| steven 35638 26.12.2009 11:15 |
Queen: The Ultimate Illustrated History of the Crown Kings of Rock, by Phil Sutcliffe, is an impressive book which I would recommend to all Queenies around the world. For those unfamiliar with it, it really is the ultimate history of Queen, next to Jacky Gunn and Jim Jenkin's Queen: As It Began. The author does not pretend that all of the information presented is factual, but argues that the information is as accurate as we're going to get. It acts almost as a compilation of the most successful books on Queen, since it uses many sources and quotes from other books. At any rate, I wish to present to all of you a reminder, or perhaps a new story, about a terrible display of behavior made by Freddie Mercury circa 1976(which is of course just a story, an interpretation that is being reminisced some 30 years later). I am in no way trying to give a beating on the man we all love and adore, but I think it is an bewildering account that is worth mentioning. I will quote the book (oh no!) since I couldn't have said the story better myself: Nonetheless, Mercury is reported to have committed one terrible display of incipient stardom's worst, partly provoked by rowdy Aussies. Talking to Laura Jackson for her book, Brian May: The Definitive Biography, Pete Brown said Mercury could be "very tough, he often made me cry during the years I worked for him." Then he described what happened before a gig at Sydney Hordern Pavilion on April 17. Driving the band to the venue, Brown found the route led through a crowded fairground and suggested they'd have to get out and walk. Mercury said, "My dear, I can't possibly walk anywhere!" So Brown drove very slowly through the throng. Irate pedestrians banged on the windows, flipped V-signs, and yelled "Pommy pussies!" "When we got inside," said Brown, "Freddie was in such a cold rage that he picked up a big mirror and literally smashed it over my head. Then he ordered me to find a brush and shovel to sweep up the glass at once." Oddly enough, Brown forgave him: "You see it was the humiliation he had suffered. He just had to take it out on someone. I understood." Take from it what you will. The book also mentions several other moments in which Freddie is perhaps a little over the top, though no where near as brutal as this story (but then again, that was his persona, at least on the stage!). |
| GratefulFan 26.12.2009 13:09 |
We unfamous are privileged to have our worst and more cringeworthy moments quietly retreat into an indifferent and anonymous history while the notable end up with theirs immortalized for all time. Ten more volumes could have been filled with stories of Mercury's everyday kindness, gentleness, thoughtfulness, loyalty, talent, wit and delicious irreverence, but that's not the way books are published. There have been more than enough sources over the years to conclude with 100% certainty that Freddie was quite capable of being a top notch asshole with people with whom he thought he could get away with it. And so what. His life and character development and opportunity for greater wisdom and temperance were cut short. If people don't deify human beings, then they don't have to be shocked or disappointed by them. |
| steven 35638 26.12.2009 13:22 |
I agree. There is much to be said about when it comes to Freddie's kindness, gentleness, thoughtfulness, and all the other wonderful qualities you remarked. For example, even during his downfall he made sure to have gifts ready for his friends at Christmas in 1991. I know for sure that Elton John recieved a gift in the mail. Granted, we know (at least I know) very little about Mr. Brown -- because who knows, maybe he was the asshole -- but I think it is relatively obvious that in his early years Freddie was somewhat of an ogre. But, you know, I don't look at this as something against him, rather I think it just makes him more human. Believe me, if I were in his shoes, I might have taken my anger out on somebody else. At any rate, he certainly grew wiser over the years. |
| Michael 26.12.2009 18:37 |
Come on, folks. Don't make excuses. IF it actually happened, it was a nasty thing to do. And from some of the stories I've heard about Brian May, he can be a jerk, as well, although not to that extent. Queen are/were certainly outstanding musicians, but - given the cheating, doping, and pomposity they've undertaken - they don't seem to be exemplary human beings. |
