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| NOVEMBER 2007 |
Contains some Industry, General and UNOFFICIAL News from 'OUT THERE' © brianmay.com |
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**Wed 21 Nov 07**
Showtimes:
Vereinigte Bühnen Wien präsentieren eine Michael Brenner Produktion für WWRY Musical in association VEREINIGTE BÜHNEN WIEN ARE BRINGING THE ORIGINAL QUEEN MUSICAL FROM THE LONDON WEST END TO THE RAIMUND THEATER FROM 24 JANUARY TO 13 JULY 2008 “When I saw the show at the Dominion Theatre in London, I knew at once that I wanted to bring this unique show to Vienna for my audience, and I am absolutely thrilled to be able to do so now in collaboration with WE WILL ROCK YOU producers, Michael Brenner and Dagmar Windisch! So I would like to personally say a special thank you to you both for your great willingness to cooperate in this joint venture,”, says Kathrin Zechner, Artistic and Business Director of Vereinigte Bühnen Wien, who in 2008 will be able to present her visitors with one of the most successful musicals in the history of London’s West End. The international team behind the sensational original London version - Queen musicians Brian May and Roger Taylor, their long-time manager Jim Beach, director and successful author Ben Elton, set designer Mark Fischer and self-confessed Queen fan Robert De Niro – is also very pleased to be able to stage the exciting show in Vienna, where it will certainly be received by an equally enthusiastic audience. Numerous number one hits, unforgettable live shows – Queen is without doubt one of the few legendary groups to have written musical history. With their own musical WE WILL ROCK YOU –named after the eponymous anthem – the band is crowning its incredible history of success in an impressive way. Six years in development and costs of more than £7.5 million have certainly done the trick: since its premiere on 14 May 2002 at the London Dominion, WE WILL ROCK YOU has been considered one of the biggest shows, receiving standing ovations night after night, with guest appearances of celebrated pop greats such as Britney Spears, Beyonce, Pink and McFly. Hailed by the British media as “a new breed of musical” (BBC Newsnight) and as a fascinating “high-tech extravaganza” (The Guardian) the stage event, that is rock theatre through and through, has become a phenomenal audience magnet with sales of over three million tickets. And now in its fifth year, it is the only production to have outperformed by far other productions such as South Pacific or Grease at the Dominion, the largest of all the West End theatres. The story, written and staged inimitably by Ben Elton, incorporating more than 21 (!) massive hits by the legendary rock band, redefines musical history. Elton, who as screenwriter, playwright and best selling author (The Young Ones, Beautiful Game, Mr Bean), actor, comedian and director is one of the best known creative minds in Great Britain, created an amusing, off-beat and self-mocking epic around the future of the real music: “Rock!” Listeners to London’s most popular radio station voted WE WILL ROCK YOU the best performance of the year. It was the only musical capable of beating the live concerts by Paul McCartney and Robbie Williams to gain first place. In addition around 16,000 regular theatregoers declared WE WILL ROCK YOU to be indisputably the best musical in five categories and voted it the winner of the renowned Theatregoer’s Choice Award. As well as the exceptional producers, the show brings together a creative team from behind the scenes of some of the biggest international theatre and rock concert productions. Designers Mark Fisher and Willie Williams have created stage sets for Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson and U2’s celebrated multi media shows. Costume designer Tim Goodchild has won awards for his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and has won three Olivier Awards in the West End so far. The Musical supervisor Mike Dixon has worked with artists such as Andrew Lloyd Webber in many of his numerous theatrical and TV productions. He is convinced “that in WE WILL ROCK YOU we have a band that is without parallel in theatrical history and which reflects the true spirit of the mighty Queen!” For choreographer Arlene Phillips, WE WILL ROCK YOU is a return to her earlier collaboration with QUEEN, when she staged Freddie Mercury’s extraordinary performances in the videos “Made in heaven” and “Born to love you”. She has choreographed some of the biggest musical successes in the theatre world over the last few decades. More detailed information will be available in mid-November at the press conference at the Raimund Theater. © brianmay.com |
