Review: 'Queen Rock Montreal + Live Aid' Showcases Queen at the top of their powers

In this column I review an upcoming title that is essential for any rock music lover's library...Robert Kinsler

Queen performing at Montreal Forum in November 1981.
Photo credit: Queen Productions, Ltd.

Artist: Queen

Title: Rock Montreal + Live Aid (Mercury Studios)

You might like if you enjoy: Queen, Freddie Mercury, Smile, Brian May

Tell me more: Following its record-breaking IMAX Event Cinema release worldwide in January 2024, the concert film "Queen Rock Montreal" is set for release via Mercury Studios on Friday, May 10. The concert film is being released as a double 4K Ultra High Definition package (the configuration reviewed in this column), as well as via several other configurations including a double Blu-ray, double audio CD, 2CD Limited edition and triple vinyl. A 3LP Colored Transparent Blue Vinyl package is available exclusively on the Queen Online Store at queenonline.com. The essential new title is a spectacular display of Queen captured at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec on Nov. 24 and 2, 1981 — the final concerts of the British rock quartet's "The Game Tour."  The 4K Ultra High Definition allows the viewer to watch the concert film in its original full-from aspect ratio or cropped to 16:9 widescreen; the state-of-the-art release also features optional high-dynamic-range (HDR) for both aspect ratios. 

Freddie Mercury, left, with Brian May at Montreal Forum in November 1981.
Photo credit: Queen Productions, Ltd.

Singer-keyboardist Freddie Mercury, guitarist-vocalist Brian May, drummer-vocalist Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon were at the height of their collective powers when they were captured for this film (which was originally released in movie theaters in 1984); as detailed in the liner notes that are included with the title: "As would be expected of Queen, they took the form of the concert film to a new level, becoming the first group to shoot an entire show in full cinema format 35mm." The digitally remastered sound and visual quality on "Queen Rock Montreal" is extraordinary and the 96-minute concert includes a slew of the band's timeless hits as well as favorite album cuts. 

Bassist John Deacon at Montreal Forum in November 1981.
Photo credit: Queen Productions, Ltd.

This writer was fortunate to catch Queen on "The Game Tour" when it came to Southern California in July 1980 and watching this film transported me back to the magic and power of that night. Highlights on the film include the night opening punk-styled take on "We Will Rock You," soaring "Play The Game," powerful "I'm In Love With My Car" featuring Taylor on lead vocals, tender "Save Me," crowd-pleasing "Under Pressure" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Although known for its melodic and winning radio hits, the band's hard rocking instincts were fully on display via killer runs through "Keep Yourself Alive," "Tie Your Mother Down," and "Sheer Heart Attack." The band's emotional closer, "We Are The Champions," brought wonderful chills to this fan.

Roger Taylor performing at Montreal Forum in November 1981.
Photo credit: Queen Productions, Ltd.

As a bonus, the band's earth-shattering 21-minute performance at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 upscaled to high definition for the first time ever (including brand new stereo, 5.1 and Dolby Atmos sound mixes) and video footage of Queen rehearsing for that benefit concert is also included (a short interview with the band is also featured). The seldom seen performance from Mercury and May performing "Is This The World We Created...?" later at the event is also included. A wonderful 16-page booklet filled with colorful photographs from the concert film is also included.

Information: MercuryStudios.co and  queenonline.com.

Robert Kinsler

Rolling Stone magazine's 200 Greatest Singers List - "We Have To Talk" (TJR & Robert Kinsler discuss the list)

Check out a new episode where TJR and Robert Kinsler discuss Rolling Stone magazine's new "200 Greatest Singers" list; they highlight some notable greats left off the list too! View the episode HERE. 

Sights and Sounds: Neil Young, Queen, Bruce Springsteen

While I was on a hiking trip in Utah this week there was a number of major music news headlines. Here is a recap of some of the biggest announcements...Robert Kinsler

Neil Young's 'Harvest' to be reissued as a 50th anniversary edition on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 via Reprise Records

Neil Young's best known album, 1972's Harvest, will be reissued in a 40th anniversary edition on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022 via Reprise Records.  Harvest was Young's third solo album and reached number 1 in many nations; the enduring album features the hit single "Heart of Gold" as well as classics including "Old Man," "The Needle and the Damage Done" and "Alabama." Among the artists who contributed to the proceedings on Harvest were Linda Ronstadt, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash, James Taylor and David Crosby. 

