|
|
Post by deathtoming on Apr 10, 2020 18:26:57 GMT
Hi everyone,
First of all, I'm so happy to see a fresh Queen forum. Thank you!
Okay, back in January, an official Queen in Japan book was released at the same time as the CD Greatest Hits in Japan. I'm planning on translating some parts here and there, and today I've translated a part of an interview with photographer Koh Hasebe, who took the photo that was used for the Liver Killers cover:
Interviewer: The Live Killers cover photo was taken during the '79 tour, right?
Hasebe: The concept for the cover was up to the band, and before a show the four of them would go back and forth with ideas backstage. I thought Freddie was the one who would decide these things, but I was wrong. Freddie actually didn't say much. He'd use gestures to communicate what he wanted to say. I asked Roger, "Is there something wrong with Freddie's throat?" And Roger responded, "Freddie's always like that before a show." I then realized that Freddie took great care of his throat and voice, as a vocalist.
Interviewer: I've heard that it was really tough getting that cover shot.
Hasebe: We decided that the band would go to the front of the stage at the end of the concert to wave, bow, and so forth, but they'd forget to do that. They would just forget and quickly go back stage. What a pain that was. I was below them at the front of the stage, so I did my best to get their attention, but they were so caught up in the moment that they wouldn't notice me. Afterwards, I would go to them backstage and say, "Hey, you didn't do what we had discussed," and they'd just say, "Oh, we forgot." By the third attempt I got something close to what I wanted. Personally, I wasn't too thrilled with it.
Interviewer: But Roger said years later that the cover photo was the only thing he liked about Live Killers.
Hasebe: He's just being kind, haha.
[...skipping some bits...]
Interviewer: From your point of view, as photo subjects, how were the four members?
Hasebe: Freddie's never off his guard. He has a showiness about him appropriate for a frontman, and understands how a photo should be taken. Brian can be a bit sensitive at times, so you need to know when you can take a photo and when you can't. That was especially true in the early days. As for Roger, he'll joke around in front of the camera when he's in a good mood, but when he loses interest he stops trying. I think he's photogenic in his natural state, though. The one who always gives me a smile and co-operates with me when I point the camera at him is John. I'm appreciative of the fact that he's so easy to work with, but man, he always has the same expression, haha!
|
|
emrabt
Wordles & Heardles 
Politician
Posts: 753
Likes: 550
|
Post by emrabt on Apr 10, 2020 20:26:24 GMT
This is interesting, I've only ever seen one interview with him made for Rolling Stone magazine, Queen got a mention but were not the focus of it as he Photographed pretty much every western act who set foot in Japan.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chief Mouse on Apr 11, 2020 6:51:43 GMT
Cool interview. Thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
|
Post by Chopin1995 on Apr 11, 2020 22:14:51 GMT
Very interesting, thanks!
|
|
|
|
Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 12, 2020 8:10:42 GMT
Hasebe: The concept for the cover was up to the band, and before a show the four of them would go back and forth with ideas backstage. I thought Freddie was the one who would decide these things, but I was wrong. Freddie actually didn't say much. He'd use gestures to communicate what he wanted to say. I asked Roger, "Is there something wrong with Freddie's throat?" And Roger responded, "Freddie's always like that before a show." I then realized that Freddie took great care of his throat and voice, as a vocalist. Interviewer: I've heard that it was really tough getting that cover shot. Hasebe: We decided that the band would go to the front of the stage at the end of the concert to wave, bow, and so forth, but they'd forget to do that. They would just forget and quickly go back stage. What a pain that was. I was below them at the front of the stage, so I did my best to get their attention, but they were so caught up in the moment that they wouldn't notice me. Afterwards, I would go to them backstage and say, "Hey, you didn't do what we had discussed," and they'd just say, "Oh, we forgot." By the third attempt I got something close to what I wanted. Personally, I wasn't too thrilled with it. Thanks a ton for the translation ! And it pretty well confirms that the photo was taken on 4-25-79.
|
|
|
|
Post by deathtoming on Apr 13, 2020 3:33:30 GMT
I've translated a few more bits from the Queen in Japan book.
First, a couple of miscellaneous quotes:
- Freddie, July, 1979: "I think Teo Toriatte is Brian's best song"
- John, March, 1984, while promoting The Works: "Please put Jazz in that garbage bin there, haha."
Now, for some quotes where they mention other artists:
This was during an interview with Brian in 1974 -- his first with the Japanese press, although it was in Manchester.
