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QUEEN The Official International Queen Fan Club | Summer 2015 Well, the years roll by, folks. Roger and I, along with Adam and the whole Queen Team, are starting to prepare mentally for our swing through South America next month. Amazing that we should be still thundering around the world crashing through herds of Queen songs with that phenomenal GFG . Well, yes, it’s hard to talk sense these days. In my view, the world has gone mad. or someone’s Compassion is a lost concept, all decisions are made on the basis of how they affect ‘The Economy’ personal wealth and power, and selfishness—the F—k You philosophy—rules. So here I am, ranting on as I do. But I’m a musician, right? Yes, we’ll be seeing you out there in Sao Paulo and Rio and Buenos Aires and Santiago and Cordoba and Porto Alegre … how thrilling. It’s almost exactly 30 years since we headlined the very first night—with Freddie, and John, of course, and now we return to a new young audience of rockers, with Adam, who I’m convinced they will adore. It was all sold out From the ‘One Voice’ video—see https://youtu.be/0plWNDyA6Ig months ago, so it ought to be wild. Behind the scenes, Queen activity is always in full swing. The chaps have been working on a new Hi Everyone! historical venture Queen at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1975. This concert was very special because it was the first time we ever played a whole show completely live onTV … the Christmas Show. The Welcome to the Summer newsletter. I hope you are all well and happy wherever you are! A lovely selection of articles in this quality, after great rescue work and transfer into the digital domain, is amazing. And the energy we had issue—from fans and members of the Queen team alike, plenty of good reading! comes across very forcefully. The gnomes have also been assembling a mountain of memorabilia to The rest of this year is shaping up well—the Freddie birthday party in is adding new things regularly—the latest being go with it, so it should be a nice package … nostalgia, but also a fascinating glimpse into the roots of our journey. the première of the newly restored Hammersmith Odeon show—a great show, and one of my favourite ever venues for any band! You can find out more about this event at www.queenonline.com. Also the long awaited Studio Collection of The long-awaited Vinyl Complete Queen Studio Catalogue Box Set is also ready to go! This is a vinyl —read all about that in a great piece by archivist Greg Brooks in this issue. And then the band are on the road stupendous box of all-newly mastered vinyl pressings on custom gaily coloured highest quality again in South America! materials. It’s actually a treasure, and there’s a Queen record player to go with it. You know, the Vinyl, analogue, experience is still something very special—so different from CDs or downloads or iPhones And, of course, the UK convention in November! Our 30th! So excited about that and it is shaping up to be one of our biggest … we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do. and best! If you haven’t yet booked you can find all the information you need atwww.arenatravel.com . In my own world, apart from Queen, I’ve been putting a lot of hours in, in the studio with the I just heard as we were about to go to print, that Brian and the lovely are also hitting the road again next year in Italy, wonderful Kerry Ellis, rustling up a new , with the working title II—and we’re pretty there was no time to get it properly in this issue so the details are: excited about how it’s sounding. Stuff like this keeps me going in times of darkness and stress, which occur frequently in my work fighting for a better deal for our Wild Animals. Most of you know 21st February ANCONA Teatro Le Muse LONG SERVING MEMBERS kind of work we do, and unfortunately we are usually swimming against the current, because at the Mon 22nd February PADOVA Gran Teatro Geox top we have a Government which is completely lacking in compassion. Thank Heavens there are some JUDY SORKIN—London (30 years) very ‘Commonly Decent’ MPS in ALL parties in parliament, or else we would be sunk without a trace. Wed 24th February FIRENZE Obihall If any of you get to the point where you, like me, feel that it’s time to stand up and do something about JAYESH PATEL—Leicester (25 years) the awful way we behave towards animals, and each other, for that matter, please visit the Save-Me Thu 25th February MILANO Arcimboldi MICHAEL BUNDGAARD—Denmark (15 years) website and join us !!! Sat 27th February MANTOVA Palabam . In the world of the JANE DAVIS—Leamington Spa (23 years) My life is full of stuff … all good stuff that I dreamed of, really—so I feel lucky We have London Stereoscopic Company—which I resurrected a few years ago, things are buzzin’! Sun 28th February ROMA Auditorium Parco della Musica our Poor Man’s Picture Gallery exhibition still on in the Tate Britain—if you haven’t checked it out yet, please do—it’s on until November. And next year we will have an exciting exhibition at the Tickets on sale NOW from www.ticketone.it. As 2015 is the th V&A—on a completely different stereoscopic subject … watch this space (or my Soapbox!). On a That’s all there is from me this time—if you have ANY ideas for 40 anniversary slow boat from China we have imminently a new ‘Box Set’ coming soon. It’s called Victorian Gems … future issues of the magazine, or any fabulous (high resolution) of ‘A Night and it’s an OWL’s nest packed with new 3-D goodies—a new box of Diableries, a box of Poor Man’s photos we might make use of, do get in touch! At The Opera’ Picture Gallery cards, and the very first box of Scenes in Our Village cards … something I’ve dreamed our front cover of producing for many many years. Plus an OWL and an explanatory booklet! So look out on the Take care of you and yours. features Freddie LondonStereo.com site for that. in the studio Love s always a nice working on Thanks for your support in all the myriad things I try to do … I see you out there, and it’ experience. And good luck in all YOU try to do… . Take care !!! Til soon ! Rock ! Photo courtesy with love of . Dr. Bri XXX

2 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 3 and Europeinlessthanayear. America, Japan,North South Korea, Australia, New Zealand having played 67 completely showssold outarena across SouthAmericashows followThe Queen + Adam Lambert 4 ‘DON’T STOP‘DON’T THEMNOW’SOUTHAMERICANTOUR DATES QUEEN +ADAM LAMBERT Palermo Palermo Palermo Belgrano Downtown La Plata Buenos Aires, Argentina: Tickets availableare also tobuyatthe following outlets in 30 September 25 September 21 September 18 September 16 September ‘Don’t Now’ SouthAmericanTour StopThem (w Dorrego street) (w Dorrego GEBA JN, Marcelino Freire 3831 El Ateneo, Address:Av SantaFe 1860 La Rural, Av SantaFe 4201 Yenny, Address:Av Cabildo 1978 El Ateneo, Address: Florida340 El Ateneo, Address: Calle50nº661/663 Santiago, Chile Pista Atletica,NationalStadium, GEBA Stadium,BuenosAires, Argentina Arena,Porto Brazil Alegre, Gigantinho Rock inRioFestival, RiodeJaneiro, Brazil Brazil (SOLDOUT) Sao Paulo, IbirapueraArena, The Official International Queen Fan Club Photos courtesy of Richard Gray of Photos courtesy

