| doremi 28.03.2005 17:52 |
In this quote below from Brian's website today that is excerpted from the Mojo/Q Queen Special Edition, Brian says that one of the MAIN factors that damaged Queen's image and relationship with the USA....was something that until NOW, I have NEVER, ever heard before... Brian says that Freddie had a Personal Manager (who Brian does not name), that in trying to be protective of Freddie, instead came off as brusk and nasty, and this Personal Manager blew off the entire USA Radio Industry People who HAD been supportive of Queen. So the USA Radio Industry People/network of support then felt offended and ticked off at this Manager's lousy attitude problem, so USA Radio's relationship with Queen was irrevocably eroded and USA Radio dropped all support and promotion for Queen, and discontinued/stopped serving as a positive outreach and outlet for getting Queen's music and image out to the USA public. This is an ENTIRELY new one on me, and a HUGE NEW revelation as to why Queen's career in the USA took such a beating, their records stopped being played here, they stopped touring here... Brian I'm sure is not naming names to keep from ruffling feathers of whomever he is referring to. I know Freddie was embarking on his solo career at that time, so it makes sense that he would have had a Personal Manager to secure Freddie's solo record deal with Columbia Records. Or maybe it was someone in Freddie's inner circle. Is Brian referring to Peter Freestone, someone else, anybody know for certain? Here's Brian's quote: "There were also other things. I think America very much depends on the network of people who care about music, and a lot of that is the radio stations. Radio stations are the connection between the artist and the community, and rightly so. Freddie had a personal manager at the time who was very dismissive. And OK, Freddie needed a bit of protection, it was hard for him at that time. But I think this guy… well, I know for a fact this guy went around saying, No, Freddie doesn't want to talk to you. Why should he want to talk to you anyway? And an enormous amount of damage was done to our relationship with the radio networks, who up to that point had been very close to us, very helpful." |
| Maz 28.03.2005 18:02 |
Phoebe was a personal assistant, not Freddie's manager. I highly doubt it was him that Brian was referring to. Still, I always said there were more reasons why Queen "lost America than just a video. Brian had stated before that the band had issues with Capitol. I wonder if this is what he meant, or if there were other problems. |
| Lester Burnham 28.03.2005 18:04 |
I'd say it was Paul Prenter. |
| Maz 28.03.2005 18:06 |
I can never keep Freddie's entourage straight (I made a pun, ha) |
| doremi 28.03.2005 18:23 |
Zeni wrote: Phoebe was a personal assistant, not Freddie's manager. I highly doubt it was him that Brian was referring to. Still, I always said there were more reasons why Queen "lost America than just a video. Brian had stated before that the band had issues with Capitol. I wonder if this is what he meant, or if there were other problems.No, this is a WHOLE NEW and different thing Brian is referring to about the damage caused by Freddie's Personal Manager...because right before Brian lets loose with this, here's the beginning of Brian's quote about one of the other damaging factors, which is the "issues" with Capitol Records you are referring to. Brian quote: "Plus our record company got themselves into a heap of trouble. We had spent a million dollars getting out of our deal with Warner-Elektra to get onto the Capitol label. And Capitol got themselves into trouble with a dispute that raged in the early '80s over the alleged corruption of independent record promoters in the US. It was, basically, the ring of bribery that went on to get records played on US radio. There was a government enquiry into it, and everybody shut down very, very fast. Without going into it too deeply, Capitol got rid of all their "independent" guys - and the reprisals from the whole network were aimed directly at all the artists who had records out at that time. We had Radio Ga Ga, which I think was Top 20 and rising, but the week after that it disappeared from the charts. So that was an influence as well. We got caught up in all that due to no fault of our own." |
| doremi 28.03.2005 18:25 |
Lester...WHO is Paul Prenter? |
| Maz 28.03.2005 18:36 |
Yeah, that was what I was referring to. Didn't read your original post as clearly as I should have. "Who is Paul Prenter" Very tabloidesque, but serveral relative links: link |
| Lester Burnham 28.03.2005 18:37 |
Paul Prenter was Freddie's personal manager until 1984, I believe. I'm not entirely sure of his entire relationship, or when he started, but Prenter looked down very dismissively on everyone except Freddie. I believe he died of AIDS a few months before Freddie did. |
| doremi 28.03.2005 18:52 |
From now on I will take back what I said about why did Queen give up on the USA. I had NO idea about all of this. Now if you read the other excerpts from Brian's interview (they are on parts 4 & 5 on his website), he does discuss the public "outrage" at "I Want To Break Free" over Queen dressing in drag...but that I always thought was a small hurdle. I NEVER knew about these New revelations Brian discusses, which I think he SHOULD have discussed years earlier...then I and I would think most of Queen's USA fans and fans worldwide...would have COMPLETELY understood that they did NOT give up on the USA at all. A dominoe effect of major damage was done to them through the events caused by Freddie's Personal Manager destroying Queen's valuable and good relationship with USA Radio Industry People, and the payola legal & scandal repercussions with Capitol Records also damaged their relationship with the record and radio industry. I'm still shaking my head. Maybe Brian didn't feel at liberty to discuss these issues until now...but I feel if he had...it actually would have been-----Damage Control...good PR, and it would have created understanding and sympathy from the fans and maybe Queen could have recovered. At the very least, the issues I had about this just went out the door. All I can say is now that I have all of or at least some of the facts, I misjudged Queen....and I apologize. Queen did NOT turn their backs on the USA, they got caught up in a literal crossfire of storm after storm. |
| Maz 28.03.2005 18:59 |
Interesting that this comes out while a new tour is in the planning stages. Sounds like an effort to show that Queen didn't purposely ignore the States, but was shafted by other circumstances. |
| Janet 28.03.2005 19:05 |
Yep, its Paul Prenter. |
| doremi 28.03.2005 19:31 |
Zeni wrote: Interesting that this comes out while a new tour is in the planning stages. Sounds like an effort to show that Queen didn't purposely ignore the States, but was shafted by other circumstances.Zeni...now you've got me ....as Monty Python would say...so confused. Now that I think about what YOU just said...is what Brian revealing now FACT and damage control..NOW..to as you say prepare for a USA tour and to let us USA fans know that there were indeed damaging circumstances to Queen in the USA in the 1980's beyond Queen's control or...is this just a SPIN Doctor job that this gullible, sentimental lady fell for. I don't know who or what to believe now... Oh hell...I ain't naive...but I have a HUGE heart...so I'll go with Brian's New revelations and hope that's as Paul Harvey used to say..."the rest of the story". |
| doremi 28.03.2005 20:08 |
Here's a link to a website that lists tons of Queen business people, scroll down and click on Paul Prenter. Says he worked for Queen (Freddie) 1977-1986. Lester you are right, Paul died 1991. link |
| Mr.Jingles 28.03.2005 21:22 |
Wasn't Paul Pretner the same guy who backstabbed Freddie by telling British tabloids that Freddie did have AIDS (or he possibly did). As far as I'm concerned Paul Pretner made those revelations because him, Freddie, among other gay guys who used to hang out frequently in the early 80s were finding out that they were carrying the HIV virus, and some others already had AIDS. |
| deleted user 28.03.2005 21:35 |
This is pretty interesting and I wouldn't be surprised if this was the actual reason for Queen's decline in the US. I never believed the whole thing about the US turning from Queen because of the IWTBF video. If memory serves me right, what you mentioned is also true, Dan. |
| boy of destiny 28.03.2005 23:05 |
I can think of a better reason, words... Hot Space! Oh what the hell, might as well include Flash Gordon and the video for "I Want To Break Free". |
| egret 28.03.2005 23:09 |
There is no doubt some truth in what Brian says, lots of exacerbated situations. All the same, I never read anything implying that Freddie Mercury was a featherheaded befuddled lamb deferring to his managers -- it always sounded like he (with perhaps some assistance from Mary Austin) kept an eye on his money and career issues, no matter how personally fragile he may have felt. (Especially after learning their lesson during that big falling out with a manager in the early years of their career? I thought Queen were noted for their shrewd management generally.) Also, radio stations and performance venues make money when popular bands tour, so it would not be in radio's interest to blacklist a band on the basis of a rude band employee. Perhaps they would if they felt insufficiently grafted, who knows. Surely people in radio also subscribe to the thought that "it's not show friends, it's show business" and have thick enough skins to face down rude managers. The IWTBF video definitely hurt them, feeding as it did into a generally "gayer" profile for the band (because imagewise, Freddie was the face of the band for most people). It does seem ridiculous now, but those were the Reagan years, when American preachers were exhorting their redneck flocks to make bonfires of their satanic-masked, backward-tracked rock albums. Again, not questioning what Brian said, just suggesting multiple factors at play. --Egret |
| Lester Burnham 28.03.2005 23:24 |
Try explaining the popularity of the Culture Club over here then. I can't imagine anyone who saw those videos instantly thought Boy George had a girlfriend or a wife. |
| Maz 28.03.2005 23:45 |
arlene wrote: Now that I think about what YOU just said...is what Brian revealing now FACT and damage control..NOW..to as you say prepare for a USA tour and to let us USA fans know that there were indeed damaging circumstances to Queen in the USA in the 1980's beyond Queen's control or...That's what I think, personally. But then, he would have to change his rhetoric somewhat regardless. You can't expect a tour to sell that well when you blame potential ticket buyers for past sins. Lester Burnham wrote: Try explaining the popularity of the Culture Club over here then. I can't imagine anyone who saw those videos instantly thought Boy George had a girlfriend or a wife.Gotta to agree with my Quaker friend here. |
| egret 29.03.2005 00:07 |
