?

A little bit of both. There are some unreleased songs from every era that were left off again for varying reasons that will become clearer later on.

3. How did Queen fans know about these songs? Did BM and/or RT talked about it after FM died?

Not to be vague, but in truth there are many different ways. Advanced tracklistings that get changed, interviews mentioning certain songs, bootlegs leaking unreleased demos. MANY different reasonings. Conventions were also a good source as you'd hear from those closest to the band.

That's another thing I will try to add per song

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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 4, 2012 8:54:34 GMT -5

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Post by talon on Sept 4, 2012 8:54:34 GMT -5

May 13th, 1967 - 1984 - Imperial College

1. Cool Jerk
2. Respect
3. My Girl
4. Shake
5. Stepping Stone
6. Keep Me Hanging On
7. Whatcha Going To Do About It
8. Substitute
9. How Can It Be
10. Dancing In The Street
11. Dream
12. Sha La La La Lee

Brian secured the gig through his college contacts and the crux was that it was a gig in support of Brian's hero, Jimi Hendrix. Brian had been so obsessed that his 1984 mates had been calling him Brimi!

The famous story has Brian finally meeting his hero after their set. They bumped into the legendary guitarist who famously said..."Where's the stage, man?"

(Unannounced bonus

)

December 23rd, 1967 - 1984 - Olympia Theatre, London, UK - CHRISTMAS ON EARTH CONTINUED

1. So Sad (Everly Brothers)
2. Stone Free
3. She's Gone (Buddy Knox)
4. Knock On Wood (Eddie Floyd)

A quick set. The show started on December 22nd, but 1984 didn't play until 5am on the 23rd! The band played on the same set of their idols but unfortunately because of everything being so late they returned to their dressing room having their personal items stolen and their van towed! Yet they still remembered this gig fondly.

February 27, 1969 - Smile - Royal Albert Hall, London, UK

1. If I Were A Carpenter
2. Earth
3. Mony Mony
4. See What A Fool I've Been

Smile's first festival gig of sorts, supporting Bonzo Dog Band, Spooky Tooth, Joe Cocker and Free! (marking the first time Brian, Roger, and Paul Rodgers were on the same stage - of course it was at different times

)

An actual ticket:

September 9th, 1969 - IBEX - The Sink, Liverpool, UK

1. I'm So Glad (Skip James) - Cream
2. Communication Breakdown (Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones & John Bonham) - Led Zeppelin
3. Rain (John Lennon & Paul McCartney) - The Beatles
4. We're Going Wrong (Jack Bruce) - Cream
5. Rock Me Baby (Riley. BB. King & Joe Josea) - Truth
6. Stone Free (Jimi Hendrix) - Jimi Hendrix
7. Jailhouse Rock (Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller) - Elvis Presley
8. Crossroads (Cross Road Blues) (Robert Johnson) - Cream
9. Vagabond Outcast (Freddie Bulsara)
10. We're Going Home (I'm Going Home) (Alvin Lee) - Ten Years After

The whole leaked 30 minute concert - Audio Only.

Important because it is the earliest (mostly) complete concert recording of the band as really only snippets appear from a Reaction gig and nothing else...No Smile recordings exist unfortunately (except some silent grainy video). What is worse though is that the recorder of this gig, Ibex roadie Geoff Higgins, ran out of tape after 30 minutes missing the encore...when Brian and Roger came out on stage marking the first appearance together of Freddie, Brian, and Roger.

June 27th, 1970 - Queen (as Smile) - City Hall, Truro, UK
July 19th, 1970 - Queen - Imperial College, London, UK
The setlist is unknown unfortunately - although Freddie was later quoted as saying that Stone Cold Crazy was the first song performed on stage by the band so I would assume this was played first. There are reports that it was the only original played as the band hadn't been together long enough to write anymore originals but Roger later claimed that Son And Daughter was also played. Beyond that there were probably covers of Smile songs (Doin' Alright and See What A Fool I've Been likely as they were songs the band later recorded.), Led Zeppelin songs (Communication Breakdown being likely as Freddie had performed it with his bands.).