Saturday 10 Summer 2015 Saturday 3 AUSTRALIAN TOURDATES: fromQueen’sfootage extensive archives andalsonewlycreatedimagery. “” as well as otherfanfavourites. productionwill be enhanced visually with video rare The Will Rock You/We Magic”,“RadioGaGa”,“SomebodytoLove”,“A Arethe Champions”, and Kindof Rhapsody”, “Another CalledLove”, OneBites the Dust”, “Crazy Little Thing “”, “We 90-minute showThe features more than20Queen classics drawnthe band’s from hits: “Bohemian biggest Oliver Doyon. tofollowthemonstage, “Thisbandisnowsofrighteningly hatetohave ” explainsRoger. good,Iwould Tyler bandis: vocalistNick Radcliffe; The drummer Martel; Marc Warren; andbassist Francois- musical talent. of by anewgeneration asperformed music andlegacy electrifying experience show,an in road created the ultimate Queen concert which celebrates the band’s with long-time Queen Keyboardist Spike Edney as globalmusic director. Together Roger andSpike have celebration It will be a rock in the Royal tradition. surprises. ”, saysstopping event Roger. “It’s spectacular, going tobesome shocks it’ssome and tremendous are very visual, there very Queen in aheart- old, to celebrate the music of new show speciallybrand designed to enable new fans, together with fans of Queen Extravaganza.“The Queen Extravaganza behindThe isa guitarist May—areBrian the masterminds Queen’sTwo Roger Taylor band mates original and —iconic drummer of andlegendary fans. of rock bandQueenandbringittogenerations legendary live experienceof show Queen Extravaganza designed to takeis aspectacular touringconcert The the gloriousmusic and shows ontheGoldCoast,Sydney, andPerth. Melbourne Roger TaylorThe andBrianMay produced Queen Extravaganzawill rock Australia this October with Tuesday 6 Photo livedesignonline.com Tuesday 13 QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA: AUSTRALIAN TOUR ANNOUNCED! th rd October th th October October October SYDNEY GOLD COAST PERTH MELBOURNE The StarEventThe Centre Jupiters Theatre Crown Theatre Crown Theatre Palais Theatre oe esnlyhstkno h oeo producer ” Roger personallyhastaken on the role of

5 QUEEN NEWS Brian with and Moritz von Zeddelmann MONTREAUX BIRTHDAY PARTY JOIN US AND GET READY TO PARTY IN MONTREUX! IN AID OF THE —FIGHTING AIDS WORLDWIDE Join fellow fans and members of the Queen team at ’s Birthday Party which is being held at Casino Barriere Montreux, on Saturday 5th September, 2015. The casino is also the home of the Queen Studio Experience. Tickets are strictly limited and cost £75 / €95 / $112 plus a voluntary donation to The Mercury Phoenix Trust. The ticket includes entry plus food, welcome drink and entertainment. Additional party details and confirmation of attendance! • Peter ‘Phoebe’ Freestone—Freddie Mercury’s Personal Assistant and Valet will be compering the evening and sharing some of his personal memories of his time spent with Queen’s enigmatic frontman. • Greg Brooks—Official Queen Archivist and curator of the Queen Studio Experience will be present on the day to offer his expert knowledge to proceedings in and around the exhibition. 51 Degrees North—The Film It started with the idea for a film and the realisation that event combining science, art and music. 51 Degrees North • Justin Shirley-Smith—Queen’s Senior Engineer and Co- Theme / Dress Code: Keeping it fun, just like Freddie did the world is going to end, not with a whimper, but with an was met with acclaim and inspired Richters, May and some Producer will be providing additional tracks for the Queen at his 39th birthday party in , we are going with the almighty bang. This single realisation led to the creation of a of the most notable names in science to propose the idea of Studio Experience mixing desk as well as answering classic BLACK & WHITE theme. The next rule is simple, ground-breaking film and the launch of a global awareness- a day dedicated to raising awareness of the threat questions. just dress in the spirit of Mr Mercury himself! raising initiative supported by the brightest minds in the around the world. world today. SAS BAND ON TOUR! The proposal for quickly gained momentum, In 2010, filmmaker Grigorij Richters watched a BBC attracting widespread media interest and garnering the The excellent Spike Edney’s All Star Band (The SAS Band) are going on the road! documentary called : The Good, the Bad and signatures and support of luminaries such as scientists Thursday, 26th November Friday, 4th December the Ugly, which examined the devastating threat posed by Richard Dawkins, Kip Thorne and Bill Nye; musicians May THE BROOK, Southampton SALISBURY CITY HALL, Salisbury asteroids to Earth. His time was immediately consumed by and Peter Gabriel; and astronauts Chris Hadfield and Jim research into the potential cataclysm our planet faces at the Lovell, among many others. Tickets on Sale: £29:50 Adv / £32 Doors Tickets on Sale: £42 seated / £36 standing hands of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs). Richters realised that th www.the-brook.com www.cityhallsalisbury.co.uk in order to make a subject of this magnitude relatable, he Asteroid Day was held on June 30 , 2015, the anniversary of needed to filter it through a human prism. His imagination set the largest asteroid collision with Earth in recent history, the Sunday, 29th November Saturday, 5th December alight, he set out to pour all of his passion and research into 1908 Siberian Tunguska impact. What began as a scientifically- THE ASSEMBLY HALL THEATRE, Tunbridge Wells G LIVE, Guildford a feature film called 51 Degrees North. minded declaration has captured the popular imagination and THE SAS BAND CHRISTMAS SPECIAL! is ramping up to be a truly global movement aimed at no less Tickets on Sale: £36 standing / £40 seated Through meticulous rehearsal and liberating improvisation, the than saving the world from assured destruction. www.assemblyhalltheatre.co.uk Tickets on Sale: £45 seated / £35 standing character of protagonist Damon emerged; a young filmmaker www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sas-band-all-star-christmas-special- And it all started with an idea for a film. rd struggling with professional and personal challenges who Thursday, 3 December g-live-tickets-17567260148 discovers that an asteroid threatens the imminent destruction WATFORD COLOSSEUM, Watford www.glive.co.uk of the world. Damon became an autobiographical avatar Tickets on Sale: £40 standing / £30 seated Tuesday, 8th December that could project and urgency Richters himself www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk PORTSMOUTH GUILDHALL, Portsmouth had experienced. To underscore the personal impact of the story, an omnipresent handheld camera and innovative use of Tickets on sale: £36.30 / £44.00. Group discounts available. CCTV footage were used to minutely observe the unravelling www.portsmouthguildhall.org.uk of Damon and, subsequently, society. Dr Brian May, astrophysicist and lead guitarist for legendary Queen, was captivated by the subject matter and agreed to provide the soundtrack for the film. Once the film was finished, May suggested that Richters screen the film at in , an annual astronomy related See Brian talking about the film at https://youtu.be/Agmyu-n2Q9k