Culture Club appealed to a different demographic than Queen's hard rock stadium-filling fanbase. And even though Boy George is a GREAT, GREAT singer.... his American popularity was based on a handful of hit singles. Hard to compare his situation to that of decades of Queen world domination. --Egret |
| Maz 29.03.2005 00:12 |
egret wrote: Culture Club appealed to a different demographic than Queen's hard rock stadium-filling fanbase.Yeah, but in America, Queen was never the "stadium-filling" band. For Culture Club or those other bands that you mention to have any success in the 1980s, they had to appeal to a wide audience. Culture Club was pretty mainstream, and that meant the general public took a liking to them. And while we all know that Queen appealed to the hard rocker, remember that their biggest selling single in the US was due to its crossover appeal with the R&B stations. |
| egret 29.03.2005 00:45 |
True, good points all. But I still don't buy that the whole American publicity machine was foiled by one rude manager. Unless those music industry people are more sensitive than I thought. Of course, Brian May is in a better position to know, obviously. --Egret |
| Saint Jiub 29.03.2005 00:59 |
I remember Brian mentioning the Bribery thing before ... and it makes sense to me. The abrasive Paul Prenter style sounds like an over exaggerated excuse. Didn't Freddie hate those long gruelling North American tours? Perhaps that had an influence on not touring. Certainly the Bribery scandal pulling the rug out from under Radio GaGa did not help. Besides, after Flash Gordon and Hot Space, does Radio GaGa and IWtBF signify Queen returning to their previous high standards? I like both of those songs, but those songs do not suggest that Queen still knows how to rock. |
| Maz 29.03.2005 01:09 |
egret wrote: But I still don't buy that the whole American publicity machine was foiled by one rude manager.Yeah, you're right. It's just as inaccurate, I think, to blame Prenter as it is to blame IWTBF. Rip highlights several points that are probably the real reasons for Queen not touring the States. Some were out of their control, some were not. I gotta to agree that the whole radio boycott/Capitol/bribery thing makes sense to me. |
| Boy Thomas Raker 29.03.2005 10:35 |
Queen were perceived as a hard rock band in America. When they released The Game they gained pop fans, lost rock fans. Then they released Hot Space and took a huge hit in the rock community. Then they released Radio Ga Ga and IWTBF as the first two singles from The Works. From Crazy Little thing called Love to IWTBF, Brian's guitar was non-existent on Queen singles, which is how most fans heard music back then. It's no surprise that they lost their casual fans as they sounded like a different band. THAT is the reason they lost America. |
| *3*Playful as a pussycat 29.03.2005 10:41 |
solution...USA sucks...I'm moving to London! (wanted to do that since fifth grade) |
| Mr.Jingles 29.03.2005 10:48 |
Some might say that the lack of success in the U.S. in the 80s was due to change of musical direction (and I'm not talking about 'Hot Space') but rather about Queen becoming more of a pop mainstream and a bit less of a rock band. Genesis changed in the same way as Queen when they entered a new decade, and although they lost quite a significant part of their progressive rock era fanbase, their new pop music edge appealed to a much wider audience. Unlike Queen, the U.S. mainstream received the new Genesis with arms wide open. |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 11:01 |
Only explanation I heard till now was that they decided not to have tour in USA until they have "a major record". I think Brian said in one interview: "Major record didn't come, so we didn't go there". That explanation was always so weird to me - because - IF "The works" and "A kind of magic" are NOT major records, then WHAT is a major record??? |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 11:07 |
Playful as a pussycat wrote: solution...USA sucks...I'm moving to London! (wanted to do that since fifth grade)And which grade are you now? :) Good luck with your "moving plans"! :) |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 11:08 |
Arlene - there's something I don't get it. If there isn't for this "new revelation", you wouldn't feel comfortable to go see Queen when they come to the States? You wouldn't enjoy listening their albums so much? |
| *3*Playful as a pussycat 29.03.2005 11:12 |
lol...8th going into 9th...it doesnt seem like a long time but it feels so for me ^.^ |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 11:20 |
Playful as a pussycat wrote: lol...8th going into 9th...it doesnt seem like a long time but it feels so for me ^.^Hey... :) Why London? Because of Queen? Look... Freddie escaped from London 3 times... about 1981. he moved to New York, later to Munich, and at the end to Montreux. Bowie also left London... for a couple of years he moved to Berlin. I would go to Montreux, if I were you. :) |
| doremi 29.03.2005 12:19 |
XcessQueen wrote: Arlene - there's something I don't get it. If there isn't for this "new revelation", you wouldn't feel comfortable to go see Queen when they come to the States? You wouldn't enjoy listening their albums so much?Apparently you never read my posts on this forum. I would crawl through a field of active land mines to see Queen, past, present, and future, with Freddie, and yes, with Paul Rodgers...in the USA. And I have all of Queen's CD's in my car...at all times, and at home at all times...so I play Queen so much my friends think I'm nuts! This topic was in answer to a topic I created a few weeks back as to my asking why Queen I thought until now...had given up on touring after the USA after 1982 is all. But if I had dough to blow, I'd be In Europe right now following them all over the current tour, and if...when they come HERE to the USA, I WILL go to see them!!!! Also Egret wrote quote: All the same, I never read anything implying that Freddie Mercury was a featherheaded befuddled lamb deferring to his managers -- it always sounded like he (with perhaps some assistance from Mary Austin) kept an eye on his money and career issues, no matter how personally fragile he may have felt. (Especially after learning their lesson during that big falling out with a manager in the early years of their career? I thought Queen were noted for their shrewd management generally.)
|
| freddie4ever92 29.03.2005 13:48 |
Arlene: "WHO is Paul Prenter ?" Mr.jingles79 you're right he did sell a story about Freddie. He sold it to The Sun, I read it in Mercury and Me by Jim Hutton Here's the paragraph I read, "On May 4, Freddie was devastated by another story about him in The Sun. And so was I. His old friend Paul Prenter had stitched him up. Aids Kills Freddie's Two Lovers, it declared, and the story was run across three pages. Tony Bastin, from Brighton, and John Murphy, an airline steward, had died from the disease in 1986. And Prenter claimed that Freddie had called him late one night and poured out his fears about AIDs. The feature also named me as his lover." He was paid £32,000. He also sold them several photos of Freddie with varioous lovers. He even had the cheek to phone Freddie after that and make excuses about why he told sold them the story, suffice to say Freddie never spoke to him again. |
| doremi 29.03.2005 13:56 |
freddie4ever92 wrote: Arlene: "WHO is Paul Prenter ?" Mr.jingles79 you're right he did sell a story about Freddie. He sold it to The Sun, I read it in Mercury and Me by Jim Hutton Here's the paragraph I read, "On May 4, Freddie was devastated by another story about him in The Sun. And so was I. His old friend Paul Prenter had stitched him up. Aids Kills Freddie's Two Lovers, it declared, and the story was run across three pages. Tony Bastin, from Brighton, and John Murphy, an airline steward, had died from the disease in 1986. And Prenter claimed that Freddie had called him late one night and poured out his fears about AIDs. The feature also named me as his lover." He was paid £32,000. He also sold them several photos of Freddie with varioous lovers. He even had the cheek to phone Freddie after that and make excuses about why he told sold them the story, suffice to say Freddie never spoke to him again.I had NEVER heard of Paul Prenetr prior to this either. Please read all of the posts me, Lester, and Zeni put on page 1. with a link Zeni posted to internet sites about Paul. Paul was Freddie's Personal Manager from 1977-1986. Paul from what Brian is stating in Brian's interview from the Mojo/Q Queen Special Edition, that is reposted on Brian's website, Paul literally crushed and ruined Queen's relationship and rapport in the USA with all of the Radio Industry People here as Paul was a nasty, arrogant loose cannon jerk who intentionally offended and mouth offed at USA Radio Industry people and created ill will for Queen in the USA. But...now that I have read your excerpt from Jim Hutton's Book, sounds like Paul was an absolute bastard. Excuse me I rarely cuss without using asterick marks on queenzone, but this gets my dander WAY UP!! What a Bastard, SOB!! How dare Paul betray Freddie, telling the whole world Freddie was ill, had AIDS, and to the tabloids for of course...money. Well I hear Paul died from AIDS too, right before Freddie. While I'm sorry Paul died too from AIDS...it still sounds like this Paul Prenter, like he and Hitler should go bowling together...in HELL!! What on earth did Freddie see in Paul to keep him on payroll for so many years. If Brian's story is correct, the damage to USA radio By Paul would have been around 1982-84. Yet he was still employed by Freddie until 1986...I don't get it. Freddie even thanks Paul in the liner notes of Freddie's "Mr. Bad Guy" solo record released in 1985. What was Freddie thinking...or was Paul that much well like Hitler..a snake charmer oil salesman con artist who could con, anyone...even the likes of someone you would think could never be conned, the very street wise and intelligent Freddie. |
| NOTWMEDDLE 29.03.2005 15:27 |
It wasn't until Innuendo that Queen came back to Gold status with Innuendo in the US. Hollywood Records(owned by Disney but at the time had Elektra distribution then PolyGram now Universal) released Headlong first to American rock radio stations in January of 1991 and it made a killing on American Rock Radio and hit #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart and helped pushed Innuendo to Gold status. Innuendo was Queen's first Gold album since 1984's The Works in the US. Also, the title cut was issued as the second single in the US and did well on rock radio as well and I recall MTV airing its video a few times. Also, they had a trunicated version of The Magic Years documentary(with some newer interview footage done between 1989 and 1991 of Brian, Roger and John(one of his final filmed interviews)) called The Days Of Our Lives hosted by Axl Rose. Also, Hollywood was reissuing the band's catalog. Despite flaws with initial pressings, they fixed them and re-issued them. Of course Wayne's World pushed them back although The Show Must Go On was the A-side and did well at rock radio but its B-side was Bo Rhap. |
| ANAGRAMER 29.03.2005 15:45 |
The real reason must simply be Hot Space - the rest are excuses |
