QUEEN: Days Of Our Lives - Two-Part Documentary To Air On BBC 2 TV

[Afghan Dave]

QUEEN continue to celebrate their 40th anniversary in regal fashion with the broadcast of a major two-part BBC 2 TV documentary, Queen: DaysOof Our Lives which sees Roger Taylor and Brian May looking back at the band’s incredible career in candid detail for the first time.

Showing on BBC Two at 10 PM on May 29th and 30th, the two one hour shows explore the remarkable story of Brian, Roger, John Deacon and FREDDIE MERCURY - looking into the early struggles, huge obstacles, success, arguments, breakups, triumph, tragedy and an enduring legacy – all against a backdrop of brilliant music and stunning live performances. With an extensive archive of unseen footage (the producers uncovered Queen's first ever TV performance, missing believed wiped, and shown here for the first time) plus remarkable archive interviews with Freddie Mercury, the documentary is the band’s story in their own words – a compelling journey told with intelligence, wit, plenty of humour and painful honesty.

The documentaries cover each of the band’s studio albums, their legendary world tours of the 70’s and 80’s as they conquered South and North America and Asia, Live Aid and their enduring success since the passing of Freddie leading up to the present day and a popularity that continues to grow yearly. The Sun annointed them ‘Britain’s Best Loved Band’ earlier this year.

Queen: Days Of Our Lives is produced by Rhys Thomas (the comedian who famously broke the Mastermind all time record points score with a specialist subject of Queen) and Simon Lupton, and is directed by the renowned director Matt O’Casey.

Rhys Thomas comments, “We have set out to make the definitive Queen documentary. It's a funny, honest, inspiring and ultimately tragic account of ‘a certain band called Queen’, as told by the band themselves. We tell the story of four students who met in West London, slogged hard and conquered the world, ultimately changing rock music forever.”

The band will be previewing the documentaries in a rare radio interview as they guest live on the Chris Evans BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on May 27th. Brian and Roger will also attend the 9th anniversary celebration performance of their hit musical We Will Rock You on the evening of Tuesday May 31 at The Dominion Theatre with Brian performing with the cast.

During the week of May 30th, Queen legends Brian May and Roger Taylor will be guests on In The Studio talking about the Queen (1973), Queen II (1974), Sheer Heart Attack (1974) remasters with professional radio broadcaster and rock musician interviewer Redbeard. For a preview of the episode visit Inthestudio.net (left-hand-side at the bottom).

http://www.bravewords.com/news/162279

[Afghan Dave]

I hope a few of you watched this as it was magnificent.

Still time on iPlayer if you didn't!

[Philly Q]

I watched it.  I like "rock history" documentaries anyway, but it was absolutely fascinating.

Also watched the 1975 Christmas Eve concert, which was brilliant.  Brian May has become so well known over the years as "that bloke with the curly hair and clogs, married to Angie out of Eastenders", you forget what an awesome musician he actually is.

[Roobubba]

I watched it.  I like "rock history" documentaries anyway, but it was absolutely fascinating.

Also watched the 1975 Christmas Eve concert, which was brilliant.  Brian May has become so well known over the years as "that bloke with the curly hair and clogs, married to Angie out of Eastenders", you forget what an awesome musician he actually is.

I had no idea who he was married to. He was the biggest inspiration to me when I was learning guitar. But then I don't really follow 'popular culture' and the like, and certainly don't waste my time on Benders.

Saw the arse end of the show (no pun intended), will catch the rest on iPlayer. Managed to record the 1975 concert. I'm sure I've seen it before but they really do put on a good show.

It's odd - I like Queen, but I can't stand David Bowie, George Michael (how weak was his voice in comparison to Freddie's at the end doing "somebody to love"???) and a lot of other musicians of the same era. Bowie absolutely ruined Under Pressure for me.

Right, back to some Meshuggah while I get this mountain of work done!

Roo

[Philly Q]

It's odd - I like Queen, but I can't stand David Bowie, George Michael (how weak was his voice in comparison to Freddie's at the end doing "somebody to love"???) and a lot of other musicians of the same era. Bowie absolutely ruined Under Pressure for me.

Strangely enough, I remembered George Michael doing a surprisingly good job at the tribute concert - but seeing that little clip last night he did seem a bit weak.

Generally speaking I like '70s music but I'm less keen on the '80s (although I do remember '80s music very well as I was an impressionable teenager at the time!).  The programme was a reminder of just how much Queen's music changed over 20 years - from proper hard rock to pure pop and even disco.  But because they always had good songs, good melodies and that quirky music-hall quality, the transitions didn't seem too odd at the time.

I have to confess I don't own a single Queen album except for an old vinyl copy of Sheer Heart Attack.  It's about time I rectified that situation.

[Afghan Dave]

I cried when Freddie died and I had another tear watching the second part of the documentary last night.

I loved them so much.  :(

I was at the Tribute concert and I can't believe it was so long ago. I agree about Bowie but George Michael was f**king excellent live... Not Freddie but no one ever could be.

IMHO - John Deacon defines "Class" as a bass player and an artist. He retired with dignity and the memories of his work with Freddie.

I think we can all sometimes take May's legacy for granted.

