Brian May Preps Expanded "Star Fleet" Box

[twonabomber]

Brian May says he’s working on an extended version of his 1983 collaboration with Eddie Van Halen. The Star Fleet Project box set would include “every take of every song” along with conversations, outtakes and musical experimentation recorded during the sessions.

The Queen guitarist has said it was a “moment of great joy” to gather in the studio with Van Halen, REO Speedwagon drummer Alan Gratzer and the late Rod Stewart bassist Phil Chen, saying they all “smiled and smiled” as they worked.

The expanded Star Fleet box set will be “No. 3 in the Brian May Gold Series, and probably to be released halfway into next year,” May tells Variety in a new interview, “and I’m very excited about it as I’ve opened up these tapes where I’m jamming with Eddie Van Halen and Phil Chen. It is highly emotional, again, as Ed’s not around. Neither is Phil.”

May confirms he was “never fond” of the mix on the “Star Fleet” single, so he took the opportunity to have it cleaned up. “Now, EVH’s sound is larger than life,” he enthused. “You’ll hear the development of Eddie’s solo, which I always thought was one of the greatest things he did – a real immortal classic of Ed Van Halen pieces. And we are going to give you everything, every take of every song – the things gone wrong, the laughing, the finding new things to do.”

He says he marveled at Van Halen's artistry while reviewing the old sessions, and also admits that he regrets they didn't do more together. “I’ve been talking to Alex [Van Halen] and started thinking about how I wish I had stayed closer to Ed,” May says. “I have a huge regret about that. He was a wonderful soul – a Peter Pan who never grew up, never wanted to grow up and never should have grown up. He should still be with us.

“Listening to him and me, I felt completely outclassed by him in the studio,” May added, “but in a very pleasant way. What joy for me to be around a guy who could do all that. Such a privilege.”

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/brian-may-star-fleet-box-set-eddie-van-halen/?fbclid=IwAR1SdP-jNzMEEeNyZbqCBHkLyD7446Dxgu_LUMFHYRLJwlQQWy19r_L2vPk

I never knew there was a video

[FORD]

Well.... somebody had to be the first to open the vaults on Eddie material. Who knew it would be Brian May? Had never even occurred to me that there would be enough material from the Starfleet sessions to warrant a "box set" since the original record was barely an EP.

Hoping it's worth the wait. You would think that two guitarists of that caliber would come up with something interesting even if they're just fucking around in the studio.

[Von Halen]

Fuck yeah! I love the original!

[Rikk]

Maybe this will inspire Alex to see what else is in the vaults. I don't have the passion to argue Dave/Sam/Ed to the same degree I had a couple decades back. But I'm still excited as a pig in shit to hear some vault material from the band. My wife, daughter & I listened to Gene Simmons' ZERO demos on a long drive last week and I just felt that same excitement...

[twonabomber]

Looks like the Brian May Gold Series is sold on Queen's website. A deluxe two-disc version of one of May's solo albums is $15.99



I'd be okay with similar packaging and pricing.

I doubt this will move enough to make Al and WVH consider putting something out.

[ZahZoo]

I don't see WVH doing a damn thing other than his own thing for some time.

Who knows what motivates Alex..? It would be nice if other notable rock artists who were peers within the era could convince Alex to produce something from the vaults to show case his legendary brother... if not for the love of his brother but also do it while Alex is still able and can guide the process vs someone else without the appreciation of what they produced together. It's Alex's legacy too...

[Vinnie Velvet]

I don't see WVH doing a damn thing other than his own thing for some time.

Who knows what motivates Alex..? It would be nice if other notable rock artists who were peers within the era could convince Alex to produce something from the vaults to show case his legendary brother... if not for the love of his brother but also do it while Alex is still able and can guide the process vs someone else without the appreciation of what they produced together. It's Alex's legacy too...

For whatever reason Alex doesn't seem motivated to do what all the other old rock acts have been doing - releasing archival unreleased songs, live recordings etc.

