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Post by Chopin1995 on Feb 2, 2021 13:18:53 GMT
Thank you very much Deathtoming for another wonderful translation. Nice to finally know the context behind all the photos. This is a good explanation how important Live Aid was. He was clearly enjoying his time in Japan and seemed very happy. A crying shame it had to end like it did.
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Post by deathtoming on Feb 14, 2021 21:51:23 GMT
[The pamphlet from the pottery museum mentioned in the interview is from the Kurita Museum. It’s not a typical tourist destination, being about 1.5 hours away by car or 2.5 hours by train from Tokyo. It has experienced an increase in visitors since the Bohemian Rhapsody movie, and will be hosting a series of guest speaker events from February 9th to March 7th, including guests such as Kaoruko Togo (former Editor in Chief at Music Life), Itami-san (Freddie’s personal bodyguard), and Watal Asanuma (photographer, including at Ridge Farm). [Below: Freddie and Jim inside the museum. This trip to Japan has been described as their honeymoon.] The exhibit at the Kurita Museum has started, and has already hosted guest speaker Watal Asanuma (photographer at Ridge Farm, Scropio Studios, Kempton Park etc.). Apparently he showed some unpublished photos, but photos and videos were not permitted. Some pics from the exhibit: Freddie and Jim's spots taped off to recreate your own photo: This display is labelled "Greg Brooks's private collection" and includes the hand-written lyrics to Cool Cat that were in the Complete Illustrated Lyrics book:
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Post by deathtoming on Apr 24, 2021 4:27:55 GMT
Well, these aren't all interview translations but here are some bits and pieces from three Japanese Queen Fan Club newsletter from various years. Original text in Japanese, and translations by me.
October 1975 issue
"We Take a Peek at the Recording of the New Album"
With a planned release date of November 14th, Queen give up their Sunday and are hard at work recording their next album. They’ve barely had any time for rest since coming back from their US and Japan tours, and have been recording everyday.
The first track is recorded at Rockfield Studios in Wales. This studio has been used often by Queen in the past, and is well-liked.
After that, the vocal track is recorded at Sarm Studios in London. This modern studio has necessary equipment when Queen need to do difficult recordings.
And presently, Queen are in Roundhouse Studios -- considered to be London’s best studio -- working hard for the last stretch and even sacrificing sleep.
The other day, we visited Queen while they were recording in London. They have been recording since 4 am yesterday, so even the usually energetic guys from Queen are looking a little tired.
Freddie is fashionable and always fussy about his hair, but on this day he is even concerned about Roger’s hair and is brushing it. Roger’s hair is even longer and fluffier than how it looked the last time we met, and he is looking like a cute prankster.
Brian has a kind, permanent smile as usual, like Christ.
John is always smiling, and appears to be watching over everyone attentively.
When one meets the members of Queen, it soothes the soul, as if the members have a mysterious magical power.
Even though they’re busy with recording, Roger is thoughtful enough to bring us some milk tea. Freddie is the only one who doesn’t take advantage of the tea time break, and is in front of the Yamaha piano in the corner of the room, having a serious discussion with Roy Thomas Baker about the recording session. (John tells us as an aside that Freddie has a Yamaha piano at his home, too.)
Suddenly, there is smoke and a "psshhhhhh" sound. Thinking it’s a bomb or something and startled out of my mind, I quickly look behind me and see Roger with a fire extinguisher, hitting it like a mischievous boy, delighted to see everyone’s surprise. If anyone else were to pull this stunt, I’d get angry, but I can’t get angry with Roger, even when he pulls pranks. Rather, I got caught up in his mood and started to laugh myself. I can’t hate him, no matter what he does. He is like a mischievous boy.
Brian carefully showed me a koto that was given to him as a present by a female fan from Nagoya. He plays a well-rehearsed rendition of Sakura Sakura, to my surprise. Brian enjoys playing the koto sometimes while he reminisces about his time in Japan. Apparently he will be playing this koto alongside the acoustic guitar for this album.
I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of album it is.
Classifieds Section - Japanese Queen Fan Club newsletter #20
I am looking for photographs of Queen’s manager Paul Prenter for our fan club, "Prenter Power," to use on our newsletter. Paul does not have to be by himself in the photos, and they can feature the members of Queen. I hope to hear from you.
Interview with Brian May around the release of The Miracle Album - 1989
Some excerpts:
Brian: The new album [The Miracle] is different from anything else we've done. Yeah, it's got a strong rock vibe to it, but there's also lots of different kinds of music. You might even say it's A Night at the Opera, 10 years later. We used a lot of technology, but there's also live performances because we started performing together again. We're having fun doing this.
Interviewer: So, is the album a recording of live performances?
Brian: It's true that there are many parts that were recorded live in the studio. But there's also a variety of other elements. Also, the mood changes quite a bit. That's why, you may hear one song and think, "Ah, it's this kind of song," but then the song changes while you're listening to it. I'd be happy if you had unexpected surprises while listening.
[..skipping ahead in the interview..]
Interviewer: Which songs do you like from the album?
Brian: There are a lot of strange ones. [note: the Japanese word that was used can be interpreted different ways, so Brian could have also used a word like "funny."] There’s one called Khashoggi’s Ship, and it has a very "live'' feel to it. It sounds a lot like us from the early years. Also, there’s one called Was it All Worth It? It covers the journey we’ve had up to this point, and it’s very interesting.
Same 1989 newsletter - comment on Freddie's health “Freddie’s in danger!”
The other day, we received a question from a former Queen Fanclub member: "There’s news that Freddie Mercury caught some incurable serious illness, and that recording sessions were hurriedly started before the illness got worse. Is this true?" I visited during their recording session in January of this year and also met with Freddie, and well, no matter how I look at it he did not appear to be ill in that fashion. Freddie is, as you know, that kind of person so rumours about a certain four-letter disease won’t go away, but he was telling me he did what he wanted with his solo work and that it was now time to kick it into high gear for his real work with Queen. He was probably bed-ridden with a cold or something and that’s how the rumours started. If there is anyone else with similar concerns, please do not worry. Freddie and the others are all in good health. Well, you’d realize that yourself if you heard their new music.
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Post by Chopin1995 on Apr 25, 2021 22:37:54 GMT
The 1975 interview is one of the most fascinating stories about Queen I remember. Thank you again Deathtoming.
@sebastian Highly recommended read.
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Lord Fickle
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Post by Lord Fickle on Apr 25, 2021 23:31:17 GMT
For some reason I found that very amusing!
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Post by The Real Wizard on Apr 26, 2021 5:57:48 GMT
When one meets the members of Queen, it soothes the soul, as if the members have a mysterious magical power. No wonder they liked Japan so much, if this is what people wrote about them ! Brian carefully showed me a koto that was given to him as a present by a female fan from Nagoya. He plays a well-rehearsed rendition of Sakura Sakura, to my surprise. Brian enjoys playing the koto sometimes while he reminisces about his time in Japan. Apparently he will be playing this koto alongside the acoustic guitar for this album. Wow - beautiful.
