| John S Stuart 17.10.2005 09:29 |
The Gospel According To Barry Mitchell. Quite recently, Barry kindly performed an inpromptu Q&A with some of our Queenzone readers. As Barry was the bassist with Queen before they entered any recording studio, his memories of the band are quite a keen snapshot of the period. (This also demonstrates that all those illegal MP3 downloads claiming to be pre-John Deacon are nonsense - as Queen never recorded in any studio - without John). Here, I have distilled his answers into some sort of coherent feature, which hopefully sheds some new light on the Eponymous Queen debut album. Again, my thanks to Barry, who took the time to answer these questions. Queen Live Q: Setlist - Live, Ewell Technical College, London, 9 January 1971? A: If my fading memory serves me right the set consisted of these songs; Keep yourself alive, Doing alright, Liar, Great king rat, Modern times rock and roll, Son and daughter, Hangman, And of course the rock'n roll medley Queen: Unreleased, Live, Ewell Technical College, London, 9 January 1971 Freddie Bulsara: Vocals Brian May: Guitar Roger Meddows Taylor: Drums Barry Mitchell: Bass Supporting Kevin Ayers And The Whole World Band, Flying Fortress and Genesis. Ken Testi recorded the entire set on a Grundig tape recorder, but only the Rock and Roll Medley remains. A flyer for this concert is briefly viewed in the official “Genesis - Archive” video Keep Yourself Alive, Doing Alright, Liar, Great King Rat, Modern Times Rock and Roll, Son and Daughter, Hangman Rock and Roll Medley: Jailhouse Rock, Stupid Cupid, Bebopa Lula, Big Spender, Bama Lama Lama Loo Studio Material Q: When you were with the band, was there any talk at that time of going into a studio with you? It would be interesting to know what the extent of the band's ambition was at that time A: I dont ever remember any talk about recording. We were really focused on getting a full set of material together for live shows. However there was an obvious desire to take the band forward. Particularly on the part of Freddie (no surprise there). Smile Q: In terms of the material that you guys were playing - in sound checks and rehearsals etc - what were you playing? Was it all original Queen material or were you trying more cover versions? Were you playing Smile material still at that stage? A: I think it was mostly Smile material, some of it might have been written after Smile. I dont really know to be honest. Doing All Right Q: Doing All right must have sounded very different in those early days. Without piano it must have been a guitar-arranged version closer to the Smile version than the final piano version we can hear on Queen. Any memories on the development of that song? A: It was probably the first song that I worked on with the guys, and we did it much the same way that Smile did it. Any development of it came after my departure. My Fairy King Q: did you guys ever work on songs that didn't make it to shows or later- albums? Did you ever contribute any songs but they weren't used? Or maybe someone else brought a tune and it wasn't considered good enough to be played? A: I don’t remember any songs that we worked on not making it. I do remember a song that was not ready for performance by the time I left, My Fairy King. Q: My Fairy King, was it already completed? if so, was it a guitar version or a piano version? What do you think about Fred's piano abilities back then? A: No, Fairy King was just the germ of an idea of Freddie’s. Back then I had no idea that Freddie played any instrument. Liar Q: Did you write the bass line to "Liar"? A: Liar sounds much the same as when I played it. The Night Comes Down/Jesus Q: Do you remember if songs like The Night Comes Down or Jesus were included in the set at least once? A: I don’t believe so. I do recall working on Jesus at rehearsals I think. Modern Times Rock ‘n Roll Q: Do you remember if Roger sang |
| Serry... 17.10.2005 11:38 |
Nice compilation, John! Thanks! Sadly we forgot to ask about some tunes not from the first album, but which were written before recording of 'Queen' - like 'White Queen'. |
| August R. 17.10.2005 12:54 |
Thanks John! And thanks Barry! It's great to see that someone has the time and energy to gather and compile all this infromation before it's lost somewhere in the gloomy depths of the Internet. We'd really need to create a database for all this priceless information. |
| Jjeroen 17.10.2005 13:04 |
Serry... wrote: Nice compilation, John! Thanks! Sadly we forgot to ask about some tunes not from the first album, but which were written before recording of 'Queen' - like 'White Queen'.He's still around every now and then! Best thing to do is post your question in the initial first topics (link in firsts post). He'll notice ;-) |
| Rick 17.10.2005 14:20 |
It's a very nice recording. About VG, and in some parts even VG+. |
| Jjeroen 17.10.2005 15:32 |
<font color=green>Rick wrote: It's a very nice recording. About VG, and in some parts even VG+.Yes it IS nice indeed. I 'remastered' it (sort of) and speed-corrected it; sounds even better! :-) If I were Barry Mitchell, I would have speed-corrected it myself before selling it. It's jut two minutes work in Soundforge... |
| ok.computer 17.10.2005 17:14 |
