Letters QFN-19                                       
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Dear David,
I have two personal comments about something in QFN-18. I
need your answers about 'Champions Of The World', the box
set which you include with the address.

I have the question -

"Why do you publish this free advert?"

I can understand advertising the Terrance Higgins Trust and
other fanzines etc, but Mr Dickson doesn't work for AIDS
charities.

I think 150 (129 for fan club members, "thank you very
much!") for 7 photographs in a box with artwork (Picasso?!)
is an absolutely crazy price!

I think Queen fans should pay for real Queen items or give
to charity. I think Mr Dickson enriches himself at the
expense of Queen (and Led Zeppelin, Bowie, T-Rex etc.) I can
say only "Too much money will kill you Mr Murdoch, er Mr
Dickson!"

The other point I'd like to make is about the 'Record
Collector' articles (188 and 189) which you mention, and the
letters about the articles covering Queen's collaborations
and I must say that Mr Jenkins, Mr Young, Mr Johnson and Mr
Kooistre forgot about 'Bad News' the song by Bad News the
group in which Brian played a little solo (see OIQFC
biography 1993). This track is available on the 7" 'Cashing
In On Christmas' and the CD 'Bad News' (Rhino/Rampage
R270931, 1989, US only).

I read the list of 'Live Shows' which you printed in QFN-18
which were shown at this year's Convention in Southport and
I have this to ask. Is it possible for fans to record the
concerts from QTV?

Goodbye
Alex Smirnov
Russia


DEAR ALEX,
First of all, regarding the Ian Dickson boxed set - I did
not intend to give Ian Dickson a "free advert" as you put
it, but reported that he has these photographs for sale.

I mentioned the information in QFN's Official Fan Club
Magazine Round-Up section, as not all QFN subscribers are in
the official fan club, so may not know of the box set.

However, I realise that morals/motives etc. are different in
the East, but here in the West people make money through
being professional photographers, though I do agree with you
about the price - 129 (or 150) is very high for 7
photographs, and I would be interested to hear if any reader
knows someone who has bought the set.

The artwork is by a famous music magazine artist/cartoonist,
but that doesn't impress me and I think his work is very
sloppy and the sort of thing that many people would probably
say "I could do that!" It certainly wouldn't make me want to
buy the box set with that on the front. 

Secondly, although the track 'Bad News' is not mentioned by
any of the names above, it is actually listed in the
original article, as the B-side of 'Cashing In On
Christams', though it isn't mentioned in the small paragraph
about the band Bad News.

Finally, regarding the Queen concerts shown on QTV at the
Convention. Well as far as I'm aware fans don't record them
(from the TV), as there is no video recorder in the chalets,
only a TV. The TV sets are all linked to a central video
player housed in the camps offices, so fans don't get the
opotion really. Sorry to disappoint you!



Dear David,
I would like to know if anyone QFN reader has a copy of the
full video of Queen's 'Milton Keynes' concert from 1982.

I realise that many people will have the version which was
broadcast on TV from the 'The Tube' UK show. (repeated in
1991).

I have the FULL version on audio tape and would like the
whole show on video too, as it includes the following
tracks not shown on Tv:
Action this Day
Back Chat
The whole of Brian's solo.

Can anyone help?

Best Wishes
Ashley Ebbage



DEAR ASHLEY,
The only video copy I'm aware of IS the 60 minute version
from 'The Tube', but someone, somewhere may be able to help. 

If any reader has the full show on video please contact the
QFN address and I will pass on your details to all
interested fans.



Dear David,
Thanks for sending me the QFN disc magazine, which I
discovered via the Internet. A friend of mine is with
Compuserve. Do you know it?

I think QFN might be a first for fanzines, a virtual
multi-media program on disc and a great paper mag too! I
love it. Are there any back issues for paper or disc
available?

Anyway, you seem to be covering much more than any of the
other Queen fanzines which I receive, which are:

Princes Of The Universe ....... UK
Noblesse Oblige ............... France
Royal Vision .................. USA
We Will Rock You .............. Italy.