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Post by deathtoming on May 15, 2021 4:43:04 GMT
Welcome QueenMusic Life - June 1975 issuePhotos by Koh Hasebe and Hideo KojimaWriter uncredited[Original text in Japanese, translation by me] On April 18th, after the press conference and reception, we at Music Life waited on the 11th floor of the Tokyo Prince Hotel in the Fuji No Ma room to award them with the reader’s poll “Best Album 1975” trophy for Queen II. Even this spacious room was buried with our equipment for the photoshoot of this moment. After a short rest, at precisely 4 pm Freddie, Brian, Roger, and John appear. Despite having just landed in Japan the previous night and being chased by passionate fans and the press, erasing the benefits of their break in Hawaii, the four of them are actually in good spirits, possibly due to their youth. Or rather, their sense of composure and indeed a sense of nobility give off a good feeling. When we hand them their trophies, the four of them loudly express their delight, with several words of gratitude and happiness expressed to us by each of them, politely. They are truly well-mannered and courteous. After a 30-minute photo shoot, we arranged for an interview for the day after tomorrow (Sunday the 20th). In the hotel hallway, there were still around 20 fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the four of them. On a slightly hot Sunday, we head towards their rooms 553 and 554 at around 2:30 pm. Having performed in their first concert at the Budokan the previous night, and being jet lagged, the band had apparently slept in a little. They had a tea ceremony in the hotel garden for a photo shoot for about an hour, and then came back to their rooms. When interviewing the band, we discovered that Freddie is surprisingly a man of few words. Roger is the most talkative, followed by Brian, and John always participates by smiling. Everyone chimes in at once when we ask them a question, so it was difficult to catch some of their answers, but the whole time it was boisterous and the laughter didn’t stop. It was an enjoyable interview that gave us insight into their youthful and cheerful nature. Even though the four of them had different personalities, they were in splendid harmony, and I felt that these four can be successful forever. Brian was always concerned about his hair and kept on touching it with both hands. Apparently, he is a very nervous person. Anyhow, let’s see how our interview went below. [ The Real Wizard , one of your favourite photos was taken at this interview.] --When will Queen IV be released?-- Music Life (shortened to "ML" after this): Were you surprised by all of the female fans at the airport and hotel that wanted to see you? Roger: Actually, we were all anticipating it to some degree, but we had no idea it would be like this. It’s really a wonderful thing. It’s a relief that it isn’t like the exaggerated mass hysteria of the past. Although we’re not able to take one step out of the hotel the way it is now. ML: You were touring the USA before coming to Japan, right? Brian: That’s right. We’ve been away from England touring for about 4-5 months now. We started with England, and then Europe, and back to England just for a bit around Christmas, and then a long, long US tour right after that. We took a 2 or 3 day break in Hawaii before coming here. ML: What was the reception like in the US? Roger: It was a great success. I think it was a really great trip. We played in more cities compared to the last time, so we finally started to get confident that we were starting to make inroads in the US with this tour. ML: I’ve heard that you were a big hit in every city you went… Roger: Yeah, it was unbelievable. We had the best response in the northern states. Also, the east and west coasts. I knew from before that we were selling well in the north east, but it always takes longer for the west coast to catch on. The south is really challenging for English bands. But overall, the response was good no matter where we went. The only place that stood out as a place that wasn’t good was Texas. Freddie: The biggest reason why Texas wasn’t good was because of the promoter. Brian: In contrast, we had a great reception in New York and LA, and we were really happy. The audiences there made us realize that there’s a different market, and we felt like we got ourselves strong allies. Roger: The trendiest places were from Boston to Cleveland. Touring the US was like touring several different countries. So many things were different from state to state; the communication from state to state is out of control. ML: Where will you go after Japan? Roger: We can go back home! It’s the time off after harvest season. (John interjects with, “Just for 2-3 days,” and everyone immediately looks dispirited.) ML: And then you’re recording? Brian: Yeah, for our next album. ML: Do you have a vision for your fourth album? Brian: It’s not entirely planned out yet. We’ve been asked by a lot of people, but we often don’t know what we’re going to end up with until we’re finished recording. Although I can tell you that it’s not a concept album or anything like that. We just see how it goes. The songs will be written by the time we get to the studio, I think, just like with our last album. But it will be different from our last album for sure. Roger: The sound will change, or you’ll get tired of it. There was a time when we got tired of what we were doing because we kept on doing the same things. ML: When were you planning on releasing the next album? Freddie: Maybe around Christmas? (Freddie looks at the others, and they start saying how no one is really sure.) We want it out as soon as possible. ML: How many days do you spend making one album? Freddie: We spend a very long time on them, so that’s why I think releasing our next album before Christmas is impossible. On top of that, I think our next album will be in a different format. You probably know that we did all of the recording for our third album in one go. But this time, we’d like to take more time, take occasional breaks, or go on trips and then resume recording when we come back. We can get more fresh ideas that way. I’m really looking forward to getting started. We feel like something new is going to happen. Roger: I just thought of something about the US; we were a little worried when we first landed in the US, because our album made it in the Top 100 and then quickly dropped out of it. But by the time we left the US, both our album and our single made it back into the Top 100, and seemed to be on their way up. So, we finally felt relieved. --The secret to Queen’s recording-- ML: Freddie, have you started writing songs for the new album? Freddie: No, I have a few ideas, but I’m not so skilled that I can write while touring. When we go on tours, there’s so much to do, anyway. That’s why there’s no other way than to settle down at home to write. ML: Do you get immersed in the mixing process? Freddie: We’re the type that spend a long time doing anything. Roger: We work many hours until we get the exact sound we’re looking for. If the backing track was weak, we’d try to layer on top of it, and if that didn’t work, we’d start over. We spend a long time overdubbing, too, because there’s no need to rush it. (Brian interjects, “We also spend a long time mastering.) ML: Where do you do your mastering? Brian: Trident Studios. But the last time we were there, we just couldn't get what we were aiming for. So then we took our tapes to the US to try mastering there, and we got something that was many times better than what we could do at Trident. It was at a place called Mastering Lab in New York. Freddie: While we do the mastering, we do several other things on our own, like making the album cover. It’s nice to be consumed with work, isn’t it? ML: Would you mind telling us about things like your aims or themes with your first three albums? Brian: We don’t come up with rules; we just think, “Let’s make an album that is memorable and makes an impact.” That said, maybe our second album has something you could call a theme. But that was a coincidence, or more like, we just happened to have a Black Queen and a White Queen and that’s the extent of it. Freddie: I think there is one theme. Records recreate what we were trying to do at that time. Some people say Queen II is a concept album, but it’s nothing more than one step of the process of what we’re trying to do. Basically, we don’t make a big plan or anything before making an album. It’s simply a product of what we wanted to do at that particular time. Brian: It’s a very peculiar thing; even though we’re not making an effort to search for anything in particular, it looks that way to other people. But for that reason, we don’t get too spoiled, and we end up feeling like we have to work our tails off, and in the end, we end up devoting ourselves to what other people want. But this is a problematic thing. It took us a long time to get noticed, and that’s why we might be told that we’re not youthful. We always think about the music we would listen to when we were teenagers. We would listen to Led Zeppelin and The Who and think, “Ahh, I wish we had an opportunity like that.” That’s why we shuffled back and forth between music of that time and the music we do now. --What about each individual’s favourite album?-- ML: I hear you knew each other even before Queen was formed. Brian: Yes, very well. Roger and I go way back, and we also knew Freddie from before. We met John quite recently. About four years ago? (John nods.) ML: Who is the main lyricist? Freddie: There’s no one particular person. Whoever writes the song tends to write the lyrics, but Stone Cold Crazy was written by the whole group. It’s the first time we all wrote a song together. Usually, each person brings the rough idea of a song, and the rest of us listens to it and contributes ideas. ML: Please tell us what your favourite album is. Freddie: That’s a difficult one because I like them all. But if I had to pick one, it would be Sheer Heart Attack. When we released our first album, I thought it was very well made. But when I look back now, I think we improved with each subsequent album. Basically, if we get satisfied with one thing, we stop growing. When our second album was released, I was also very happy. I truly thought it was what we were aiming for, and I still think it was well done when I listen to it now. We learn something with each piece of work we do in this way. Roger: I think Sheer Heart Attack is the best. Brian: It’s probably Queen II for me, for a variety of reasons. I feel that it’s a very intense album. Freddie: Each album is different, and that’s why I like all three. There is drama in Queen II, but it’s not necessary in Sheer Heart Attack. (John is in a meeting with the manager, and unable to participate.) ML: Your lyrics are quite complex, but is that intentional? Brian: It’s something we’re proud of. Roger: We don’t like dirty words. Brian is a very literary person. I’m fine with not using slang, but my grammar is a mess, and I also make spelling mistakes… (everyone laughs) Freddie: Writing lyrics for all of the songs is difficult work. Roger: If we get bad reviews, it’s because of spelling errors, haha. ML: Do bad reviews bother you? Freddie: It depends on how it’s written. I don’t mind if it’s a fair criticism. There are often times when I doubt the writer listened to the record before they started writing. It’s awfully damaging if a review is based on false information. Once, someone wrote a scathing review of one of our songs, but they even made mistakes when writing about who played what instrument. That person for sure didn’t listen to our record. This is completely unjustified slander. If this newspaper was influential, and a lot of people read this article, they would believe it right away. ML: Changing subjects, who here is married? Freddie: No one. We are married to music. ML: Brian, I heard you were a school teacher before. Brian: Yeah, I taught math to 12- to 18-year-olds. I was a substitute teacher or more like a lecturer, and it was something like a hobby for me. It was really a useful event for me, and I personally thought it was a completely new experience. ML: So how did that lead to you doing music? Brian: There wasn’t a particular moment where I quit teaching to pursue music. Music was closest to the thing I wanted to do the most. I don’t necessarily see it as a change of course, and I think that if I ever feel like it, I could go back to teaching or astronomy. I like astronomy. ML: Freddie, you went to art school, right? Freddie: Yes, I studied for three years at Ealing. I took classes specializing in graphic design and illustration. I started off with fashion design, but I didn’t really like it, so I changed to graphic design. I still like drawing and collecting art. Roger: He made the album logo, you know. He did the Queen logo, the lettering, and all of the other things. ML: Can you give us your impressions of the following groups? First of all, Led Zeppelin. All: They’re a wonderful band. We bumped into them at the concerts in New Orleans and Los Angeles, and we exchanged ideas and have been friends since. ML: Bad Company. Brian: They’re a good band. A wonderful singer and a wonderful drummer. We’re also good friends with them. I think Paul Rodgers is a really amazing singer. ML: Average White Band. All: The record is very good, but they aren’t good live. They’re certainly a good band but not really what we’re into. ML: What are your plans now? All: We’ll start with lunch. We haven’t had anything since the morning, haha. ML: Sorry about that. All: No problem. Music Life was the first to introduce us to Japan, and you feature us a lot every month. We appreciate it so much. We’ll work with you any time. Please let us take this opportunity to thank your many readers from the bottom of our hearts. Everyone, thank you so very much. We’re really happy that you picked Queen II as your Album of the Year in the readers’ poll. The wonderful trophies are a great gift. Thanks again! [end of interview and article] [Is there a tape out there with Freddie's thoughts on Bad Company or Paul Rodgers sitting in the Music Life archives?]