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New special shows with new songs.... and a GREAT NEW MEDLEY (15 minutes) November 22 Sala Duvet Barcelona C/Córcega 327 - 23:00 LOVE © brianmay.com |
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TORONTO STAR VIDEO: KEYSTROKES HAVE CONSEQUENCES The spread of online sex crimes has grown beyond the ability of the Toronto police to fight it. Det. Sgt. Kim Scanlan, who heads the 15-member child exploitation section of the Sex Crimes Unit of the Toronto police, says that although the Toronto office is one of the biggest in the world, the officers can't keep up with the changing technology and the growth of online predators. "We're seeing more cases than we can possibly handle," Scanlan said in an interview. "And that's a real problem for us. We just don't have enough investigators, not in my unit, not in any unit in the country, that can really handle the flow of the occurrences heading our way."The detective said that the Toronto police need the public's help, both to be aware of Internet safety and to report offences to the authorities . Scanlan has rolled out a campaign with the slogan, "Every keystroke has consequences," and the police will be presenting this message to high schools in the Toronto area. The police have recruited cast members from the hit musical We Will Rock You to help provide public service mesages. Article contiues here. See alco cybertip.ca © brianmay.com |
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International Chart positions for Queen Rock Montreal DVD as at Friday 16 November 2007 were: Austria - No.4 © brianmay.com |
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Here is latest mediai update.... ‘We Will Rock You’ – Dominion Theatre, Tottenham Court Road, 8 shows 9 shows Ticket Prices: Box office: 020 7413 1713 or 0870 169 0116 (booking fee). With over 2000 performances behind it, and holding the record for the longest running show ever at the Dominion, We Will Rock You continues to show no signs of slowing down as it heads for its 7th year in London. Bookings are now being taken through to October 2008. It continues to be a massive box office hit in Germany and Toronto, and this month opened a six month tour of Asia in New Zealand, with an opening in Vienna scheduled for January 24, 2008. © brianmay.com |
**Mon 19 Nov 07** More on Brasilian "Queen Collection" [See earlier item] Cover of the Queen Collection. (Click images for larger)
Collection is now on sale in Brazil (only) and being heavily advertised on Globo Television in a partnership deal with label Som Livre. Tracks listing: Somlivre´s sales page for Queen Collection: Link to buy © brianmay.com |
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Radio Europa FM with national broadcast all over Romania dedicates a whole weekend - this weekend - (3 days) to the most loved band: Queen, in loving memory of Freddie. There will be the history of the band, lots of music and a contest with prizes: T-shirts with Queen and DVDs. Thanks to Cristina.
© brianmay.com |
**Mon 19 Nov 07** Brian May and Roger Taylor played a surprise guest spot with the Foo's this weekend. The Foo Fighters welcomed Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen on stage to perform "'39" from A Night At The Opera, during the acoustic part of their set, on Saturday, 17 November, at London's 02 Arena on the first of their 2 nights at the venue, which wrapped up their UK tour. To much cheering and applauds, Brian and Roger made their way down a long walkway, which ran down the centre of the standing section, to a small circular satellite stage, to play right in there amongst the delighted crowd. David Grohl invited Taylor Hawkins to introduce their guests and the song - "'39", written by Brian May. What a fine treat for that audience!!! Brian on vocals (Ed: how much do we miss that!!!), then Taylor Hawkins joined in to share the vocals, and Mr Taylor on tambourine. On this occasion, Brian sang the original last line - "For my life still ahead, pity me." Something of a regular occurrence at Foos' gigs, with Brian and Roger only last Summer (17 June 2006) - joining the band onstage in Hyde Park to play a snatch of "We Will Rock You" and all of "Tie Your Mother Down", the appearance of the Queen twosome is testament to Grohl's status as a musician capable of bridging not one, but two generation gaps, if the age range of the sold-out 02 anything to go by. David Grohl and Taylor Hawkins have long been known to be huge Queen fans.