| *3*Playful as a pussycat 29.03.2005 15:55 |
XcessQueen wrote:Queen isn't necessarily the reason I want to move there. i admit, it is a part of the reason why, but it isnt the whole reason. idk...London just seems more interesting and fun! plus im just sick of the USA...i want a better experience. London just seems the place to be for me...^.^Playful as a pussycat wrote: lol...8th going into 9th...it doesnt seem like a long time but it feels so for me ^.^Hey... :) Why London? Because of Queen? Look... Freddie escaped from London 3 times... about 1981. he moved to New York, later to Munich, and at the end to Montreux. Bowie also left London... for a couple of years he moved to Berlin. I would go to Montreux, if I were you. :) |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 16:47 |
arlene wrote:Apparently... I CAME TO THIS FORUM ABOUT 4 DAYS AGO.XcessQueen wrote: Arlene - there's something I don't get it. If there isn't for this "new revelation", you wouldn't feel comfortable to go see Queen when they come to the States? You wouldn't enjoy listening their albums so much?Apparently you never read my posts on this forum. I admit I wanted to provoke you, but NOT to offend you. Now I have all the answers I wanted to know. But - let me ask all of you something. Queen last US tour was in 1982. They stoped playing live in 1986. So - the period of "ignoring" USA is only 4 years! Is that such a big deal??? Why do you (Americans) think that Queen MUST had come to USA? There are so many countrys on this planet, they never played in India or China, for example. In my country they played only once, about a time when I was born. |
| freddie4ever92 29.03.2005 16:52 |
Sorry I never looked at the link and I just thought I'd put this up, sorry if sum1 else posted this. I never thought, will in future though !! I meant this as a quote .... Arlene: "WHO is Paul Prenter?" I never really made that clear sorry, I really need to read my posts BEFORE i post them !! I totally agree with every thing you said about Paul Prenter He + Hitler can go bowling together in hell and Freddie can drink Earl Grey tea with Elvis and God up in heaven !!! There was another bit I didn't post that was in Jim's book and it said, "The saddest thing about the Prenter episode was that it crushed Freddies ability to trust other, except for a select few. He made no more new friends after that." Poor Freddie. xxxxxxx |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 17:05 |
Playful as a pussycat wrote: im just sick of the USA...i want a better experienceNooo... this can't be! You have such a wonderful president! The whole world loves him. |
| Lester Burnham 29.03.2005 17:09 |
Xcess - the reason us Americans are surprised Queen stopped touring the US was because America is a large country, and many many bands have said that's where they make most of their money, touring the US. It's odd, then, that after performing here virtually every year since 1974 (1979 and 1981 being the exceptions) that they would suddenly just stop because of a record. |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 17:17 |
Lester Burnham wrote: America is a large country, and many many bands have said that's where they make most of their money, touring the US. It's odd, then, that after performing here virtually every year since 1974 (1979 and 1981 being the exceptions) that they would suddenly just stop because of a record.Yes, I know. You're right. But I still think that 4 years period is not such a tragedy. |
| Lester Burnham 29.03.2005 17:39 |
It's not really a tragedy, but I think we're also talking about a larger scale than you seem to have painted. The band not only didn't neglect the US in terms of concerts, but also records. I don't think there was any promotion for A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, or Innuendo - I wouldn't know, as I was only 3, 6, and 8 respectively when those albums were released - but I remember being shocked and amazed when I walked into my local record store in 1995 and half-jokingly looked in the Queen section in case something new had come out. And there was Made In Heaven! Capitol Records gave Queen no promotion as far as I know, and, despite Brian's comment in '84 that "suddenly we have a record company who's very excited to get their first Queen record," I don't really think they were very interested in having Queen on the label. So really, it's not only from a concert standpoint, but also from the grander scheme of things. |
| doremi 29.03.2005 17:54 |
Lester!! you were only 3, 6, 8.why you were just a nappy little kid, when I was...already graduating College! No wonder you're such a smart aleck you upstart kid you! But Lester, I totally agree with you. After "The Works", geez, all through the 1980's, I don't remember seeing any NEW Queen Records in any music store, (AKOM, Miracle, even "Innuendo" in 1991 which was on Hollywood). Like you I did see "Made In Heaven" quite a bit in 95. I know for a fact I never heard any NEW Queen music on any radio station and I listened to radio stations in the 80's that played everything from classic rock, to World Music, you name it. I know I never saw any New Queen videos on TV here after "Radio GaGa" except for Friday Night Videos playing "The Show Must Go On" the week that Freddie died as a tribute...too little, too late. The only true exposure Queen got here, was literally when I watched them performing live, at Live Aid on TV and I was like WOW!, I didn't know Queen and Freddie were STILL together and working...how did they wind up at Live Aid?...but Wow! too because I have always loved them. I didn't even see ANY of Freddie's, Roger's or Brian's solo albums in record stores with the exception of "Barcelona"...now that I actually saw...Alot!! strange... And yes, every International music artist from outside the USA, from The Beatles, to The Rolling Stones, from Abba, to INXS, to Yanni (yuck!) and Enya (super yuck!), to Robbie Williams, to Jet, whenever they are or were interviewed, have always stressed how VERY important it is from a business (and creative) standpoint for their career success, record selling success, International appeal/success, etc...to cross over and gain acceptance here to the USA audience, and gain widespread success here. I'm not boasting about this..I want to make that VERY clear, it's just a fact and all of the artists I mentioned above have clearly stated this. |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 18:12 |
Lester Burnham wrote: The band not only didn't neglect the US in terms of concerts, but also records. I don't think there was any promotion for A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, or InnuendoWhoa. This is new to me. I didn't know things were messed up at that scale. If that is all true, ofcourse. Hm... ok, I see now why you're so upset about this "ignore USA" story. Thank you both for explaining things. |
| Lester Burnham 29.03.2005 18:22 |
I'm sure that if Queen toured in 1984 - they certainly had plenty of time, as they didn't start their Works tour until nearly six months after that album had been released - and 1986, they would've still had a huge attendance draw, but I think Freddie may have known by this point that his body wasn't able to endure the strains of a huge US tour. |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 18:32 |
Lester Burnham wrote: I think Freddie may have known by this point that his body wasn't able to endure the strains of a huge US tour.From what I know, I think he did not begin to reflect that way before 1986. |
| Maz 29.03.2005 18:46 |
NOTWMEDDLE wrote: Also, the title cut was issued as the second single in the US and did well on rock radio as well and I recall MTV airing its video a few times.Are you sure it was Innuendo? I don't remember that song getting any play over here. I do recall, however, that there was a push for I Can't Live With You as a follow up to Headlong. EDIT - I see Innuendo now. Forgot all about it being released over here. XcessQueen wrote:Capitol ignored AKOM and The Miracle to some extent, but by the time Innuendo came out, Queen was signed to Hollywood. This Disney-owned company put quite a bit of promotion behind the album. Compare, for instance, the various promo items available during the Innuendo era, including the Rocks Box and promo singles, with the lack of stuff from AKOM.Lester Burnham wrote: The band not only didn't neglect the US in terms of concerts, but also records. I don't think there was any promotion for A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, or InnuendoWhoa. This is new to me. I didn't know things were messed up at that scale. If that is all true, ofcourse. Hm... ok, I see now why you're so upset about this "ignore USA" story. Thank you both for explaining things. |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 19:18 |
Zeni wrote: Capitol ignored AKOM and The MiracleIt still doesn't have much sense to me... you're NOT ignoring the golden goose if you're smart. You know what I mean? Capitol did not care about making more money (with Queen products) or what? |
| Lester Burnham 29.03.2005 19:31 |
That's right, Zeni, I forgot that Queen were on Hollywood by the time Innuendo came out. So I guess Hollywood really knew what they were doing in terms of promotion, even though Innuendo only hit No. 30 while the Miracle had hit 24 or something. |
| doremi 29.03.2005 19:38 |
As I said in detail in my post above, Capitol did indeed totally drop the ball on AKOM and Miracle. But even though Queen released "Innuendo" on Hollywood Records, I still don't recall any radio airplay or video play for that album either...until..how convenient...after Freddie died and then very minimal at that. Then around summer 1992 a glut of Queen's back catalog came out for the first time on CD via Hollywood, a glut of "Barcelona" was in the Queen record racks...all in 92. Then I saw "Made In Heaven" in 1995. But not until the immediate year After Freddie died, and the years since did Hollywood start rolling out the CD's, reissues, promtional stuff, etc. |
| Maz 29.03.2005 19:51 |
XcessQueen wrote:Cue line about how hard it is to promote a band that won't tour.Zeni wrote: Capitol ignored AKOM and The MiracleIt still doesn't have much sense to me... you're NOT ignoring the golden goose if you're smart. You know what I mean? Capitol did not care about making more money (with Queen products) or what? Lester Burnham wrote: That's right, Zeni, I forgot that Queen were on Hollywood by the time Innuendo came out. So I guess Hollywood really knew what they were doing in terms of promotion, even though Innuendo only hit No. 30 while the Miracle had hit 24 or something.Promotion is still beholden to personal taste. It was Hollywood that released the entire back catalogue on CD, put out various promo singles, released the (now too expensive) Rocks Box, had that dreadful Ruined CD single of WWRY and WATC, and put together a new video documentary. By comparison, the only promo related items I remember from Capitol was the 4 track promo single to Scandal (I think) that had 3 rare b-sides and their version of Classic Queen. In terms of promotion, Hollywood really did more on Innuendo than Capitol had done for AKOM and Miracle. Much of this work also spilled over to Back to the Light. By the time MIH came along, however, much of Hollywood's patience was gone. arlene wrote: But even though Queen released "Innuendo" on Hollywood Records, I still don't recall any radio airplay or video play for that album either...until..how convenient...after Freddie died and then very minimal at that.I remember Headlong playing on my local station, and I remember taping the Axel Rose hosted documentary. There was considerable promotion by Hollywood prior to Freddie's death. |