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Post by The Real Wizard on May 18, 2021 3:39:55 GMT
[ The Real Wizard , one of your favourite photos was taken at this interview.] Ahh ! Beautiful !! That made my day. ML: Bad Company. Brian: They’re a good band. A wonderful singer and a wonderful drummer. We’re also good friends with them. I think Paul Rodgers is a really amazing singer. If only he knew what lay 30 years ahead.
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Post by Chopin1995 on May 20, 2021 20:10:03 GMT
Another fascinating article, thank you very much. This is one of my favourite threads on this forum and one of the reasons why this forum is special.
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Post by deathtoming on Jun 5, 2021 4:40:10 GMT
“Queen, an emotionally moving return to Japan!” “I am a romanticist perfectionist” Music Life - June 1979 issue (plus one question about Teo Torriatte that was included in an otherwise shorter version of the interview from a commemorative issue of the 1979 tour) Photos by Koh Hasebe Article by Kaoruko (Rue) Togo
[Original text in Japanese, translation to English by me] To be perfectly honest, I’d mostly given up on getting an interview with Freddie Mercury. I had made several failed attempts up until now, so this time as well, I was thinking, “As if it’s gonna happen...” in the back of my mind. I was feeling a bit depressed about this, while observing the passion of the fans out of the corner of my eye, and with Queen visiting Japan for the first time in three years. As usual, I was able to do thorough, individual interviews with Brian, Roger, and John in Osaka, but Freddie was the only one who left me waiting. This time around, we journalists were able to follow Queen around most of the whole country, and were blessed with many opportunities to chit chat with the band members backstage. However, even in those occasions, only Freddie had an air of nervous tension before the show, and was somewhat difficult to talk to. And that is why right before this magazine’s deadline, on April 29th in Fukuoka, even though an interview was arranged, I was half in doubt that it would even happen. “That hard-to-please Freddie…” “Will we really be able to interview him?” With these thoughts on my mind, I headed to the Hakata ANA Hotel past 8 pm. When I knock on the door to the Royal Suite, none other than Freddie Mercury himself answers the door, dressed lightly in a short-sleeve Hawaiian shirt and jeans. In the atrium, next to a spiral staircase is an extravagant chandelier. Freddie, surrounded by high-end furniture, smiles as he welcomes us. The condition of Freddie’s throat worsened partway through this tour, making it look quite painful on stage, and his voice this evening was hoarse as well, so much so that I felt sorry for him. “I wonder if he’ll be in a sour mood,” I worry to myself. But on the contrary, after he greets us, Freddie joyfully shows us some toy dogs he bought in Japan! The toy dogs wag their small tails and bark as Freddie shows them to us while he laughs out loud, betraying my initial fears. To say the least, my concerns dissipated at once. I suddenly notice that Freddie is accompanied by his lover, Mary. Her abundant blonde hair leaves an impression, and when she sees us, she shyly gives us a small smile. Freddie sits on the sofa in front of us, and appears much smaller than he does on stage, and has a dainty air about him. There’s no hint of the devilish mood, as he charms us with a soft and intelligent mood, and he conducts the interview with honesty and eloquence. Below is a faithful depiction of our dialogue with Freddie to the best of our abilities. Music Life (ML): How is your throat? Freddie: Well, it’s not so good (as he brings his hands to his throat). ML: I heard you caught a cold. Freddie: That’s right, and with the way my throat is, it’s as if I’m fighting two illnesses. Hahaha… but I’ll be fine. (He is being considerate of us.) ML: I heard you went to places like Kyoto and Nara today. Freddie: I went to Kyoto, and Brian went to Nara. ML: What kinds of things did you buy? Freddie: The last time I went, I bought quite a bit of furniture, but this time I got Imari and Kutani bowls. I also bought woodblock prints by Umataro and Harunobu, and oh yeah, a lantern with “Goyou” printed on it… I really like that one. (...Freddie answers very happily). ML: That reminds me: I’ve seen pictures of your room before, and it seems like you have quite a bit of East Asian art. Freddie: Everything I have at home is from Japan, haha. I buy a little bit at a time when I have the chance. I’m also planning on going to Hong Kong after this tour to buy some more. ML: So anyway (bringing this to the main part of our interview), you don’t do a lot of interviews; do you not like dealing with journalists? Freddie: Let me see.. (he thinks for a bit) Basically, when there’s a break between shows, I like to have control over what I do. ML: It’s true that you’re on a hard schedule when you’re on tour. Freddie: That’s right, and on top of that, I seem to catch a cold or have throat problems right away. If that weren’t the case, I could do more interviews. For example, it was horrible the last time I was in San Francisco. What I mean is, my health was so bad you could even see it in my facial expressions. (Freddie laughs while he makes a face.) [San Francisco - March 6th, 1977 - 6m28s of 8 mm film footage] ML: So, that means we’re very lucky today. I’d like to ask about music now. Do you have any interest in the new wave bands that are making it big in England these days? Freddie: To be honest, not really. I listen to a variety of music, but at the same, I like to experience culture beyond music. If anything, I’d like to spend time watching classical ballet or going to art galleries. And when it comes to listening to music, I’d like to listen to things I like, and not just rock’n’roll. When I listen to music that is pure, I get inspired by it. There’s an absolutely fantastic female Korean violinist [perhaps Kyung-Wha Chung?] that produces beautiful sounds, and I listen to her records. As for ballet, I like the Bolshoi Ballet company. I also think Mikhail Baryshnikov is a wonderful dancer. ML: Speaking of Baryshnikov, did you see him in the film The Turning Point? Freddie: I did. It was wonderful, wasn’t it? (He smiles) [Clips of Baryshnikov in The Turning Point] ML: How do British music critics perceive Queen’s music these days? Freddie: (His facial expression suddenly becomes stern) Those guys don’t understand us at all! But, I don’t care to get into a fight with them. The fans love Queen, but not the critics. ML: From our point of view, there seems to be a lot of cynics amongst the British press. Freddie: That’s because they dislike us. And that’s why we don’t like them (he says, flatly). Generally, their main arguments are off. They grumble about something or other without getting to the essence of the music. For us, we just want to continue making music without losing sight of ourselves. ML: Among those critics, there are several who believe that rock should be simple and straightforward, but what’s your opinion? Freddie: (Answering immediately) I don’t think we can say that. I don’t think it’s possible to declare what rock is. It’s something that can be expressed individually in different ways. For example, it’s the same reason why people like David Bowie or Joni Mitchell have their own styles. The only thing we can say about music is whether it’s good or bad. ML: You guys in Queen spend a long time on things like recording or preparing the stage design for concerts. What do you think of the fact that people call Queen perfectionists? Freddie: We’re definitely perfectionists. ML: People say that about you in particular…. Freddie: Umm…(he has a slightly forced smile) It’s because I try to soak up everything. But it’s very difficult to master one thing. When you realize this, you can call it perfectionism, but by trying to develop a new way, I try to create a sense of perfectionism that comes from mastering that way. Basically, with albums like A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races, I tried methods that were completely different from before, so after that I picked one thing from among those, and decided that I wanted to master that. ML: I think Bicycle Race and Bohemian Rhapsody are examples of songs made up of very complex musical components… Freddie: (Getting riled up, he gradually leans in) That’s right, as you pointed out they’re definitely complex. Songs don’t become perfect compositions just from you sitting around. I can proudly say that Bicycle Race is perfect because there’s a change and has a good atmosphere. I can say the same about Bohemian Rhapsody, but that song floats around like this (he flutters his hands), and it’s very long, right? I think Bicycle Race is much more enjoyable. It’s not a quiet song, but there’s a change in the tempo. ML: On this tour you played a piano solo in the intro to Death on Two Legs. When I heard it, it made me think of someone like Chopin or Liszt…. Freddie: It was Chopin! (He is all smiles, as if he were saying, “Thanks for bringing that up.”) It was good that I gave it a shot, but I gave up part way through, haha. ML: But it was very good. Freddie: Thanks. That song was dedicated to people who perform classical music. It’s really difficult to strive to play classical music perfectly, because you’d have to practise 7 to 8 hours everyday, haha. [Nagoya, April 28th, 1979 - Death on Two Legs] ML: Do you often listen to classical music at home? Freddie: Yeah, a little bit. Like when I’m writing music and want to change up my mood. I also listen to disco-type music like Donna Summers, and Gilbert O’Sullivan. ML: You listen to Gilbert O’Sullivan?! (It’s a bit unexpected, so I’m