'I admit I hardly thought about Queen during finalizing my solo album', says Freddie Mercury smiling. 'I wanted to make it on my own. That I didn't succeed in that is only a blessing for Queen in the future.' It's impossible to upbraid Freddie Mercury any lack of honesty. That shows during this up-front interview.
Remarkable hobby
Freddie, is it true that your real name isn't Freddie Mercury?
'Yes. I'm actually called Frederick Bulsara, but I thought that name wouldn't work in snowbizz. (He laughs) I was born 39 years ago on the isle of Zanzibar, but I lived till my 13th in the Indian harbour town Bombay. Then I moved to England with my parents.'
Were you a talented singer already then?
'I always liked to sing. At school I was in a choir. I didn't have a idea then I later would make my living with that.'
Do you remember your first band?
'Not really. I can remember at first I was very attrackted by what they called during the sixties 'progressive music'. My first bands were called Wreckage and Sour Milk Sea, but don't ask me which one was first.'
Did you have had a lot of boring jobs?
'Not as manny as a lot of colleagues, I think. I can remember I once had a stand on the Kensington Antiquities Market in London. I sold various so called hippie stuff.'
You saved a remarkable hobby from those years.
'Absolutely. I am still a very enthousiastic collector of antiquities. I bring all my savings to the famous auctionhouse Sotheby's.'
TERRIBLY LONELY
How would you define yourself?
'That's a tough one. How do you like this? Workaholic, restless, honest, humourous, and incorrigible romantic.'
Do you have a steady girlfriend?
'No. And I don't have to. The on-going quest for the big love is very inspiring for me as an artist. I think that if I ever will find one immediately my musical career will be over.'
Are you very wealthy?
'I think I don't have to work anymore during my entire life, but I can't stop.'
You are always very busy. Do you ever rest?
'I don't need a lot of sleep. Three or four hours a night will do for me I guess. Therefor air flights are very relaxing for me.'
What do you like less about the life of a star?
'A lot of times I can feel myself terribly lonely. It's no fun, living in hotelrooms. On tours very often roadies, bodyguards and managers are running behind me, but at the same time I am on my own.'
How do you look back at your recent solo trip?
'With mixed feelings. On one side it was a fantastic challenge to try it once without Brian, Roger and John. On the other hand it was very dangerous. I felt so strong that I suddenly thought I didn't need the other guys anymore. Fortunately the album wasn't that succesfull like a lot of people expected. Maybe the pride had killed me and I quit with Queen. But when I finished One Vision with the boys I realised that that would be the worst thing that could happen to me.
With the pictures:
Picture above:
With very good girlfriend Barbara Valentin. 'I didn't find my big love yet', Freddie admits.
Picture underneath: Freddie with the other Queen-boys. 'The group is stronger than ever', the singer says.
In the yellow:
Win all QUEEN albums
On the editorial office we have a box-set with all albums of this superband. Alltogether thirteen albums with some never before released songs in special covers. We would very like to give this away to a loyal reader and Queenfan. If you want to be the lucky one, answer very fast the following questions.
1 In which ocean is Zanzibar, where Freddie Mercury was born 39 years ago?
2 With which British supestar Queen recorded a duo-record?
3 Which member of Queen was the first one who dared to walk the solo path?
(Sorry, actualy this magazine is from Belgium where they use Flamish Dutch, which is a bit different in use of the language than Dutch of The Netherlands (LB))
Send your answers on a postcard to our editorial adress quoting 'Queen box'. As consolation price we have some Queen goodies in stock.
Unbelievable that he was this honest. No stock answers at all.
So the unity they felt after Live Aid and One Vision was definitely the real deal - the boys saying "ditch Prenter or we walk" worked.
miraclesteinway · Member since
lovely interview! I hadn't realised quite the level of humility he could show. What a man!
musicland munich · Member since
Nice one Stelios and thanks to the one who did the translation.
One of the reasons why I ask people to do those jobs more often.
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]miraclesteinway wrote:[/b]
lovely interview! I hadn't realised quite the level of humility he could show. What a man![/QUOTE]
Indeed - he came around full circle. He certainly wouldn't have been that humble six months prior. What a stark difference from the man we see in the interviews where he's promoting his solo album.
Furthermore - maybe it was around this time that he learned about his health, too. That could've perhaps been a contributing factor.
The things we'll never know...
Rami · Member since
Very interesting, thank you very much indeed!
k-m · Member since
Thanks to the poster and translator. A very good interview with some very honest answers.
noorie · Member since
Freddie's interviews were always honest and refreshing - even when he was blatantly promoting himself. None of that pretend humility or the insincere sincerity.
Stelios, thanks tons for this lovely read!
matt z · Member since
"Cocaine is a hell of a drug"
Leads to irrepressible boastfulness, ego trips, babbling and restlessness.
He probably DID think he was better than the band at one point. Hostilities breed. All speculation but he probably thought he'd hit the 80's bandwagon alone.
Unfortunately he wasn't very innovative with Mr Bad Guy. And it's not a very strong album.
Thanks for the interview
MercurialFreddie · Member since
I wonder how much Paul Prenter contributed to foundation of the thought of being better than the rest of group in Freddie's mind.
hobbit in Rhye · Member since
Thank so much for this refreshing interview!
I think one of the reasons that lead to Freddie going solo and his "illusions of grandeur" is the utter loneliness that he mentioned. That wasn't the band's fault, but when all the other 3 have family and kids, Freddie remained alone and didn't have a proper lover. Believe me I know how painfully lonely it feels, that at some point I don't even want to see my friends at all (sorry for inserting my boring self here). In his state of mind it's easy for Prenter to influent him.
When the band started they practically lived together so it's easier to connect to each other's music ideas. I remember some crew said that Queen's members supported each other's songs better in the early days. Fortunately it comes back in their final days.
Wizard: could you show me some reliable source of "ditch Prenter or we walk" please, I'm interested to know, thanks ^^
The Real Wizard · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]hobbit-in-Rhye wrote:[/b]
Thank so much for this refreshing interview!
I think one of the reasons that lead to Freddie going solo and his "illusions of grandeur" is that he felt utterly lonely. That wasn't the band's fault, but when all the other 3 have family and kids, Freddie remained alone and didn't have a proper lover. Believe me I know how painfully lonely it feels, that at some point I don't even want to see my friends at all (sorry for inserting my boring self here). In his state of mind it's easy for Prenter to influent him.
When the band started they practically lived together so it's easier to connect to each other's music ideas. I remember some crew said that Queen's members supported each other's songs better in the early days. Fortunately it comes back in their final days.
Wizard: could you show me some reliable source of "ditch Prenter or we walk" please, I'm interested to know, thanks ^^[/QUOTE]
Excellent insight.
The discussion actually just happened here recently. I forget who told the tale, but they were close to the band at the time and said that that band came to Freddie after Live Aid with the ultimatum. Everything changed (for the better) after that.
kosimodo · Member since
Do you have a steady girlfriend!!!1!one!!
Great questioning;)
hobbit in Rhye · Member since
[QUOTE] [b]The Real Wizard wrote:[/b]
The discussion actually just happened here recently. I forget who told the tale, but they were close to the band at the time and said that that band came to Freddie after Live Aid with the ultimatum. Everything changed (for the better) after that.
[/QUOTE]
Thank you for the info. So glad that the boys realised there was a snake in the nest and decided to cast it out before too late. Now I know what One Vision is really about: neither Martin Luther King nor Bob Geldof, but about the band itself. Just give them fried chicken already.