| Gregsynth 26.12.2009 23:42 |
None of the members of Queen were jerks/assholes in the general sense, but they had their occasional "jerk" moments. |
| john bodega 27.12.2009 00:27 |
Not that I want to spoil the mood but it's nonsense. Freddie would not be physically able to lift up a bigass mirror, and if it had smashed on her head she would've had loads of injuries. It's not like the movies where glass/mirrors cause no visible harm. |
| Micrówave 27.12.2009 00:45 |
No, it's completely true, Zebonka. Freddie then asked Pete to "pick out two". He then put his fingers in the "V" position and aimed right between Pete's eyes. At the last second, Pete stuck his hand up and blocked Freddie's advance, splitting his index and middle finger. This was promptly followed by Freddie making a fist. He then slapped the top of the fist causing it to go full circle and land on top of Pete's head. All this, while 'ol Curly was tuning his guitar. |
| Gregsynth 27.12.2009 01:15 |
Imagine getting your ass kicked by Freddie... LMFAO! |
| john bodega 27.12.2009 02:35 |
I just threw my 18 inch Freddie sculpture in the trash .. I don't want anything to do with such a violent fucking cunt. |
| ilikefreddyguy 27.12.2009 04:00 |
Oh Freddie does make me laugh. That bitch! |
| Dusta 27.12.2009 04:29 |
Jeepers. I just had one of those laughing/gagging jags. That must have been a tremendous sacrifice, throwing that eighteen inch sculpture in the trash.
Zebonka12 wrote: I just threw my 18 inch Freddie sculpture in the trash .. I don't want anything to do with such a violent fucking cunt. |
| Dusta 27.12.2009 04:33 |
I am enjoying that book thoroughly(though I confess to reading and finishing Wesley The Owl in between), but, was quite...startled to read this account. It was written so lightly, really....and, I wondered if it could be true, while hoping that it was not. |
| Angeline 27.12.2009 04:53 |
Am I the only one who sees the funny side of a young up and coming star coming to terms with new found fame and influence and throwing a major petulant strop in the process? Boring, well behaved individuals do not become one of the most famous rock stars in the world. Freddie, wherever you are - you can smash a mirror over my head anytime. |
| mr feller 7777 27.12.2009 05:59 |
Zebonka12 wrote: I just threw my 18 inch Freddie sculpture in the trash .. I don't want anything to do with such a violent fucking cunt. LOL! |
| Sebastian 27.12.2009 07:48 |
'Twas already known and widespread long before that book was issued. |
| john bodega 27.12.2009 08:31 |
It was totally justified - he only did it because of something the bitch said about Paul Rodgers..... |
| The Real Wizard 27.12.2009 12:58 |
Michael wrote: Come on, folks. Don't make excuses. IF it actually happened, it was a nasty thing to do. And from some of the stories I've heard about Brian May, he can be a jerk, as well, although not to that extent. Queen are/were certainly outstanding musicians, but - given the cheating, doping, and pomposity they've undertaken - they don't seem to be exemplary human beings. What have you heard about the other three members of Queen that comes remotely close to this mirror story (true or not) ? |
| 4 x Vision 27.12.2009 13:25 |
My dad who grew up with Queen would always recount that Freddie was "a bit of a bastard", claiming there used to be articles about his temper tantrums in the tabloids. He vaguely recalls an article about Freddie kicking a male escort out of a limousine making the papers in the 80s. 2 things tho : my dad's mind isn't the most credible of sources and neither are the British tabloids. He was though still the person who shouted me into watch Bo Rap on the TV very shortly after his death to show me how brilliant Queen were when i personally had no interest or knowledge about music (or who Freddie was)... and he then gave me the GHs vinyl which started my long love affair with the group. He also claims Queen and ABBA where the biggest groups in history in his opinion (So don't be too mean if he's wrong lol). I guess Freddie was just a bit of a prima donna.... the drugs probably didn't help. I'm also curious though to why the others have been dragged into this post. I know Brian has walked out of the odd interview, Roger had a mad weekend with Rod Stewart in France (???) and John had his strippers night... but nothing which suggests anything remotely close to battering someone with a mirror? Could you go further MICHAEL? |