You have the two versions - paper and disc!. What can I say,
except "keep it up".

I especially like the old interviews being reprinted and the
quiz. The quiz is usually hard, but very satisfying to
complete (even though I've never sent in an answer(!).

Keep Yourself Alive.
Sophie A Falconi - Italy 



DEAR SOPHIE,
You are too kind. I just try to provide a service and give
out information which I know as a I fan I am personally
intersted in, and it seems to work for everyone else too.

Any fans from outside the UK are most welcome to inform QFN
of any Queen activities in their country.

Personally I know there are other fanzines avaiable on the
Internet, (not Queen though I don't think), and not for the
Acorn computer which as you're arware is done in the style
of a multi-media program.

PC /Mac and Atari users can also be supplied with the text
and graphics from QFN, so if you know anyone with those
machines please inform them of the QFN disc. Thanks.

If you can send in any interviews on disc please do. I
could provide some, but I think it would great if readers
typed up their own interviews or Queen-related artiles, then
it will be something which at least one fan wants rather
than me including my favourite interviews etc.

Yes, some 'back issues' of both the disc and paper versions
are still available. They are as follows:

PAPER version, issues 1 to 11 Sold Out. 12 to 19 = 1 each.

DISC versions of issues 16/17/18 are PD and also 1 each.

Send also 2 x25p stamps (UK) or 3 x IRCs (non-UK) for either
version and inform me which you want. Paper or Disc? 
 

Dear David,
Thanks for another good and interesting edition of QFN.

I'm in agreement with you concerning the Jim Hutton book,
'Mercury & Me'. I found it, on the whole, tastefully done
and extremely moving. I'm glad that Freddie did have someone
to love and who loved him in return.

Did you see the reports in the papers recently concerning a
mini series currently in production by Granada TV based on
Jim's book? Let's hope that if the series is made it will be
sensitively done and accurate. Although it's hard to imagine
that any actor will be able to capture Freddie's magic.

Dear Helen,
Yes, I did see the recent news reports about a proposed TV
series based on Jim Hutton's book, and it would certainly be
a great story should it ever happen. Personally I believe
that a subject such as Freddie/Queen warrants a full-blown
film if anything at all. We're not dealing with a national
celebrity here, but a world famous, world-class performer.
Though I doubt that Hollywood could be persuaded to back the
film, and put up the cash considering they are so homophobic
these days.

Apparently the production rights to Jim's book have been
bought by ex-'Radio 1' DJ Mike Smith. Various rumours are
flying about who will be cast in the lead roles, but as you
say it will be very hard to get someone to play Freddie.

When I last spoke to Jacky Smith at the fan club on this
subject, she told me she didn't know anything more than the
rest of us, and had only read about it in the paper herself.
She did mention that 'Queen Productions' hadn't at that
point been approached to use any of Queen's music for the
series. So there either isn't going to be any Queen music in
the series, or that is something which will be sorted at a
later date, and that could mean the airing of anything could
well be many years away.

Also, if there are any objections in the Queen camp about
Jim's story being converted to the small screen, they could
well deny the use of any Queen music in the hope that any
series wouldn't get full backing or acceptance without
relevant music. 



DEAR HELEN,
Yes, I did see the recent news reports about a proposed TV
series based on Jim Huttons book, and it would certainly be
a great story should it ever happen. Personally I believe
that a subject such as Freddie/Queen warrants a full-blown
film if anything at all. Were not dealing with a national
celebrity here, but a world famous, world-class performer.
Though I doubt that Hollywood could be persuaded to back the
film, and put up the cash considering they are so homophobic
these days.

Apparently the production rights to Jims book have been
bought by ex-Radio 1 DJ Mike Smith. Various rumours are
flying about who will be cast in the lead roles, but as you
say it will be very hard to get someone to play Freddie.

