“Is This The Real Life: The Untold Story Of Queen”
By Mark Blake
Da Capo Press, 978-0-306-81959-9,
Hardcover, 416 pages, $25
★★★

By Gillian G. Gaar

Overall, Mark Blake,, who also wrote “Comfortably Numb: The Inside Story Of Pink Floyd,” does a good job relating Queen’s story. This is especially true as he untangles the details of the band members’ formative years, their first groups and the early years of Queen (when it went through three bassists before finally securing the services of John Deacon). U.S. fans may find the 1982-on period especially informative, as Queen’s profile dropped in America after the negative reaction to its “disco” album, “Hot Space” (after 1982, Queen never performed live in America again).

Though Blake draws on his previous interviews with Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, he’s not as close to the inner circle as he was in his Floyd book and frequently relies on interviews band members have done for various magazines over the years. His writing style is also somewhat restrained, though he does discuss the band’s music at length in ways that other biographies tend to miss (including side projects).

There’s also an undercurrent of sadness as the book reveals how singer Freddie Mercury’s AIDS diagnosis was handled. It’s noted that Mercury kept the news private, as he didn’t want people buying Queen’s records “out of pity.” But being private also allowed gossip to flourish and denied Mercury the support that undoubtedly would have been offered by family and friends. Though Mercury didn’t die alone, his family members and bandmates weren’t present.

Blake relays the facts, but offers no further commentary of his own. Despite occasional shortcomings, this is still the best overall biography on the group to date, appropriately released during Queen’s 40th anniversary year.

For related items that you may enjoy in our Goldmine store:

• Explore Queens’ early years with the book “Queen: The Early Years”
• Get the really cool book: “Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock”

Goldmine magazine’s July 2011 (Issue #801) is on your newsstand now! Keep on the lookout (or save yourself trouble every month and subscribe now!).

Ronnie Spector is on the cover of the July issue:

For Ronnie Spector, loving what you do is the best revenge.

We’ve all heard Ronnie Spector (born as Veronica Bennett) referred to as “the original bad girl.” More appropriately, Ronnie should be called rock ‘n’ roll’s original woman vocalist. Her style, her attitude, her voice … it all added up to what made rock music so special.

For the kids of the ‘80s who first heard Ronnie share vocals in that Eddie Money song on heavy MTV rotation, there sometimes became a need to dig deeper into popular music’s history and discover the iconic vocals of Veronica Bennet of The Ronettes. Once heard, there was no denying this woman’s remarkable voice.

Nowadays, there are things in her past that Ronnie Spector does not feel comfortable talking about (and who can blame her?). The one thing she does know is that having a passion for what you do in life is the best way to forget the ugly ghosts. It was always the music — performing and singing ­— that got her through. And same holds true now. Gillian G. Gaar interviews Ronnie Spector on this continued passion for rock ‘n’ roll music.

The July issue also includes these special features:

• Nirvana — Celebrate 20 years of ‘Nevermind,’ check out a new Nirvana museum exhibit and catch up with the raft of artists who once called Nirvana their home.
• Nazareth — In a recent letter to the editor, Eric Sweetwood of Normal, Illinois, wrote:
  Having recently heard the “Big Dogz” CD by Nazareth, I was hoping to charm you into doing an article on the band. I have not truthfully read many books or decent articles on Nazareth. Since they are celebrating their 40th Anniversary as a band, they might be road-weary insiders of the daily trappings and the bounty of being a top notch hard rock band. In the states, we far too often ignore our UK friends. 

  Well, Mr. Sweetwood, get the issue and find your Scottosh treat right there. We aim to please.

  The thing is: Nazareth never really went away. Sure, there was a ten-year period between 1998-2008 where there was nothing new by the band, but for the last three years the band has put out two fantastic hard rock albums, namely “The Newz” and “Big Dogz.” And what better way to celebrate a band’s forty years than to listen and enjoy both the old and the new!

• Rory Gallagher — Explore Rory Gallagher’s music catalog in-depth.
• Ray Manzarek — Legendary keyboardist opens up new doors to the blues with Roy Rogers.
• Simon Kirke — Drummer Simon Kirke frees himself to do fine solo material.
• The Beatles —Check out an auction of Astrid Kirchherr’s Beatles photos.
• 13th Floor Elevators — Take the elevator to the 13th Floor for a Roky Erickson bobblehead.
• Beach Boys — What do the Beach Boys and a Barbie doll have in common? A flexi-disc, that’s what.
• Charlotte Muhl —Here are the 10 albums that changed Sean Lennon‘s closest musical collaborator’s life
• Discoveries: Head back to the beginning … The cradle of rock begins in the 1940s!
• Flashback: Meet Rube Lacy, preacher, teacher and blues musician
• Reviews —An interesting Queen book, and CDs ala TV Smith, Jeff Healey, Phil Spector, The Ronettes and others

Find each issue of GOLDMINE at your local Barnes & Noble or Borders newsstands by clicking here.

Or simply subscribe, click here.

———–

A GOLDMINE LIMITED-EDITION COLLECTION: “The Doors & Jim Morrison: True to His Own Spirit” The ultimate Morrison bundle, picked out by the editors of Goldmine magazine. ORDER NOW

This limited-edition exclusive collection includes:

• The Doors’ L.A. Woman 180-gram virgin vinyl LP
• The Jim Morrison Scrapbook
• Jim Morrison – Final 24: His Final Hours DVD
• Goldmine’s Guide to The Doors (PDF download)
• Goldmine Standard Catalog of American Records 1948-1991

Rock N Roll Books/SCB Distributors, who earlier this year acquired retail rights to “Bohemian Rhapsodies: True and Authorized Tales by Queen Fans and Celebrities,” will officially announce the debut of the book’s cover art at the 2011 annual Book Expo of America in New York City, NY. Designed by poster artist John Warner (Phish, Citizen Cope), the illustrated cover celebrates the classic Queen era.