6 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 7 Queen’s Roger Taylor and Brian May paid tribute to their long-serving manager, , for “being the glue that’s held the band together for 40 years” at the Artist and Manager Awards on March 26th this year. The duo presented Beach with the Peter Grant award, named after the late Yardbirds and manager, and awarded for outstanding achievement. Queen’s Roger said, “Jim Beach has been the glue that’s kept the band of Queen together for 40 years now. Without his tireless terrier like Machiavellian plotting, we wouldn’t really be around these days.” Brian agreed, adding that without Beach the band wouldn’t be “anything like we are”. “I don’t think we’re without talent, but without a manager like Jim, it wouldn’t have been able to find its fruition, and we certainly wouldn’t be here in the state that we are today, still alive!” he added. Manager Paying tribute to Queen’s frontman Freddie Mercury, who died in 1991, and bass guitarist , who retired at the same time, Brian continued, “Freddie and John would be as enormously proud as we are. “Jim is such a worthy honoree of the Peter Grant award and we are incredibly happy to present this award to our illustrious manager and inimitable Jim Beach manager, Mr Jim Beach.” Beach used his acceptance speech to highlight the work both Taylor and May have done over the last 20 years to keep the band alive, including their latest worldwide tour that saw them perform 67 sold-out gigs with US / Gets Award Adam Lambert. The MMF, Queen’s “incredibly dedicated” team, and his wife were also on his thank you list. “In 1991, when Freddie died and John Deacon decided to retire, fortunately for me, Brian and Roger decided to continue with the music of Queen and they’ve worked tirelessly in that ever since. I take my hat off to them for pulling off [their latest tour], both musically and physically. “Secondly, [I thank] the Queen team, some of whom have been with us for 30 years, for their incredible dedication and their perfectionist attitude, I could never have done what I’ve done without them. “Finally, when Queen approached me in 1977 to ask if I’d take over from [former manager] John Reid, I spoke to my wife who said that she hadn’t married me to watch me walking up the same pavement for 30 years and walking into the offices of [law firm] Harbottle & Lewis. “It was those words that pushed me into giving up my day job and entering the real world. I thank her very personally for quite frankly being one of the most wonderful partners you could ever have.”

8 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 9 This year’s Polish convention saw a return visit to the holiday camp in Budy Grabskie in Skierniewice. Polish Queen Its location in the middle of the woods, next to the Sosenka river made it special. You could swim in the river which many Convention did! Everybody stayed in small wooden cabins. As soon as the fans arrived on the Friday they decorated the windows! Fans started partying on the verandas and the drink flowed. The three nights of Queen began with a bang! There was an July 2015 on-site bar and the fridges were stocked with beer, beer and more beer! Everyone collected their lanyards and convention The evening was fancy dress and the theme was Bohemian T-shirts designed by Tomek Klin Wiercioch. Well done Tomek! Rhapsody. Many attending dressed up and there were many devils. The went on way into the early hours and Friday night saw a bonfire on the riverbank and after a walk continued even after the bar shut! Parties continued back at down some steep steps I joined in the fun. There were two the cabins and some watched the sunrise! other British visitors, Dave and Irene Taylor and we were all welcomed by the gathering crowd. Sausages were spit Sunday, another scorcher and there was a game of volleyball roasted and tasty they were too! Making your own hot dog and a beer drinking competition. Lots of laughter at both as there was plenty of bread rolls and bread on the table. A those events! Everyone gathered together to sing Happy couple of fans brought along so it wasn’t long before Birthday to Brian! Prize presentation took place in the main the sing-along kicked in when the talented beautiful-voiced room. Another thunderstorm and downpour saw crazy people Malwina Borkowicz a number of John Deacon songs dancing in the rain! Thankfully it stopped so another evening started the ball rolling. It was so relaxed and peaceful. Toasted could be spent on the banks of the river and concluded with marshmallows and home-made wine were also on offer. another bonfire, more spit roasting sausages and obviously the beer and wine flowed like there’s no tomorrow! I gave a Play The Game The next day and the sun shone gloriously eventually reaching talk on what Liverpool meant to Queen. Well done Sonia for Queen: Play The Game is Queen’s first official app and is a digital puzzle and trivia game for 41 degrees centigrade! Hot! There was a Queen quiz which translating Scouse to Polish!! smartphones and tablets. With beautiful imagery from Queen’s official archive, re-sampled sounds was won by British visitors Dave and Irene Taylor. Their Sadly Monday morning saw the convention come to an end. from all the hits and many recordings you may not have heard, this is a truly unique Queen prize was a home-made presented in a box with A HUGE thank you must go to Dagmara Szymanska and to experience. Test your knowledge of the band, solve puzzles, unlock official artwork, discover new a sixpence piece. Stunning! A message was played from Brian Kasia Zielinska for all their hard work in organising the event music and win real official Queen merchandise. May which went down a treat! A game of charades saw such fun and yours truly won a prize for an innovative performance and ensuring the weekend ran smoothly. Personal thanks to This app contains thousands of images, music clips and facts from the official Queen archive. of Get Down Make Love! I took part in a Question and Radek for the lift to and Complete sections of the game and you’ll also be entered into competitions to win real-world Answer session. Thanks to Monica and Sonia for translation. from the airport and to high-value packs of official Queen merchandise. The game runs on both Apple’s iOS operating A fun-filled Karaoke session concluded the daytime’s events. Kasia for taking me on system and Google’s Android so most modern smartphone and tablet users will be able to play. There was an incredible thunderstorm, lots of lightning and a tour of Warsaw before heading home. I enjoyed This game has everything for the Queen fan, young and old and evolves over time with new plenty of loud bangs with the thunder! Thunder and lightning very very frightening me! Really! that. Lots! Thanks to all content and game modes added regularly. How much do you know about Queen’s; songs, the welcoming Polish fans. albums, tours, band members, producers, live gigs, studios, history, instruments, tastes etc? This is a special event and Whatever your level of knowledge you are sure to unlock some surprising facts about these well worth attending. It most iconic of British rock bands. was an absolute pleasure to If you’re a casual Queen fan, or indeed are just starting on your journey with their music, be there. you will learn more about the band from this game than perhaps anywhere else. Jim Jenkins Dave and Irene Taylor with their quiz prize