Photos: foofighters.com Sunday concert review in the INDEPENDENT (page temporarily unavailable) and NME. © brianmay.com |
**Sun 18 Nov 07**
You can vote for Queen for best rock band of all time at http://votenumber1.com Queen are currently at #2, with 14%, behind Metallica, who have 20% of the vote. .. Vote to keep Queen in the competition. Ten bands remain out of fifteen nominees - one band going out each week. You can in fact vote more than once a day. it says - but at different times set by the site. And after that poll closes, Brian is on the nominee list for the next category - Best Guitarist of All Time. Voting will commence 12-1-07 (mark your calendar). Maybe not a scientific sampling - but it does give Queen fans a chance to make voice heard. Thanks to Nan © brianmay.com |
Soon We Will Rock You leaves New Zealand shores for Sourh Korea - dates and venues as follows: Seongnam Performing Arts Centre (Opera House: capacity 1,805) The Seongnam Arts Center is the largest venue for cultural events in the city of Seongnam. It is located at Yatap-dong in Bundang, and is within a few minutes walk of Imae Station. The Seongnam Arts Center was first opened on October 14, 2005 by the Seongam Cultural Foundation.The Seongnam Arts Center is able to put on any kind of performance from ballet, to opera, to jazz, in its three main performance areas. The Opera House seats 1,805 and is capable of hosting operas, musicals, plays, ballets, and concerts. It is intended as a link between local and international culture. The Concert Hall was acoustically designed especially for performances of classical music. This two-story facility seats 996. The Ensemble Theatre, in addition to the regular stage, has a T-stage wrapping itself around the seats, allowing the performance to come closer to the auidence. It seats 398. --- Seoul Arts Centre (Opera House: capacity 2,340) The Seoul Arts Center, literally the Hall of Arts, is a cultural center in Seocho-gu, the southern area of Seoul, South Korea. Measuring in 12,0350 m², it consists of many different halls and centers for many diverse art forms. It began construction in 1984, and opened all its doors in 1993. It was started by the notion to bring a more solid aspect to the Korean arts and cultural scene, and to bring the Korean arts to an international level. It consists of the main Festival Hall, Calligraphy Hall, Music Hall, Arts Center, Center of Archives, Education Hall which are all housed indoors, and the Circular Plaza, Street of Meetings, Traditional Korean Gardens, an outdoor Theater, and a market place. © brianmay.com |
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On November 24, 2007 Russian Queen fans will commemorate Freddie Mercury at a party in "Plan B" Club - one of the best concert venues in Moscow. "The Bohemians" (former "WWRY - Russia" cast) has been announced to headline the concert that will also feature a rock'n'roll girls band "Magic" as well as rock quartet "Brown Sugar". The memorial party will be run by the Russian Queen fan club' (Queenrocks.Ru) (Special thanks to Oksana) Best wishes, © brianmay.com |
Sunday 18 Nov 2007 - ITV1 - 10pm --- It was of course Kenny Everett who was principally responsible for repeatedly playing Bohemian Rhapsody on the radio, having been handed a copy of the single by Freddie Mercury, who, with a nod and a wink, said it absolutely wasn't to be played, but famously Kenny's finger slipped, and he declered it would be number one for centuries!!! He wasn't far wrong. Articles to check out: LIVERPOOL ECHO: Kenny, who died at 50 from an Aids related illness, was instrumental in breaking so many boundaries. It was he who encouraged Freddie Mercury to release Bohemian Rhapsody. The singer was worried about the length of the song but Kenny ensured it would become a Queen classic. GLASGOW DAILY RECORD: And anybody who was anybody wanted to be on [The Kenny Everett Video Show]. Clips of David Bowie, Freddie Mercury and Rod Stewart - introduced as "that famous bum on legs" - all had the mickey mercilessly taken out of them, yet lined up to be on the show. IRISH INDEPENDENT: Like his good friend Freddie Mercury, he died of an Aids-related illness, on April 4, 1995. He left behind some classic moments, like the time he said to guest David Bowie, "I fought for people like you -- and I never got one!" © brianmay.com |