surprised) Freddie: Yeah, I like him, haha. Before, I had never heard his albums, but I started listening to him around the time Bohemian Rhapsody was released. I have several of his albums. ML: Talking to you about this, I realize that you’re more of a musician in a general sense, rather than a rock musician. Freddie: That’s right! I’m also hoping to be like that. I play rock, but when people come to our concerts or buy our albums, I want them to hear rock and a variety of other kinds of music. People in their 30s and 40s probably buy our albums, but they probably don’t come to our shows, haha. ML: So, you’re saying Queen has a wide breadth of fans? Freddie: Yeah, in particular after Bohemian Rhapsody, a lot of different kinds of people started buying our albums. (He says, seemingly full of confidence…) ML: The lyrics you write are often classical or lyrical in nature, aren’t they? You’re probably quite the romanticist, aren’t you? Haha. Freddie: Oh! Haha. I’m quite the romanticist! I like to write fantasy, you see. There are a lot of people who lose sight of their dreams when they’re living in the real world, so I want to write songs that let them escape their problems, even if it’s just during the five or six minutes they spend listening to our songs. It’s like inviting people over to the world of dreams, haha. ML: So you don’t write songs with a message? Freddie: No, songs with messages are too heavy. ML: In your early years, it seemed like you got your ideas from folklore and fairytales. Freddie: That’s because it was so easy, haha. Writing songs was difficult, but lyrics came to me right away. In the first and second albums, for example, there were lots of songs about fairies, right? Not only did those images come to mind easily, I got a lot of ideas from those kinds of things when I was a student. ML: But really, you sometimes write shockingly beautiful fantasy songs. I actually love songs like Jealousy, Love of My Life, and Nevermore, haha. Freddie: Domo arigatou! [=”Thank you” in Japanese] I want to keep writing about things that get taken away from us. On top of the songs you just mentioned now, Lily of the Valley is another example, and I’m singing about myself in all of them. ML: Can we say they’re a product of your imagination? Freddie: Yeah, I find writing lyrics very hard now, but I don’t want to be like John Lennon for example, and write lyrics as a job, haha. I think John Lennon is a genius, though, don’t get me wrong. Sorry, one second. Hey, do you mind getting me a beer? (He asks a Queen staffer nearby for a drink.) ML: Queen has a big hit single in Killer Queen. Is it important for Queen to have hit singles? Freddie: (While drinking a can of beer that was given to him) Of course. I think any band can say the same. Because with a hit single, you can get more people to listen to your songs, and get more people to know your name. It’s a good thing, and never a bad thing. But (he sits back down) although we always have the possibility of getting a hit single, it’s not like that’s the only reason why we write songs. After all, it’s one song on an album, and we listen to all of the songs before picking a song to release as a single. ML: Speaking of hit singles, I heard an orchestral interpretation of Bohemian Rhapsody -- have you heard it? Freddie: It was the London Philharmonic Orchestra, right? (He asks the staff member.) ML: Do you like it? Freddie: Eh, I guess so, haha. I think it’s a good thing. It doesn’t seem like we have many songs that can have an orchestral arrangement. ML: Do you think there are elements of classical music to the songs you write? Freddie: No, I don’t think there are that many. When it comes to classical music, I just listen to a bit of Chopin, and above all, classical music is too long, haha. Well, I guess you could say our songs aren’t short either, but they’re not as long as Yes’s songs, haha. ML: I’d like to ask about your most recent album, Jazz, and that Arabian-style song called Mustapha. Everyone was quite surprised at that one, haha… Freddie: Even we’re surprised (He laughs joyfully). Arabian-style rock is different, and most of all there probably isn’t too many people who know Arabic, haha. But actually, there isn’t any special meaning. I just thought it was fresh and thought it might be interesting, and that’s all it is. ML: Is Mustapha a famous song? Freddie: In Europe, especially around Germany, apparently it became well known. ML: I heard the people at the record company in Japan were also surprised at that song, haha. For the Japanese lyrics insert, no one knew Arabic, and apparently they were quite perplexed. Freddie: I’ll bet, ahahahaha..! I often hear people are surprised. ML: Speaking of songs in a foreign language, your Japanese is very good. We’re quite surprised at your pronunciation in particular, and how close to perfect it is… Freddie: Domo arigatou! (He really does say this well in Japanese.) When I came to Japan last time, I worked hard at being able to speak it well. This time around, I learned the proper pronunciation of place names like Nagoya and Fukuoka. It’s not NaGOya, it’s Nagoya, and it’s not Fukiooka, but Fukuoka. (He says this with frighteningly good pronunciation!) ML: You’ve been singing Teo Torriatte since the Osaka show. Whose idea was that? Freddie: It was all of us. We didn’t perform it until now because it’s difficult, but I’m happy if everyone enjoyed it. Anyway, it’s in Japanese so it wouldn’t be understood outside of Japan, haha. I think it’s Brian’s best song. [Tokyo, April 25th, 1979 - Teo Torriatte] ML: I think the Japanese language is very difficult for foreigners. That’s why I think the fans were happy to hear quite a bit of Japanese from the members of Queen on stage. Freddie: I think we’re able to communicate more than before. When we went to Yugoslavia, we said things like, “zdravo” and “agrave.” ML: What do those words mean? Freddie: They mean, “Hello!” and “Good evening,” haha. [Note: the second word was written アグレイヴ in Japanese but that doesn’t appear close to the standard way of saying “good evening” so I couldn’t look up how to write it.] (At this point we spend some time talking about the Japanese language…) ML: Um, changing topics a bit… people age whether they like it or not, so I’m wondering, do you think about the future? Freddie: Uhhhh, let me see… (he thinks for a while) That’s a difficult one. I don’t think I’ll be quitting music. I’ll continue to be involved in music, one way or another. With time, something will change, but I probably can’t leave music. I don’t think about the future very much. ML: But I think there’s something like a turning point for everyone at some point… Freddie: (Slowly, choosing his words carefully) I don’t think you’ll know when or what was a turning point until the end of your life. For me, I think a variety of things will happen in the future. I think the fact that I’m a musician now is a turning point, and I try to make everyday a good one and challenge myself in a variety of ways. But I don’t want to set detailed plans, because I would get bored, haha. ML: Well, thinking about the near future, do you have plans to record your next studio album after your live album is released in May? Freddie: What, the next album already? Haha. Uhhh, we have some ideas, and we have plans to start recording around June, but I don’t get serious about it until the last minute, haha. ML: Do you have any plans to publish a collection of your lyrics? Freddie: I don’t have an interest in anything like that. A collection of Queen’s best lyrics would be fine, though. ML: Your recent stage design and your costumes have more of a masculine image than before, wouldn’t you say? Freddie: I always want to keep changing. Anyway, I’m fast at changing things up, haha. You can get a fresh feeling just by changing your costume, right? I come up with my own ideas about the clothes, and get someone to make them for me. I don’t have a special designer. ML: Is there anything you have lost, now that you’re this famous? Freddie: Yeah….. It sounds silly, but I guess invasion of privacy? But (turning things around), I am very happy now. It’s just that… people…. When you become successful, change is inevitable. That’s why when old friends don’t understand me for that reason, it’s difficult. (In a quiet voice…) It’s a very difficult thing. ML: Well, on to our last question. Now that you have fame and fortune, what do you want? Freddie: Oh! I wonder what would be good, haha. ML: A peaceful, quiet life? Freddie: Nah, I hate the easy life. I want to take on something bigger than what I have now, and accomplish something big. I always want to take on a challenge. ML: Thank you for spending a long time with us! Freddie spoke passionately, despite his throat problems. Freddie, who wants fans to have dreams, Freddie, who wants to keep singing about things he has lost, and Freddie, who laughed and said he was a romanticist -- in those black, exotic pupils of his, I thought I could see a part of him that would never lose his youthful spirit and remain pure. By the time I said, “Good night!” and left the hotel room, it was already close to 10 o’clock. [end of article] [Photo from this interview, featuring the interviewer, Kaoruko Togo, on the right. She later revealed that Paul Prenter blocked many interview requests with Freddie, and the two did not get along. I think he's the "Queen staffer" mentioned in this article.] Also in this issue of Music Life... A photo shoot from April 18, 1979, after Queen was presented with their awards for “Best Group” (1978) in the annual Music Life readers’ poll for the 4th year in a row (1975-1978). They would fall to #2 behind Cheap Trick in 1979, then climb back to #1 from 1980 to 1982. I don’t know what they placed in 1983, but the top three were Duran Duran, Culture Club, and U2.