Compiled by Robyn Dunford, edited by Dunford and Kelly Franko, and ‘officially authorized’ by Queen, the book will feature exclusive commentary from those closest to the band’s late singer, Freddie Mercury — including his longtime personal assistant, Peter Freestone. Also featured will be contributions from rock ‘n’ roll peers of the four legends comprising Queen (Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon), recounting personalized stories during the band’s heyday.

From the fan side, readers will be treated to many intimate stories from lifelong fans of Queen who were touched personally by the members of the band in one way or another, whether by their music or the fan’s personal relationships with the band. Rock N Roll Books is also teaming with compiler/author Robyn Dunford to donate a substantial portion of the book’s proceeds to the Mercury Phoenix Trust upon publication.

Visit Rocknrollbooks.com for updates as the release date approaches.

Queen. Photo courtesy Capitol Records

The surviving members of Queen are pulling out all the stops to celebrate the band’s 40th anniversary with a series of releases, reissues, special limited-edition items and events around the world.

“I can’t believe it’s been that long and that we are still around in such a big way,” drummer Roger Taylor said. “I’m amazed and grateful!”

Queen’s entire 15-album studio catalog is being reissued in a series of deluxe, two-CD editions. One CD will contain the updated, remastered original album, and the second disc will feature rarities, some of which have never been available before, even in bootleg form. One example: Five first-album demos recorded at London’s De Lane Lea Studios in December 1971 were pulled from the only existing copy — an acetate from guitarist Brian May’s personal archives. Not even May’s surviving Queen bandmates, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon, had copies.

(Love Queen? Give these books a closer look: “Queen,” “Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock,” “Queen The Early Years” and “Freddie Mercury: His Life In His Own Words“)

“A huge amount of work has already been put in behind the scenes to unleash a completely newly remastered set of the original Queen LPs and CDs,” May said. “I know our fans will appreciate the attention to detail, bringing the early albums closer than ever to the magic of the vinyl originals, but with the benefit of up-to-the-minute quality technology.”

The group’s first five studio albums — 1973′s “Queen,” 1974′s “Queen II,” 1974′s “Sheer Heart Attack,” “1975′s “A Night At The Opera” and 1976′s “A Day At The Races” — are the first deluxe editions that will be reissued.

The bonus tracks accompanying each reissue, by album, are:

“Queen” — “Keep Yourself Alive (De Lane Lea demo, December 1971); “Great King Rat (De Lane Lea demo, December 1971); “Jesus” (De Lane Lea demo, December 1971); “Liar” (De Lane Lea demo, December 1971); “The Night Comes Down” (De Lane Lea demo, December 1971); and “Mad The Swine” (June 1972).

“Queen II” — “White Queen” (live at Hammersmith Odeon, December 1975); “See What A Fool I’ve Been (BBC Session, July 1973-2011 remix); “Seven Seas of Rhye (instrumental); “See What A Fool I’ve Been” (B-side version, February 1974); “Nevermore” (BBC Session, April 1974).

“Sheer Heart Attack” — “Now I’m Here” (live at Hammersmith Odeon, December 1975); “Flick of The Wrist” (BBC Session, October 1974); “Tenement Funster” (BBC Session, October 1974); “Bring Back That Leroy Brown” (a cappella plus); “In The Lap Of The Gods … Revisited” (Live at Wembley Stadium, July 1986).

“A Night At The Opera” — “Keep Yourself Alive” (long-lost re-take, June 1975); “Bohemian Rhapsody” (Operatic Section a cappella); “I’m In Love With My Car” (guitar and vocal version); “You’re My Best Friend” (backing track); “’39″ (live at Earl’s Court, June 1977); “Love of My Life” (live single version, June 1979).

“A Day At The Races” — “Tie Your Mother Down” (backing track); “Somebody To Love” (Live at Milton Keynes, June 1979); “You Take My Breath Away” (Live in Hyde Park, September 1976); “Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy” (Top of the Pops, July 1977); “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)” (HD mix).

Hollywood Records has reissued Queen’s debut single, “Keep Yourself Alive” b/w “Son and Daughter” on a limited-edition 7-inch single to coincide with Record Store Day. It also issued “Greatest Hits II” for the first time in North America. The “Queen on Vinyl” reissue program also will be completed this year with the release of the five final studio albums.

In other anniversary activity, the gallery exhibition “Stormtroopers in Stilettos” opened in London, and plans are in place for the exhibit to tour around the world.

Over the course of its career, Queen released 18 albums and 18 No. 1 singles and sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003 and the U.K. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004. The band received its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in October 2002. A Vevo channel dedicated to Queen will be launched this spring. In its native U.K, Queen’s “Greatest Hits I” holds the record of being the biggest-selling album of all time, ahead of albums by The Beatles, Oasis, Dire Straits and ABBA.

In March 1971, Deacon joined May and Taylor’s London group — which had changed its name from Smile to Queen nine months earlier when lead vocalist and keyboardist Freddie Mercury joined nine months earlier. As live artists, Queen literally conquered the world. Acknowledged as one of the greatest stadium bands of all time, Queen performed more than 700 concerts worldwide. It was the first band to open up South America and the Eastern Block, with world record-breaking concerts in Argentina, Brazil and Hungary.