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QUEEN and PAUL RODGERS, along with many of the recent rock reunions.are discussed in the first inerview in the following podcast.... SHOCKWAVES/HARDRADIO - PODCAST #23: "This episode features a classic metal discussion between podcast host Bob Nalbandian and Anthrax/Armored Saint vocalist John Bush. Rather than the standard interview Nalbandian and Bush each give their insight on some of the much publicized recent classic rock/metal reunions including Van Halen, Heaven And Hell, Led Zeppelin, QUEEN, Alice In Chains, The Doors and many others...." An interview worth a listen, for some interesting views and opinions about reformed groups, and those who choose to continue to rock on after 30/40 years in the business. Here is the EXTRACT about Queen + Paul Rodgers and analogy with Alice In Chains.... © brianmay.com |
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BILLBOARD Chart Listing For The Week Of Nov 17 2007: This Week Last Week Two Weeks Ago Weeks on Chart Peak Position © brianmay.com |
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17 November: In 1978…Queen performed at Madison Square Garden. During “Fat Bottomed Girls,” several female nude cyclists joined them onstage. (Thanks to Rob Schoorl, © brianmay.com |
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Check out the Community Channel this weekend for repeats of the wonderful 2005 46664 Aids awareness concert, which can be found as follows: Sky 539 • Virgin TV 233 • Freeview 87 (6-9am) Fri 16 Nov Sat 17th Nov 2007 Sun 18th Nov 2007 Mon 19 Nov 46664: The Concert 2005 features highlights of the 46664 South Africa concert that took place as part of World Aids Day 2005. Actor and hip-hop star Will Smith presents the programme and MCs the event. The particular focus of the concert, in line with the theme of World AIDS Day, is to promote the recognition that women are now bearing the brunt of the HIV/AIDS pandemic with the fastest increase in infections. This one-hour special features music and moving contributions from Will Smith, Annie Lennox, Katie Melua, Queen and Paul Rodgers, a selection of African artists and, of course, Nelson Mandela himself. Mandela comments during the show: "You may well ask, what is this old age pensioner doing here tonight when he is supposed to have retired. Yes, I would love to enjoy the peace and quiet of retirement, but I know that like many of you, I cannot rest easily while our beloved continent is ravage by a deadly epidemic. "We hold the future of this continent in our hands. Let us use the universal language of music to sing out our message around the world. Aids is no longer just a disease, it is a human rights issue." Nelson Mandela launched the 46664 campaign in 2002 to highlight the emergency of HIV/AIDS through unique live events and music related projects. 46664 was Mandela’s prison number during his 18 year internment on Cape Town’s Robben Island. Today the number symbolises the worldwide initiative that aims to raise global awareness of HIV and AIDS and fight the largest pandemic the world has ever faced. © brianmay.com |
**Fri 16 Nov 07** Excellent metal band, “MERENDINE ATOMICHE” (www.merendineatomiche.com), will be playing a show on November 24 at Ricky’s – Villa del Conte (PD) – Italy. The band are all Queen fans and, after many requests, decided to play also some Queen songs for that concert. For that night we will sing all toghether the Queen songs in memory of Freddie. From Cristiano © brianmay.com |
**Fri 16 Nov 07** SPECIAL "FREDDIE MERCURY MEMORIAL" PROGRAMME TURKISH TRT RADIO3 Friends, This 24th November 2007, Freddie's 16th memorial day. This Sunday (18 November 2007), there will be a Special "Freddie Mercury" memorial programme at "Rock QUEEN's, "New Year Christmas Concert" at London "Hammersmith Odeon