My bad, we were watching the movie last nite on video and I had totally forgot about it. Classic movie.
Queen album brings rock to Iran http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3593532.stm Bootleg albums made Queen one of Iran's most popular bands Rock band Queen, fronted by gay icon Freddie Mercury, has become the first rock act to receive an official seal of approval in Iran. Western music is strictly censored in the Islamic republic, where homosexuality is considered a crime. But an album of Queen's greatest hits was released in Iran on Monday. Mercury, who died in 1991, was proud of his Iranian ancestry, and illegal bootleg albums and singles made Queen one of the most popular bands in Iran. Lyrics explained The album contains hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, The Miracle and I Want to Break Free, but reportedly omits a number of Queen's love songs. The cassette, costing less than $1 (55 pence), comes complete with translated lyrics and an explanatory leaflet. It tells Queen fans that Bohemian Rhapsody is about a young man who has accidentally killed someone and, like Faust, sold his soul to the devil. On the night before his execution he calls God in Arabic, "Bismillah", and so regains his soul from Satan. Queen's gay frontman Freddie Mercury had Iranian ancestors Akbar Safari, a salesman at a Tehran book and record store, said the album was already selling very well. "It is the first rock album to hit the market legally and people are surprised and pleased to see it has the lyrics, not just the music," he said. Other western acts to have had albums of selected songs released on the official Iranian market include Elton John, Julio Iglesias and The Gypsy Kings. Books containing original and translated lyrics by many western singers have also been published in Iran, in response to the demands of a nation where 70% of the population is aged under 30. The books contain lyrics by artists such as Leonard Cohen, Celine Dion and controversial rapper Eminem.
Well it is 9 because that is what "A Night at the Opera" got. There are 5 stars but if one is filled in that is one, two filled in it is 3, three filled in is 5, four filled in it is 7, and five filled in it is 9.
Actually, Mercury was bisexual, which I am sure is still frowned upon in Iran, but it appears that is a very common misperception about Queen that Freddie was gay (not that there is anything wrong with that ) when in reality, he was bi.
Freddie lived with, and loved Mary Austin for a very long time. But I, and others, have a hard time believing he was bi. It's just a guess, none of us Queen nerds knew Fred, but from the things his roommates and ex co-workers said (including Rog Taylor, who was both), it seemed like Mary was a bit of a beard. They were intimate, and lived together for a long time, but it should be noted that Fred didn't have a significant female relationship of note for the last 27 years of his life. Obviously, it truly is a shame that Freddie couldn't be open about his sexuality, even on his death bed, but it should warm your heart to note that he was in love with his partner for the last 8-9 years of his life.
News about European Tour http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?contentid=4336 Queen Prepare For Their European Tour by Lowri Williams on 2/12/2005 Queen are preparing to take to the road for the first time in 20 years with new vocalist Paul Rodgers. There European tour kicks off at the end of March but first they are to perform at a preview show at the Brixton Academy. Rodgers decided to join the rockers for a tour after he performed with Brian May at the Fender Stratocaster 50th Anniversary show in London last year. Billed as Queen and Paul Rodgers they will perform some songs from Rodgers back catalogue including ‘All Right Now’. Brian May told Uncut: “As the tour approaches, it feels like my whole body and soul have been tipped upside down. It’s now dawning on me that this huge ball is about to roll again. It’s slightly more exciting than scary though.” So is he worried about ‘replacing’ the late great Freddie Mercury? “Almost my entire life has been lived amid a hail of bullets. As far as I’m concerned, it’s nobody’s business but ours. If you think you’re gonna hate it, don’t come.” Rodgers said: “All we’re doing is following the feeling. Before we all agreed to do this, I’d have accepted that nobody could replace Freddie. ”I’m doing a tour with the guys and if that feels good we’ll take it from there.” You can see them at: London Brixton Academy - March 28 Paris Zenith - 30 Madrid Palacio De Deportes - 1 Barcelona Sant Jordi - 2 Rome Palalottomatica - 4 Milan Forum - 5 Firenze Mandela Forum - 7 Pesaro Palas - 8 Basel St Jakobshalle - 10 Vienna Stadthalle - 13 Munich Olympiahalle - 14 Prague Saska Arena - 16 Leipzig Arena - 17 Frankfurt Festhalle - 19 Antwerp Sports Palais - 20 Budapest Sportarena - 23 Dortmund Westfalenhalle - 25 Rotterdam Ahoy - 26 Hamburg Color Line Arena - 28 Stockholm The Globe - 30 Newcastle Arena - 3 Manchester MEN Arena - 4 Birmingham NEC - 6 Cardiff Arena - 7 Sheffield Arena - 9 London Wembley Arena - 11 http://www.gigwise.com/news.asp?ContentID=4370 Queen Reveal Their Backing Band For European Tour by Lowri Williams on 2/14/2005 The details of who will be joining Queen and Paul Rodgers on stage have been revealed. Joining them for their European tour will be former Blue Oyster Cult bassist Danny Miranda, keyboardist Spike Edney and second guitar player Jaime Moses. All three have associations with the band, Miranda is the bass player for the Las Vegas production of ‘We Will Rock You’, Moses backed the band when they were inducted into the British Music Hall Of Fame while Edney is a long time friend of the band according to Arrow FM.
Some Queen songs I really liked: Killer Queen Bohemian Rhapsody Crazy Little thing Princes Of The Universe (From Highlander)
I got the Wembley disc this weekend It definitely had better video and sound than the Hollywood Bowl DVD. But the song selection is lacking. It is very interesting to hear what Freddie has to say before _Who Wants to Live Forever_. Freddie talks about rumors that Queen is going to breakup. Freddie basically said that death is the only thing that would break the band up. Given that this was right before _Who Wants to Live Forever_, one has to wonder if Freddie knew he had AIDS then. I am off to see if Queen has ever released a video from their News of the World tour, seeing that video would have to have a better representation of their earlier catalog than the Wembley or Hollywood Bowl shows.
Queen are preparing to take to the road for the first time in 20 years with new vocalist Paul Rodgers. Last show is in Wembley. That would be a perfect show to shoot a video. A fact probably not lost on the band, I hope.
I have listened through "A Night at the Opera" several times now. I would have never guessed it is Queen that sings "I'm in Love With my Car" (Roger Taylor sings the vocal is the big reason why). But besides that song and of course, the 2 that everyone knows ("Bohemian Rhapsody" and "You're my Best Friend"), there is some great stuff such as "Death on Two Legs", "'39" (great Brian May vocal), and my new favorite Queen song of all-time - "The Prophet's Song". That song is otherworldly to say the least.
If you like "Prophet's Song," then definitely check out their first two albums before any others. Prog-ish, without those annoying analog synths that are never in tune.
