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QOL 19th Annual International Queen Fan Club Convention

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By Jimmy Jenkins

The International QUEEN Fan Club celebrates an amazing achievement in 2004 – it’s 30th Anniversary. Something to be proud of and in the name of the greatest band ever! Part of the celebrations was to hold yet another super long weekend convention full of QUEEN goodies to whet the appetite of any ardent music fan. A convention that lasts 4 days, featured 3 live bands, special guests, rare tracks and live performances from the archive, fun, games, frivolity, laughter, party times and hearty drinking sessions and true friendship! If you were there you will remember all this yourselves, if you weren’t, why weren’t you there? You missed out!

The ‘Dreamers Ball’ event was held at Pontins in Prestatyn, North Wales. Fans travelled the globe once again to ensure their attendance at this special time. Registration and check in procedures are quick and efficient, hassleless! Some fans once gone through procedures head straight for the Queen Vic pub! (sounds good to me), some stay in their chosen chalets and watch QUEEN TV. “Let Me Entertain You” could be heard around the camp site from the bands 1979 Paris show. Let the convention begin!

Before the official welcome from Fan Club top lady JACKY SMITH and a video message from the long haired guitarist we know and love BRIAN MAY, the Lunar Bar was jam packed as there was a karaoke show on and the performers were the fans! Pop idol wannabees took to the stage with flare and a dignified manner! They all did very well. In the main ballroom after the “opening ceremony” the first live band adorned the stage. MERCURY were extremely good and provided entertainment which would have made Freddie smile! It could be seen why these guys have received rave reviews for their shows. A disco finished the day in the style to which we are accustomed. We will rock you, you know!

QTV had a couple of live concerts on if you wanted something a bit more reserved. Two excellent shows could be seen – Brian’s solo performance in South America and Rogers solo record breaking Cyberbarn gig. QUEEN live in Brazil from 1981 finished the TV programme to entertain the fans who partied until the early hours. Nice to see some things don’t change in this life!

The ever popular ‘market place’ opened for business on the Saturday morning giving the opportunity to sell, swap, buy or cajole items of interest! Some people go to a big effort to make their displays look professional – even hanging T shirts up on hangers! The Arts & Crafts exhibition was in the same room, so you could take a peek at that while wandering around the stalls and vote for a winner.

In the main ballroom there was something new ‘Video Clip Dancing’ – guaranteed to blow your feet and have some fun. This was quickly followed by something else new to the convention, ‘Rock N Roll Dance Instruction’. The two instructors gave their all and very entertaining to watch it was too!

For the less energetic QTV provided more concert footage. The 1975 Christmas ‘Old Grey Whistle Test’ and their outstanding performance in Venezuela in 1981 were two on offer to name but a few! Or you could join a crowd in Lunars Bar to watch more concerts. Back in the ballroom the heats of Tug-Of-War competition were underway. Heave-ho!

The first guest of the weekend was a return visitor to the convention stage, Producer extraordinaire SIMON LUPTON. Simon exclusively revealed that the next planned DVD release was the bands Milton Keynes 1982 concert with all concert footage in evidence. All the songs missing from the TV broadcast would be put back in! He showed some never seen before footage to be included on this excellent release. (Except for those who were at the show. For them it brought back memories). A highlight of his section was the “it’ll be alright on the night” footage of Brian and Roger recording the TV commercial for Greatest Video Hits 2 – it was hysterical and laughter echoed around the room. Another exclusive showing was Brians live appearance at the Dominion during We Will Rock You show the previous month. A Question and Answer session concluded Simons appearance.

Archivist GREG BROOKS was the next guest,. Always a popular inclusion in the programme, especially when he plays rare unheard tracks from the archives. Outakes and remixes and alternate takes were the order of the day and went down a storm. As usual, more Question and Answers from the floor during his session.

Third guest of the afternoon is a legend in his own right, MICK ROCK. He brought along a slide show of the most beautiful, sometimes breathtaking photos of our fave band. A personal friend of Freddie, he told some wonderful stories on how certain images were created. A “young Jim Jenkins” (Micks words!) was the roving microphone man who ran round amongst the fans for questions from the floor and there were some excellent ones! A definite highlight of the weekend as Mick had everyone captivated for 2 hours with his amusing anecdotes.

The evening started with our annual Charity Auction. Lots of money was raised for Winged Fellowship and Rainbow Trust. A big thank you to all who bought an item – money well spent and all to a good cause to benefit our chosen charities. The Fancy Dress Parade was well participated. So much effort goes into a lot of the costume making and it looks marvellous. As always, the audience chose the winner.

Saturday nite then rocked for 3 hours of live music. We welcomed back for an unprecedented second year running, JEFF SCOTT SOTO AND HIS BAND. They went down such a storm last year and after being inundated with requests to have them back it just simply had to be done! A different show to last year but as enthusiastically performed as ever. People gasped in amazement at “The Prophets Song” and the applause showed what the audience thought! Mr Mercury would be proud to see these songs performed this way. Jeff is a remarkable singer and front man, he and the band HOWIE SIMON, GARY SCHUTT and new drummer DAVE DZIALAK are a force to be recognised, it’s as simple as that! For the majority, I think the band could have played all night long – the applause carried on even when they had all left the stage!

No convention would be complete without our themed party night. This year was the elegant ‘Dreamers Ball’. Many dressed for the occasion in tuxedos and ball gowns – what a pretty sight to behold. Quite amusing watching people dressed up to the nines rocking away on the dance floor. A late nite bar was needed after all the singing and dancing and rocking and we got it! Gulp!

Sunday morning came too quickly for most and what better way to start the day with a hangover than to play 5 a side soccer! But some did! Marvellous stamina in all. For more sporting buddies in attendance you could join in with the more relaxing table tennis and or snooker and darts. Better still – stay in bed and watch QTV with their excellent Boxing Day 1979 concert from the infamous Hammy O – fab! This last night of their Crazy Tour is such a memorable performance.

A special non Queen quiz brought people together for a bit of fun and you could probe your minds for trivia. Good way to make friends and join a team and take part.

For those still lazing on a Sunday afternoon and watching QTV, the bands record breaking Hyde Park 1976 concert was broadcast but over in the main ballroom was the first interview panel of the day. Hostess Jacky Smith brought out onto the stage Chris “Crystal” Taylor, who started working for Queen intentionally for one week only – 13 years later he was still around! Crystal became Rogers Personal Assistant, TERRY GIDDINGS, Freddies personal driver and security man, who became one of Freddies friends and confidantes and JIM HUTTON, Freddies partner. At times an extremely amusing panel, especially with Crystals stories of life with a pure rock n roller. Maybe we should have had this panel at midnight and not noon so we could hear those X rated stories! By the sounds of it theres loads and loads to hear! Terry told a lovely story of how his son was running wild in Freddies house and Terry was scared incase he knocked over one of Freddies valuable antique vases. “Don’t worry about it dear. If it falls and breaks so be it” Freddie said to him – aah! Nice one. Jim told of life with Freddie and showed a different loving side to his character which is very rarely known about. There were some very interesting questions asked to our guests and honest answers from the panel. A definite highlight of this years convention. These interview panels are proving very popular – there will be more next time guaranteed.

Lunars Bar showed the bands 1977 Earls Court concert, while in the ballroom excitement arose with the announcement of the next guest to take the stage. JAMIE MOSES stood there alone on stage, played guitar, sang, told some cracking stories of life on the road with Brian, took questions from the floor and requests! He was asked back by popular demand and you could tell why and I’m sure it wont be his last appearance at the conventions. He even gave some personal guitar tuition for those interested after his appearance.

The convention has its own Antiques Roadshow and ‘Collectors Corner’ was welcomed back. Fans brought along memorabilia for authenticating and valuing by our resident experts on hand. The looks on peoples faces at the value of some items is a joy to behold. Thank you to all who brought an item.

The second interview panel of the day followed. This one was hosted by Jim Jenkins and we witnessed a piece of history. KEN TESTI and MIKE BERSIN made a welcome return but this year we also had on stage JOHN TAYLOR and MICK SMITH, who had travelled all the way from America to be with us and they all make up the famous band IBEX, an integral part of the Queen story as they were one of the first bands Freddie first sang with. This was the first time in over 30 years the band members had been together. They reminisced about the summer of 69 and told stories on how Freddie crafted his stage appearance with them and how he gained his shortened microphone stand. A rare chance to see part of history that helped shaped Queen. More questions from the floor, this time Jacky Smith running around with the roving mic in dashing pink T shirt!! Again, some great questions from the floor.

The ballroom then became quiet for the showing of WE WILL ROCK YOU- THE MUSICAL. Another chance to witness what has become the spectacle of theatre land and a phenomena in its own right! The world is being dominated by this show.

The evenings proceedings commenced with the Talent Competition Final. The winners mimed to the Weather Girls “It’s Raining Men” – and it was actually raining sweets and candies at the front and side of the stage! They received the loudest cheer but congratulations to all who took part and performed. Prize presentation followed – they were the champions of the weekend and received their prizes from Jacky and Val. Various raffle prizes were anxiously waited for as everyone hoped their number would be pulled out of the box.

A touch of nostalgia took to the stage as IBEX actually played a set of songs which they originally performed with Freddie during that hot summer. History comes alive at the convention. An enjoyable performance to watch and imagine what it was like with our Mr Mercury at the helm.

The evening ended with one of the longest discos we’ve ever had at the convention. You could dance the night away, or sit and watch videos – Rogers “Man On Fire”, “Strange Frontier” and “Future Management” receiving loud applause. The traditional conga train made its way around the rooms in good humoured style as always. Still a sight to behold.

Keith Harris of Arena made a welcomed return after his illness and thanked everyone for their support last year. He gave his thanks to all concerned, especially to the fans and the way they behave. He introduced to the stage Jacky and Val who received rapturous applause. Jacky was overwhelmed and gave her thanks and reiterated that it was NOT the last convention that we WOULD be back next year and hoped we could make it one to remember.

Who’d have thought it, 19 conventions and still going strong. The event is a happy atmosphere and really does take some beating – if you’re a Queen fan you HAVE to be there! Do you want more? Well there’s more to come! Plans are already underway to make next years convention – which will be the 20th and we intend to have one helluva party. Can we make it the best convention ever? There will more music, new music via the archives, quizzes, games, entertainment, fun, sport, frolics, drink, partying, more live performances, all done in a grand style! So don’t forget to join us in 2005 to celebrate 20 years of weekend conventions, 31 years of the Queen Fan Club and 25 years of Bohemian Rhapsody and A Night At The Opera. This isn’t a fantasy – this is the real life – make it real – see you at the next convention. Are you joining us? You never know who will be there. Go on you know you want to!

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