10 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 11 ello, my name is Sarah Castillo and I attended both nights of what turned out to be Queen Rock Montreal. I first got into Queen in the mid-1970s, when I was given a copy of from a friend, and I’ve been a fan ever Hsince! At the time of the Montreal shows, I was 19 and had seen them twice before in 1977 and 1978. The previous two shows were in America, and Queen were among the first rock groups my parents allowed me to see live. I was left in awe each time! My sister and her friend Christian had never seen Queen before, and as they knew I was a fan, they invited me to take the third ticket for both nights. I told them they were in for a treat! I knew from getting front row at an show a few months before, that the way to get to the front of the stage was to arrive early, and simply follow the rules of the venue. And patience prevailed, as we were up front for both nights! Getting the spots we had was easy. Keeping those spots was the hard part! My sister and Christian ended up getting pushed and pulled away from me both nights, but were still able to stay Queen Rock near the front for both shows. We all knew about the cameras, but as far as I could tell, they were usually focused on the band with the occasional few shots of the audience as a whole. So you could imagine my surprise when I received a call from my cousin who said I was being shown in full HD on ten TV screens at the electronics store! They had been playing the DVD on repeat for days on their TVs Montreal to show the pixel quality of the screens, and my cousin had spotted me at 19 years old holding my mother’s camera in the audience! I sat down and watched the video myself, and was shocked to see it since I didn’t even really remember them even shooting in my direction. My daughter and I visited my sister in America a few months ago, and were able to view it in the IMAX theater which was a great laugh! I was shown looking a bit moved in the clip. Every time I heard ‘Love of My Life’, I felt quite emotional. I had fallen in love with a man who I truly saw a future with, and who used to play a few songs to serenade me while we were dating. ‘Love of My Life’ was one of those songs, and both nights I can remember feeling like I was on the verge of very happy tears just thinking about my love. He was on my mind and in my heart at the time I was being filmed. The ironic thing is that although my love for that man did eventually burn out, my love for Queen and the song did not! Unfortunately, the photos I took during both shows are no longer in my possession. In 1992, my husband and I divorced, and as our concert photos from rock shows we’d seen had been blended together in a few scrapbooks, he took them before I even thought to go through them. He moved out, and now lives in America. He and I are no longer on speaking terms. I have thought of them over the years, as well as the others I’m missing from Genesis, Elton John, and others, but to be honest, it’s never been worth it to speak to him again. I have heard that he still has the photos, and I hope that it’s true. They were not the greatest quality, just taken with my mother’s camera, but I was proud of them. It’s a neat little story, and really is the most interesting thing Queen related that has ever happened to me. I had no idea so many Queen fans had even noticed me there, much less cared to know who I was! I’m flattered, and although the DVD is rarely ever played in my house, as another fan pointed out to me, this little cameo in the concert means I may no longer have the photos I took, but I have something just as lovely to keep as a memory on DVD! I so wish I had gone to see Freddie again after Montreal, but I always assumed I would have more time and that there would always be “the next tour”. I had heard of The Works and that followed, and just thought I’d catch them later. Hindsight is 20/20 isn’t it? When Freddie passed away, I cherished the memories and albums even more. Recently, I was able to take my mother to see Queen + Adam Lambert, and hearing that wonderful music up on stage again was fantastic! It is now 2015, and their music is still touching the hearts of us fans. A Queen fan I was, and a Queen fan I will always be! Sarah on the Montreal video in 1981 Sarah more recently with her daughter

12 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 13 Somehow you

or as long as I can remember—dating back as far as 1980 when I purchased my first coloured have to make this vinyl album, and (a bit later) my first picture discs—I imagined how great it would be to one Fday be able to walk in to a shop and see the entire Queen catalogue available to buy on pristine picture discs or coloured vinyl; every album, each one immaculately pressed on multiple colours, Vinyl Breakthru! appropriately colour-matched to the respective artwork and sleeves, and every bit as good in sound quality terms as is achievable for black vinyl; no compromises at all. Picture discs and coloured vinyl were still very much a novelty back then. It was rare to see such things, and when I did I always Putting together the new wanted them. I recall seeing an Elton John ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ Instead, I made do with two bootleg albums; ‘Freddie’s Boys Queen Studio Collection box set yellow vinyl double album, but by the time I’d saved the At The Beeb’ on both blue and yellow vinyl. A Kind Of money for it, it was no longer available: I missed out and I Magic came out in ’86 on orange vinyl, and this time I made never forgot it. I learned quickly that these things are usually sure to get one. I paid £25, rather than £50 for the red vinyl pressed in strictly limited numbers. Much later I saw A Night version. The orange discs exchanged hands for £300 back in by Queen Archivist Greg Brooks, July 2015 At The Opera and News Of The World white and green the 1990s, but the arrival of eBay destroyed those kinds of coloured discs, but they too were financially out of reach. prices and now they’re valued at less than half of that!