The 50th Anniversary Deluxe Edition Box sets will be released on vinyl and audio CD. The box sets include the original album released in February 1972, three outtakes from the Harvest sessions, two DVDs and a hard bound book tat includes 40 photographs (as well as liner notes by Joel Bernstein). 

Both the vinyl box set and the CD format will include Young's oft-bootlegged Feb. 23, 1971 BBC In Concert performance (a version of "Heart of Gold" from that show is out now, and the previously-unreleased two-hour documentary Harvest Time. Watch the video performance of "Heart of Gold" HERE.

Queen's 'The Miracle Collector's Edition' to be released on Nov. 18, 2022. Listen to the rediscovered gem "Face It Alone" featuring the late Freddie Mercury

On Nov. 18, 2022, Queen will release The Miracle Collector's Edition, revisiting the band's 13th studio album The Miracle (originally released in May 1989). 

In retrospect, the world is fortunate that the aptly-titled album was recorded. Indeed, after playing their biggest concert ever on Aug. 9, 1986, Queen took a hiatus from each other. The four members only reunited three years later to record The Miracle.

The recording of the album also played out around the same time as Mercury's positive HIV diagnosis being shared with the other band members (but not yet with the public).

The Miracle Collector's Edition will include a remastered LP version of the original album, along with a slew of bonus material including “original takes, demos and rough cuts, and six previously unreleased tracks – plus intimate fly-on-the-wall audio of the band at work in the studio.”

One of those previously unreleased tracks, “Face It Alone,” serves as a shining preview of the expanded title:

The track is the first new song featuring Mercury since 2014, when the band released Queen Forever, which included “Let Me in Your Heart Again,” “Love Kills” and “There Must Be More to Life Than This.”

A news release issued in connection with the forthcoming title provides more details about the enticing "Face It Alone":

Among its contents, the expanded set includes The Miracle Sessions: an hour-plus disc of further previously unreleased recordings, including six unpublished songs. Just as tantalising for fans, the audio includes the band’s candid spoken exchanges on the studio floor in London and Montreux, giving the most revealing window yet into the four members’ creative process and the joy, in-jokes and banter on their return to working together.

“Face It Alone” was originally recorded during the band’s historic 1988 sessions for that album, a prolific period which saw the band lay down around 30 tracks, many of which were never released, but remained among those that didn’t make the final album cut. It was rediscovered when the band’s production and archive team returned to those sessions to work on The Miracle box set reissue.

“We’d kind of forgotten about this track,” admits Roger Taylor, “but there it was, this little gem. It’s wonderful, a real discovery. It’s a very passionate piece.”

Adds Brian May:

“I’m happy that our team were able to find this track. After all these years, it’s great to hear all four of us … yes, Deacy is there too … working in the studio on a great song idea which never quite got completed … until now!”

Get more details on the upcoming release via Queen's official website.

Bruce Springsteen releases video for advance track 'Nightshift' from forthcoming album 'Only The Strong Survive' coming Nov. 11, 2022

Check out the latest official music video from Bruce Springsteen; the song "Nightshift" will be featured on his forthcoming album Only The Strong Survive due on Nov. 11, 2022.

Watch the video HERE.

Brian May announces re-release and new music video of his classic single

Brian May's single "Driven By You" is available now! 

 

Brian May announces re-release and new music video of his classic single 

“DRIVEN BY YOU”

ahead of remastered “Back To The Light” album

“The song Freddie Mercury generously gave his blessing to be my solo track.”

Released on Friday, June 25, 2021

Watch and listen here: http://brianmay.lnk.to/DrivenByYou

  

Brian May’s first solo hit, and the unforgettable TV ad it was made for, came from the most unlikely of origins. 

“Driven By You” is, without doubt, one of rock’s most rousing and lasting anthems. Originally written for a Ford car television commercial, the solo track was a worldwide hit when it first debuted as a single off May’s 1992 “Back To The Light” album. But the unforgettable song had its beginnings oceans away from the open roads of the UK countryside that were framed in that TV ad.

Originally released in November 1991, “Driven By You” saw success worldwide including reaching No. 6 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 9 on the US Billboard Album Rock Chart. Re-released to download on June 25 ahead of the forthcoming remastered reissue of May’s “Back To The Light” album on August 6, the reissue of the track comes with a scorching new 30^th Anniversary video edit. The performance was originally filmed when the Queen legend sang the track live for the first time at the 1991 Guitar Legends concert in Seville, Spain, and during his 1992 South America tour. 