| catqueen 27.12.2009 14:38 |
I wondered about the truth of this also - a big mirror is heavy, surely it would have eitehr been too heavy to actually smash into someone with force, or else it would have half killed teh person who got hit. But there is presumably a grain of truth somewhere in it. And Freddie was a bit of a primadonna at times. :) We all have our moments, but a famous person's moments are bound to be exagerated a bit by the media. |
| QUEENexpert 27.12.2009 18:14 |
Freddie was a diva there's nothing more you can really say. Everyone can be an ass sometimes. I'm sure Freddie, and Brian, and Roger, and John had moments like that. |
| dragon-fly 28.12.2009 05:16 |
Freddie smashed the mirror..... Roger smashed the drum kit.... Brian smashed the guitar.... And what? Anybody can storm off. Freddie wasn't a monk. He wasn't saint. And he could do a lot of silly things like anybody else. Specifically being under the stress while touring. As for the it being the truth or not: 1- Mr. Brown was in the wrong place and in the wrong time. 2- Mr. Brown simply "decorated" his story. Let a coin to decide... |
| 4 x Vision 28.12.2009 08:50 |
I've had plenty of "nobody" bands do a lot worse to my club and dressing room... and it's always the lead singer funnily enough. I made the mistake of leaving Pete Doherty in a room with all our video surveilannce as his manager wanted a key to a room for "Pete's privacy", and it was the only one where there were 2 keys to the door on this occassion. Cleaning up the assortment of "powders" or vomit he left behind wasn't bad, but rewiring 18 video cameras was costly... fool!!! He actually played a decent gig tho surprisingly!!! |
| Karmablade 29.12.2009 22:05 |
i think freddie was kinda cocky in the beginning but later on he became a very humble and nice guy. |
| john bodega 29.12.2009 22:16 |
He was going to smash lots more mirrors on the black people who weren't allowed into the Sun City gigs but Brian convinced him not to. |
| richrich 04.12.2018 22:19 |
"He was going to smash lots more mirrors on the black people who weren't allowed into the Sun City gigs but Brian convinced him not to" Lmfao. |
| spiralstatic 05.12.2018 17:55 |
If we assume there lies truth at the root of a story, I think it's still relatively safe to infer that either: a) Freddie smashed a tiny mirror over the bloke's head or, more likely b) Freddie smashed a big mirror ON THE FLOOR and made this guy clean it up... but there were no heads involved. I'm pretty certain that if Freddie smashed a "big mirror" over anyone's head they wouldn't be in a state to be like "Oh, yes, I understand - I'll clean it up your majesty...." Call me a cynic.... Either way, I'm accepting Freddie smashed a mirror. More fool him. Seven years bad luck. Oh dear, it appears we now have the explanation to the entirety of Freddie's life! Someone better make *that* into a book!!! ;p |
| emrabt 05.12.2018 18:10 |
Isn't it more likely that the story was, "Freddie smashed a mirror 'hanging on the wall' over my head" and the story was misunderstood? If Freddie picked up and smashed a big mirror over someones head the British press would have been all over the story. |
| Sweetandtenderhooligan 05.12.2018 20:15 |
Lol we all know he could be a diva. |
| Blackvy 05.12.2018 20:24 |
spiralstatic wrote: If we assume there lies truth at the root of a story, I think it's still relatively safe to infer that either: a) Freddie smashed a tiny mirror over the bloke's head or, more likely b) Freddie smashed a big mirror ON THE FLOOR and made this guy clean it up... but there were no heads involved. I'm pretty certain that if Freddie smashed a "big mirror" over anyone's head they wouldn't be in a state to be like "Oh, yes, I understand - I'll clean it up your majesty...." Call me a cynic.... Either way, I'm accepting Freddie smashed a mirror.I agree. |
| Sweetandtenderhooligan 05.12.2018 20:45 |
Spiralstatic: You're right. If he had smashed a large mirror over someone's head, the person would be so injured they wouldn't have been able to clean the glass up. |