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[upbeat music]
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♪ Buddy, you're a boy,
make a big noise ♪
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00:00:09,871 --> 00:00:13,427
♪ Playing in the street,
gonna be a big man someday ♪
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00:00:13,461 --> 00:00:15,877
♪ Mud on your face,
big disgrace ♪
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♪ Kicking your can all
over the place, singin' ♪
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00:00:18,742 --> 00:00:22,263
♪ We will, we will rock you
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♪ Yeah, sing it
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00:00:23,851 --> 00:00:27,682
♪ We will, we will rock you
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- [Interviewer] You have
a very extrovert stage act
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by any standards.
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Will you be able to go on with-
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- You mean I flaunt it?
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- [Interviewer]
You're over the top.
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[upbeat music]
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- Each song that we do
has a different sort
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of meaning to it.
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So I mean it is rock and roll,
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it has that sort of
label from the 1920s
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Vaudeville to the heavy, the
real sort of raw rock and roll
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to the ballad to, you know.
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[upbeat music]
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♪ School babe
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♪ Your Mamma says you don't
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♪ Your Daddy says you won't
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♪ And I'm boilin' up inside
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- People wanna know about
Freddie above all that.
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No one's asking me
questions about Roger
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or Brian's private
life [chuckles].
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[upbeat music]
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- And I think as time
went on the stage persona
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really took over from
the original individual.
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And he lived this
larger-than-life character.
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♪ Give me all your
love tonight ♪
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- He would be thrilled to
know that I've been asked
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to talk about him
years after his death.
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♪ We are the champions
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♪ No time for losers
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♪ 'Cause we are the champions
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♪ Of the world
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[crowd cheering]
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[attendees chattering]
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[gentle music]
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- The manager of the
group Queen Jim Beach
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decided it would be a good idea
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to do a photo collection
of my brother.
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But naturally, he only
had all the pictures
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from when he was famous.
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So he approached my mom to see
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that if she'd got
any old photographs
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if she would like
to help out in this.
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And naturally, my
mom loved the idea
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and started digging in, delving
into the old photographs.
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[gentle music]
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- I've always been intrigued
by show business artists
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who become their own image.
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Very few people who were
Freddie Mercury fans
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know he was Farrokh Bulsara.
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And indeed, if you bear in
mind that I got to know him
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in 1974, I never heard
anybody call him Farrokh.
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It's rather like Elton John,
you didn't call him Reg.
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Once he decided he
wanted to be Elton,
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you called him Reg
at your apparel.
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And Farrokh wanted
to be called Freddie.
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Within music, everyone
was calling him Freddie.
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- By the time I met him,
he was definitely Freddie.
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And in fact, it was some
time before I realized
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what his original name was
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because he still had a
passport in his birth name.
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But he lived his character.
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He was Freddie Mercury and
that was all he wanted to be.
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♪ One voice, one hope,
one real decision ♪
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♪ Whoa, whoa, whoa,
whoa, whoa, whoa ♪
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♪ Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah
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[upbeat music]
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- His parents had
come from India.
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They'd only gone to
Zanzibar so that his father
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could continue his job with
the British government.
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And when Zanzibar
won its independence,
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they then moved to England.
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They were Zoroastrians.
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And I know that to
many Zoroastrians
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is a matter of great
pride that Freddie Mercury
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is their great rockstar.
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- I was at a place called
the Chateau Del Aviv,
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which was just outside Paris.
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And Bowie was recording Pin Ups
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and his co-producer and engineer
was a guy called Ken Scott
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and he was affiliated
with a company called
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Trident Audio Productions
who had Trident Studios
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in the middle of London Soho
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where they recorded
Transformers,
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Ziggy Stardust, All
the Young Dudes,
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a whole bunch of slew of
stuff around that time.
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Anyway, they also,
they had a studio
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but as a sidebar, they
had a production company
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and they signed a few acts
to the production company.
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And during that visit,
Freddie mentioned to me
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that they were interested
in working with me.
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This would've been, I suppose
like August, September of '73.
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And for whatever, you know, I
was like in my own modest way,
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a hot photographic
commodity for what
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that was worth back then
which was a lot less
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than it is now because
of the glam thing.
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And especially because
of David, Lou, and Iggy,
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and my connection there,
so they were big fans,
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and especially Freddie.
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I think Freddie, well he
was always the driving force
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behind the visual
aspects of Queen.
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[upbeat music]
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- Freddy being interested
in music from an early age
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would've known that there
had never been a pop star
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called Farrokh.
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When you think that Freddie
persuaded Brian and Roger
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to rename Smile Queen,
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taking it up a level
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of both audaciousness
[chuckles] and status.
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So similarly changing your
name from Bulsara to Mercury
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while you're choosing the
name of one of the gods.
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So you are elevating yourself
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in terms of your image at least.
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And this is an amazing case
of personal reinvention,
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but it worked.
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- We were told that there was
a really good band playing
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at Imperial College.
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And I went along with some
of my friends from EMI
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and one of two other people
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not really knowing
what to expect.
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This would've been
November 1973.
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And I was absolutely blown away.
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I don't think I've ever seen
a new band play like that.
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The place was absolutely packed.
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- You can see it's
this microscopic stage.
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And Freddie is performing like
he's already in a stadium.
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I mean he's big,
he projected big.
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- In the early days,
there was a tradition
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that they always wore
black and white on stage
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and Freddie would be
incredibly careful.
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Everything matched,
everything fitted.
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He would have black and
white painted fingernails
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and he loved what
was always referred
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to as Freddie's frocks.
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And he would come out in
the most amazing things.
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Zandra Rhodes designed some
for him in the early days,
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one with wings like an angel.
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And it was a long time
before they changed that
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for a very long time.
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It was always black and white.
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The others weren't
quite as flamboyant,
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but that was their theme.
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- In those days, you
didn't necessarily
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have great expectations
of the first album.
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And quite often
if you had a hit,
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it kind of skewed the process.
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We released "Keep Yourself
Alive" off the first album
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and the album went okay.
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And by, I guess three
or four months into it,
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we'd made a modest impact
because by that time
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the Imperial College
gig had happened
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and the first press started
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and it was just a
little whisper building.
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- Well, Roger was in a way
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the most obvious
rockstar material.
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I mean the girls loved him.
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This cute little blonde fellow.
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And Brian was more cerebral
but looked terrific
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and he's still got that
incredible mop of hair.
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Freddie, of course, was
the flavor of the time
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because he was Mr. Androgyny.
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His bisexuality was
pretty much acknowledged,
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but that was very
fashionable at the time.
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I mean, David had made sure
that androgyny and bisexuality
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were extremely fashionable.
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So even all kinds of people
that weren't the least bit gay
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would be running around
acting like they were gay
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because you actually got
the hottest babes that way.
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- Anyone looking back at
the early years of Queen
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have to understand the
context of the time.
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Being in a group was
like participating
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in the social
network of that time.
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This is before the
internet so there were none
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of the social networks.
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And the way that young
people related to each other
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and communicated
was through music.
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And you expressed your
views through the type
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of music you liked
through the earnest
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and excited communications
you had with your friends
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about the latest records.
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The DJs on the radio were
the human incarnations
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of Facebook or
Twitter or LinkedIn.
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And the music had
a role in society.
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- Queen and Freddie's
writing in particular
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was very different
from other people
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in that he could explore
so many different avenues.
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The fact that he could
relatively early in his career
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write something
like "Killer Queen"
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which is actually really
an unusual record.
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You didn't fit what was
going on at the time.
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You couldn't put it
alongside, you know,
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other comparable bands
like Roxy Music or whatever
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and say, well that's kind
of that sort of thing.
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It was just a unique record.
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♪ She keeps her Moet et
Chandon in her pretty cabinet ♪
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00:10:18,687 --> 00:10:20,792
♪ Let them eat cake, she says
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00:10:20,827 --> 00:10:23,001
♪ Just like Marie Antoinette
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00:10:23,036 --> 00:10:25,038
♪ A built-in remedy
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00:10:25,072 --> 00:10:27,350
♪ For Khrushchev and Kennedy
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00:10:27,385 --> 00:10:32,390
♪ At anytime an invitation
you can't decline ♪
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♪ Caviar and cigarettes
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00:10:34,875 --> 00:10:36,843
♪ Well versed in etiquette
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♪ Extraordinarily nice
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♪ She's a Killer Queen
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00:10:41,192 --> 00:10:43,228
♪ Gunpowder, gelatine
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00:10:43,263 --> 00:10:45,265
♪ Dynamite with a laser beam
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00:10:45,299 --> 00:10:48,509
♪ Guaranteed to blow your mind
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00:10:48,544 --> 00:10:50,995
- They wanted a black
and white theme.
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They wanted a gatefold and they
wanted to feature the band.
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00:10:54,895 --> 00:10:56,379
So that was my brief.
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00:10:56,414 --> 00:10:59,382
I was working with Mott
the Hoople at the time,
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David had put them on the
map with All the Young Dudes,
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00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:04,940
he's song he wrote and
the production of it
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00:11:04,974 --> 00:11:07,459
and Queen got some
gigs supporting them.