Some background: The interviewer asks what Brian knows about the Japanese music scene, and he admits he doesn't know anything, saying British and American acts do well domestically and abroad, but other countries don't seem to have the same success. Then for some reason, Brian asks: "By the way, is Deep Purple popular in Japan?" The interviewer says they are, and Brian responds:
"I like Deep Purple quite a bit, but I can't say I like all of their albums. Ah, I should be careful with my words, shouldn't I? But compared to their older stuff, I feel like the breadth of their ideas for their songs have narrowed. Well, I get that it's difficult when you're on your 7th album already [actually it was their 8th that was just released at the time]. It leaves the impression that they're running out of new ideas. That's why I don't like their newest album very much. But their "Made in Japan" is a masterpiece of a live album. It's quite simply wonderful."
- John, May, 1976: "At the very least, we're trying to change things up more than Deep Purple does, haha."
- Brian, May 1976: "The toy koto [used on the Prophet's Song] was a gift from the Japanese Wishbone Ash Fan Club, haha. It makes a really cute sound, and I was playing it a lot. One day, all of a sudden, I realized that I had the perfect song for it, and when I tried it out, it fit perfectly."
- Freddie, June, 1976: "We have to be careful to not hit a wall. The stage stays the same, but it's important to keep things fresh and new, so that's why we use dry ice and over-the-top light shows. But if we overdo it, we might end up like KISS, haha!"
- John, July, 1979: upon hearing he was voted the #1 bassist by readers of Japan's Music Life magazine: "What? It's not Cheap Trick's Tom Peterson?"
- John, July, 1979: "Among New Wave artists, I think Elvis Costello is the best. His songs are all amazing."
- John, December, 1982: "Whaaaat?? The Who broke up?! You're joking, right? I don't believe it, it has to be a lie. I'll bet you 1000 yen [about $10 these days]."
|
|
|
|
Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 13, 2020 6:01:21 GMT
I've translated a few more bits from the Queen in Japan book. First, a couple of miscellaneous quotes: - Freddie, July, 1979: "I think Teo Toriatte is Brian's best song" Wow - I didn't expect that. Wonderful to read that.
Can't picture anything remotely similar happening five years later.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 13, 2020 6:12:36 GMT
This was during an interview with Brian in 1974This was during an interview with Brian in 1974 "I like Deep Purple quite a bit, but I can't say I like all of their albums. Ah, I should be careful with my words, shouldn't I? But compared to their older stuff, I feel like the breadth of their ideas for their songs have narrowed. Well, I get that it's difficult when you're on your 7th album already In 1974 they were pretty well at their creative peak, but he was wise enough to know the fruits wouldn't last forever. His band would arrive at that point in a few years themselves.
There's a Mercury quote from a 1977 interview right after they put out News Of The World where he says he's not sure where they can go after this - effectively stating that NOTW is the end of their creative peak. Hindsight it may be for us, but he was right.
|
|
cmi
Politician
Posts: 522 
Likes: 883
|
Post by cmi on Apr 13, 2020 8:34:05 GMT
Probably Brian meant "Burn" as DP's last album in this interview. It was a strong fresh effort as it was the first Mark III album.
I think JAZZ is more creative and eclectic than NOTW. But maybe it was step back to an old folmula with RTB as a producer.
|
|
NathanH
Politician
Posts: 689
Likes: 708
|
Post by NathanH on Apr 13, 2020 12:09:13 GMT
Jazz is probably their weakest 70s album but I didn't realise that John didn't like it too!
I didn't realise Freddie liked Teo Toriatte as much as that.
Thanks for sharing!
|
|
|
|
Post by deathtoming on Apr 13, 2020 15:47:39 GMT
I've translated a few more bits from the Queen in Japan book. First, a couple of miscellaneous quotes: - Freddie, July, 1979: "I think Teo Toriatte is Brian's best song" Wow - I didn't expect that. Wonderful to read that.
Can't picture anything remotely similar happening five years later.
Why do you say that? Because of the internal tension that had developed within the band by that time? |
|
|
|
Post by deathtoming on Apr 13, 2020 15:52:17 GMT
Jazz is probably their weakest 70s album but I didn't realise that John didn't like it too! I didn't realise Freddie liked Teo Toriatte as much as that. Thanks for sharing! Yeah, it's my first time hearing/reading about his impressions of Jazz, although there was no context provided at all in the book. It was that single line, and that's it. Who knows, maybe he finds his two songs (If You Can't Beat Them and In Only Seven Days) cringe-worthy, 5 years later? I Want to Break Free is quite different. |
|
Steve
Wordles & Heardles
Queen Mab
😀
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 997
|
Post by Steve on Apr 13, 2020 16:43:30 GMT
Brilliant to see these quotes.
Also, great to see Freddie's comment about TT.
|
|
|
|
Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 13, 2020 19:31:20 GMT
Wow - I didn't expect that. Wonderful to read that.
Can't picture anything remotely similar happening five years later.