Fabulous post, John. As usual you have restored my faith in the uses of the internet. Excellent work - when's the book coming out? Cheers Paul |
| Ale_Pisa 17.10.2005 18:40 |
2 questions... 1 - In 1998 Barry ppublished a book called "I'm bitter" or something... In this forum I read some phrases taken from this book and Barry write this thing: "Bo rhap was a collaboration between Freddie and Barry in the eraly 70" "At the end of the Knebworth park show in 1986, Freddie dedicated the magic tour to him, but from mic problems only Barry heard this words" "For the Live Aid concert Freddie called him to enjoy the band on stage" "Queen died in 1971 when He leave the band and not in 1991 when Freddie died" And many others... Now, dear John, or someone here, this thing are all true? 2 - For JEROEN, we can trade your remastered version? :) Please contact me at this email alessandro.carugini@libero.it Thank you very much and sorry for my terrible english :( I found the post where I read about the Barry's Book link |
| inu-liger 17.10.2005 19:02 |
Um, Ale, that book title was meant to be a joke. It's not real. It is another one of fatty's humourous posts, not to be taken seriously. |
| Jjeroen 17.10.2005 19:05 |
Ale_Pisa wrote: 2 2 - For JEROEN, we can trade your remastered version? :) Please contact me at this email alessandro.carugini@libero.itOoh... I kinda got the initial recording as a gift from someone... I don't think my dear friend would appreciate me trading it. :-S Sorry... (And not to mention Barry is still selling his cd's on eBay - don't want to interfere in his 'business') When it becomes genrally available (e.g. when a download appears) I will definately share my remaster! But if you have the recording, it's realy easy: just pitch it a bit (I believe it was one semi-tone) |
| Ale_Pisa 17.10.2005 19:11 |
Inu-Liger<h6>-a.k.a. Richard Guilbault- wrote: Um, Ale, that book title was meant to be a joke. It's not real. It is another one of fatty's humourous posts, not to be taken seriously.Ah, now I understand, I read the chat with Barry and I think "It's impossible taht is the same man!!!" :) Tahnk you very much For Jeroen, how can I change the speed, ecc...? Thank you again! |
| Jjeroen 18.10.2005 04:37 |
I use a programm called Soundforge for everything audio-wise. (You should find a crack on the internet somewhere, I think). With this programm, the possibilities are endless in what you can do to your audio files. I don't know where to start, but just start fooling around with it, and you'll discover! To speed up a recording there is a pitch-function. You can choose between pitch shift (up) and pitch bend (down) and from there you can manually settle on the pitch you want. (If you just want to pitch the recording but not make it run faster, there is also a 'preserve duration' function.) If you ever want to remix, remaster or do whatever weird thing to your audiofiles, this is the programm to get!! (Do you have the Mitchell-recording Ale??) |
| Flashman 18.10.2005 04:51 |
Without doubt, the most interesting post I've read on here for a long, long while. Cheers, John. |
| Fenderek 18.10.2005 10:30 |
Even though I read the thread and actually even managed to ask few questions it's still a bloody good read- and everything put in one place makes it definitelly easier :) Thanks John :) And I don't think we managed to ask about everything :) Still- one of the best things that has ever happened to Queenzone!!! |
| The Real Wizard 03.05.2007 02:48 |
I was just surfing around, looking for info for my new website, and ended up here. This is worth bumping up. One of the greatest topics ever. |
| Rick 03.05.2007 04:47 |
Yeah, I still have his autograph + a personal message. |
| Sebastian 03.05.2007 13:51 |
What's your site about Sir GH? |
| The Real Wizard 04.05.2007 01:01 |
It'll basically be a bigger version of my old website. The key parts will be the bootleg analysis, Live Killers analysis, cover art archive, and the list of best bootlegs for each concert... among other things. I'm still busy getting all my data together. It's going to be a pretty big job! |
| Mr. Scully 04.05.2007 09:10 |
Andreas Voigts has compiled an excellent "bootlegography", I don't think anybody can beat that. One has to be rich to get hold of all those pressed CD's :-) But what is missing on the "market" is an archive with cover art. From time to time I get requests for bootleg covers but there's no site which would offer them in high resolution, am I right? |
| slithybill 05.05.2007 01:04 |
Mr. Scully wrote: But what is missing on the "market" is an archive with cover art. From time to time I get requests for bootleg covers but there's no site which would offer them in high resolution, am I right?I stumbled upon this UK Google images search site and found links to quite a few bootleg sites: link Maybe one of them has the high res images you're looking for. These sites seem pretty extensive: link link Shame I don't know Japanese. Would love to read them. And this site has some great screen caps of Queen on Japanese tv, but I can't find any of the actual clips. link (Sorry this has absolutely nothing to do with Barry Mitchell!) |
| newcastle 86 01.06.2007 18:23 |
how old is barry? older than harry? |
| pittrek 21.03.2009 08:26 |
