Roger did a Q&A interview over on Queenonline, some very interesting news:-
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"What drew you to hiring Bob Ludwig to re-master the albums, and is a
worldwide revamp of the catalogue something you have been keen to do for
some time?
Josh (Macrae) and Justin (Shirley-Smith) appointed about 8 different
mastering dons to re-master the albums and we all thought Bob Ludwig’s
sounded the best.
The drums and bass lines have all been dramatically boosted on the new
reissues. Are you rediscovering parts of the songs you'd forgotten were
there?
Drum and bass lines haven’t particularly been boosted but modern technology
enables us to clarify the sound in ways impossible before.
What was the process for choosing the bonus tracks for the reissues?
The process for choosing the bonus tracks the was entirely subjective,
between Josh, Justin, Brian and myself.
Will the issuing of the bonus material be the start of the Anthology
projects seeing the light of day?
I guess so…
Now that Queen has moved to a new record label, what will become of your
solo material? Will that too, see a reissue, and if so, will they be given a
clean up too?
I am collecting and collating my solo material and hope to release
re-mastered versions, hopefully, along with an album of new material in the
next year.
Re-masters, exhibitions, films, a lot of activity this year, the only thing
that is missing is some sort of live element….are you keen?
Live element, yes I’m keen, watch this space….
Are we ever likely to see Queen as a headline act or are we more likely to
see more appearances in the same vain as the Princes Trust Show?
I would prefer to do proper shows in our own right, I don’t particularly
like one off’s.
Apart from Live Aid, what is your stand out live moment with the band?
Too many to pick just one, we were very good live !
With the exception of the obvious (Bohemian Rhapsody, Live Aid, etc), what
do you consider your biggest and most satisfying accomplishments over the
last 40 years?
Keeping the music alive and appealing to all ages, especially, a new young
audience 40 years later.
If you had to pick one song written by each member of the band, which would
be your favourites?
Too hard.
The Deep Cuts albums; was it fun digging into the album tracks rather than
working with the ‘hits’? Are there any tracks that you wish you had played
more live?
Deep Cuts was a very tough and subjective choice, maybe not deep enough,
there are many tracks I wish we had played live more.
Do you see any further studio work as Queen in one form or another, either
reworking old tracks with Freddie's voice like you did with Made In Heaven
or with new material?
I would like to do some more new Queen material with Brian.
Brian has talked of ‘Buns in the Oven’…care to expand on that?
All will be revealed…ps I hadn’t realised he was pregnant!
What was the last Queen album that you listened to?
Sheer Heart Attack
Freddie liked birthday parties, would he have enjoyed the attention that the
40th Anniversary is generating?
Freddie always enjoyed attention.
What will your involvement be in the Queen/Freddie film, is there a chance
of you popping up in the background in any scenes?
Our involvement is significant but not upfront we will however be in charge
of the music.
Queen celebrations aside, are you looking to follow up The Unblinking Eye?
I very much look forward to following up The Unblinking Eye and am working
on material as we speak .
The Cosmos Rocks album and the Paul Rodgers tours…how do you look back on
that period of the band?
The Cosmos Rocks album was not at all bad and I thoroughly enjoyed the tours
we did with Paul he is one of the finest singers alive. I regret that some
people expected him to be Freddie, how crass.
Finally, Congratulations on getting married, could you let us in on gig was
played at your reception? Who played and what was cranked out?
Thank you, for your congratulations. We had a fine impromptu concert,
amongst those who played where , Brian May, Joe Elliot, Martin Chambers,
The SAS band, Roger Daltrey, Mike Rutherford, Nick Mason, Bob Geldof, Rufus
Taylor, Felix Taylor, Josh Macrae, Gary Brooker, The Fabba Girls, Ryan
Molloy and Jeff Scott Soto."
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Roger solo release 2012 (a tour to follow, fingers crossed, especially now the Taylor Hawkins tour, died a death)
Brian & Roger to do a gig/gigs as Queen this year???? with it being the 40th anniversary.
New queen material ???
Queen to do the soundtrack album for the Freddie film???
How do all you guys interpret what Roger has said??? any thoughts???
Personally I believe that Roger wants to play with Brian as Queen this year, not as some "Queen +" lineup, but Brian didn't say "yes" yet. But I'm not THAT good at "reading between the lines".
Will the issuing of the bonus material be the start of the Anthology
projects seeing the light of day?
I guess so…
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Is Jim Beach sitting in same room.... I guess a hugely edited interview and simply boring