"Studio" Hangman

If it exists, we'll never hear it.

And to me it's inconsequential, as it's not even in the top 100 Queen songs.

Where's that assumption coming from? Was it announcing the Miracle for the 31st anniversary that sparked off the idea that a) QPL were going to release a load of anniversary editions and
b) that round numbers were a thing?

I’ve heard 2 reports that John S. Stuart owns a 10" acetate. But QPL denies that a studio version ever existed. The best chance we have if it does exist is a reissue campaign.

John's dead. Acetate never appeared on any auctions, so it seems like it never existed or was destroyed. Even if John had a digital copy of the audio, the chance of its leak is extremely small.

While we are on the subject of Hangman.... Is it about the myth / legend / often told ghost strory of Sweeney Todd?
Mr. T the barbers son, pork pies and cut throat razors?

there's babies being born now who will likely never hear it in their lifetimes.

This maybe very simplistic reasoning, but Queen don’t have a history of playing any original songs that either haven’t been recorded or released at some point.

On the other hand we’re well aware of Mad The Swine being recorded but not used, at the time, or Keep Your Self Alive, different versions that surfaced many years after the 1st album and a recorded version from 75. Why wouldn’t Hang Man (despite what the official line is) exist on an acetate or even multitrack somewhere.

well, best guess is "inherited". and, as none of his family were in "Queen circles" it's safe to assume the disposal trail went cold long ago.

there may have been some stuff picked up by traders - but likely only if the family put the collection up for sale.

i'd suggest that - as none of his collection has appeared in trading circles since his passing, that the stuff is (likely) still where it was when he sadly died.

all just my assumptions. but all based around a lack of digital leaks in the 3years since his death.

maybe the respectful thing now to park this element of the "Hangman" discussion?

You know, there was clearly something about Hangman that the band decided wasn't working and the whole song was scrapped and the tapes reused.
This was early 70's Britain where even the BBC reused tapes after broadcast because they were so expensive (which is why there are so many TV shows missing from the archives), so why not tapes of songs rejected by an unknown band, being reused too?

This would explain why only an acetate exists.
It was common for a vinyl pressing to be made so band members and producers could take it home and listen to it outside of expensive studio time, inorder to determine if changes needed to be made.

John had a number of acetates in his collection, purchased from auction and his acetate of this song could have been the Sheffield's copy that ended up at auction.

For all we know, Brian does have his own acetate, but because there's something about the recording the band didn't like, it's easier to deny all knowledge of its existence than explain to fans why it will never be released.
Queen were, after all, perfectionists.

The last time I heard from John's family, they had no plans to sell his collection.

As Brenski suggests, let's please put this to bed now.

There was also a rumoured studio recording of the old Rock 'n' Roll Medley (although, I don't really see why they would), which I guess might have met the same fate.

...and strange how they never played it at any of the early recorded/broadcast shows: Golders Green, Rainbow, Hammy

I just tidied up that link a little. 👍

i always thought it was written by Freddie when he was in Wreckage.
but i'm sure i may have read something somewhere that contradicts my thought - labelling it a co-write: Brian [music] / Freddie [lyrics]

Hangman videos were taken down alongside the videos of the Miracle's demos. IMHO a load of anniversary editions is too far fetched (after all we're talking about QPL...), probably they just added a list of songs that will be automatically taken down from YT if somebody decide to upload them.