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Queen: La historia ilustrada de los reyes del Rock
They were renowned for stunning live performances, envied for rumors of their rock ’n’ roll excess, and beloved for their music, occasionally anthemic and always virtuosic. Nearly twenty years after the death of their engaging and supremely talented front man, Queen remains the archetypal larger-than-life rock band, comfortably enthroned among rock royalty. Now, to celebrate the majesty of Queen’s contributions to rock, here’s the first-ever complete illustrated history of the band.With glorious concert and candid off-stage photography from throughout the band’s career, as well as concert posters, backstage passes, LPs and singles, and other memorabilia from throughout the world, this is the ultimate visual tribute to Queen. More than 500 photos and artifacts are accompanied by contributions from some of today’s top rock journalists from Europe and North America. In addition to a chronological history of the band, there are reviews of all studio albums, notable excerpts from period publications, complete year-by-year tour dates, and a discography, as well as reflections on the band and their music from many of rock’s top performers past and present, including Slash, Tommy Lee, and Billy Squier.Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon combined a dizzying array of influences and genres in creating what would become one of the most compelling catalogs and lasting legacies in rock. Here is the book that dares to match that bombast.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2009
18 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Phil Sutcliffe
5 booksPhil Sutcliffe has been writing mostly about music since he went freelance in 1974 after serving an old-fashioned journalistic apprenticeship on the Newcaste Evening Chronicle. Youth illuminated by Beatles, Beach Boys, Dylan fandom, later years through to now by interviewing Paul Kossoff, Gentle Giant, the Angelic Upstarts, Joan Armatrading, AC/DC, The Police, Kate Bush, Nik Kershaw, Fleetwood Mac, Nirvana, Marc Cohn, Paul McCartney, Oasis, Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Radiohead, Emmylou Harris, Eric Clapton, Depeche Mode, Norah Jones, Peter Green, Nick Cave and so on as below for Sounds, Smash Hits, The Face, The Northern Echo, Q, Blender, the Los Angeles Times and, still best of all, Mojo. Never did meet a musician without a tale to tell and the means to do it. So far, so good.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
November 8, 2018
„The reason we're successful darling? My overall charisma, of course.“ – Freddie Mercury
We will never have anyone nearly as brilliant as Freddie nor we will ever have a band remarkable as the Queen. When you mix talent from four incredible men, you get a one of a kind band that is iconic, unforgettable and outstanding in any way. They did whatever they wanted, however they wanted to do it, and they had the world in the palms of their hands. They were, and still are, legends!
„Our music seems to connect with people on a strange kind of human and spiritual level, and it seems to go across generations as well, which is incredibly lucky if you want to call it luck.“ – Brian May
We will never have anyone nearly as brilliant as Freddie nor we will ever have a band remarkable as the Queen. When you mix talent from four incredible men, you get a one of a kind band that is iconic, unforgettable and outstanding in any way. They did whatever they wanted, however they wanted to do it, and they had the world in the palms of their hands. They were, and still are, legends!
„Our music seems to connect with people on a strange kind of human and spiritual level, and it seems to go across generations as well, which is incredibly lucky if you want to call it luck.“ – Brian May
January 22, 2015
„Queen“ yra viena iš tų legendinių grupių, kurias visi žino ir gali išvardinti bent tris jų hitus, o knygų lentynose galima rasti ne vieną knygą apie juos. Phil Suteliffe knygos išskirtinumas pabrėžiamas jau pavadinime – iliustracijos. Nepaprastai gausiai iliustruota ne tik grupės nuotraukomis, bet ir koncertų bilietais, turų plakatais, albumų viršeliais ar jų fragmentais grupės istorija, puikiai atkuria to laikmečio dvasią. Tai knyga, kurią norisi turėti namuose ir yra puiki dovanaa užkietiejusiems „Queen“ gerbėjams. http://www.jauti.lt/tarp-lentynu-6/
June 27, 2012
This was a Christmas gift from a couple of years ago that I finally got around to reading - and I enjoyed it.