This was a charity event organized by the British Red Cross. Booked by Roger's mother for Smile, the band was still advertised as Smile as can be seen:

-NOTE if you look at the bottom of the first one you notice that Smile is replacing Sour Milk Sea...one of Freddie's bands

Manager Ken Testi states that they were called Queen at the gig though. John Deacon is NOT in this performance yet and so the bassist is a guy named Mike Grose who had used to play with Roger in The Reaction. Mike would be bassist for 3 gigs until he decided to go back to his studies and to his home near his parents.

The next gig was the first to be billed definitively as Queen:

The first pictures at a Queen show - Freddie and Mike Grose.

IN BETWEEN NOTES:
August 23rd's gig at Imperial College was the first gig with Barry Mitchell who was bassist for about 11 gigs. He left due to musical differences and the idea that he didn't think the band was getting anywhere.

January 9th, 1971, the band played on the same set as Genesis who was looking for a drummer (before Phil Collins filled the spot)...and supposedly Peter Gabriel made overtures to Roger to be that drummer! Roger of course declined. This was Barry's last gig.

February 19th, 1971 - the band played with Doug X (Bogie) on bass. There was speculation for the longest time that he was dismissed after 2 gigs for jumping around very violently onstage and upstaging Freddie but this was later debunked by Doug himself stating he was just filling in to fulfill commitments and when asked later to choose between the band and his studies - he chose his studies.

In between the boys auditioned a bassist by the name of John Deacon along with a rhythm guitarist. The rhythm guitarist didn't get the gig. John did.

July 2nd, 1971 is John's first gig with the band and thus solidified the Queen lineup.

December 20th, 1972 - Queen - The Marquee Club - London, UK

01. Great King Rat
02. Son & Daughter
03. Jesus
04. Doing All Right
05. Ogre Battle
06. Keep Yourself Alive
07. Liar
08. Jailhouse Rock
09. Bama Lama Bama Lou

This was the first powerhouse gig the band have and supposedly a full recording is in the archives.

The above pic was used as the basis for the cover of the first album.

This pic was used in the Made In Heaven insert where the band chose their favorite pics of themselves with Freddie.

Next up we get to look into 1973 and the Queen tour! The first major tour by the band!

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lambo Guest	Queen Discussion Thread Sept 4, 2012 13:11:21 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by lambo on Sept 4, 2012 13:11:21 GMT -5 Good interesting stuff Talon! That pic of Freddie and Brian is really cool. Feel sorry for that Barry guy though, ouch!

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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 4, 2012 13:41:42 GMT -5

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Post by gabby on Sept 4, 2012 13:41:42 GMT -5

Sept 4, 2012 8:54:34 GMT -5 talon said:

February 19th, 1971 - the band played with Doug X (Bogie) on bass. There was speculation for the longest time that he was dismissed after 2 gigs for jumping around very violently onstage and upstaging Freddie but this was later debunked by Doug himself stating he was just filling in to fulfill commitments and when asked later to choose between the band and his studies - he chose his studies.

Can't imagine anybody upstaging Freddie ;D . JUST.CAN'T.

December 20th, 1972 - Queen - The Marquee Club - London, UK

01. Great King Rat
02. Son & Daughter
03. Jesus
04. Doing All Right
05. Ogre Battle
06. Keep Yourself Alive
07. Liar
08. Jailhouse Rock
09. Bama Lama Bama Lou

This was the first powerhouse gig the band have and supposedly a full recording is in the archives.

Ohhh...how I wish I can listen to this recording!

Just curious.... why 1984? How did BM's band come up with this name?

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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 4, 2012 15:05:03 GMT -5

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Post by talon on Sept 4, 2012 15:05:03 GMT -5

Sept 4, 2012 13:11:21 GMT -5 @lambo said:

Good interesting stuff Talon! That pic of Freddie and Brian is really cool. Feel sorry for that Barry guy though, ouch!

:D Yeah all the bassists made poor decisions there. Barry wanted to add a brass section though and wasn't going to go along with the campiness though so it's better he left when he did!

Sept 4, 2012 13:41:42 GMT -5 gabby said:

Can't imagine anybody upstaging Freddie ;D . JUST.CAN'T.

LOL! I guess I should have said TRYING to upstage Freddie

Probably a bit closer to the mark!

Ohhh...how I wish I can listen to this recording!

Oh me too. That IS one of the problems the hardcore fans have with Brian and Roger at this point. We KNOW there are things just sitting there gathering dust...and we want it ALL

Just curious.... why 1984? How did BM's band come up with this name?