KISS just released a 40th anniversary box set for Creatures of the Night with loads of unreleased content - many that have never seen an official release along with live shows from that era. This all for an album that tanked back in '82. But its a great package for fans.

That sort of thing should have been done for any of the six pack but no VH fans can't have nice things.

[Nickdfresh]

I don't see WVH doing a damn thing other than his own thing for some time.

Who knows what motivates Alex..? It would be nice if other notable rock artists who were peers within the era could convince Alex to produce something from the vaults to show case his legendary brother... if not for the love of his brother but also do it while Alex is still able and can guide the process vs someone else without the appreciation of what they produced together. It's Alex's legacy too...

Wolfgang is gonna have to get more involved and push things. I think Ed was a perfectionist that didn't want anything live released unless it could be perfectly remastered in Blu-ray I'm guessing, and I don't think they wanted to look that far back as well. I think Wolf might be a bit more pragmatic and get someone that could clean up old ProShot film footage and hopefully he goes through the vaults. Jimmy Page released the How the West was Won double live CD after finding live SB audio he forgot they had while searching for video archives. I hoping something similar happens but not hold any breath...

[twonabomber]

Al is content cashing his royalty checks. He won't have to work again unless he gets another divorce.

[Mushroom]

I imagine I will be 60+ years old before there are any releases from the Vault. Now imagine being 60+ (some here approaching 70 I'm sure) and blasting some unreleased old classic Van Halen. It doesn't excite me today because I expect to be 60+ and that's a long time from today.

I remember listening to this Star Fleet once or twice in the mid 80s. It was nothing memorable to me; it was pointless. BUT I am a sucker for these kinds of expanded releases.

[twonabomber]

(some here approaching 70 I'm sure)

Just say Zah. We all know it's Zah.

[ZahZoo]

Yeah I used to think maybe I'll get to enjoy some of the vault stuff in my 60's... aw shit, that milestone is long gone. I still got 5+ years until 70... maybe those lazy bastards will put something out for me to enjoy in retirement...

Reminder... I'm still on track to out-live all you jackasses!

[Terry]

I imagine I will be 60+ years old before there are any releases from the Vault. Now imagine being 60+ (some here approaching 70 I'm sure) and blasting some unreleased old classic Van Halen. It doesn't excite me today because I expect to be 60+ and that's a long time from today.

I remember listening to this Star Fleet once or twice in the mid 80s. It was nothing memorable to me; it was pointless. BUT I am a sucker for these kinds of expanded releases.

I re-listened to it via youtube after it was brought up in this thread...hadn't heard it (or even thought about it) since the mid-1980s.

Struck me now basically as it had way back then, which was a bit of fun jamming but nothing essential to my ears. If May is going to do the deluxe treatment of it, God Bless for those who want to buy it.

[Terry]

Far as whatever is in "the Vault"...meh.

Since 1984, there were a couple of tracks for BOV1 and ADKOT. Have basically adjusted myself to the idea that what is out there already is all I'm gonna get, VH-wise.

Suppose I'll just consider the Zero Demos to be the unofficial vault studio release and the various CVH audio/video live boots to be the unofficial VH Live material and continue to make do with those (even CVH live audio boots with shitty audio quality are preferrable to Tokyo Dome).

[Seshmeister]

Brian May is modest and has obviously written some great songs over the years but he's the opposite of Eddie Van Halen in every way in that he never came across as a 'natural' guitarist who was comfortable improvising. Even when playing something of his own that he has played 1000 times live already he stares at the fret board of the guitar looking stressed like he is expecting to fuck it up or at least not bend a note right.

I get that and it makes him human - it's completely normal for a human playing to thousands of people to feel like that, it's fucking weird to have shit eating grin and do something 10 times harder to a huge audience without thinking.

Nuno Tenniscourt talks about being overwhelmed by playing guitar to Ed and this is May talking about Nuno so that is the kind of gap we are talking about...

Again I don't see it as a criticism in fact it's refreshing because so many guitarists are insecure dicks about admitting their limitations. Also to be fair and with all the love in the world I don't think Eddie Van Halen was ever likely to end up with a Phd in Astrophysics...