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00:11:07,494 --> 00:11:10,393
I photographed both
bands performing live.
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00:11:10,428 --> 00:11:13,707
And afterwards, I
sat with Freddie
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00:11:13,742 --> 00:11:16,399
and I showed him this
picture of Marlene Dietrich
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00:11:16,434 --> 00:11:19,471
and suggested that that
should be the approach
228
00:11:19,506 --> 00:11:22,336
for the black shot of the band.
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00:11:22,371 --> 00:11:23,544
Well, he loved it.
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00:11:23,579 --> 00:11:25,201
I mean, whether it was the shot
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or whether it was the fact
that it was Marlene Dietrich,
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00:11:28,377 --> 00:11:29,965
"I should be Marlene, you know."
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00:11:29,999 --> 00:11:31,794
I mean he, he
immediately responded.
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00:11:31,829 --> 00:11:34,417
He corralled the
rest of the band
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and they went along with it.
236
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There was the black shot and
then there was the white shot.
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00:11:39,457 --> 00:11:43,875
I did both setups and I had
to light them very carefully
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00:11:43,910 --> 00:11:47,223
'cause I wanted to make it
a little bit more dramatic
239
00:11:47,258 --> 00:11:48,811
than the Marlene Dietrich shot.
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00:11:48,846 --> 00:11:53,436
So I wanted to hood the
eyes so that the shadow
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00:11:53,471 --> 00:11:55,956
really encompassed the
eyes and I had to get them,
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00:11:55,991 --> 00:11:59,063
all four of them arranged
in the correct way
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00:11:59,097 --> 00:12:00,271
so I could do this.
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00:12:00,305 --> 00:12:03,792
And I was up and down on a
ladder and they were buzzing up
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00:12:03,826 --> 00:12:06,035
and down in the makeup.
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00:12:06,070 --> 00:12:08,175
I mean, they were
very like, you know,
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00:12:08,210 --> 00:12:09,521
wanted to look fabulous.
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00:12:09,556 --> 00:12:11,523
And of course, I wanted
them to look fabulous too.
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00:12:11,558 --> 00:12:13,905
And I actually did
a lot of shots.
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00:12:13,940 --> 00:12:16,977
And afterwards we reviewed
them and for quite a while
251
00:12:17,012 --> 00:12:19,014
the rest of the band
were a little bit,
252
00:12:19,048 --> 00:12:21,154
they thought maybe
that word pretentious
253
00:12:21,188 --> 00:12:24,260
was sticking in their
head and they weren't sure
254
00:12:24,295 --> 00:12:26,780
that the black shot
was the right shot.
255
00:12:26,815 --> 00:12:29,127
I think because it was
a very powerful image,
256
00:12:29,162 --> 00:12:31,164
obviously it was.
257
00:12:31,198 --> 00:12:35,478
Of course, they duplicated
it two or three years later
258
00:12:35,513 --> 00:12:37,618
for the "Bohemian
Rhapsody" video.
259
00:12:37,653 --> 00:12:40,829
♪ Is this the real life
260
00:12:40,863 --> 00:12:44,625
- When we got "Bohemian
Rhapsody", we were concerned.
261
00:12:44,660 --> 00:12:48,181
♪ Is this just fantasy
262
00:12:48,215 --> 00:12:49,596
- Everyone was in shock.
263
00:12:49,630 --> 00:12:52,530
♪ Caught in a landslide
264
00:12:52,564 --> 00:12:56,499
♪ No escape from reality
265
00:12:56,534 --> 00:12:57,466
- It was crazy.
266
00:12:57,500 --> 00:13:00,469
♪ Open your eyes
267
00:13:00,503 --> 00:13:04,335
♪ Look up to the skies and see
268
00:13:05,508 --> 00:13:07,165
- What on earth do they
think they're doing?
269
00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:10,548
It's so long, it's
three records in one.
270
00:13:10,582 --> 00:13:11,825
- Never heard anything like it.
271
00:13:11,860 --> 00:13:15,104
♪ I'm just a poor boy
♪ Poor boy
272
00:13:15,139 --> 00:13:16,865
♪ I need no sympathy
273
00:13:16,899 --> 00:13:18,521
- Just a song.
274
00:13:18,556 --> 00:13:22,594
You can't call it something
as grand as an opera.
275
00:13:22,629 --> 00:13:25,287
It's a piece, it's a mini-opera.
276
00:13:26,495 --> 00:13:29,498
- I was the idiot who
said, why don't we ask them
277
00:13:29,532 --> 00:13:31,086
to do an edit?
278
00:13:31,120 --> 00:13:35,090
And the response was
a couple of words.
279
00:13:35,124 --> 00:13:37,126
♪ To me
280
00:13:40,405 --> 00:13:43,477
- [John] And of course
the rest is history.
281
00:13:43,512 --> 00:13:46,446
♪ Mamma
282
00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,863
♪ Just killed a man
283
00:13:49,898 --> 00:13:52,659
♪ Put a gun against his head
284
00:13:52,693 --> 00:13:57,043
♪ Pulled my trigger,
now he's dead ♪
285
00:13:57,077 --> 00:13:58,941
♪ Mama
286
00:14:00,149 --> 00:14:01,564
- I don't think there
was ever a disagreement
287
00:14:01,599 --> 00:14:06,190
because nobody ever asked our
opinion and didn't need to.
288
00:14:06,224 --> 00:14:09,469
- He said to me, "Oh,
we made a short film
289
00:14:09,503 --> 00:14:13,162
yesterday afternoon
with Bruce Gowers.
290
00:14:13,197 --> 00:14:15,095
And of course the reason
they'd made it was
291
00:14:15,130 --> 00:14:18,443
because they couldn't do
it on "Top of the Pops"
292
00:14:18,478 --> 00:14:20,687
because they couldn't
do that many overdubs,
293
00:14:20,721 --> 00:14:24,622
they couldn't do the segments
of styles, and so forth.
294
00:14:24,656 --> 00:14:27,625
But to be on "Top of the Pops",
295
00:14:27,659 --> 00:14:29,489
they wanted to give
them this clip.
296
00:14:29,523 --> 00:14:31,456
So they made a short film.
297
00:14:31,491 --> 00:14:34,114
Well, that short film
happened to revolutionize
298
00:14:34,149 --> 00:14:36,427
the way that music is consumed.
299
00:14:36,461 --> 00:14:39,637
Because neither MTV
or VH1 would exist
300
00:14:41,639 --> 00:14:43,606
had it not been for
that short film.
301
00:14:43,641 --> 00:14:47,541
- The whole thing was
quite extraordinary.
302
00:14:47,576 --> 00:14:50,544
And again, I think
people weren't quite
sure how to take it
303
00:14:50,579 --> 00:14:54,686
but once they saw it, they
realized just how good it was.
304
00:14:54,721 --> 00:14:59,243
- The point about Freddie
was that he was, you know,
305
00:14:59,277 --> 00:15:02,280
he obviously had some
strand of eccentricity
306
00:15:02,315 --> 00:15:10,185
about his lyric writing and
some very left-field things.
307
00:15:10,219 --> 00:15:12,463
I mean, the music
itself was so bizarre
308
00:15:12,497 --> 00:15:16,398
that you had no idea
what the lyrics meant
309
00:15:16,432 --> 00:15:18,193
and really who cared.
310
00:15:18,227 --> 00:15:19,573
- I think one of the
interesting things about Queen
311
00:15:19,608 --> 00:15:22,507
is that their songs wrote
into such interpretation,
312
00:15:22,542 --> 00:15:23,474
but I'm not gonna say on camera
313
00:15:23,508 --> 00:15:25,545
who I think it's about [laughs].
314
00:15:25,579 --> 00:15:28,720
- Bohemian Rhapsody
was basically, I was
writing three songs
315
00:15:28,755 --> 00:15:29,721
and they were going
to be different
316
00:15:29,756 --> 00:15:32,793
and I just couldn't finish them.
317
00:15:32,828 --> 00:15:34,312
And I just thought, oh, damn it,
318
00:15:34,347 --> 00:15:35,624
I'll just put the
three together.
319
00:15:35,658 --> 00:15:38,213
[gentle music]
320
00:15:42,355 --> 00:15:45,634
♪ Any way the wind blows
321
00:15:49,741 --> 00:15:51,502
- We just about do all
our own production.
322
00:15:51,536 --> 00:15:56,403
And we have Roy Baker who
sort of co-producers with us
323
00:15:56,438 --> 00:15:59,579
and all the four albums have
been a co-production with him.
324
00:15:59,613 --> 00:16:00,994
- Do you feel that the
"A Night at the Opera"
325
00:16:01,029 --> 00:16:03,031
is perhaps you're reaching now,
326
00:16:03,065 --> 00:16:04,377
you've reached a climax
at a certain stage
327
00:16:04,411 --> 00:16:05,619
in your career?
328
00:16:05,654 --> 00:16:07,449
'Cause I believe it's
definitely the best
329
00:16:07,483 --> 00:16:09,037
that you've ever done.
