Letters QFN-18                                       
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Dear David,
Thanks very Much for an enjoyable informative and neatly put
together fanzine no. 17 (it's a newsletter - Ed.)

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 being 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.

Regarding the latest offernings from Adrian Hopkins, I
bought the 'piano' badge which considering the price I was
expecting something rather better. Unlike the drumkit and
guitar badges, I feel that the piano is a bit of a dupe -
beware!

Looking at the last issue I really enjoyed the 'Back To The
70's' interview with Freddie. I was also interested in
reading your reply to the letter from Dean Pedley. Regarding
the need for QFN with the appearance of other fanzines
(there's that word again! - Ed) I think the need is there as
much as ever. It doesn't matter how many inferior fanzines
there are, it doesn't remove the need to have the best
fanzine on the scene! How's that for flattery? (the cheques
in th post. Ha, ha! - Ed). I really enjoy reading, looking
back over and keeping QFN's and I am certain that many other
people do as well. I hope that encourages you to carry on.
  
  All the best
  Andy Fitzgerald


Dear Andy,
Thanks for the 'Queen Phenomenon' info and the other pieces
you've sent in the past. At last it seems there's to be an
explosion of new Queen releases with the final album and TV
special etc, "coming soon".

Regarding the Queen badges, maybe you should express your
feeling to Jacky at the fan club. Maybe she isn't aware of
the quality of the current merchandise. The fan club has
always prided themselves on good quality, and never been
known to rip fans off just for the money. Suggest what price
you think the badge is worth and maybe they'll adjust the
price accordingly. Personally I only buy the
t-shirt/calenders/mugs which are always superb quality, with
the exception of a few photos on the 1994 calender, which
were very dark as if the the original transparency used had
been scanned using RGB instead of CMYK, but that's another
story...

It's genuinely rewarding to hear words of praise from QFN
readers - quite a few have expressed concern about my answer
to Dean's letter in QFN-17, but as I said in my reply, as
long as (enough) fans subscribe I'll continue with QFN. I
just wanted to explain my intentions and reasons for going
seasonal. My load has been lightened because of it, though
the new QFN Disc mag is keeping me occupied at the moment,
but that too should be running smoothly alongside the paper
version by the end of the year. Thanks for your kind words
never-the-less.

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Dear David
Find enclosed a tape of Roger at Wolverhampton - consider it
a gift. My wife and myself are having withdrawal symptoms as
we have had no Queen 'activities' since the Xmas Cruise and
we are not going to the Convention this year.

I have just bough a video entitled 'Queen - The Unofficial
Biography'. Having seen it advertised in Record Collector I
was keen to get my hands on a copy. When I found one in
Boots (UK chemist chain) I pondered whether to buy it, but
after seeing the wording 'rare footage' although not at
broadcast quality I paid my money (about 10 - Ed) and
couldn't wait to see this footage. What it all worth it? No,
no, no!

Firstly it last for about 30 minutes. Secondly the 'rare
footage' is only odd photos or parts of videos. Thirdly it
is heavily padded out with video footage of The Beatles,
Elvis and Madonna! Fourthly it is not even chronological. It
jumps around mentioning differnt years. First it's Freddie
in Brazil, then the Crazy Tour a couple of years before.
Finally when any video footage is shown the sound fades
after a few seconds and is often accompanied by a dreadful
background noise which makes you think there is something
wrong physically with the tape.

The only good points are a few seconds from the BBC. Save
your money for something better. Any fan could have produced
a video a hundred times better than this. It's a complete
rip-off and the people responsible  should be (shot? - Ed)
ashamed of such a shoddy product. I hope this put off other
fans buying it and wasting their money.

Did you see the advert on Channel 4's teletext about 'Lost
Touch'? Someone by the name of Barry Bulsara of 'Bulsara
Productions' wanted Jim Hutton of Garden Lodge to get in
touch. I phoned Jacky and to tell her and she said that it's
someone who says they he has 'spoken' to Freddie, and he
hangs around Garden Lodge a lot. Jim Beach has hired a
Private Detective to find out what he's doing.
  
  Yours
  Jon James


Dear Jon,
Thanks for the Roger tape, it's brilliant isn't it! Many
fans have said this was one of the best shows of the UK
tour. I didn't get to it myself but saw him at other venues
which were fantastic, especially Liverpool. 

What a pity you didn't subscribe to QFN sooner, as the
abomination that is 'The Unofficial Biography' was reviewed
in an issue of QFN about 2/3 years ago when it first
appeared on the market. It really is dreadful isn't it. I
was lucky enough to see it before I decided not to buy it,
as I to asked to see what the 'non-broadcast quality' was
actually like on the shop TV. I really couldn't believe
anyone could produce such rubbish. What surprised me more
was that large UK stores were selling it. Avoid it like the
plague everyone!

Thanks for the info about Barry Bulsara of which I know
nothing. Has anyone else heard anything? Be sure to send
details to QFN if you have any info.

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Dear David,
The second Austrailian Queen Convention was held on Saturday
18th March again in Brisbane. There were about 80 fans in
attendence who all enjoyed the night. Brian wrote a short
letter which was faxed through on the morning by Jacky at
the fan club. She also included some information about Gerry
Stickells forthcoming book and interesting news that the
final album would probably be released in November this
year. I hope QFN is going well. I always enjoy reading
what's going on.