When I last spoke to Jacky Smith at the fan club on this
subject, she told me she didnt know anything more than the
rest of us, and had only read about it in the paper herself.
She did mention that Queen Productions hadnt at that
point been approached to use any of Queens music for the
series. So there either isnt going to be any Queen music in
the series, or that is something which will be sorted at a
later date, and that could mean the airing of anything could
well be many years away.

Also, if there are any objections in the Queen camp about
Jims story being converted to the small screen, they could
well deny the use of any Queen music in the hope that any
series wouldnt get full backing or acceptance without
relevant music.




Dear David,
Thank you for the latest issue of QFN. It was a good fanzine
(newsletter! - Ed.) before  - and now it's just great! For
many issues I dreamt of having it with a picture cover - and
now it is. If you'd allow me I'll make an effort to draw a
picture for possible use in one of the future issues.

The contents are great as ever, and I'm exceptionally proud
to see my little articles in there. (The Snow Queen - Ed.)

The Circus interview with Freddie was especially interesting
and I personally would like to see more old articles and
reviews included.

Please find another issue of my humble newsletter - The Snow
Queen. I'd be happy to see my Quiz used in QFN.

I hear rumours that Brian, Roger and John are going to tour
with George Michael on vocals. Can this be true? If they
were to reform the band I'd love to see Ian Gillan or Robert
Plant as the new member, though nobody can replace Freddie.

And one final thing, before I sign off. I'd like to thank
you for something. Through QFN I got to know someone with
whom I correspond intensively. She is not only a fan-pal,
but a real personal friend of mine!

Keep Yourself (and all us fans) Alive!
Sergey Shmelev
Russia


DEAR SERGY,
You always write the most flattering letters, and I'm happy
to receive them on such a regular basis. Some fans however
write frequently to me for a while and then stop totally.
Whereas, although there may be months between letters from
you, I know one will turn up eventually, and that it will
contain something of interest, plus all the latest Queen
news from Russia which is somewhere that doesn't get
mentioned over here in the West. Then there is your small
but informative newsletter about the Queen's Russian-related
activities which I will include elsewhere in this issue.

If you do draw something for use on the front cover of QFN
be sure to send it in and maybe I'll be able to use it.
Maybe I will put it inside the newsletter if I feel it would
be more appropriate there.

I love to read old interviews and it seems a lot of other
fans do too, so I will be including more when I can get them
typed up. If any reader has an interesting interview from
the early seventies please send it in (on computer disc if
possible) or even a photocopy will do, and we'll take it
from there. Later I'll include things from the 1980s but
let's stick to the 1970s for now.

Well I suppose the rumour about Queen touring had to surface
all over the World as it would be such a big story if it
were true.

However there has been no official mention of it here in the
UK, so we can only assume it is just a rumour. It would be
very interesting and welcomed by many if it were to happen
though.

Your choice of replacement singer in Ian Gillan is unusual
to say the least, although he is a favourite performer of
mine and I think Deep Purple Mk II with Ian was the best
incarnation. I have all his solo albums too.

Personally I can't imagine anyone replacing Freddie, and the
only way I think such a tour could be staged is in the style
of the tribute concert with various artists' taking the lead
vocal.

As you rightly state, "no-one" can replace Freddie.

It will be interesting to see how the album is promoted if
there is no tour. One possibility is to have videos for each
track of the whole album, (this is to happen, as 11 young
directors from the British Film Institute have been given
the job, but they won't be ready ubtil Feb 96 - Ed).

Jacky's suggestion that there is a new Queen long-form video
to be released with the first single from 'Made In Heaven'
is very interesting and could be a clue to this problem.
Although Jacky might just be refering to the 'Champions Of
The World' video release, rather than a 'new type' of video
which her "new long-form" wording at first seemed to be
describing.

I'm happy that QFN has brought you closer to someone -
someone more than a fan-pal as you say. I don't want to
mention any names, even though you did in your letter, as I
wouldn't want to cause any embarrassment to either of you. I
wish you the best of luck in the future and Keep YOURSELF
Alive.  

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