Current News  QFN-18
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Last issue I mention a book in production about Freddie's
life by David Bret. David said in his original letter to me
that he had been in touch with Jacky Gunn and Jim Beach at
the Fan Club and Queen Productions respectively and would
allow them to read any drafts before production.

However, Jacky has told me that although that Mr Bret will
allow Jim Beach to see the the drafts, he will publish
regardless of whether he receivce permission to do so from
Queen Productions or not. His book will therefore be
unofficial. Jacky tells me that she feels he might "do a
reasonable job" though as she says "we'll have to wait and
see". More news as and when I have it.

If you know of any other books, unofficial or otherwise,
please contact me at the normal address. I feel there maybe
many other authors waiting to 'uncover' the real Freddie
Mercury story. What do you think about books revealing
Freddie's life when he was such a private person?

There is one book I know of by a fan (and QFN
subscriber/reader) - Greg Brooks which will hopefully see
the light of day soon. It's about Queen's live shows and
should include set lists, photographs and concert tickets as
well as reviews of many famous shows in Queens' career.  
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Spider-Man Update.
------------------
Some of you will have noticed that both the postcard and CD
artwork for the MC Spy-D + "Friends" release, 'The Amazing
Spider-Man' included a #1 (hash-1) and the words 'Special
Collector's Edition' in the corner. I thought this could be
related to either the postcard or CD. Apparently this is
something Marvel Comics put on everything and wanted the
continuity; even though there are no plans for follow-ups
for this release. 

The artist responsible for the Spiderman artwork is Todd
McFarlane who actually quit Marvel comics in 1992 over
'creative matters'.

There is also a 'talking book' to accompany the radio
series. It's on the BBC label.
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Terrence Higgins Catalogue.
---------------------------
To help with fund-raising 'The Terrance Higgins Trust' is
selling goods and has produced a catalogue. It includes
T-shirt designs by Christopher New, Workers For freedom and
Paul Smith, bags and mugs by Fashion Acts. For a free
catalogue send an SAE/IRC to: The Catalogue, The Terrance
Higgins Trust, 52/54 Grays Inn Road, London. WC1X 8JU 

When the book 'Mercury & Me' was first published I contacted
Jim Hutton to express my thoughts and feeling about this, a
very personal and revealing book. I didn't really expect a
reply, so it was a nice surprise to receive a hand-written
postcard from Jim, thanking me for my letter. The postcard
is a promotional one announcing the paperback version of his
book which will be published on the 6th July 1995 - price
4.99 (UK).

I have since sent Jim another letter telling him about QFN,
(which I didn't in the original letter) I've asked him a few
questions about his time with Freddie, and would he mind if
I published his response in a future issue, but as yet I
have had no reply I can't say if you'll be able to read
anything. 
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Fanzines
--------
Three of new fanzines fell on my doorstep recently, all of
varying quality and content. The first and best is 'Our
Fairy Queen' a 40 page A5 size Russian fanzine. It seems to
cover many areas though I can't comment further as the text
is Russian which I don't read. Though the illustrations a
photographs cover Smile, Queen and The Cross. It has current
news and releases, reviews, tour dates, book reviews,
newspaper cuttings and songwords too. It's very well
designed and laid out, and although photocopied it's done to
a very high standard. For more details send an SAE/IRC to:

Alex
13 (2) Shokalsky Proezd,
App 113,
Moscow 129221,
Russia.


The second-best fanzine is called 'The Winged Messenger'
(Mercury in case you don't know) and is produced by people
in the print industry so is of quite a high standard, though
seems too commercial for my taste as is is full of adverts
for local bussinesses who sponsor the mag. Anyway if you'd
like a copy it's 1.50 per issue from:

A Kind Of Magic (payee)
32 Lancaster Ave
The Heights,
Bolton
Lancashire
BL6 6ND


The final fanzine 'Strange Frontier' is dedicated to Roger,
and is produced by 2 female fans in the UK. Still in it's
early days (as the issue I saw was issue 3) there seems no
real direction. Even though it's supposed to be about Roger,
there are lots of bits and bobs about Queen thrown in in a
random fashion - old news clippings/interviews etc, rather
like a scrap book which covers a few years. I'm certain it's
done with the best of intentions, but can't help feel that a
little more planning is needed if it's to get fans ordering
a second or third issue. It does however have the blessing
of Roger himself as a reproduced letter from him proves.
Good Luck.

