Hairfred guitar? I first started researching the Hairfred guitar, Brian May’s enigmatic instrument, towards the end of 2011 (see Getting in on the app business), whilst working on a project for This Day in Music. Brian May’s interview for the January 1983 edition of Guitar Player magazine, in which he was misquoted as saying “Yeah,
I’m going slightly Radio Ga Ga!
I’ve had a busy few days doing radio interviews to promote The Dead Straight Guide To Queen. I did fourteen interviews on Wednesday at Media City Salford, recorded another podcast with Pete Mitchell yesterday and three interviews at BBC Radio Sheffield this morning, followed by two telephone interviews from home this afternoon. I’ve got another telephone
Two-page spread in the Scottish Sun
Matt Bendoris, of the Scottish Sun, interviewed me about The Dead Straight Guide To Queen last Monday. He wanted a Scottish angle, so I suggested the 1974 riot at Queen’s Stirling University gig. I got a two-page spread in Friday’s Scottish Sun, with a nice plug for the book. OK, so some of my comments
Interview with Pete Mitchell
Pete Mitchell interviewed me about The Dead Straight Guide To Queen shortly after it was published. We covered some early Queen history, a couple of rare facts and some insights into researching and writing the book. The interview is now available as a podcast on Audioboom.
The book’s in the shops
The Dead Straight Guide To Queen has started shipping to shops. It should be available in HMV stores in the UK straight away. I’m still waiting to hear from Red Planet Publishing regarding other outlets. I’ve received my first shipment for family and friends; all copies are already spoken for, so I’ll be placing another
Queen + Adam Lambert at Manchester
My tickets have arrived for the Queen + Adam Lambert Manchester gig. I’m really looking forward to this concert and seeing some old favourites from News of the World performed live. I’ve avoided watching too much on YouTube and other channels because I want witness this show for the first time ‘in the flesh’. Less
A tale of two vans – proofreading and beyond
Proofreading can only fix so much. In my case, what it didn’t find all starts with a tale of two vans – proofreading can’t help me now… Putting off the inevitable It’s several weeks since the editing and proofreading process for The Dead Straight Guide To Queen ended and it went off to the printers.
Would you like Jam on that?
Just over a week ago, when The Dead Straight Guide To Queen was released on Amazon, the publishers pointed out to Amazon that they’d listed the book with an incorrect description. Somehow they’d managed to list it with a description for The Dead Straight Guide To The Jam, which was released on the same day.
First book interviews
I did two interviews with the great Pete Mitchell this morning: on the 40th anniversary of News of the World and The Dead Straight Guide To Queen. There will be a bit more promotional activity over the next few weeks, with the book available on Amazon now and arriving in shops at the end of
New Amazon delivery
The book has left the printers and the distributors will be sending it out next week. Meanwhile the print-on-demand version of The Dead Straight Guide To Queen is already available from Amazon. I ordered a copy so I can check it over and it arrived this morning. Red Planet Publishing will be ramping up publicity