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Posted by: Col Roberts Dec 4 2008, 10:49 AM

Legendary band Queen was booed off the stage at the 1974 Sunbury Rock Festival in Australia. They were unknown in Australia at that time and the crowd was impatiently waiting for the next band ... a local band called Madder Lake who currently had a hit in the charts called "12 Pound Toothbrush". Freddie Mercury responded by prophetically declaring "When we come back to Australia, Queen will be the biggest band in the world" ... and when they returned in 1976 they were indeed one of the hottest acts on the planet.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=LQP57_KVykg is a clip of Madder Lake playing live fairly recently. They play "12 Pound Toothbrush" at the 4:30 mark. Pump up the volume and have a listen.

Just found out that the guitarist from Madder Lake, Brenden Mason, has a guitar store called "Real Guitars" which is about 15 minutes away from where I live. Must check it out sometime.

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Dec 4 2008, 11:00 AM

Nice story
With the distance now you can see why Queen was a world known band and these fellows couldn't make it.

Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Dec 4 2008, 11:07 AM

They would never have been booed off in the UK as we know good music

Although I do like Silverchair and the half of AC DC that is Australian

Posted by: Velvet Roger Dec 4 2008, 11:50 AM

I must say that I am a proud die-hard fan of Queen (and nobody is able to change that ) and I enjoyed this story

Posted by: Col Roberts Dec 4 2008, 11:58 AM

Actually the only Australian-born member of the current AC/DC line-up is drummer Phil Rudd, all the others were born in the UK . But we'll still claim them as an Australian Band .

Posted by: OrganisedConfusion Dec 4 2008, 12:08 PM

I meant the original line up. They are still classed as an Australian band even though most now are from the UK. Plus they formed in Australia.

Posted by: fatb0t Dec 4 2008, 01:54 PM

What's up with that horrible guitar solo? hahahahha

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Dec 4 2008, 02:35 PM

Great story didn't know that one. Queen rulez! They waited their time and it came, and Freddy responded the crowd nicely, a bit arrogant, but very fair of him. The best thing he was right about it!

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Dec 5 2008, 05:33 PM

I didn't know this story about Queen! Freddy is the man and he told them right !

Posted by: Smikey2006 Dec 5 2008, 07:34 PM

i would take queen over that anyday haha

Posted by: Canis Dec 5 2008, 11:28 PM

Hehehe, Queen is King!
I imagine the satisfaction of Freddy when they came back and blew Australia's minds a few years later

Posted by: Paul Coutts Dec 8 2008, 02:44 PM

from glasgow scotland!

*whoops, tried quoting the AC/DC comment, but it didn't work!

Posted by: audiopaal Dec 8 2008, 02:57 PM

Cool story

Thanks for sharing

Posted by: Jose Mena Dec 8 2008, 07:21 PM

Man, this cheers me up a little. I played a gig recently an although we didn't get booed of the stage, there wasn't major interest, everyone there came to see the other band, but they were polite at least, I threw in some shred towards the end to see if we get something, and managed to get a few comments when I got off the stage, and hopefully new GMC members as I mentioned the site.

But it is frustrating to see this, Freddie Mercury believed in his music enough to know he'll be back kicking ass, and so he did. I wish we had the same confidence, it is not arrogance in my opinion.

Posted by: Ian Bushell Dec 9 2008, 07:58 AM

Awesome story, thanks for sharing!

I agree it's not arrogance but confidence.
With a voice like that he had every right to be!
I think Freddie and Queen for that matter are awesome.

I can't picture that Jose, you shredding and no response;P