Strange Frontier is avaialble at 1.80 per issue (UK only,
elswhere send an IRC) to:

Strange Frontier
Gannel View
29 Curlew Close
Pentire
Newquay
Cornwall
TR7 1SU


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CD Video
--------
The (double) CD Video of Queen's 'Greatest Flix' has been
remastered and re-released this month correcting some, but
not all the mistakes in the first edition. Some tracks are
still joined/indexed which means they cannot be isolated and
played in a randon order which of course one of the benefits
of CD - non-liniar access. See if you can spot the
inconsistencies on the cover. However there are 33 great
tracks and a 16 page colour booklet complete with credits
and anecdotes and 'making of...' each video. Plays on an
audio CD too, so you may want to buy it now even if you
don't have a CD Video player yet.
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Queen Phenomena
---------------
In the Spring issue of the official fan club magazine there
is mention of a TV Special called the 'Queen Phenomena'. 

In a supplment of the TV trade journal 'Broadcast' from
April, a full page advert informs of the 'Queen Phenomenon -
The Definative Story...'. It also states that a trailer for
this film is/was screened at MIP-TV on board the PMI
(Picture Music International) boat 'The Centaura'. Jete
Albert Edouardo (nest to the Palais). The 52 minute TV
Special will be ready for broadcast in October 1995.
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QFN 'Bootleg Review' book.
--------------------------
QFN is currently considering producing a book about the many
Queen bootlegs on the market. As the Queen bootleg world
continues to grow each month I cannot claim it will
'everything', but it will detail many, many "live" shows,
studio rarities (out-takes/demo versions) and interviews
that are available through non-official sources. Subsequent
releases will be covered in QFN and eventually added to
future editions of the book.

If you have ANY bootlegs on either CD or Vinyl (not Tapes,
unless you  are either 100% certain that the bootleg exists
in no other form, or that their exists CD or vinyl versions)
and would like your review of that recording included in the
QFN book, please send me the following details like the
example below:

If you can provide the information on floppy computer disc
then please do. Please send ALL text files in ASCII format
using !Edit, and not from a word processor (ie NOT
Impression files etc). Only send me back-ups from your
original. Thanks.


Example Layout.
---------------
Name             : Rhapsody In Red
Show Date(s)     : 1978 & 1975 
Type             : CD
Label            : Buccaneer Records
Catalogue No.    : BUC 033
Matrix No.       : GHE SAN BUC 003

Sound Quality    : 8
Package Quality  : 7
Performance      : 8

Picture Disc     : No
Coloured Viynl   : No

Track Listing    : List all tracks here with relevant details.
Review           : You comments here.
Reviewers Name   : Your Name here.

Please,please, please include a photograph / photocopy of
front / back / inside cover/sleeves if possible.

When complete the book will be sold (at a very low price)
initially through QFN, but hopefully in other ways too. I
will report on the development as and when they transpire.
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Record Collector Back issues
----------------------------

As many readers of QFN wrote in enquiring about the
magazines refered to in the 'Magazine Round-Up' of the
newsletter, here for a start are the back issues  of
'Record Collector' which feature Queen.

Comments/Contents     Number  Date
------------------------------------               
Rarities               69    May 85     
Solo & Discographies   96    Aug 87
? & Discographies      102   Feb 88
Top 100 Rarities       110   Oct 88
Rare Pic Sleeves       114   Feb 89
Brian May Interview    114   Feb 89
Live 73-79             118   Jun 89
Live Discography       118   Jun 89
On CD                  123   Nov 89
Live 1980's            133   Sep 90
Revised Discography    139   Mch 91
Solo Update & Discog   144   Aug 91
Hollywood Remasters    149   Jan 92
Freddie Tribute        149   Jan 92
On Video               154   Jun 92
Poll result (2nd)      158   Oct 92
Smile & Larry Lurex    160   Dec 92
Cross Discography      160   Dec 92
Bo Rhap history        167   Jul 93
Remasters              171   Nov 93
Japanese pic sleeves   178   Jun 94
Collaborations (Pt 1)  188   Apr 95
Collaborations (Pt 2)  189   May 95

Cost per issue (UK/Europe only):
UK       - 3.50
Europe   - 4.20

Cheques/Postal Orders payable to:
PARKER PUBLISHING 
Send your name and address printed clearly in block capitol
letters to

Magazine Editor,
Record Collector
45 St mary's Rd
Ealing
London
W5 5RQ

Please mention QFN when ordering anything from the above.
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