  Best Wishes
  Bill Bryant


Dear Bill,
Thanks for keeping us in touch with the Oz Convention and
for distributing QFN flyers for me - I've had a small amount
of replies because of your help. I wonder if any other
countries have recognised Conventions. Anyone?

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Dear David,
Thanks for the 'new look' QFN (paper version). It looks at
lot better in this new format. I like the Helen Hill
illustrations throughout the mag, quite good some of them.

I recently spoke to a comic-collector friend of mine who is
actually a Spiderman fan. Well, to cut a long story short,
this mate of mine hated Queen, but as he heard the theme
tune every day on radio, he asked where he could buy it. So
I enlightended him by telling him that it wa Queen's
legendary guitarist Brian May. In the end I pursuaded him to
buy Brian's solo and live albums. Now he's a keen admirer of
Queen music!

I was quite surprised to see Brian working on the Spiderman
project. As a child Spiderman was my favourite comic. So
it's nice to see the collaboration.

I was quite annoyed with some of the tabloids obsession with
Kenny Everetts death from Aids. Most of the presss put
Freddie's picture along side Kenny's on 	the front page.
Quite sickening really. It makes Roger's song 'Dear Mr
Murdoch' all the more appropriate really.

  The show goes on...
  Steven Corps


Dear Steven,
Thanks for the new set of illustrations for QFN. I will use
them in future issues. Congratulations on converting your
friend to  Queen. It's strange how people can be influenced
by 'outside' influences to their normal 'likes' isn't it.
Thanks also for the Spiderman info which appears elsewhere
in this issue.  Personally I didn't see the  death of Kenny
Everett reported in the tabloid press as I have avoided them
totally because of their treatment of Freddie back in 1991.

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Dear David,
On receiving QFN-17 I was most impressed. You've done an
exellent job and you can count me on renewing my
subscription at the end of the year. May I say out of the
other recent (paper) fanzines  I've received recently
(Winged Messenger/Strange Frontier/Queen Collector) QFN was
the first to arrive and I congratulate you on a speedy
service. QFN is also the pick of the bunch too.

I would like to contribute a quiz to QFN (see elsewhere -
Ed) The prize will be a volume from 'Glamour Personified' on
a tape. (If anyone else wants a copy of either of the 3
volumes see 'Classified' section of this issue for the
address - Ed.)

  Yours
  Richard D Jones



Dear Richard,
Thanks for helping out with the quiz - and an original prize
too. It's much appreciatted. By the way you are the youngest
QFN subscriber at 13. Unless any others haven't told me
their real age!

Richard is also one of the editors of a new 'Red Dwarf'
fanzine. Write with an SAE/IRC if you are interested. See
Classified section for address.

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Dear David,
I'm including a review about Queen from 'Q' magazine. I must
admit I found it pretty heavy going. I can't remember which
issue it was from sorry! My daughter bought it because it
had Jon Bon Jovi on the cover! (Well that should identfy
it).

About Jim Hutton's book 'Mercury and Me', I read it at the
begining of the year and found it rather depressing, but
everyone feels low after the Christmas and New Year
celebrations don't they. I much prefer to remember Freddie
doing what he did best - performing. I think Jim is a really
nice bloke and he though the world of Freddie. So hopefully
it was good therapy for him to write the book. I do feel he
was treated badly after Freddie's death by certain people.
Of course it's such a pity the he also has the HIV virus. I
will read the book again in the summer and let you know what
I think.

I went to see the cover band 'The Royal Family' at the Forum
in Kentish Town (London). I would recommend seeing them,
they were really good. They sang songs from the 'Magic,
period and did a good impression of the real thing. They
must have studied the Wembley video for hours.

Finally I saw Roger at the Shepards Bush Empire last year
and he was fantastic. This was the first rock concert I have
been to and I would love to get hold of any "live" tapes of
the show.

  The show will go on!
  Christine Phillips


Dear Chistine,
Thank you for the review - it was quite a strange one that.
There has been a lot written about Jim Hutton's book within
these pages. It's certainly cause a few upsets, but I
thought it was sensitively done - as painful as it was
though. Do let me know what you think when you re-read it,
won't you. 

Regarding the "live" tapes of Roger. The only ones I know of
is the Wolverhampton one mentioned in QFN. Anyone else know
of others?

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Dear David,
I had a very strange experience recently (April Fools day to
be exact!) I was sitting on the platform of South Kensington
tube station wearing a denim jacket which I've embroidered
with the words 'Queen - 20 Magical Years' followed by the
titles of all their albums, Well a man came up to me and
asked if I was a Queen fan. When I said I was, he said:

"Here's Roger Taylor's drumstick"

and handed me a drumstick from 2 or 3 that he was carrying.
I asked where he got it from and he said "Him!" - then this
man jumped on to a train and vanished!

The drumstick does have 'Roger Taylor' printed on in red and
looks quite battered. I'm sure it's authentic, but I'd love
to know who that man was, and where he got it. So maybe if
you print this letter and that person is reading he could
get in touch.

  Keep Yourself Alive
  Lizz Bendell



Dear Lizz,
What a strange event. Well, if you're reading Mr 'mystery 
drumstick'. Drop Lizz a line via the QFN address and I'll
make sure she receives it.

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Please indicate when you write to QFN if you don't want any
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