The following two articles appeared together in the UK
newspaper in July of 1985. In the second article, Freddie
talks about what some of his favorite bands were at the time,
and I know someone had asked that on QMS not too long ago.
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_I AM THE CHAMPION_
Why Fantastic Freddie Stole Live Aid Show
(Boogie time for winners) by Nick Ferrari
_The Sun_ Friday July 19, 1985
Rock fans have been saying for years that Freddie Mercury is
the world's greatest.
Now the world knows how right they are--because Freddie and
his band, Queen, stole the honours at the star-studded Live
Aid concert.
His blistering show, with its haunting finale, left all the
other pop greats standing.
Freddie, a very energetic 38, cannot resist giving it all
he's got once he is on stage.
He says: "I have to win people over, otherwise it's not a
successful gig. It's my job to make sure people have a good
time. That's part of my duty. It's all to do with feeling
in control. That song We Are The Champions has been taken
up by football fans because it's a winners' song.
"I can't believe that somebody hasn't written a new song to
overtake it."
In a revealing interview Freddie talks freely and frankly
about his superstar friends, his astonishing song writing
output and his sad love life.
_Shock_
His composing has brought him into constant with Elton John,
Rod Stewart -- and the reclusive Michael Jackson.
He says: "I recorded about two or three tracks with Michael,
but none of them are out at the moment."
It was Freddie who started recording State of Shock with
Jackson, but he did not have time to finish it. Mick Jagger
stepped in--and they had a hit.
A Mercury-Jackson duo was also planned for the smash-hit
Thriller album, but that did not come off, either.
Not that Freddie worries over such set-backs. His recording
career did very nicely, thank you, when he released his solo
album _Mr Bad Guy_
"I was pleased with it," he says. "I was also pleased with
my voice. I like it husky. It's all the smoking. That's
why I smoke -- to get that husky voice."
So how did he reach the high notes? "I used the Demis
Roussos method," he says. "You get a pair of pliers under
the frock and go crunch!"
One of the tracks on Freddie's new album is entitled Love Is
Dangerous. Is that his view? He says: "I can be a good
lover, but I think after all these years I'm not a very good
partner for anybody. Maybe my love is dangerous, but who
wants their love to be safe?"
_Tragic_
"I'm possessed by love--but isn't everybody? Most of my
songs are love ballads and things to do with sadness and
torture and pain.
"In terms of love, you're not in control and I hate that
feeling. I seem to write a lot of sad songs because I'm a
very tragic person. But there's always an element of humour
at the end."
But for all his fame and adulation, Freddie remains a lonely
man.
He says: "The album track Living on My Own is very me. I
have to go round the world living in hotels. You can have a
whole shoal of people you know looking after you. But in
the end they all go away. But I'm not complaining. I'm
living on my own and having a boogie time."
And this man, with millions of fans all over the world
admits he has few friends.
Freddie says: "When you're a celebrity, it's hard to
approach somebody and say: 'Look, I'm normal underneath.'
Then what happens is the tread all over me because by trying
to be normal to somebody, suddenly I've come out of my shell
and become far more vulnerable than most people."
_Fun_
"Because I'm successful and have a lot of money, a lot of
greedy people prey on me. But that's something I've learned
to deal with.
"I'm riddled with scars and I just don't want any more."
Instead Freddie turns to his fans to feel wanted again. He
said: "I find even when people have let you down, you just
want to go on stage. It's very gratifying to know that all
sorts of people want you."
Freddie has also learned how to enjoy his fame. He says: "I
was caught up in being a star and I thought "This is the way
a star behaves. Now I don't give a damn. I want to do
things my way and have fun."
"If all my money ended tomorrow, I'd still go about like I
had lots of money because that's what I used to do before.
I'll always walk round like a Persian Poppinjay and no one's
gonna stop me."
"I love living life to the full -- that's my nature. Nobody
tells me what to do."
TEARS TURN ME ON
_The Sun_ Friday July 19, 1985
Freddie is a great admirer of modern band and current music
in spite of his years in the business.
He says: "I like Tears For Fears, Wham!, and Culture Club--
they're all very good. But Tears For Fears are among my
favourites because they're writing music I cam really relate
to."
_Dream_
"They've got a lot of rhythm and at the same time they've
got a lot of aggression. They also have very good songs.
But I love the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, above all
other singers. She must have one of the best voices ever.
She sings like a dream. I wish I could sing half as well as
she does. It's so natural.
"She puts her whole emotion into it. Each word she sings is
full of meaning and expression. I could listen to it
forever."
Freddie also reveals his deep love of opera. He says:
"Montserrat Cabelle is sensational. She has that same kind
of emotion as Aretha Franklin. The way she delivers a song
is so very natural. It's a very different gift."
But Freddie's favourite band remains Queen who have been
toether now for 13 years.
And he strongly denies making a solo album has threatened
the future of one of the world's greatest rock bands.
Freddie says: "It's probably brought us closer together and
will enhance our careers."
_Closer_
"It's like painting a picture. You have to step away from
it to see what it's like. I'm stepping away from Queen and
I think it's going to give everybody a shot in the arm.
"But I'll be working with Queen again. No doubt about that.
Queen are gonna come back even bigger."
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