330
00:16:09,071 --> 00:16:10,176
- Thanks.
- Yes.
331
00:16:10,210 --> 00:16:12,454
- I think it's possibly
the peak so far
332
00:16:12,488 --> 00:16:13,662
because it's the
most successful.
333
00:16:13,696 --> 00:16:15,077
But I mean, we hope
we're gonna get better.
334
00:16:15,112 --> 00:16:17,010
- Next one will be better.
335
00:16:17,045 --> 00:16:18,529
- It is gonna be difficult,
336
00:16:18,563 --> 00:16:22,257
especially with
"Bohemian Rhapsody"
being as large as it is.
337
00:16:22,291 --> 00:16:23,637
- [Interviewer] Well, a kid
wrote me a letter about that
338
00:16:23,672 --> 00:16:26,847
and said, "I study demonology
and Satanic things.
339
00:16:26,882 --> 00:16:29,505
Why do they use Beelzebub?"
340
00:16:29,540 --> 00:16:30,679
- Oh.
341
00:16:30,713 --> 00:16:32,025
- [Interviewer] I suppose
that's a legitimate question.
342
00:16:32,060 --> 00:16:33,268
- Why do we use it?
- Yeah.
343
00:16:33,302 --> 00:16:34,821
- It's just a, I mean,
why do we use anything?
344
00:16:34,855 --> 00:16:38,652
I mean it doesn't necessarily
mean I study demonology
345
00:16:38,687 --> 00:16:39,757
and things.
346
00:16:39,791 --> 00:16:42,691
I just love [laughs]
the word Beelzebub.
347
00:16:42,725 --> 00:16:44,520
[all laughing]
348
00:16:44,555 --> 00:16:45,728
Great word, isn't it?
349
00:16:45,763 --> 00:16:47,420
[drowned out by laughter]
350
00:16:47,454 --> 00:16:48,593
- [Interviewer] Actually
the letter was signed
351
00:16:48,628 --> 00:16:50,112
at the Cloven
Hooves at the time.
352
00:16:50,147 --> 00:16:52,080
- Oh.
- Same sect.
353
00:16:52,114 --> 00:16:53,322
I belong to that one.
354
00:16:53,357 --> 00:16:54,875
- Are you sticking pins
in effigies and that?
355
00:16:54,910 --> 00:16:56,222
- [Interviewer] The next single
356
00:16:56,256 --> 00:16:57,395
is coming off "A
Night at the Operas"
357
00:16:57,430 --> 00:16:58,707
"You're My Best
Friend", I understand
358
00:16:58,741 --> 00:17:00,709
and already we're getting
a lot of requests for that.
359
00:17:00,743 --> 00:17:02,676
But it's entirely
different in structure
360
00:17:02,711 --> 00:17:04,299
to "Bohemian Rhapsody"
and that's what makes
361
00:17:04,333 --> 00:17:05,610
the album attractive to me.
- Yes.
362
00:17:05,645 --> 00:17:06,646
This is Johnson.
- Yeah,
363
00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:07,819
John wrote the track.
- Yes.
364
00:17:07,854 --> 00:17:09,442
- I mean that's probably
one thing in the group
365
00:17:09,476 --> 00:17:11,340
that we all do write,
which lends to the variety
366
00:17:11,375 --> 00:17:12,721
of our albums, you know.
367
00:17:12,755 --> 00:17:13,687
It's a very good thing, I think.
368
00:17:13,722 --> 00:17:15,103
- [Freddie] Yeah, yeah, yeah.
369
00:17:15,137 --> 00:17:17,174
- There've been several
songs on your albums
370
00:17:17,208 --> 00:17:18,830
instead of being involved
with death and all this sort
371
00:17:18,865 --> 00:17:20,763
of stuff, is that just
an accidental thing or?
372
00:17:20,798 --> 00:17:22,558
- [John] That's
Freddie's morbid mind.
373
00:17:22,593 --> 00:17:23,732
[all laughing]
374
00:17:23,766 --> 00:17:25,768
- One of my docile
moods actually.
375
00:17:25,803 --> 00:17:28,771
- I think they had this
amazing sensibility
376
00:17:28,806 --> 00:17:31,878
and curiosity and it
was something about
377
00:17:31,912 --> 00:17:34,329
the chemistry between them.
378
00:17:34,363 --> 00:17:37,746
They were very energetic,
they were very curious people.
379
00:17:37,780 --> 00:17:39,403
They were very intelligent.
380
00:17:39,437 --> 00:17:42,199
I think to give due respect,
they were very bright
381
00:17:42,233 --> 00:17:44,304
and they fed off their success
382
00:17:44,339 --> 00:17:48,515
that only made them like
a band like The Beatles,
383
00:17:48,550 --> 00:17:50,552
they didn't wanna
stay stuck anywhere.
384
00:17:50,586 --> 00:17:53,624
- The main problem
Queen had with the press
385
00:17:53,658 --> 00:17:56,178
is that they were immediate
descendants of the Beatles
386
00:17:56,213 --> 00:17:59,595
because when the
Beatles stopped in 1970,
387
00:17:59,630 --> 00:18:03,910
Queen make their chart debut
only three years after.
388
00:18:05,463 --> 00:18:09,364
So they wouldn't be taken
as revolutionary artists
389
00:18:09,398 --> 00:18:11,228
because they weren't.
390
00:18:11,262 --> 00:18:12,505
So it seemed.
391
00:18:12,539 --> 00:18:15,197
They were working
in the same format
392
00:18:16,681 --> 00:18:21,617
as someone who had already
been the definitive artist
393
00:18:22,342 --> 00:18:23,792
of popular music.
394
00:18:23,826 --> 00:18:26,933
- To some extent, it's no
publicity is bad publicity.
395
00:18:26,967 --> 00:18:30,316
If there's controversy,
then you've got profile.
396
00:18:30,350 --> 00:18:33,353
You can build on that you
can make a plus out of that
397
00:18:33,388 --> 00:18:35,148
because it's a talking point.
398
00:18:35,183 --> 00:18:37,392
And I think over the years,
that was always the case
399
00:18:37,426 --> 00:18:41,637
with Queen until they reached
the national treasure status.
400
00:18:41,672 --> 00:18:44,537
- In the early days
of popular music,
401
00:18:44,571 --> 00:18:49,231
the two greatest stars were
Enrico Caruso and Al Jolson.
402
00:18:50,991 --> 00:18:53,580
And that is because both
of them could be heard
403
00:18:53,615 --> 00:18:57,895
in every corner of the
theater without amplification.
404
00:18:59,034 --> 00:19:01,347
'Cause they were working
before amplification.
405
00:19:01,381 --> 00:19:02,520
[upbeat music]
406
00:19:02,555 --> 00:19:05,385
♪ Don't cry, Tootsie,
don't cry, ah ♪
407
00:19:05,420 --> 00:19:08,837
♪ Goodbye Tootsie, goodbye
408
00:19:09,872 --> 00:19:12,737
- Freddie's voice can be heard.
409
00:19:12,772 --> 00:19:16,396
♪ Pressure, pushing down on me
410
00:19:16,431 --> 00:19:19,572
♪ Pressing down on
you, no man ask for ♪
411
00:19:19,606 --> 00:19:21,194
- He would walk out on stage
412
00:19:21,229 --> 00:19:24,542
and he could control the
audience immediately.
413
00:19:24,577 --> 00:19:25,854
There was something about him.
414
00:19:25,888 --> 00:19:29,202
And of course, especially
a little while later,
415
00:19:29,237 --> 00:19:32,964
a lot of their songs
were anthems in a way.
416
00:19:32,999 --> 00:19:35,001
I don't think I ever
met anybody who came out
417
00:19:35,035 --> 00:19:37,245
of a Queen concert disappointed.
418
00:19:37,279 --> 00:19:39,868
Now, perhaps I'm biased
because I suppose
419
00:19:39,902 --> 00:19:42,353
in a way, I became a fan.
420
00:19:42,388 --> 00:19:44,804
I tried to be objective,
it's kind of hard.
421
00:19:44,838 --> 00:19:47,565
I think that they just
wanted to do the best
422
00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:49,878
they possibly could
for as much of the time
423
00:19:49,912 --> 00:19:50,879
as they possibly could.
424
00:19:50,913 --> 00:19:52,708
And I think they achieved that.