As a huge Queen fan (of Freddie in particular) it didn't tell me much I didn't already know from my myriad of other books, but it is a nice addition to my collection.
From the roots of Queen to Freddie's passing via LP by LP guide, this book is unauthorised and you can certainly tell so (lots of gorgeous glossy iconic photographs are sadly absent)
There's also a bit too much filler - pages and pages of backstage passes and various records/flyers and other ephemera
There's also (for me) too much inclusion about the members private lives - ie. what they were getting up to at the time, allegedly and with whom.
Indeed, sometimes, Mr Sutcliffe goes down a route of British tabloid-like gossipy titbits (he seems to be utterly fascinated by what Freddie allegedly got up to?!)
However, don't let it put you off. If you're a Queen fan, you'll probably still enjoy it.
As a huge Queen fan (of Freddie in particular) it didn't tell me much I didn't already know from my myriad of other books, but it is a nice addition to my collection.
From the roots of Queen to Freddie's passing via LP by LP guide, this book is unauthorised and you can certainly tell so (lots of gorgeous glossy iconic photographs are sadly absent)
There's also a bit too much filler - pages and pages of backstage passes and various records/flyers and other ephemera
There's also (for me) too much inclusion about the members private lives - ie. what they were getting up to at the time, allegedly and with whom.
Indeed, sometimes, Mr Sutcliffe goes down a route of British tabloid-like gossipy titbits (he seems to be utterly fascinated by what Freddie allegedly got up to?!)
However, don't let it put you off. If you're a Queen fan, you'll probably still enjoy it.
July 9, 2022
I’ve read lots about Queen. You get tidbits in every book to fill in gaps. This one filled many many gaps for me. I was one of the few in my immediate world that was a Queen fan in the US as soon as the music became available in back woods UP of Michigan. ( I started with their 3 rd album but quickly found the 1st 2 as soon as I could. They were always bigger than life for me but this book put it in perspective in that I felt I had to like them in secret. But as I saw in this book all the music I thought was amazing, most of the world did also ( except the US) This book with much info I did not know, also helped put a missing puzzle piece of my being a weird one for liking them for the past 40+ years but it was the geographic area that warped my perception. Obviously there was much vindication when the movie came out that my feelings about the group were justified, others were just delayed to see the genius of the music I treasure still today.
November 22, 2017
Really good book on Queen spanning all the history of the band, including the Queen + Paul Rodgers era. Along with a nicely written biography, the book comes packed with lots of previously unseen photos, memorabilia scans of pretty much all of their tours, some in depth and quite honest album reviews, opinions from some very well known musicians and a complete track record of all of the band's concerts, among a few other surprises...
It's might not be the most detailed Queen biography out there, but it's certainly a great visual encyclopedia and an excellent entry point for any Queen fan eager to know more about their history.
It's might not be the most detailed Queen biography out there, but it's certainly a great visual encyclopedia and an excellent entry point for any Queen fan eager to know more about their history.
July 16, 2017
Veľmi dobré, veľmi málo.
May 7, 2019
dost skvělý.
July 31, 2023
i ♥️ queen
December 30, 2023
Un libro que voy a conservar siempre con mucho cariño.
June 8, 2011
Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock is definitely a labor of love for those that put the book together. There are tons of pics that I had never seen before till this bad boy came out. The book is exactly what the title claims itself to be, but it's so much more than that.
Most coffee table books are all pictures and nothing else, which you end up "reading" inside of 30 minutes and then your done with it. But The Ultimate Illustrated History is both a picture book as well as a retelling of the history of Queen, with input from Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. And there are a handful of testimonials from the likes of Rob Halford and Slash just to name a few that expound on the greatness of Queen and what the band means to them.
Along with the recounting of their history, there are discography reviews of all their studio albums. Yes, even the one with Paul Rodgers is included. The only thing that's really missing from the book are the insights into the music videos they made. It would have been nice to hear some stories about behind the scenes stuff here. Only a couple of videos are mentioned and not much is said about those in great detail. Oh well.
I highly recommend this book to any Queen fan and non-fan. There's a lot to take from the book and it will take you awhile to read through it. FYI, the book is heavy. This can be used as a doorstop or a destructive weapon. Your choice.
