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The Queen and Freddie Mercury
La prima volta che andai a Londra, nel 1992, Freddie Mercury era morto da appena un anno; conoscevo già le sue opere come la maggior parte dei miei coetanei ma non immaginavo che la sua abitazione fosse a 2 passi dal luogo dove, per caso, avevo trovato una camera in affitto. Ricordo un grande muro di cinta ricoperto da scritte colarate che inneggiavano al grande Freddie Mercuri. Freddie Mercury è stato, insieme ai Queen di cui era sicuramente il componente più carismatico, un grande protagonista della musica degli anni ’80 e ’90. I Queen e Freddie Mercury rimarranno per sempre riferimento della musica pop rock di tutti i tempi. Ma chi era Freddy Mercury ? Il suo vero nome è Frederick Bulgara. Nonostante il cognome ed il luogo di nascita i genitori di Freddie erano britannici, il padre era un diplomatico inglese. Freddie frequentò la scuola in India fino ai 13 anni, successivamente tornò in Inghilterra.
Si iscrisse alla scuola d' arte Ealing dove in quel periodo fra gli studenti vi erano Ron Wood (Rolling Stones e Faces), Pete Townshend (Who). Concluse gli studi con un Diploma in Arte e Design.
Freddie era attratto dalle potenzialità della musica pop rock, e nei suoi primi gruppi (Sour Milk Sea e Wreckage) iniziò a sviluppare le proprie doti compositive e la sua presenza scenica. Si ribattezzo Mercury (Mercurio) dal nome del mitologico messaggero degli dei.
Combinare la durezza dei Led Zeppelin con un gusto visivo di nuovo genere. Oltraggiosità più sensibilità pop uguale successo. Così l' ovvio modello fu Jagger, dei Rolling Stones che per anni aveva battuto con successo la strada dell' oltraggiosità
Freddie conobbe Brian May e Roger Taylor grazie a Tim Staffel suo coinquilino e loro cantante in un gruppo chiamato Smile. Brian ricorderà come Freddie fosse tutt' altro che parco di consigli e come dopo aver assistito a svariati concerti degli Smile arrivò ad esclamare: ''Perchè sprecate il vostro tempo così ? Dovreste fare materiale più originale...Dovreste dare di più, dimostrare di più in termini di creatività... Se fossi il vostro cantante, saprei io cosa fare...'' In novembre il giornale The sun esce col titolo: 'Freddie è gravemente malato', affermando che il cantante era virtualmente confinato nella sua abitazione lodinese. Più avanti il Sun pubblicò una fotografia del cantante mentre usciva dallo studio del medico F. Gordon Atkinson.Il 24 novembre mesi di congetture riguardanti le condizioni di salute di Freddie arrivano a un tragico epilogo. Dopo aver ammesso pubblicamente da sole ventiquattro ore di soffrire di aids, Freddie muore di polmonite nella sua casa di Londra. I fan si erano radunati all' esterno della sua abitazione e per tutto il giorno c' era stato un' andirivieni ininterrotto. Tra gli ultimi visitatori vi furono i suoi genitori, Bomi e Jer Bulsara, e la sua ragazza di un tempo, Mary Austin. La morte di Freddie provocò titoli di prima pagina sulla stampa e omaggi gli sono stati tributati dai suoi colleghi della industria musicale.
DISCOGRAFIA
 Queen
| Keep Yourself Alive (May) |
Release Date: 13 July 1973 (UK) 4 Sept 1973 (USA)
Produced By: John Anthony, Roy Baker, Louie Austin and Queen
Engineered By: Roy Baker, Mike Stone, Ted Sharpe, David Hentschel
Recorded At: Trident and De Lane Lea
When: 1971-1972
Additional Vocals: John Anthony on Modern Times Rock ‘n’ Roll
Cover Concept: Queen and Douglas Puddifoot
Highest Chart Position: 24 (UK) 9 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 18 (UK) 9 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK and USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: Mad The Swine, Keep Yourself Alive (long lost retake) and Liar (1991 remix)
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| Doing Alright (May/Staffell) |
| Great King Rat (Mercury) |
| My Fairy King (Mercury) |
| Liar (Mercury) |
| The Night Comes Down (May) |
| Modern Times Rock ‘n’ Roll (Taylor) |
| Son and Daughter (May) |
| Jesus (Mercury) |
| Seven Seas of Rhye (Mercury) |
 Queen II
| Procession (May) |
Release Date: 8 March 1974 (UK) 9 April 1974 (USA)
Produced By: Robin Geoffrey Cable, Roy Thomas Baker and Queen
Engineered By: Mike Stone
Recorded At: Trident
When: August 1973
Cover Concept: Mick Rock and Queen
Highest Chart Position: 5 (UK) 49 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 29 (UK) 13 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK and USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: See What A Fool I’ve Been, Ogre Battle (1991 remix) and Seven Seas Of Rhye (1991 remix) |
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| Father To Son (May) |
| White Queen (As It Began) (May) |
| Someday One Day (May) |
| The Loser In The End (Taylor) |
| Ogre Battle (Mercury) |
| The Fairy Fellers Masterstroke (Mercury) |
