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AUGUST 2015 |
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**Mon 31 Aug 15**
Brian May & Kerry Ellis to guest on Italy Raitre TV Parallelo Italia on September, 1st ahead of February 2106 Italian tour Following soon after the recent announcement of their six date Italian tour scheduled for February 2016, BRIAN MAY & KERRY ELLIS will make a rare Italian TV appearance next Tuesday, September 1, when they will appear live on Raitre TV’s Parallelo Italia, the travelling talk show hosted by Gianni Riotta airing at 21.15. Brian and Kerry, whose regular concert and recording work together has kept them highly in demand throughout Europe, will perform songs from their albums Anthems and Acoustic By Candlelight as well as speaking about the forthcoming One Voice – The Tour! which will see them perform in major cities across Italy including Firenze, Milan and Rome early next year.
From website (translated):
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**Sat 29 Aug 15** VANEWS.COM
A NEW air guitar king has been crowned, and for the first time it is a Russian. Air guitar performers competed for the chance to feature at the finals of the Air Guitar World Championships 2015 at the 45 Special bar in Oulu, Thursday. Nine out of the 30 contestants were chosen to advance into Friday's finals. Among the successful strummers were contestants from Russia, Germany, Italy, Finland, the UK and America. The 45 Special bar is hosting the 20th Air Guitar World Championships from 26 to 28 August 2015. Participants from all over the world will be judged on their technical ability, mimesmanship, stage presence and 'airness'; a subjective category which will judge performers on the artistic merit of their performance. Prizes for the winner include a 'Flying Finn' guitar donated by Queen guitarist Brian May. READ MORE and more photos PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Sat 29 Aug 15**
To Readers who are Facebook users... Brian’s company, The London Stereoscopic Company, now has Facebook page. Please check out on the link and Like this new page and keep up with the headlines. Thanks. Link to LSC FACEBOOK - HERE Website: http://www.londonstereo.com PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Fri 28 Aug 15** BBC NEWS --- PRESS RELEASE: Brian May, founder of the Save Me Trust, calls on the government to halt the badger cull and confirms legal action. The Save Me Trust confirmed that the lawfulness of the decisions to issue the licences today will be challenged by a Judicial Review in the High Court. To continue the culling of badgers is unlawful as it does not rationally serve the statutory purpose which permits the killing of badgers only to achieve the aim of preventing the spread of disease. Additionally, there has been a fundamental failure in the consultation process, a logically flawed approach in calculating badger numbers and a failure in Gloucestershire - in any event - to meet its minimum targets in 2013 and 2014. Dr May said, “We are all hugely disappointed that the Government has decided to continue its cull policy, despite Natural England's Scientific Advisor branding the badger cull 'an epic failure’. The government should quit now, and save the tax-payer more fruitless expense”. The Government's own Independent Expert Panel (the IEP, now disbanded) damned the cull as 'ineffective and inhumane’. The British Veterinary Association also condemned the free shooting of badgers, but all this advice continues to be ignored. The legendary Queen guitarist and founder of the Save Me Trust said “The badger cull has been a disaster and has cost British taxpayers over £5,000 per badger, worse still, it’s certain that most of the murdered badgers are perfectly healthy, and free of bovine TB, but since the government has refused to test any of the dead badgers in the pilot zones, this cannot be proved”. He continued, “This is a tragedy for our farmers, cattle and wildlife; the scientific advice has been ignored by Ministers with more badgers set to die again this year. This awful policy must be put to bed now, in favour of a policy that really will address the TB problem in cattle.”. Anne Brummer CEO of the Save Me Trust said, “The science categorically does not support the continuation or widening of the cull to new areas – many areas within the Government’s ‘high-risk zone’ for bovine TB, including Dorset, have seen a statistically significant fall in bTB outbreaks over the two years. In Dorset, the number of bTB outbreaks has fallen from 36 to 20 during that time. In fact, across the South West region there has been a year-on-year fall in the number of cattle slaughtered of approximately 12% from 2012-2014. These reductions have occurred in the absence of badger culling across the vast majority of the region.”. The cull companies in both Gloucestershire and Somerset fell short of achieving targets set as conditions of their licenses during the first year of culling. In Gloucestershire, the contractors also failed to meet the considerably reduced targets in the second year. Anne Brummer continues, “The worrying increase in herd breakdowns on the periphery of the Somerset cull zone would appear to mirror the situation experienced during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) around proactively culled areas, where the incidence in bovine TB in cattle increased significantly.”. Vaccination of badgers has now been proved to be viable and effective. The Chief Veterinary Officer for Wales has reported that “incidents of TB have fallen by 28%” without badger culling. The reduction has been achieved with cattle-based measures and badger vaccination. Science has conclusively demonstrated the effectiveness of vaccinating wild badgers, which makes them 76% less likely to develop progressive TB. The government should drop its cull policy and instead develop its support programme for vaccinating badgers. The badger cull is a failed policy and it needs to be consigned to history. Anne Brummer PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Fri 28 Aug 15**
