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Queen: As It Began

Authorized and Revised Edition

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Queen: As It Began

By: Jacky Smith, Jim Jenkins
Narrated by: Mike Cooper
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About this listen

The original edition of this revered and authorized Queen biography explored every aspect of the legendary group’s career from inception to 1992. Newly revised and updated with cooperation and insight from Brian May and Roger Taylor—and drawing on exclusive interviews with the bandmembers—this book completes the story of the Mercury era and the immediate years after his death. With numerous extra photographs and a new Foreword from Brian May, Queen: As It Began: Revised and Authorized is an informative and authoritative portrait of Queen’s most fundamental period.

©2022 Original edition © 1992 by Jacky Gunn and Jim Jenkins. This edition © 2022 by Omnibus Press (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Royalty

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All stars
Most relevant
Despite its length, this is a hurried passage through the history of a fascinating band. There is little of the insight or refreshing honesty of Mark Blake's excellent A-Z. Instead we skip across the timeline with little sense of who these four remarkable individuals are. What could have been a merely inconsequential listen becomes downright grating after about 20 minutes due to the delivery of the narrator. With his clanging vowels and hurried but hushed delivery, he sounds like should be the drivetime DJ on Neighbours FM. Irritating.

Hagiography in nasal antipodean

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Great listen to any fan of the great band 5 star performance well worth a listen.

5 star performance just like queen

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I like that it wasn't just about Freddie, it's also a fairly good look back to society in the 60:s to the 90:s... overall A+

Great review

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Not wanting to sound disappointed I went into this authorised biography with high hopes and came away feeling short changed.
There is no doubt this is an informative account of the story of Queen from the very beginnings of the lives of the band members and it successfully charts it's way to their heights of success. The story takes a very analytical and methodical approach to the chronological tale and yet in doing so starves the writing of most of the personality of the band, their creativity and their exciting lives. It at one point lists their achievements in one year over many minutes almost like a powerpoint presentation at a business meeting than a story which has personal depth.
If you are just concerned with the dates of releases, the names of B-Sides, the schedules the band were on and their financial challenges this is a book that may offer some facts for you.
If you want a tale of the passion and the sparks that happened throughout their journey, you will not be served well here.

Informative but lacking any soul

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I really thought I was a Queen fan but this book proves I’m not a mega fan at least. At times it’s just a list of facts read out in an Alan Partridge homage performance. Disappointed.

Hard work

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