Comments on: Gimme the Prize http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:35:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kaden http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-2/#comment-82637 Kaden Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:05:23 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82637 Another Brian & musician gone physicist... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_%28physicist%29 http://www.apolloschildren.com/brian/ particle physicist working at ATLAS/CERN...was with DARE/toured with Jimmy Page Another Brian & musician gone physicist…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Cox_%28physicist%29
http://www.apolloschildren.com/brian/

particle physicist working at ATLAS/CERN…was with DARE/toured with Jimmy Page

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82636 Nigel Depledge Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:21:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82636 Jeffersonian said: "Though I can’t say much for Queen as a band (some classic hits but mostly generic mainstream filler to my taste), as a guitarist I can testify that May’s approach has changed the way many interact with the instrument. That influence and technique too, is worthy of study. (his scale usage, fill-timing, compositional arrangement and texturing)" Hmmm ... were you aware of Brian's live guitar solos in Brighton Rock? He used two single echoes to harmonize with himself (as 'twere), and the effect (as captured on the album Live Killers) is quite stunning. I daresay he was not quite as influential as Hendrix, but perhaps not far off. Jeffersonian said:
“Though I can’t say much for Queen as a band (some classic hits but mostly generic mainstream filler to my taste), as a guitarist I can testify that May’s approach has changed the way many interact with the instrument. That influence and technique too, is worthy of study. (his scale usage, fill-timing, compositional arrangement and texturing)”

Hmmm … were you aware of Brian’s live guitar solos in Brighton Rock? He used two single echoes to harmonize with himself (as ’twere), and the effect (as captured on the album Live Killers) is quite stunning.

I daresay he was not quite as influential as Hendrix, but perhaps not far off.

]]> By: Nigel Depledge http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82635 Nigel Depledge Wed, 16 Apr 2008 14:18:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82635 Hey, no-one's mentioned Sir Patrick Moore, that demon of the xylophone! Hey, no-one’s mentioned Sir Patrick Moore, that demon of the xylophone!

]]> By: Miky’s Blog » Blog Archive » Brian May - El rock no mata neuronas… http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82634 Miky’s Blog » Blog Archive » Brian May - El rock no mata neuronas… Wed, 16 Apr 2008 06:56:49 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82634 [...] de la banda Queen había sido nombrado rector de una universidad de Liverpool. Ahora acabo de leer aquí que es verdad, pero que no es algo honorífico como yo pensaba, sino que el guitarrista después de [...] [...] de la banda Queen había sido nombrado rector de una universidad de Liverpool. Ahora acabo de leer aquí que es verdad, pero que no es algo honorífico como yo pensaba, sino que el guitarrista después de [...]

]]> By: Mark Martin http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82633 Mark Martin Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:10:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82633 Benzene, Arizona: http://www.benzedrine.cx/darkstar.html Benzene, Arizona: http://www.benzedrine.cx/darkstar.html

]]> By: Ceres Nyx http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82632 Ceres Nyx Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:57:03 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82632 David Lee Roth was an EMT for awhile. Medical people have my respect because that is a job I know I can't do (weak stomach). David Lee Roth was an EMT for awhile. Medical people have my respect because that is a job I know I can’t do (weak stomach).

]]> By: Barton Paul Levenson http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82631 Barton Paul Levenson Tue, 15 Apr 2008 17:22:44 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82631 tacitus writes: <blockquote>Brian May wrote ‘39, one of the finest songs in the Queen catalog, and the only song I’m know of that interweaves a love song with the ramifications of interstellar travel.</blockquote> See if you can find the lyrics to "Benson, Arizona," which might have been earlier. It deals with the effects of time dilation due to relativistic space missions on romantic relationships. tacitus writes:

Brian May wrote ‘39, one of the finest songs in the Queen catalog, and the only song I’m know of that interweaves a love song with the ramifications of interstellar travel.

See if you can find the lyrics to “Benson, Arizona,” which might have been earlier. It deals with the effects of time dilation due to relativistic space missions on romantic relationships.

]]> By: Captain Swoop http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82630 Captain Swoop Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:51:08 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82630 John Lewis that is John Lewis that is

]]> By: Captain Swoop http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82629 Captain Swoop Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:41:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82629 Also I saw Queen and Paul Rogers when they did their live gigs t'other year. I saw Queen live at Newcastle City Hall on the Live Killers Tour, and the one the year after . Also I saw Queen and Paul Rogers when they did their live gigs t’other year.