| Maz 29.03.2005 19:55 |
For comparison: Hollywood promo items- link Capitol promo items- link |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 20:52 |
Zeni wrote: I remember taping the Axel Rose hosted documentaryLOVE that documentary! That was my first step into a world of Queen. I'm sentimentally attached to it... It was literally hundred times or more played on local televisions in my country (Croatia) during the 1991./1992. Back in those days, I remeber that everyone here listened to Queen and Guns n' Roses. And you probably don't know, in that period there was a horrible war going on here... |
| XcessQueen 29.03.2005 21:09 |
Zeni wrote: Cue line about how hard it is to promote a band that won't tour.You are just used to that kind of promotion... but not everyone is that lucky. BUT! You know about swiss group YELLO - probably the most important name when one talk about beginnings of electronic pop in the early 80's. They always had cult status everywhere, even today. You know how many concerts they had in the 26 years of their career? 1 Yes, read my lips - only one true live act ("Roxy" club in New York, in 1983, in front of 3000 people). And they had a few mimed performances. But that didn't stop them from selling records and being major international stars. And in the city where I live, half a kids listen Iron Maiden, but they have never seen them live. Most of MY favourite artists are dead or retired for years! I'll never see them... that is maybe little sad, but it can't stop me for listening their music - every day. But, maybe America is too... narrow-minded...? I don't want to offend you guys... I'm just trying to understand. |
| NOTWMEDDLE 29.03.2005 23:32 |
Zeni wrote:I remember stations like WHJY and WBCN playing the title cut to Innuendo and Headlong and was the most requested songs on those stations. I was in Mass at the time and Queen always were well respected in Mass.NOTWMEDDLE wrote: Also, the title cut was issued as the second single in the US and did well on rock radio as well and I recall MTV airing its video a few times.Are you sure it was Innuendo? I don't remember that song getting any play over here. I do recall, however, that there was a push for I Can't Live With You as a follow up to Headlong. EDIT - I see Innuendo now. Forgot all about it being released over here.XcessQueen wrote:Capitol ignored AKOM and The Miracle to some extent, but by the time Innuendo came out, Queen was signed to Hollywood. This Disney-owned company put quite a bit of promotion behind the album. Compare, for instance, the various promo items available during the Innuendo era, including the Rocks Box and promo singles, with the lack of stuff from AKOM.Lester Burnham wrote: The band not only didn't neglect the US in terms of concerts, but also records. I don't think there was any promotion for A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, or InnuendoWhoa. This is new to me. I didn't know things were messed up at that scale. If that is all true, ofcourse. Hm... ok, I see now why you're so upset about this "ignore USA" story. Thank you both for explaining things. |
| NOTWMEDDLE 29.03.2005 23:37 |
Zeni wrote:VH1 aired The Queen Phenomenon when MIH was released and Hollywood issued Greatest Hits I and II a week after MIH came out in the US. The reason MIH was ignored was because of crap like Hootie and the Blowfish, Smashing Pumpkins, Alanis Morissette, Notorious BIG(a/k/a PIG), Tupac a/k/a Caput feing force fed to America courtesy of big brother eMptyTV. VH1 had a Queen feast when MIH was released. They aired Queen in Rio, Wembley, Budapest, Milton Keynes, an 8 Track Flashback special and an edited version of Champions of the World called The Queen Phenomenon. MIH went Gold despite no radio play and a #52 chart peak in the US!XcessQueen wrote:Cue line about how hard it is to promote a band that won't tour.Zeni wrote: Capitol ignored AKOM and The MiracleIt still doesn't have much sense to me... you're NOT ignoring the golden goose if you're smart. You know what I mean? Capitol did not care about making more money (with Queen products) or what?Lester Burnham wrote: That's right, Zeni, I forgot that Queen were on Hollywood by the time Innuendo came out. So I guess Hollywood really knew what they were doing in terms of promotion, even though Innuendo only hit No. 30 while the Miracle had hit 24 or something.Promotion is still beholden to personal taste. It was Hollywood that released the entire back catalogue on CD, put out various promo singles, released the (now too expensive) Rocks Box, had that dreadful Ruined CD single of WWRY and WATC, and put together a new video documentary. By comparison, the only promo related items I remember from Capitol was the 4 track promo single to Scandal (I think) that had 3 rare b-sides and their version of Classic Queen. In terms of promotion, Hollywood really did more on Innuendo than Capitol had done for AKOM and Miracle. Much of this work also spilled over to Back to the Light. By the time MIH came along, however, much of Hollywood's patience was gone.arlene wrote: But even though Queen released "Innuendo" on Hollywood Records, I still don't recall any radio airplay or video play for that album either...until..how convenient...after Freddie died and then very minimal at that.I remember Headlong playing on my local station, and I remember taping the Axel Rose hosted documentary. There was considerable promotion by Hollywood prior to Freddie's death. |
| NOTWMEDDLE 29.03.2005 23:38 |
Lester Burnham wrote: It's not really a tragedy, but I think we're also talking about a larger scale than you seem to have painted. The band not only didn't neglect the US in terms of concerts, but also records. I don't think there was any promotion for A Kind Of Magic, The Miracle, or Innuendo - I wouldn't know, as I was only 3, 6, and 8 respectively when those albums were released - but I remember being shocked and amazed when I walked into my local record store in 1995 and half-jokingly looked in the Queen section in case something new had come out. And there was Made In Heaven! Capitol Records gave Queen no promotion as far as I know, and, despite Brian's comment in '84 that "suddenly we have a record company who's very excited to get their first Queen record," I don't really think they were very interested in having Queen on the label. So really, it's not only from a concert standpoint, but also from the grander scheme of things.Capitol was promoting Duran Duran and Tina Turner in the 1980s. How Iron Maiden and Megadeth sold records for Capitol with little promotion baffles me! |
| NOTWMEDDLE 29.03.2005 23:56 |
arlene wrote: As I said in detail in my post above, Capitol did indeed totally drop the ball on AKOM and Miracle. But even though Queen released "Innuendo" on Hollywood Records, I still don't recall any radio airplay or video play for that album either...until..how convenient...after Freddie died and then very minimal at that. Then around summer 1992 a glut of Queen's back catalog came out for the first time on CD via Hollywood, a glut of "Barcelona" was in the Queen record racks...all in 92. Then I saw "Made In Heaven" in 1995. But not until the immediate year After Freddie died, and the years since did Hollywood start rolling out the CD's, reissues, promtional stuff, etc.I am originally from Mass and I recall Headlong, Innuendo and The Show Must Go On being played quite a bit on stations like WHJY and WBCN. The Queen CDs were re-issued in sections. First was SHA, ADATR, NOTW and HS reissued in March of 1991. June of 1991 saw Queen I, Jazz, The Game and AKoM reissued. September saw ANATO and FG reissued. October or November of 1991 saw Queen II, LK, The Works and The Miracle. Freddie's death saw sales of the back catalog increase but Wayne's World took it to the enth degree. |
| Saint Jiub 30.03.2005 01:49 |
I remember Headlong getting airplay too. I also remember wanting to upgrade my albums to CD, but Hot Space and earlier (previously Electra) were only available on expensive imports. Yep, Queen definitely lost it in North America from 1983 to 1990. Hollywood did well for a few years but start going through the motions in the late 90's. Releasing Another World six months in Fall 98 late was unforgivable. |
| The Stealer 30.03.2005 07:53 |
I remember I Want It All getting played quite a bit here in Milwaukee. I was working at teenie bopper clothing store at the time..I rememeber saying to myself--WOW Queen has something new out..I then went to the record store and bought The Miracle casette. The last song I remember getting air play was Radio Ga GA, the last album I purchased was "the works"- so from 84-89 it was dead airspace over here. I was newly married at the time-but you did not hear much about the magic tour..we got a glimpse of the boys during Live Aid on MTV. That was pretty much it. I don't recall Innuendo being played-Headlong Yes. I started loving Queen at the tender age of 11 in 1975. You heard them on the radio all the time-you noticed their albums in the record store, they were in all the rock magazines. They toured constantly-especially in the mid-west. You heard about them all the time. So the mid-80's was a BIG change and Brian's revelation plus corrupt business pratices of Captiol, et. al. seems to explain alot. At least Brian came over here in 1993 for his solo tour. I sincerely hope QPR will be gracing our shores this fall. |
| MercuryArts 30.03.2005 11:21 |
I remember when GaGa came out, it got some strong airplay. It was in all the Top 40 countdowns. One local station here in Philadelphia had a brief interview w/ Roger on Easter Sunday in 1984. It was about 30 seconds long and rather silly. But they did get airplay when something new was released. IWTBF flopped majorly over here even before the video was released. I was a senior in HS when One Vision came out. It was played rather heavily for about 3 weeks then vanished. I saw the video maybe 2-3 times on MTV. In 86 when Highlander came out they were talked about for a while. Roger & Brian were on Rock-line in March that year. Even though they were filming the AKOM video at the time they played an edited version of Princes stating this was the "New Queen Single!" I never heard it the radio again. But I did run out & find the the 45 in the record shop. It was out for several months. When AKOM finally came out over here and the title track was released the movie was long gone from the theaters. It was played for a few weeks on radio in August. I saw the video maybe once on MTV. Buy the time college started in September it was gone. BUT I kept the fire burning playing it as well as other tracks from that album and all other Queen albums on college radio. It was great DJing & being allowed to program your own show! That late fall Pain was released as a single in the US. I heard it when it was premired. It bombed! To this day I have no idea what they were thinking! That song it awful! Obviously taking a three year hiatus from 86-89 didn't help matters in the US either. If it wasn't for classinc rock radio, Queen would have never gotten any airplay. When The Miricale came out it was chatted up quiet a bit. I remember MTV had IWIA on the "Smash or Trash" feature. The video was voted as a smash! It recieved more airtime on MTV than it did on radio. But w/ no tour again, now for obvious reasons, it faded away. In 91 Innuendo & Headlong made lots of waves for Queen over here. The single was nominated for the "Screamer of the Week." Which was a little contest where each DJ's selected their fav. song to put into a call in voting contest. Headlong won it hands down! The DJ said this song crushed every other song in the voting! Nothing was even close. It was awesome! I was on cloud nine! In June that year Brian did the promotional tour and was on this same station. ICLWY was just released and the DJ told Brian he thought this was "the best Queen song to come down the pike in sometime." Within days it vanished from airplay!?! Five months later Freddie was gone & everyone was crying the blues! Too little, too late! Thats what I remember from the 84-91 period for Queen. I never understood it. How does a song go to # 1 in 20 countries worldwide, but fails to crack the Top 200 here?!!? Never made any sense to me. This bit of news helps explain a little of it. Thats if its really true. We'll never know. |
| Daniel Nester 30.03.2005 12:14 |
I'm sorry -- where is the reference to a Freddie Mercury assistant? I've read it twice, and I don't see it. Brian has gone on record for years talking about the Capitol Records fiascos, BTW. |
| doremi 30.03.2005 12:45 |
Daniel Nester wrote: I'm sorry -- where is the reference to a Freddie Mercury assistant? I've read it twice, and I don't see it. Brian has gone on record for years talking about the Capitol Records fiascos, BTW.On page 1, Paul Prenter, Freddie's Personal Manager, starting with my topic starting 1st post, where I copied Brian's interview quotes from the Mojo/Q Queen Special Edition also posted on Brian's website. Then READ CAREFULLY all of the posts on Page 1 from lester, Zeni (and Zeni's links to websites about Paul). |
| doremi 30.03.2005 12:57 |
I live in Maryland, Baltimore County to be exact. In the 1980's and early 90's we had some really decent, actually very good classic rock and progressive rock stations especially out of Washington DC and in Maryland too. DC101, WGRX, 98 Rock, WHFS, WRNR, etc. At least half a dozen of more, all of which I regularly listened to. I always heard TONS of old classic Queen songs, BoRhap, Killer Queen, Somebody To Love, You're My Best Friend, Fat Bottomed Girls, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Another One Bites The Dust, Under Pressure, etc. BUT I swear on a stack of Bibles guys, I NEVER heard ANYTHING played on the radio stations here on records made by Queen after 1985, from AKOM, Miracle, Innuendo, Made In Heaven as well as from solo albums by the members, nothing as well...zip. And even now in 2005, we have about 2 classic rock stations here, 94.7 "The Arrow" in Washington DC and some radio station Iforget the call letters, in Baltimore called "The Bay", as well as 98 Rock in Baltimore and even Z104 in Frederick which is an extra cool station, and all of these stations still only play OLD Queen stuff from the 1970's through and up to early 1980's. I knew about "Innuendo" from Hollywood Records promo stuff, but I still never heard any cuts from it on the radio here. |
| doremi 30.03.2005 13:00 |
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| doremi 30.03.2005 13:01 |
Richard my computer froze Big time...sorry about all the reposts, damn computer! |
| doremi 30.03.2005 13:01 |
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| doremi 30.03.2005 13:04 |
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| QueenZeppelin 30.03.2005 16:41 |
I'm an American who lives in Maryland-Harford County to be precise. I never knew you lived in Maryland, Arlene, holy crap! I always thought you lived in Canada for some reason! Anyway, not to seem political, but a way to generalize things for non-US Queen fans; States that voted for John Kerry seem to have more Queen fans in them States that voted for George W. Bush seem to have more Queen haters in them. I don't know why this is, but the States whose radio stations played Queen the most were in these "Blue" states (even dating back to the 70's and 80's) and "Red" states were less receptive. This is especially (if not solely) true for post I Want To Break Free. That hurt Queen in the Bible Belt (Southeastern region of the U.S. where right-wing Christian ideals are prevalent) I do think Queen's fall in the USA was a culmination of factors; if the bit about the manager is true, I think it most likely added to their woes and gave station managers who may have wanted to help the band become associated with a different sound now had no reason to. But it wasn't the sole problem. I would like to say that Queen is more popular here than they have been in ages; excluding the post-Freddie/Wayne's World hype of 1991/92, this is probably the biggest they've been since the 70's. Their greatest hits have sold more than 12 million copies combined (Greatest Hits I: 7 million Greatest Hits Elektra: 1 million Classic Queen: 3 million Live Killers: 2 million Live at Wembley: 1 million Greatest HIts I & II: 1 million and climbing...it's always in the top 10 best hard rock sellers at BarnesandNoble.com) This combined with the fact that A Kind of Magic and The Miracle recently went Gold a few years back. I am a high school student; a sophomore to be exact, I go to Joppatowne HIgh School. And I can honestly say that Queen is one of the most listened to and well-respected classic rock bands in the school. It's them, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. An extremely large number of my friends and acquaintances own their Greatest Hits, EVERYONE is familiar with I Want to Break Free post-C2 commercials (that song is HUGE, everyone in my school love it) and a I know of several who are familiar with the Highlander songs. Unlike many here on the board, I did not hook my friends on Queen or try to promote the band to them; rather, it was via them that I got to know them. A year and a half ago In drama class, we were doing a project where we lip-synched to a song...I did "I Feel Good" by James Brown... One guy did "Bohemian Rhapsody".....which I had just heard of for the first time on MTV's I Love the 70's (I wasn't in to music back then...groups like Queen changed that)...and someone else did "Killer Queen"...from there, it seemed that gradually I came to find that mroe and more of my friends liked them...so finally I gave in and bought Greatest Hits I & II...... And for months I didn't even get to the second disc. I'd lay up in my bed at night and listen to almost every damn song on that first CD. But, I digress. Queen still aren't in the USA what they are in Europe, South America and Japan. But they're beginning to rise. The Return of the Mighty Queen. My hope is that they'll eventually get to the level that Led Zeppelin is considered to be on here. |
| newcastle 86! 16483 30.03.2005 17:18 |
does it really matter that queen bombed in the states late eighties? they needed knew pastures to conquer, south america being one of them, im afraid the americans wanted (and still do) straight acts, the kind you can "rely" on to churn out the same old crap every year, ie bon jovi, springsteen, and of course the stones, this "revelation" doesnt surprise me at all i mean who cares if the americans didnt want queen, (their loss, as roger said, they want straight homophobic bands, so fuck em) |
| The Real Wizard 30.03.2005 22:49 |
QueenZeppelin wrote: I'm an American who lives in Maryland-Harford County to be precise. I never knew you lived in Maryland, Arlene, holy crap! I always thought you lived in Canada for some reason! I am a high school student; a sophomore to be exact, I go to Joppatowne HIgh School. And I can honestly say that Queen is one of the most listened to and well-respected classic rock bands in the school. It's them, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd. An extremely large number of my friends and acquaintances own their Greatest Hits, EVERYONE is familiar with I Want to Break Free post-C2 commercials (that song is HUGE, everyone in my school love it) and a I know of several who are familiar with the Highlander songs. Queen still aren't in the USA what they are in Europe, South America and Japan. But they're beginning to rise. The Return of the Mighty Queen. My hope is that they'll eventually get to the level that Led Zeppelin is considered to be on here.Very nice to hear these things! In high school, I was one of a very few Queen fans. I hope your "return of Queen" idea comes to fruition. They were/are truly an amazing band. They'll probably always be my favourite. |
| Maz 31.03.2005 00:32 |
Daniel Nester wrote: Brian has gone on record for years talking about the Capitol Records fiascos, BTW.I know he's mentioned problems with Capitol before, but has he ever gotten this specific? All I can remember are general comments about how unhappy they were with promotion. |
| doremi 31.03.2005 15:50 |
Zeni wrote:Guys, here's Brian's quote from Page 1 of My/This Topic which appears in the Mojo/Q Queen Special Edition and on Brian's website.Daniel Nester wrote: Brian has gone on record for years talking about the Capitol Records fiascos, BTW.I know he's mentioned problems with Capitol before, but has he ever gotten this specific? All I can remember are general comments about how unhappy they were with promotion. Brian Quote: "Plus our record company got themselves into a heap of trouble. We had spent a million dollars getting out of our deal with Warner-Elektra to get onto the Capitol label. And Capitol got themselves into trouble with a dispute that raged in the early '80s over the alleged corruption of independent record promoters in the US. It was, basically, the ring of bribery that went on to get records played on US radio. There was a government enquiry into it, and everybody shut down very, very fast. Without going into it too deeply, Capitol got rid of all their "independent" guys - and the reprisals from the whole network were aimed directly at all the artists who had records out at that time. We had Radio Ga Ga, which I think was Top 20 and rising, but the week after that it disappeared from the charts. So that was an influence as well. We got caught up in all that due to no fault of our own." |
| newcastle 86! 16483 31.03.2005 16:37 |
great now lets put this topic to bed |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:47 |
Nah, let's not... |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:48 |
I |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:48 |