14 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 15 I never imagined that an all-encompassing one big Queen Ultimately, neither project gained quite enough momentum unusual project. RG and I admired ’ recent vinyl disc, of course it did. Blood red. Not least because there’s picture disc or coloured vinyl box would ever happen, or to happen at that time and we went on to explore remastered box and realised there was much to live up to. So, what colour been so much speculation over the last few decades about that it would be within my monetary grasp, but I did think studio albums on vinyl instead, both EMI and Hollywood should each disc be? That’s a ten-minute conversation, right? the authenticity of a certain red vinyl SHA pressing (did it about it often and I did later go on to propose it as a product pressings. They were lovely items too, but I still hankered No. It was more like ten hours in all, with Kris in the mix too, ever exist or not? If so, was it a bootleg? Etc.), that if we (several times) over the eighteen years I’ve worked for the after those dream products I envisaged as a kid—picture and with us knowing exactly what the band like and dislike, pressed this in any other colour, there’d be a mass revolt of band. This was an idea that refused to go away, and now that discs, coloured discs, or maybe a combination of both. Many what’s likely to get through and what most definitely will not! fans screaming at us that we missed a golden opportunity. it has emerged it is every bit as impressive as I imagined all a good idea has come and gone over the years, such is the And we didn’t want the saying “Queen fans are The first album had to be purple, of course it did—though I those years ago. The quality of the 180 gram discs seems very of the business. Good ideas from all members of revolting!” Seamless use of old joke there! much better than those 80s and 90s versions, and the sound is the Queen team linger and depart, only to re-emerge later in did ponder the 1973 Elektra USA pink () just for superior too, to anything that was around in my teenage years. different forms, or to be radically overhauled, and some are a moment, but I’m a fan first and foremost and I knew what For ‘A Night At The Opera’ I toyed with light blue in my never heard of again. Generally the best product concepts was right. Queen II should have a black side and a white side; on-screen mock up; the blue of the letters on the front cover. A full set of Queen picture discs was my very first ‘dream manage to survive in some form. The coloured vinyl idea that too seemed obvious. But technically one cannot have a And I was aware this album had already been issued on white product’ back in 1980-ish (long before the days when I never went too far away. It loitered in various proposals and coloured vinyl disc with different coloured sides—that is by vinyl in in the seventies, so did that mean we could got seriously into Anthology concepts morning, noon and I would often bring it up, again, probably to the point of definition more a picture disc. So was born the idea of two not repeat it? No. It had to be white. And only a relatively night!), and thus that was also my first proposition to EMI colleagues’ frustration. discs; one entirely white, and one black. Fabulous! A double- few fans would have a white copy; the rest of us still await it. many years later. One for each album, and two for whammy and also a significant Queen album first. This also (a picture of each band member on each side of vinyl, under So… a little over a year ago, Richard Gray informed me that meant we could adopt the idea that Elektra used for their Likewise, A Day At The Races had to be black. I thought that incredible Killers lighting rig). How great would that the band and Jim, and particularly the record label, were 1974 Queen II pressing; an inner lyric sleeve with a black and so anyway—though I did dig out a beige (and then a gold) be!? And then in the next instant I thought of a coloured now ready to look seriously at options for a Queen coloured white side, whereas the UK/European counterpart had only a vinyl disc and hold it next to the Races LP just to see how vinyl series of some sort. The debut album on purple vinyl vinyl project. But, not just any sort of project; the definitive fully white sleeve. As you know by now, we went with a white they looked—and the rest of the team agreed. Opera white was a vivid image to set the Queen studio albums coloured sleeve for the white disc, and a black one for the black side. / Races black; who could argue with that!?—excluding for mind pondering the rest. Both So, what colour should each vinyl boxed set. Wow! Music Then followed Richard’s idea to have an etched ‘Queen’ and a moment the Moanzoners on Queenzone, of course! But concepts were exciting and to my ears—quite literally, via crest on the redundant reverse sides. It was lovely to discover they’d complain if we offered them 18-carat gold discs for nothing much changed as those disc be? That’s a ten-minute multiple coloured discs. I’d at this point that both Roger and Brian loved the double-disc £10 each! ideas stayed with me for over 30 been waiting close to 35 years Queen II concept. It was a first for that album, and indeed for For News Of The World, I thought of robot metallic silver, years. Picture discs aside, I recall conversation, right? for this. Every studio album, an ANY Queen studio album. Further to that… just for a change, but then realised that would be the colour thinking that a Live Killers coloured alternative would surely accompanying book covering the recording of each project, of The Game, for what would that album be, if not silver? be one green disc and one red. And then, only a few months text, memorabilia, photos, captions, all inside a beautiful box. This boxed set contains several significant Firsts. Queen II, and Innuendo are all double albums, Queen Then I thought about the dark red/maroon of the NOTW later, I saw precisely that; a Japanese pressing of the album inner sleeve. But… no. There’s no getting away from it, this which was indeed red/green vinyl. I loved it. I bought it. It “I will come back to you soon, Richard, with suggestions”, I promised, and Jazz both have lyrics (where the original LPs did not), and that I did by the same evening. By sundown I had gathered Track 13 on the last album finally makes it to vinyl, and album has to be bottle green, and the options available to us cost me 20 or 30 weeks pocket money (I was 13 at the time) (which were not infinite) included a lovely green. Sometimes and I have cherished it ever since. from the internet pictures of coloured vinyl discs (from certain albums have alternative running orders because of the every artist imaginable; it was only the colour that mattered) extra space available over four sides. things are obvious for very good reason, and thus you go So… many years later and the story is revisited… for each and every Queen album. Then our colleague Kris with it. Where was I? Oh yes… Sheer Heart Attack had to be a red Fredrikkson got involved and some very detailed colour 1978’s Jazz album. Black or white? No, we’ve done that with In advance of a meeting of the Queen team with the EMI possibilities were explored. Kris flew out of the UK to look team, probably ten years ago, I was asked by Jim Beach Queen II, Races and Opera. So the pink of the logo on the at some vinyl manufacturing options, and Richard and I sat cover, and of the reverse side of the infamous naked cyclists to have ready some ideas of how we might re-present the down with all fifteen album covers and colour swatches from Queen albums. “Be ready with some ideas, Greg. Something fresh and poster, that was perfect. I found a pink vinyl 12” single on the the factory, and it all started to come together. This was not internet by some African dance band from the end of the 20th different that will appeal to the record label, the band, and the fans.” as simple as it might sound. My response was immediate. A complete set of picture discs century, held it next to the Jazz album, and it looked stunning or coloured vinyl albums, though not necessarily in a box, For several months, Justin Shirley-Smith and Kris became as it emerged from the shiny black inner sleeve. Separately, and thus I conjured from my laptop my picture mock-ups completely immersed in achieving the best possible sound for Richard and Kris had reached the same conclusion, as for each scenario. EMI liked both ideas, but I seem to recall each album, sourced in every case from the original master we all did on several albums, and that was that! I think the picture discs were deemed to be not quite so appealing as tapes, and with Roger and Brian never far from the process. Jazz album is utterly stunning in this box; one of the very coloured vinyl. The latter was thought to be more elegant, With test pressings coming at them at alarming rates, the nicest of all—though I do genuinely like all of them very classy—call it what you will—and that is probably true. chaps undertook their usual meticulous job of scrutinising much. Richard then asked, “Where do we put the Jazz lyrics?” I I now see that, if I didn’t then! Plus, they play and sound every second of every track on every side and album, times suggested the reverse of the poster and he liked it. He went significantly better, and that has to be priority with Queen fifteen, until everything was perfect and they’d approved with white text instead of black, which was a lovely touch, music, as it always has been. everything. In the meantime, Richard and I made a start on and that too looks very cool I think. Am I allowed to say cool the book, assessing what we thought best leant itself to this at my age!?

