It is no secret that I spent a few of my teenage years being completely, over-the-top obsessed with the rock band Queen. I was lucky enough to see Queen about five times on the Night at the Opera, Day at the Races, News of the World and Jazz tours. My love of all things Queen was so all-consuming, I even knew the names of and biographical details about their roadies, one of whom was nicknamed “Ratty.” So it only took me about three seconds to flash back to the good old late ‘70s when, quite by chance, I came across the website Ratty’s Queen Memories. Here’s an excerpt from the site’s home page by Peter ‘Ratty’ Hince himself:

“Welcome to my site, which is a collection of bits and pieces of imagery and info on my time with Queen, who I worked full time for from 1975 until the final Magic tour in 1986, having done more live shows than anybody else – except the band themselves! I first met Queen in 1973 when I was working for Mott The Hoople who Queen were support to on a UK tour. It was their first big break: “They’ll never make it,” I seem to recall thinking and saying.

I was wrong about that.

I worked as Freddie and John’s roadie and subsequently became head of the Queen crew while still doing my original role – and several others that came up as well…”

If there is anybody who is going to know his shit when it comes to Queen, it’s this guy. I recommend that any fan of Queen spend some time looking around Ratty’s Queen Memories and letting the sweet nostalgia wash over you. Hince also sells select pieces of his band memorabilia from time to time, and offers sound advice to the avid Queen collector on how to avoid eBay rip-offs. Cheers!