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Post by soundfreak1 on May 6, 2021 12:15:32 GMT
Found this on the net in a forum topic about "failed opportunites":
"The Beatles and/or Apple reportedly passed on acts including Crosby, Stills, and Nash; David Bowie; Fleetwood Mac; Queen; Gilbert O’Sullivan; Wicked Lester (an early incarnation of KISS); and dumped people like James Taylor and Hot Chocolate just before they made it big."
Never heard or read before, that the early "Queen" tried to get a contract with the "Beatles"- label. Looking back it's good, that this didn't happen, cause no new artist on Apple got really big and usually left soon.
But is there any truth in this story?
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Post by Hammett To Fall on May 6, 2021 23:12:37 GMT
I suspect someone heard the story that Smile sent a demo tape to Apple & concluded that if the band had been signed, they would have still turned into Queen a couple of years later. As it was, the only feedback they got was that Paul McCartney liked their logo. I don't recall reading a specific date for this, though Apple ran an infamous talent search advert in April 1968, which saw them deluged with replies. It didn't lead to any artists being signed.
Ibex also sent a demo to Apple, too, hoping The Beatles would look favourably on another Liverpool-based band. It got them some local press coverage at least, but this was in May 1969, shortly before Freddie's arrival.
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Post by soundfreak1 on May 7, 2021 15:35:19 GMT
I suspect someone heard the story that Smile sent a demo tape to Apple & concluded that if the band had been signed, they would have still turned into Queen a couple of years later. As it was, the only feedback they got was that Paul McCartney liked their logo. I don't recall reading a specific date for this, though Apple ran an infamous talent search advert in April 1968, which saw them deluged with replies. It didn't lead to any artists being signed. Ibex also sent a demo to Apple, too, hoping The Beatles would look favourably on another Liverpool-based band. It got them some local press coverage at least, but this was in May 1969, shortly before Freddie's arrival. Thanks for the info.
I have read so many books about The Beatles (another passion...), that I would definitely have noticed it, if The Beatles had rejected Queen. It's very likely - as you say - that Smile and Ibex may have tried to get there. And we can be happy, that they were not taken onboard....
In case a band has been extremely successful, it's always funny to read, that x or y has rejected them once. But with today's knowledge I think we can be thankful about many of those rejections.
The Decca guy, who once sent home The Beatles was always described as a "loser" in many books. But we can't thank him enough. If Decca had taken The Beatles, they had never worked with George Martin at EMI, who opened new doors for them, leading to the most influential music in the 60s. Everything in music history would have been different. So thanks to "Apple" for rejecting Smile and Ibex...  |
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