Given the recent disappointing releases in recent years (excluding the upcoming NOTW40 box set -- as disappointing as the press release makes it seem, we haven't heard the goodies yet), what is the most measured course of action to make it known that the diehards are generally dissatisfied?
It's a fine line to tread. Boycott a release or download portions of it online through nefarious means, and the fans risk not getting something in the future. Buy it at launch, squander our hard-earned cash, and appease the low expectations of the company, keeping the bar low for what could come out in the future. Neither option is attractive.
Complaining about it online beyond reasonable criticism proves futile to the cause. What say you?
Money.
It's only about makey money. Island records invested a shitload in Queen when signing them. Needs to be returned + profit.
If Island knew a certain product would sell a lot, they'd release is.
Only way I can think of to be sure people buy something before it's even released is a crowdfund thing.
If the crowdfund is succesfull the release will be done. If not, than not.
GrowUpGlamberts. re:
> What's the ideal way to voice our displeasure, as hardcore fans, to QPL?
Seriously? They have no need to listen. They don't have a "duty of care" and can, basically, do what they want without fear of complaint or retribution. Jim Beach constantly harps on about Freddie's dying wish (a bit like Del Boy claiming what his mum said on her deathbed) being that they could do anything so long as it didn't make him look boring.
Carte blanche........
Bombard Brian with messages of dissatisfaction and reduce his remaining life by 8 years ....u fucking bastards.....YOU fucking BAAASTARDS! (Eric Idle voice)
Really. ....? Nothing.
Seriously .Brian accepts communications. None of the others do.
It'd only make him feel bad. Truly.
That's a fucked up thing to do.
Maybe there's a way to write Jim beach.
CARE OF the QUEEN FAN CLUB!
I'm in if anybody else is.
Let's shoot for a Christmas date. ...just don't write him anything like the letters Peter Cushing got in TALES FROM THE CRYPT
Write a considered well constructed letter to both Jim Beach care of QPL, and Brian
Other than that you're on your own... They are a business, they listen to sensible considered arguments, but at the end of the day they will go where the money is.
If you are going to get anywhere, you MUST look at it from the point of view of a business and NOT a fan, why would they want to do whatever it is you expect? put a well constructed letter together and see what they say, you may actually get a reply from Jim if it's well considered and not simply a rant
Writing to Jim Beach/ QP would be a waste of time.
The problem stems from him and QP and probably the band too. I don't really think any of them would really listen and take on board much of what might be said.
When they first toured with AL Brian posted on his website that they would like suggestions of what to include in the set. Despite this we still got a greatest hits show. I'm sure that the people on here wouldn't be the only ones asking for heavier "album" tracks
Likewise any requested new releases I feel would be ignored. The way forward, I believe would be to lobby th record company. It is their money which pays the band, it is their belief that the band can still sell which keeps the band signed to a deal, and it is them who if they felt there was enough interest in live CD or DVD releases who could and would put pressure on the band to release things.
Any record company and artist stands to make money if it reacts to the market, but a band who no longer produces new product is very much at the call of the guy who holds the purse strings. So if the record company were aware that a market is waiting to be filled I'm sure product would be released to meet demand
If we want full unreleased live albums/DVD's then it's not Beach and the band we need to convince. The record company dealing with QP have leverage, we don't.
Interesting idea about lobbying the record company, but lobbying implies lots of letters... so 6 people from Queenzone aint gonna cut it.
The point about Brian asking people what they'd like to hear on tour on his website.... I expect he got thousands of people requesting the hits... Brian Cox said once, the definition of disapointment is watching a Queen concert and they don't play Bo Rhap.... see what I mean?
Only the hardcore group of people that inhabit here want older lesser known tracks played, and of those people only a small handful would actually go to the trouble of writing something to someone, so QP just don't get to hear it apart from the same dozen or so people.
If Queen went into a venue and played White Man only the first 3 rows would have heard it before.
End of the day if an idea can be turned into profit QP, Brian, Roger and Jim will look at it seriously, but if you really have an issue with something I'd suggest writing to the people that make the decisions and that is Jim and the Band, if they don;t agree it will never happen, no matter what the record company say, they are beyond the point they need to listent to them now, the record company get millions out of album sales, and will only sign up for more Greatest hits packages as that gets them the highest return
Togg wrote:
Interesting idea about lobbying the record company, but lobbying implies lots of letters... so 6 people from Queenzone aint gonna cut it.
... Only the hardcore group of people that inhabit here want older lesser known tracks played, ...
If Queen went into a venue and played White Man only the first 3 rows would have heard it before.
... the record company get millions out of album sales, and will only sign up for more Greatest hits packages as that gets them the highest return
All very good points. On the last tour there was bedlam on here when they dropped SYW and IL, I was personally very disappointed prior to the Toronto show I attended. But afterwards I finally went on to You Tube to see the performances they did do of the songs... Theres a video of SYW from Vegas filmed from the side of the catwalk and you can see hardly anyone close to the stage has any clue what the song is. That one video showed me why they dropped it (Despite a fabulous performance) and gives a glimpse as to why the rarities get released so piecemeal.
Personally I'd pay $400 for a nice box with everything from the vaults but how many would they really sell? Even on this site you'd get complaints about the price and promises to download illegally.
If they release it piecemeal, attached to various different projects, they can sell higher quantities to the non fan and if I buy everything, they get a lot more than $400 over time and probably still have a stack of unreleased tracks.
Also, my theory is that if we boycott, it makes it less likely they'll release rarities not more. The incentive goes away. Theres little effort involved in another compilation and it makes money, so why spend time and energy putting together rarities if no bugger buys it?