am |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:48 |
wasting |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:48 |
space |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:48 |
la dee da |
| The Real Wizard 31.03.2005 22:48 |
dum dum |
| Soviet girl 04.04.2005 12:03 |
Arlene, please, give the link to that interview by Brian (I mean Mojo's link or Brian's website's link). Coz I haven't found that original quote though I've been searching hard. |
| doremi 04.04.2005 13:30 |
Soviet girl wrote: Arlene, please, give the link to that interview by Brian (I mean Mojo's link or Brian's website's link). Coz I haven't found that original quote though I've been searching hard.Here's the link...I'm giving you page 5 which has the main part where Brian talks about what damaged Queen's career in the United States. But once you are on Page 5, click on page 4, which I also posted the link below, as Brian first begins speaking about this at the VERY end of page 4 as well. link link |
| XcessQueen 04.04.2005 17:36 |
Rabid Wolverine wrote: I love President BushA popular bar had a new robotic bartender installed. It could not only dispense drinks flawlessly, but also, like any bartender, engage in appropriate conversation. A man enters the bar, orders a drink. The robot serves him a perfectly prepared cocktail, then asks him: "What's your IQ?" The man replies: "150." And the robot proceeds to make conversation about quantum physics, string theory, atomic chemistry, etc. The customer is very impressed and thinks: "This is really cool." He decides to test the robot. He walks out of the bar, turns around, and comes back in for another drink. Again, the robot serves him the drink and asks him: "What's your IQ?" The man responds: "100." And immediately the robot starts talking, but this time - about football, baseball, supermodels, etc. Really impressed, the man leaves the bar and decides to give the robot one more test. He goes back in, the robot serves him and asks: "What's your IQ?" The man replies: "50." And the robot says: "So, you gonna vote for Bush again?" |
| XcessQueen 04.04.2005 18:00 |
Rabid Wolverine wrote: I love President BushBush (talking about drug abuse to a group of students): Now, like, I'm the president. It would be pretty hard for some drug guy to come into the White House and start offering it up, you know? I bet if they did, I hope I would say: "Hey, get lost. We don't want any of that." |
| XcessQueen 04.04.2005 18:02 |
Rabid Wolverine wrote: I love President BushBush: I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them. If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure. Republicans understand the importance of bondage between a mother and a child. I believe we are on an irreversable trend toward more freedom and democracy - but that could change. I have made good judgements in the past. I have made good judgements in the future. We're going to have the best educated American people in the world. People that are really weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history. We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a part of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe, we are a part of Europe. It isn't pollution that's harming the environment. Its the impurities in our air and water that are doing it. All ambitious people must know that you can only succeed with success and not failure. |
| XcessQueen 04.04.2005 18:08 |
Rabid Wolverine wrote: I love President BushBush: In one word you can describe the responsibility of a leader, and that one word is: "Be fully prepared". I think if you know what you believe, it makes it a lot easier to answer your questions. I can't answer your question. (Bush in response to a question about whether he wished he could take back any of his answers in his debate) I think we agree the past is over. Its clearly a budget, its got a lot of numbers in it. The most important job is not to be governor, or first lady in my case. One of the great things about books is sometimes there are some fantastic pictures. I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe - I believe what I believe is right. |
| doremi 04.04.2005 19:27 |
arlene wrote:Also....I JUST bought the Q/Mojo Queen special Limited Edition and Brian's interview is onSoviet girl wrote: Arlene, please, give the link to that interview by Brian (I mean Mojo's link or Brian's website's link). Coz I haven't found that original quote though I've been searching hard.Here's the link...I'm giving you page 5 which has the main part where Brian talks about what damaged Queen's career in the United States. But once you are on Page 5, click on page 4, which I also posted the link below, as Brian first begins speaking about this at the VERY end of page 4 as well. link link pages 98-105, but the Questions/Brians Answers about Queen's career being damaged in the United States are on Page 105. |
| newcastle 86! 16483 04.04.2005 19:34 |
who cares??????????? my god if the us dont like queen then fuck em! let em have their a.o.r, can anyone actually tell me a really shit hot band (whether it be rock, dance, etc) to emerge from the states in like the last ten years? |
| doremi 04.04.2005 19:42 |
newcastle 86! wrote: who cares??????????? my god if the us dont like queen then fuck em! let em have their a.o.r, can anyone actually tell me a really shit hot band (whether it be rock, dance, etc) to emerge from the states in like the last ten years?I just bought the Q/Mojo Queen Special Limited Edition and the 1st thing I did was read in depth Brian's actual interview. I for one...agree with alot of what Brian says. But no matter what...I want to say that as a citizen of the United States, I HAVE and STILL DO LOVE Queen, and I A) Am sorry that Queen experienced some business matters that railroaded their career in the USA. B) While it's NOT my fault, I am embarrassed and want to apologize for the blacklisting by MTV, USA radio, and the IDIOT moral majority bible belt and their hypocrasy. But there are LOTS of Queen fans in the USA that STILL want to see Queen..old fans...and lots of NEW Young New generation fans. Paul Rodgers or not...I want to see Brian & Roger...what is left of Queen. I was too young to ever see Queen when Freddie and John were still with them, so I have NEVER seen Queen in concert. ------------Brian, Roger...Jim Beach...Queen Productions......if you read this website.....there are TONS of Queen fans in the USA who WILL Pay to see you if you come to tour here. PLEASE come to tour here...and make our hearts HAPPY!!!!---------- |
| Soviet girl 05.04.2005 04:30 |
arlene wrote: Here's the link link linkThanks a lot, Arlene :) |
| doremi 05.04.2005 20:30 |
Q/Mojo more read the entire article pages 38-43 entitled "Under Pressure", you will see read the many things involved that irrepairably damaged Queen's career in America, from Hot Space, to Freddie's "new mustachioed image" and the US fans' adverse reaction to his new image, to the band's drag video for I Want To Break Free, to something I didn't know that Mojo discusses, Freddie's attitude towards America and the manner in which Freddie interacted with the USA audiences which I have to admit even floored me a bit and very little shocks me. It also talks about what we discussed on this Topic, that while success came easily to Queen in th U.K. and other worldwide foreign markets, but here in the U.S. it was utterly difficult and not easygoing once they released Hot Space. quote "Whereas in Britain, their fame was a given, in the U.S. Queen had to work hard." "To highlight the vulnerability of their position, they undertook an in store signing, a promotional stunt they they never would have been asked to do in the U.K. On July 27, 1982 before the first of their 2 Madison Square Garden concerts, Queen decamped to Crazy Eddie's record and hi-fi store in New York to meet and greet the public. A photograph of them that day, surrounded by TV sets and tape decks, captures some incredibly tense body language. May sits with his arms folded, Deacon sits on his hands, while Mercury and Taylor look extraordinaryily dour. Worse still Hot Space wasn't selling." |
| XcessQueen 06.04.2005 10:14 |
arlene wrote: "Worse still Hot Space wasn't selling."So it was the end of the World? Arlene, this is becoming some sort of obsession... get over it now. And tell me something: how Queen albums are selling TODAY in the USA? |
| doremi 06.04.2005 12:13 |
XcessQueen wrote:This is NOT my quote about Hot Space, it is Q/Mojo's writer's dear...arlene wrote: "Worse still Hot Space wasn't selling."So it was the end of the World? Arlene, this is becoming some sort of obsession... get over it now. And tell me something: how Queen albums are selling TODAY in the USA? |
| XcessQueen 06.04.2005 13:20 |
arlene wrote: This is NOT my quote about Hot Space, it is Q/Mojo's writer's dear...Dear - you've missed the point - of course it's not your quote, but YOU QUOTED it, so it means that all this story is SO MUCH important to you. I think that by now everything about this subject have been already said, and maybe it's time to forget about those long gone 80's. Instead, you could be so kind and answer my question: how Queen albums are selling TODAY in the USA? |
| doremi 06.04.2005 13:41 |
They sell ok enough in the USA, but if you read on Brian's website his weekly chart listings for Queen CD's and DVD's making CURRENT top 10 lists ..you almost NEVER see the USA, it's always countries in Europe, or Japan, Brazil, NEVER the USA, which sucks! |
| doremi 06.04.2005 20:15 |
arlene wrote: Q/Mojo more read the entire article pages 38-43 entitled "Under Pressure", you will see read the many things involved that irrepairably damaged Queen's career in America, from Hot Space, to Freddie's "new mustachioed image" and the US fans' adverse reaction to his new image, to the band's drag video for I Want To Break Free, to something I didn't know that Mojo discusses, Freddie's attitude towards America and the manner in which Freddie interacted with the USA audiences which I have to admit even floored me a bit and very little shocks me.OK..I KNEW there had to be a rational explanation WHY Freddie would do such a thing. Now I totally understand why Freddie acted what APPEARED to be nasty, arrogant, and unprofessional on Queen's 1980 USA Tour to the Madison Square Garden Audience in NY, (he showed up very, very late for the concert, he poured booze on the people in the front row, then he cussed the audience out), ALL which I KNOW Fredide would NEVER, EVER do to an audience. Freddie was always affectionate, adoring, and the ultimate consummate professional to all of his audiences. And no Freddie would NOT do such a thing...unless he was being bullied, harassed, provoked, and hurt...which he was, by the USA audiences in 1980. I followed the time line of Queen's tour in 1980. This is when the USA audiences were taking an ignorant, intolerant affront to Freddie's "gay clone" mustachioed image and were bullying him, and heckling him and throwing razor blades on the stage demanding he shave his mustache. The heckling started at a San Francisco concert in July, continued at a BIG Chicago concert in September,...and ended at Queen's last 1980 Tour of America shows..which were in New York's Madison Square Garden. By then, it was VERY obvious, that Freddie had had enough of this bigoted, bullying, harassing, intolerant heckling by the USA audiences...so he just let out his anger and hurt on the NY audience, and he had every right. I'm surprised he didn't cancel the show. Would have served theose idiots right. Timeline: July 14th San Francisco, Oakland, CA Coliseum July 15th San Francisco, Oakland, CA Coliseum September 19th Chicago, IL Horizon September 28th New York Madison Square Garden September 29th New York Madison Square Garden September 30th New York Madison Square Garden |