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georg
Global Moderator
wrote several books
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Post by georg on Jun 5, 2021 13:24:33 GMT
Another fascinating and revealing interview. Thank you as always deathtoming!
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Post by deathtoming on Jun 6, 2021 4:24:24 GMT
ML: I heard the people at the record company in Japan were also surprised at that song, haha. For the Japanese lyrics insert, no one knew Arabic, and apparently they were quite perplexed. Freddie: I’ll bet, ahahahaha..! I often hear people are surprised. After reading this part of the interview, I wanted to see how they ended up handling the translation for the Mustapha lyrics for the Japanese edition of Jazz. It turns out they didn't bother, and skipped right to Fat Bottomed Girls. In fact, I have a hard time finding official Mustapha lyrics anywhere. The Queen YouTube channel has lyric videos for their songs, but for Mustapha they only offer a "montage" video. The official book Complete Illustrated Lyrics also doesn't include Mustapha, and neither does the 2011 Jazz booklet. The only place I found it was in the booklet for the 2012 SACD (Japan), which should have the same booklet as the 2011 Japanese CD. Maybe it's in the booklet of earlier Japanese remasters, but it's not in the first Japanese CD from 1987. Are the lyrics available officially anywhere else? Anyway, in case you want official Mustapha lyrics, here they are, with Mustapha sometimes written mustapha, and Allah-I sometimes written Allah-i: Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim Allah, Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you, hey Mustapha, Mustapha, Mustapha, Ibrahim Mustapha, Mustapha, Mustapha, Ibrahim Mustapha, Ibrahim, Mustapha, Ibrahim Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you Mustapha, Ibrahim, al havra kris vanin Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you Mustapha, hey, Mustapha, Mustapha, Ibrahim Mustapha Ibrahim, oooh ahh Allah-I, Allah-I, Allah-I, Ibra-Ibra-Ibrahim, him Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Allah Allah Allah-i, hey Mustapha, mustapha - Allah-i na stolei Mustapha, mustapha - Achtar es na sholei Mustapha, mustapha - Mochamut dei ya low eshelei Mustapha, mustapha - ai, ai, ai, ai, ahelei Mustapha, Mustapha Ist avil ahiln avil ahiln adhim mustapha Salaam Aleikum Mustapha, Ibrahim, Mustapha, Ibrahim Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you Mustapha Ibrahim, achbar ish navin Allah, Allah, Allah will pray for you Mustapha, Mustapha Mustapha, Ibrahim, Mustapha, Ibrahim, hey Allah-I, Allah-I, Allah-i Ibra-Ibra-Ibrahim, him Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Ibrahim Allah, Allah, Allah-i, hey Mustapha, Mustapha, Mustapha, mustapha, hey Mustapha, mustapha, Mustapha, mustapha Mustapha, Mustapha Vontap ist ahiln avil ahiln adhim mustapha Aleikum Salaam, hey
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Post by Chopin1995 on Jun 24, 2021 19:34:17 GMT
Thank you again! Interesting remark about Chopin amongst many others in this interview.
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Post by deathtoming on Jun 26, 2021 16:07:31 GMT
Thank you again! Interesting remark about Chopin amongst many others in this interview. No problem. I definitely thought of you when I read the parts about Chopin and classical music!
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Post by Chopin1995 on Jun 26, 2021 19:34:41 GMT
Thank you again! Interesting remark about Chopin amongst many others in this interview. No problem. I definitely thought of you when I read the parts about Chopin and classical music! Oh, that's lovely, thank you I love reading these interviews!
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Post by breakthru on Jun 30, 2021 6:24:43 GMT
Thank you for translating these articles! Wonderful interviews.
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Post by deathtoming on Jul 4, 2021 2:55:26 GMT
The first interview translation in this thread was of Music Life’s interview at Ridge Farm. From the same issue, there was another article that told the story of the magazine's visit to Ridge Farm, and it gives some context to the many photos by Watal Asanuma from that day. This is my translation of that article. “The Whole Story of Music Life’s Exclusive Interview with Queen
Music Life - September 1975 issue By Kaoruko Togo Photos by Watal Asanuma [Original text in Japanese, translation by me] The climate in London now is comparable to that of Japan around May. When compared to the consecutive days of scorching-heat hell in Japan, we’re truly envious of these pleasant days. On one of these days, July 14th, journalist Keiko Miyasaka and myself managed to secure an interview with the four members of Queen. The members are at a place called Dorking, about 2 hours by car from London. At this farm, the four of them are rehearsing their new songs. We left at around noon, arriving around 2 pm in Dorking. The farm that Freddie, Brian, Roger, and John are staying at, Ridge Farm, is surrounded in every direction by green trees and is a truly splendid place. There is a central room, pool, tennis court, storage shed, guest house, and soundproof rehearsal room, as well as a yard with a lawn and roses and such that are pleasant to look at. We are invited to come into what appears to be a dining room, with a big wooden table prominently placed in the middle and wonderful paintings hanging from the walls. Around 7 to 8 people are wandering around, but it doesn’t take long to find the unforgettable faces of Freddie, Brian, Roger, and John amongst them. “Hey! You’re with Music Life, aren’t you? Thanks for coming all the way here,” Freddie greets us to shake our hands. Roger, Brian, and John each follow up with, “Hello!” Wearing a white shirt and white pants, Freddie looks dashing as always. Brian wears a dark green t-shirt and black pants. When we last met in Tokyo he had a tan, but he’s shockingly pale today. I understand the feeling of fans who go crazy when they look into his blueish, violet eyes -- wearing a blue t-shirt and patchy blue jeans is the energetic Roger. John is dressed lightly in a patterned black dress shirt and jeans. The four of them enthusiastically welcome us. We immediately show them the June edition of Music Life with Queen on the cover, and this gets them riled up, too. “Oh, this is the photo from that time!” “This is the time when… and that’s the time when…” And for a while, they talk about their memories of Japan. I notice that Freddie is pulling out a jacket embroidered with gold and silver thread. Apparently, it was a gift given to him when he was in Japan. “Come here, and why don’t you have some tea?” says Roger. Quickly and deftly, he prepares tea. I notice something just as he turns his back to me for a moment. Wh--what!? Hey, there’s a prominent tear in the butt of his jeans. This perverted writer is quite drawn to this, and gives it a good look. It’s a clear horizontal tear of around 15 cm, so with every move Roger makes, it makes me go, whoa whoa! [This photo shows the tear in Roger's jeans.] The four members are living together here until the recording sessions for their next album begin, but who will be looking after their daily needs, like their meals? I’m sure it’s what you, the fans, are most concerned about. Well, those responsibilities fall on the maid who works at Ridge Farm, and Barbara, the wife of Queen’s producer, Roy Thomas Baker. Today, there’s a nice smell coming from the kitchen. Apparently, they were just about to have a late lunch, so we are treated to a meal, too. While we are dawdling around, taking a long time to sort our belongings, someone kindly pours soup into our soup bowl. I look up to say thanks, and see that it’s Brian himself. This man is truly like a modern day Christ-like person, and is so kind that he’s always making sure everyone is satisfied. “He is always nice to everyone. He is truly a kind person,” Barbara would tell us later. We are starving and shamelessly dig in, and after eating head to the tennis court with the members and crew (mixer, producer, roadie). Freddie is the most enthusiastic at tennis. He looks quite cool smashing the ball left and right accurately. Still, being image-conscious, Freddie casually fixes his hair whenever it gets messed up. John is always smiling. Even when playing tennis, he smiles as he chases the ball. And unexpectedly (perhaps?), he is able to skillfully hit the ball, which everyone responds to with . Roger is always energetic. Apparently he is naturally an athletic person, and hops around in a lively manner, racquet in hand. Freddie and Roger compete quite fiercely. Freddie is the kind of person that doesn’t like ambiguity, so when the ball lands near the line, he calls it “out” and cannot be convinced otherwise. Roger, being Roger, insists, “That was definitely in!” John looks on, with a smile indicating that he couldn’t care less either way. And, we look on, from the sidelines. By the way, if you’re wondering where Brian is, he is happily clicking away with the camera he bought in Japan, taking pictures of everyone. Freddie sees this and loudly says, “Brian! Why aren’t you playing?” inviting him to the tennis court. Brian mumbles something and reluctantly heads to the court with a tennis racquet in one hand. And his play is amazing! ...is what we’d like to tell you, but unfortunately he’s not very good. When Freddie hits a nice, clean serve, Brian braces himself somewhat unconfidently, and swings well, but misses the ball spectacularly! He swings and misses three consecutive times. Not surprisingly, Brian looks disheartened. But we cheer him on to try his best, and just as we think he’ll get it this time, he swings and misses the ball again! Roy Thomas Baker should let him be, but each time Brian misses, Baker bellows, “Bahahaha! That was teeeerrible,” with a big laugh. “There’s something wrong with this racquet. And, there’s a hole in my t-shirt that’s distracting me,” responds Brian. And so the loud, lively times continue! After breaking a sweat with tennis, we sit on a bench in the large yard for our interview. Oh, but before that, we decide to give each of them a gift from Music Life, and hand each of them a box with a traditional Japanese mask. Freddie gets a tengu [mythical creature with a long nose], Roger a han’nya [horned demoness representing women’s rage and jealousy], Brian a hyottoko [humourous male], John an okame [plain woman], and this, too, results in some noisy banter for a while. As for the interview itself, if you read that and also observe their words and conduct from up close like we did, their personalities become very clear, making things interesting. First of all, Roger is the most black-and-white about anything. He talks fast and frequently, and also jokes around the most, with the charm of a mischievous boy. Freddie is prim and proper, and slightly snobbish. Also, very stylish. John doesn’t say much, but speaks up when it’s important. Brian is sensitive and perceptive. After the interview, everyone decides they want to shoot some pool, and heads back to the dining hall. If you’re wondering why we have to go to the dining area for billiards, it’s because the large dining table turns into a pool table. Freddie is always the one that gathers the group. “Okay everyooone! We’re going to play billiards! Everyone get together!” It appears the whole gang is here, but Roger is nowhere to be seen. Brian goes to look for him, and finds Roger captivated by some large object that is about to fall from the second floor of the barn. The object looks very heavy, so several people work together busily to bring down the object safely. “Oh wow, that’s crazy! I’m not going to move until that thing falls!” says Roger. Now, the billiards; the game starts with Freddie, John, and producer Baker. Freddie again shows his skills. After some time, Brian and Roger join in, and the four of them have a fierce competition, making a lot of noise. After the game of pool, it’s finally time for rehearsal. There’s a completely soundproofed shed not too far from the main building, and that’s where Freddie, Brian, Roger, John, the producer, the mixer and so on gather to practice their new songs. Their faces, innocent up until now, are now tensed up and serious. When the four of them are with their musical instruments, their eyes and facial expressions change. Freddie is the one who assumes the leadership role. Sitting by his favourite white piano, Freddie listens in carefully to what the others are playing. His side profile shows a face that has changed considerably since earlier in the day, and is so serious that it’s scary. Roger bangs on the drums with cigarette in mouth, looking truly masculine. After rehearsals, the four of them sit on the grass of the large yard, talking about their plans for the next album, enjoying themselves greatly. They tell me that sometimes, the four of them reminisce about their time in Japan like this, so it’s clear that the band really loves Japan. Before long, we realize that it’s already past 7 pm. We’re reluctant to leave, but we also don’t want to impose much longer, so we leave the beautiful Ridge Farm. The four of them see us off at the door, and each say, “Please say hi to our lovely fans in Japan. We’ll definitely go back to Japan next year.” We pray that those words will come true, and drive off, leaving Dorking. [end of article]
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Post by saintjiub on Jul 4, 2021 5:06:47 GMT
Ah ... Music Life in the UK ... a journalistic rose amongst thorns (UK journalists). Evidently the UK journalists learned nothing from Music Life.
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Post by deathtoming on Jul 16, 2021 2:36:27 GMT
John opens up a fair bit in this interview from 1986. John Deacon - Once the young nobleman of the rock world, now a father of four!IN ROCK magazine, May 1986 issue Reprinted in Movie Star magazine, May 2019 issue Original text in Japanese; translated to English by me “Why are they all such good people!?” blurts out an assistant. Even though they should be exhausted from doing consecutive interviews in the three rooms they rented at this luxury hotel from morning to night for four days, Queen’s light laughter doesn’t subside. Starting off as teen idols when they first arrived in Japan 11 years ago, they found great success and became a super band for all people, and then developed worldwide prominence… and then, having experienced an unavoidable period of stagnation among other things, they are firmly entrenched in their position, and show absolutely none of the arrogance of young upstart bands. And among them is Mr. Smile, John Deacon, owner of the most charming, smiling face. IN ROCK: Brian, Roger, and Freddie have released solo albums, so isn’t it about time we get to John’s turn? John: If I had the material I could, but I don’t have a lot of songs. IR: But didn’t You’re My Best Friend become a big world wide hit? John: Um.. that’s from a long time ago.. Haha. IR: That’s a song you wrote about your wife, isn’t it? I think it’s wonderful that your wife can be a friend that you can rely on more than anyone. John: Ahaha. But when you’ve been married for a long time, you go through a lot. It’s not like things are always going well. Well, we’re still together, though. IR: You have three children? John: Four, actually, haha. Robert is my eldest son at 10, followed by Michael, 8, my daughter Laura, who is 6, and my youngest, Joshua, is 2 years and a bit. IR: In the world of rock musicians, the father is busy, so raising the child becomes exclusively the role of the wife. Is this the case for you as well, John? John: It’s difficult to manage a family well. I have to say I’m lucky that I still have my wife with me to do this together. When the kids were young, touring wasn’t that painful because I could take my wife and kids along with me. But as they got older, school became an issue, so we decided that everyone except me would settle in London. There was a time when every time we’d go on tour, I’d get terribly homesick, and the suffering was unbearable. Luckily, we haven’t done long tours these past 2-3 years, so I’ve been home longer, and now conversely, I’m itching to go on tour. IR: Brian told us that the wives of the Queen members were all close to each other, and that was a factor in helping to keep the group from disbanding. John: That’s right. Brian’s wife Chrissie, my Veronica, Roger’s girlfriend Dominique, and Freddie’s Mary are all good friends. Just the other day, we were all together for Mary’s birthday party. IR: Mary is still a part of Queen, even though she and Freddie split up? John: Mary and Freddie are not living together anymore, but they’re old friends, and so she’s a member of the Queen family. IR: That reminds me, John, you lost your father at an early age, didn’t you? John: It happened when I was 11. I was profoundly affected, and it resulted in me being a child who barely spoke for a period of time. I was in a dazed state for a while, and even to this day, I don’t have many memories of my life before then. What got me out of it was when I started to get interested in music. When I was 12 to 14, I was obsessed with the radio, and looked for and listened to nothing but pop music. Then I started to learn the guitar, formed a band, switched to the bass, and did gigs all over. It definitely wasn’t just a hobby; I gave it my all. IR: John, you’re a model student, ranked #3 at the University of London, right? Wasn’t it difficult to be a student and a musician at the