Most coffee table books are all pictures and nothing else, which you end up "reading" inside of 30 minutes and then your done with it. But The Ultimate Illustrated History is both a picture book as well as a retelling of the history of Queen, with input from Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. And there are a handful of testimonials from the likes of Rob Halford and Slash just to name a few that expound on the greatness of Queen and what the band means to them.
Along with the recounting of their history, there are discography reviews of all their studio albums. Yes, even the one with Paul Rodgers is included. The only thing that's really missing from the book are the insights into the music videos they made. It would have been nice to hear some stories about behind the scenes stuff here. Only a couple of videos are mentioned and not much is said about those in great detail. Oh well.
I highly recommend this book to any Queen fan and non-fan. There's a lot to take from the book and it will take you awhile to read through it. FYI, the book is heavy. This can be used as a doorstop or a destructive weapon. Your choice.
April 26, 2016
With its multiple pictures, this book makes for a quick read, but by no means a light one. The last twenty percent of Queen’s career was haunted by Freddie Mercury’s death, and the book duly notes this fact by mirroring it in its account.
As for the content in a more general sense… The bulk of the book focuses on the band itself in terms of a career, with personal notes given only a proverbial nod once in a while; and a grand portion of the information it does share tends to be a rehashing of information already disclosed elsewhere. However, that said, this book masterfully compiles all of this in a chronology that’s easy for a beginner Queen fan to understand, and towards the beginning, there’s information and anecdotes that I personally had never heard before. In addition, the album reviews at the end of each chapter also highlight the highs and lows of each album in a way I would consider markedly unbiased way.
Overall, a nice book for a fan just beginning to delve into Queen, but the knowledgeable Queen fan should save their money for a good documentary.
As for the content in a more general sense… The bulk of the book focuses on the band itself in terms of a career, with personal notes given only a proverbial nod once in a while; and a grand portion of the information it does share tends to be a rehashing of information already disclosed elsewhere. However, that said, this book masterfully compiles all of this in a chronology that’s easy for a beginner Queen fan to understand, and towards the beginning, there’s information and anecdotes that I personally had never heard before. In addition, the album reviews at the end of each chapter also highlight the highs and lows of each album in a way I would consider markedly unbiased way.
Overall, a nice book for a fan just beginning to delve into Queen, but the knowledgeable Queen fan should save their money for a good documentary.
June 28, 2012
I decided to read this book because it is my second favourite band of all time. This book fits into 'YOUR OWN CHOICE' on the bingo board. This book is exacly what it claims to be: The Ultimate, Illustrated History of the crowned kings of rock. I thought this book was amazing because it showed every step of the way of the incredible 20 years the band were together until Freddie Mercury's death in 1991. It starts off at the beginning about the four band members individually and gradually brings it into one story, when they form the band Queen in 1971. It also has a fantastic two page review on every one of their albums and does feature a lot of unseen photos. This book did take a while to read, so its not just filled with pictures. This is a must-have that every Queen fan should have and even if you're not a fan, and just want some insight on the band, this is definitely the Queen book to read. Nothing to complain about in this book. I couldn't ask for any better book on Queen. So I gave this 5 stars.
June 20, 2020
Wybrałam anglojęzyczną wersję ze względu na opinię użytkowniczki Sonii (lubimyczytac.pl) w której napisała, że w polskiej edycji są błędy w tłumaczeniu.
Nie żeby to bardzo przeszkadzało w zachwycaniu się nad tą książką, ale kilka zdań było według mnie dziwnie skonstruowane przez co ciężko było mi je zrozumieć. Ale biorąc pod uwagę zawartość całej biografii można to wybaczyć. A co zawiera? Oprócz samej biografii zespołu mamy tu również recenzje ich wszystkich płyt (łącznie z tą wydaną z Paulem Rodgers'em), daty oraz miejsca tras koncertowych, wspaniałe zdjęcia oraz bilety z niektórych koncert i inne pamiątki.