| XcessQueen 06.04.2005 21:20 |
arlene wrote: were bullying him, and heckling him and throwing razor blades on the stage demanding he shave his mustacheYour explanation sounds logical, but I've read a long time ago that Freddie was AMUSED by audience throwing razor blades at him. I think Brian said that, or someone else who was close to Freddie. So, I guess he can't be furious and amused at the same time? Who knows which is the truth... you can never be completely sure. |
| egret 07.04.2005 04:50 |
As I'm sure many Queenzoners did, I saw Queen in 1980, and yes, there was a bit of Freddie/audience conversation about the then-shocking moustache. But as I recall, Freddie was raising the topic as a sort of jokey repartee, "How do you like my moustache?" Everyone booed. Freddie said "How can you not like it when I grew it just for you?" Everyone laughed and heckled. Then Freddie said, "Fuck off" and went back to singing. It was a perfectly friendly exchange and not some traumatized moment of victimized celebrity. In my opinion. As I recall. I have no sources to cite but my own youthful memories, alas. --Egret |
| Boy Thomas Raker 07.04.2005 10:31 |
Arlene, move on to JFK or UFO conspiracy theories. The Hot Space picture explains everything about Queen's lack of US success. Queen peaked numbers wise in sales in the US (The Game) by capturing a lot of one time buyers for Another One Bites the Dust. They lost those one time buyers by releasing Body Language as the first single, which was more Euro-dance than the modern funk of AOBTD. So there was no spillover in sales. Plus they lost a ton of long time fans who hated the synth/dance sounds of Hot Space. Then with the singles release of keyboard heavy and musically light ideas in Body Language, Radio Ga Ga, I want to Break Free then A kind of Magic, Queen was like a pop band. Well played, catchy music, but nothing that would find a home on ROCK radio, which was their home. With all due respect to Brian, the payola shit, Freddie's moustache and gayness, a maverick manager ruining relationships at radio are symptoms. If Queen released Headlong and Innuendo as first singles from Hot Space instead of a decade later, there'd be no loss of audience in America, end of story. |
| ANAGRAMER 07.06.2005 13:38 |
BHM 0271 wrote: Arlene, move on to JFK or UFO conspiracy theories. The Hot Space picture explains everything about Queen's lack of US success. Queen peaked numbers wise in sales in the US (The Game) by capturing a lot of one time buyers for Another One Bites the Dust. They lost those one time buyers by releasing Body Language as the first single, which was more Euro-dance than the modern funk of AOBTD. So there was no spillover in sales. Plus they lost a ton of long time fans who hated the synth/dance sounds of Hot Space. Then with the singles release of keyboard heavy and musically light ideas in Body Language, Radio Ga Ga, I want to Break Free then A kind of Magic, Queen was like a pop band. Well played, catchy music, but nothing that would find a home on ROCK radio, which was their home. With all due respect to Brian, the payola shit, Freddie's moustache and gayness, a maverick manager ruining relationships at radio are symptoms. If Queen released Headlong and Innuendo as first singles from Hot Space instead of a decade later, there'd be no loss of audience in America, end of story.Got it in one mate |
| kdj2hot 07.06.2005 18:12 |
It's a lot simpler. Hot SPace killed Queen. It wasnt the disco/funk attempt (although it was poorly executed) but the perception of Queen being sell outs by trying to capitalize on the success of another one bites the dust. Before that it seemed Queen was constatnmtly moving towards new areas, putting their creativity first. After Hot Space they seemed like pop music whores trying to make a buck and throw their fans under the bus because aobtd blew up so huge in the usa. I'm not saying thats true or what Qieen were at the time but thats how a lot of the general public, and casual fans saw it probably. Brian's conspiracy theory is cute though but I dont think its right. |
| Future Manager 07.06.2005 20:52 |
They lost those one time buyers by releasing Body Language as the first single, which was more Euro-dance than the modern funk of AOBTD.Body Language single chart info: 7" U.K. - peak pos: #25, ?? weeks on chart 7" U.S. - peak pos: #11, 14 weeks on chart (even with the withdrawn 'Bodies' sleeve :D) I still think Freddie's new gay style was the biggest issue in the US. Not sure about the Brian argument... |
| Boy Thomas Raker 07.06.2005 22:41 |
Yes it charted well, but it also paled saleswise as a single in comparison to AOBTD, which in effect broke the Game album wide open by getting into the 'black' charts and markets. Body Language didn't do that at all, and coming off two number one's on the previous album, set the tone for Hot Space's demise. |
| kdj2hot 07.06.2005 22:54 |
BHM 0271 wrote: Yes it charted well, but it also paled saleswise as a single in comparison to AOBTD, which in effect broke the Game album wide open by getting into the 'black' charts and markets. Body Language didn't do that at all, and coming off two number one's on the previous album, set the tone for Hot Space's demise.Um, another one bites the dust was the last single released, Crazy Little thing called love going number 1 is what broke the game open before the album even came out. It only takes one album to "kill" a band and Hot space severely injured Queen in the USA for reasons I previously stated. |
| Grantcdn 08.06.2005 01:02 |
That definitely sounds like Paul Prenter....man he pisses me off.......but let's face it their were so many factors....Hot Space really seemed pretty much a Freddie solo project, Body Language was probably their worst single ever....such a shame after being the biggest band on the planet in 1980.....the press were starting to find out more about Freddie's alternative lifestyle even though most USA people were oblivious to it aside from that he was a little "diferent" and then Radio GaGa came out when they really needed to release Hammer to Fall as their first single in North America to gain back their rock fans....Queen really got out of touch with North America...I blame their record company too....I want to Break Free was the nails in the coffin...followed by Hard Life which did them no favours....took them to I Want It All to gain back some respect.......One thing I like with this Paul Rodgers tour is it brings back the respect to their music that they always deserved...not just the scandal of Freddies lifestyle which the media just focusses on making it seem like the music was meaningless....heck it seems like when people talk of Queen these days it become a pro-gay / anti-gay argument when it was never really in their music....I'm sure Freddie would be more proud to be respected and admired for his amd the band's music than to be just discussed for his sexuality....enough of my ranting....just bring back the respect that the music deserves....amazing, fantastic music for all |
| Boy Thomas Raker 08.06.2005 09:01 |
Not to be pedantic, kdj2hot, since I agree with what you said, but these are the facts. Yes, Crazy Little thing called love went number 1 in February, but the album came out in June. The Game did well out of the box, but Play the Game was the first proper single release and it didn't do much to hype sales. The release of Another one bites the Dust took it to the next level. It wan't the last single released, Need your Loving Tonight was, I believe it got to #44 on the Billboard charts. Other than that, your thoughts about their demise are pretty spot on. |
| kdj2hot 08.06.2005 10:14 |
Fruit Side wrote: I think the real reason Queen dropped much of it's sales in the USA, is the music. Teens want something rememberable. I Want It All and Headlong wern't very serious songs, and are quite catchy. The other singles, were more mature, yet brilliant. Similar to this is Crazy Little Thing Called Love. It's quite simple compared to other things Queen have done, yet it charted at #1, when Bohemian Rhapsody was #9. It's all due to maturity levels people. These Are The Days Of Our Lives is usually not something teens would listen to, and teens are the ones who buy the most stuff musically.Um, what the hell are you talking about? lol (On something un related to my point, I want it all is a "serious song" as you put it.) |
| bigdaddyb 30.06.2005 02:00 |
Mr.Jingles79 wrote: Wasn't Paul Pretner the same guy who backstabbed Freddie by telling British tabloids that Freddie did have AIDS (or he possibly did). As far as I'm concerned Paul Pretner made those revelations because him, Freddie, among other gay guys who used to hang out frequently in the early 80s were finding out that they were carrying the HIV virus, and some others already had AIDS.did anyone wonder if this guy and Freddie were ever together and he could've possibly gotten AIDS from this guy??? It is ironic he leaked the info to the press and also died in the same time frame as Freddie did |
| Regor 30.06.2005 05:20 |