425
00:19:52,743 --> 00:19:55,332
[upbeat music]
426
00:19:58,887 --> 00:20:01,959
♪ Hey
427
00:20:01,993 --> 00:20:04,548
♪ Radio
428
00:20:04,582 --> 00:20:05,928
- Everybody
429
00:20:05,963 --> 00:20:09,967
♪ All we hear is radio ga ga
430
00:20:10,001 --> 00:20:11,934
♪ Radio goo goo
431
00:20:11,969 --> 00:20:13,936
♪ Radio ga ga
432
00:20:13,971 --> 00:20:17,906
♪ All we hear is radio ga ga
433
00:20:17,940 --> 00:20:20,840
♪ Radio blah blah
434
00:20:20,874 --> 00:20:21,737
[crowd cheering]
435
00:20:21,772 --> 00:20:23,981
♪ Ay-oh
436
00:20:24,015 --> 00:20:25,707
♪ Ay-oh
437
00:20:25,741 --> 00:20:27,329
♪ Ay-oh
438
00:20:27,364 --> 00:20:29,020
♪ Ay-oh
439
00:20:29,055 --> 00:20:30,677
♪ A-a-a-a-a-ay-oh
440
00:20:30,712 --> 00:20:32,334
♪ A-a-a-a-a-ay-oh
441
00:20:32,369 --> 00:20:33,024
♪ Ay-oh
442
00:20:33,059 --> 00:20:34,025
♪ Ay-oh
443
00:20:34,060 --> 00:20:34,854
♪ Ay-oh
444
00:20:34,888 --> 00:20:35,682
♪ Ay-oh
445
00:20:35,717 --> 00:20:36,511
♪ Ay-oh
446
00:20:36,545 --> 00:20:37,339
♪ Ay-oh
447
00:20:37,374 --> 00:20:41,343
♪ Ay
448
00:20:41,378 --> 00:20:42,033
♪ Oh
449
00:20:42,068 --> 00:20:43,932
♪ Ay
450
00:20:46,624 --> 00:20:50,387
- I think Freddie was a
very affectionate person.
451
00:20:50,421 --> 00:20:52,458
He was a very kind person.
452
00:20:52,492 --> 00:20:55,426
He would always come 'round,
make sure people were okay,
453
00:20:55,461 --> 00:20:56,910
he just liked people.
454
00:20:56,945 --> 00:20:59,292
And if you were a friend
or family of Freddie's
455
00:20:59,327 --> 00:21:00,983
then he was wonderful.
456
00:21:01,018 --> 00:21:02,985
And I think he felt
like, I genuinely think
457
00:21:03,020 --> 00:21:05,091
he felt like that
about his fans.
458
00:21:05,125 --> 00:21:06,989
He was talking directly to them.
459
00:21:07,024 --> 00:21:08,819
And I think that they felt that.
460
00:21:08,853 --> 00:21:10,648
And I think that's why he had
461
00:21:10,683 --> 00:21:13,548
such amazing control
over the audience.
462
00:21:13,582 --> 00:21:14,928
Even if it was just
for those few moments.
463
00:21:14,963 --> 00:21:16,102
He absolutely loved them.
464
00:21:16,136 --> 00:21:17,931
And I think it was mutual.
465
00:21:17,966 --> 00:21:19,899
- And when I asked
to think of a verb
466
00:21:19,933 --> 00:21:22,488
to describe Freddie on stage,
467
00:21:22,522 --> 00:21:24,455
I think of strut.
468
00:21:24,490 --> 00:21:28,425
Like a peacock or some
beautiful rare creature,
469
00:21:30,496 --> 00:21:33,602
just strutting across the stage,
470
00:21:33,637 --> 00:21:35,570
not afraid to dominate.
471
00:21:36,467 --> 00:21:39,401
♪ One, one, one
472
00:21:39,436 --> 00:21:42,093
- The way he had
that unique mic thing
473
00:21:42,128 --> 00:21:44,958
with the bit hanging
down, but not on a stand.
474
00:21:44,993 --> 00:21:49,515
He moved about the whole time
and that gave him the freedom.
475
00:21:49,549 --> 00:21:52,518
I don't recall him
ever standing there.
476
00:21:52,552 --> 00:21:55,348
He used that mic,
that mobile mic.
477
00:21:57,488 --> 00:22:01,768
He was a great
instinctive performer
478
00:22:01,803 --> 00:22:05,807
who loved to be in
front of an audience.
479
00:22:05,841 --> 00:22:09,017
- He has very good annunciation
480
00:22:09,051 --> 00:22:12,400
so everyone can understand
what he is saying.
481
00:22:12,434 --> 00:22:15,092
And you can hear
it a long way away.
482
00:22:15,126 --> 00:22:18,923
Well, this turned out
to be immensely useful
483
00:22:18,958 --> 00:22:23,411
when Queen would do
stadium gigs or beach gigs
484
00:22:23,445 --> 00:22:27,794
or outdoor gigs where
they had tens of thousand
485
00:22:27,829 --> 00:22:29,727
or even over a hundred
thousand people.
486
00:22:29,762 --> 00:22:32,005
- There are very few
people whose voices
487
00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:34,905
are immediately recognizable.
488
00:22:34,939 --> 00:22:36,838
And I think Freddie
is one of them.
489
00:22:36,872 --> 00:22:39,875
Freddie had the most
incredible voice.
490
00:22:39,910 --> 00:22:42,499
He had a wonderful
range, he had a depth,
491
00:22:42,533 --> 00:22:46,572
he had a richness and
a power in it, I think
492
00:22:46,606 --> 00:22:50,541
that meant that the
songs they'd written,
493
00:22:50,576 --> 00:22:52,854
I don't think anybody
else could have sung.
494
00:22:52,888 --> 00:22:56,167
And I find it very interesting
that there have been
495
00:22:56,202 --> 00:22:58,653
very few cover versions
of Queen songs.
496
00:22:58,687 --> 00:23:01,138
And I suspect they
frightened people
497
00:23:01,172 --> 00:23:03,934
because it would be very hard
to copy what Freddie did.
498
00:23:03,968 --> 00:23:07,178
- Several of the great
singers of all time
499
00:23:07,213 --> 00:23:09,526
consciously use their
voices as an instrument.
500
00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:14,047
Frank Sinatra, for example,
learned to use his voice
501
00:23:14,082 --> 00:23:17,672
from listening to Tommy
Dorsey, who was the leader
502
00:23:17,706 --> 00:23:20,778
of the band that
he was in in 1940.
503
00:23:20,813 --> 00:23:25,818
♪ I long to kiss you
504
00:23:27,060 --> 00:23:31,099
♪ But I would not dare
505
00:23:31,133 --> 00:23:36,035
♪ I'm so afraid
506
00:23:36,069 --> 00:23:38,727
♪ That you may vanish
507
00:23:38,762 --> 00:23:42,179
- [Jim] And he noticed that
Dorsey, a trombone player,
508
00:23:42,213 --> 00:23:43,594
had great breath control,
509
00:23:43,629 --> 00:23:46,079
which enabled him to
draw out long notes.
510
00:23:46,114 --> 00:23:49,117
And he wanted to draw
out long notes in singing
511
00:23:49,151 --> 00:23:51,706
so he learned breath control.
512
00:23:51,740 --> 00:23:53,121
And Freddie could
do the same thing
513
00:23:53,155 --> 00:23:55,088
because he realized his
514
00:23:55,123 --> 00:23:57,539
voice was like an instrument.
515
00:23:58,954 --> 00:24:02,199
♪ If you
516
00:24:02,233 --> 00:24:06,065
♪ Are but
517
00:24:06,099 --> 00:24:07,929
♪ A dream
518
00:24:07,963 --> 00:24:10,103
[gentle music]
519
00:24:10,138 --> 00:24:15,074
- Freddie was extremely
interested in people
who had power.
520
00:24:15,108 --> 00:24:18,215
Liza Minnelli was an
obvious influence.
521
00:24:18,249 --> 00:24:20,804
Her style of belting.
522
00:24:20,838 --> 00:24:22,253
He loved a belter.
523
00:24:22,288 --> 00:24:25,084
The ultimate, of course,
was Montserrat Caballe.
524
00:24:25,118 --> 00:24:26,948
[singing in foreign language]
525
00:24:26,982 --> 00:24:31,124
I went to the Covent Garden
Opera House to see a recital
526
00:24:31,159 --> 00:24:34,990
by Montserrat Caballe,
the great Spanish diva.
527
00:24:36,164 --> 00:24:39,132
And I looked to my
left and not far away,
528
00:24:39,167 --> 00:24:43,102
there's Freddie in a
box seat and he's going.
529
00:24:44,690 --> 00:24:46,277
And he's so excited.
530
00:24:46,312 --> 00:24:48,141
He's like a schoolboy.
531
00:24:49,936 --> 00:24:51,973
♪ Barcelona
532
00:24:52,007 --> 00:24:54,320
♪ It was the first
time that we met ♪
533
00:24:54,354 --> 00:24:56,633
♪ Barcelona
534
00:24:56,667 --> 00:24:59,877
♪ How can I forget
535
00:24:59,912 --> 00:25:02,362
♪ The moment that you
stepped into the room ♪
536
00:25:02,397 --> 00:25:05,987
♪ You took my breath away
537
00:25:07,298 --> 00:25:11,164
- He's thrilled to be in
the presence of this woman
538
00:25:11,199 --> 00:25:12,787
whose voice he loved.
539
00:25:12,821 --> 00:25:15,375
Well it was no
surprise to me at all
540
00:25:15,410 --> 00:25:18,689
that he shortly there
afterwards recorded with her
541
00:25:18,724 --> 00:25:20,691
'cause he was into it.