The energetic footage features Brian performing the song with an all-star band including Cozy Powell on drums, Neil Murray on bass and Steve Vai on rhythm guitar. Plus, Rick Wakeman and Mike Moran on keyboards, alongside Maggie Ryder, Miriam Stockley and Chris Moran on backing vocals. That music video can be seen in its updated form here: http://brianmay.lnk.to/DrivenByYou 

Sharing the backstory to “Driven By You,” May cites a Los Angeles pool bathroom as the unlikely starting point for his classic song.

“There’s a kind of mystery about writing songs. You never know where they come from. All I know is I was sitting around a swimming pool in Los Angeles with an ad producer. He’s sitting there sunning himself. I’m there with my future wife sunning myself by the pool, and we get talking. And he says, ‘Oh, you write songs don’t you?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I write songs.’ He said, ‘Well could you write a song for an advert? Have you ever done that?’ And I went, ‘No, I’ve never done it.’ He asked, ‘Would you like to?’ And I said, 'Yes, I’d be very interested.’ He then asked me how I would feel about a slogan that goes, ‘Everything we do, we do for you’.

“And I went, ‘Yeah, I could relate to that’ because I can feel that in my own mind about my own self. And it got modified later on. It became ‘Everything we do is driven by you’ because it was about cars and I liked that even more. And as soon as he said that, I went off to the bathroom with my little tape recorder and sang some stuff into the tape recorder. I sang most of the verse and a bit of the chorus, which is the way it happens with me. Suddenly a light goes on and I could hear it in my head, I could hear the whole thing, ‘Driven By You’, and I wrote it for them, for the Ford Car Company, and completed it very quickly. I went into the studio when I got back, completed it quickly for them, and then they liked it.”

Revisiting “Driven By You” today, May has also revealed how the song helped create a special understanding with Freddie Mercury in his final days and how the Queen singer encouraged his dear friend and bandmate to ‘find his wings’ in his solo career.

Talking of Freddie, May says: “I played it to Freddie and I said, ‘Freddie, you know if this becomes a Queen track, which it might do, obviously you should sing it.’ He listened and went, ‘You’ve done it very well darling, and I think you should sing it’. Now whether that’s because he really did think I sang it well or just because he didn’t want to sing anything, I don’t know. But he said, ‘It’s beautiful, it’s great, it’s very complete in its own way, you should do it.’ And he said something very profound at the time. He said, ‘You know we’re all thinking and wondering what’s going to happen to me, and you don’t have to feel embarrassed about it. You know you should be thinking about your solo career at this time and if this is the beginning of your solo career then it’s a very worthy beginning. This is probably the beginning of your finding your wings as you need to do.’ So Freddie was very far-sighted and very generous as always and sort of gave me permission to do this as a solo track, which I did.

“I rewrote the words as a piece of relationship therapy, you know, ‘Everything I do is driven by you’ and put it out as a single and it was a hit. So it was a nice boost to me to feel I could do things on my own. I wasn’t just a piece of Queen. And that’s what I believe about the core of songs; sometimes you don’t know why you’re writing them. You don’t know where it’s coming from, but it can be channelled into a way which makes sense in various ways. And things are always about life for me; they’re always about relationships. Either my relationships or relationships with people around me. It’s about humans interacting. That to me is the most exciting thing in the world; the most important thing and the hardest thing to get right in your life. A lot of people can do great stuff. You know, fly aeroplanes, go to the Moon. Relationships… not so easy. So it’s about that as always.”

“Out of the Light,” the companion release available in the “Back To The Light” box set and on the 2CD and digital formats, features three alternative versions of “Driven By You” including the original Ford Ad Version and a Cozy (Powell) and Neil (Murray) ’93 version.

“Driven By You” is available to download and stream from June 25.

Brian May’s “Back To The Light” remastered reissue is available on August 6 on CD, Vinyl, Cassette, digital download and streaming formats and can be pre-ordered here: https://BrianMay.lnk.to/BackToTheLight

Sights and Sounds: Freddie Mercury, The Beatles, Miranda Lambert

Plenty of cool music news to share today...

“You can do anything with my work, but never make me boring.”

Freddie Mercury

 “Freddie was extreme; he was absolute; he was all or nothing; he was always or never. Freddie Mercury was never boring.”