Jeśli ktoś, tak jak ja, przeczytał już kilka ich biografii to w tym zakresie nie dowiemy się niczego nowego. To właśnie te wszystkie dodatkowe rzeczy sprawiają, że ta książka powinna znaleźć się w posiadaniu każdego fana Queen :) Naprawdę warto, chociaż dla samych zdjęć. Wydrukowane na odpowiednim papierze wyglądają niesamowicie :)
Sama książka jest bardzo ładnie wydana - twarda oprawa z obwolutą i z papierem fotograficznym. Cudo :)
Nie żeby to bardzo przeszkadzało w zachwycaniu się nad tą książką, ale kilka zdań było według mnie dziwnie skonstruowane przez co ciężko było mi je zrozumieć. Ale biorąc pod uwagę zawartość całej biografii można to wybaczyć. A co zawiera? Oprócz samej biografii zespołu mamy tu również recenzje ich wszystkich płyt (łącznie z tą wydaną z Paulem Rodgers'em), daty oraz miejsca tras koncertowych, wspaniałe zdjęcia oraz bilety z niektórych koncert i inne pamiątki.
Jeśli ktoś, tak jak ja, przeczytał już kilka ich biografii to w tym zakresie nie dowiemy się niczego nowego. To właśnie te wszystkie dodatkowe rzeczy sprawiają, że ta książka powinna znaleźć się w posiadaniu każdego fana Queen :) Naprawdę warto, chociaż dla samych zdjęć. Wydrukowane na odpowiednim papierze wyglądają niesamowicie :)
Sama książka jest bardzo ładnie wydana - twarda oprawa z obwolutą i z papierem fotograficznym. Cudo :)
March 1, 2017
I'm probably one of the biggest Queen fan that exists, so this is a pretty biased rating. However, I don't like every song they've ever done and I don't like everything I've ever read on the band. This is definitely a book I would recommend any Queen fan have in their collection. It's got a bit of everything. Good review of their history with lots of tidbits that I haven't heard before. Comprehensive reviews of all their albums. Tons of photos of memorabilia. The tour schedules are kind of fun to look at. Includes a lot about the band members individual careers as well plus comments on the band from other musicians. Appendix with all their albums and releases. The book brought back so many great memories. I don't know if any band has individual band members with musicianship this high and such a variety of musical styles. I had to stop and listen to some songs numerous times while I was reading.
July 5, 2019
Of course I got this just for the illustrations and it does deliver. The book is worth getting just for the illustrations but then there's the text too which I mostly ignored, except for the captions like the one where Freddy Mercury is holding a baby. It's a very cute picture.
It lists it US price as $27.99 and I would say as a Queen fan it's a given you should get it. I think it was published in 2015 so I think you should be able to find a copy or two though I don't know if they were all scooped up (limited run?) and now you have to pay scalpers prices on ebay. Then again I did not find the revised version on ebay. I found a copy on Amazon for $177. So... only for a huge collector of Queen stuff with extra money.
Or, borrow it from the library and drool over it. :D And save your pennies for your own copy.
It lists it US price as $27.99 and I would say as a Queen fan it's a given you should get it. I think it was published in 2015 so I think you should be able to find a copy or two though I don't know if they were all scooped up (limited run?) and now you have to pay scalpers prices on ebay. Then again I did not find the revised version on ebay. I found a copy on Amazon for $177. So... only for a huge collector of Queen stuff with extra money.
Or, borrow it from the library and drool over it. :D And save your pennies for your own copy.
October 6, 2018
An interesting and comprehensive history of Queen, without a doubt my favorite band ever. Even though it doesn't reveal a lot of new details, it is highly recommended to other fans since it covers their story from the very beginning until a decade ago (missing the collaboration with Adam Lambert).
Some minor nitpicks are that the additional mini articles by other writers often give exactly the same information as the main chapters already do and that Sutcliffe's writing style is not always to my liking (but that could be an issue with the translation, I read the Dutch version).
The fantastic full page photo's, inserted scans of items such as concert tickets, lists of concerts and a good discography complete this very interesting coffee table book.
