International Queen Convention 1999, Prestatyn, North Wales, UK.
The Report, by Freddie van ter Beek
Wednesday, 5 May 1999
1 day till the convention starts! Me and Noortje (my fiancée) are getting exited! To get to the convention we had to travel together with 54 Dutch fans, the journey started by getting on the 7.20am ferry on Thursday from Hoek van Holland (near The Hague). We live about 175 kilometers from that town, so we first went to a friend in Delft, also near The Hague where we stayed the night and got up at 5am (ARGHHH!!!).
Thursday, 6 May 1999
6.30am, arrival in Hoek van Holland. Almost all Dutch fans were there already putting their bagage in the coach.
After about 20-30 mins, we got into the coach which drove into the ferry. 3.40 hours we spend hanging around on the ferry, which was speeding at 78 km/h to the UK (it's a huge Katamaran!), seems one fan had talked to the DJ, `cause suddenly a video of Wembley '86 appeared on the huge videowall that was on the ferry!
Arrival in the UK was about 10.20 UK time, then a long journey of 500km started, 6.30 hours we spend hanging in our seats, listening to Roger tapes and watching Queen videos, finally at 5.30pm we arrived at Pontin's Holiday centre in Prestatyn! Nobody I know was walking around outside when we arrived, so Noortje and I first went to our Chalet to "install" ourselves for the next 4 days.
After that we went into the "entertainment building", (a huge building with several halls which contain bars, gamble and game machines, shops, reception and a pub). We did not need to seach long to find people we know from other countries: UK: Joy & Tony Whitelock (Mr. and Mrs. Hedgehog), Tessa & Jean Lothingland, Gazebow, Peter Freestone, Gary Taylor, Melanie & Chrissy & Nick & Edge from Germany, Dave from Belgium, An Christe (former US, now Belgium), some internet people like Carrot, Ramirez, Sarah White, Becky, Livia and others (don't expect me to name all of you, I can't remember a hundred names! I'm better with faces! :-) )
Before going into the hall were the programme of that first evening took place, we rushed to the merchandize stall where only s-shirts and t-shirts of the convention were sold at that time, and also a double gold 7-inch (framed) single of We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions (US), framed and limited and numbered. I bought all 3 and got number 41 of 2500 copies made (they had 20 copies of the single at the stall). The single looks FAB now above my TV! :-)
Chatting started while hanging around in the Clwyd Bar, already tired, but "tired" is a word, we don't know during the convention! ;-)
Karaoke starts....a good laugh because some of the people singing did't hit particular the right notes... :-)
My girlfriend gave her name too to the organization, but after 1.5 to 2 hours, she was still not called on stage.
She was one of the first who gave her name, but the organization kept writing people down during those 90/120 mins and let them sing. Why in God's name did other people that came later DID sing and she did NOT???
A heavy f*ck up of the organization in my opinion......and my girlfriend was certainly not happy about that!
After the Karaoke, MAYBE took the stage. I had heard some sound fragments from the band already which I got from the internet, and to be honest, that did not impress me at all. I found out that evening that there is a HUGE difference between recorded live material and actually hearing/seeing a band playing live in a hall!
On the sound fragments, Nathan's voice was not quite hitting the right notes, but he blew me away during that live performance!!!
MAYBE played over an hour, a setlist of Brian songs and Queen songs were played and the sound was incredible! A VERY good stage performance! Many fans gathered in front of the stage and Nathan (the singer and guitar player) showed that even though he and his band are a bunch of fans and amateurs like all cover bands, they could reach quite a high level of proffesionalism! Vocals were fab with the girls singing (a bit high maybe) the backing vocals. Using a guilt guitar and 3 (!) AC30 Vox amps, Nathan got quite close to the original Brian sound, even played the harmonic Brighton Rock solo! VERY well done boys 'n girls!
After midnight my girlfriend and I and some friends (the Hedgehogs & Tessa and Jean) went to our Chalet where we chatted till 2am. Then (deadly tired and being awake for 22 hours) we finally hit the bed at 2.30am......
Friday, 7 May
9.30am, wakey,wakey! We went that morning to the Clwyd bar again where the pre-rounds for the talent competition took place. Noortje (my girlfriend) again gave her name to the organization and after 4 performances she took the small stage and sang with a beautiful voice in front of a few hundred people "In one of my weaker moments", a song sung originally by Anita Dobson. The tape used was the intstrumental version of the song with Brian playing on guitar.
Again a few laughs, because some people performed just for fun, and hearing those voices going off key showed that clearly! :-)
I walked around inside the building a bit (there are several connected halls) and when I came back, the pre-rounds were finished. Noortje didn't reach the final, quite a surprise to me because she was singing really well!
At 1pm Jacky did an offical welcome, she showed 2 welcoming videos done by Roger and Brian. Jacky took her videocamera around the studio where brian recorded lots of music and Peter Malandrone showed and explained things that were in the studio (quite a messy studio I must say...:-)) (Peter is a guitar/studio tech guy for Brian)
That afternoon we went into town with Tony (mr. Hedgehog) to buy some drinks and eatable stuff for a small party which we had planned that evening in our chalet.
At 4.30pm after lots of chatting with many of the friends I know from Internet and other Queen parties, I went to the Clwyd bar again. All the stuff which was going to be auctioned was displayed there. Most of the things were signed and the most rare/valuable item was the original letter written by Freddie Mercury for the X-mas 1990 fanclub magazine!
After that me and Noortje went to our chalet, eat a pizza and I started transforming myself into a Freddie Mercury look-a-like for the upcoming Fancy Dress competition. Back into the main ballroom it was time for the auction. On stage (with 2 huge videoscreen on the backwall) items were shown and sold for hundreds of pounds! Signed photo's, posters, clothing etc. Each item was filmed with 2 camera's that put the videosignal directly on the 2 videoscreens, so everybody could see clearly what kind of item Jacky was holding while Jim Jenkins controlled the bidding. Then the bidding for the letter written by Freddie began...
100, 200, 300, 1000, 1100... the prize went higher and higher... Keith Harris, the main organizer of Arena travel went up the stairs and stand near me. (in the back of the hall, many rows of chairs were build for those people that did not want to stand the whole evening). He had a radio-controlled microphone and shouted new bids....1200...1300...1400...
I saw someone in front of me bidding, Keith looked straight in my direction but I could not detect the second bidder. 1500...1600...then I suddenly saw the man right next to me moving his hand discretely and Keith reacted to that! So that was the 2nd guy! 1700...2000!!!!! Wow, these 2 guys were really hitting the ceiling! 2100...2200...2500!! Incredible! At 2850 the bidding finally stopped, it was a THRILLING experience!!! Wow, 2850 pounds for a small letter, amazing!
Well, Fancy Dress competition started and many people had done their best to dress Queen related. I reached the final in which the prizes went to: Girl dressed as Freddie in Sligtly Mad Video (3), Carton Queen Crest with 2 girls as Virgins (2) and number one was a guy dressed in a live sized travel beacon, on the back was written: John Beacon, Queen Road works! Quite funny! I was quite close to reaching third place, the audience was quite loud when they were clapping for me (adjudication is done by letting the audience make noise for each contestant). But the Slightly Mad girl won, so, better luck next time :-)
Saturday, 8 May
9.30am... aaaarrggghhhh! Damn that clock!
After that we went back to our Chalet, I changed my clothes again as Freddie Mercury look-a-like. This time for the Mime competition. The competition started at 7pm, 2 songs were to be mimed for the pre-round: "Flick of the wrist" and "Keep yourself alive". The middle of the hall was free space for the look-a-likes to perform. Well, I gave the best I could and got a number on a piece of paper from someone from the jury, meaning that I reached the final! In that final we had to mime to "Headlong". During the guitarsolo's I went to the ground and did some athletic moves, the cameraman immediately responded by putting the lens almost in my face! :-)
Sunday, 9 May
9.30am HUH? :-( Last day of the Con...
Monday, 10 May
At 9am we left the hotel and went to Harwich were we had to wait to get on the ferry. It was sunny weather, so we gathered for some group pictures. Another 3.5 hours on the ferry took us to Holland. The DJ again played some Wembley 1986 videos, so we had a good time! We didn't went home straight away when arriving at the Dutch harbour. After a drink and a final chat with our Dutch friends we went home by car, which took much longer than expected because of heavy traffic.
Freddie van ter Beek
Then after the selling of a Gold record which also was sold for over 1000 pounds I believe, some videos were shown and I got down to prepare for the Fancy Dress.
Bytheway... all the money raised with the few raffles, auction and other things all went to charity organizations.
After 9pm, the band Royal Family took the stage. They came on, dressed as Queen in the Early seventies, looked great! The show they performed was GREAT!!! Not just a Magic Tour setlist, no, they did songs from all 3 decades and during the show they even changed clothes to the "The Works tour" clothing and "Magic tour" clothing! They were quite good look-a-likes, the guy doing Brian looked quite good, he even had the same nose! (no fake, a real nose! :-)). The sound was also amazing, "Brian" played on a Guilt guitar, although he did not use an AC30 amp, the sound was still very "Brian" like. The combination with the lightningrig and the 2 videoscreens gave them the chance to put on the best show they ever did. As many cover band did before them, they played for the best audience you can get: 2000 Queen fans! For every band this is the ultimate performance, it's an honour to play at the Queen Convention!
After the show, DISCO started. As usual a huge lightningrig was placed in the middle of the hall. The sound, video and light equipment all together is worth something between 300,000 and 400,000 pounds!!! Hundreds of fans started dancing to Queen/Roger/Freddie/Brian and 1 John video(s) and to the music that was played inbetween. Also a few hundred were gathered near the bar and tables where they tried to consume all the beer and other drinks that were in stock! :-)
At 2am, the Disco ended, I went to my chalet where Noortje and Livia already started preparations for the party. I already had hung up balloons and a banner. It was a special party... we got engaged 6 weeks ago and celebrated that, that night! A select group of friends including Peter Freestone came along and we chatted till 5am in the morning... at 5.30am we hit the bed again...
A new day, with new plans. 10.30am The Queen Market place opens. I settled down there with some live photo's which I took of Brian during his Dutch concerts and had for sale. After selling the last of the photo's I search myself amongst the dozens of tables for any new records or other interesting stuff. Lots of things were on sale: T-shirts, photo's, artworks, CD's, vinyl, Freddie Mercury Roses and much more! I met again with many people I know and chatted a lot.
Noortje was deadly tired and went to sleep for a few hours that afternoon while I met other people. I only was planning to compete in the Fancy Dress and Mime, so I did not do any of the sports and games that were going on the whole day.
At 4.30pm the final of the talent cometition started. At the beginning of the pre-rounds Keith Harris had said that some people, although they might be quite good and deserved a place in the final, would problably not be choosen for that final because they wanted variety. Then watching the final I saw 2 times "Tie your mother down" performed and 2 times "Somebody to love"!!! So much for variety... Also a girl that could not do the pre-rounds because she had exams performed that morning during the Queen market and although Keith had said that they had made an exception using 7 finalist instead of 6, they suddenly gave the girl an 8th place in the final too! I and also Noortje were quite mad because she deserved a place in that final (not just prejudice from me, other people shared our opinion)! Again a major f*ck up of the organization....
And the result... I won 3rd prize!!! Which is a 5 pound voucher for "WHSmith", a bookshop in England, very usefull if you live in the Netherlands like me... ;-)
I'd rather have had a Queen related prize (with or withour signatures)...
After the mime, the Themed Disco Party started with first the adjudication of the dressed up people. Theme was this time "Fun in Space", and hundreds of people responded by showing up in some very strange "out of this world" outfits... :-) Very kewl and great to watch!!! A guy inside a huge robot won the first prize. Again Disco started and we all got loaded with drinks untill late that night... During the disco, people could write little messages on paper which would then be shown on the 2 large videoscreens. Although engaged I never asked my girlfriend officially, so... almost at the end of the disco, suddenly on the 2 screen appeared the following: "NOORTJE, you are the love of my life, WILL YOU MARRY ME?"!!!! :-))) Ofcourse she said YES! :-)
After the Disco I, my "future wife to be" and some friends went looking for a chalet to party on, but after strolling for 30 mins around we decided to go inside the ballroom where the bar was still open. We stayed there till 4am and then hit the bed again...
After cleaning the chalet a bit, putting all stuff back in our travel bags, we went to the ballroom where the final Disco started. We started searching for our friends for the final chats and goodbyes. The people from Arena travel gathered on stage for the standard "Radio Gaga,Friends will be friends, Champions and God save the Queen" songs, we all gathered in the ballroom where about 4000 hands went into the air. The atmosphere was just MAGIC!
Then at 2pm, the end... we rushed to our chalets, got our travelbags and went to the coach that was already waiting for us. For us Dutch fans the weekend was not completely over yet. First another 6 hours by coach to a hotel in Ipswich, after a late dinner with the whole group of 54 fans, Noortje and I went to one of the hotelrooms where some other friends had gathered, chatted there for an hour and then finally hit the bed, deadly tired this time, after 4 shorts nights already...
I had dinner at house of my girlfriend and took the train home that evening. Noortje stayed behind because the next day she had to go back to Germany where she works for her school/study (training period). At 11pm I finally was home. It was a long and exiting weekend which I will remember for a long time...