| Nevermore (Mercury) |
| The March Of The Black Queen (Mercury) |
| Funny How Love Is (Mercury) |
| Seven Seas of Rhye (Mercury) |
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 Sheer Hart Attack
| Brighton Rock (May) |
Release Date: 8 Nov 1974 (UK) 12 Nov 1974 (USA)
Produced By: Roy Thomas Baker and Queen
Engineered By: Mike Stone
Recorded At: Trident, Wessex, Rockfield and Air
When: July - September 1974
Cover Concept: Queen
Highest Chart Position: 2 (UK) 12 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 42 (UK) 32 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK and USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: Stone Cold Crazy 1991 Remix. |
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| Killer Queen (Mercury) |
| Tenement Funster (Taylor) |
| Flick Of The Wrist (Mercury) |
| Lily Of The Valley (Mercury) |
| Now I’m Here (May) |
| In The Lap Of The Gods (Mercury) |
| Stone Cold Crazy (May/Mercury/Taylor/Deacon) |
| Dear Friends (May) |
| Misfire (Deacon) |
| Bring Back That Leroy Brown (Mercury) |
| She Makes Me (Stormtrooper In Stilettos) (May) |
| In The Lap Of The Gods...Revisited (Mercury) |
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 A Night at the Opera
Death On Two Legs (Dedicated to...) (Mercury)
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Release Date: 21 Nov 1975 (UK) 2 Dec 1976 (USA)
Produced By: Roy Thomas Baker and Queen
Engineered By: Mike Stone (additional eng. Gary Lyona)
Recorded At: Sarm, Roundhouse, Olympic, Rockfield, Scorpio, Landsowne
When: August - November 1975
Cover Concept: Freddie Mercury
Highest Chart Position: 1 (UK) 4 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 50 (UK) 56 (USA)
Award Status: Platinum (UK) Gold (USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks. "I’m In Love With My Car" (1991 Remix) and "You’re My Best Friend" (1991 Remix) |
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| Lazing On A Sunday Afteroon (Mercury) |
| I’m In Love With My Car (Taylor) |
| You’re My Best Friend (Deacon) |
| ‘39 (May) |
| Sweet Lady (May) |
| Seaside Rendezvous (Mercury) |
| The Prophets Song (May) |
| Love Of My Life (Mercury) |
| Good Company (May) |
| Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury) |
| God Save The Queen (Trad. arr. May) |
 A day at the Races
| Tie Your Mother Down (May) |
Release Date: 10 Dec 1976 (UK) 18 Dec 1976 (USA)
Produced By: Queen
Engineered By: Mike Stone
Recorded At: The Manor, Wessex, Sarm East
When: July - November 1976
Additional Vocals: Mike Stone on Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy
Cover Concept: Freddie Mercury
Highest Chart Position: 1 (UK) 5 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 24 (UK) 19 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK and USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: Tie Your Mother Down (1991 remix), Somebody to Love (1991 remix)
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| You Take My Breath Away (Mercury) |
| Long Away (May) |
| The Millionaire Waltz (Mercury) |
| You and I (Deacon) |
| Somebody To Love (Mercury) |
| White Man (May) |
| Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy (Mercury) |
| Drowse (Taylor) |
| Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together) (May) |
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 Newe Of TheWorld
| We Will Rock You (May) |
Release Date: 28 Oct 1977 (UK) 1 Nov 1977 (USA)
Produced By: Queens assisted by Mike Stone
Engineered By: Mike Stone
Recorded At: Basing Street, Wessex
When: July - September 1977
Cover Concept: Roger Taylor
Highest Chart Position: 4 (UK) 3 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 20 (UK) 36 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK) Platinum (USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: We Will Rock You (1991 Remix) |
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| We Are The Champions (Mercury) |
| Sheer Heart Attack (Taylor) |
| All Dead All Dead (May) |
| Spread Your Wings (Deacon) |
| Fight From The Inside (Taylor) |
| Get Down Make Love (Mercury) |
| Sleeping On The Sidewalk (May) |
| Who Needs You (Deacon) |
| It’s Late (May) |
| My Melancholy Blues (Mercury) |
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 Jazz
| Mustapha (Mercury) |
Release Date: 10 Nov 1978 (UK) 14 Nov 1978 (USA)
Produced By: Queen and Roy Thomas Baker
Engineered By: Geoff Workman
Recorded At: Mountain, Superbear
When: July - October 1978
Cover Concept: Queen
Highest Chart Position: 2 (UK) 6 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 27 (UK) 17 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK) Platinum (USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: Fat Bottomed Girls (1991 remix), Bicycle Race (1991 remix) |
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| Fat Bottomed Girls (May) |
| Jealousy (Mercury) |
| Bicycle Race (Mercury) |
| If You Can’t Beat Them (Deacon) |
| Let Me Entertain You (Mercury) |
| Dead On Time (May) |
| In Only Seven Days (Deacon) |
| Dreamers Ball (May) |
| Fun It (Taylor) |
| Leaving Home Ain’t Easy (May) |
| Don’t Stop Me Now (Mercury) |
| More Of That Jazz (Taylor) |
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 Live Killers
| We Will Rock You (May) |
Release Date: 22 June 1979 (UK) 26 1979 (USA)
Produced By: Queen
Engineered By: John Etchells assisted by David Richards
Recorded At: Various Venues, European Tour
When: January - March 1979
Cover Concept: Queen
Highest Chart Position: 3 (UK) 16 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 27 (UK) 14 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK and USA)
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| Let Me Entertain You (Mercury) |
| Death On Two Legs (Dedicated to...) (Mercury) |
| Killer Queen (Mercury) |
| Bicycle Race (Mercury) |
| I’m In Love With My Car (Taylor) |
| Get Down Make Love (Mercury) |
| You’re My Best Friend (Deacon) |
| Now I’m Here (May) |
| Dreamers Ball (May) |
| Love Of My Life (Mercury) |
| ‘39 (May) |
| Keep Yourself Alive (May) |
| Don’t Stop Me Now (Mercury) |
| Spread Your Wings (Deacon) |
| Brighton Rock (May) |
| Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury) |
| Tie Your Mother Down (May) |
| Sheer Heart Attack (Taylor) |
| We Will Rock You (May) |
| We Are The Champions (Mercury) |
| God Save The Queen (Trad. Arr. May) |
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 The Game
| Play The Game (Mercury) |
Release Date: 30 June 1980 (UK) 30 June 1980 (USA)
Produced By: Queen and Mack
Engineered By: Mack
Recorded At: Musicland
When: June - July 1979 and Feb - May 1980
Cover Concept: Queen
Highest Chart Position: 1 (UK) 1 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 18 (UK) 43 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK) Platinum (USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: Dragon Attack (1991 remix) |
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| Dragon Attack (May) |
| Another One Bites The Dust (Deacon) |
| Need Your Loving Tonight (Deacon) |
| Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Mercury) |
| Rock It (Prime Jive) (Taylor) |
| Don’t Try Suicide (Mercury) |
| Sail Away Sweet Sister (To The Sister I Never Had) (May) |
| Coming Soon (Taylor) |
| Save Me (May) |
 Flash Gordon
| Flash’s Theme (May) |
Release Date: 8 Dec 1980 (UK) 27 Jan 1981 (USA)
Produced By: May and Mack
Engineered By: Queen
Recorded At: Anvil
When: October - November 1980
Cover Concept: Freddie Mercury
Highest Chart Position: 10 (UK) 23 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 15 (UK) 13 (USA)
Award Status: Gold (UK and USA)
Hollywood Records remastered 1991 release bonus tracks: Flash’s Theme (1991 Remix) |
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| In The Space Capsule (The Love Theme) (Taylor) |
| Ming’s Theme (In The Court of Ming The Merciless) (Mercury) |
| The Ring (Hypnotic Seduction of Dale) (Mercury) |
| Football Fight (Mercury) |
| In The Death Cell (Love Theme reprise) (Taylor) |
| Execution Of Flash (Deacon) |
| The Kiss (Aura Resurrects Flash) (Mercury) |
| Arboria (Planet Of The Hawkmen) (Mercury) |
| Escape From The Swamp (Taylor) |
| Flash To The Rescue (May) |
| Vultan’s Theme (Attack Of The Hawkmen) (Mercury) |
| Battle Theme (May) |
| The Wedding March (May) |
| Marriage Of Dale And Ming (and Flash Approaching) (May/Taylor) |
| Crash Dive On Mingo City (May) |
| Flash’s Theme Reprise (Victory Celebrations) (May) |
| The Hero (May) |
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 Greatest Hits Uk
| Bohemian Rhapsody (Mercury) |
Release Date: 2 Nov 1981 (UK) 3 Nov 1981 (USA)
Cover Concept: Freddie Mercury
Highest Chart Position: 1 (UK) 14 (USA)
Weeks on Chart: 529 (UK) 26 (USA)
Award Status: Eleven times Platinum (UK) Platinum (USA)
Track listing differs worldwide. Variations are:- USA had Keep Yourself Alive and Under Pressure but NOT Save Me. Argentina/Brazil/Mexico/Venezuela had Love of My Life (Live) instead of Seven Seas of Rhye. Belgium/Spain had Spread Your Wings as an extra track. Australia had Tie Your Mother Down and Keep Yourself Alive but not Don’t Stop Me Now, Save Me, Now I’m Here, Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy or Seven Seas of Rhye. Japan had Teo Torriatte but not Bicycle Race or Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy. Bulgaria had Death On Two Legs and Sweet Lady as extra tracks. Austria/Canada/Germany/Israel/Netherlands had Under Pressure as an extra track. |
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| Another One Bites The Dust (Deacon) |
| Killer Queen (Mercury) |
| Fat Bottomed Girls (May) |
| Bicycle Race (Mercury) |
| You’re My Best Friend (Deacon) |
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