Brian May interview with French magazine 'Juin', 1986
Dec 1, 2022 9:07:16 GMT
leo82br, Arnaldo Ogre-, and 5 more like this
Post by fabiogminero on Dec 1, 2022 9:07:16 GMT
Hello everybody.
Today I post a nice article published in the French music magazine Juin, probably around mid-1986. Entitled Une Nuit Au Cinema (translated as A Night At Cinema), it talks about Russell Mulcahy's film 'Highlander' - released in French cinemas on March 26th, 1986 - and Queen's work on the soundtrack. The journalist proposes an interview with Brian May, in which he obviously talks about the film and the new songs, but also about past episodes, such as the concerts in Sun City and Freddie's solo album.
I have translated the entire article from French to English, but below you will find the original scan of the article in question.
Enjoy your reading!
A NIGHT AT THE CINEMA
"I was born in 1508 baby. I'm 477 and I can't die.
- To each his own problem".
- To each his own problem".
And there Highlambert no longer has enough of his double-edged Toledo, nor of his beautiful immortality, to parry a reply as deadly as this one struck from the cold lips of Brenda La-Rousse. Russel Mulcahy's film contains like that a few dazzling boots that make it a well-crafted and not boring product, an effective cocktail of mad maxeries in chainmail from which metaphysics and heavy metal explode.
And as Queen has always excelled in the most daring mixes, Freddie Mercury's group was the perfect choice to produce the soundtrack for "Highlander". And Brian May, the quitarist with a face from Perceval faithful to the squire, quite ready to talk about the Queen's new jewel...
— Record the soundtrack of a movie such as "Highlander" did it stimulate you more than if it was just a Queen album?
— Record the soundtrack of a movie such as "Highlander" did it stimulate you more than if it was just a Queen album?
Brian May: "Each of us was able to see a 20-minute rush of film by Russell Mulcahy. It had been a long time since we had been enthusiastic about the same thing. And that's what happened with "Highlander." We were inspired by this story and in such a way that we, each separately, began to compose songs for the film, with the added feeling of loving the work again."
— I think you had already worked with Russell Mulcahy...
— I think you had already worked with Russell Mulcahy...
— Indeed, he had made the video for "Radio Ga Ga"
— But what exactly does this film have in common with Queen, apart from its music?
— The spirit, I believe. I found the character of Christophe Lambert very convincing. This was not the case with "Flash Gordon", for which we also made the music in 1980. The hero didn't seem very believable to me. But there, just the look of Christophe Lambert is enough to immerse you in the bath. Not to mention the villain, the Kurgan, who I'm sure will become a "cult figure" among punks or metal freaks. It is decidedly scary. A real beast of the apocalypse.
— We can see that there is both a medieval touch and an old heavy metal background in Queen's music and aesthetics.
— A lot of people think that we write hymns more only songs, it probably comes from there. I consider the work of the group above all from an emotional point of view. If I hadn't found a romantic dimension in "Highlander", I don't think my adherence to the project would have been so complete. I liked the sentimental framework of the film which for once is not rose water. The hero must live his love without hope because he outlives the one he loves. love is immortal, men are not not.
— Groups either. Are you bothered by Queen's dinosaur condition?
— I think the Rolling Stones have proven that you can survive with dignity, that you can avoid fossilization during your lifetime. The key to this, I believe, is the respect shown by the musicians between them. This thing still exists in Queen.
— Yet in recent years each of you offered at least one getaway. Freddie Mercury with his solo album, Roger Taylor with his film scores and you with Eddie Van Halen...
— From time to time, he must be able to free himself from the frustrations imposed by the structure of a group of four individuals.
— What do you think of Freddie's album?
— There are some very good things. In my opinion, he has very misunderstood because people expected to find the polished, sophisticated side of Queen's albums, while he mainly bet on their opposite, the raw aspect. He only chose the first takes of his voice. It's also a painful disc, Freddie has lived difficult moments at this time. I would compare it to the first album by John Lennon for pain and introspection.
— Queen has always been the champion of baroque rock, scents and colors. What is the dominant key for "Highlander"?
— I would say Heavy for "Princes Of The Universe" (single) and "The Prize". But there is also a romantic sequence with "One Year Of Love" and another where we brought in, for the first time in our career, a symphony orchestra of 80 musicians. I have the feeling that the more things go, the more we do the splits.
— What are your favorite Queen records?
— "We Are The Champions" and the album "A Night At The Opera".
— "We Are The Champions" and the album "A Night At The Opera".
— For whom were your last musical thrills?
— Def Leppard and The Bangles.
— What is your position today in relation to Sun City where you played?
— Oooooh no (discouraged). This will only be the 350,000° time that I explain myself on this subject. First, we are opposed to apartheid. It is something unjustifiable and intolerable. Secondly, we played in South Africa without hiding it and without making apologies either. We wouldn't have accepted if the audience we performed in front of was all white. In the black population, we buy our records. "| Want To Break Free" has almost become an anthem in the black community. Third, we have no intention of going back."
INTERESTING FACT: the journalist claims that Queen have already worked with Russell Mulcahy previously; to this question, Brian replies that he made the video for 'Radio Ga Ga'. I assume it was a typo in the transcript of the interview as Mulcahy directed Queen in the videos for 'A Kind Of Magic' and 'Princes Of The Universe'. Another thing that struck me is that it talks about the solo activities of Freddie, Brian and Roger; the film scores made by Roger Taylor are mentioned...what film scores?
INTERESTING FACT: the journalist claims that Queen have already worked with Russell Mulcahy previously; to this question, Brian replies that he made the video for 'Radio Ga Ga'. I assume it was a typo in the transcript of the interview as Mulcahy directed Queen in the videos for 'A Kind Of Magic' and 'Princes Of The Universe'. Another thing that struck me is that it talks about the solo activities of Freddie, Brian and Roger; the film scores made by Roger Taylor are mentioned...what film scores?