16 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 17 The Game had to be the grey/silver of the original cover, the colour of the ocean on the globe. Again, you have to As far as memorabilia goes, this wasn’t supposed to be a focus Listening to Queen albums on vinyl (with headphones on in obviously. That’s a no-brainer. So too the yellow of Flash lay both discs carefully upon the LP cover to fully admire on that aspect of the albums (my own book ‘I Want It All’ my case) was how many of us fans first heard this incredible Gordon. For , myself, RG and Kris pondered this, just as we did with multiple variations, and… perhaps will be the forum for that—though it’s still unclear when it’s music. This vibrant set of multi-coloured records, and indeed various ideas—some of them surprisingly obscure. We imagine which colours Freddie would have chosen if he were going to emerge). Even so, we still chose to feature some the black vinyl sister discs, will offer that opportunity once thought it would be nice to press this album on four different present in the room with us. “The purple and the ocean blue, dear. wonderful and rarely seen things. Mostly from Brian’s archive, more—for the very first time to certain fans. Listening careful colours; the red, blue, green and yellow of Freddie’s cover It’s perfectly obvious!” but also some lyrics from Roger and posters and flyers from to a vinyl record is a significantly different experience to design, naturally. And fans could buy whichever one they Queen fans that were kind enough to loan things for this. digital formats, and so you may find you hear these familiar fancied. But that might cause headaches at the factory. I then Colour-wise, Made In Heaven could have gone any number Everyone is credited, of course, and this box has really songs in a suddenly and unexpected alternative way. Listening thought that it might be more fun if people had no idea what of ways. More alternatives were considered for this, than for been a collaborative venture. Let’s not forget the amazing to a Queen album should be an Event, not just something you colour Hot Space they had, until they got it home. But then any other album. Ultimately we came up with royal blue for photographs featured throughout the 108 page book, by the do in the car on the way to work. I genuinely hope these new that could cause problems too, and might necessitate use of a disc 1 and a ghostly spiritual clear disc for the second disc— way. Douglas Puddifoot’s stunning live shots from 1974/5, products will inspire fans to do precisely that; listen carefully, sticker on the front, and so on. Who would put these stickers which of course contains Track 13. And you might notice alongside familiar band session portraits, and Brian’s shot without distraction, just you and the music and the cover on? And what happens if fans all want green or red discs, something different about the cover picture of this vinyl of Freddie in the recording studio. This aspect alone, makes artwork and lyrics. and the yellows or blues don’t sell? All this stuff has to be LP too! this a distinctly different and exciting Queen project in considered. And so it was that we eventually commissioned my opinion. I hope you will agree that all the little details mentioned So, long story told short-ish—but probably nowhere near as herein; from the actual sound of the records, to the sleeves a special new blue for this album, which we now think short as you would have preferred—that was more or less is extremely nice and, I might add, may even have saved I must single out here, if you will indulge me, a few items of and lyrics, text, pictures, memorabilia and band-member how we decided upon the colours of the 18 discs. I think memorabilia in the accompanying Queen Studio Collection comments and anecdotes, collectively make for a very special fighting in the streets among you guys because there were they look wonderful as a series together, though inevitably (conceivably) more blue Hot Spaces than red, or less green book which I particularly like; first are the two sheets of green and carefully assembled package. I believe this to be one of there will be fans that insist Jazz should not be pink, Races A4 paper featuring Freddie handwritten lyrics of Brian’s song the loveliest and most exciting products we’ve ever produced. Spaces than yellow, and before you should have been green with yellow know where you are, a huge online “The purple and the ocean , from 1976, and an It’s not cheap. We realise that. But quality does not come stripes, and so on. Personally, I think 1976 Races flyer featuring the individual astrological elements cheaply and this endeavour was never ever about that. It is swapping Hot Spaces campaign has the discs have emerged every bit as got out of hand as the Paul Birds blue, dear. It’s perfectly of the Queen crest (two lions, crab, etc) all racing around the purely an exercise in offering Queen’s remarkable catalogue stunning as we could have hoped. grooves of a vinyl LP race-track. There is also a very strange of studio music—the familiar and the lesser-known tracks— and Gary Taylors of this world duel Those who wanted an orange Magic, until they’ve secured all four colours! obvious! ” NOTW promo flyer from Holland (you have to see this), and in the very best way we could think of for vinyl. green News Of The World, white then there are some fabulous promo flyers for the Bites The We do ponder most or all of these possible permutations and Opera and red Heart Attack, when they originally circulated, I’ve seen large boxed sets before, that were less expensive outcomes you know—even the ludicrous ones. Dust, Save Me and Killer Queen singles, and Jazz, Hot Space but simply could not afford them, finally have them, and that and Miracle albums. Look out too for the rather wonderful— than this, and I have purchased some of them. But invariably The Works disc could only be red, though darker than that of is rather grand in my book. They have 14 additional colours and vicious looking—Death On Two Legs prototype toy the lid hinges break or rust, the glue comes apart, the Heart Attack, that was a clear enough decision. Cog-shaped, too, and one of the most striking Queen products to date. figure which never made it into production at the timeof cardboard is too flimsy. The Queen Studio Collection is the would have been good, but would not have played on the The eYe game in 1998 and is seen here (thanks to Richard John McVicar of the boxed set world. It’s as hard as nails and So, then came the text. Once again Gary Taylor and I no nonsense. No creases or dents or things falling off. It’s turntable too well. And A Kind Of Magic could have been collaborated on writing notes for all 15 studio albums, and Gray) for the very first time ever. any of the colours that feature on the artwork. We went with heavy and substantial and completely without compromise. then we passed them to the team for collective scrutiny and Finally, I must mention here, that though I’ve put all the What else can I say? I believe this box will become hugely orange because lots of fans love the orange vinyl pressings additions. Boxed sets like this truly are a collaborative affair, from New Zealand in 1986, but like me, could not afford emphasis on the coloured vinyl set in this piece, there are sought-after and collectable very quickly. I hope it does and and we like to think that one way or another we do manage also black vinyl discs—single discs, not doubles. These will be I hope, sincerely, that you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed them then. Other people did not buy them then on account to cover every detail along the way. We each have our own of not being born yet! Plus, we imagined all 18 of these discs available to purchase individually, whereas the box set offers assembling it. ideas of content, concepts, form, shape and presentation, and all the albums together. So, if you do just want Innuendo or spread out for the promotional pack-shot, and it needed an we’re all acutely aware of what the band generally favours. Thanks to Justin Shirley-Smith for the witty title of this piece. orange disc, rather than two greens or three reds. Jazz, you can have them that way too. Richard Gray spent considerable time with me at the archive You may also have seen the press regarding a brand new For The Miracle, we pondered many options. In my mind, this going through all the relevant tapes (masters for each album), was always an ‘Eyes’ picture disc (the eyes of the reverse of limited edition official turntable to coincide with the release as well as posters, promo flyers, never before seen (recently-ish of this re-mastered multi-disc box set. Queen has teamed the cover of course), but now we needed an enticing colour discovered at Brian’s house) handwritten lyrics and so much I would like to to match the elegance of this most iconic Queen cover. up with one of the worlds most recognised and respected other iconic Queen imagery. These things take an age to go turntable manufacturers, Rega (see more details on page 23). dedicate this Eventually we decided to commission a brand new aqua-type through, to whittle down, hone, re-hone and finally fit into the feature with much sky/water merging bluey green colour, and that too emerged Both brand and band are quintessentially English and the right space of the book. And so too do the multiple quotes combination of engineering and musical achievements make respect to Shirley as a beautiful rich tone. This is perhaps my favourite of the from the band that we dug out especially for this project. That Joyce—Gary set—along with Jazz, and the doubly-audacious Innuendo. for a perfect match. This turntable—clichéd though it might task alone spanned nearly a week! Each one had to be gone be to say—really has to be seen to fully appreciate. It has Taylor’s recently Innuendo appears here as a double album and the two through and filtered so that each album, and various singles, huge impact and is very striking. Any one of the coloured departed and much colours chosen match one of the Juggler’s airborne balls, and was represented in a balanced way without getting repetitive. discs spinning on this deck would look very cool indeed. loved mum.