Rami Malek

'Never Boring'

The Freddie Mercury Solo Box Set

Global Release on Hollywood Records & Mercury Records on October 11 2019

Iconic. Incomparable. Irreplaceable. But never, ever boring. Freddie Mercury's spirit is every bit as central to the fabric of popular music today as it was during his unforgettable lifetime. The spectacular global success of the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”, with global box office takings now close to one billion US dollars, was a powerful testament to Freddie's presence as the ultimate rock frontman with Queen. But now comes a unique release to showcase the full range of his musical talents and passions, and their indelible imprint on the worlds of pop, opera and far beyond.

Set for release byHollywood Records in North America and Mercury Records in the rest of the world on October 11 2019, the “Never Boring” box set brings together for the first time a specially-curated selection of Freddie Mercury’s music, visuals and written and spoken words. It is a collection to jog the memory of fans, old and new, as to why Freddie remains such a beloved figure, nearly 30 years after his death. The set reminds us that Freddie was an exceptional singer, songwriter, performer and human being whose special kind of magic is captured in this exceptional collection of his solo work.

The package is meticulously compiled and produced by Queen’s longtime sound team Justin Shirley-Smith, Kris Fredriksson and Joshua J Macrae who also co-produced the Bohemian Rhapsody film official soundtrack album which became one of the biggest selling albums of 2018/2019. The album has remained high the UK charts since its release in November 2018 and in the US became Queen’s biggest selling album in 38 years.

Taken from the very best original source material available, the full “Never Boring” collection contains three CDs with 32 tracks; a Blu-ray and DVD featuring 13 promo videos and interview; a 120-page 10”x10” hardback book full photos, many of them rare and unpublished, as well as thoughts and choice quotes from Freddie himself, and an introduction from Rami Malek, who earned an Oscar for his portrayal of Freddie in Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”.  Specially created insert packaging includes a double-sided poster containing an image of Freddie and an original work from synesthetic artist Jack Coulter inspired by the song “Mr Bad Guy”. 

The three CDs include a new 12-track compilation of many of Freddie’s greatest solo performances; a newly mixed 11-track special edition of “Mr Bad Guy”; and the nine-track 2012 special edition of “Barcelona” featuring full orchestra. The Blu-ray and DVD of Freddie’s promos and his stage performances with Montserrat Caballé include eight that have been painstakingly reassembled from the original 35mm film rushes to give them the best-ever visual and sound quality. 

It will also be possible to buy and listen to the albums individually on CD, vinyl and on digital and streaming services. 

Much of the music and the promo videos featured in the “Never Boring” collection date from the period from late 1984, when “Mr Bad Guy” was recorded in Munich through to Freddie’s last ever on stage performance, at a special festival on the steps of Montjuïc in Barcelona on October 8 1988. It was a festival specially staged in the presence of the King and Queen of Spain to welcome the Olympic flag to Barcelona.

“I had a lot of ideas bursting to get out,” Freddie once explained, “and there were a lot of musical territories I wanted to explore which I really couldn’t do within Queen. I wanted to cover such things as reggae rhythms and I did a couple of tracks with an orchestra.”

The set includes the recently discovered track “Time Waits For No One” produced by Dave Clark which has recently taken the internet by storm and a haunting little known track “Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow” immortalised in a new animated video by award winning duo Beth David and Esteban Bravo.

For all the 2019 ‘special edition’ tracks on “Never Boring” and the “Mr Bad Guy” album, sound team Justin Shirley-Smith, Joshua J Macrae and Kris Fredriksson have taken the very best original source material available. They went back not to previously remastered and mixed tapes, but to the original source multi-track tapes, so that they could build a new mix true to Freddie’s original versions, now taking advantage of the time, resources and technology that Freddie may not have originally had available to him in the 1980s. All offer ultimate quality, first generation vocals showing off Freddie’s incredible vocal range. 

The special edition of the “Barcelona” album had been reworked in 2012 using similar methods, but what was missed by many at the time was that the 2012 edition replaced the previous instrumental tracks with new, live symphonic orchestration and percussion, rather than synthesisers and drum machines used on the original album. 

Specially arranged by Queen orchestral arranger Stuart Morley, the80-piece Prague FILMharmonic Orchestra now performs the symphonic score, while Rufus Taylor — the son of Queen’s Roger Taylor — plays drums on ‘The Golden Boy’ and ‘How Can I Go On’, a track that also features John Deacon’s bass guitar. The special edition of the “Barcelona” album is now waiting to be rediscovered by fans of Freddie and Montserrat.