Theatre", December 1976, will be played at "RockEfsaneleri" radio programme. Programme is going to be at 14:10 - 15:00 Turkish time. (You can check local GMT times from Rockefsaneleri site) Bora Cetin Offical Turkish Queen Fan Club P.S. QUEEN's new live album; "Rock Montreal" will be played in December at Rock Efsaneleri. (Pls. check the site.) © brianmay.com |
**Fri 16 Nov 07** WWRY NZ BOOKING PERIOD - AND UK XMAS SCHEDULE NEW ZEALAND: The New Zealand leg of WWRY Asian Tour is now booking through to Sunday 2 December 5pm, at The Civic, Auckland. Booking link HERE UK: 'We Will Rock You' - Christmas Schedule 2007/2008 2007 2008 © brianmay.com |
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Queen has a new Brazil only release, Queen Collection, a new compilation of the band's biggest hits released by Som Livre. We have been asked to post the following news item - in English and Portuguese: Hi Everybody! English: Som Livre in campaign for the release of CD of Queen One of the Greatest Rock bands ever is about to have its hits relived by SomLivre. The recording company releases this month the CD Queen Collection, with campaign signed by Giovanni+Draftcb. There are five films, printed media (including sequential announcement), that will be transmitted in magazines, newspapers, besides Internet. All the pieces follows the concept "Queen Lves" and the divulgation is national, from 12th november on. The company noticed that many videos posted on YouTube are from people who dub its idols, making lipsynk of the favorite songs. Queen is exactly one of the bands with more dubbed clips on YouTube. The idea was to exploit this fever and add a more outstanding characteristic in the campaign: all the actors, normal people, women, men and children, will be using a moustache like Freddie's, Queen Singer. In the commercials, that follow a stereotype focused on reality, they play, funnily, big Queeb's hits: "We Are The Champions", "I Want To Break Free", "Love Of My Life", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "We Will Rock You". The spontaneity of the films convinced one of the directors of service of the agency, Alvaro Figueiredo, accepted the invitation to dub the song "I Want To Break Free". On the printed media, they appear posing with the moustache and the title "Queen Lives". "Queen is mythical, has a spectacular repertoire. If we already lived with the "Beatlemania" and know since long ago that Elvis is not dead, it is time to remember thar Queen Lives. And is is so alive that each one of us can dub it, assuming their music as legitimate manifestations of our mood", sais Adilson Xavier, Giovanni+Draftfcb's president. Queen began in 1967 in London and was compound by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Rocger Taylor and John Deacon. It was one of the precursory bands of the rock and it was famous in the 70's and 80's. A big part of the success hangs on the porformance and charisma of Freddie Mercury. Watch the Fernando Barcellos and Bruno Pinaud's creation, created and directed by Adilson Xavier, Cristina Amorim and Barcellos himself. Attended by Gustavo Oliveira, Maria Cláudia Zerk and Ana Deccache. RTVC Fernanda Martins, Luiza Maggessi e Carol Troisgros. The producer is Fim de Semana Pictused, and it is mixed by Sonido. Title: Queen Vive See the videos here: www.queenbrazil.com in main page. PortUGUESE: Som Livre em campanha pelo lançamento de CD do Queen Uma das maiores bandas de rock de todos os tempos terá seus sucessos revividos pela Som Livre. A gravadora lança este mês o CD Queen Collection, com campanha assinada pela Giovanni+Draftfcb. São cinco filmes, mídia impressa (incluindo anúncio seqüencial), que será veiculada em revistas e jornais, além de ações para Internet. Todas as peças seguem o conceito “Queen Vive” e a veiculação é nacional, a partir do dia 12 de novembro. A agência constatou que muitos vídeos postados no Youtube são de pessoas que dublam seus ídolos, fazendo um lipsync das músicas preferidas. O Queen é exatamente uma das bandas com mais clipes dublados no Youtube. A idéia foi aproveitar essa