[gwEm]

watching that documentary the thing i was most surprised about was how much brian may lays it down live. i obviously know all the classic queen studio recordings, but had no concept of their live show until now. hes actually a really heavy player considering the material.

[Afghan Dave]

Pure Perfection

http://youtu.be/wihX1KCS-d4

[Ian Price]

I'm half way through the first show at the moment. Riveting stuff and I may well keep it permanently on my Sky+. Hope it gets a DVD/Blu Ray release.

I don't actually own any studio albums of theirs. I have the first greatest hits but should really get to know some of their other stuff.

[FELINEGUITARS]

As a HUGE Queen fan I watched with great enthusiasm and loved the documentary

I got into Queen several times as a kid - I loved Bo Rhap , and got hooked on We Will Rock You/Champions when it was a double A side single at Xmas 77 but I totally flipped when Crazy little thing came out in Xmas 79
For several years I barely listened to anything BUT Queen, was a member of the fanclub etc etc as you did when you were 15.

I was lucky enough to see them a number of times - in 1980, 82 and 84 and finally 86 and they were louder and heavier that many would give credit for - especially in 84 when Brian was in charge of the live show's direction and turned it much heavier after suffering with the previous outings (Hot Space) funk offerings.

For anyone wanting to catch up with what they were really about the first 8 albums are a treat;
Queen
Queen 2
Sheer Heart Attack
Night At the Opera
Day At the Races
News of The World
Jazz
The Game

If I had to pick just one I would choose Sheer Heart Attack which was the first one I bought, although Night At the Opera is also killer, and The Game has a special place for me as it was the first tour I actually saw

the songs that define the band to me are the ones that were often live favourites but not necessarily hit singles
Stuff like: March Of the Black Queen, Liar, In the Lap of the Gods, Flick of the Wrist, Now I'm here, Brighton Rock, Prophet Song, Death On Two Legs as well as the obvious stuff like Bo Rhap, Champions, WWRY,Dragon Attack, Save Me, Tie Your Mother Down , Let Me Entertain You, 39, Love Of My Life etc

Oh and  I was in the I want to Break Free video (i was one of the miners in the scene on the stairs)

[hunter]

Whenever I watch stuff like this on the BBC, I somehow do think the British must be a superior kind in some way, as no other national television can produce stuff of this quality. Ok, Rockpalast aside.

[38thBeatle]

I watched it and agree with you all, it was fascinating to see. I like a lot of what they did though wouldn't say I was much of a fan though Brian May can certainly play and to me, he is one of the greats as his playing is instantly recognizable.

[Ian Price]

Just finished the first part. The bit where Brian May was talking about his Dad's reaction after the Madison Square Garden concert was pretty touching. Him showing his emotion like that took me by surprise.

[Sailor Charon]

Guess who didn't realise it was on :(
I'll have to watch it on my laptop now... :(
Oh well...

[AndyR]

I knew it was on but couldn't get to see it...

I did see the second half of the OGWT xmas gig though. I love that :D. When are they going to release it as DVD and live album? Anyone know? They've been wittering about doing it for a couple of years now, cleaning it up etc, etc.. Looks ready to me boys, I'll buy it.

Interesting what some of you guys have been saying about being surprised at how heavy Brian May is :lol:. Like Felineguitars, I've been a HUGE fan of Queen since, er... probably since seeing a spot of the OGWT gig before my Dad went "wot the hell's this?" and turned it over. My biggest interest was in Freddie and his vocals/showmanship. But as a guitarist, obviously, what Brian May was doing was extremely interesting and always has been - I've even got one of the BM Guitars Red Specials.

Anyway, Queen was my big influence, but the drummer in my band thought they were total pants - arrogant jumped up con-artists. He even refused to join us when we went to Knebworth. Later that year, the Tube aired the Wembley gig from that year - he missed that too.

Then months later, after the pub, we went back to one of his mate's for all night drinking and muso-waffling. This guy was in a hillbilly band, had mandolins and various ethnic stuff in his living room. When he went "what shall we watch? I've got the Queen gig taped off CH4 - it's fab, how about that?". I went "yeah" (I'd already seen it, and was in the middle of a big Queen phase), my drummer groaned and went "OK, it's your place...".

He was utterly transfixed. By the time it was halfway through "Kind of Magic" he went - "They're just a rock and roll band! A really GOOD rock and roll band.... why didn't you tell me??"

Duh! We had been, for the previous six years!!

Feline's right on they studio albums. I also love the live albums though. If you like live albums and have been entranced by the discovery that Queen were pretty rock n roll live, get those. There's very little over-dubbing (if any). In fact, the band nearly broke up over the first one, Live Killers. They wanted it as honest as possible, but some members thought that would result in inferior product... It doesn't, it's just different. I love the honesty and musicianship on display. And turn them up and, wow, they rock - even stuff like Radio Ga Ga!

Milton Keynes is FAB. When they cleaned that up and released it on DVD/CD I was stunned. It even got me into the Hot Space studio album! :roll:

I'm not in a "Queen phase" at the moment, and I pretty much only listen to the live albums when I'm in that state. But listening to Sheer Heart Attack or Night or Day could easily trigger a phase though!

Btw - has anyone got or heard these new remastered remasters? Is it really worth me buying it all again?! :lol: