It's been a while ago that I wrote to some of you, but today I take the chance and tell you about Saturday, October 23rd 1999.
The Dutch Queen fanclub meeting was that day and I must say that I had a wonderful time. It's so nice, as always, to be with people that are having the same intrests, and what better can you wish than talk about Queen all day. (umm... don't say, I KNOW where you're thinking about).

Here you are, the report, pictures and all. This pages could never have been made without Eva, FreddieB, John and Jen, Hannie, Anja, all the other Queen friends, Maybe? and Miracle.
And most of all, there should never have been such a great day without John, Roger, Freddie or Brian.

Empty somach, no food yet, but filled with happy memories of the day.
That was the Dutch Queen fanclub day in 1999.
The station of Utrecht passes away while I started this writing, the last Queeniacs chosen their own train after having said the words of our Freddie.

The show will go on

This year was the first time in my 25 years of Queen fandom that I attended the Dutch Fanclub Day. Pretty weird for I have been in Wales before, and in Waalre, both places at least less easy to reach as Vlaardingen where we were now. The ways of life are unpredictable and that counts sure for S@turn.

My appearance at the fanclub day was encouraged by the people that I met at the queenfanclub chat channel, where I every now and than pop in. It seems that the Dutch are ruling there and there were many that I liked to see. I must confess that, looking back, the people did just fit how I know them from the net. And I must confess as well that it is NOT in the number of words that I found how they are, but in what they say. So, in short words, it was great to meet them, without any exception.

The internet makes it possible to arrange some meeting points. After that early in the week the one that I had talked with to go for months already, finally decided not to go.
Friday there were some E mail conversations to get some other people meeting at a station on its' way. Finally it just happened that I should travel with Pepijn/Deaky. Though he promised to put his head out of the window to find me he didn't do that. That was a wise decision for there were no windows that could open and I fear that if he had done it (he can it, can't you??) the train might got some delay!

So we met in the train, the conversation of course went about Queen and before we know we entered the passover in Utrecht. The train to Rotterdam, some more talks. You know *heh*, it's strange to talk to people that you only know from the net in real life.. The things get more serious, hm?

At Rotterdam Station the last passover, the trip to Vlaardingen should go on. There we met the first Queenies, and not the most anonymous.. :)
Freddie and Noortje were with us in the train, as well as Billy and Nathaly. Freddie and Noortje did try to peak our eyes out with telling about their trip to England, their meeting with Brian (who didn't want to get at a picture) and the amazing meeting at Heathrow, with Roger. Yeah, yeah, Fred, we know, we read your reports 10 times. *LOL*.

And Noortje was so proud at her glogs, that she painted in Another World style, complete with Brians' signature on it. Easy to find her back, but there were other reasons why we didn't have much difficulties in finding her back,hm? Freddie appeared everywhere around with his camera, so you can say what you want, but they ARE Queen fans indeed!

At the station we should meet some of the other chatters, but for one or another reason we just kept with the four of us, so up we went to the hall where the meeting should be held.
No problem in finding it, it is just a matter of searching for some Queen jackets.. :)
. The waiting was not too bad, first of all because the weather was okay, and secondly because the queue of people were growing and with it the number of familiar faces from other meetings. The Royal family in the gathering. As always a great atmosphere.

At 12 exactly the doors went open and we were pushed into the world of Queen. The familiar stalls with articles and Queen related things were there, again like in former meetings and it is really nice to have those familiar points around, makes you feel like in a true family.

One by one we came to meet the people from the chat lines, who dropped in and, due to the small corridors, you couldn't miss. *LOL*, why should we, wasn't that one of the goals to meet?
After that finally Johnnie walked in my sight view (Daddy cool is so ordinary normal in true life, what a contradiction with on stage or even in the chat, aren't you johnnieboy? *LOL*) we had enough people to take a group picture.

We saw the same thing that is quite usual at events like this, stalls with all kind of Queen products. I am always amazed by the amount of stuff what is around. Of course there are many bootlegs and so on, but also original vinyls, collectable items and so on that you can find nowhere else than at those days. Walking around we soon met some of our friends. Friends through the chat that now got a face. Hehehe.. chatting never will be the same. One thing I can say to you and that is that the chatters that I met are exactly how I knew them in the chat. Sometimes crazy, but all with the heart at the right place. We met Eva, with her mother and with Elisa, all her way from Austria, and soon the official picture was made, of a part of the group that already found eachother.
Sometimes the benefits of a mother around are obviously, and here is the result of the pic she took of us.

After this need we signed a card for Marcella and for Monica. Monika should love to come, but couldn't because of that crazy bite that the cat did to her daughter. We missed them alot and it was a great idea from great spirits to share a card for them. At those moments you realize so well how lucky we are with health.
Silly me, I even felt jealous: It must be great getting a card from the bunch, but well, the reason was obviously clear not so nice, so I better do not complain and place my words with all the heart that I can think of..

In the Dutch Queen fanclub mall I found the miniature statue of Freddie. Who is at my mailing list knows already that it is there, and I have seen it alive. It's small and when you can afford it, I should say, it is really a treasure in your home. For me, of course, with the pot of gold always at the other side of the rainbow, I shall have to do with the memories and this pic (from the collection of FreddieB).

Further we went, on the mall, and I found one of the most beautiful songs that I know from Roger. It's happiness, on green vinyl. The cover only is already worth to buy it. And who can ever say that Roger isn't romantic hm? (M? *grin*).

The corner with the stuff from Miracle of course must be visited and thanks to Evas' mother (again? yeah, again!), who dived into the box with t shirts, some moments literarily, we got our T shirts, a nice blue one is my part.
Grabbed a tape as well and off we were for further hunting.

A T shirt of the fanclub day. I once didn't buy such a thing at a gathering, and I still regret that I didn't. Now I can wear (and show) this Freddie gorgeous pic. Really a cute and lovely picture!

A small "I haven't this yet" toy as well, and the walk continued, while the crowd was growing still.

I found a book with pictures of Freddies' youth, his years at Zanzibar. Since around this time there's also an exhibition with Freddies' youth pictures in Zanzibar itself I liked that book. Really nice to see our Freddie growing up. And, a significant detail: he was baby of the year, right already in 1946! *LOL*, fame was in his blood! Now, drool, shower and heath down with the one and only .... Farookh .. :)

Than the auction was on and as in all auctions, there were some nice things. There was soled a tambourine of Roger, some drum sticks, a signed pic of John and a lot of tiny things. The auction was a bit chaotic, but that's, what I understood, part of the party. All was in that friendly atmosphere that NO other group ever gave to me and only is here. So glad to join it! After the lottery there was an extra gig. Basje, a well known Dutch Queen fan, gave us, as a kind of present, from his private collection, the very last life performance ever recorded of Freddie. Together with Cliff Richard, at a show for money to aids foundation. It was lovely to hear and, as always, I am very amazed by the amount of unrecorded songs that excist.
Not to say from how people get them, right? Umm, that's a matter of talking with the right persons I think!

So, the show was on, it was about time for the bands to perform!

Maybe?

A wonderful tribute, a high class performance.

Maybe? is a young and musicial very good performing group, dedicating their music to Brian May.
In the enthusiast and very professional hands of JenX and HeFTy, they're an impressive band that shows that it is possible to contribute in the spirit of a group like Brian Mays' band. They did a copy of his another world tour, but they were more than a copy. They showed how skilled, how enthusiast and above all how professional they are, already at their very young age.

I loved them!!!!
They DO have guts to play Brian.. Not easy to sing their songs but the singer does do a very great job. It was a celebration of recognation, for all of us who saw Brian at his last tour!

They're doing a perfect show that really sounds like a tribute to Brian.
Well it IS NOT Brian, but the singer does do a great job in performing, in his singing and in his guitar playing. The musicians are very ambitious, proving in the drum solo as well... Jen, be proud at your kids, but no wonder with such parents. (how can I say, I hardly talked to them, but more hugged Jen, didn't I? *LOL*).

Here you see the "blond" curleyhaired of Maybe? He is a very good singer, he can play the stars from the sky with his guitar play, and when he is able to play a bit more, interact with the audience, I am sure that he can make the show even more than it already is!.

Freddies' pic.

I must say that it is a relief, something completely different, a Brian May cover band after all the Queen tribute or cover bands that we already know!
The singer, I think his name is Nathan? was pretty close to Brian, in his singing and in his guitar play, but of course the "red special" sound is exclusive for Brian...
Nevertheless, it is without any doubt that he is very talented. I think we will sure hear more from him in the future!

They're a very young group, with all what comes with it. While playing the gig I was thinking about how other bands did start. Not knowing anything about the start of Queen, I wondered if this could be compared with how they started with Ibex, the Opposition and so. What a show! They did a good copy of the another world tour, including Mr T.E. Cornwall, and I should love to see that they react to the audience as well. But what can we expect? I am too much searching for bad spots, while I must make clear that it was a wonderful performance, really! So much to mention, but Jen did it already better than I ever can. One word for the twin ladies' singers. There were moments that I just let the music in my mind, and looked to them. I saw the dancing steps they made, not overacting, but very functional. I can not leave it unmentioned, it shows with how much accurate, with how much care, this whole show is made. I really am highly impressed and can't wait til next meeting~!

The maybe? twins.. Thanks to HeFTy, for the pic.

Among the show the memories to the concert of Brian that I saw in Groningen were coming up and flowing away as well. It was just like seeing the video, okay, with other faces, another audience, but as wonderful.

The group did breath spirit and fun in what they brought. I bet they were very nervous??
I was ashamed about the reaction of the audience. They talked too much and they didn't give the reward/applause for the show that Maybe? deserved. I really felt ashamed for all the people that were there.
It is typically Dutch to be very hard in their judgements for concerts, the same goes for f.e. football matches.

I am sure that Maybe? can grow to a more natural performance. There is nothing wrong in doing the show of Brian, and I think that sooner or later, with this potential qualities, they will be able to make their own music as well, but that's up to them. It is nice to listen to the guys and I should say, play on, get more used to play in audiences and they will find a natural way to grow to a higher level. Yeah, even higher than they're in already! I think that it shouldn't hurt when they react more with the audience, that they anticipate on what's going on off stage. They will learn that, I am convinced of it.

Miracle. The show must will go on

Deaky, Daddy Cool, Hangman2, Miracle, her mother, Magic Dutch and Funny.
From Evas' collection.

Honestly it shouldn't surprise me if there were other forces included, but what he did, what THEY did, was something very impressive. The voice of Johnnie could reach almost as high as Freddie, his voice some songs came very close to Freds'. And even more we missed our beloved Freddie. He sure should be proud with hearing this Johnnie singing his songs..

The gig started with the singalong "somebody to love". We, the so called Miracle gang, at the 3rd row, sang hand in hand with the band. The start was made, and for me, myself the memories to former gigs came up, wishing that some of the people that I met at previous meetings should be here as well.

Bart and Johnnie.
From Evas' collection.

Rudi. The man from next door. And if you wanna know why, just mail me!
From Evas' collection

Rudi de Jong is the new guitarist of Miracle. He appeared at first in Waalre, in spring, with his nerves bringing him almost to be a bad boy. He can play the guitar, and NO, it is NOT Brian (see his hair *LOL*), and NO, he is NOT playing the red special.

I think, in my honest opinion, that his entrance gave Miracle a new impulse, a new challenge to grow to the heights that they are sure going to. They're breathing the spirit of Queen, they're do make a show. Me, having seen Queen alive sometimes, did get some memories. And okay, it is not fair to compare whoever with those Queen shows, but I think that it should be a thing that the Queen guys should love indeed. I must hope and advise Brian, Roger and John, to look at this band when they have a chance. Just anonymous, don't make them more nervous than they are!!
I am convinced that they are impressed indeed!

Miracle. Not just fire in music!
From Evas' collection

In the violence of Johnnie it is obviously that he never can perform the way he does without a good base. I think that the value of guitarists like Bart is often too low valued. It's not easy hm, so many talents in one group, there's always one in the shadow. But don't worry about Bart, he plays like coming from space, his sound cannot been overseen lightly..

Bart. Cool as ever, clear like never before. Thanks to Johnnie for the picture.

The drum solo of Chris with the Flash' theme.. Firing drum sticks, the mystic that fitted the early Queen songs as I know them.
I never saw it before in another group than Queen. It was sure an event.