Since the first post is trimmed now, does anybody have the full uncut post or the links to the original threads ? |
| John S Stuart 21.03.2009 10:34 |
Ask and ye shall receive: Quite recently, Barry kindly performed an inpromptu Q&A with some of our Queenzone readers. As Barry was the bassist with Queen before they entered any recording studio, his memories of the band are quite a keen snapshot of the period. (This also demonstrates that all those illegal MP3 downloads claiming to be pre-John Deacon are nonsense - as Queen never recorded in any studio - without John). Here, I have distilled his answers into some sort of coherent feature, which hopefully sheds some new light on the Eponymous Queen debut album. Again, my thanks to Barry, who took the time to answer these questions. Queen Live Q: Setlist - Live, Ewell Technical College, London, 9 January 1971? A: If my fading memory serves me right the set consisted of these songs; Keep yourself alive, Doing alright, Liar, Great king rat, Modern times rock and roll, Son and daughter, Hangman, And of course the rock'n roll medley Queen: Unreleased, Live, Ewell Technical College, London, 9 January 1971 Does Not Exist - For Information Only Freddie Bulsara: Vocals Brian May: Guitar Roger Meddows Taylor: Drums Barry Mitchell: Bass Supporting Kevin Ayers And The Whole World Band, Flying Fortress and Genesis. A flyer for this concert is briefly viewed in the official “Genesis - Archive” video Keep Yourself Alive, Doing Alright, Liar, Great King Rat, Modern Times Rock and Roll, Son and Daughter, Hangman Rock and Roll Medley: Jailhouse Rock, Stupid Cupid, Bebopa Lula, Big Spender, Bama Lama Lama Loo Studio Material Q: When you were with the band, was there any talk at that time of going into a studio with you? It would be interesting to know what the extent of the band's ambition was at that time A: I dont ever remember any talk about recording. We were really focused on getting a full set of material together for live shows. However there was an obvious desire to take the band forward. Particularly on the part of Freddie (no surprise there). Smile Q: In terms of the material that you guys were playing - in sound checks and rehearsals etc - what were you playing? Was it all original Queen material or were you trying more cover versions? Were you playing Smile material still at that stage? A: I think it was mostly Smile material, some of it might have been written after Smile. I dont really know to be honest. Doing All Right Q: Doing All right must have sounded very different in those early days. Without piano it must have been a guitar-arranged version closer to the Smile version than the final piano version we can hear on Queen. Any memories on the development of that song? A: It was probably the first song that I worked on with the guys, and we did it much the same way that Smile did it. Any development of it came after my departure. My Fairy King Q: did you guys ever work on songs that didn't make it to shows or later- albums? Did you ever contribute any songs but they weren't used? Or maybe someone else brought a tune and it wasn't considered good enough to be played? A: I don’t remember any songs that we worked on not making it. I do remember a song that was not ready for performance by the time I left, My Fairy King. Q: My Fairy King, was it already completed? if so, was it a guitar version or a piano version? What do you think about Fred's piano abilities back then? A: No, Fairy King was just the germ of an idea of Freddie’s. Back then I had no idea that Freddie played any instrument. Liar Q: Did you write the bass line to "Liar"? A: Liar sounds much the same as when I played it. The Night Comes Down/Jesus Q: Do you remember if songs like The Night Comes Down or Jesus were included in the set at least once? A: I don’t believe so. I do recall working on Jesus at rehearsals I think. Modern Times Rock ‘n Roll Q: Do you remember if Roger sang Modern Times Rock N' Roll live in those days? A: I don't think Roger ever sang the lead vocals on any song when I was with them. Son And Daughter Q: Did Brian do the little solo during "son and daughter" like in '73 gigs and BBC versions? A: No, I dont think Brian did do the little solo thing in my days. Silver Salmon/ Mad The Swine/ Polar Bear Q: Do you recall tunes "Silver Salmon", "Mad The Swine" and "Polar Bear"? Did you guys ever play them live? It seems logical that when a new band wrote something- it was tried with an audience? A: I have never heard those songs. Q: If I'm right and it is you on Polar Bear you are quite distinguishable from John Deacon on bass. A: The only Polar Bear I know about was one I saw at London Zoo. Rock ‘n Roll Medley Q: Were any songs ever rehearses/performed which we haven't heard about yet? I'm talking mainly about covers, as I think it's unlikely that there was any 'new' material which went unused in the early days, but still. A: I think that all the covers that we ever performed are well known. Freddie just loved all the old rock'n roll stuff. But the most memorable covers for me, we never performed in any shows. We had a rehearsal at Imperial College on 18th September 1970, the day Jimi (Hendrix) died. We were all so stunned that Jimi had gone; we all loved him so much. I