18 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 19 s a teenager I would often sit in my bedroom and Setting those insights aside, listen to music on an old turntable. Like most the songs Roger Taylor Re-issues of Ateenagers I was on a voyage of self discovery, trying writes on ‘’ to make sense of the world and my place in it. Listening and ‘’ to music was a welcome sanctuary, and a glorious place to show great heart and escape. It was on that wonderful crackly vinyl and through extreme care for his fellow Fun in Space and those small boxy speakers that I discovered Roger Taylor’s human beings by sending first solo albums. After being exposed to 1980’s plastic pop the simple but often bands that were more interested in their hairstyles than forgotten message that when life Strange Frontier the music they created; ‘Fun in Space’ (1981) and ‘Strange conspires to bring you down, it is possible to rise. He writes Frontier’ (1984) were a revelation. From that little turntable in the song ‘Young Love’ that “you gotta stick to your guns, show Roger Taylor reached out and grabbed me. I was saved, and the world that you just don’t care” or in any given situation to “Just by Jane Remedio life was never the same. open up your heart, or open up your eyes, Laugh or Cry.” Roger Taylor’s mischievous side shines through on both “you gotta stick to albums with the purely indulgent recording of songs just for the fun of it. Examples are the cover of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘’ which harks back to Roger’s love of fast your guns, show the cars, and the call to arms to misbehave and ‘Let’s Get Crazy’. Each album contained strong messages for a teenager who was trying to find her way; they provided a voice of clarity world that you just and made the world a more interesting place. Life is a rich tapestry and music is the gold and silver threads don’t care” shining throughout like a beacon of joy. Best known for being the drummer for Queen, Roger Taylor After ‘Fun in Space’ and ‘Strange Frontier’ Roger Taylor wrote many of the bands hits including ‘, and continued to add those precious silver and gold threads to ‘A Kind of Magic’. From behind his he delivered the tapestry of my life through the releases of ‘Happiness?’ a steady heartbeat, he sang lead vocals on ‘I’m in Love with (1994), ‘’ (1998) and ‘’ (2013). There my Car’ and he provided those castratingly high-range vocals are musicians that entertain us, and then there are others that in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Along with Freddie Mercury, Brian continue to inspire us, they live in our heart; and we carry May and John Deacon, Roger Taylor moulded Queen into them with us always. Roger Taylor is one of those musicians. one of the best live bands, and ultimately, the band that is Nearly 34 years on, ‘Fun in Space’ and ‘Strange Frontier’ are still adored worldwide today. Roger Taylor’s contribution to being re-issued (with bonus tracks) for a new generation to Queen is immeasurable, but it is through his first two solo enjoy. They are available on limited edition vinyl, and on CD albums that we begin to see Taylor as an individual. A vocalist, or MP3. One thing is for sure, the re-issues will provide the lyricist and multi-instrumentalist; he wrote, played and sang opportunity for the world to discover Roger Taylor, the solo on all but 50% of the keyboards on ‘Fun in Space’. Wow! musician; and that alone is a wonderful thing. Through ‘Fun in Space’ and ‘Strange Frontier’ Roger’s strong and spirited personality emerge and we discover that he is more than a drummer in a rock ‘n roll band. Taylor freely admits that he is not interested in politics, but it is on ‘Fun in Space’ and ‘Strange Frontier’ that we begin to see a man who has a deep regard for humanity, he writes “We’d like to find a cure for every known disease” on ‘Beautiful Dreams’. He also displays an inherent respect for the right to shine a light on injustice “don’t want to kill for some cause of the age, don’t want to cry for somebody else’s need, don’t want no piece of no flag in the breeze” on ‘My Country I & II’. Roger also covers ’s classic protest song ‘Masters of War’ on ‘Strange Frontier’. Sadly the undercurrents of these songs are still relevant today. ‘Fun in Space’ and ‘Strange Frontier’ are available now from: www.queenonlinestore.com/Roger-Taylor/Music/

20 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 21 Queen Breakthru Official North American Convention 24 – 26 July 2015 Detroit, Michigan

Report by Ultimate Turntable for Dave and Irene Taylor Queen Vinyl Lovers To complement the new Queen Studio Collection vinyl boxset, renowned UK turntable manufacturer Rega are launching a limited edition fully-licensed ‘Queen by Rega’ custom turntable. The design of this unique custom turntable includes reproductions of logos, and incorporates the tonearm technology of the multi-award-winning ‘plug and play’ Rega turntables. Both brand and band are quintessentially English and the combination of What a couple of weeks we’ve had! Firstly we attended the Polish Fan Club Convention in the engineering and musical woods just outside Warsaw, then home to repack our cases before setting off to the American achievements make for a Breakthru Convention in Detroit. perfect match. We arrived at The Sheraton Hotel on Thursday to relax and chill out before the Breakthru The Queen Turntable features: convention began on Friday. Before long we met up with Jacky and Kathy at the bar for a few drinks! We were soon joined by our old friend Peter Freestone and several other Queen „„A brand new product designed for Queen. fans who decided we needed food to accompany the alcohol that was quickly being consumed. Pizzas were ordered and to our „„A custom designed high-gloss acrylic laminated delight they were the largest pizzas we had ever seen. God Bless America! plinth silk screened with ‘Queen by Rega’ logo. We all chatted, took photos, ate and drank until it was time to retire and recharge our batteries for the weekend ahead. „„Silk screened ‘Queen crest’ platter from artwork Friday began with an enjoyable breakfast in the hotel restaurant and as registration wasn’t until 5pm we had time for a leisurely created by Freddie Mercury. swim in the pool. During the afternoon more fans arrived which meant more drinks at the bar. „„Hand-built RB101 tonearm. During registration we were given goody bags, name badges and (for those who had ordered them) Breakthru T-shirts, then it was into the Ballroom for a picture slideshow, karaoke qualification round, welcoming newbies with an icebreaker game and „„Factory-fitted Rega Carbon moving magnet cartridge. viewing the auction items. Once the auction was over we were entertained by the fabulous Rock a la Carte who were joined by „„Low noise, low vibration 24V synchronous high- the karaoke finalists. performance motor. Band entertainment ends, let the disco begin! The choice of songs and videos by DJ Patrick Lemieux was so good we were rarely off the dance floor. As usual we participated in the obligatory Breakthru train which was a little shorter than expected… „„Queen dustcover lid badge. …and partied well into the early hours. Simon Webster from Rega told the fan club, “Rega was Saturday began in the marketplace searching for those special items not obtainable in the UK. the musical approached by Universal Music and Queen’s team, we were then in was being shown in the Ballroom followed by the Alphabet Game, the Trivia Quiz preliminary round, Q & A session with Jacky, talks with Richard Gray as the artistic director and he kindly provided Peter Freestone and . You could even enter the swing dance contest. all the original artwork and licensees for the relevant artwork and crest produced by Freddie Mercury (which is silk screened to keep the Dinner was an enjoyable hot and cold buffet followed by coffee and cake. Fancy dress was Rocky Horror although some resolution really high and keep it as close to the original as possible). It contestants didn’t quite get the idea! Food consumed we were entertained once again by Rock a la Carte is printed in the same gold as the Queen logo on the plinth which was with the fabulous Tony Vincent (wish he’d sang more songs). Raffle time followed by The band with Alan Morphew and then another fantastic disco! designed to match the gold of the boxset.” th Sunday ended the weekend with several videos and the last goodbyes (and more alcohol) And the weekend The turntable is launched on September 25 and will only drew to a close with everyone on the dance floor arm-in-arm swaying to . be available through Rega distributors and not available online. Find your nearest Rega retailer or distributor at FRIENDS WILL BE FRIENDS INDEED! www.rega.co.uk

22 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 23 Queen Mosaics

How Queen I was 11 when I first saw Queen…twice…in 1974. On my 12th birthday on March 20th 1975 I got my OIQFC Saved My Sanity membership as a birthday present, and I simply never left. I came to the world-wide adoration of Enter Queen. In my delirium, to nudge my mind away from I have been extremely lucky in having seen Queen almost a this huge loss, I would escape to my car and play Queen CDs. hundred times live through Europe, and all band members Queen late in life. Over and over and over, as loud as possible. Tears streaming on my solo-performances too. I never missed a Dutch meeting, and attended 15 conventions. I still have a very A little history: I spent much of the 70s and 80s living in down my face. My half-hour drive to work—the worst time Queen-influenced interior, and if I can I will visit Queen the Caribbean and mostly listening to Bob Marley. Not a bad with so little distraction—my radio blared so loud the car events. Having met all band members and many people in scene but I was ignorant as to what was going on in the States would shake. and around the ‘Queen machine’, I dare say that my blood and UK. And it worked. Helped me through the worst of that year and type is “Q” after four decades. I hope to be a registered fan Upon my return, with a divorce in hand and two small left me with a new passion. Queen. For the first time in my for another 40 years. The pictures show me with Brian, and children, I spent the next couple of decades raising children, life I listened to music and didn’t ever sing along. I just wanted with his red special, which I was lucky to have seen, held and pursuing a career and losing almost all my yearning to be to listen. To Freddie, to the harmonies, to Brian’s amazing touched times at different occasions. The face of John immersed in music. I was clueless as to what band sang what, riffs—a part of a song I never paid much attention was also used in the booklet of Queen+ Greatest Hits III. My name is Olesya Pavlyuk. I have been acquainted with the let alone the names of songs or lyrics. to—to Roger’s drums and even John’s obvious love for his Regretfully I was cut off…his wife took it, and I didn’t even art of mosaic in Mosaic Art House in 2009 / Istanbul. The bass collaborations. know that it was being used for the booklet…I’m still proud material that I use are glass, marble, stained glass, smalti and th So, in my 66 year, my second husband took me to a Queen of it, no matter what! ceramic. Tribute performance by a local—but hugely talented— I’m hooked. I think I have all the CDs and videos ever college theatre troupe. I spent most of the concert saying produced. Joined the Fan Club. Saw “We Will Rock You” THE most precious ‘items’ of my collection are the ones no I’ve had three Queen-related exhibitions in Istanbul: “Queen wrote that? They did that? That’s a Queen song?” Song after in Detroit. And rued the fact I would never see them in one can see...my memories. • May 2013: Yıldızlar Avluda (The Legends) song, emotions running wild, I spent the evening enthralled concert in person. But, lucky me, saw the first night of the • Dec 2014: Mozaik Rüzgarı (The Wind of Mosaics) And the most beautiful thing about Queen is (in my humble with what I was hearing. Immediately I bought my first Queen+Adam Lambert Tour in Chicago. I screamed, I • Mar 2015: Mozaiklerimizle Yolculuk (The Mosaic Journey) opinion), that they STILL inspire all kinds of musicians in Queen CD, the first “Greatest Hits” album. Played it a lot in laughed, I cried, I really revelled in the whole experience. all existing different musical directions and styles, and bring Also I’ve donated one of my artworks from The Legends the car, bought a few more CDs, learned the lyrics. Then my My adoration hasn’t waned and never will. Number two on people together and unite them as one big family…and their exhibition to FMMD 2013. The name of the artwork was world crashed. my Bucket List? Why, to meet Brian and Roger somewhere in music of course! “Made In Heaven”. My dear, beautiful, talented, cherished mother died. I was London before I die. Bas Asselberg In my view, the art of mosaic has no beyond grief. For a year I was quite sure I would go mad Thank you, Queen, for saving my life and my sanity. difference from life itself. Sometimes because of her loss. it seems very easy but sometimes very Stephanie Zinn difficult. Sometimes I take a stone and cut it again and again but it does not fit in. And I put it aside. Then I take another stone and cut it then stick it properly. And I reach such a point when I see that the stone which I couldn’t have cut shall just fit in its proper place. I take it from where I had left it and stick it. And this experience will be very gratifying for me. Because if that stone had fit in just at the beginning I would not be able to appreciate its meaning and value so much. This shows us that everything has a proper moment and that moment shall absolutely come. If you wait for the right time, you will be rewarded for your efforts and be happy as much as you have never been.

24 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 25 Collectors Corner Latest collection details from our expert Gary Taylor THE QUEEN COLLECTION The box and first CD were presented in a blister pack with The CD itself is contained in fold-out card sleeves and most a card backing and includes all the information about this CDs are the 2011 remasters. release on the front and on the back.

After a brief introduction of this superb box set in the last magazine, here is a more in-depth guide to this CD series. Each box features the titles of the CDs and DVDs as well as This is a new box set that has been released in Italy only The release date order was as follows: photos of each cover. in conjunction with Virgin records. It is called ‘The Queen Collection’ and over a period of 21 weeks eventually included 1. A Kind Of Magic 03.03.15 all of Queen’s 15 studio albums on CD as well as four live 2. Innuendo 10.03.15 albums on CD and two live DVDs—21 titles in all. The 3. A Night At The Opera 17.03.15 set was released in conjunction with the Italian television 4. Made in Heaven 24.03.15 guide ‘TV Sorrisi e Canzoni’, the biggest selling weekly TV magazine by far in the country. 5. The Game 31.03.15 6. The Works 07.04.15 The first CD to be issued was ‘A Kind Of Magic’ in March, 7. News Of The World 14.04.15 and with this package you also got a specially-designed thick card box to hold all the CDs and DVDs in, and was only 8. The Miracle 21.04.15 available through selected kiosks, or newsagents, in Italy. 9. A Day At The Races 28.04.15 The final DVD in this series appeared in July and all single 10. Jazz 05.05.15 CDs were priced at €9.99, 2 CD and 1 DVD at €12.90 and 11. Sheer Heart Attack 12.05.15 2 DVD at €14.90. Each CD and DVD was issued in special 12. Live Killers (2CD) 19.05.15 maxi digi-pack sleeves—a new format, with enhanced 13. Flash Gordon 26.05.15 booklets that include photos, lyrics and info on the history 14. Hot Space 02.06.15 of each album. LA BANDA INMORTAL 15. 09.06.15 A similar set to the CD books that were released in , All the text was written by Gary Taylor, Greg Brooks and Portugal and Poland in 2008 and 2009 are being issued in 16. Queen 16.06.15 Phil Symes. The box and CD packaging was designed by Argentina beginning in June with the A Kind Of Magic album. Richard Gray. 17. Queen II 23.06.15 18. Queen On Fire—Live At The Bowl (2CD) 30.06.15 19. Queen Rock Montreal (2CD) 07.07.15 20. Hungarian Rhapsody (1DVD) 14.07.15 21. Live at (2DVD) 21.07.15

26 The Official International Queen Fan Club Summer 2015 27 Matias at his 18th birthday party—­a true Queen fan!

Jan Vanco with the beautiful Freddie Memorial in Slovakia

2014 marked 40 years since Aston McNeil met Steven Plume at Creighton (now Fortismere) Comprehensive School in Muswell Hill London and 35 years since they first saw Queen at nearby Alexandra Palace. 5 month old Mila, sent in by her proud grandparents Rinus and They met up to see Q+AL at Wembley Arena nearly 35 years Marijan Walstijn after they first went there to see, well, Queen actually.

The Official International Queen Fan Club P.O. Box 141, West Horsley, Surrey KT24 9AJ | +44 (0) 1483 281995 | [email protected] Design and artwork by Tennant | www.cforce.co.uk Print and distribution by Fox Print Services LLP | www.fox-ms.co.uk © OIQFC 2015