I can to a certain extend understand Arlenes obsession (no offense) with Queens waning US-success: in the rest of the world they became larger than life and in the US persona non grata. Why ? But reading through the posts and with all the information collected over the past years and Bri's recent statements - actually it's as simple as that: Hot Space. No conspiracy or political controversy or anything like that. :-) Hot Space was a flop. A lot of artists go through that. Some recover, some don't. Disco was already over and people just did not understand. Freddie had a point in Milton Keynes (it's only a bloody record), but for the american audience it was too much - a rockband doesn't need a synth-brass-section... Body Language charted quite high, but IMO that was due to a totally different audience, maybe clubgoers, teeners... the same with AOBTD 2 years earlier, I'm sure a lot of people from the black community did not know at first that it was an english rockband behind that song. I know a lot of people saying they like Queen, and when I play Ogre Battle, they are quite shocked and can not believe that that actually IS Queen, because they only know the 80s-Pophits. Then Works came, and Gaga was quite a hit, peaking at No. 16. Considering that apart from BoRhap, WWRY/WATC and the two Game-Monsters, Queen was never the typical Top10-Singles-Band, rather an album-act (none of the singles from ADATR was Top10, the album was. None of the singles from Jazz could be called even a smaller hit, but the album went to No. 6, I think) - it was a hit. But they did not tour, nothing to boost sales was done. They toured (relatively) successful with Hot Space, so a Works-Tour could have filled a lot of arenas at least on the east coast. Then Break Free was banned, and that is no Queen-related thing, look at the ridiculous Timberlake/Jackson-incident. It seems that it's still like that overseas. So that was The Works. Then Highlander flopped in america, so there was no promotional push for AKOM in the states. An album dominated by visual-cinemascope-orchestral-kinda anthems and some additional catchy poptunes, which without the movie-background maybe just didn't click for american fans. By that time people weren't interested and Queen were not in the media anymore anyway. A logical course of events from Hot Space on. Just a few marketing mistakes, bad luck and that was it. Talking about image: the razorblade thing was funny, Freddie never felt offended or even hurt IMO - we're talking of a man who could stand 350.000 people on the edge of a riot in Rio, and took it all with a pinch of salt. At the end of the concert he had the whole audience in the palm of his hands again. And really: would you pay a lot of dollars for a Queen-concert just to insult the singer ? He played with the audiences and I totally agree with egret that it was a running gag and totally friendly. And his language and dirty talk ? Pink Floyd are huge in the US, and nobody cared about Roger Waters actually SPITTING at a fan in america, and calling audiences pathetic. So a little f-word and s-word here and there doesn't count... ;-) So what we are left with, are 31,5 million sold Queen-records in the US. More than The Police, which are still considered cool. More than Genesis, who toured Stadiums when Queen's heyday was long gone. More than Ozzy Osbourne who was sort of assimilated by the americans. More than R.E.M. More than the Chilli Peppers. Both of them are on the scene for more than 20 years now. And the list goes on. (see RIAA-ranking, quite interesting) The country Queen played most of their gigs ? United States. They played the largest arenas. MSG, the Forum in L.A., the Boston Gardens and so on. Several times. Our guys sold out MSG three consecutive nights in 1980 ! What about the heaps of one-hit-wonders ? Nobody cares why their respective second album or single did not chart. Queen enjoyed a lot of success in the US - they had |
| The Real Wizard 30.06.2005 11:12 |
Fantastic post, Regor. |
| Fenderek 30.06.2005 11:33 |
Sir GH<br><h6>ah yeah</h6> wrote: Fantastic post, Regor.Agreed- great read |
| kdj2hot 30.06.2005 15:12 |
Regor wrote: Then Highlander flopped in america, so there was no promotional push for AKOM in the states. An album dominated by visual-cinemascope-orchestral-kinda anthems and some additional catchy poptunes, which without the movie-background maybe just didn't click for american fans. By that time people weren't interested and Queen were not in the media anymore anyway.Very insightul, thoughtful post. One part that prompted me to post was the part about highlander flopping, Highlander wasnt a flop I think it made like 65 million dollars which definitelty wasnt bad for any film in 1985 but especially great a film with a relatively small budget. |
| Lisser 30.06.2005 20:43 |
Fenderek wrote:I agree also...excellent post.Sir GH&lt;br&gt;&lt;h6&gt;ah yeah&lt;/h6&gt; wrote: Fantastic post, Regor.Agreed- great read |
| Crazy LittleThing 30.06.2005 21:20 |
Well stated Regor. |
| Regor 01.07.2005 05:39 |
Just some personal conclusions... but thanks a lot to all of you, thats very nice ! :-) Actually my information was that Highlander did not do too well for a movie featuring Sean Connery. It's nice to get to know that it wasn't a flop. (brillant movie anyway) So I guess the failure of AKOM might be a mixture of not touring again, the overwhelming use of Synths and strings and things :-) and the choice of POTU as first single - even though america is considered to like its rock really hard, POTU (one of the best Queen-tracks ever IMO) is not a Bon Jovi-catchy-kinda thing. And PISCTP with it's motown-vibe as another single from that album is a strange choice as well (marketing mistakes in mind). So magic was perhaps doomed anyway... Continuing from AKOM, a 3 year hiatus for a band that had not toured since '82 and didn't cause too much media attention, did not help Miracle of course, even though it sold much better than AKOM. Touring was out of the question of course, but that would've changed a lot over there, including TV-performances and stuff... But we all know why it didn't happen. And when Innuendo was released, I could imagine that a lot of music-buyers thought that Queen had split up years ago, and were referring to them only as one of the legendary 70s bands. (even in germany: Thomas Gottschalk, germanys most famous TV-Host, introduced Roger and The Cross for a TV-performance in 1991 with the words: 'we are all sad that Queen have split up...' 3 months earlier, Innuendo was No. 1 for weeks in germany... !) A touring band causes a lot more attention. One could question HR's role in promoting the album. Or maybe just a general lack of interest after a 10 year lack of success. Many factors leading to the fact that Queen's US-zenith was over. Their comeback in '92 wasn't a reaction to Freddie's death, but to Waynes World. That says it all. But it brought Queen back to the masses, and as stated in the first post, I am sure that they have secured their place in american music history - maybe you americans out there agree ?! One thing that keeps coming to my mind in this thread: just imagine the internet would have already existed in the late 70's. The threads in a forum like this from '76-'81 would've been something like: 'Desperately looking for tickets for Madison Square Garden !' 'Fourth Date at the LA Forum added !' 'Queen conquer america !' 'The Game peaks at the Top Spot !' 'Queen are the biggest band on the planet !' Nice thought, ain't it ? ;-))) |
| NOTWMEDDLE 02.07.2005 00:48 |
BHM 0271 wrote: Queen were perceived as a hard rock band in America. When they released The Game they gained pop fans, lost rock fans. Then they released Hot Space and took a huge hit in the rock community. Then they released Radio Ga Ga and IWTBF as the first two singles from The Works. From Crazy Little thing called Love to IWTBF, Brian's guitar was non-existent on Queen singles, which is how most fans heard music back then. It's no surprise that they lost their casual fans as they sounded like a different band. THAT is the reason they lost America.The Game sold THREE MILLION COPIES in the US initially. Now it is FOUR MILLION. The Game had a rock single in the US "Need Your Loving Tonight" but stalled at #41 as did "Play the Game". The Game tied News Of The World's US sales tally and both albums are Queen's non-compilation album best sellers in the US. Hot Space was a major letdown released at a time stuff like Air Supply, Survivor and certain New Wave bands were huge. Had Capitol put Tear it Up out from The Works first then Queen would have been back on top! |
| kdj2hot 02.07.2005 09:32 |
NOTWMEDDLE wrote:i really think the not touring was the major issue they didnt get some of the notoriety they had stateside back.didn't hot sopace do better in the usa than the works/ lol my shift button isnt working....anyway if thats the case thats more evidence that touring played a major part. touring = radio station promotions, word of mouth, and visibility. the visibiblity was hurt when iwtbf was banned by mtv, their radio airplay was hurt if theres any truth to brians quote on the first post in this thread. i bet if queen wouldve toured for the works and akom they wouldve been a top band over here again because they were the best live act around. ttouring wouldve been the perfect way to get some american fans back especially after live aid.BHM 0271 wrote: Queen were perceived as a hard rock band in America. When they released The Game they gained pop fans, lost rock fans. Then they released Hot Space and took a huge hit in the rock community. Then they released Radio Ga Ga and IWTBF as the first two singles from The Works. From Crazy Little thing called Love to IWTBF, Brian's guitar was non-existent on Queen singles, which is how most fans heard music back then. It's no surprise that they lost their casual fans as they sounded like a different band. THAT is the reason they lost America.The Game sold THREE MILLION COPIES in the US initially. Now it is FOUR MILLION. The Game had a rock single in the US &quot;Need Your Loving Tonight&quot; but stalled at #41 as did &quot;Play the Game&quot;. The Game tied News Of The World's US sales tally and both albums are Queen's non-compilation album best sellers in the US. Hot Space was a major letdown released at a time stuff like Air Supply, Survivor and certain New Wave bands were huge. Had Capitol put Tear it Up out from The Works first then Queen would have been back on top! |
| NOTWMEDDLE 02.07.2005 23:07 |
kdj2hot wrote:Queen's performance at Live Aid was virtually ignored in the US! They pre-empted it for Billy Davis and Marilyn McCoo of all people. Whereas Queen stole the show outside the US, Led Zeppelin's reunion stole the show at Live Aid in Philadelphia!NOTWMEDDLE wrote:i really think the not touring was the major issue they didnt get some of the notoriety they had stateside back.didn't hot sopace do better in the usa than the works/ lol my shift button isnt working....anyway if thats the case thats more evidence that touring played a major part. touring = radio station promotions, word of mouth, and visibility. the visibiblity was hurt when iwtbf was banned by mtv, their radio airplay was hurt if theres any truth to brians quote on the first post in this thread. i bet if queen wouldve toured for the works and akom they wouldve been a top band over here again because they were the best live act around. ttouring wouldve been the perfect way to get some american fans back especially after live aid.BHM 0271 wrote: Queen were perceived as a hard rock band in America. When they released The Game they gained pop fans, lost rock fans. Then they released Hot Space and took a huge hit in the rock community. Then they released Radio Ga Ga and IWTBF as the first two singles from The Works. From Crazy Little thing called Love to IWTBF, Brian's guitar was non-existent on Queen singles, which is how most fans heard music back then. It's no surprise that they lost their casual fans as they sounded like a different band. THAT is the reason they lost America.The Game sold THREE MILLION COPIES in the US initially. Now it is FOUR MILLION. The Game had a rock single in the US &amp;quot;Need Your Loving Tonight&amp;quot; but stalled at #41 as did &amp;quot;Play the Game&amp;quot;. The Game tied News Of The World's US sales tally and both albums are Queen's non-compilation album best sellers in the US. Hot Space was a major letdown released at a time stuff like Air Supply, Survivor and certain New Wave bands were huge. Had Capitol put Tear it Up out from The Works first then Queen would have been back on top! |