Tag: Freddie Mercury

Posted on

Never-Before Heard Recording By Freddie Mercury “Time”

After four decades, a previously unreleased version of the song "Time," recorded by Freddie Mercury for the concept album of the stage musical of the same name, has been released by songwriter & producer Dave Clark.
Freddie Mercury

After four decades, a previously unreleased version of the song “Time,” recorded by Freddie Mercury for the concept album of the stage musical of the same name, has been released by songwriter & producer Dave Clark.

According to USA Today, Clark had asked the Queen frontman to record the track for a concept album for the sci-fi rock musical.

Due to the success of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s pre-production albums for Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, the practice of asking popular recording artists to cover songs from an upcoming stage musical became a popular marketing tool for new shows.

The concept album for Time featured big name artists of the day including Mercury, Julian Lennon, Murray Head, Dionne Warwick, Leo Sayer, and Ashford & Simpson.

I actually saw the musical in London’s West End in 1987.

As I recall the story was about a rock star (originally UK pop star Cliff Richard, later replaced by David Cassidy) and his band mates being transported across the universe where they had to defend planet Earth from destruction before a galactic tribunal featuring a projected floating head (a recorded Laurence Olivier).

Relying greatly on massive sets and special effects, the show ran for two years.

Mercury’s recording of “Time” featured bombastic orchestrations and what sounds like a choir of backup singers. But before the session with Mercury was done, Clark asked the rock star to record a bare-bones, piano accompaniment version of the song.

Clark tells USA Today that hearing Mercury sing the stripped-down version in London’s Abbey Road  studios gave him “goosebumps.”

“It (became) a mega-production, which I was happy with and Freddie loved,” says Clark. “But I didn’t think about what we had originally done until a decade or so later, when I thought, ‘I’ve never felt that sort of goosebumps feeling that I got on that original run-through at Abbey Road with just Freddie and piano.'”

After finding the original recording in the spring of 2018, Clark asked the original session pianist, Mike Moran, to record an updated piano accompaniment to pair with the song.

The music video above was created using video footage shot at London’s Dominion Theatre in 1986.

The acoustic version is a compelling showcase for Mercury’s iconic vocals. And lyrics like “Time waits for no one” seem to resonate even more when considering Mercury’s early passing in 1991.

In this 1986 interview, Clark and Mercury discuss the evolution of the recording:

Posted on

Go Behind-The-Scenes As Rami Malek Becomes Freddie Mercury In ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

The producers of the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, have shared a behind-the-scenes peek at the genesis of star Rami Malek “becoming Freddie.”
Rami Malek as “Freddie Mercury” in Bohemian Rhapsody (screen capture)

The producers of the upcoming Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, have shared a behind-the-scenes peek at the genesis of star Rami Malek “becoming Freddie.”

The film is a “foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury.”

Defying stereotypes and shattering convention, Mercury emerged as one of the most theatrical rock stars of the 1970s and 1980s. Following the meteoric rise of Queen through their songs and revolutionary sound, the band reaches breathtaking heights in the music industry.

Although Mercury explored a solo career, it was with Queen that he found his greatest successes. While facing an AIDS diagnosis, he would reunite with his band mates in 1985 for Live Aid, delivering what many consider one of the great performances in rock history.

He died at the age of 45 in 1991.

According to producer Graham King, he knew Malek was their guy early in the planning stages.

“He came in and I was like, whoa, he IS Freddie,” says King. “And he wasn’t just acting, it was something that came natural to him.”

Once cast, though, Malek felt the gravity of bringing the iconic rocker to life on screen.

“When you set out to play Freddie Mercury, you think ‘How am I ever going to fill those shoes?,” wonders Malek. “It’s an immense responsibility but one that I was very eager to take on.”

In his approach to the role, Malek shares that he didn’t set out to “mimic” Freddie but knew movement would be an intrinsic part of his performance.

“I had some top choreographers come in and realized a choreographer isn’t going to help me,” says Malek. “I need a movement coach.”

Polly Bennett was brought in to help Malek focus on specific ‘mannerism tricks’ that included “every eye lift, every turn, every flick of the microphone.”

And then there’s the all-important style of dress that made Freddie so much who he was.

Malek shares there were over 50 hours of costume fittings which included four-inch high platform shoes, tight-fitting satin pants, and an entire outfit made out of lycra.

“When you dress as Freddie does, it makes every day feel like it’s going to be a good time,” says Malek with a smile.

Watch the teaser below and look for Bohemian Rhapsody in theaters November 2, 2018.

Posted on

New Trailer For ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Puts Freddie Mercury’s

Rami Malek as “Freddie Mercury”

“Roger, there’s only room in this band for one hysterical queen.”

Many were surprised by the so-called “straight-washing” of Freddie Mercury’s personal life in the first trailer for the upcoming, Bohemian Rhapsody.

Those folks will be pleased that the second trailer gives us more personal insight to the legendary frontman’s audacity and bisexual authenticity.