Well they were all (Brian especially) sci-fi nerds and geeks!

Heck Brian still supposedly has an AMAZING Star Wars collection...but anyways Brian and the boys were all fans of George Orwell's book 1984 about a dystopian society of the future. So they thought it was rebellious sounding

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talon Member Posts: 2,933 Location:	Queen Discussion Thread Sept 5, 2012 7:46:11 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by talon on Sept 5, 2012 7:46:11 GMT -5 Happy birthday Freddie!
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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 5, 2012 8:29:20 GMT -5

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Post by talon on Sept 5, 2012 8:29:20 GMT -5

The year is now 1973! AND it is the first full scale TOUR (with ONE date into 1974)!

¹⁹⁷³

04/09/73 - Queen
The Marquee Club - London, UK
Setlist: ?

07/13/73 - Queen
Queen Mary College - Basingstoke, UK
Setlist: ?

- NOTE THIS IS THE DAY QUEEN was released but the real tour for the album doesn't really start until September

07/23/73 - Queen
The Marquee Club - London, UK
Setlist:?

08/03/73 - Queen
The Mayfair - Newcastle, UK
Setlist:?

09/13/73 – Queen
Golders Green Hippodrome - London, UK
Setlist:
01. 0:20 Introduction 02. 1:22 Procession 03. 5:21 Father To Son 04. 7:21 Son And Daughter 05. 4:39 See What A Fool I've Been 06. 4:50 Ogre Battle 07. 0:28 Band introduction 08. 7:38 Liar 09. 2:07 Jailhouse Rock 10. 0:15 Stupid Cupid 11. 0:45 Be Bop A Lula 12. 0:42 Jailhouse Rock reprise 13. 1:10 Big Spender! 14. 2:09 Bama Lama Bama Loo

10/13/73 - Queen
Underground, Bad Godesberg - Bonn, Germany
Setlist: ?
--NOTE: FIRST DATE OUTSIDE THE UK--

10/14/73 - Queen
Le Blow Up - Luxembourg
Setlist: ?

10/20/73 - Queen
Paris Theatre - London, UK
Setlist: ?

10/26/73 - Queen
Imperial College - London, UK
Setlist: ?

11/02/73 - Queen
Imperial College - London, UK
Setlist:

~ Son & Daughter/Keep Yourself Alive
--NOTE: These 2 gigs were the first properly advertised Queen gigs

QUEEN TOUR GENERAL SETLIST:

Procession/Father To Son/Son & Daughter/Ogre Battle/Hangman/Keep Yourself Alive/Liar/Jailhouse Rock/Shake Rattle & Roll/Stupid Cupid/Be Bop A Lula/Jailhouse Rock (Reprise)/Big Spender/Bama Lama Bama Loo

TRACKS SCARCELY PLAYED DURING THE QUEEN TOUR:

Stone Cold Crazy/Great King Rat/Modern Times Rock N Roll/See What A Fool I've Been

--NOTE: THIS TOUR, QUEEN WAS THE SUPPORTING ACT FOR MOTT THE HOOPLE (of the All The Young Dudes, and All The Way From Memphis fame.

11/12/73 - Queen
Town Hall - Leeds, UK
Setlist:

~Procession/Father To Son

11/13/73 - Queen
St George's - Blacburn, UK
Setlist: ?

11/15/73 - Queen
Gaumont - Worcester,UK
Setlist: ?

11/16/73 - Queen
Universtiy - Lancaster, UK
Setlist: ?

11/17/73 – Queen
Stadium - Liverpool, UK
Setlist:
Procession/Father To Son/Son And Daughter/Guitar solo/Son And Daughter (reprise)/Ogre Battle/Hangman/Keep Yourself Alive/Liar (cut)

11/18/73 - Queen
Victoria Hall - Hanley, UK
Setlist: ?

11/19/73 - Queen
Civic - Wolverhampton, UK
Setlist: ?

11/20/73 – Queen
New Theatre - Oxford, UK
Setlist:

Procession/Father To Son/Son And Daughter/Ogre Battle/Hangman/Keep Yourself Alive/Liar/Jailhouse Rock/Shake Rattle & Roll/Stupid Cupid/Be Bop A Lula/Jailhouse Rock reprise/Bama Lama Bama Loo

11/21/73 - Queen
Guildhall - Preston, UK
Setlist: ?