febre e acrescentar uma característica marcante à campanha: todos os protagonistas, pessoas normais, entre mulheres, homens e crianças, estarão usando um bigode no estilo Freddie Mercury, vocalista do Queen. Nos comerciais, que seguem uma estética focada na realidade, eles interpretam, de forma divertida, grandes sucessos da banda: “We are the champions”, “I want to break free”, “Love of my life”, “Crazy little thing called love” e “We will rock you”. A espontaneidade dos filmes fez com que um dos diretores de atendimento da agência, Alvaro Figueiredo, aceitasse o convite para dublar a canção “I want to break free”. Na mídia impressa aparecem posando com o bigode e o título: “Queen Vive”. O Queen é mítico, e tem um repertório espetacular. Se já convivemos com a ‘Beatlemania’ e sabemos há muito tempo que Elvis não morreu, está na hora de lembrar que ‘Queen Vive’. E está tão vivo que cada um de nós pode dublá-lo, assumindo suas músicas como legítimas manifestações de nosso astral., afirma Adilson Xavier, presidente da Giovanni+Draftfcb. O Queen surgiu em 1967 em Londres e era integrada por Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor e John Deacon. Foi uma das bandas precursoras do rock e ficou famosa nos anos 70 e 80. Boa parte do sucesso se deve à performance e carisma de Freddie Mercury. Assinam a criação Fernando Barcellos e Bruno Pinaud, com direção de criação de Adilson Xavier, Cristina Amorim e do próprio Barcellos. Atendimento de Gustavo Oliveira, Maria Cláudia Zerk e Ana Deccache. RTVC Fernanda Martins, Luiza Maggessi e Carol Troisgros. A produtora é a Fim de Semana Pictures, com mixagem da Sonido. Ficha Técnica Título: Queen Vive Veja os vídeos na página principal de www.queenbrazil.com © brianmay.com |
**Fri 16 Nov 07** There’s great news from México! The Mexican radio station, Mix 106.5, and EMI Music invite you to an event to pay homage to the legendary band Queen on Thursday 22 November 2007. Listen to this radio station to get the tickets for the event or answer the trivia in the website. As usual the Queen Fan Club Mexico will be supporting the event. www.grupoacir.com.mx/mix106.5/eventosmix.php?Submit=Editar&Ref=558 Note: The premiere of new Queen Rock Montreal DVD will be a special part of the programme. * * * On the other hand a 2 hr special radio programme devoted to Queen will be broadcast via internet at the Mexican radio station Tu Voz Radio on the program “Looking Back”: www.tuvozradio.com/home-tuvoz/# on 21 November 2007 from 20:00 to 22:00 hrs. Don’t miss out any of these two events! Queen Fan Club México © brianmay.com |
**Thu 15 Nov 07** QUEEN CONNECTIONS AT THE ROCK 'N ROLL FANTASY CAMP! Spike Edney Podcast.... The Rock 'n Roll Fantasy Camp Podcast sat down with Queen keyboardist Spike Edney, who talked about his experience at camp and how tough it is, the Queen musical, We Will Rock You, and getting his band of campers to write a song. Access the podcast, go to iTunes or check out this link for other music players. Here's the link to the web-page!: http://rockandrollfantasycamp.libsyn.com/ Thanks to Michelle Gannon for above. --- Also Jeff Scott Soto was called up for duty last weekend to the Rock 'N Roll Fantasy Camp for a second occasion (previously Feb 2007), this time in Las Vegas... by good friend, Spike Edney (Queen), and helped round off the finale in style with Queen anthems!! According to Jeff's webpage, he was required: to work with, rehearse and sing with with one of the camper bands. Jeff also came up at the very end with all the counselors All Star Band to finish with "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions" which included Spike, Jamie Moses (Queen), Mark Slaughter, Mark Hudson, Teddy Andreadis (Guns N Roses), Kelly Keagy (Nightranger), Simon Kirke (BadCo/Free), Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) & Jeff 'Skunk' Baxter (Doobie Bros/Steely Dan). © brianmay.com |
We Will Rock You premieres in Austria at the Raimund Theatre, Vienna, on 24 January 2008. Previews from 18 January. Info and ticket details from 
Australia:
Huge news for all Queen fans in Romania!!