The same painstaking care in rebuilding the audio tracks has been used to bring all of Freddie’s original video promos to life again. 

To recreate the new promos from Freddie’s original storyboards, eight of the promos have been totally reassembled from the original 35mm film rushes to give them the best resolution and sound quality possible. This required the team to go through all the film rushes to find those that exactly matched the footage originally chosen and used by Freddie, and then to recreate any special effects used at the time. Some of the promos have needed substantial restoration, with artists manually restoring frames that were damaged or missing. 

Bonus videos include the first performance of ‘Barcelona’ by Freddie and Montserrat Caballé in front of a live audience at the Ku Klub (now Privilege Ibiza) in May 1987; the extended version of ‘The Great Pretender’, which includes backstage footage of Freddie’s very special backing singers preparing, they being Roger Taylor, Peter Straker and Freddie in drag; and a rare “Time” interview with Freddie and Dave Clark.

Roger Taylor’s contribution as a backing singer on ‘The Great Pretender’ is not the only link to Queen on “Never Boring”. Roger also plays percussion on ‘Love Kills’ which also features Brian May on lead guitar and John Deacon on rhythm guitar. As mentioned, John also plays bass on ‘How Can I Go On’ and Brian contributes guitar to ‘She Blows Hot and Cold’.

The entire “Never Boring” package reflects Freddie’s eclectic tastes and love for life. As he himself said: “Some people can take second best, but I can’t. I look upon it as defeat. If you’ve got the taste of being number one, then number two isn’t good enough.”

Rami Malek, who won best actor at all the major global award ceremonies for his performance as Freddie in “Bohemian Rhapsody” says: “'Never Boring' brings to your life a piece of Freddie. I hope you’re able to sit with this collection and let the music, images and excerpts of Freddie Mercury’s life inspire you, like it did me. 

“I hope you remember that your uniqueness is a gift, and what you do with it is your gift to theworld. I hope like Freddie, you’re able to smile in the eye of a storm, focus on life’s silver linings, live boldly, and most importantly, live a life which is Never Boring.”

Track listings:

NEVER BORING 

The Great Pretender 

I Was Born To Love You

Barcelona 

In My Defence

Love Kills 

How Can I Go On (Single Version)

Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow  

Living On My Own (Radio Mix)

The Golden Boy (Single Edit)

Time Waits For No One 

She Blows Hot And Cold 

Made In Heaven 

MR. BAD GUY - SPECIAL EDITION 

Let’s Turn It On 

Made In Heaven 

I Was Born To Love You 

Foolin’ Around 

Your Kind Of Lover

Mr. Bad Guy 

Man Made Paradise 

There Must Be More To Life Than This 

Living On My Own 

My Love Is Dangerous 

Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow 

BARCELONA - SPECIAL EDITION 

Barcelona

La Japonaise

The Fallen Priest

Ensueño

The Golden Boy

Guide Me Home

How Can I Go On

Exercises In Free LoveY

Overture Piccante 

NEVER BORING - BLU-RAY / DVD

Made In Heaven 

The Great Pretender 

Living On My Own

Barcelona

I Was Born To Love You

Time Waits For No One 

In My Defence

Living On My Own (Radio Mix)

The Golden Boy (La Nit performance, Barcelona)

How Can I Go On (La Nit performance, Barcelona)

Barcelona (La Nit performance, Barcelona)

Bonus Videos

Freddie Mercury & Dave Clark “Time” Interview

The Great Pretender (Extended Version)

Barcelona (Ku Klub performance, Ibiza)

Links:

“Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow” video and single

 

Pre-order links for box set and individual albums:

Box Set:

Never Boring (Deluxe): https://hollywoodrecs.co/NeverBoringDeluxe

 

Individual titles:

Never Boring: https://hollywoodrecs.co/NeverBoring

Mr Bad Guy: https://hollywoodrecs.co/MrBadGuy

Barcelona: https://hollywoodrecs.co/FreddieBarcelona

Published to coincide with the release of the ‘Never Boring’ CD/DVD package, comes a newly updated edition of the book “Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words”.Compiled and edited by official Queen archivist Greg Brooks and Queen visuals producer Simon Lupton, this new expanded edition contains over 8,000 words of text not present in the original print. The additional material has been drawn from sources not available or known to the authors at the time of compiling the original work, much of it never before published before and sourced from newly discovered interviews given by Mercury for magazine and newspaper articles that were ultimately not used, as well as from rare radio programmes or Queen Specials found on precious old cassette recordings and reel-to-reel tapes discovered within the Freddie archive. The nearest thing to a Freddie Mercury autobiography as it is possible to achieve, “A Life, In His Own Words” is a meticulously assembled collection of moving, witty, and often irreverent quotes from the man himself. Told across 20 chapters and 194 pages, this is Freddie’s life in his own words - delivered in his own inimitable, unpredictable, invariably funny, often poignant, and always entertaining way. “Freddie Mercury: A Life, In His Own Words”.Now available to order from Amazon on Kindle and in print.

 “LOVE ME LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW” MUSIC VIDEO OUT TODAY MARKING FREDDIE MERCURY’S BIRTHDAY AND THE MERCURY PHOENIX TRUST

Video directed by celebrated directors Esteban Bravo and Beth David

 

http://hollywoodrecs.co/FreddieLoveMe/YouTube

Sept 5, 2019– To mark Freddie Mercury’s 73^rd birthday and the work of the Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT), Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, has released a new video which can be found HERE by directors Esteban Bravo and Beth David for Mercury’s “Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow,” with animation from Woodblock. The visual accompaniment to Mercury’s 1985 track honors his life and legacy in a compelling short story about the power of love while continuing to bring awareness to the global fight against AIDS.

 

Dave Rocco, EVP, Creative, UMG said in making this announcement, “Of the many responsibilities we have to our artists, safeguarding their legacies is perhaps the most important one. As far-reaching and as radical a legacy as Freddie Mercury’s, it is our duty to ensure he continues to provoke, educate and inspire. 

In speaking with Jim Beach about ‘Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrow,’ we knew this piece had to be made in Freddie’s image: honest, brave and, most of all, beautiful.  We wanted to tell a story not of two men, but rather of a connection and the ineffable power love has in conquering incomprehension and fear. It is a reflection of the thread that runs throughout Freddie’s oeuvre. It is what made him “never boring,” and part of why his magic lives on.

Beth and Estaban share these extraordinary traits, but most importantly they love, respect and understand Freddie. They are incredibly gifted and emotive storytellers who represent and are part of the LGBTQ+ community. We could not be more grateful for their stunning work.”

Directors Esteban Bravo and Beth David said of making this short film, “We wanted to tell a story that was relevant to Freddie's life, but not explicitly about him. The AIDS crisis of the 1980s is a huge part of LGBT+ history, and it's something that we knew needed to be handled with care. It's a fine line to walk between shedding light on a subject, and perpetuating a stigma, and we were cautious not to lean into tropes and stereotypes that might hurt the modern understanding of the AIDS virus, rather than help it. 

In researching the HIV/AIDS virus and the way it affects the body's immune system, we were inspired to take a look at the story through a more microscopic lens. It is a love story between two white blood cells, one of which has become infected by the virus. This perspective gave us a more direct visual representation of our conflict, which allowed us to explore the more nuanced struggles the characters face in their relationship with each other, their perceptions of themselves, and society's perception, bias, and neglect of them. 

The LGBT+ community fought for years for the right to proper research and healthcare, and because of that fight, millions of lives have been saved. We wanted to celebrate that victory. Through perseverance, strength, and love, our characters not only survive, but live long, healthy lives together.”

Love Me Like There’s No Tomorrowis taken from “Never Boring”,the definitive Freddie Mercury solo collection, which will be released worldwide on October 11^th2019 through Universal Music Group, Hollywood Records & Mercury Records. 

About The Mercury Phoenix Trust

Following the moving and hugely successful Tribute Concert in 1992, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Jim Beach set up The Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) in memory of the iconic

Freddie Mercury who died from AIDS related causes in 1991. The Trust is a core part of rock band Queen and Freddie’s legacy, with the passion and power behind the music forming the bedrock of the MPT. The MPT has reached millions in the fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide, providing USD17 million to over 1,000 projects in 56 countries. The MPT predominantly funds smaller organisations it assesses and vets as they effectively work at grassroots level, where governments, larger NGOs and markets don’t often reach.  Through grassroots movements, events and social media, the MPT provides a platform for the voice of youth to be heard. It also provides a way in which Freddie’s devoted followers and new generations of fans can celebrate his life, keeping Freddie’s memory powerfully alive. With an estimated 36.9 million people living with HIV/AIDS and 1.8 million more becoming newly infected with HIV in 2017 alone, the battle is far from over making the work of the 

MPT and its global partners all the more essential.

http://www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com

Should Every Beatles Album be Remixed?

