What did they read?

I mean, have Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor ever been know as reading books that influenced them?

I know, basically it’s just me trying hard to find a book-reading role-model rock star for kids XD
On the other hand, there are many long-term Queen fans, who can compare their erudition here; and it well may become my contribution to the forum if you start to express your opinion should rock stars read books at all LOL

Well, Brian is a Doctor, so i imagine he must read tons and tons of books in his life.

Brian , for what i remember was into Tolkien and Cs Lewis.
I don't remember if it was him or roger that was into Herman Hesse.

[QUOTE] [b]Ozz wrote:[/b]

Brian , for what i remember was into Tolkien and Cs Lewis.
I don't remember if it was him or roger that was into Herman Hesse.[/QUOTE]

lol! I'd be willing to bet £100 it isn't Roger!

I'm sure there are several examples, particularly with Brian, but I recall specifically the song White Queen from the album Queen II being inspired by Robert Graves' The White Goddess. Brian also cites the work as a primary reason for embracing Freddie's suggestion of 'Queen' for the band name. His 2004 quote follows: "White Queen" - back in time again - I wrote this at College, where I led a relatively sheltered life, even though the University on the whole was a pretty rampant pace! I had been reading "The White Goddess" by Robert Graves, which explored the role of the idealised Virgin/Mother/Queen/ figure in art through history, and the name for our group, decided just around that time, fitted in with this perfectly - which was one of the reasons I was convinced to go with the name. The personal side is bound up with a girl (of course!) whom I saw every day at College, and was to me the ultimate goddess. It's incredible in retrospect, but because I held her in such awe, in three years I never had the courage to speak to tell her, or even speak to her. The song found its way on to tape much later, on our second album." The Graves book he cited is built around imagery and symbolism relating to the phases of the moon and a three faced moon goddess.

Worth mentioning too something we forget that people newer to a more in depth interest in Queen might not know is that Brian May is himself the co-author of a couple of books. One an interesting and accessible book on astronomy:

http://www.amazon.com/Bang-Complete-Universe-Brian-May/dp/0801889855

...and the other a richly illustrated and more specialized book on T.R. Williams and stereo photography:

http://www.amazon.com/Village-Lost-Found-Brian-May/dp/0711230390/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354224940&sr=1-1&keywords=brian+may

Freddie must have read Tolkien if side 2 of Queen II is anything to go by, Prophets Song is very Tolkienesque too. They are all very highly educated, I should imagine they read a lot as students.

Yes, Ogre Battle is very influenced by Tolkien

Roger is heavily influenced by Page 3.


Freddie is quoted in an interview stating that books are a waste of time

[QUOTE] [b]matt z wrote:[/b]

Freddie is quoted in an interview stating that books are a waste of time

[/QUOTE]

That was in the 80s when he became a giant ignoramus. The quality of his work largely went to the shitter, as most of his songs had the same subject matter.

In the 70s he was a very cultured person and no doubt he read plenty, which led to an output of a wide variety of songs.

There is little reason to think Freddie was ever a reader of any note. Neither his college courses or what we know of his personal interests and ambitions would have demanded much reading and his interests in culture and history seemed to centre around objects and not knowledge. Peter Freestone who knew his from late '77 said in his book "Freddie loved catalogues because there were lots of pictures and little need to read any text unless the picture caught his eye. Freddie was not a reader. I couldn't tell you the title of any one book which Freddie ever read. His attention span wasn't long enough for him to get stuck into a novel. His boredom threshold was very, very low and his time was too precious, in his terms, to be spent reading when you could get the answer to your questions a lot easier by asking someone." I think that fits anecdotal observations from interviews etc. quite well. One got the impression that Fred was fun loving and sensitive but not particularly introspective or analytical.

dan dare and beano

Here is some info about Queen's favourite books (and not only books, so sorry for a little offtop, but im sure it will be interesting too) taken from QOIFC magazines' questionnaires:
F.Mercury

Book:

B.Potter "Peter Rabbit"

R.Taylor

Film:

Godfather
Clockwork Orange
Great Race
2001
King Kong

Actor/Actress:

Tony Curtis, J.Fonda

Book:

Jack Keruack "On The Road"
Frank Herbert "Dune"

B.May

Film:

Women In Love

Book:

Herman Hesse "Steppenwolf", "The Glass Bead Game"

Actor/Actress:

James Mason, Natalie Wood

J.Deacon

Film:

Prime Of Miss Jean Brody

and as far as I remember Freddie mentioned in one of these questionnaires in one of the earliest 80s QOIFC mags that one of his fave books is "Around The World" by Joan Davis but I guess he wanted to say that thats one of his fave films (cause the only info I found on that title is the movie of the same name made in 1943 and starring John Davis). Hope that helps. Cheers

Freddie like Einstien was more of a thinker and creator than a follower of other pepples ideas

[QUOTE] [b]Mercury Roadrunner wrote:[/b]

Here is some info about Queen's favourite books... [/QUOTE]

Based on this list, I'd say that Freddie is the one who cultivates an anti-intellectual image and John Deacon is the one who doesn't read LOL

I was just wandering what Roger Taylor might read... I should know he's into Jack Keruack!