“It's Freddie's tribute to Elvis in a way,” said guitarist Brian May. “Freddie was very fond of Elvis.” Mercury said he even styled his vocals on the song to sound like The King Of Rock'n'Roll. “My voice does sound a bit like Elvis Presley's on 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love',” explained the singer.
It is often said that Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the British rock band Queen, was a huge fan of Elvis Presley. In fact, Mercury reportedly once said, “If I'm ever on my death bed, I want to hear 'Blue Suede Shoes' playing in the background.” However, it is not clear if the two ever actually met.
In 1979, Mercury sat in the bath and spent 10 minutes writing “Crazy Little Thing Called Love.” According to his bandmate, this was his way of tributing Elvis, who died in 1977. “It's Freddie's tribute to Elvis in a way,” Queen guitarist Brian May said, per UDiscover Music. “Freddie was very fond of Elvis.”
While there had been rumours about Freddie's sexuality, the constant presence of Mary meant his sexuality was not seriously questioned for some time and as Queen started to become famous, the frontman kept his secret. Freddie dedicated the song 'Love Of My Life' to Mary Austin, and proposed in 1973.
Elvis Presley tragically died at the age of just 42 in August 1977. Two years later, Freddie Mercury decided to write a tribute song to The King. And the result was the No 1 hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love, which the Queen singer wrote in the bath in around 10 minutes.
The 70s. Freddie Mercury was heavily influenced by the hard, edgy, blues-based rock acts such as Jimi Hendrix and Cream. A young Freddie began singing with bands in London, and during this time he struck up a friendship with Brain May, a guitarist and Roger Taylor a drummer who performed in the band Smile.
Freddie Mercury, like many other musicians, held a deep admiration for John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison. The Beatles permanently altered the music industry in the 1960s and influenced many of the artists who came after them, Mercury included.
Freddie Mercury may have been one of the more extroverted singers of his generation but his closest friend in Queen was the quietest member. Peter Freestone was a PA to the band and witnessed the friendship from close up and has revealed what bonded Freddie with bassist John Deacon.
With a study friendship spanning 15 years, fellow singer Peter Straker was Mercury's best buddy. The West End star had bonded over the 1970s and survived it all.
Best Picture nominee Bohemian Rhapsody is a true story based on the life of singer Freddie Mercury. That said, it does take some liberties with the story, simplifying many aspects to keep the story moving and to make it a bit more flashy.
“Freddie was very fond of Elvis.” Mercury said he even styled his vocals on the song to sound like The King Of Rock'n'Roll.
The 25-minute ceremony ended with Freddie's favorite opera aria, Verdi's D'amour sull 'ali Rose sung by his dear friend Montserrat Caballe.
Apparently, in 1962, Queen Elizabeth II invited Elvis Presley to join the Royal Variety Show. A representative called Elvis' manager, Colonel Tom Parker, who immediately refused the invitation.
So who was Elvis true love? Elvis was romantically linked to several women, but Priscilla Presley was his true love. They were only married for six years, from 1967 to 1973. The good times didn't last forever, to say the least, but Priscilla remains the keeper of Elvis' legacy.
He invited Domino to the press conference and when one reporter referred to him as “The King of Rock 'n' Roll,” Elvis pulled the room's focus to Fats Domino, insinuating that he was the true King. “[Domino] was one of my influences from way back,” said Presley.
It indicated the impact that John Lennon and his music had on people, even though Freddie had never met John in person.
Back when Bohemian Rhapsody was first announced in 2010, Sacha Baron Cohen was attached to play Freddie Mercury. Yet three years later he'd left the project over creative differences with producers, having wanted to make a more adult decadent biopic.
Who earns Freddie Mercury's royalties and how much do they get? After his death on November 24, 1991, Freddie gave his home, 50 percent of his recording royalties and most of his wealth to Mary Austin, with the remainder going to his parents and sister.
May revealed he and front man Mercury, who passed away in 1991, were extremely close. "We were like brothers. We still are," he said.
Freddie Mercury was an ESFP personality type. He was energetic and there was nothing he loved more than being in the spotlight. As an ESFP, he brought excitement to everyday situations.
Mercury would often comment on how impressed he was by the musical talent of Prince, and he loved the star's semi-autobiographical film Purple Rain. Mercury's former PA Peter Freestone said, “If Freddie stayed in during the evenings he would usually 'veg out' and watch television…
John Deacon
John at Freddie's funeral. It is well known that John stayed away from Freddie during his illness, according to the words of Peter Freestone, John was the only member of the band who never visited Freddie while he was in bed, so they were surprised that he attended his funeral.
Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson's lives were intertwined in only the way two of the world's biggest star's could understand. The Queen star and King of Pop bonded over superstardom, their love of music – and even collaborated on duets together – yet both stars rarely spoke about their friendship.
Though known for his outgoing stage presence, Mercury was very shy in private.
Queen perform Bohemian Rhapsody at Live Aid in 1985
Originally it was MJ who pursued Freddie. Rolling Stone reported that when Jackson was spotted backstage at a Queen show in Los Angeles and asked if he was a fan of the band, he replied: "I'm a Freddie Mercury fan."