Check out music critic/guitar master TJR's latest video where he examines whether every Beatles album should be remixed, and he asks the question should all be included in a deluxe box set:
https://youtu.be/eEIcz_26qu4

Miranda Lambert is "Pretty Bitchin' " with latest 'Wildcard' sneak peek

LEAD SINGLE “IT ALL COMES OUT IN THE WASH” HITS TOP 20

WILDCARD ARRIVES NOV. 1, 2019

Photo Credit: Ellen von Unwerth

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Miranda Lambert is tantalizing eager fans today, releasing “Pretty Bitchin,” the latest look into Wildcard – her hotly-anticipated studio album releasing Nov. 1 on Vanner Records/RCA Nashville.

“‘Pretty Bitchin’’ is so much fun. Everything in it explains me…it talks about airstreams, Tito’s, having a band and awesome fans,” said Lambert. “It’s a good thank you to life for being amazing and for getting to live this dream. It’s definitely pretty bitchin’.”

The Grammy Award winner recently debuted the music video for her Top 20 single “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” Directed by frequent collaborator Trey Fanjoy, the mud-slinging clip was filmed outside Nashville and features Lambert behind the wheel in an off-roading adventure, and a subsequent trip to the car wash to clean up. Watch here. Lambert co-wrote the “delightful, sprightly rocker” (Rolling Stone) with The Love Junkies (Hillary Lindsey, Lori McKenna, Liz Rose).

Wildcard also features recently-released “foot-stompin’ barnburner” (NPR) “Locomotive,” “crunchy, frisky jam” (Stereogum) “Mess with My Head,” “irresistibly catchy” (SPIN) “Bluebird,” and “instant honky-tonk jukebox classic” (Billboard) “Way Too Pretty for Prison,” which features Maren Morris. Listeners can pre-order and pre-add the album to their collections now.

To welcome this new artistic chapter, Lambert will hit the road for the Roadside Bars & Pink Guitars Tour this fall, with special guests Morris and Elle King, as well as Pistol Annies, Tenille Townes, Ashley McBryde and Caylee Hammack on various dates (details here). Tickets are on sale now.

 

About Miranda Lambert: Vanner Records/RCA recording artist Miranda Lambert will release her highly anticipated new studio album Wildcard Nov. 1, which includes her latest country radio single, “It All Comes Out in the Wash.” This fall, Miranda will embark on her rotating, all-girl “Roadside Bars and Pink Guitars” tour featuring Maren Morris, Elle King, Ashley McBryde, Tenille Townes, Caylee Hammack, and the Pistol Annies. This follows two extensive tours in 2018, “Living Like Hippies” in the winter/spring and “The Bandwagon” summer tour with Little Big Town.

 

The most decorated artist in the history of the Academy of Country Music, Lambert is the recipient of more than 70 prestigious awards and special honors: 33 ACM Awards (including 9 ACM Female Vocalist of the Year Awards), 13 CMA Awards (Country Music Association), 2 GRAMMY Awards, the Harmony Award (Nashville Symphony), Artist in Residence (Country Music Hall of Fame), the ACM Gene Weed Milestone Award, and several others.

 

The celebrated singer/songwriter has released six studio albums that all debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Album Charts, including the critically acclaimed double record The Weight of These Wings (2016), Platinum (2014), Four The Record (2011), Revolution (2009), Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2007) and Kerosene (2005). In addition, she released three albums with her trio, the Pistol Annies.

 

Her clothing and cowboy boot collection, Idyllwind, is a private-label brand sold at all Boot Barn stores nationwide. www.idyllwind.com

Sights and Sounds abound on new Blu-ray/DVD titles

Music lovers who enjoy watching top-tier performances via concert films, TV specials and music-minded movies have a handful of great new titles to add to their home library collections.