11/22/73 - Queen
City Hall - Newcastle, UK
Setlist: ?

11/23/73 - Queen
Apollo Theatre - Glasgow, UK
Setlist: ?
--NOTE - DURING AN INTERVIEW LATER IN THE YEAR, JOHN CLAIMED THESE PAST TWO SHOWS WERE THE BAND'S FAVORITE GIGS OF THE TOUR

11/25/73 - Queen
Caley Cinema - Edinburgh, UK
Setlist: ?

11/26/73 – Queen
Opera House - Manchester, UK
Setlist:

Procession/Father To Son/Son And Daughter/Ogre Battle/Hangman/Keep Yourself Alive/Liar/Jailhouse Rock/Shake, Rattle & Roll/Stupid Cupid/Be Bop A Lula/Bama Lama Bama Loo

11/27/73 – Queen
Town Hall - Birmingham, UK
Setlist:

Procession/Father To Son/Son And Daughter/Ogre Battle/Hangman/Keep Yourself Alive (~Liar/Jailhouse Rock/Shake, Rattle & Roll/Stupid Cupid/Be Bop A Lula/Bama Lama Bama Loo)

Queen were an incredible heavy metal band. I saw them on their first ever tour, at Birmingham Town Hall. They just blew me away. - Rob Halford, Judas Priest

11/28/73 - Queen
Brangwyn Hall - Swansea, UK
Setlist: ?

11/29/73 – Queen
Colston Hall - Bristol, UK
Setlist:

Procession/Father To Son/Son And Daughter/Ogre Battle/Hangman/Keep Yourself Alive/Liar/Jailhouse Rock/Shake, Rattle & Roll/Stupid Cupid/ Jailhouse Rock reprise/Big Spender/Bama Lama Bama Loo

11/30/73 - Queen
Winter Gardens - Bournemouth, UK
Setlist: ?
--NOTE - ANOTHER NOTED BY THE BAND AS ONE OF THEIR FAVORITE GIGS

12/01/73 - Queen
Kursaal - Southend, UK
Setlist: ?

12/02/73 - Queen
Central - Chatham, UK
Setlist: ?
NOTE - THERE ARE RUMORS THAT THE BAND WAS BOOED OFF THE STAGE BUT A FIRST HAND REPORT FROM A FAN REFUTES THAT CLAIMING INSTEAD THAT THE BAND WAS CALLED BACK TO THE STAGE FOR AN ENCORE WHILE HEADLINERS MOTT THE HOOPLE WERE NOT!

12/6/73 - Queen
College - Cheltenham, UK
Setlist: ?

12/07/73 - Queen
Shaftesbury Hall - London or Cheltenham, UK
Setlist: ?
NOTE - THESE PAST TWO GIGS WERE NOT PART OF THE MOTT THE HOOPLE TOUR

12/08/73 - Queen
University - Liverpool, UK
Setlist: ?

12/14/73 (1st Gig) - Queen
Hammersmith Odeon - London, UK
Setlist: ?

12/14/73 (2nd Gig) - Queen
Hammersmith Odeon - London, UK
Setlist: ?
--NOTE - DAVID BOWIE ATTENDED THE LATE SHOW WHILE FREDDIE'S PARENTS CAME TO THE FIRST ONE. THIS WAS THE LAST DATE ON THE MOTT THE HOOPLE GIG. THE REMAINING GIGS WERE HEADLINING OR SUPPORTING 10CC.

12/15/73 - Queen
University - Leicester, UK
Setlist: ?

12/21/73 - Queen
County Hall - Taunton, UK
Setlist: ?

12/22/73 - Queen
Town Hall - Peterborough, UK
Setlist: ?

12/28/73 - Queen
Top Rank Club - Liverpool, UK
Setlist:?

01/27/74 - Queen
Private Farm - Sunbury, Australia (Commonly stated that it was 2/2/74)
Setlist: ?

Up next? A closer look into the Queen tour as a whole and also specific dates:

9/13/73 - A concert recorded and broadcast on the BBC thus it becomes the earliest Queen gig leaked to the public!

1/27/74 - A disastrous but interesting footnote in the bands career...

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talon Member Posts: 2,933 Location:	Queen Discussion Thread Sept 5, 2012 9:36:47 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by talon on Sept 5, 2012 9:36:47 GMT -5 Another Happy Birthday... This video is from the NEW release of Freddie's Barcelona album that has replaced the dated synth with FULL 80 piece Orchestra and orchestrations!
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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 5, 2012 18:06:36 GMT -5

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Post by gabby on Sept 5, 2012 18:06:36 GMT -5

Posted in the main thread by realkittychan
In honor of Freddie's Birthday: Celebrity quotes supporting FFAD
(Freddie For A Day)
Adam Lambert:
“Freddie Mercury changed the face of Rock. His musicality and vocal ability remain unmatched. His showmanship came from a place of total freedom. I love watching footage of him live because he seems like he was born to be on the stage. A seasoned pro, yet he gave all his energy to the audience with the fearlessness of a child.”
_____________________________________________
Another OT question, Talon...
When Queen performed in Africa, why did some musicians/groups publicly condemned Queen? Were there other groups/bands who performed in Africa as well at that time? How did Queen's PR got them out of bad publicity?

Did hear it mentioned in one of video pre-Live Aids performance ... something like (paraphrasing) "they should not be here after performing in Africa... (or something like that)

ETA: Was that the only concert Queen performed in Africa?

Last Edit: Sept 5, 2012 21:45:24 GMT -5 by gabby

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Queen Discussion Thread Sept 5, 2012 22:44:39 GMT -5

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Post by talon on Sept 5, 2012 22:44:39 GMT -5

Sept 5, 2012 18:06:36 GMT -5 gabby said:

Posted in the main thread by realkittychan
In honor of Freddie's Birthday: Celebrity quotes supporting FFAD
(Freddie For A Day)
Adam Lambert:
“Freddie Mercury changed the face of Rock. His musicality and vocal ability remain unmatched. His showmanship came from a place of total freedom. I love watching footage of him live because he seems like he was born to be on the stage. A seasoned pro, yet he gave all his energy to the audience with the fearlessness of a child.”

GREAT quote

and SO true...

Another OT question, Talon...
When Queen performed in Africa, why did some musicians/groups publicly condemned Queen? Were there other groups/bands who performed in Africa as well at that time? How did Queen's PR got them out of bad publicity?

Did hear it mentioned in one of video pre-Live Aids performance ... something like (paraphrasing) "they should not be here after performing in Africa... (or something like that)

ETA: Was that the only concert Queen performed in Africa?

Back in 1984, there was a boycott of South Africa by the Musicians Union in order to fight Apartheid. In a group unity effort, it was decided no one would play there, no one would meet the government, etc.

Queen however broke the boycott. Why? Various reasons. I think it probably didn't help the bands cause when Freddie (being VERY unPC..in fact ANTI-PC to the point of saying things just because it would ruffle feathers), was asked he said simply, "There's a lot of money to be made there!"

In truth, from comments afterwards, it seemed that the band's intentions were good. They made certain that at their concerts they would be playing before a mixed audience (It did still end up that the majority were white but seriously - Queen has more of a white audience as it is). But Roger stated that music wasn't politics and music was a universal language and they thought they could do more good going there and being anti-apartheid than boycotting.

So they were scheduled to do a run of 11 gigs but unfortunately early on during a gig, Freddie completely lost his voice and they had to cancel the remainder of that gig and two others.

They did a few and one half of a soundboard recording leaked out (EXCELLENT condition).

Afterwards though they were levied with fines, and blacklisted. Brian made an impassioned speech but it caused them so much problems that they regretted ever going. They agreed to the fines as long as the money went to charity but it definitely hurt their reputation...but they won that back at Live Aid...and honestly I believe since with their major support of Nelson Mandella.

SO all in all, it probably wasn't a good idea, although the band had good, honorable intentions

And yes that was the only time they did gigs in South Africa. Although much later on (2003) they did with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics organized the big 46664 benefit for Nelson Mandella and his crusade against AIDS in impovrished African countries in Cape Town, South Africa...and Brian and Roger did a couple of mini-sets during the show...which we'll get to

TALON'S GUIDE TO QUEEN ON A-TOP

Queen NEWS on ATOP

QUEEN + - Through The Years - A comparison