think we tried to run through some of our own material, but our hearts weren’t in it. It was Freddie who suggested we do a tribute to the man. So we played Jimi's songs through to the end of the rehearsal. Voodoo Chile, Foxy lady, Purple haze and maybe Stone Free. Just one long jam, it was memorable, made all the more so because he died less than a mile from where we were rehearsing. It is a shame that there was no tape machine running that night. They are the only covers that I can recall never performing. Hangman Q: A lot of mystery surrounding this song. We already know, as reported by Brian himself, that it was written by Freddie (words) and Brian (music). But since you were there at a very early stage: were you in any way involved in writing this song (or any other 'known' Queen song) or was it already 'finished' when you became involved? A: My recollection is, that what you know is spot on. I just contributed appropriate bass lines to fit the chords. In no way could I be considered a contributor to the writing of the song. The trouble is it is all so bloody long ago, and the memories get harder to dig up. Stone Cold Crazy Q: Did you ever play Stone Cold Crazy with the guys? If so, I wonder if it's the same version as heard on the Sheer Heart Attack album or not? Because there are rumours that the "early live" version went a bit slower than the final version. A: Yes we did that song, and it sounds the same to me. Hopefully this should open a little insight into Queen just before they opened those recording studio doors. This also means we can divide the album into two sepeate sections: Queen songs "contemporary" Mitchell: Doing All Right, Liar, Jesus, Son And Daughter, Rock ‘n Roll Medley, Hangman, Stone Cold Crazy Queen songs post-Mitchell: The Night Comes Down, Silver Salmon, Mad The Swine, Polar Bear, My Fairy King |
| pittrek 21.03.2009 11:09 |
Fantastic John, thank you very much ! |
| Crisstti 21.03.2009 15:13 |
Wow, those Jimi Hendrix covers would be great to hear!. |
| redspecialusa 21.03.2009 21:30 |
Cool read. Barry is a very kind man. I've spoken to him briefly online. |
| The Real Wizard 22.03.2009 01:59 |
If I remember correctly, the list of songs he gave was a general list of what they played around the time period, not necessarily at that exact show on 1-9-71. That one show was highlighted because there was all the talk about the recording, which turned out to be a fake, from the Golders Green 1973 radio broadcast. So the "Jailhouse Rock, Stupid Cupid, Bebopa Lula, Big Spender, Bama Lama Lama Loo" is most likely not correct either. Here's a summary of some new things he recently revealed on an Aussie Queens podcast. The quality is pretty bad, as it was from a telephone, so I had to listen carefully. His memory is nothing short of fantastic, as he was able to instantly recall specific details of 5 of the 11 shows he played with Queen, and remembered the venues of most of the others. Imperial College 8-23-70 - he recalled his audition before this show, and how they ran through a couple Smile numbers that would end up on Queen's debut album (besides Doing All Right, I wonder what the other one is), as well as a few Hendrix songs. The band then rehearsed "quite fervently" for the gig, and they were very nervous as they were playing for lots of friends. The band provided all the refreshments, including orange juice and popcorn. <--- Wow, amazing memory. Swiss Cottage Private School 9-4-70 - he says this gig went down well. Cavern Club 10-30-71 - this show was special to him (quite understandably!) because it was the same stage The Beatles had famously played on in their early days. It was pouring rain outside, and Brian's shoes got soaking wet. Before they went on, Brian put the shoes on an electric fire to dry off, and after the gig he found them burning. Marquee 1-8-71 - one of his most memorable ones, as they got to sign the wall in the dressing room that had been signed by thousands of other musicians who had played there. Ewell Technical College 1-9-71 - his last gig with the band, opening for Genesis. In the dressing room, someone asked Roger if he wanted to join Genesis, and he declined (Phil Collins instead joined later that year). A very interesting tidbit there, as one simple decision made such an impact on rock history. Barry says part of the reason why he left the band was the usual "creative differences" vaguely heard about all too often when people leave bands, but he elaborated, saying how he wanted to have some brass on the album - clearly the others disagreed with that direction! Imperial College 10-26-73 or 11-2-73 - he attended one of the two Imperial College shows, and at least 15 years later he attended a Cross concert and had a chat with Roger backstage. Also worth noting is how he said he was blown away by their Live Aid performance, his favourite Queen song is These Are The Days Of Our Lives (he notes its poignancy and the perfection of the guitar solo), and how he wasn't overly impressed with The Cosmos Rocks, as the magic didn't seem to be there for him. |
| john bodega 22.03.2009 04:55 |
Well he's right about TCR. It could probably use brass! |
| Saint Jiub 22.03.2009 13:04 |
Bob - Thanks very much for the summary info ... a very enjoyable read. |