Artist: Santana
Title: Santana Live At US Festival (Shout! Factory)
You might like if you enjoy: Santana, the US Festival
Tell me more: There have been many highlights in the career of groundbreaking artist Carlos Santana dating back to his legendary performance at Woodstock in August 1969. But his appearance at the fabled US Festival in Southern California on Sept. 4, 1982 is clearly among the standouts of recorded live appearances for his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame troupe Santana. The fast-moving set (Santana Live At US Festival) featured the master guitarist and his talented seven-member ensemble performing potent versions of his most beloved material including "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen," "Oye Como Va," and a cover of the Zombies' 1964 hit "She's Not There," the latter that segues into his own "Marbles." Keyboardist Herbie Hancock guests on the performance of "Incident at Neshabur." Santana also featured several new tracks off his August 1982 album Shangó including "Nowhere To Run" and "Hold On." Bonus features include additional interview segments with Carlos Santana. Santana Live At US Festival is set for release on Friday, Sept. 6, 2019. Information: shoutfactory.com.

Artist: Queen + Béjart
Title: Queen + Béjart: Ballet for Life (Eagle Vision)
You might like if you enjoy: Queen, Freddie Mercury, ballet
Tell me more: The magical connection between British rock quartet Queen and opera was confirmed with the success of the global 1975 hit "Bohemian Rhapsody." Queen's connection with classical music and the arts was further confirmed with the creation of "Ballet for Life," a collaboration between Queen, fashion great Gianni Versace and the late visionary choreographer Maurice Béjart first performed in January 1997. On Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, fans of Queen and ballet will want to get Queen + Béjart: Ballet for Life, a compelling performance videotaped in June 1997 that fuses the music of Queen (along with several pieces composed by Mozart) with a performance by Béjart Ballet Lausanne. The theme of the dance choreography deals with the cycle of life with the tragic death of Freddie Mercury and Béjart's renowned principal dancer Jorge Donn — both of whom died of AIDS. There are several essential bonus features on the collection including a "Making Of" documentary from 1997; a deluxe edition of the title comes in a beautiful 36-page hardback photo book featuring photos from "Ballet for Life." Queen + Béjart: Ballet for Life will be available on DVD, Blu-ray and digital video. Information: www.eagle-rock.com.

Artists: Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood, more
Title: CMA Awards Live: Greatest Moments 1968-2015 (Time Life)
You might like if you enjoy: Traditional and modern country music, John Denver, Kenny Chesney, Eric Church, Clint Black, Luke Bryan
Tell me more: Country music aficionados will want to run out and get the outstanding CMA Awards Live: Greatest Moments 1968-2015, which offers up dozens and dozens of incredible performances originally aired as part of the Country Music Assocation's "CMA Awards" broadcast on television dating back to 1968. In addition to 127 country music classics that play out across 11 hours of footage, the 10-disc DVD set includes newly-produced bonus interviews and a 44-page collectible memory book filled with colorful images and important details about the CMA telecasts. The highlights abound across the set, stretching back to poignant turns from the late, great likes of Johnny Cash ("Folsom Prison Blues"), Glen Campbell ("By The Time I Get To Phoenix," "Rhinestone Cowboy") and Merle Haggard ("Okie From Muskogee") all the way through modern-day hit makers Brooks & Dunn ("Boot Scootin' Boogie"), Shania Twain ("Any Man of Mine," "I'm Gonna Getcha Good!") Keith Urban ("Somewhere in My Car"), and Carrie Underwood ("Jesus, Take the Wheel," "Before He Cheats").  Information: www.timelife.com.

Artist: Jimmy Cliff 
Title: The Harder They Come (Shout! Factory)
You might like if you enjoy: Reggae music, Jimmy Cliff, director Perry Henzel
Tell me more: Reggae has seldom been featured in motion pictures beyond cliche and caricature. That changed with the release of director Perry Henzel's groundbreaking 1972 film The Harder They Come starring legendary artist Jimmy Cliff. In the film — newly remastered and reissued courtesy of a glorious collector's edition — Cliff stars as Ivan Martin, an aspiring singer hoping to make his mark in the music world. Looking back in time at this amazing film is to see a flick that works as a dramatic crime tale as well as an early celebration and showcase for Jamaican reggae that was in its infancy on the world stage. Bonus features and extras abound on this must-have Blu-ray title, including a gorgeous restoration of Perry Henzel's subsequent film No Place Like Home (which was also shot in 1970s Jamaica, but was believed long lost). Anyone who is a fan of Jimmy Cliff, reggae music or '70s film will want to pick up this superb title that picks up the energy and ambiance of Jamaica in the era. Information: shoutfactory.com.


Robert Kinsler