Queen: As It Began [Paperback]

Jacky Gunn (Author), Jim Jenkins (Author), Brian May (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1994

The official biography of the 70's rock supergroup that captures the excitement of its recent comeback. Charting Queen's flamboyant, hit-making musical history, this book also chronicles the life stories of members including the beloved lead singer and his battle with AIDS. Features a comprehensive discography and videography, plus eight pages of color photos. .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The history of such a colorful, successful rock band as the British supergroup Queen ("Bohemian Rhapsody") is a story worth reading--but not as written by these amateur authors, the manager of the Queen Fan Club and the "archetypal 'superfan,' " respectively. Beginning with the birth of each band member, the book takes readers on a 45-year trek that ends with the death of lead singer Freddie Mercury in 1991. Unfortunately, the authors include everything , burying fascinating anecdotes (a tea party with Groucho Marx in 1977; the 1978 filming of 65 naked women on bicycles in Wimbledon Stadium to promote "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race") under endless details. Few readers will want to know the musicians' high school grades or where the band changed planes on the way to a concert. On the other hand, they will want to learn more about the enigmatic Mercury, whose flamboyant camp act transformed four heavy metal musicians into skilled performance artists with worldwide popularity. Given the authors credentials, it isn't suprising that there is a certain bias--"the only thing the press concentrated on when writing up news of the opening of the world's biggest ever rock festival, was the 'near riot' . . ." The book does contain an impressive 35-page discography/videography, useful for music collectors--in 1991, Queen became the second most collectible band after the Beatles. Photos.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

This is the kind of plodding, detail-oriented, homogenized narrative you would expect from the band's international fan club president and de facto discographer, positions held by authors Gunn and Jenkins, respectively. Mostly uninspired, this first significant Queen biography to be written under the aegis of the band could have benefited from more guidance. Until Freddie Murcury's AIDS-related death in 1991, Queen had literally conquered the world in terms of concert attendance, album sales, and artistic innovation during the group's 20-year career. Unfortunately, the narrative lacks the band's energy and sags under the weight of a this-is-the-band and, especially with regard to record chart activity, day-by-day approach. Still, anyone who can remember where he or she was upon first hearing "Bohemian Rhapsody" will probably love this work. Recommended where pop-music biographies are in demand.
Barry X. Miller, Austin P.L., Tex.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 292 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Books (Adult Trd Pap) (August 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786880031
• ISBN-13: 978-0786880034
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #674,239 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic and detailed journey, April 19, 2005

By 

Gary Selikow (Great Kush) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Queen: As It Began (Paperback)

A fantastic and detailed journey through the history of one of the greatest music sensations of the 20th century. Anyone who wants to really know about this incredible band should read this work compiled by the the manager of the Queen Fan Club and Queen's official discographer. Jampacked with information about the band. Beginning with info about the lives of the four talented musicians who made up Queen : Freddie Mercury , Roger Taylor , Brian May and John Deacon. We see that Taylor , May and Deacon all had BSC Honours Degrees. The life of Freddie Mercury makes particularly interesting reading. Born Farookh Bulsara , of Persian parents Bomi and Jer Bulsara , on 5 September 1946 , on the small spice island of Zanzibar.
In 1954 , at the tender age of eight , Freddie was shipped off from Zanzibar to St Peter's English Boarding School in Panchgani outside Bombay. During his time at Ealing , Freddie formed his first band , the Hectics , which played only within the school at fetes , parties and school dances. After taking his O Levels at St Peters Freddie returned to Zanzibar , but his family fled the island in 1964 , along with many other Indians and British when the African Marxists launched a violent revolution. The Bulsaras moved to Feltham , Middlesex in England and in September 1966 , Freddie began a graphic illustrating course at Ealing College of Art. In 1969 Freddie joined a Liverpool band named Ibex , which played a selection of cover version songs by the Beatles , Rod Stewart and Yes. He had also met Tim Staffel , who together with Brian May and Roger Taylor , had a band named Smile. Freddie later formed his own band Wreckage. A few months later , Freddie disbanded Wreckage and in 1970 , formed Queen together with Brian May and Roger Taylor. The following year the band where joined by John Deacon. The rest is music history , and the book traces Queen's development from a unique inside view, full of colour pictures and exclusive interviews .We feel we are watching the history of the band unfolding. We read of the Bands first triumph in Japan , where they first achieved Superstar status. Of the bands friendship with David Bowie and their meeting in 1977 with Groucho Marx , of Freddies friendship with Michael Jackson and Elton John among others and of John Deacon's friendship with tennis great , John Mac Enroe.
The last chapter is about the tragic death of Freddie Mercury from AIDS after having fought a brave battle against the disease.
I particularly enjoyed reading about the golden years of the Super 1970s.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First-class documentary of a first-class band, April 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Queen: As It Began (Paperback)

It is assumed that the buyer of this book either has or is planning to cultivate an interest in Queen, one of the most successful bands of the past two decades. Such a reader will not be disappointed; this book sidesteps the temptation of becoming a tabloid-style biography and instead focusses on real facts. Written by two longtime 'Queenies', As It Began is a frank, clear, and comparatively unjaundiced view of the band's progress, from 70s glam rock band to 90 'macho' musicians. For he who intends to become ridiculously well-read on one of the most memorable bands in history, As It Began is the ideal bookshelf companion.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Queen Rule The World!, September 26, 2000

By 

Karen Ashe (Northern Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Queen: As It Began (Paperback)

The complete and virtually unabridged biography of the greatest band of all time is a must-have for any fan. It details the lifes of Freddie, Brian, John and Roger from their respective births, and leaves little out (apart from the malicious gossip that so frequently found in the tabloid papers about them).

The book is written by Jacky Smith (nee Gunn), the manageress of the Offical International Queen Fan Club (which is now the longesy running fan club of all time) and Jim Jenkins, a long time fan who was at most of the concerts Queen ever gave, so the authority from both people is a good one. You cane expect everything in the book to be completetly factual, and absolutley respectful to Queen and their families.