Greg Brooks, the archivist of Queen tells how it could be the Anthology.
Greg Brooks is the man most admired by fans of Queen. Little is known about him, as often happens to the characters who remain behind the scenes, working in the shadows to make magic in the global success of the band. Why be the archivist of one of the greatest bands in rock history is not simply to deal with dusty archives. Rather it is a role of great responsibility, because everything that is published on behalf of Queen is inevitably passed through his hands.
But Brooks is not easy man with ads. Indeed, we can rightly say that no official information was conveyed through a preview of his statements.
Brooks is only doing his job, to the extent attributed to him being an employee of Queen Productions. A limit which is also an immense privilege of course, because each of us would sit in his place, wearing headphones to hear the excitement of rare recordings, unreleased, so exclusive that only imagine unleashed waves of emotions.
That must be why every time the archivist of Queen makes its appearance in a more or less official channels through the web (specifically the forum Queenzone.com), the fans do not miss the opportunity to read His statements, knowing that the points of interest to prove this.
So, as it did in the past, Queenheaven offers exclusive preview of the transcript in a series of questions & answers "which Brooks was submitted as part of a discussion with some sort Queen fans about the now legendary anthology project on band.
Greg, we are now at the end of February and the first question all you want is to what extent is the project called Boxset, or anthology, or as I prefer to call your intentions. The project is dead, blocked a few months after publication?
Are several years that this project is not mentioned, so I think there should be some time before we see it realized. I think there are many things that must go first of the personal. I can not see how this anthology will go before several other concerts and other ideas will not be met, many things which are really great. Of course this is just my speculation. All I know is that members of the group takes committed to a product next year. But who knows for sure? Not me! Meanwhile, put aside all the material needed, hoping to be ready for the day will.
If this anthology project still exists, what form should have the final? A box of 10 CDs, the new edition of the album with an additional drive, or something completely different?
Answering a question such as would be expected if the next U.S. president will be a woman.Who can know it on Earth? The anthology can be any shape you or I imagine. In the past I had several proposals (as happened for Single Box Collection which was originally to be a box with 12 CDs) in order to achieve a box of rarities, the idea of creating a box to publish a four-part package of 4 cd / dvd, until you get the idea to publish albums in triple format. The group should choose one of these solution or continue its own, and it probably will. But I have no uncertainty.
The anthology should be audio only or is also provided a video part and maybe even the presence of a book?
I think there should be a book to offer an explanation for all the content, as was done for the box dedicated to Freddie Mercury.
What can you tell us about what we might find in this anthology? New songs, different from the original version, live tracks?
Yes to all of these things. Recording sessions, rare, discarded ideas, things ironic in the studio recording (NDT Here Brooks speaks of "studio banter," literally studio antics. Probably refers to those sessions very ironic style One Vision during which Freddie and others enjoyed to change the lyrics and other entertainment like), unpublished photographs and interviews, remixes and extended versions never released before (but there are not many of them), probably live tracks, demo tracks, records and materials testing coming from De Lane Studios. I heard enough material to be able to say that such a project will contain bloated exciting things ... as long as Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon are happy to include everything. But who can say what they want?! (NDT Here we have further and perhaps definitively confirms that, at least as regards the technical decisions about the Queen, John Deacon have an active role in the group).
In your opinion, but also according to what he thinks the band, the anthology published years ago by the Beatles can be considered a good benchmark for this project?
I have no idea what you think of the band. But I think that that would be a good path to follow. I also think that we can do better on many levels. I would say more, but I know that then feed on controversy, so I say no more. But I think honestly that the unreleased gems Queen (NDT E 'Brooks has the same use the term "gem") are more exciting than the material of the Beatles.Some of the new songs of Queen are truly able to sweep everything away. And I want to emerge.
correct me if i'm wrong, but i remember reading a topic here in Queen Zone with that same questions...and answers. And Queen Heaven didn't bother to link to the original post, or give credit to Queen Zone
this bloody anthology was supposed to be released in 2000? CHRIST MY GREAT GREAT GREAT grandchildren will still be waiting on it , its getting boring now
Interesting read. glad to know JD is still in the loop with the guys, glad to know that they've also been 'putting material aside' so when it's finally got the green light a good portion of the material will be readily available and not need any hunting up
Of course, realistically this will never come out, not until BM or RT dies, sadly.
popy wrote: correct me if i'm wrong, but i remember reading a topic here in Queen Zone with that same questions...and answers. And Queen Heaven didn't bother to link to the original post, or give credit to Queen Zone
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I thought exactly the same ...
andreas_mercury wrote: is he still a retarded?
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Technically speaking, if he was heavily mentally challenged he most likely would *not* be working such a complex and detailing job as being the band's archivist, which would have meant we wouldn't have heard of him in the first place
;-)
I might deserve a little credit here ; they're my questions actually. Kudos to QueenHeaven for the shameless plagiarism link
For those who haven't read the original thread, you might find it a more pleasant read than an automatic translation from Italian ;)