I don't trust biographies very much, most or all of them omit real info and the bad side of the person. The unofficial ones probably dig up some real dirt but they're not necessarily closer to the truth.
I read three (kinda) official ones:
- "As it began" by Jackie Smith and Jim Beach omits lots of stuff and is completely outdated, although it covers the whole Freddie era and it's essential to know all of the common anecdotes.
- "Mercury and Me" by Jim Hutton is interesting if you really want to find out how Freddie really was (so moody!). I think it doesn't really go too far regarding intimate details, but you might find it a bit too morbid because it's first and foremost Freddie's love life with Jim. Still respectful though, not too shocking to read unless you have an innocent concept of Freddie.
- "Queen Unseen" by Peter Hince (Ratty) is the book I enjoyed the most. It's not so much about the music, but lots of down-to-earth anecdotes and stories of what happened behind the scenes when Queen were at their prime.
I never read the Peter Freestone book, I'd like some impressions from people here.
I think 'The Ultimate Illustrated History' is really good. I've got the 2009 edition, perhaps the more recent one is even better, from what I've been told.
Mr Mercury wrote:
This one by Fatty is the best, even if it is "complete bullshit" as he says.
Yes! How could I forget!
A complete true story: Brian, Roger and John visiting Freddie the day before he died.
At this point Pheobe enters the bedroom carrying a tray of tea and Jaffa Cakes.
Freddie beckons Pheobe over to him and whispers something in his ear.
Pheobe takes the plate of Jaffa Cakes away and returns a minute or so later with a plate of plain digestives.
Queen The Early Years is brilliant.
I also like Mercury & Me a lot, despite its flaws and perhaps cynical motivation for release....
On the band as a whole? Has not been written yet....
Peter Hince's book is also very good
Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography by Lesley Ann Jones
Is This the Real Life: The Untold Story of Queen by Mark Blake
Somebody to Love: The Life, Death and Legacy of Freddie Mercury by Mark Langthorne and Matt Richards
Mercury and Me by Jim Hutton
I read Ratty's book and it was all about how many women and drugs he had. I also got the impression that Queen were areseholes except for John. Freddie comes across are a real difficult bloke, despite all the supposed generosity people talk about.
dudley-fufkin 7834 wrote:
I read Ratty's book and it was all about how many women and drugs he had. I also got the impression that Queen were areseholes except for John. Freddie comes across are a real difficult bloke, despite all the supposed generosity people talk about.
It's probably closer to reality than you think. Jim Hutton painted Freddie as generous and kind indeed, but he also talks about his tantrums. Ratty's impressions don't contradict Hutton's. He was definitely a nice but moody kind of guy.
Queen: The Early Years - absolutely indispensable and should be on every fan's shelf.
Queen Unseen - again indispensable.
As It Began - useful for a global overview. It's about time an official bio of +QUEEN: 1971 - 1991+ was done in full and comprehensively.
Mercury and Me - worth a read on the loo; cringe-worthy in many, many ways, but gives a good insight in to Freddie from a 1st hand source.
Lesley Ann Jones is a typical tabloid writer (Daily Mail reader) and ought to be banned from putting pen to paper ever again.
The least interesting of all the Freddie-books is the one by Lesley-Ann Jones.Way too much Budapest-stuff and her silly suggestion that Freddie might in truth have been straight, makes it an appalling read. Also, I am really not interested on whether Freddie was being fucked or if he liked to fuck. Getting into it showed what Jones was after...
Somebody To Love is by far the best book on Freddie's later life as it tells his story alongside the spreading of the virus. It also features a halfway decent explanation of the reason that kept Freddie from coming out as a gay man in the late 70's. Having said that, he was still a coward for appearing with Mary Austin as his girlfriend for publicity reasons...
Jim Hutton obviously lacked contemplation as his book seldom questioned Freddie's sometimes rather dubious moves (Austin arguing against Freddie buying Jim a car - Mercury should have simply told her to fuck off).
I enjoyed Freestones first book, but Peter could have gotten into greater detail here and there. There are dozens of great Freddie-stories which have never been published in a book so far...
Mark Blake's book is another dull enterprise...