1
00:00:19,080 --> 00:00:21,071
All right.
2
00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:38,796
The way I look at myself,
if I ever do, I'm a man of extremes.
3
00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:45,149
I think every character
is made up of a load of ingredients.
4
00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,556
I just think I have a very soft side
and a very hard side.
5
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So if the right person gets me,
they'll find I'm very vulnerable
6
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:07,072
and I can be a real baby,
if they find me at the right time.
7
00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:09,555
At the same time,
I'm very strong and hard.
8
00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,989
There's no half measures with me.
9
00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:45,636
This film tells the untold story
surrounding Freddie Mercury,
10
00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:48,115
casting light on the man
behind the music,
11
00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,996
and tracing his strangely
unpublicized roots to exotic shores.
12
00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:56,670
Come with us on a journey
back through time and culture
13
00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:00,076
to the land and birth
of Farrokh Bulsara.
14
00:02:03,160 --> 00:02:05,720
Though only a tiny speck in the atlas,
15
00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:09,435
Zanzibar casts long shadows
across the imagination.
16
00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,996
Whether the 19508 reality
of this old Arab trading post
17
00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,352
matched the perceived glamour
of Sinbad, sultans, slaves and spices
18
00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,391
is, of course, another matter.
19
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When it comes to throwing light
on those early days,
20
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no one alive could possibly
surpass this guide.
21
00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,391
I'm Jer Bulsara, Freddie's mummy.
22
00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,992
Nothing in Zanzibar
acknowledges or celebrates
23
00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:45,316
the importance of Freddie Mercury,
24
00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,399
a situation that artist John da Silva,
an elder schoolfriend of Freddie's,
25
00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,431
would like to see rectified.
26
00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:56,429
There must be something, a plaque,
on Freddie Mercury.
27
00:02:56,480 --> 00:03:00,917
I think Freddie
has built himself up so well.
28
00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:07,034
In fact, Zanzibar would
certainly gain from that.
29
00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,994
I'm Kash Cooke, Freddie's sister.
30
00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:32,393
It's very tropical,
beautiful beaches, beautiful sea.
31
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Very hot.
32
00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:36,710
And that's exactly What it is.
33
00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:38,433
Unspoilt.
34
00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:41,552
Dirty. Smelly.
35
00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,359
It's all right as a holiday place,
but not to live in, I'm afraid.
36
00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,311
He was born on 5th September 1946.
37
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Funnily enough, it happened
to be on our Parsee New Year's Day.
38
00:04:28,280 --> 00:04:31,671
In this very hospital,
the Government Hospital, Zanzibar,
39
00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:34,155
on 5th September 1946,
40
00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,239
Farrokh Bulsara first saw
the dazzling light of the world.
41
00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,680
The name we selected was Farrokh.
That was his birth name.
42
00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:58,839
That was a name at that time
very fashionable in the Parsees.
43
00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,996
I just wanted to name him that.
44
00:05:12,480 --> 00:05:14,915
The world into which
little Farrokh was born
45
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,429
was a placid, tropical paradise,
46
00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:20,632
whose ancient white walls
and thin, ramshackle streets
47
00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:23,069
allowed fleeting glimpses of green leaves
48
00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:26,511
against azure waters
and white coral sands.
49
00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:32,960
Born into a high-ranking Parsee family
working for the British government,
50
00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:35,560
he was in the public eye
virtually from birth,
51
00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,309
after his baby picture won
a local photo of the year contest.
52
00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:44,591
For ourselves, very sociable,
very friendly people.
53
00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,110
But for the children, like Freddie,
growing up,
54
00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:50,436
there wasn't much to do.
55
00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,312
Not much excitement.
56
00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,439
The start of Farrokh's day
is his walk to school
57
00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,279
down these narrow Stone Town streets...
58
00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:20,035
...soaking up the cultural flavours
59
00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,756
of the Arab traders, East African
fishermen and colonial expatriates
60
00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,791
he rubs shoulders with.
61
00:06:40,280 --> 00:06:42,920
Stopping off along the way
at Camlurs Restaurant,
62
00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:46,669
whose courtyard was his favoured
sanctuary and social nexus,
63
00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,236
a place for games and gossip
of the kind exchanged by adults
64
00:06:50,280 --> 00:06:52,669
on the city's white stone benches.
65
00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,874
Even then, his favourite spot
was Stone Town's harbour,
66
00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:13,911
where he would watch the passing ships,
67
00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,794
dreaming of faraway places
and foreign music.
68
00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,673
He used to play different music.
69
00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,519
Indian music, folk music, English.
70
00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:28,475
He used to pick up one of the records
and start singing.
71
00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:32,798
He had a variety of tastes in music.
72
00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:42,239
When we used to go
to functions and parties
73
00:07:42,280 --> 00:07:45,636
he used to sing, obviously,
Whenever somebody asked him.
74
00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,832
He used to feel so proud
to make everybody happy.
75
00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:50,598
Even at that age.
76
00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,109
Happiness is the most important thing.
77
00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:56,391
If I'm happy, then it shows in my work.
78
00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:59,591
Basically, I just want to be happy
79
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:02,314
and make a lot of money
and buy a lot of things.
80
00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,592
In this photo shop,
the Capital Arts Studio,
81
00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:18,598
the very first pictures of Farrokh
were taken.
82
00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:31,111
Many people...
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00:08:31,160 --> 00:08:35,677
They were young and now they are
big men, they remember my studio.
84
00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:38,997
"Since we were very young and
we come to take photographs today,
85
00:08:39,040 --> 00:08:41,031
"it's the same studio, you didn't change."
86
00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:43,720
I say I want to keep it like that.
87
00:08:43,760 --> 00:08:47,833
Bring your children and grandchildren,
you'll find the same.
88
00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,269
Almost every Zanzibar?“
has sat for pictures in this room,
89
00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:58,756
unchanged since the days
when Farrokh posed here.
90
00:09:12,120 --> 00:09:15,670
This man, the current owner's father,
photographed Farrokh
91
00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:19,236
just as he documented the rest
of the island's Parsee community,
92
00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,271
then a far larger group.
93
00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,237
His father is my uncle. My father's brother.
94
00:09:26,280 --> 00:09:28,749
That is how we are connected.
He is my first cousin.
95
00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:32,270
When he was very young, a small child,
96
00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,596
that is, about three to four years old,
97
00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:38,554
when his mother went to work,
she used to leave him with my mother.
98
00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,989
Because my mother was a housewife.
99
00:09:41,040 --> 00:09:43,236
Both his parents were working.
100
00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:46,272
There were lots of Parsees here
at that time.
101
00:09:46,320 --> 00:09:48,516
We all used to have gatherings,
102
00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:53,350
especially when we had
our religious feast days.
103
00:09:54,120 --> 00:09:56,316
We had our fire temple here.
104
00:09:56,360 --> 00:09:59,000
We used to go there,
have parties there.
105
00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:01,350
Sometimes we gathered
at somebody's place
106
00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:03,391
and have big parties.
107
00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:11,150
It was here in Zanzibar's fire temple,
at the age of seven,
108
00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:15,194
that Freddie was confirmed into
the faith with a navjote ceremony,
109
00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,595
the poignant Parsee initiation ritual
110
00:10:17,640 --> 00:10:21,235
undertaken by the followers
of the ancient prophet Zarathustra.
111
00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:27,631
The main difference that I see
112
00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:33,278
between Zoroastrianism
and the other religions of the world,
113
00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,311
is, for us, life is a celebration.
114
00:11:05,720 --> 00:11:07,791
He was interested in Western music.
115
00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:12,789
You'd be playing records,
116
00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:16,674
looking at the fashion magazines
and pop magazines
117
00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:19,792
to try and see What the outside world
is doing.
118
00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,116
Although by the time
we got the magazines,
119
00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,912
they were a couple of months old.
120
00:11:23,960 --> 00:11:26,076
But it was still news.
121
00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:30,796
That was the only way to be
up to date with the Western world.
122
00:11:49,880 --> 00:11:54,795
Farrokh's yearning to see foreign lands
was granted at age eight and a half
123
00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:57,992
when his parents decided his education
would be better sewed
124
00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,350
by a spell in an Indian boarding school.
125
00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:08,193
In the summer of 1955,
he set sail on an epic journey
126
00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,390
across a vast expanse of ocean,
127
00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,239
leaving all that was familiar behind him.
128
00:12:27,360 --> 00:12:31,115
After an eight-week journey,
Farrokh arrives in Bombay,
129
00:12:31,160 --> 00:12:36,234
the northwestern Indian port that
his Parsee ancestors helped build.
130
00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:40,035
He combats the stress of being
an eight-year-old alone at sea for so long
131
00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,152
by picturing the continent
that awaits him.
132
00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:48,593
Like most visitors, his first sight
of the city is the Gateway to India.
133
00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,515
A city of 16 million inhabitants,
134
00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:59,951
Bombay is pure culture shock
for little Farrokh.
135
00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,680
Hailing from a town of 60,000,
136
00:13:03,720 --> 00:13:06,838
he is dazed and confused
by the noise and bustle.
137
00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:10,794
With a sense of joyous anticipation
commingling with his fear of the unknown,
138
00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,639
he sets off on the train journey southeast.
139
00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,956
Hour after hour, the Indian countryside
flies past Farrokh's eyes.
140
00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:45,152
But his sense of wonder
is tempered by homesickness,
141
00:13:45,200 --> 00:13:47,919
worries about his sister's
emotional wellbeing,
142
00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,270
anxiety about What awaits him,
143
00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:54,029
and a general sadness that he must
pay for a superior education
144
00:13:54,080 --> 00:13:57,596
with this enormous separation
from family and home.
145
00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:16,477
In transit through Pune,
146
00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:20,753
a bastion during Gandhi's campaign
for Indian independence,
147
00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,873
he is confronted for the first time
by the depths of the continent's poverty.
148
00:14:38,600 --> 00:14:40,830
The bus takes him on to Panchgani,
149
00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:43,190
the Mecca of the Maharasthra province,
150
00:14:43,240 --> 00:14:46,870
1,334 metres above sea level.
151
00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:03,632
In 1955, before his ninth birthday,
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00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,958
and at the end of a 60-day journey
since leaving his parents in Zanzibar,
153
00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:11,709
Farrokh arrives in the town
that will be his home for eight years,
154
00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,673
and enrols at St Peter's
Church of England School.
155
00:15:14,720 --> 00:15:16,996
My name is Roy Robinson.
156
00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:22,479
I am currently the officiating principal
at St Peter's School, Panchgani.
157
00:15:22,960 --> 00:15:25,634
The school was founded
in the year 1902.
158
00:15:25,680 --> 00:15:29,992
It is a residential public school
which presents boys
159
00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:35,114
for the Indian Cenificate of
Secondary Education examination.
160
00:15:36,200 --> 00:15:42,719
Farrokh Bulsara came to St Peter's
as a boarder from Zanzibar
161
00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:46,515
in the year 1955.
162
00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:50,792
The exact date on which he came
163
00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:52,592
was the 14th February.
164
00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:57,157
He was good in sports, music and art.
165
00:15:57,200 --> 00:16:00,670
He soon came to be known as Freddie.
166
00:16:01,680 --> 00:16:06,117
Unfortunately, Freddie left St Peter's
167
00:16:06,160 --> 00:16:10,552
on the 25m February 1963,
168
00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:14,309
having failed
in the class-ten examination.
169
00:16:16,600 --> 00:16:19,353
A thorough root through
the original school journals
170
00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,438
reveals that Freddie
acted in a variety of plays,
171
00:16:22,480 --> 00:16:25,359
more often than not
playing women 's parts.
172
00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:28,631
At school festivities,
he began singing in public,
173
00:16:28,680 --> 00:16:32,150
wowing the assembly
with standards like '0 Sole Mio
174
00:16:32,200 --> 00:16:34,111
and the Champ Of The Gypsies.
175
00:16:34,160 --> 00:16:36,834
He was an accomplished boxer,
a good singer,
176
00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,396
an outstanding pianist,
an unbeatable table-tennis player,
177
00:16:40,440 --> 00:16:43,239
and a thoroughly mediocre
cross-country runner.
178
00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:03,314
Panchgani, February 51h 1958.
179
00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:08,875
Dear Mum and Dad, I hope you are
all well and Kashmira's cold is better.
180
00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:10,593
Don't worry, I'm fine.
181
00:17:10,640 --> 00:17:13,996
Me and my friends at the Ashley House
are like a second family.
182
00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:15,872
The teachers are very strict.
183
00:17:15,920 --> 00:17:19,072
Discipline is most important
here at St Peter's.
184
00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:24,116
I'm very happy to tell you
that! was awarded the big trophy.
185
00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,470
Best all-rounder, junior.
186
00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:30,195
I received a big trophy
and they even took a photograph,
187
00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:33,198
which will appear
in the annual school magazine.
188
00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:35,117
I'm very proud and I hope you are too.
189
00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:39,597
Send my love to Kash.
I love my little sister, as I love you all.
190
00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:41,074
Farrokh.
191
00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,157
Very loving, both of them,
for each other.
192
00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:48,830
He always adored his sister.
193
00:17:48,880 --> 00:17:53,590
I recall it was time for him
to go back to boarding school
194
00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:56,473
and we were getting him
ready to go to the ship.
195
00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:59,672
He wanted to give me a paning gift.
196
00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:04,635
I picked these lovely hair slides.
I said, "I want those."
197
00:18:04,680 --> 00:18:09,117
He says, "You can't have those, that's
too much money. Have something else."
198
00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:11,595
"Ifl can't have those,
I don't want anyihing."
199
00:18:11,640 --> 00:18:13,756
I remember him saying, "All right, then."
200
00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:15,791
And he bought me those.
201
00:18:17,000 --> 00:18:20,470
So I can remember that very well.
202
00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,911
He was so generous even then.
That was his nature.
203
00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:27,878
I like to feel
that I am just being my honest self.
204
00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:32,517
As far as I'm concerned,
I want to pack in as much of life and fun,
205
00:18:32,560 --> 00:18:35,518
having a good time, as much as I can,
206
00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,551
Within the years I have.
207
00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:41,230
When he used to come on holidays,
they were so much attached.
208
00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:44,989
I could see the difference
when he had to go back to school.
209
00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:47,316
But we couldn't help it.
210
00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,393
Back in Bombay,
211
00:18:55,440 --> 00:18:59,274
Freddie absorbs different influences
from various cultures.
212
00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,631
During shorter holidays,
he stays here with his aunt, Sheroo Khory.
213
00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:15,277
It is she who discovers
the first signs of his artistic talent.
214
00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:20,110
Once when,
I think he was nine years old,
215
00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:22,515
Freddie used
to come running after breakfast,
216
00:19:22,560 --> 00:19:25,916
and the radio was on,
and when the music finished
217
00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:28,679
he went to the stool again
and played that tune.
218
00:19:29,400 --> 00:19:32,791
"I must get him music lessons.
He's got an ear for music."
219
00:19:36,040 --> 00:19:38,793
Panchgani, April 10011961.
220
00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:40,877
Dear Mum and Dad, I am so glad
221
00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,275
that you agreed
to let me have piano lessons.
222
00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:48,440
I'm really enjoying it. Mrs Smith is
very nice. I'm making good progress.
223
00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:51,711
I'm practising a lot
and I really like every minute of it.
224
00:19:51,760 --> 00:19:54,434
But I have to tell you
about something else.
225
00:19:54,480 --> 00:19:57,154
Bruce Murray had the idea
to form a band
226
00:19:57,200 --> 00:19:59,271
and asked me if I wanted to be in it.
227
00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:01,470
We will call ourselves the Hectics.
228
00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:04,080
Apart from Bruce and myself,
Victory Rana,
229
00:20:04,120 --> 00:20:07,795
Derrick Branche and Farang Irani
will be in the band.
230
00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,229
Tomorrow we will meet
for our first rehearsal.
231
00:20:10,280 --> 00:20:12,840
I'm very excited about this.
Love, Farrokh.
232
00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:21,430
These days, founding Hectics
member Farang Irani
233
00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:23,551
runs a restaurant in Bombay.
234
00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:25,910
The founder of the group
was Bruce Murray.
235
00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:29,316
Then Freddie, as he was, Farrokh,
was on the piano.
236
00:20:29,360 --> 00:20:30,839
The three of them got together.
237
00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:36,071
Freddie's first crush at school
was Gita Choksi,
238
00:20:36,120 --> 00:20:39,715
who we visit in Bombay
and who will later return to Panchgani
239
00:20:39,760 --> 00:20:42,957
to take us on a tour
of key original locations.
240
00:20:44,480 --> 00:20:47,552
Apart from being Freddie's
first unrequited love,
241
00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:51,753
Gita was one of the first
and most passionate Hectics fans.
242
00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,076
Today, she works in a travel agency.
243
00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,038
It was a very simple, uncomplicated life.
244
00:20:59,360 --> 00:21:04,275
Boy meets girl.
Girl holds hands with boy.
245
00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,597
If you had a kiss, it was like,
"Oh, my God!"
246
00:21:10,360 --> 00:21:14,035
A crucial romantic function
of the St Peter's School choir
247
00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:15,991
was the rare opportunity for pupils
248
00:21:16,040 --> 00:21:19,078
from the boys' and girls' schools
to interact.
249
00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:25,116
Most of the girls who were with us
had their brothers in St Peter's.
250
00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:27,436
But we never got a chance to meet.
251
00:21:27,480 --> 00:21:30,359
The only time you could meet
the boys was in church.
252
00:21:30,400 --> 00:21:34,758
In the choir, the girls and boys sat together.
253
00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:38,111
So that's how we passed
all the little love letters.
254
00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:48,871
We were after all the other boys
who were way-out good-looking,
255
00:21:48,920 --> 00:21:52,276
never thought anything about him,
he was very nondescript,
256
00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:54,994
buckteeth, greased-flat hair.
257
00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:58,192
I know that he did have
a very soft spot for Gita.
258
00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:02,153
But she wasn't interested in him.
259
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,430
Gita was a favourite amongst all of us.
260
00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:07,120
If Freddie did like me, he didn't tell me.
261
00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:31,157
Panchgani, March 15m 1962.
262
00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:33,919
Dear Mum and Dad,
as I write this letter to you,
263
00:22:33,960 --> 00:22:37,237
I am so angry because a terrible
injustice happened to me.
264
00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:41,035
Let me tell you. We were all in
the dormitory at Lawrence Villa.
265
00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,994
Victory, Farang, Derrick
and all the other boys.
266
00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:46,997
Suddenly, Bruce started to hit me.
267
00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:51,557
"Let's box, bucky, " he said,
and although I said no, he just started.
268
00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:55,230
Within a few moments, against my will,
there was a boxing match
269
00:22:55,280 --> 00:22:57,271
and! was in the middle of it.
270
00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:02,272
The boys were all shouting
and throwing pillows at us.
271
00:23:02,320 --> 00:23:06,200
Because of the noise,
Mr Davis entered and stopped the fight.
272
00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:09,599
Bruce lied and said I was the one
who started the fight,
273
00:23:09,640 --> 00:23:12,075
and that he was just defending himself.
274
00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:15,112
All the boys backed him up,
so Mr Bazin, the principal,
275
00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:17,117
decided I had to be punished.
276
00:23:17,160 --> 00:23:19,959
What a terrible punishment
they picked for me.
277
00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,709
I had to go to the barber's shop
and have my hair cut really short.
278
00:23:24,760 --> 00:23:27,832
I hated Bruce for that.
You know how much I love my hair.
279
00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:29,951
It'll never be the same again.
280
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:32,799
I am so sad and angry. Farrokh.
281
00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:35,351
School, attention.
282
00:23:39,400 --> 00:23:41,118
School, right turn.
283
00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:30,037
India is my country.
284
00:24:30,080 --> 00:24:32,674
All Indians are my brothers and sisters.
285
00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,279
I love my country.
286
00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:41,392
That this rigidly
authoritarian establishment,
287
00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:45,274
Whose traditions have remained
unchanged for half a century,
288
00:24:45,320 --> 00:24:48,233
should produce one of the world's
most original human beings
289
00:24:48,280 --> 00:24:50,032
may seem ironic.
290
00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,310
But Freddie's unique individuality
291
00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:54,556
developed
as a natural teenage response
292
00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:56,637
to the school's pressure to conform.
293
00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:05,033
I said, "Would you like to paint?"
"Yes, I would."
294
00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,311
Because I knew he had
painted those Christmas cards.
295
00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:11,398
So I got him some oil paint.
296
00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,070
I said you draw the outline first
of the horses.
297
00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:18,272
It was the first time that I found
that he had talents.
298
00:25:21,400 --> 00:25:24,119
Alongside his musical enthusiasm,
299
00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:27,278
Freddie was
also a gifted visual artist.
300
00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,358
Mrs Smith, the daughter
of Freddie's art teacher,
301
00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:34,075
remembers one of his most
surprising idiosyncrasies.
302
00:25:34,120 --> 00:25:37,909
When Freddie called people "darling",
we were terribly shocked.
303
00:25:37,960 --> 00:25:40,952
It was something that was
not spoken about in public.
304
00:25:41,000 --> 00:25:42,513
We were all shocked.
305
00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:45,518
You don't hear boys saying
"darling" to another boy.
306
00:25:45,560 --> 00:25:48,518
You didn't say it to a girl
in public in those days.
307
00:25:48,560 --> 00:25:51,234
To hear anyone say "darling"
to another boy...
308
00:25:56,200 --> 00:26:00,797
We're standing here today
on What I consider hallowed ground.
309
00:26:00,840 --> 00:26:04,435
This is the stage and the hall
of St Peter's High School,
310
00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:09,111
Where Freddie and the Hectics
first started the band and the show.
311
00:26:09,160 --> 00:26:13,279
Believe me, I have goosebumps
on my arms, chills down my spine,
312
00:26:13,320 --> 00:26:16,312
because I am going back
almost 40 years.
313
00:26:16,360 --> 00:26:18,351
They practised in the hall.
314
00:26:20,800 --> 00:26:23,189
Elvis Presley, Pat Boone,
yes, were there,
315
00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:27,029
but the Hectics were here
in flesh and blood. That was wonderful.
316
00:26:27,080 --> 00:26:29,276
There was Freddie on the piano,
317
00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:31,436
Victory on the drums,
318
00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:33,471
Farang played the bass.
319
00:26:33,520 --> 00:26:36,034
This bass was a unique instrument.
320
00:26:36,080 --> 00:26:39,630
It was a tea chest,
literally a wooden tea chest,
321
00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:44,436
with a bamboo on one end and a Wire,
maybe two Wires, I can't remember.
322
00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,994
Only one string, there was.
323
00:26:47,040 --> 00:26:49,509
That was the bass they used
in those days.
324
00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:51,631
But they made wonderful music.
325
00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:12,153
Our band, the Hectics, are playing
at St Peter's tonight. Better be there.
326
00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:16,592
Hi, folks, live at St Peter's,
Panchgani, the Hectics.
327
00:27:36,680 --> 00:27:39,798
We staned playing in the school first.
328
00:27:39,840 --> 00:27:43,834
Then Mr Davis, he is the one
who actually encouraged us.
329
00:27:43,880 --> 00:27:46,793
He was playing the piano.
330
00:27:46,840 --> 00:27:49,559
Remove the piano,
there was nothing left ofthe Hectics.
331
00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:51,910
All the symptoms were there.
332
00:27:53,400 --> 00:27:55,152
Plenty of noise,
333
00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:59,512
and, I should say, very melodious.
334
00:28:01,160 --> 00:28:05,074
Even people like myself
enjoyed their music.
335
00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,718
He didn't have stage fright,
336
00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:21,070
otherwise he would be a shy boy.
337
00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:28,880
But when he went on the keyboard,
he would be in a bliss, playing.
338
00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:31,719
Like, I would put it crudely,
339
00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,036
like getting multiple orgasms.
340
00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:45,357
Freddie and the Hectics were more
imponant to us than Elvis Presley.
341
00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:47,198
We were very proud of them.
342
00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:51,313
Especially us girls associated
with the boys on a regular basis.
343
00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:23,192
The Whole environment, Panchgani,
the atmosphere,
344
00:29:23,240 --> 00:29:26,232
the climate, the upbringing,
345
00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:29,432
it was so peaceful,
it gave you a lot oftime...
346
00:29:30,560 --> 00:29:34,076
to cultivate your dream.
347
00:29:35,200 --> 00:29:37,589
His dream was to become a musician.
348
00:29:37,640 --> 00:29:39,472
Which he achieved.
349
00:29:39,520 --> 00:29:43,639
I think that was a very, very nice place...
350
00:29:45,120 --> 00:29:49,512
to give birth to a star like Freddie,
351
00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:52,951
and a nice starting point, I would say.
352
00:29:57,280 --> 00:29:59,271
Before he leaves boarding school,
353
00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:03,234
the 14-year-old Freddie jets
in a friend's autograph book,
354
00:30:03,280 --> 00:30:05,430
"Modern paintings are like women.
355
00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,598
"You can't enjoy them
if you try to understand them."
356
00:30:11,720 --> 00:30:14,394
Freddie had been back in Zanzibar
for two years
357
00:30:14,440 --> 00:30:18,673
when in January 1964,
a bloody revolution broke out,
358
00:30:18,720 --> 00:30:22,918
and the Bulsaras fled the island
for the safety of England.
359
00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:26,316
It was very frightening,
it was really frightening.
360
00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:31,355
Everybody was rushing around
and didn't know What to do.
361
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,550
Because we had young children,
362
00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:36,319
we had to decide to leave the country.
363
00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:51,479
They settled in Feltham, a tough,
working-class suburb near Heathrow.
364
00:30:53,360 --> 00:30:55,158
If Freddie had a choice
365
00:30:55,200 --> 00:30:59,910
he would have been born
at the age of about 21 in Feltham.
366
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:07,234
Not even a dramatic drop in living standards
367
00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:10,511
could dampen Freddie's enthusiasm
for this development.
368
00:31:15,560 --> 00:31:19,519
When we first came,
it was summenime. It was in May, I think.
369
00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:21,153
But still we felt cold.
370
00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:23,919
My first impression of England,
I didn't like it
371
00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,156
cos it was so cold.
372
00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:29,636
I thought, Why did my mum and dad
bring us here?
373
00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:41,914
We had few known things
What to do in England.
374
00:31:41,960 --> 00:31:44,793
First of all,
we wouldn't have any servants.
375
00:31:44,840 --> 00:31:46,751
We had to do things ourselves.
376
00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:51,158
Eventually, we'll have to go out
to work to earn a living.
377
00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:55,558
So we knew a little bit of background
of what we were going to expect.
378
00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:04,473
Freddie was so excited to come here,
he kept on saying,
379
00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:08,514
"We'll all help together. We'll do it."
380
00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,358
That kept us going.
381
00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,113
One of Freddie's first jobs
382
00:32:14,160 --> 00:32:17,152
was packing crates
on this industrial estate.
383
00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:21,273
Teased for having women 's hands,
he defiantly told his co-Workers
384
00:32:21,320 --> 00:32:23,470
that he was going to be an artist.
385
00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:29,830
He always kept on telling us,
we will do something in this place,
386
00:32:29,880 --> 00:32:32,872
because he always loved
to come to England.
387
00:32:45,520 --> 00:32:48,911
Freddie stood out against other...
388
00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:53,153
boys of his age.
389
00:32:53,200 --> 00:32:59,355
At that time, the fashion for hairstyle
was a long and shaggy Iook.
390
00:32:59,400 --> 00:33:02,438
But when we arrived,
Freddie had that very...
391
00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:09,310
the old-fashioned Cliff Richard look,
very shiny,
392
00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:13,877
the hair going backwards,
standing up. That kind of look.
393
00:33:13,920 --> 00:33:18,949
Whenever we would go out together
or come home from a bus stop,
394
00:33:19,000 --> 00:33:23,995
I'd walk behind him because I didn't
want people to think I was with him.
395
00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,199
Everybody dressed so differently.
396
00:33:28,240 --> 00:33:33,792
He, being an artist,
his eyes were always for the best things.
397
00:33:36,120 --> 00:33:38,999
Of course, with long hair, at that time.
398
00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:42,910
I said, "This is no good."
399
00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:46,032
He said,
"Everybody's having it, Mum."
400
00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:49,072
The college boys are doing it,
the neighbour's son is,
401
00:33:49,120 --> 00:33:51,236
so I let him do it.
402
00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,159
I had to let him carry on.
403
00:34:03,840 --> 00:34:07,629
It was difficult in the beginning
but we all did it.
404
00:34:09,920 --> 00:34:15,120
Freddie was ineligible for art school
as he had no academic qualifications.
405
00:34:16,880 --> 00:34:20,919
So, in the autumn of 1964,
just as he was turning 18,
406
00:34:20,960 --> 00:34:24,316
he enrolled
at Isleworth Polytechnic School...
407
00:34:28,880 --> 00:34:33,590
...Ieaving in the spring of '66,
with an A-grade A level under his belt.
408
00:34:38,360 --> 00:34:42,069
I can't relax in bed all day
and just do nothing.
409
00:34:42,120 --> 00:34:44,031
I think that's a waste oftime.
410
00:34:44,080 --> 00:34:47,152
I hardly read books.
I think that's a waste oftime.
411
00:34:47,200 --> 00:34:48,713
People will kill me for this.
412
00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:52,435
I have to be doing something every day.
I want to earn my keep.
413
00:34:52,480 --> 00:34:56,269
I don't wake up every morning
and say, have I dried up?
414
00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:58,118
He's looking after me.
415
00:35:05,280 --> 00:35:09,353
In autumn 1966,
Freddie joined Ealing School of Art,
416
00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,198
Where he studied graphic design.
417
00:35:11,240 --> 00:35:13,231
It was here that he at last became
418
00:35:13,280 --> 00:35:16,750
part of the bohemian
musical world of '603 London.
419
00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:22,399
My name is Jerry Hibben.
420
00:35:22,440 --> 00:35:26,513
I met Freddie at Ealing when we were
studying graphics in the late '603.
421
00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:36,714
My name's John Taylor. I was
the bass player in Ibex and Wreckage,
422
00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:39,991
a band that I shared with Freddie
in 1968.
423
00:35:44,400 --> 00:35:48,792
I'm Derek Ridgers, a photographer.
I met Freddie at Ealing An School.
424
00:35:54,640 --> 00:35:56,631
I'm Peter Straker.
425
00:35:57,200 --> 00:35:59,350
I was lucky enough
to know Freddie Mercury.
426
00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:01,550
I consider myself
one of his best friends.
427
00:36:11,520 --> 00:36:14,433
The Ealing School of An
had produced Pete Townshend,
428
00:36:14,480 --> 00:36:15,879
Ronnie Wood.
429
00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:19,038
It had a tradition of producing
good musicians.
430
00:36:19,080 --> 00:36:20,832
He used to talk about that,
431
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:25,511
that so many people from an college
had done pop music.
432
00:36:25,560 --> 00:36:28,120
I didn't take much notice ofthat
at that time,
433
00:36:28,160 --> 00:36:31,551
thinking that it was
one ofthose things, let us see.
434
00:36:37,200 --> 00:36:40,556
Hard work wasn't high on the agenda
at art school in those days.
435
00:36:40,600 --> 00:36:44,036
But Freddie's time there produced
a wealth of beautiful drawings,
436
00:36:44,080 --> 00:36:47,550
portraits, pop-art paintings
and fashion sketches,
437
00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,240
seen here for the first time since then.
438
00:36:51,920 --> 00:36:55,038
I distinctly remember
Freddie sketching everybody.
439
00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:01,392
When he was learning to draw,
440
00:37:01,440 --> 00:37:04,910
film and pop idols
had been Freddie's first models.
441
00:37:06,240 --> 00:37:10,313
He was a great anist.
Line drawings, pencil.
442
00:37:10,360 --> 00:37:13,716
He had this Whole catalogue of stuff.
443
00:37:13,760 --> 00:37:18,516
Hendrix, he did a load of pictures
of Hendrix, which were brilliant.
444
00:37:26,760 --> 00:37:28,990
He was a great anist. He liked...
445
00:37:29,040 --> 00:37:33,591
I mean, his idea of colour
and colour grading astounded me.
446
00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,516
Sometimes,
I'd have some homework to do
447
00:37:46,560 --> 00:37:48,233
and have to draw something.
448
00:37:48,280 --> 00:37:51,432
I'd ask him to do it for me.
Which he hated.
449
00:37:52,720 --> 00:37:57,874
But he did it to help me because
I helped him, modelled for him.
450
00:37:57,920 --> 00:38:02,630
So then I knew if he's done
my homework, I'd get good marks.
451
00:38:03,760 --> 00:38:05,273
He had a really good eye for detail.
452
00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:10,876
Halfway through his course,
Freddie switched to fashion
453
00:38:10,920 --> 00:38:14,515
and produced a number of garments
for catwalk shows.
454
00:38:21,720 --> 00:38:27,159
I had some very old linen tablecloths
from India.
455
00:38:27,200 --> 00:38:30,670
One day, he had sought it out
and he had put a pattern on
456
00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:34,839
and cut it and made a Nehru shin.
457
00:38:34,880 --> 00:38:39,431
He went to London in that
with all those things. I was annoyed.
458
00:38:39,480 --> 00:38:42,199
"You used my beautiful tablecloth."
459
00:38:42,240 --> 00:38:48,555
I did my diploma in graphics.
