"Why do we love Freddie Mercury? There are many reasons. For starters, he was a brilliant performer, an exceptional singer and one of the great songwriters of the 20th century. But what really made him a rock ’n’ roll treasure was the delight and humor that he brought to his art. From the moment Queen’s self-titled debut album was released on July 13, 1973, fans have been uplifted by the timeless music crafted by Freddie and his bandmates. Consider the following songs and try not to smile: “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Fat Bottomed Girls,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Me Now.” It’s impossible. Onstage he was outrageous and hilarious. Who else in music history had the sheer audacity and talent to exhort thousands of ecstatic fans to sing “We Are the Champions” while dressed in fire- engine-red short-shorts or in an absurdly over-the- top royal crown and velvet cape? And only Freddie could rock silver spandex or a sunflower yellow jumpsuit with such brilliant aplomb. This publication is the perfect collection of Freddie photos, facts and great stories!"
FREDDIE MERCURY 50 YEARS OF QUEEN
Freddie Mercury A Kind of Magic
I Want to Break Free • FROM THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH IN ZANZIBAR, FREDDIE MERCURY WAS DESTINED TO BE A DIFFERENT KIND OF ROCK STAR.
Everybody… Smile! • THE TALENTED AND AMBITIOUS SINGER HELPED TRANSFORM A STRUGGLING LONDON COMBO INTO ROCK ’N’ ROLL ROYALTY.
LOVE OF MY LIFE • THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP FREDDIE EVER HAD WAS WITH MARY AUSTIN.
Mercury Rising • THE FRONTMAN DECLARED HIMSELF A “MESSENGER OF THE GODS” AND TOOK QUEEN TO A NEW LEVEL—BUT THEIR FIRST TWO ALBUMS GOT OFF TO A DISAPPOINTINGLY SLOW START.
BLACK & WHITE & QUEEN ALL OVER • MICK ROCK RECALLS HIS ICONIC COVER SHOOT.
Killer Dillers • Queen finally got the hit they were looking for with Sheer Heart Attack, their “no-holds-barred, full-scale attack on the senses.”
GUARANTEED TO BLOW YOUR MIND • ALL ABOUT THE MAKING OF “KILLER QUEEN,” FREDDIE’S CELEBRATED SONG ABOUT A HIGH-CLASS CALL GIRL.
Body Language • From short-shorts to military jackets, Freddie wore it all at some point in his career. But spandex unitards were by far his favorite to strut around in onstage. Here are some of his more memorable ballet-inspired costumes.
Going for Broke • For years Queen thought of themselves as superstars, and with the release of A Night at the Opera, they truly realized their full potential.
ANARCHY VS. THE MONARCHY • FREDDIE MERCURY TEACHES A VICIOUS SEX PISTOL A LESSON IN MANNERS.
Magnifico! • The making of the rock masterpiece “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
JOY TO THE WORLD • HOW WAYNE’S WORLD PUT “RHAPSODY” BACK ON THE MAP.
Champions of the World • QUEEN STOOD UP TO THE STYLISTIC AND POPULAR CHALLENGES POSED BY PUNK ROCK BY SHIFTING GEARS ON NEWS OF THE WORLD, AND THEY CAPTURED THE HEARTS AND EARS OF A NEW GENERATION IN THE PROCESS.
A NIGHT AT THE BALLET • QUEEN’S FRONTMAN ALWAYS WANTED TO DANCE, AND IN 1979 HE GOT HIS WISH.
Stone Cold Crazy • TO CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF JAZZ, FREDDIE MERCURY AND QUEEN THREW THE WILDEST PARTY IN THE HISTORY OF ROCK ’N’ ROLL.
Good Company • QUEEN’S FRONTMAN HAD MANY LOVERS DURING HIS BRIEF LIFE. HERE ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THEM.
THE CAT’S MEOW • FREDDIE MERCURY’S OTHER BEST FRIENDS? HIS 10 CATS.
Game Changer • Queen went to the disco in the early 1980s and made one of their best-selling records—and then one of their worst.
‘PRESSURE’ COOKING • THE STORY BEHIND QUEEN’S SPECTACULAR COLLABORATION WITH THEIR FRIEND DAVID BOWIE.
DON’T STOP ME NOW • THE DAY FREDDIE WENT TO THE BARBER.
THE THRILLER & THE KILLER • MUSIC HISTORY WAS NEARLY MADE…UNTIL THAT DAMN LLAMA.
Queen for a Day...