I saw Queen live at Newcastle City Hall on the Live Killers Tour, and the one the year after .

]]> By: Captain Swoop http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82628 Captain Swoop Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:39:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82628 My ex wife sold him some stuff once when she worked in John Lews in Oxford Street My ex wife sold him some stuff once when she worked in John Lews in Oxford Street

]]> By: Dr Ian O'Neill http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82627 Dr Ian O'Neill Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:21:56 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82627 I'm British, and an astrophysicist, I also turned my back on the arts.... so now I'm unemployed, go figure :| Good on Brian May, great fight back to score his PhD! I’m British, and an astrophysicist, I also turned my back on the arts…. so now I’m unemployed, go figure :| Good on Brian May, great fight back to score his PhD!

]]> By: Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82626 Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:19:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82626 I believe the people of the United Kingdom have always been happy to claim <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Herschel" rel="nofollow">William Herschel</a> as one of their own. Being German-born wasn't a handicap; after all, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_George_III" rel="nofollow">his patron</a> was half German himself. <a href="http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Mozart-Orchestra-Sir-William-Herschel-Music-By-The-Father-Of-Mode-MP3-Download/11011316.html" rel="nofollow">Here's an album of Herschel's music.</a> I believe the people of the United Kingdom have always been happy to claim William Herschel as one of their own.

Being German-born wasn’t a handicap; after all, his patron was half German himself.

Here’s an album of Herschel’s music.

]]> By: Starfleet at /home/me http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82625 Starfleet at /home/me Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:46:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82625 [...] was reading a post over at Bad Astronomy about Brian May and the comments there discussed a number of his collaborations. I’ve always [...] [...] was reading a post over at Bad Astronomy about Brian May and the comments there discussed a number of his collaborations. I’ve always [...]

]]> By: Sue Mitchell http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82624 Sue Mitchell Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:33:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82624 No, rutty, you're not the only one here to have bought Starfleet. 8-) I also have Gettin' Smile, by Smile, Brian's earlier group. And Brian's gold disc for The Miracle. 8-) Point of information, Phil. Brian had already graduated with a B.Sc.(Hons.) and had begun working on his doctorate in the early '70s before he gave it up for Queen. -- No, rutty, you’re not the only one here to have bought Starfleet. 8-)
I also have Gettin’ Smile, by Smile, Brian’s earlier group. And Brian’s gold disc for The Miracle. 8-)
Point of information, Phil. Brian had already graduated with a B.Sc.(Hons.) and had begun working on his doctorate in the early ’70s before he gave it up for Queen.
–

]]> By: rutty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82623 rutty Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:03:37 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82623 Brian May always had his head in the stars. Am I the only one to have bought <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Brian%2BMay%2B%2526%2BFriends/Star+Fleet+Project" rel="nofollow">Starfleet</a>? It's, er, interesting. Video here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjijteu0gcQ Brian May always had his head in the stars. Am I the only one to have bought Starfleet?

It’s, er, interesting.

Video here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pjijteu0gcQ

]]> By: Jens 'Spacejens' Rydholm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82622 Jens 'Spacejens' Rydholm Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:50:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82622 Re-reading my comment after posting, I realized that I missed one important part. "Travellers in space and time" was written by Patrick Moore, and his writing style can be recognized in Bang! as well. Re-reading my comment after posting, I realized that I missed one important part. “Travellers in space and time” was written by Patrick Moore, and his writing style can be recognized in Bang! as well.

]]> By: Jens 'Spacejens' Rydholm http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82621 Jens 'Spacejens' Rydholm Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:47:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82621 Bang! is a lovely book. I got it for my 30th birthday a week ago, and I have not yet had time to read through it. However, the parts I've read are very nice, and the presentation is eye-catching. Lots of beautiful images. The book is written in such a way as to make the science within accessible to a large group of people, and also to create a sense of wonder within the reader. When I was six years old, I had already started to like books. When my parents noticed the way I was looking at (and in) one of their science books, they gave it to me. The book was the Swedish translation of "Travellers in space and time," and I still have it in my bookshelf. Thanks to all the times I've read it, it is in a sorry condition, but it is the book that got me interested in science, so it has a lot of sentimental value to me. Some of the wonder I felt all those years ago returned when I leafed through Bang! and started reading. It comes as no surprise that I recommend Bang! both to anyone really into astronomy and as a gift for people (especially younger people) who do not yet have this interest, but could develop it in the future. Bang! is a lovely book. I got it for my 30th birthday a week ago, and I have not yet had time to read through it. However, the parts I’ve read are very nice, and the presentation is eye-catching. Lots of beautiful images.

The book is written in such a way as to make the science within accessible to a large group of people, and also to create a sense of wonder within the reader.

When I was six years old, I had already started to like books. When my parents noticed the way I was looking at (and in) one of their science books, they gave it to me. The book was the Swedish translation of “Travellers in space and time,” and I still have it in my bookshelf. Thanks to all the times I’ve read it, it is in a sorry condition, but it is the book that got me interested in science, so it has a lot of sentimental value to me.

Some of the wonder I felt all those years ago returned when I leafed through Bang! and started reading. It comes as no surprise that I recommend Bang! both to anyone really into astronomy and as a gift for people (especially younger people) who do not yet have this interest, but could develop it in the future.

]]> By: Ian Regan http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82620 Ian Regan Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:15:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82620 Dr. Brian May and Mr. Roger Taylor (as Queen) are releasing a new album later this year with Paul Rodgers (of Free and Bad Company), followed by a world-wide tour. The new album is called 'The Cosmos Rocks', and check out the image on the official website: http://www.queenonline.com/ Dr. Brian May and Mr. Roger Taylor (as Queen) are releasing a new album later this year with Paul Rodgers (of Free and Bad Company), followed by a world-wide tour.

The new album is called ‘The Cosmos Rocks’, and check out the image on the official website:

http://www.queenonline.com/

]]> By: ad http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82619 ad Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:02:01 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82619 How about Dave Aguilar of The Chocolate Watchband? Went on to become a prof of astronomy (Colorado). Later in the aerospace industry. How about Dave Aguilar of The Chocolate Watchband? Went on to become a prof of astronomy (Colorado). Later in the aerospace industry.

]]> By: J. D. Mack http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82618 J. D. Mack Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:37:42 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82618 And of course, Yoshihisa Shimizu, the leader of the Japanese Prog Rock band Kenso, has a day-job as a dentist. What? Kenso is not a household name? J. D. And of course, Yoshihisa Shimizu, the leader of the Japanese Prog Rock band Kenso, has a day-job as a dentist.

What? Kenso is not a household name?

J. D.

]]> By: tacitus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82617 tacitus Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:06:24 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82617 that should read "... a love story ... " that should read “… a love story … “

]]> By: tacitus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82616 tacitus Mon, 14 Apr 2008 23:05:43 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82616 Brian May wrote '39, one of the finest songs in the Queen catalog, and the only song I'm know of that interweaves a love song with the ramifications of interstellar travel. Brian May wrote ’39, one of the finest songs in the Queen catalog, and the only song I’m know of that interweaves a love song with the ramifications of interstellar travel.

]]> By: Jeffersonian http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82615 Jeffersonian Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:00:55 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82615 Though I can't say much for Queen as a band (some classic hits but mostly generic mainstream filler to my taste), as a guitarist I can testify that May's approach has changed the way many interact with the instrument. That influence and technique too, is worthy of study. (his scale usage, fill-timing, compositional arrangement and texturing) Though I can’t say much for Queen as a band (some classic hits but mostly generic mainstream filler to my taste), as a guitarist I can testify that May’s approach has changed the way many interact with the instrument. That influence and technique too, is worthy of study. (his scale usage, fill-timing, compositional arrangement and texturing)

]]> By: p ockelmann http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82614 p ockelmann Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:52:17 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82614 Frederick William Herschel comes to mind. Before he picked up a career in astronomy he composed som quite nice music. He discovered Uranus among other celestial things. But maybe he doesn't count. He was born in Hannover, Germany. Frederick William Herschel comes to mind.
Before he picked up a career in astronomy he composed som quite nice music.

He discovered Uranus among other celestial things.

But maybe he doesn’t count. He was born in Hannover, Germany.

]]> By: Larry http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/comment-page-1/#comment-82613 Larry Mon, 14 Apr 2008 21:45:39 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/04/14/gimme-the-prize/#comment-82613 Any group that can come up with a song like Bohemian Rhapsody must be composed of a select, erudite group of musicians whose world extends far beyond the boundaries of rock and roll. Any group that can come up with a song like Bohemian Rhapsody must be composed of a select, erudite group of musicians whose world extends far beyond the boundaries of rock and roll.

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