same time? John: Not really, because music and studying were all I had in my youth, and I didn’t do anything else. A model student!? Yeah, maybe. I didn’t smoke or drink in university, and also didn’t go around chasing girls. IR: Were you a late bloomer when it came to girls? John: Yeah. And I was also probably shy. I was raised in the countryside of Leicester, and went to London at age 18 for university. London was a difficult place to get accustomed to. I was always conscious of being an outsider. Around that time, I was living in the dorm at the University of London, with nothing but guys. And my major was in science, so again, all guys. But eventually I got used to it, and couldn’t stand being without music, so I asked my instruments to be sent to me, and I started playing in a school band. IR: And how did you end up in Queen? John: It was quite a bit after. I heard from a friend that there was a band looking for a bassist, so I had an audition. By that time, the concept of Queen had already been formed, and the various ideas were already solidified. So, being the new guy, it took me some time before I was able to contribute ideas. IR: I heard you spent some time as a school teacher after graduating. John: Hm? That was Brian, actually. IR: Oh! I read in a magazine that when you were teaching, you fell in love with a coworker and got married.. John: I met her when I was still a student, and back then she was also a student at the University of London in classes with mostly girls. I was in classes with mostly guys, right? So, there’s a meeting place, the disco. My friend took me along, and that’s where I met her. She was an elementary school teacher for a while. IR: Is she a stay-at-home mom now? John: Yeah. She likes drawing and such, and has a keen sense for the arts. I’m the opposite and more of a practical person, so I think we influence each other and change as time goes on. IR: On a personal note, my very first concert was a Queen show, and the first album I ever bought was Sheer Heart Attack. At the time, Queen was seen as “post-Beatles,” and helped to shine the spotlight on rock music, which wasn’t that big up until then. John: That takes me back. I remember well the first time we went to Japan. We’ve had success around the world after that, but it’s not quite the same. We didn’t have that many screaming girls, for example. Girls came running up as soon as we landed at the airport... we couldn’t even take one step out of the hotel… we didn’t have those experiences in other countries. IR: How did you feel at the time? John: I felt a bit proud, haha. It was a good feeling. I don’t want it to always be like that, but you could say we have an emotional attachment to Japan. IR: Queen currently doesn’t have a manager, and John, you’re effectively running the practical business side of things, aren’t you? Do you think that Queen is very independent as a band? John: The reason for that is, ever since the band formed, we had firm ideas of our own, and didn’t like having outsiders mess with them. For us, if an outsider told us, “do this, do that,” we’d get frustrated, haha. IR: But aren’t there times when there’s in-fighting in the group, or when you don’t see eye to eye on some matters? When that happens, how do you resolve them? John: That’s a difficult one. We still get into terrible arguments. There was a time when it was really terrible, but things are better now. Well anyway, we find a way to get through it. IR: I hear that you often spend your holidays with Roger. Are you particularly close with him? John: That’s right. I get along with Roger in particular. It’s because he’s a friendly guy. IR: I wonder if you get along because you’re both Leos. John: We have the same astrological sign, but our personalities are completely different. He’s more of a stereotypical Leo. He’s friendly, frank, and sociable. IR: When we think of Queen, generally we imagine Freddie’s face, but when it comes to interviews or meeting face to face, did you know that everyone picks you as their first choice? This may come off as rude, but Freddie is eccentric, and seen as unusual... John: The truth is, Freddie is an unusual person. He doesn’t like meeting people he doesn’t know, and really hates interviews and other kinds of media engagements. He also doesn’t like TV appearances. For example, we would get invited to appear on Terry Wogan’s show, but Freddie alone is against it, so it fizzles out in the end. IR: I wonder if he wants to maintain an aura of mystery. John: Maybe, yeah. IR: Does Freddie’s personality ever become an obstacle for the group? John: Of course, yeah. Like when the three of us want to do something but Freddie insists he doesn’t. For example, the three of us want to do more concerts, more TV appearances, and more activities, but Freddie always responds that he doesn’t want to. And we’ve decided to not do things without Freddie. Anyway, once Freddie says something, there’s no one that can change his opinion, because he’s stubborn. And as it stands now, Freddie is saying he doesn’t want to tour. IR: Does Freddie love being alone? Or, are there friends that he can trust? John: It looks like there are 2 or 3. Plus, you could say that we band members are friends, couldn’t you? In the 3-4 months we spend recording, we see each other every day. IR: What’s Roger up to? John: He’s producing an LP for Magnum at a studio in Switzerland, and is coming back home today (March 21). IR: And Brian produced the Heavy Pettin album, so what about you, John? John: Haha. Last year, I wrote a song for Hot Chocolate. They said they have to re-record it, so it won’t be released until later. We haven’t decided whether it’s going to be released through Hot Chocolate, or as Errol Brown + John Deacon, and we were actually keeping it a secret. Also, I might do music for a movie. That won’t be until later, though. IR: You’ve got a concert planned for Wembley Stadium on July 12. Is this part of a world tour? John: This summer, our plan is to do large concerts in both outdoor and indoor venues in Europe. Freddie dislikes long tours. IR: But rock musicians have to do concerts, I think. John: I feel the same. It’d be frustrating to be confined to a studio. IR: By the way, do you have a personal wish? I assume that in your case, you wouldn’t have financial wishes.... John: Haha. I want to travel. I want to go to South East Asia, and if possible, go there as Queen and do concerts. We’ve been to Japan countless times, but there are other cities we’ve never been to. Can you believe it? It’d probably be possible if we kept the scope of the concert to a minimum and just play, but the band’s opinion is that they don’t want to do it if that’s all there is. I also want to play in China, but that will still take some time. IR: Roger told us that Queen had been preparing for a performance in China well before Wham! John: We had plans, and also had some talks, but it didn’t actually happen. IR: With the Chinese government being strict, it sounds like you’d incur a huge loss even if you did play there. John: That’s right. I think it’ll take some more time before things open up more for Western bands there. IR: There has been a lot of talk about tax asylums recently. Does Queen ever consider doing this? John: There was a time when we were living abroad, but we now all own homes in England. I wouldn’t want to live in the United States. The lifestyle is completely different, doesn’t suit me, and most importantly, the US doesn’t feel like home. In the end, we come home to London. IR: Did you hear the new song from the Rolling Stones, Harlem Shuffle? John: Yeah. That’s a cover of an old song, right? When I was a child, I liked the original version sung by an Irish singer and listened to it a lot, so that’s what I know, and the version by the Stones didn’t really do it for me. IR: What’s the most exciting memory you have? John: That would probably be the first time we performed in South America. That was 1982. The concert itself is very memorable, but I also liked the atmosphere of the city. [end of interview]
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Post by saintjiub on Jul 16, 2021 3:17:01 GMT
Thanks again for your many article translations. The Japan press seems to have a knack for "Rock" interviews. I enjoy that the Japan press does not ask the same old cliche questions and asks many original/unusual questions.
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georg
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Post by georg on Jul 16, 2021 10:51:34 GMT
Another wonderful interview! Lots of good info about Veronica and John’s relationship with her. Thanks deathtoming!
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Post by katydyd5 on Aug 1, 2021 1:41:48 GMT
This is probably my favorite thread. Thanks so much for all of the translations!
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Post by deathtoming on Aug 2, 2021 3:36:42 GMT
Music Life interviews The Cross. I learned some new things. “First Interview - Roger Taylor / The Cross”Music Life magazine, February 1988 issue Reprinted in the special “Roger Taylor” edition of Music Life, August 2019 Interview by Moana Roberts Original text in Japanese; translated to English by me [This is a translation of the reprint, which features the interview only and cuts out any blurb that came before or after it.] Music Life (ML): To start, can you give us details about how The Cross was formed? Spike Edney: Roger started working on his third solo album, and after coming up with the songs Cowboys and Indians and Shove It, he came to the conclusion that the sound was too good to keep it as a simple solo project, and that the sound required a band. But he was really against the idea of getting together a band of famous musicians or session musicians, so he decided to do an anonymous audition. Clayton Moss: Yeah, even if you audition, make sure you don’t tell Roger your name, haha! ML: How did they get people to audition, and how did the process work? Spike: Things like wanted ads in Melody Maker, or by word of mouth… They had people submit audition cassette tapes and photographs, and then it was narrowed down quite a bit from there, and afterwards the real auditions were held in a rented theatre, and three people aside from me were chosen. There were over 300 hopefuls, so it was a difficult process. ML: Three people aside from you…? Spike: I started working with Queen three years ago as their keyboard player, and have been working with Roger on his solo work since the start. ML: What kinds of bands were you all in before joining The Cross? Peter Noone: I was in Roman Holiday before they were big, and after that I was in a band called One the Juggler that mainly played live. But that band broke up recently, and I just happened to be looking for something when I heard about this audition for a mystery band. Clayton: I was in a band described as the world’s worst, The Union, which was also called The Onion by some. Well, I only played around five times with this band, but before that, I was in a rhythm and blues band based in the Netherlands called Old Tennis Shoes for six years. But I thought about my career path after that, and returned to London, and went through a lot of bands. Spike: I’ve essentially been exclusively with Queen since ‘83, but from time to time I would join Bob Geldof on live shows and recordings. (Roger Taylor appears at this point.) ML: Both the band and album are called The Cross, so what’s the origin of this name? (The album title would later change to Shove It.) Roger: It’s my girlfriend Dominique’s idea. We had quite a tough time coming up with a name for the band, and just as everyone was getting a headache from it, Dominique says, “The Cross has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” and that’s how it was decided. Before that, there were lots of names we considered, like The Force. ML: The Force… that’s quite a heavy metal-sounding name. Peter: Right? Apparently there actually is a heavy metal band with that name. But the name The Cross, it’s sharp, short, easy to remember, and makes a deep impression for those reasons… that’s what we all thought. ML: How much time did it take to record? Roger: In February of ‘87, I started in a studio in Switzerland, and then moved to a studio in Ibiza, Spain, and finished in September, but during that time there was the audition and the process of forming the band, so it actually didn’t take that much time. ML: Were there any guest musicians on this album? Roger: Freddie did some vocals for us for just one song, but aside from that, it was all done with the members from The Cross. ML: Were the other members involved in writing songs? Roger: All of the members are currently writing songs for the next album, but for this album, with the band being formed in the middle of recording among other things, I did all of the song writing. Of course, I also incorporated their ideas when we were recording. ML: Can we consider The Cross as a permanent band and not just a project? Roger: Of course! We are writing songs as The Cross now, after all. ML: That means Roger, you’re in two bands at once, so how do you plan on maintaining a balance? Roger: That’s a good question, haha! I don’t think it’s as difficult as it sounds. Truthfully, Queen is mostly inactive these days...... This year as well, at most we’ll spend three months recording, so I’m planning on spending the other nine months on The Cross. We’re planning on doing lots of live shows with this band. I really like performing live. I can make up for the fact that Queen isn’t performing live very much by doing performances with The Cross. Peter: That means Roger will have 12 months with no break during the year, haha!! Clayton: That’s fine, because he’s been resting three years for the busy work ahead, haha. Roger: Yeah, you could say that, haha! ML: Was the recording of this album influenced by a particular sound or artist? Roger: The Beastie Boys. You may not believe me, but I came to really like that energy, and the sound of the mix of rap and rock. When you hear our album, you’ll know that there wasn’t a direct influence, but that said, I listened to them pretty much everyday. ML: Roger, you’re taking on vocal and guitar duties, but are you not going to drum anymore? Roger: Not for The Cross. I wanted a bit of a change of pace, and also wanted to focus on vocals. There are people like Phil Collins, but I think it’s difficult. All the more so for concerts especially. With The Cross, I leave the drums completely to Josh. ML: But as a drummer yourself, don’t you end up wanting to interfere? Roger: Yeah, I do. I felt really bad for Josh about constantly butting in, so recently I made sure I would never interfere. It’s already bad enough that I’m a drummer myself, putting Josh in a difficult position. He has a really good sense of rhythm, among other things, and he’s solid. He’s a different kind of drummer from me, but I’m happy. Besides, it’s not like I was looking for a drummer that was similar in style to me. ML: Do you have plans for a tour? Roger: We’ll be touring the UK and Europe in February. We’ve already been rehearsing for quite a while. ML: Any plans to come to Japan? Roger: There’s nothing concrete yet, but The Cross will definitely go to Japan in ‘88! [end]
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georg
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Post by georg on Aug 2, 2021 12:32:26 GMT
Very interesting, as always! A little fudging of the truth here and there (Brian appeared on Love Lies Bleeding, so Freddie wasn't the only one on the album, and Spike's comment about being on Roger's solo material "from the start" is tenuous), but some genuine suggest of info, especially the Beastie Boys tidbit. And... Narrator: They wouldn't.
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Post by deathtoming on Aug 3, 2021 2:52:41 GMT
Very interesting, as always! A little fudging of the truth here and there (Brian appeared on Love Lies Bleeding, so Freddie wasn't the only one on the album, and Spike's comment about being on Roger's solo material "from the start" is tenuous), but some genuine suggest of info, especially the Beastie Boys tidbit. And... Yes, I knew I had to translate this article when I read the shout out to the Beastie Boys! I can't shake the image of Roger putting on Licensed to Ill everyday. Maybe he started off rapping along to their songs before trying that style with his own lyrics when writing Shove It. That part stood out to me as well. Maybe there wasn't enough interest in Japan? Earlier this year at a Queen event in Japan, it was revealed that Queen offered to go to Japan to help promote the release of The Miracle album there, and the record execs in Japan said no thanks. At the time, in the Music Life reader polls, Queen didn't even make the list for best group, which means they were out of the Top 50. They made it to #49 after The Miracle, and then went back to unranked the year after. A far cry from their #1 ranking as recently as 1982. I doubt there was much interest in The Cross, seeing how unfashionable Queen was.
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Post by oreno on Aug 3, 2021 18:21:58 GMT
Very interesting, as always! A little fudging of the truth here and there (Brian appeared on Love Lies Bleeding, so Freddie wasn't the only one on the album, and Spike's comment about being on Roger's solo material "from the start" is tenuous), but some genuine suggest of info, especially the Beastie Boys tidbit. And... Narrator: They wouldn't. I know we're hardwired now to disbelieve or suspect literally everything Queen ever say but sometimes it is what it is, i.e.. just incomplete. Not 'fudged'. Also we don't know (ever!) what a magazine article has edited out. I think 'from the start' might be a translation issue, or even just Spike being unclear - I'd say it means from the start of his work with Queen, as that's the particular context he's speaking in. As for Brian on LLB, oddly Roger was completely open about it in Making Music magazine at around the same time.
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georg
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Post by georg on Aug 3, 2021 19:12:26 GMT
Very interesting, as always! A little fudging of the truth here and there (Brian appeared on Love Lies Bleeding, so Freddie wasn't the only one on the album, and Spike's comment about being on Roger's solo material "from the start" is tenuous), but some genuine suggest of info, especially the Beastie Boys tidbit. And... Narrator: They wouldn't. I know we're hardwired now to disbelieve or suspect literally everything Queen ever say but sometimes it is what it is, i.e.. just incomplete. Not 'fudged'. Also we don't know (ever!) what a magazine article has edited out. I think 'from the start' might be a translation issue, or even just Spike being unclear - I'd say it means from the start of his work with Queen, as that's the particular context he's speaking in. As for Brian on LLB, oddly Roger was completely open about it in Making Music magazine at around the same time. Good points all – to be clear, my post wasn’t meant to be snarky towards history or what we’ve been told, though it came off as such.
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oreno
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Post by oreno on Aug 4, 2021 10:43:08 GMT
Indeed, I certainly didn't mean to be picky @georg. There's a forum tendency towards cynicism and pedantry about Queen that has become so bloody wearing, I tend to knee jerk a bit. Your point was right actually, Roger was quite specific there that only Freddie guested.
I generally find these Japanese interviews far more open and revealing than almost anything published in English.
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georg
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Post by georg on Aug 4, 2021 12:13:20 GMT
Agreed! In general, they’ve all seemed so much looser, relaxed, and comfortable with Music Life. They really are revelations – in my own experience, it’s astonishing that I’ve been a fan all these years, so I’d think I read everything… but nope! deathtoming (lousy mobile not letting me tag people) has unearthed so many treasures, it really is exciting.
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Post by deathtoming on Aug 5, 2021 2:12:06 GMT
Agreed! In general, they’ve all seemed so much looser, relaxed, and comfortable with Music Life. They really are revelations – in my own experience, it’s astonishing that I’ve been a fan all these years, so I’d think I read everything… but nope! deathtoming (lousy mobile not letting me tag people) has unearthed so many treasures, it really is exciting. Thank you to you and everyone else who has commented. Happy to hear you and others are getting something out of these! Lots more to come, slowly...
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