Some minor nitpicks are that the additional mini articles by other writers often give exactly the same information as the main chapters already do and that Sutcliffe's writing style is not always to my liking (but that could be an issue with the translation, I read the Dutch version).
The fantastic full page photo's, inserted scans of items such as concert tickets, lists of concerts and a good discography complete this very interesting coffee table book.
May 6, 2010
Fantastic book about my favorite band! Queen was comprised of four very different individuals and created 15 studio albums' worth of varied music. Sutcliffe does a good job of writing the band's biographies and history and compiling photos. Many books about rock/pop groups, tend to be written with a sensationalist tabloid angle without much regards for accuracy. While this one regurgitates some famous and familiar interviews, the author also contributed his own new writing and research. The best book on the band out there right now. The onyl thing better would be if Roger Taylor and Brian May wrote, together or separately, a biography of themselves and the band.
March 7, 2013
The pictures and tour dates/info are absolutely incredible and worth the price of admission alone!
The album reviews are sort of hit and miss. Having them done by all different people may have seemed like a cool idea on paper, but as such they lack a cohesiveness that would have really been nice. The writing of Sutcliffe himself is really confusing and bizarre. I can't quite place it, but it's almost as if English isn't his first language.
Altogether though the photos and illustrations are so great that I can't give this book anything less than 5 stars.
The album reviews are sort of hit and miss. Having them done by all different people may have seemed like a cool idea on paper, but as such they lack a cohesiveness that would have really been nice. The writing of Sutcliffe himself is really confusing and bizarre. I can't quite place it, but it's almost as if English isn't his first language.
Altogether though the photos and illustrations are so great that I can't give this book anything less than 5 stars.
October 15, 2018
While it doesn't add anything new, and some of the tour lists, comic book pages and pictures of foreign editions take up more room than necessary, still a treat. I did like the album reviews and other insights from journalists (mostly British, Americans largely ignored the band) that had covered Queen. Much better to be reading 30 year old Queen stories than any of the celebrity crap out there today.
January 22, 2016
A well-written visual feast by a respected rock journalist (with asides from insiders and other rock figures), there are no revelations or in-depth discussions...it is what it is, a visual encyclopedia of Queen. The best part about this book are the pictures of various memorabilia and a complete discography, including all DVDs, videos, and books. A handsome addition to any Queenophile's collection.
January 16, 2016
Great pictures, detailed text, and an interesting story, too. What more could a Queen fan want? As I read my way through the band's history and catalog, I kept putting the book down to go back and listen to the music again. A little too gushy at times, but c'mon. After all, it's Queen. Outstanding.
December 13, 2018
So much history done by these four people, that a book telling all their story would actually be an encyclopedia, but this book is an excellent example of how to put into perspective all their work and what was happening in their lives, for all of us who weren’t there when they ruled the world (and still do).
March 29, 2010
I would have liked more photos and fewer reproductions of the Netherlands version of the "Killer Queen" single. Also, I would have liked more about each of the band members. Still, any book about Queen is better than no book about Queen. And now I have to go cry about Freddie Mercury again.
January 5, 2019
I love Queen but this was a little boring. Lots of good information and a few things I did not know.
I had seen Bohemian Rhapsody in the midst of reading the book. It was interesting to see the slight differences.
I had seen Bohemian Rhapsody in the midst of reading the book. It was interesting to see the slight differences.
January 22, 2019
i really enjoyed this!!! it was super thorough and a great way to learn about queen’s journey throughout the years. i also loved the photos and extra visual tidbits included throughout. definitely recommend
June 13, 2011
Beautiful photos, in-depth info on individual band members, and how the group worked together.
August 12, 2012
This is a good book and has lots of awesome photos. It's well written and informative.
September 17, 2014
Lots of great photos, not anything new for this fan. Still, worth a read and a look for Queen lovers.
September 10, 2020
Een bio met mooie foto's en bijzondere weetjes over de band die ik vanaf 1975 met meer dan gewone belangstelling volgde.
December 23, 2014
Beautiful book full of rare (to me) photographs and recording/touring/personal life insights.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews