Queen, as performing artists, have fans all over the
world and the life of Freddie Mercury was one which must have been difficult
to describe, being one of surreal excesses, culminating in his early death
at only 45 years of age from AIDS-related illness.
The popularity of Queen goes without question, their
Greatest Hits album being the number one seller in the UK at 5.4 million.
Yes, outselling the Beatles.
Freddie Mercury (ISBN 978-1-444-73369-3, Hodder and
Stoughton, 2011, B. 495) is a complete biography, describing the life of the
man of African-Indian heritage, right from his fairly secret childhood in
Zanzibar.
His problems with his family’s religion which banned
homosexuality, are explained with an understanding of what this had meant to
Freddie Mercury. With Zanzibar having outlawed gay relationships, even his
birthplace was being denied him. Author Jones even postulates that much of
his lyrics were Freddie escaping reality, since his childhood memories were
being made impossible.
The early years of a band called Smile were mirrored by
many fledgling groups, with the band members living in squalor in pokey
flats. That anyone actually made it to stardom was amazing. Only those with
immense talent, and a modicum of luck would make it. Freddie and Queen, of
course, did.
Much of the book is a chronicle of the band, with their
struggle to attract a record company, with Freddie as a lead singer
posturing on stage in front of a world that was not quite ready for such
campish behavior.
Every band of that era which had obtained any fame can be
found between the pages. Mott The Hoople, Black Sabbath and Motorhead for
example.
The long play Bohemian Rhapsody is dissected and the
initial reluctance of radio stations to air this recording apparently had
the other members of Queen very worried, but not Freddie (or not shown by
Freddie). Freddie comes through as always having a very personal side, which
was not shown to many of his confreres.
Comparison is drawn between Freddie Mercury and Elton
John, both of whom were sensitive children who adored their mothers and
played piano, both changed their names, and both gay. (However, this should
not be taken as a way to spot latent homosexuality.)
It is an insight into the man whose talents exceeded his
hold on reality. It is doubtful whether anyone, even someone with a very
secure psyche, could withstand the pressures of stardom such as his. The
price to pay for the adulation of millions is just too high.
I found the book fascinating in its pen portraits of
those involved in the music scene, with the ‘marriage’ of music and managers
being highly tenuous at times.
If you enjoyed their music, you will enjoy Freddie
Mercury.
Claimed to be the definitive biography of the band Queen’s
front man Freddie Mercury by Lesley-Ann Jones, the front cover simply
features the man in his typical stage pose. The back cover has a tribute
from Pattaya’s own rock authority Simon Napier-Bell, and it was that which
prompted me to pick up the book from the Bookazine shelves at Big C Extra.