Why do you say that? Because of the internal tension that had developed within the band by that time? Yep - to put it mildly.
|
|
Steve
Wordles & Heardles
Queen Mab
😀
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 997
|
Post by Steve on Apr 13, 2020 19:37:12 GMT
Why do you say that? Because of the internal tension that had developed within the band by that time? Yep - to put it mildly.
I'm sure they would still be complimentary of each other's work though. |
|
|
|
Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 13, 2020 19:45:20 GMT
I'm sure they would still be complimentary of each other's work though. Not really. By 84 there are very few examples of them saying anything nice about each other. They just cover it all up under jokes - good PR.
It was a complete mess behind the scenes by that point. I've stated many times before that they were on the verge of breaking up around this time, and if it wasn't for Live Aid it's pretty well certain that it would've happened after the Japan 85 tour.
That's what makes a quote like that from the 70s so precious. Their relationship with each other was so much better then.
|
|
NathanH
Politician
Posts: 689
Likes: 708
|
Post by NathanH on Apr 14, 2020 7:22:05 GMT
Jazz is probably their weakest 70s album but I didn't realise that John didn't like it too! I didn't realise Freddie liked Teo Toriatte as much as that. Thanks for sharing! Yeah, it's my first time hearing/reading about his impressions of Jazz, although there was no context provided at all in the book. It was that single line, and that's it. Who knows, maybe he finds his two songs (If You Can't Beat Them and In Only Seven Days) cringe-worthy, 5 years later? I Want to Break Free is quite different. Yeah, I had not thought about that comparison - his songs did change |
|
|
|
Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 15, 2020 7:09:28 GMT
Yeah, it's my first time hearing/reading about his impressions of Jazz, although there was no context provided at all in the book. It was that single line, and that's it. Who knows, maybe he finds his two songs (If You Can't Beat Them and In Only Seven Days) cringe-worthy, 5 years later? I Want to Break Free is quite different. Yeah, I had not thought about that comparison - his songs did change All of their songs changed. Even Brian wrote Who Wants To Live Forever.
|
|
NathanH
Politician
Posts: 689
Likes: 708
|
Post by NathanH on Apr 15, 2020 7:29:21 GMT
I'm sure they would still be complimentary of each other's work though. Not really. By 84 there are very few examples of them saying anything nice about each other. They just cover it all up under jokes - good PR.
It was a complete mess behind the scenes by that point. I've stated many times before that they were on the verge of breaking up around this time, and if it wasn't for Live Aid it's pretty well certain that it would've happened after the Japan 85 tour.
That's what makes a quote like that from the 70s so precious. Their relationship with each other was so much better then.
That is the main reason why The Beatles ended so soon and is what Fleetwood Mac was like for more than 40 years - my two other favourites after Queen. |
|
NathanH
Politician
Posts: 689
Likes: 708
|
Post by NathanH on Apr 15, 2020 7:30:54 GMT
Yeah, I had not thought about that comparison - his songs did change All of their songs changed. Even Brian wrote Who Wants To Live Forever.
I didn't think about that - I suppose the use of synths made a huge different to Queen's sound. |
|
baronlutenvank
Ploughman
The Username Formerly Known as Killer_queenIII
Posts: 376
Likes: 263
|
Post by baronlutenvank on Apr 15, 2020 14:51:08 GMT
This is probably me, but I found it a bit funny that even the cover pic is a composite photo for a live album that's a composite of several shows.
|
|
Steve
Wordles & Heardles
Queen Mab
😀
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 997
|
Post by Steve on Apr 15, 2020 14:54:56 GMT
Hi everyone, First of all, I'm so happy to see a fresh Queen forum. Thank you! Okay, back in January, an official Queen in Japan book was released at the same time as the CD Greatest Hits in Japan. I'm planning on translating some parts here and there, and today I've translated a part of an interview with photographer Koh Hasebe, who took the photo that was used for the Liver Killers cover: Interviewer: The Live Killers cover photo was taken during the '79 tour, right? Hasebe: The concept for the cover was up to the band, and before a show the four of them would go back and forth with ideas backstage. I thought Freddie was the one who would decide these things, but I was wrong. Freddie actually didn't say much. He'd use gestures to communicate what he wanted to say. I asked Roger, "Is there something wrong with Freddie's throat?" And Roger responded, "Freddie's always like that before a show." I then realized that Freddie took great care of his throat and voice, as a vocalist. Interviewer: I've heard that it was really tough getting that cover shot. Hasebe: We decided that the band would go to the front of the stage at the end of the concert to wave, bow, and so forth, but they'd forget to do that. They would just forget and quickly go back stage. What a pain that was. I was below them at the front of the stage, so I did my best to get their attention, but they were so caught up in the moment that they wouldn't notice me. Afterwards, I would go to them backstage and say, "Hey, you didn't do what we had discussed," and they'd just say, "Oh, we forgot." By the third attempt I got something close to what I wanted. Personally, I wasn't too thrilled with it. Interviewer: But Roger said years later that the cover photo was the only thing he liked about Live Killers. Hasebe: He's just being kind, haha. [...skipping some bits...] Interviewer: From your point of view, as photo subjects, how were the four members? Hasebe: Freddie's never off his guard. He has a showiness about him appropriate for a frontman, and understands how a photo should be taken. Brian can be a bit sensitive at times, so you need to know when you can take a photo and when you can't. That was especially true in the early days. As for Roger, he'll joke around in front of the camera when he's in a good mood, but when he loses interest he stops trying. I think he's photogenic in his natural state, though. The one who always gives me a smile and co-operates with me when I point the camera at him is John. I'm appreciative of the fact that he's so easy to work with, but man, he always has the same expression, haha! Great read mate. Cheers! |
|
|
|
Post by Chopin1995 on Apr 15, 2020 17:14:53 GMT
This is probably me, but I found it a bit funny that even the cover pic is a composite photo for a live album that's a composite of several shows. Yeah, they should call the album 'Live Compositors'  |
|
Steve
Wordles & Heardles
Queen Mab
😀
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 997
|
Post by Steve on Apr 15, 2020 17:21:37 GMT
This is probably me, but I found it a bit funny that even the cover pic is a composite photo for a live album that's a composite of several shows. Yeah, they should call the album 'Live Compositors' 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2020 12:05:19 GMT
Hi everyone, First of all, I'm so happy to see a fresh Queen forum. Thank you! Okay, back in January, an official Queen in Japan book was released at the same time as the CD Greatest Hits in Japan. I'm planning on translating some parts here and there, and today I've translated a part of an interview with photographer Koh Hasebe, who took the photo that was used for the Liver Killers cover: Interviewer: The Live Killers cover photo was taken during the '79 tour, right? Hasebe: The concept for the cover was up to the band, and before a show the four of them would go back and forth with ideas backstage. I thought Freddie was the one who would decide these things, but I was wrong. Freddie actually didn't say much. He'd use gestures to communicate what he wanted to say. I asked Roger, "Is there something wrong with Freddie's throat?" And Roger responded, "Freddie's always like that before a show." I then realized that Freddie took great care of his throat and voice, as a vocalist. Interviewer: I've heard that it was really tough getting that cover shot. Hasebe: We decided that the band would go to the front of the stage at the end of the concert to wave, bow, and so forth, but they'd forget to do that. They would just forget and quickly go back stage. What a pain that was. I was below them at the front of the stage, so I did my best to get their attention, but they were so caught up in the moment that they wouldn't notice me. Afterwards, I would go to them backstage and say, "Hey, you didn't do what we had discussed," and they'd just say, "Oh, we forgot." By the third attempt I got something close to what I wanted. Personally, I wasn't too thrilled with it. Interviewer: But Roger said years later that the cover photo was the only thing he liked about Live Killers. Hasebe: He's just being kind, haha. [...skipping some bits...] Interviewer: From your point of view, as photo subjects, how were the four members? Hasebe: Freddie's never off his guard. He has a showiness about him appropriate for a frontman, and understands how a photo should be taken. Brian can be a bit sensitive at times, so you need to know when you can take a photo and when you can't. That was especially true in the early days. As for Roger, he'll joke around in front of the camera when he's in a good mood, but when he loses interest he stops trying. I think he's photogenic in his natural state, though. The one who always gives me a smile and co-operates with me when I point the camera at him is John. I'm appreciative of the fact that he's so easy to work with, but man, he always has the same expression, haha! This is cool, thank you! Will you be translating more? Looking forward if you do |
|
|
|
Post by deathtoming on Apr 28, 2020 14:26:40 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
Likes:
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2020 18:10:13 GMT
John also dissed 'Jazz' when promoting 'Hot Space' (another album he hated) in Japan with Roger, IIRC.
As for 'Teo Torriatte', I also rate it highly. Definitely one of Brian's top five alongside ''39', 'White Queen', 'Save Me' and either 'Good Company' or 'Sail Away Sweet Sister'.
|
|
hollylu
Tatterdemalion
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
|
Post by hollylu on May 12, 2020 13:32:36 GMT
new Queen special eddition "Queen in Japan ",which hat basically the contains as Queen Exhibitions organized by shinko music in Japan early this year. Japanese do have some rare pictures but i don't understand no japanese niether can i translate.So i scanned some pages just for sharing.    |
|
hollylu
Tatterdemalion
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
|
Post by hollylu on May 12, 2020 13:35:33 GMT
|
|
hollylu
Tatterdemalion
Posts: 10
Likes: 4
|
Post by hollylu on May 12, 2020 13:39:17 GMT
|
|