Johnnie sang the stars from heaven, or in my case, the rings from the planet..

Johnnies' private picture collection

John Zwaan, the spiritual singer of the group.
Johnnie is very active at the internet. He is known in the #queenfanclub as Daddy cool and it is not surprising that the audience made that banner with Ready Daddy? on it.
Apart from his singing, in what I suspect that he has a royal touch, a voice from heaven, Johnnie also did some guitar playing. It wasn't shown pretty well, but John recently had hurt his hand very bad and he was just in time healed enough to be able to hold the plexus and the guitar.
Knowing how his hand looked like, it was a miracle (!) that he played so that no one noticed his handicap!
John knows how to play with the audience. Realizing how difficult it is to play Queens' music, what asks a lot of concentration. You see that obviously with all tribute bands. The register of Freds' voice is not easy to come close to, but, as said, Johnnie comes close.
What I miss in some tribute bands is the interaction with the audience, what is a very essential part of the Queen act. There was no show without Freddie playing with the audience and there's no Queen tribute without an audience as well.
Johnnie and the rest of the band did do that pretty well. Not too much, just a slight dose of talking and joking. I constantly feel comparing with Queen what is not fair, for who can reach the charisma of Freddie, hm?
Miracle did it their way, and it sure was a kind of magic!

The show didn't only set the stage on fire.

From Johnnies' private picture collection

Their show was wonderful, and in the extra songs they gave us were some highly surprises. It started with Father to son. A song that I suspect came out of the big hat of Johnnie himself, after that he is awarded to be a chat father for some of us guys.
Not me, I am his brother in law, for I am "mummys'" brother.. Play the chat lines, if you don't understand, join us at #queenfanclub!

The impressive song: from Father to son.. was introduced with fire at the drum sticks, and lardated with pots of fire on stage... Those guys must have guts to make those early Queen songs come alive again. Not easy to play, but they did it fabulous, and really, you know that I can compare it with the early Queen concerts as well.

FLASH! Fires, mystic and all kind of surprises....

Chris did a fantastic drum solo. He did that at the sounds of FLASH, a special mix. The drums were rolling and I am sure that Roger heared it! He is a great drummer.. Yeah, I know, I am colored in my opinion, but correct me after that you've seen them if I am wrong...

Chris drumming like a blonde god!

From Johnnies' private picture collection

Owowow... they did the march of the Black Queen (HA!) with singig the song White Queen as well. What a memories to 25 years ago came into my mind. This group is named MIRACLE, people, and what they do is MAGIC! Can't say what I felt, can't say what it was, it was just an experience named Miracle!

A second encore was there, with the seven seas of Rhye and we are the champions. The party at its highest level, and the chairs were constantly empty, standing up, clapping hands. There's no way that Miracle can let you cold, and NOT only for the fire work!

The end of the show with the song Mother love.

There are no words to describe the feeling when the things came over us. There was an audience of a couple of hundred people, from all kind of origins, with different histories and faces.
But all were united and in the memory of the spirit.
My heart cried, while the words came to me.
Mother love, please let me in..
The heartscreaming words from Freddie, we know so very well what it meant.

It was a perfect end of a high show, and it left us with knowing why we were there.
Queen lives on, in our hearts, in our minds, in our souls.
And most of all in their music, as also is showed today!

I had to rush away, heared the Dutch national Anthem coming from a guitar.. Wilhelmus...
With a hug to Jen I left the stage, the mind filled, and running to the train.

============+++++++++++++=================+++++++++++++=

and the circle is round. There is no end, the show must go on.........

What brings me to a discussion... Is it good that a group immitates a still excisting group? Aren't they flying at the benifits of someones' success? Just a question, all involved (and above mail) makes undoubted that Maybe is a full promising band, worth to look at, sure for true Brian fans!

I should love to hear how you think about this.
Is a tribute band good, or what?Tributes or not???

And here are some reports from some others..
As you can see I used some of their pictures. ;) Yeah, my pix didn't succeed, so I must rely on the sources of my friends!

Freddie B As usual: great pix, nice story
Maybe?'s Jen and Frank report I can have never enough of those guys!
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