Disc available: standard CD, limited edition box set, Digi Pack, vinyl and digital formats. More info Motorhead.com
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**Thu 27 Aug 15**
Luke Timmins @LTGuitarist wrote: --- Later from Kerry Ellis @kerryjaneellis Ha ha fun day !! PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Thu 27 Aug 15** ABC.NET.AU A group of scientists, academics and public figures from Australia and overseas, including the guitarist from Queen, Brian May, presented an open letter to Californian lawmakers urging them to reinstate the ban.
The Australian Government is working to convince Californian lawmakers to stop a ban on kangaroo products from being reinstated. California originally banned the import of kangaroo products in 1971. However, the state put a moratorium on the ban in 2007 following lobbying efforts from the Australian Government. That moratorium is set to expire at the end of this year, prompting industry figures and conservationists to lobby their opposing campaigns to US policy makers. Kangaroo leather is used for products like gloves and soccer boots, and the Australian industry is pushing for continued market access. John Kelly, from the Australian Kangaroo Industry Association, said losing the market would have severe implications. "It would be very deleterious," he said. "I mean, California is possible the world's largest market for leather goods. Many of the manufacturers have made it quite clear that, if they can't sell their products in California, then they wondered why they would bother with them at all. It is a very important market to the industry and we need to ensure we retain it." Mr Kelly said he was confident new legislation would be in favour of the trade. "We believe we will get new legislation through their parliament to allow the ongoing sale of kangaroo products in California, but nothing is ever assured," he said. Federal Government fighting ban Federal LNP Member for the Queensland seat of Maranoa, Bruce Scott, said the Department of Trade was currently working on the issue to try to end the ban altogether. "We want to see that there isn't a ban," he said. "That is the only way you can have security of a very important trade between Australia and the state of California. The other thing is, in Australia, there are only four species [of kangaroos] that are harvested, and in my own electorate, there would be more kangaroos then blades of grass right now. They are sustainably and humanely harvested. It is based on science and there is an agreed quota from those four species that are not endangered. They are not listed on any endangered species register. We agreed between Australia and US that there are only 3.3 per cent of the estimated population that are allowed to be harvested on a sustainable basis each year. That is the message we have got to make sure is conveyed across the state of California." Concern for kangaroo populations A group of scientists, academics and public figures from Australia and overseas, including the guitarist from Queen, Brian May, presented an open letter to Californian lawmakers urging them to reinstate the ban. Helen Bergen has co-ordinated the campaign and said Australians had a blasé attitude towards kangaroos. "I think we forget how iconic they are and how interested the rest of the world is in these animals," she said. She argued the scientific evidence clearly demonstrated that the commercial slaughter of kangaroos was putting the iconic Australian animal at risk. Ms Bergen questioned the methodology used to set harvest quotas. "We might see a big mob of them [kangaroos] in a place and then extrapolate that in our minds, as do the surveys, over vast countryside," she said. "I think we have a habitat of seeing 50 or 100 kangaroos and say that we have thousands." MORE ABC.NET.AU PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Thu 27 Aug 15**
Dr Brian May features in this video series, "Your Discovery Science", produced as part of their #AsteroidDay 2015 campaign. This is Part One of the video series. Brian is talking about his own background and how he was influenced by his father. TRANSCRIPT
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**Wed 26 Aug 15**
FRIDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2015 THE FESTIVAL IS DELIGHTED TO WELCOME DR. BRIAN MAY FOR A SPECIAL 3D EVENING. Less known perhaps is his keen passion for stereoscopic photography; both as one of the world’s leading collectors and as a practitioner. Dr May will be attending the 35th Cambridge Film Festival to talk about all things 3D with Denis Pellerin, his co-author of “Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell”, and to present the short film based on their book alongside the UK premiere of 3-D RARITIES, a critically-acclaimed feature length compilation of historic stereoscopic footage from the 3-D Film Archive.
The Festival is delighted that Dr May and Denis Pellerin will be taking part in a Q&A and signing copies of their beautiful book Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell. You can find information about One Night in Hell at the official website www.onenightinhell.com For more information about the incredible craft, science and artistry of Stereoscopy, there is no better place than the website of the London Stereoscopic Company you can also learn more about the history of 3D at the 3D Archive. Brian and Denis will be signing their book from approximately 4:45. Before the screening starts at 6:30 PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Wed 26 Aug 15** BRIAN May is calling for a Cecil’s Law to stop hunters importing their gruesome trophies back to Britain. DAILY EXPRESS
The Queen rock legend wants Prime Minister David Cameron to introduce legislation that would make animal heads, skins, claws and teeth effectively contraband. In the outrage that followed the illegal slaughter of Cecil, it was revealed how Britain has allowed the importation of lion trophies with the correct paperwork. Official figures show that between 2010 and 2013 three skins, seven skulls and 16 “trophies” arrived in the UK. Other “big game” trophies are also brought home from safari holidays costing thousands of pounds. Some leading airlines have taken a pre-emptive step by banning trophies on their international flights, but the musician and animal welfare campaigner wants trophy prohibition enshrined in law. Dr May revealed his vision of a Cecil’s Law during a debate about social media on BBC2’s Newsnight. Obviously still incensed over the “despicable” and illegal killing of Cecil by an American dentist in Zimbabwe earlier this summer, he now believes the tragic incident has become a force for good by highlighting the appalling levels animal abuse around the world.
Dr May, who founded Save Me Trust and has campaigned against fox hunting and the badger cull, made his plea for a Cecil’s Law during a discussion about social media and the global frenzy that followed the shooting, beheading and flaying of Cecil after he was lured away from the sanctuary of a Zimbabwean nature reserve.
Over the past decade, scores of lion, leopard, cheetah, antelope, zebra and hippo trophies have been brought home by hunters from African safaris. Polar bear and American black bear skins have also been imported.
Cecil the lion was killed by a hunter GETTY Details of trophies brought into the UK are contained in statistics kept by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The charity LionAid has studied these figures and says symbolic British links to the so-called King of the Beasts should see the country taking the lead stopping its slide towards extinction. There are fewer than 30,000 lions left in the wild, with some estimates as low as 15,000. Unlike tigers, elephants and rhinos, lions have weaker protection under rules laid down by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, the global watchdog set up to monitor the trade in vanishing wildlife. Lions are classed as a Schedule II rather than a Schedule I species, a status which would put them on par with other endangered animals. Today, there are still seven African nations where it is legal to kill lions and export their trophies.
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**Wed 26 Aug 15**
PART 1 - From 6AM: BBC Surrey "Breakfast" on BBC Surrey" PART 2 - 5PM: BBC Surrey "Drive at 5" --- An interview with Brian May will be broadcast on BBC Radio Surrey's Breakfast programme this morning - approx 07:40. This will be an edit of a pre-recorded interview conducted on 14 August 2015 in support of Heathpark Wood. See article posted earlier this month: GET SURREY
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**Wed 26 Aug 15**
PART TRANSCRIPT EVAN DAVIS: Also tonight - we look back to the killing of Cecil The Lion. Did we overreact? Is social media to blame? Brian May thinks not. EXTRACTS: What did you think of the mob, Brian? BRIAN MAY: I object to your tone, actually, and that’s why I came - you invited me in - but I object to the fact that for once, the world actually did get up and expressed its outrage at something which was despicable. And this, the internet to me is just hear say - it’s just amplified. It’s nothing new here. For once people got up and said we don’t accept this as the way people should carry on, and I am actually disappointed that you take the view that it’s something we should apologise for. I don’t want you minimising, I don’t want you sanitising. This animal was caused to suffer and it’s the tip of a huge iceberg. There are animals everywhere being abused by people at the moment, and this opened it up. People are now asking the questions. We may, thanks to this, have a “Cecil’s Law”. We should have a “Cecil’s Law” which forbids the import of any trophies from any country, and we should stop trophy hunting in this country too. EVAN: About the specific point about the hounding of the man. I mean he’s not the only the only hunter is he? He was doing… BRIAN: I don’t like hounding anyone to death. I don’t think that’s decent behaviour. I can understand people’s outrage. This guy obviously has a wife and a family [indistinct - we don't want to] - penalise them. At the same time if a person commits crime, which I believe he probably did, he has to be called to task. I mean that’s the way the world works. He has to properly apprehended EVAN: Can I take it that your sort of view of how policy works or how social movements work here, is that you’ve focussed on an example, so that there are two lions being killed a day. We don't make a fuss about the others. BRIAN: Well we DO make a fuss. I think it applies to everything. it applies to foxes and badgers and everything, you know. There are so many animals all around us being abused at the moment, and what's wrong is the mentality that tells people, 'Oh, animals don't matter. We can abuse them, we can experiment on, and we can kill them for fun, for sport. That's all despicable, and I think what happened with this particular thing, wasn't conscious from any of us, but it came, it arrived. There was an animal that everybody cared about, and he epitomised what's wrong with our attitude to animals. Replying to ROSAMUND URWIN. BRIAN: You're just [looking] at one side of it, aren't you. The other side of it is that people are conscious and becoming more conscious. People didn't know that these animals were actually bred to be taken pot shots at. I mean, it's disgusting. These animals are bred in captivity, they're shot at in the cage. Sometimes they're drugged so they can't get away. The same as people breed foxes for sport in this country. It's all despicable. It needs to change. So I'm sorry about the guy. I think he's probably, you know, I'm not to say whether he's guilty or he isn't - it looks like he's guilty, so there has to be some kind of punishment, or whatever. ROSAMUND: That's for the Law to do. BRIAN: Absolutely.... but I wouldn't concentrate - I would say some good will come of this and think social media, just as you say, good comes of it, bad comes of it. ---- BRIAN: There's a lot of truth in that, and I think it was interesting this broke out of the... I mean I feel I talk to the same people the whole time - it's preaching the converted, but this actually broke. This did. I mean, we use Twitter to good effect and we galvanise people to care about the fox hunting issue, which is why we narrowly escaped being the first country in the world to bring back a blood sport in the 21st century. People cared enough to make a difference and it was Twitter that did it. It can be abused. Of course it can, but it can do a lot of good too. Continued PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Tue 25 Aug 15**
Please note: There is always the proviso that "Breaking News" can force changes to the planned content.
BBC2 10.30-11.05PM In-depth investigation and analysis of the stories behind the day's headlines with Evan Davis. PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Mon 24 Aug 15** SHOULD MORE BADGER CULLS GO AHEAD? DAILY MIRROR The Queen legend and animal rights campaigner says he'll mount a judicial review of any decision in favour of a third cull
Brian May has threatened to take the Government to court if they go ahead with another badger cull. The Queen guitarist says his Save Me Trust planned to challenge the lawfulness of the cull if pilot schemes continue in Somerset and Gloucestershire, or if it's rolled out to new areas. A spokesperson for the Save Me Trust said: "Lawyers instructed by the Save Me Trust have today written to the chief executive and the chief legal advisor of Natural England warning them that if any licences to cull badgers are either activated in Gloucestershire and Somerset or any new licences granted for this purpose anywhere, then the lawfulness of the decisions to do so will be challenged by a judicial review in the High Court. To continue the culling of badgers is unlawful as it does not rationally serve the statutory purpose which permits the killing of badgers only to achieve the aim of preventing the spread of disease. Additionally there has been a fundamental failure in the consultation process, a logically flawed approach in calculating badger numbers and a failure in Gloucestershire in any event to meet its minimum targets in 2013 and 2014."
In the run-up to the General Election environment secretary Liz Truss vowed to extend the cull to areas where tuberculosis was rife in cattle. Last year just 274 badgers were culled in the second year of the pilot in Gloucestershire - falling far short of the minimum 615 estimated to be needed to deliver reductions in TB in livestock, and leading the chief vet to admit the benefits of the cull might not be realised there.
The Government claimed the low numbers in Gloucestershire reflected the "challenges of extensive unlawful protest and intimidation" by anti-cull campaigners. In Somerset, a sufficient number of badgers were killed this year to lead to expected reductions in TB in cattle, with 341 culled, in a required range of 316 to 785. In both of the pilot areas, a significant proportion were killed by the more expensive cage trapping and shooting method, rather than "controlled shooting" of free-running badgers. Ministers and farmers insist culling is necessary to tackle TB, which can be spread from badgers to livestock, with more than 26,000 cattle slaughtered in England last year and multimillion-pound losses. But opponents say badger-culling is inhumane and ineffective, and alternatives such as vaccination should be pursued. An independent expert panel concluded that controlled shooting of badgers in the first year of the cull was not effective or humane. PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Thu 20 Aug 15** Brian May's session at the Cambridge Film Festival has now been announced !! - and 2015 Cambridge Film Festival Brochure available. [Click panel for larger image]
3-D SPECIAL EVENT We are delighted to welcome Dr Brian May to our Festival for a very special 3-D evening. Whilst he is well known as Queen’s guitarist and many people also know of his interest in the field of astronomy, fewer people are aware of his keen passion for stereoscopic photography. He is one of the world’s most important collectors of stereoscopic photography and has taken thousands of 3-D pictures himself. Dr May has written about the subject and published books with Mr Denis Pellerin and both of them will attend the evening to sign their books, talk about their passion for all things 3-D and present the two films included in this programme. ONE NIGHT IN HELL From visionary rock musician Brian May and internationally award-winning animation studio and production company Unanico Group, a 3-D phenomenon of 1860s Paris is unleashed on the 21st century. One Night in Hell is a devilish and spectacular animation short that tells the story of one skeleton’s journey into a stereoscopic Hell, where he plays a demonic rendition of We Will Rock You combined with Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture! The film features exclusive new music from Brian May & the Czech National Symphony Orchestra and it is inspired by the book Diableries: Stereoscopic Adventures in Hell by?Brian May, Denis Pellerin and Paula Fleming. Directors Jason Jameson & James Hall Starring Brian May (guitar)
Tickets will go on sale late this Friday (21st) BOOKING INFO: You can book tickets in advance either online, by phone or in person (at the main venue, the Cambridge Arts Picturehouse). - See more HERE PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Wed 19 Aug 15** THE STRANGER
EXTRACT: Toward the climax of the 1980 film adaption of Flash Gordon, heroine Dale Arden screams, "Flash! Flash! I love you, but we only have 14 minutes to save the Earth." The soundtrack, by Queen, is blazing and triumphant. Ming the Merciless is defeated (spoiler alert) to the most royal, eloquent guitar and keyboard rock possible. Brooklyn duo Ratatat pull essential strands of their DNA from the embossed, stadium-filling sonics so articulately varnished and layered by Queen's guitarist, Brian May. Ratatat's fifth album, Magnifique ... I wanted to jump in on the Brian May aspect of Ratatat's sound. We're huge fans of his for sure. Especially with the new record, we really studied how he achieved his sound and arrangements. When we were recording our first record, we did a cover of the "Killer Queen" guitar solo. We broke it down and figured out all the parts to see how Brian May did it. No one layers like him. It's like classical music, the way he fits harmonies together. When I listen to Queen records, I'll just fast-forward to the guitar solos. PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
**Wed 19 Aug 15**
Loudwire conversation with Lemmy talks about Brian May's involvement in new album "Bad Magic", where Brian lends his skills to a track called “The Devil', and how his involvement with Motorhead goes way back. Extract from LOUDWIRE: On this album, there’s a guest spot from Brian May from Queen. Can you talk about how long that relationship goes back, and what it was like to get him on this record? LEMMY: Yeah, he came onstage with us 10 years ago and did “Overkill” he went f–king cracking. I like Brian. He did this thing where he came coming at you like 1,000 miles an hour and he went down on his knees like they do in all the movies. I was very surprised. I was very pleased we got that out of him [laughs]. Read More
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**Tue 18 Aug 15** Brian May in New Romney on 17th August 2015...
THE LOOKER
Local residents were shocked to see superstar Brian May from pop group Queen walking through New Romney on Monday. The Queen guitarist was happy to talk to admiring fans and is believed to have been visiting the sister of his actress wife Anita Dobson. Hayley Banyard said (on Facebook): ‘I'm sure I walked passed him about half 9ish in town. I'm terrible at noticing things but I'm sure I remember that coat’ The notorious 68 year old rocker has more recently become famous as a Science pundit since gaining his degree in Astrophysics. In October 2007, May was appointed a Visiting Researcher in Imperial College and continues his interest in astronomy and involvement with the Imperial Astrophysics Group. He is co-author, with Sir Patrick Moore and Chris Lintott, of Bang! – The Complete History of the Universe (published in 2006)[118] and “The Cosmic Tourist” (published in 2012). Asteroid 52665 Brianmay was named in his honour on 18 June 2008 on the suggestion of Sir Patrick Moore (probably influenced by the asteroid’s provisional designation of 1998 BM30).[85][119] May appeared on the 700th episode of The Sky at Night hosted by Sir Patrick Moore, along with Chris Lintott, Jon Culshaw, Prof. Brian Cox, and the Astronomer Royal Martin Rees who on departing the panel, told Brian May, who was joining it, “I don’t know a scientist who looks as much like Isaac Newton as you do”.[120] May was also a guest on the first episode of the third series of the BBC’s Stargazing Live, on 8 January 2013. --- FOLKESTONE HERALD Brian May was seen in New Romney Mr [Dr] May was seen running errands in New Romney on Monday, much to the shock of many shoppers. "Samantha Godden posted online: "I saw the white hair and the coat and thought 'that's Brian May' then I told myself not to be so daft. Dave Sussex added: "What a great bloke to actually take the time to stop and pose for the photo. "I've always loved Queen!" PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
Mon 17 Aug 15** We are pleased to announce new stereo cards and Summer Competitions!! ------- "VICTORIAN GEMS" NEST SET: Brian's London Stereoscopic Company [LSC] will have some wonderful new stereo cards "Victorian Gems", available from September., which you can PRE-ORDER HERE The set comes with:
- all housed in a smart presentation case and with outer loose sleeve. The cards will also be available as individual packs. Here is the set in all it's glory...
LSC SUMMER COMPETITIONS !!!
Check out the LSC Summer Competitions, on the Victorian paintings, stereoscopic theme - one on "Diableries" and one on "The Poor Man's Picture Gallery". Enter online now HERE. PLEASE JOIN US on: | |||||||
(out July 17 on XL)...
(Opposite) Brian May and Anita Dobson in Dymchurch
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