| APRIL
2006 | © brianmay.com | |
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As always, the opinions expressed in these pages are purely and personally those of myself, Brian; they are not the official views of Queen, or of any other organisation or individual. CONTENT NOT TO BE REPRODUCED. THANK YOU. |
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1 | 2
**Wed 12 Apr 06**
Q+PR NO-SHOW ON AMERICAN IDOL?
| Well,
no - there was never a plan for us to perform on the AI show. We
only wanted to do the coaching thing, (done at our sound-check in
Anaheim), to give as much as we could to the participants ... ...
not go into the TV studio and 'advertise' ourselves ... I'm happy
about that decision.
We DID send a great supportive message to the kids, but really we're happy that this was private too .... We all send our commiserations to Bucky ... we all liked him a LOT. As regards 'low blows' - yes I do feel that the show delivers a lot of these, now I am able to see it at close range ... it's disturbing. Thanks for the supportive letters to me, folks ... I have indeed lost a bit of sleep over the whole thing ... but now it's time to move on .... Our last show tomorrow of the tour ... in Vancouver .... it's a strange feeling .... it's really felt like a family out here on this leg .... I'm going to miss the feeling of belonging, and the roar of America. Big thanks to all who have supported us in the last few weeks .... it has been a very emotional homecoming for us. love Bri © brianmay.com |
**Wed 12 Apr 06**
AMERICAN IDOL - ACE - AND BEING MISREPRESENTED ..
| OK
... it begins ....the fallout from American Idol. There is so much to say - I sure have learned a lot myself already from this experience ... but slowly will do it ... one thing at a time ... Firstly let me comment on ACE. He's a great guy. Some of you have written in accusing me of undermining ACE with his interpretation of WWRY. Nothing could be further from the truth. I'm afraid this is an illustration of exactly what I have been quoted as saying about the programme ..... that the critical process would be better off done in private, like we do in auditioning for our musical ... . We had an interaction with ACE, a conversation, in which we gave him the best advice we possibly could, based on studying the demo's which we already had in our iTunes - which I'd personally given a lot of time to study. This conversation, in my book, ought to have been private, but that is not the style of the show, sadly. But the even more unfortunate thing is that you are then in the hands of the video editors, who seem to seize with glee anything that looks negative. It was edited in such a way that it looked as if I was purely negative - they very naughtily inserted a bit that I said about "not on my own song" so it appeared that I said it AFTER we had played together, which was not the way it happened ...making me look like I was against the whole thing. But this was not the case. Having said that I wouldn't be able to play the arrangement exactly like his demo, and that I didn't think it would work without the stomps and claps which are foundation of the song, we then discussed how we could improve his ideas and with a mixture of a quick conference and spontaneous creation we came up with a kind of mixture of his thoughts and ours - WHICH WAS THE BASIS FOR THE ARRANGEMENT THAT YOU SAW THE HOUSE BAND PLAY ON THE NIGHT ! It was actually pretty damn good, I thought, for a quick attempt ... and he sang it very well live. If you talk to ACE he will confirm that we parted on the very best terms, and he thanked me for the input. I made it very clear that I respected him for taking chances and trying to make the song his own. The version you saw on TV used a straight sample beat with stomps and claps which set up the song in the first verse in the classic way, and then a working in of an underpinning riff (close to what I had done in our rehearsal period together, in response to Ace's idea) and then back to a straighter 3rd verse, but ending in his delayed phrase end stop, again, just as we did it together .... and I thought it was damn good. Just in case any of this isn't clear .... the version of WWRY that ACE performed on AI last night was a DIRECT RESULT of his own ingenuity and the advice we gave him, with our full encouragement and blessing. And he definitely rocked. And we wish him much luck in the contest. If you watch the programme again you will notice that ACE said he enjoyed working with us, and that I also said quite clearly that I thought an approach of personalising songs was a necessary ingredient of greatness ... my exact words were ... "He's a very interactive person, and that's what makes Greatness". I hope that wherever ACE is right now he remembers that there is mutual respect there between us, and much good feeling. And to all you guys out there who have become his fans ... please remember this too ... As for the rest .....well, a little later .. But I was impressed with all our new friends, the Idols - wonderful job, guys, THANKS ! .. and we feel really complimented. With Love Bri © brianmay.com |
**Mon 10 Apr 06**
IDOLATRY AND BEYOND ...
| Well, I finally had to admit that my lower back was shot ...could hardly walk after the Vegas show. So I have had some excellent Chiro help in LA... but am horizontal on doctor's orders until it's time to take the stage in Seattle. How did it happen ? Combination of things, I think .... I began the tour with a back injury owing to some inadvised Yoga stretches .... and it never really got sorted ... but the fall into the Piano Trap probably aggravated the whole thing and severely bruised the whole area, also putting my vertebrae out of whack, so no healing has been taking place. Well, this is what I am told. I'm sure I will be fine for the rest of the shows ... it's amazing what adrenaline can do .... but then there is always a reckoning afterwards. Now !! Re: AMERICAN IDOL .... it's out of the bag for sure, so watch out Tuesday night .... There's a lot I could say, but I'm not saying anything till the show with our footage is out there ... I don't want to exert any undue influences ... We shot all our QUEEN stuff last week of course ... we will be performing live in Portland that night .. I will be expecting bags of controversy in the mailbox after THIS little escapade ! .... but like I said ... later ! However ..... enjoy, Queen folks, if you can put your reservations aside for a few moments .... there is most certainly some great talent in these kids - and they all got just one shot .. I am only sad ... very sad ... that you won't be seeing Mandisa with us guys ..... if you're out there, Mandisa, send me a message ... OK ? We all feel for you so much ..... jeez ... you getting ruled out of the game was honestly the last thing I expected ... Well, seat belts fastened ! Other news ? Expect a joyous announcement at the Dominion Theatre in London ! And great new plans for WWRY in North America soon. Much love Bri © brianmay.com |
**Mon 10 Apr 06**
CYNTHIA FOX AND ME
[See LETTERS] Great Letter, Anuj ...thanks so much .... you're my first tonight. The response of last tonight [1 April] was in the league of "Things that make it ALL worth while .. " Great audience, and I thought we were at full tilt ... I felt proud, coming off ... like there was nothing in our bodies we hadn't given, and that hadn't been fully appreciated. Bless yo'all, San Diegans ... and thanks Anuj ... it means a lot. Bri © brianmay.com |
**Sat 01 Apr 06**
GLENDALE - A LETTER WORTH PUBLISHING
[Photo sent with "A letter worth publishing" from Philip Haase: LETTER] An eventful night ! We had a lotta extra fire because of recharging in Arizona in our break ... it felt very good. This is Bri feeling good.. ..
Cheers
and Rock ! © brianmay.com |
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