The official synopsis:

Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury.

Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet.

The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career.

Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music.

Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.

In Theaters November 2, 2018

Posted on

First Look At Upcoming Queen Biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Rami Malek as “Freddie Mercury” in Bohemian Rhapsody

In the upcoming Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) has transformed himself into iconic rocker Freddie Mercury.

Here’s the official synopsis:

“Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury, who defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet.

The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound, their near-implosion as Mercury’s lifestyle spirals out of control, and their triumphant reunion on the eve of Live Aid, where Mercury, facing a life-threatening illness, leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. In the process, cementing the legacy of a band that were always more like a family, and who continue to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.”

It’s been a bumpy road from page to screen for Bohemian Rhapsody.

First, for years Sacha Baron Cohen was set to play Mercury but eventually departed the project over creative differences.

Shortly after production was halted due to director Bryan Singer’s “unexpected unavailability,” the Singer was fired. Within days, English actor and director Dexter Fletcher (Eddie the Eagle) was tapped as the replacement.

Singer says he was removed from the film last December after the studio refused to allow him to deal with the illness of one of his parents. But, there were also reports that Singer showing up late to set, or not showing up at all for shooting on several occasions, all of which lead to tensions with Malek.

In any case, watch the teaser below. Malek is strutting out some seriously awesome “Freddie.”

In theaters November 2, 2018.

Posted on

News Round-Up: September 5, 2017

(via Instagram)

Some news items you might have missed:

• Fitness model Lony Pizarro on Labor Day (above). Can we go back to then? 🙂

• A leaked excerpt from Hillary Clinton’s upcoming memoir, What Happened, includes a passage about Bernie Sanders supporters (“Bernie Bros”) and the long-lasting effects of their attacks on social media during the 2016 presidential campaign.

• Freddie Mercury, of QUEEN fame, would have been 71 years-old today. Check out the first look at Rami Malek as “Freddie” in the Bryan Singer-directed Bohemian Rhapsody due in theaters December 25, 2018.

• Barbra Streisand, Beyonce, Oprah and Blake Shelton will host a one-hour telethon to benefit the victims of Hurricane Harvey September 12 at 8 PM ET. The event will air on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and CMT.

• A new Morning Consult/Politico poll shows 58% of Americans say Dreamers should be allowed to stay in the country and become citizens if they meet certain requirements. Additionally, 68% of respondents said Dreamers should be granted legal work permits.

• Cher announced via Twitter that she intends to help DACA folks after Trump rescinded the program. But when a Twitter troll came calling, she slapped right back.

Posted on

X Factor: Aussie Seann Miley Moore’s Kills With Queen’s “The Show Must Go On”

Aussie Seann Miley Moore brings the very unexpected in Week 1 of this season’s X Factor UK auditions.

This could have been very average, or done south quickly.

But, no.

Simon Cowell: “I’m going to remember this audition for a very, very long time.”

Via The Mirror:

Take a hairy fur jacket, a PVC skirt, leather platform heels, sheer mesh top, metal waist-synching belt, hoop earrings, heavy make-up and a backwards baseball cap and you have an X Factor sensation before he’d even started singing.

Seann, who revealed he moved to London from Australia to compete on the show, hit all the right notes with his version of Queen’s “The Show Must Go On.”

After his crowd-wowing performance and incredibly powerful vocal, he sobbed as a tearful Ora told him: “There is nothing I can say to you apart from I am so happy you came on this show!”

With a standing ovation from the crowd and the judges, the gushing comments just kept coming.

Moore’s amazing performance was made even more exciting by the support of the audience. While Moore’s appearance is his own wonderful, unique expression of who he is, the audience went right with him.

For those who may not know the song,  it was recorded by Queen late in Freddie Mercury’s battle with AIDS. Released in 1991, the song was certified Gold in the US.

(h/t JMG)

Posted on

Actor Ben Whishaw confirmed to play Freddie Mercury in upcoming biopic

Actor Ben Whishaw (Skyfall, Brideshead Revisited, Cloud Atlas)  is confirmed to play Freddie Mercury in an upcoming biopic.

Deadline reports:

Hot off directing the musical Sunshine On Leith, British actor-turned-helmer Dexter Fletcher has closed a deal to helm the movie on rock supergroup Queen, with frontman Freddie Mercury to be played Ben Whishaw.

GK Films’ Graham King is producing, and Sony Pictures has first crack at the film. This has been a passion project for King for several years, and it started with Sacha Baron Cohen attached to play Mercury, the singular-voiced frontman.

(via Towleroad)

Posted on

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, would have been 66 today

Thanks to JoeMyGod for reminding us that the incredible Freddie Mercury, lead singer of Queen, would have been 66 today.

Undeniable talent and charisma, and gone far too soon.

Watch the above clip as Freddie plays with the audience before launching into “Pressure” – which still sounds fresh today.