542
00:25:20,726 --> 00:25:23,314
♪ Let the songs begin
543
00:25:23,349 --> 00:25:25,800
[singing in foreign language]
544
00:25:25,834 --> 00:25:28,319
♪ Let the music play
545
00:25:28,354 --> 00:25:30,218
♪ Ah
546
00:25:30,252 --> 00:25:33,877
- He loved the way
that this woman
547
00:25:33,911 --> 00:25:36,155
who did not look glamorous,
548
00:25:37,363 --> 00:25:40,953
could become a
glamorous character
549
00:25:40,987 --> 00:25:45,267
strictly through the use of
her voice and her attitude.
550
00:25:45,302 --> 00:25:48,685
This was Freddie par excellence.
551
00:25:48,719 --> 00:25:53,103
Freddie at "Live Aid" is
probably the best domination
552
00:25:53,137 --> 00:25:55,623
of an audience I've ever seen.
553
00:25:55,657 --> 00:25:58,246
[crowd cheering]
554
00:26:01,283 --> 00:26:04,666
- They were looking around
saying, "Well, they've done it,
555
00:26:04,701 --> 00:26:05,598
haven't they?"
556
00:26:05,633 --> 00:26:07,255
You know, it was extraordinary.
557
00:26:07,289 --> 00:26:10,914
♪ We will, we will rock you
558
00:26:10,948 --> 00:26:11,984
♪ One more time
559
00:26:12,018 --> 00:26:15,608
♪ We will, we will rock you
560
00:26:15,643 --> 00:26:17,299
[upbeat music]
561
00:26:17,334 --> 00:26:19,163
- They're stealing the show.
562
00:26:19,198 --> 00:26:21,096
All the artists
backstage who had
563
00:26:21,131 --> 00:26:24,790
of course their own egos,
their own sense of pride,
564
00:26:24,824 --> 00:26:27,137
they're stealing
the show [laughs].
565
00:26:27,171 --> 00:26:28,241
And they were.
566
00:26:28,276 --> 00:26:30,416
♪ Shivers down my spine
567
00:26:30,450 --> 00:26:34,040
♪ Body's aching all the time
568
00:26:34,075 --> 00:26:36,318
- And you hear the audience
going completely nuts.
569
00:26:36,353 --> 00:26:40,046
And you see on the monitor,
570
00:26:40,081 --> 00:26:45,431
Freddie doing this
impromptu duet
571
00:26:45,465 --> 00:26:47,364
with a BBC cameraman.
572
00:26:48,330 --> 00:26:52,058
♪ Every night, every day
573
00:26:52,093 --> 00:26:55,337
♪ A little piece of
you is falling away ♪
574
00:26:55,372 --> 00:26:59,376
♪ But lift your face
the western way ♪
575
00:26:59,410 --> 00:27:00,791
[upbeat music]
576
00:27:00,826 --> 00:27:02,137
- And everybody said
they stole the show.
577
00:27:02,172 --> 00:27:03,794
It just proved that
they were undoubtedly
578
00:27:03,829 --> 00:27:05,934
one of the best live
band's there's ever been.
579
00:27:05,969 --> 00:27:10,974
- Queen really did rule the
world for a short period.
580
00:27:11,422 --> 00:27:13,701
[upbeat music]
581
00:27:13,735 --> 00:27:16,324
[crowd cheering]
582
00:27:19,154 --> 00:27:21,916
- The media get excited
about all kinds of things.
583
00:27:21,950 --> 00:27:24,953
I mean, you can argue it's
none of their bloody business
584
00:27:24,988 --> 00:27:26,921
but they're gonna make
it their business anyway.
585
00:27:26,955 --> 00:27:28,336
So what are you
gonna do about it?
586
00:27:28,370 --> 00:27:31,235
- Freddie and indeed
the band generally
587
00:27:31,270 --> 00:27:34,756
were very single-minded
and also didn't necessarily
588
00:27:34,791 --> 00:27:36,171
suffer fools gladly.
589
00:27:36,206 --> 00:27:39,243
The band, and Freddie in
particular, is very flamboyance,
590
00:27:39,278 --> 00:27:42,730
if you like, invited
negative comments from people
591
00:27:42,764 --> 00:27:46,975
who like their rock and roll
to be more down and dirty.
592
00:27:47,010 --> 00:27:50,841
- Freddie was as nice a
person as you'll find.
593
00:27:52,118 --> 00:27:55,432
Extremely generous
to his friends.
594
00:27:55,466 --> 00:27:57,296
Threw great parties.
595
00:27:57,330 --> 00:27:59,816
And consumed too much of life.
596
00:28:04,372 --> 00:28:08,341
He took to the gay scene in
New York in the late '70s,
597
00:28:08,376 --> 00:28:12,691
like David Attenborough
would take to a nature film,
598
00:28:13,415 --> 00:28:15,935
to forms of wildlife.
599
00:28:15,970 --> 00:28:18,006
- When I first went
to Freddie's home,
600
00:28:18,041 --> 00:28:21,872
he was living in a flat
in the Kensington area
601
00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,807
with his girlfriend,
Mary Austin.
602
00:28:27,084 --> 00:28:28,361
And he was still
the best of friends
603
00:28:28,396 --> 00:28:30,294
with her 'till the day he died.
604
00:28:30,329 --> 00:28:33,263
Even as she and Freddie
grew apart in some ways
605
00:28:33,297 --> 00:28:36,059
they became the very
best of friends.
606
00:28:36,093 --> 00:28:38,475
And she married,
she had children,
607
00:28:38,509 --> 00:28:41,512
but their relationship
never really changed.
608
00:28:41,547 --> 00:28:43,929
He just had other
relationships as well.
609
00:28:43,963 --> 00:28:46,966
- Freddie, over the
years, got more remote.
610
00:28:47,001 --> 00:28:48,519
Changing lifestyle really.
611
00:28:48,554 --> 00:28:51,005
When you first knew him
actually personally,
612
00:28:51,039 --> 00:28:52,144
quite a private person.
613
00:28:52,178 --> 00:28:53,386
He was quite shy,
614
00:28:53,421 --> 00:28:54,560
I don't think necessarily
really comfortable
615
00:28:54,594 --> 00:28:57,183
with new people and strangers.
616
00:28:57,218 --> 00:29:00,117
But his other side was the
flamboyant stage presence.
617
00:29:00,152 --> 00:29:02,602
And I think as time went on,
618
00:29:02,637 --> 00:29:05,398
the stage persona
really took over
619
00:29:05,433 --> 00:29:07,159
from the original individual.
620
00:29:07,193 --> 00:29:11,266
And he lived this
larger-than-life
character all the time.
621
00:29:11,301 --> 00:29:14,442
So I think by the early '80s
and especially when they
622
00:29:14,476 --> 00:29:16,375
were spending so
much time abroad,
623
00:29:16,409 --> 00:29:18,998
his whole approach
to life changed.
624
00:29:19,033 --> 00:29:21,449
[gentle music]
625
00:29:30,527 --> 00:29:34,600
- It was fairly obvious
that there was this tension
626
00:29:34,634 --> 00:29:36,464
that was unresolved in him.
627
00:29:36,498 --> 00:29:40,261
And even in the end, 'cause
Mary came back at the end
628
00:29:40,295 --> 00:29:41,503
and looked after him.
629
00:29:41,538 --> 00:29:43,885
I mean, when he talks
about Mary as being
630
00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:47,924
the one person in his
life that he truly trusted
631
00:29:49,270 --> 00:29:53,515
and I've seen her on
film talking about him,
632
00:29:53,550 --> 00:29:56,070
when he came out of the
closet and first spoke
633
00:29:56,104 --> 00:29:57,519
to her about it.
634
00:29:57,554 --> 00:30:01,903
Obviously, there was a battle
going on inside of him.
635
00:30:01,938 --> 00:30:05,010
But I'm not, that was when
he came out of the closet.
636
00:30:05,044 --> 00:30:08,289
But I know I have
pictures of the guy
637
00:30:08,323 --> 00:30:10,498
that he was hanging
around already
638
00:30:10,532 --> 00:30:13,294
with someone he was
having a relationship with
639
00:30:13,328 --> 00:30:15,123
before he finally told Mary.
640
00:30:15,158 --> 00:30:18,575
So he was hanging around in
'74, this particular guy.
641
00:30:18,609 --> 00:30:21,336
[gentle music]
642
00:30:23,062 --> 00:30:24,892
He certainly didn't wanna
talk about it publicly,
643
00:30:24,926 --> 00:30:26,134
any of that.
644
00:30:26,169 --> 00:30:28,619
He would discuss
things privately.
645
00:30:30,449 --> 00:30:32,623
And I could name a couple
of interesting names,
646
00:30:32,658 --> 00:30:35,074
but I won't, that
I happen to know
647
00:30:35,109 --> 00:30:36,627
he had relationships with.
648
00:30:36,662 --> 00:30:39,389
But that's not
for me to discuss.
649
00:30:40,666 --> 00:30:43,842
I do believe even
for public figures,
650
00:30:45,326 --> 00:30:47,638
that there is, you know,
there's an area of privacy
651
00:30:47,673 --> 00:30:49,606
that I may be privileged
to have certain knowledge
652
00:30:49,640 --> 00:30:53,541
but if they want to talk
about it's up to them.
653
00:30:53,575 --> 00:30:55,474
So I don't want
people talking about
654
00:30:55,508 --> 00:30:58,028
all the lured things
in my youth either.
655
00:30:58,063 --> 00:30:59,650
It's none of their
fucking business.
656
00:30:59,685 --> 00:31:01,929
Not that people are as
interested, they are
657
00:31:01,963 --> 00:31:04,621
cases like Lou or
David or Freddie.
658
00:31:04,655 --> 00:31:08,107
[gentle music]
659
00:31:08,142 --> 00:31:11,939
- I think perhaps Freddie
was always looking for love
660
00:31:11,973 --> 00:31:14,596
which he found in many
ways over his life.
661
00:31:14,631 --> 00:31:16,288
I think he was always
looking for perfection
662
00:31:16,322 --> 00:31:19,601
which is probably a
harder thing to find.
663
00:31:20,775 --> 00:31:23,502
And I think he was
ultimately curious.
664
00:31:23,536 --> 00:31:28,265
He wanted to know what was
out there to experience a lot.
665
00:31:29,577 --> 00:31:31,406
And he found a lot of the
things he was looking for
666
00:31:31,441 --> 00:31:32,683
but perhaps not all of them.
667
00:31:32,718 --> 00:31:34,927
- There was "Don't Stop Me Now"
668
00:31:34,962 --> 00:31:39,345
which has become a very,
very popular song in Britain.
669
00:31:39,380 --> 00:31:43,591
♪ Don't stop me now
670
00:31:43,625 --> 00:31:45,558
♪ Don't stop me
671
00:31:45,593 --> 00:31:47,595
♪ 'Cause I'm having
a good time ♪
672
00:31:47,629 --> 00:31:48,941
♪ Having a good time
673
00:31:48,976 --> 00:31:53,325
♪ I'm a shooting star, leaping
through the sky like a tiger ♪
674
00:31:53,359 --> 00:31:54,567
- And of course to this day,
675
00:31:54,602 --> 00:31:55,844
Brian feels a bit
uncomfortable about it
676
00:31:55,879 --> 00:32:00,401
because it's a celebration of
Freddy's hedonistic lifestyle.
677
00:32:03,611 --> 00:32:05,371
Which was to kill him.
678
00:32:05,406 --> 00:32:08,236
[heartfelt music]
679
00:32:13,655 --> 00:32:15,312
I've said this
several times before,
680
00:32:15,347 --> 00:32:18,453
but it's just a key
moment in my life
681
00:32:23,562 --> 00:32:26,323
with Freddie and
as a gay person.
682
00:32:27,669 --> 00:32:30,258
In Heaven in the
nightclub in early 1983,
683
00:32:30,293 --> 00:32:32,640
I had returned from
the United States
684
00:32:32,674 --> 00:32:35,160
and I said, "Have you
adjusted your behavior
685
00:32:35,194 --> 00:32:37,231
in light of the new disease?"
686
00:32:37,265 --> 00:32:39,509
'Cause, it had no name then.
687
00:32:40,751 --> 00:32:43,685
And he said, with one of
his flourishes, and he said,
688
00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:46,723
"Darling, my
attitude is fuck it.
689
00:32:46,757 --> 00:32:49,968
I'm doing everything
with everybody."
690
00:32:51,107 --> 00:32:53,695
And I had that sinking feeling.
691
00:32:55,663 --> 00:32:58,804
There literally is
a sinking feeling.
692
00:32:58,838 --> 00:33:00,737
I've had it twice in my life.
693
00:33:00,771 --> 00:33:02,221
And that was once.
694
00:33:03,602 --> 00:33:08,572
And I just felt at that
moment, we're gonna lose Fred.
695
00:33:09,815 --> 00:33:12,680
And I also thought that
even though he's putting up
696
00:33:12,714 --> 00:33:17,098
this great front, probably
in the back of his mind,
697
00:33:20,584 --> 00:33:22,552
he thinks it's too late.
698
00:33:22,586 --> 00:33:25,141
[gentle music]
699
00:33:34,633 --> 00:33:37,498
But what was tremendously unfair
700
00:33:37,532 --> 00:33:41,709
to the first wave of people
who died from HIV AIDS
701
00:33:42,882 --> 00:33:46,058
was that they became infected
when it was not known
702
00:33:46,093 --> 00:33:47,853
that the virus existed.
703
00:33:49,406 --> 00:33:54,239
So they couldn't know that what
they were doing was unsafe.
704
00:33:55,378 --> 00:33:58,208
They didn't know
there was any risk.
705
00:33:59,830 --> 00:34:04,421
It's very easy for people to
look back on a previous era
706
00:34:04,456 --> 00:34:07,355
with the mores and
morals of today.
707
00:34:08,425 --> 00:34:10,082
But we have to
remember that the '70s
708
00:34:10,117 --> 00:34:14,431
was this incredible era
of sexual expression.
709
00:34:14,466 --> 00:34:17,814
There was about a
quarter of a century
710
00:34:17,848 --> 00:34:20,782
where everything
was, if not safe,
711
00:34:20,817 --> 00:34:24,821
at least treatable because
once you had penicillin,
712
00:34:24,855 --> 00:34:28,514
knocked syphilis on
the head in the 1940s,
713
00:34:29,688 --> 00:34:31,172
there was no sexually
transmitted disease
714
00:34:31,207 --> 00:34:32,794
that was going to kill you.
715
00:34:32,829 --> 00:34:34,762
So in the '70s, particularly
716
00:34:34,796 --> 00:34:36,764
with the emancipation movements,
717
00:34:36,798 --> 00:34:39,249
the women's liberation
and the gay liberation,
718
00:34:39,284 --> 00:34:43,460
people were having sex
like there was no tomorrow.
719
00:34:45,704 --> 00:34:48,741
It's easy to forget that today.
720
00:34:48,776 --> 00:34:51,606
And then, of course,
millions paid.
721
00:34:53,815 --> 00:34:56,646
[heartfelt music]
722
00:35:07,691 --> 00:35:10,384
Now I know that Freddie
did not have a test
723
00:35:10,418 --> 00:35:14,388
until the late '80s and did
not demonstrate symptoms
724
00:35:14,422 --> 00:35:17,839
until the second
half of the '80s.
725
00:35:17,874 --> 00:35:21,602
But remember there was a
10-year incubation period
726
00:35:21,636 --> 00:35:25,123
on average between
infection and symptoms.
727
00:35:27,780 --> 00:35:29,610
So if you were to say Freddie
728
00:35:29,644 --> 00:35:32,544
starts showing
symptoms late '80s,
729
00:35:32,578 --> 00:35:35,926
if he were an average case,
no guarantee that he was,
730
00:35:35,961 --> 00:35:37,307
but if he were an average case,
731
00:35:37,342 --> 00:35:38,791
he would've been
infected late '70s.
732
00:35:38,826 --> 00:35:42,830
Which makes sense with
his lifestyle enthusiasms
733
00:35:43,934 --> 00:35:46,420
as he'd conveyed them to me.
734
00:35:47,800 --> 00:35:54,635
And that is so cosmically though
in no way uniquely unfair.
735
00:35:57,914 --> 00:36:04,990
That sexual experimentation
should become a capital matter.
736
00:36:05,991 --> 00:36:07,924
No one thought
that was possible.
737
00:36:07,958 --> 00:36:10,616
- By that time, he was
being pursued everywhere
738
00:36:10,651 --> 00:36:11,859
by paparazzi.
739
00:36:11,893 --> 00:36:14,793
And, you know, the
tabloids were speculating
740
00:36:14,827 --> 00:36:16,829
on a weekly basis, you know,
741
00:36:16,864 --> 00:36:18,245
every time he was
seen in public.
742
00:36:18,279 --> 00:36:21,489
So it was that time
when there were a lot
743
00:36:21,524 --> 00:36:24,837
of similar casualties in and
around the music business.
744
00:36:24,872 --> 00:36:29,877
And most of us knew somebody
who was similarly afflicted.
745
00:36:31,430 --> 00:36:34,399
So you kind of had the
feeling what was going on.
746
00:36:36,470 --> 00:36:37,712
He wasn't right.
747
00:36:37,747 --> 00:36:39,818
The fact that their
activities have been
748
00:36:39,852 --> 00:36:42,959
so much scaled back
by them, made it clear
749
00:36:42,993 --> 00:36:46,031
that there was something
wrong regardless
750
00:36:46,065 --> 00:36:47,929
of what it was or
what caused it.
751
00:36:47,964 --> 00:36:50,622
He was obviously not
the same Freddie.
752
00:36:50,656 --> 00:36:54,246
- I think most people
knew that he was ill.
753
00:36:55,903 --> 00:36:58,768
I think nobody really
knew what was wrong
754
00:36:58,802 --> 00:37:02,461
or how long he'd been
ill or how bad it was
755
00:37:05,499 --> 00:37:07,949
until pretty much at the end.
756
00:37:07,984 --> 00:37:11,815
- Freddie was one of
those persons with AIDS
757
00:37:16,648 --> 00:37:18,891
who responded by not
wishing to be seen.
758
00:37:18,926 --> 00:37:20,721
- [Interviewer] It would
be wrong of us not to say
759
00:37:20,755 --> 00:37:22,999
that he has been depicted
in certain quarters
760
00:37:23,033 --> 00:37:28,038
as sort of decadent, wild,
bisexual, irresponsible lover.
761
00:37:29,350 --> 00:37:30,972
So what was actually
the truth of that?
762
00:37:31,007 --> 00:37:33,630
- Yes, that's very, that
definitely makes us very angry
763
00:37:33,665 --> 00:37:36,115
because he was certainly,
the Freddie we knew
764
00:37:36,150 --> 00:37:37,703
wasn't wildly promiscuous.
765
00:37:37,738 --> 00:37:39,326
He wasn't consumed by drugs.
766
00:37:39,360 --> 00:37:41,362
Any of these things
that people are saying.
767
00:37:41,397 --> 00:37:43,916
He had a very responsible
attitude to everyone
768
00:37:43,951 --> 00:37:45,297
that he was close to.
769
00:37:45,332 --> 00:37:47,057
And he was a very
generous and caring person
770
00:37:47,092 --> 00:37:49,128
to all of the people that
came through his life.
771
00:37:49,163 --> 00:37:50,923
And more than that, you
can't ask really, you know,
772
00:37:50,958 --> 00:37:53,719
as he moved from a
relationship to another one,
773
00:37:53,754 --> 00:37:56,929
he was always very, as
I say, you know, aware
774
00:37:56,964 --> 00:37:59,967
of the effect he was
having on people's lives.
775
00:38:00,001 --> 00:38:03,108
- We all knew that
there were many people.
776
00:38:03,142 --> 00:38:05,352
My PA died for heaven's sake.
777
00:38:05,386 --> 00:38:08,113
I mean, it was, it
was in our homes,
778
00:38:08,147 --> 00:38:10,011
it was in our friendly circles,
779
00:38:10,046 --> 00:38:14,119
and it was happening with
such suddenness and force
780
00:38:16,017 --> 00:38:20,021
that you couldn't mourn
everybody as deeply
781
00:38:20,056 --> 00:38:23,370
as they deserved at the
moment they were dying.
782
00:38:23,404 --> 00:38:26,959
In retrospect, whenever you
think of one of these people,
783
00:38:26,994 --> 00:38:31,999
then you experience
their passing uniquely
and individually.
784
00:38:33,069 --> 00:38:35,968
But then because there
were so many involved,
785
00:38:36,003 --> 00:38:37,970
you were just trying to
keep your head above water
786
00:38:38,005 --> 00:38:39,696
and be good to everybody.
787
00:38:39,731 --> 00:38:42,354
♪ Time
788
00:38:42,389 --> 00:38:45,012
♪ Waits for no one
789
00:38:45,046 --> 00:38:48,809
♪ Best not to be friends
with one another ♪
790
00:38:48,843 --> 00:38:52,606
♪ Or we'd have no
more future at all ♪
791
00:38:52,640 --> 00:38:57,645
♪ Time
792
00:38:58,405 --> 00:39:00,924
♪ Waits for nobody
793
00:39:00,959 --> 00:39:03,651
[gentle music]
794
00:39:03,686 --> 00:39:08,691
♪ For nobody, nobody, nobody
795
00:39:09,726 --> 00:39:12,177
♪ For no one
796
00:39:15,732 --> 00:39:20,737
- One of the extraordinary
things about Queen and Freddie
797
00:39:21,911 --> 00:39:24,879
was that they had an
instinctive commercial
798
00:39:26,122 --> 00:39:28,573
and marketing nous.
799
00:39:28,607 --> 00:39:31,092
With Queen, and I think
with Freddie's writing,
800
00:39:31,127 --> 00:39:34,958
it was staggering how
year on year at that time
801
00:39:34,993 --> 00:39:38,168
when we in the record
company were expecting
802
00:39:38,203 --> 00:39:40,136
and waiting for the
new album knowing
803
00:39:40,170 --> 00:39:43,691
that the crucial thing
was, is there gonna
804
00:39:43,726 --> 00:39:45,486
be a natural big hit.
805
00:39:48,178 --> 00:39:53,183
That year on year, they came
up with the most extraordinary,
806
00:39:54,219 --> 00:39:56,635
always another step
into the unexpected.
807
00:39:58,154 --> 00:39:59,914
Something incredibly
serendipitous.
808
00:39:59,949 --> 00:40:02,158
When you, one year it
was "Killer Queen",
809
00:40:02,192 --> 00:40:05,161
the following year, of course,
was "Bohemian Rhapsody".
810
00:40:05,195 --> 00:40:07,094
Then it was "Somebody To
Love" the following year.
811
00:40:07,128 --> 00:40:08,958
Then it was "We
Are The Champions".
812
00:40:08,992 --> 00:40:12,133
And if you think
about those records
813
00:40:12,168 --> 00:40:15,067
which were some of the
great anthems of rock,
814
00:40:15,102 --> 00:40:17,656
every year we would
breathe the sigh of relief
815
00:40:17,691 --> 00:40:20,210
and say, "Oh, got another one."
816
00:40:20,245 --> 00:40:24,456
- Now for the band, it
would've been very difficult
817
00:40:24,491 --> 00:40:29,496
and I give them full points
knowing that something was up,
818
00:40:30,220 --> 00:40:31,774
knowing that something was up
819
00:40:31,808 --> 00:40:34,673
that was completely
outside their own circle.
820
00:40:34,708 --> 00:40:37,987
Because unlike the
theatrical community
821
00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:41,059
or the gay community,
822
00:40:42,336 --> 00:40:45,684
the heterosexual members
of Queen wouldn't know
823
00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:47,755
as much about it.
824
00:40:47,790 --> 00:40:49,723
They would just know he's
not looking too good.
825
00:40:49,757 --> 00:40:51,138
What's happening?
826
00:40:53,520 --> 00:40:55,901
But because they were
very much a quartet,
827
00:40:55,936 --> 00:40:57,524
they stood by him to
the very, very end.
828
00:40:57,558 --> 00:40:59,146
And the very, very
end, of course,
829
00:40:59,180 --> 00:41:01,804
is that incredibly moving video.
830
00:41:03,564 --> 00:41:08,535
♪ Those were the
days of our lives ♪
831
00:41:09,605 --> 00:41:11,261
♪ Yeah
832
00:41:11,296 --> 00:41:16,301
♪ The bad things in
life were so few ♪
833
00:41:19,649 --> 00:41:24,067
♪ Those days are all gone now
834
00:41:24,102 --> 00:41:28,140
♪ But one thing's true
835
00:41:28,175 --> 00:41:32,800
♪ When I look and I find
836
00:41:32,835 --> 00:41:35,734
♪ I still love you
837
00:41:36,839 --> 00:41:39,255
[gentle music]
838
00:41:42,085 --> 00:41:44,536
♪ I still love you
839
00:41:44,571 --> 00:41:46,365
- Well, the one
thing he wanted to do
840
00:41:46,400 --> 00:41:49,265
was keep on working
in the studio.
841
00:41:49,299 --> 00:41:53,269
He was absolutely
determined to keep on,
842
00:41:53,303 --> 00:41:55,858
keep the group going,
and to keep working.
843
00:41:55,892 --> 00:41:58,619
And that actually kept him going
844
00:41:58,654 --> 00:42:00,172
for a long time.
- You see,
845
00:42:00,207 --> 00:42:01,208
we watched earlier "Those
Were The Days Of Our Lives"
846
00:42:01,242 --> 00:42:04,832
and actually watching it
was unbearably poignant
847
00:42:04,867 --> 00:42:05,764
just to watch it.
848
00:42:05,799 --> 00:42:07,697
So for you fellas to be in that,
849
00:42:07,732 --> 00:42:10,079
it must have been a difficult
session emotionally.
850
00:42:10,113 --> 00:42:11,770
- So incredibly difficult.
- Yes.
851
00:42:11,805 --> 00:42:13,185
It was hard, it was really,
852
00:42:13,220 --> 00:42:16,154
but we were sort of trying
to support him through it.
853
00:42:16,188 --> 00:42:20,227
And I mean, he was incredibly
brave at that time.
854
00:42:20,261 --> 00:42:25,266
Obviously, he knew, you know,
and we all knew at that time.
855
00:42:25,301 --> 00:42:27,890
But you know, the best
thing is just to get on
856
00:42:27,924 --> 00:42:29,339
with life and to do it.
857
00:42:29,374 --> 00:42:30,996
And he did that.
858
00:42:31,031 --> 00:42:34,344
And I think he carried on
very bravely, actually.
859
00:42:34,379 --> 00:42:36,174
- They put out that
video and there he is,
860
00:42:36,208 --> 00:42:39,349
and you go, "That's not
Freddie, that's a spec."
861
00:42:39,384 --> 00:42:41,351
Although he could still sing.
862
00:42:41,386 --> 00:42:45,079
You know, however sick
he was, it was like
863
00:42:45,114 --> 00:42:48,220
seeing that the
disgusting-looking blabby Elvis,
864
00:42:48,255 --> 00:42:52,224
I've seen footage of his last
concert and he looks horrible,
865
00:42:52,259 --> 00:42:54,364
but he sounds divine
still, you know?
866
00:42:54,399 --> 00:42:56,746
So talent is a funny thing.
867
00:42:58,265 --> 00:43:01,130
Disease doesn't
necessarily kill the talent
868
00:43:01,164 --> 00:43:03,339
or self-destructive behavior.
869
00:43:04,927 --> 00:43:09,138
And clearly, his talent was
intact right up until the end.
870
00:43:09,172 --> 00:43:10,380
That last recording.
871
00:43:10,415 --> 00:43:14,074
- The singles from
"Innuendo" are literal.
872
00:43:17,387 --> 00:43:19,182
The "Innuendo"
single, which is about
873
00:43:19,217 --> 00:43:20,252
being written
about in the press,
874
00:43:20,287 --> 00:43:21,840
well, of course,
they were speculating
875
00:43:21,875 --> 00:43:23,324
about him in the press.
876
00:43:23,359 --> 00:43:25,844
"I'm Going Slightly
Mad", a direct reference
877
00:43:25,879 --> 00:43:28,226
to having moments of disease
878
00:43:29,676 --> 00:43:32,437
and "The Show Must Go On",
which was his philosophy.
879
00:43:32,471 --> 00:43:35,302
[heartfelt music]
880
00:43:42,309 --> 00:43:43,690
- Well, it was a sad thing.
881
00:43:43,724 --> 00:43:45,657
I mean, how could it not be?
882
00:43:45,692 --> 00:43:48,833
He was a very
sweet guy who died.
883
00:43:48,867 --> 00:43:51,801
And I know he was in a
lot, because Mary told me
884
00:43:51,836 --> 00:43:54,424
that he was in a lot
of pain at the end.
885
00:43:54,459 --> 00:43:57,393
It was not an easy
death for Freddie.
886
00:43:59,706 --> 00:44:02,812
But apparently, he
didn't complain.
887
00:44:02,847 --> 00:44:04,434
Apparently, he was not...
888
00:44:04,469 --> 00:44:07,714
And he didn't feel
sorry for himself.
889
00:44:10,406 --> 00:44:11,856
I don't know what else
he could have done
890
00:44:11,890 --> 00:44:13,823
because he, you know...
891
00:44:15,791 --> 00:44:17,793
But apparently, he
was in a lot of pain.
892
00:44:17,827 --> 00:44:20,416
- When Freddie died, that
was the end of Queen.
893
00:44:20,450 --> 00:44:22,142
- There was just great sadness.
894
00:44:22,176 --> 00:44:25,007
[heartfelt music]
895
00:44:29,080 --> 00:44:33,256
You felt that like all the
artists that die young,
896
00:44:34,533 --> 00:44:36,259
you say, "Well,
what would've been?"
897
00:44:36,294 --> 00:44:39,331
You know, what would
Buddy Holly have done?
898
00:44:39,366 --> 00:44:42,300
You know, what would
Eddie Cochran have done?
899
00:44:42,334 --> 00:44:45,993
You think, well, what
would Freddie be doing now?
900
00:44:46,028 --> 00:44:48,858
[heartfelt music]
901
00:44:52,828 --> 00:44:54,450
- The glamour of the
world's rock stars
902
00:44:54,484 --> 00:44:56,348
in a very unglamorous setting.
903
00:44:56,383 --> 00:44:58,281
Rehearsals Studios
west of London,
904
00:44:58,316 --> 00:45:01,388
where the final polish is
being put on tomorrow's show.
905
00:45:01,422 --> 00:45:03,977
Casual dress was very
much the order of the day.
906
00:45:04,011 --> 00:45:06,358
Elton John also sporting
a brand new hair look
907
00:45:06,393 --> 00:45:07,808
for the big event.
908
00:45:07,843 --> 00:45:09,983
A succession of stars
arrived throughout the day
909
00:45:10,017 --> 00:45:12,744
to practice alongside the
surviving members of Queen.
910
00:45:12,779 --> 00:45:15,367
For many, it's a
poignant occasion.
911
00:45:15,402 --> 00:45:16,955
Wembley Stadium was
the scene of one
912
00:45:16,990 --> 00:45:21,132
of Queen's greatest
performances back in 1986.
913
00:45:21,166 --> 00:45:23,168
Today, a team of
400 technicians,
914
00:45:23,203 --> 00:45:25,481
including Freddie Mercury's
original road crew,
915
00:45:25,515 --> 00:45:29,416
were back in action
preparing the giant stage.
916
00:45:29,450 --> 00:45:31,383
But the organizers here
hope that the message
917
00:45:31,418 --> 00:45:33,938
will reach more than
half a billion people
918
00:45:33,972 --> 00:45:35,802
in more than 70 countries.
919
00:45:35,836 --> 00:45:37,562
And despite all the
glamour and razzamatazz,
920
00:45:37,596 --> 00:45:39,495
it will be a serious
message trying
921
00:45:39,529 --> 00:45:44,120
to promote AIDS education
on a truly global scale.
922
00:45:44,155 --> 00:45:47,537
♪ No time for losers
923
00:45:47,572 --> 00:45:51,403
♪ 'Cause we are the champions
924
00:45:53,509 --> 00:45:56,201
[crowd cheering]
925
00:45:56,236 --> 00:45:57,444
- Thanks, Freddie.
926
00:45:57,478 --> 00:46:01,103
We just wanted to let you know
we were thinking about you.
927
00:46:01,137 --> 00:46:01,966
Stay safe.
928
00:46:03,001 --> 00:46:05,555
♪ Of the world
929
00:46:07,972 --> 00:46:10,560
[crowd cheering]
930
00:46:14,426 --> 00:46:17,257
[heartfelt music]
931
00:46:30,511 --> 00:46:32,030
- He would love it.
932
00:46:32,065 --> 00:46:33,825
He would be thrilled.
933
00:46:36,552 --> 00:46:39,244
He would be thrilled to know
that I've been asked to talk
934
00:46:39,279 --> 00:46:41,937
about him years after his death.
935
00:46:43,524 --> 00:46:46,010
He would be so
excited [chuckling]
936
00:46:46,044 --> 00:46:48,460
and in a conspiratorial way,
937
00:46:48,495 --> 00:46:50,393
he would say, "Oh, I love this."
938
00:46:50,428 --> 00:46:54,639
You know, he'd have that
little shoulder thing.
939
00:46:54,673 --> 00:46:59,333
I once said to him, when "I
Wanna Break Free" was new,
940
00:47:00,472 --> 00:47:02,958
there was a point where Freddie,
941
00:47:02,992 --> 00:47:05,615
who was in drag
doing the vacuuming,
942
00:47:05,650 --> 00:47:07,514
went from one room to the next
943
00:47:07,548 --> 00:47:10,551
and as he crossed
the wall in the set,
944
00:47:11,898 --> 00:47:14,935
he did a little double
time so that there was
945
00:47:14,970 --> 00:47:17,973
the minimum time
spent out of vision.
946
00:47:18,007 --> 00:47:20,699
It was a very
professional thing to do.
947
00:47:20,734 --> 00:47:23,702
So he was almost
entirely in camera.
948
00:47:23,737 --> 00:47:25,394
And I said to him, "You
know, my favorite part
949
00:47:25,428 --> 00:47:28,569
of 'I Want To Break Free' is
when you go into double time
950
00:47:28,604 --> 00:47:29,950
between the rooms."
951
00:47:29,985 --> 00:47:31,262
And he said, "Oh, I'm so
glad you noticed that.
952
00:47:31,296 --> 00:47:33,229
It's my favorite part."
953
00:47:34,403 --> 00:47:37,958
You see, he was thrilled
to be a professional.
954
00:47:37,993 --> 00:47:41,582
Being Freddie Mercury allowed
him to be the professional
955
00:47:41,617 --> 00:47:44,620
and the legend that
he wanted to be.
956
00:47:45,655 --> 00:47:49,625
I could say I would love
to be Arthur Rubinstein,
957
00:47:52,248 --> 00:47:54,457
the great concert pianist.
958
00:47:54,492 --> 00:47:59,048
Well, although I have a piano,
I'm not a great pianist.
959
00:48:00,498 --> 00:48:07,194
But Freddie wanted to be
a great diva esque figure,
960
00:48:07,229 --> 00:48:08,057
a legend.
961
00:48:09,196 --> 00:48:12,165
And being Freddie
Mercury allowed Farrokh
962
00:48:12,199 --> 00:48:13,649
to be that person.
963
00:48:13,683 --> 00:48:16,514
[heartfelt music]
964
00:49:13,605 --> 00:49:16,436
[heartfelt music]
69694
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