QueenZone discussion #1508550

The Real Wizard wrote: There was a group of hardcore Queen fans called the "Royal Family" who followed the band around the world to most of their shows for years. They sometimes taped the shows, and most of their recordings have remained uncirculated. But recently, someone from the group anonymously went rogue and started letting out the recordings, beginning with Liverpool 79 last year, and continuing now with several tapes from 1978. This person opened up and told stories about the culture within that tightly knit group of fans. While doing one's best not to engage in any character assassination, this person had some pretty lurid stories to tell about their cliquiness, as well as a competitive nature in recording the concerts. That competitiveness got so extreme to the point that they began to steal and destroy each other's tapes that weren't deemed "good enough" quality, while the tapes that did manage to pass the litmus test would then circulate amongst a limited circle of people, usually with any number of adjustments purposely done to the content in order to keep the best versions for themselves. This apparently led to a lot of in-fighting, and people eventually defecting from the group.

Golden Salmon wrote: But... why? Seriously. One of the best things I did as a fan was getting out of the trader / secretive collector world. I understand that the best things come from these circles, but it's so unworthy in the end. Now I just want to enjoy their music.

Killer_queenIII wrote: Damn though, never thought tape trading back then can be a bit hardcore at times.

The Real Wizard wrote: some people are starting to realize that old tapes don't do much good sitting in the basement. Luckily people tend to mellow out with age.

thisissparta789789 wrote: Damn, they were hardcore indeed. It's so odd to think that this all happened, especially coming from the mindset of someone (me) who has grown up in an age where the plethora of cellphone cameras has made actual tapings of concerts not as necessary, since now one can just type in a concert that happened just hours ago and find almost the entire thing on YouTube in probably better sound quality than most of these tapes.

Marknow wrote: Interesting notes for sure. I know a few here were sneered at over the years for suggesting such practices were in play.

Golden Salmon wrote: One of the best things I did as a fan was getting out of the trader / secretive collector world. I understand that the best things come from these circles, but it's so unworthy in the end. Now I just want to enjoy their music.

pmatsynot wrote:how would you get a cassette recorder past a body search now?

Killer_queenIII wrote: Ways and means. In the past, you could tuck it in a wheelchair and pretend to be disabled (I mentioned Mike Millard here earlier. This is how he smuggled his equipment in when he was recording Led Zeppelin concerts apparently), stuff it in your pants and says it's your bulge, and perhaps bribery? it goes on.

Golden Salmon wrote: I've read stories about security staff keeping tape recorders and batteries to themselves, then selling them back once inside.

aristide1 wrote: Interesting share and story. Maybe it's time to update your archive with Liverpool 79 shared last year. What's the point in keeping such an otherwise great site if the content is biased. In a way or another, like it or not, the recording emerged. Do you owe something to these Illuminati?

thisissparta789789 wrote: "the drunk guy standing next to you talking or singing obnoxiously loud" *Frankfurt 1980 Guy intensifies*