I was gonna be a graphics illustrator.
460
00:38:48,600 --> 00:38:51,353
Obviously, I can paint.
461
00:38:51,400 --> 00:38:55,997
While I was going through college,
Iwas very interested in music.
462
00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:59,670
I joined other bands
and I got to know Brian and Roger.
463
00:38:59,720 --> 00:39:01,711
We had quite different lifestyles.
464
00:39:01,760 --> 00:39:04,639
But we always got on.
465
00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:06,830
We never really had a big argument.
466
00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:08,951
He had his own little world even then.
467
00:39:09,000 --> 00:39:11,355
He behaved like a star.
"Who is this guy?"
468
00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:15,075
He was always dressed immaculately
and rather outrageously.
469
00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:18,112
He would go round with a pompom
on the end of a string,
470
00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:22,040
pomming everybody,
being a local character.
471
00:39:22,080 --> 00:39:24,071
He used to wear a lot of White.
472
00:39:24,120 --> 00:39:26,077
Which is strange at an school.
473
00:39:32,240 --> 00:39:37,030
Even then you realised
that he was, in the core, very shy.
474
00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,038
But he used these various devices,
475
00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:44,233
he was already cloaking himself
in a persona,
476
00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:47,398
being something
rather larger than life.
477
00:39:47,440 --> 00:39:51,559
Everyone treated him
like he was a star, although he wasn't.
478
00:39:51,600 --> 00:39:53,637
I like the world to listen to my music,
479
00:39:53,680 --> 00:39:56,798
and I want anybody and everybody
to come and listen to me
480
00:39:56,840 --> 00:39:58,751
and look at me when I'm playing.
481
00:39:58,800 --> 00:40:02,953
With hindsight, you think he must've
stood out, been leader ofthe gang,
482
00:40:03,000 --> 00:40:04,752
and he wasn't really,
483
00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:08,919
because his nature was actually kind
and gentle, actually relatively quiet.
484
00:40:08,960 --> 00:40:13,830
There was a trend earlier on,
a few years ago, with the punk movement.
485
00:40:13,880 --> 00:40:17,953
They said, we want to play
to the small audiences,
486
00:40:18,000 --> 00:40:20,913
because we're being intimate.
Load of rubbish.
487
00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:23,918
Everybody who wants to be a star
wants the biggest audiences.
488
00:40:29,840 --> 00:40:32,275
Because everyone at Ealing
was into music,
489
00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:34,436
the seriousness of Freddie's ambition
490
00:40:34,480 --> 00:40:36,835
was not immediately obvious to all.
491
00:40:43,960 --> 00:40:46,952
In the beginning,
I didn't realise how serious he was.
492
00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:50,436
I thought he was a flamboyant
character and a very good anist.
493
00:40:50,480 --> 00:40:54,030
I thought that probably music
was a hobby for him
494
00:40:54,080 --> 00:40:55,753
and that he would become an anist.
495
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:58,838
My advice to Freddie
was that he shouldn't follow it up.
496
00:40:58,880 --> 00:41:01,838
He should stick to What he knows,
stick to graphics.
497
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:04,793
I'm Tim Staffell,
I was the original singer in Smile,
498
00:41:04,840 --> 00:41:07,798
which was the band
which came before Queen.
499
00:41:07,840 --> 00:41:11,799
I guess that ifl hadn't stepped aside
500
00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:14,070
the world might've been a different place.
501
00:41:21,760 --> 00:41:26,755
Once we'd got to Ealing, to an college,
502
00:41:26,800 --> 00:41:30,191
there were several of us
who used to indulge ourselves
503
00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:34,996
and go down into the gents'
and sing harmony vocals in the echo...
504
00:41:36,000 --> 00:41:39,595
the echoey environment
that was the gents' toilet at Ealing.
505
00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:48,437
Which, I suppose, gave rise
to the way the Queen sound developed.
506
00:41:54,840 --> 00:41:59,596
Roger and I both thought
that he was very good on showmanship
507
00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:05,716
but we weren't sure if he really had
the technical singing thing.
508
00:42:08,680 --> 00:42:12,878
Freddie's chance to join a band
came unexpectedly in 1968
509
00:42:12,920 --> 00:42:16,834
with the arrival in London
of Liverpool blues trio Ibex.
510
00:42:16,880 --> 00:42:19,998
On their first night in town,
they met Smile, with Freddie in tow.
511
00:42:20,040 --> 00:42:23,556
He needed a band
and Ibex needed a better singer.
512
00:42:23,600 --> 00:42:27,753
At the time, he was very shaky vocally.
He was still developing.
513
00:42:33,080 --> 00:42:35,390
You'd be doing the same thing
like you did.
514
00:42:37,960 --> 00:42:40,474
OK. Look, let's get on with it.
515
00:42:40,520 --> 00:42:43,876
Fred's nickname Within the band -
516
00:42:43,920 --> 00:42:46,639
he was quite camp
and we all made the most ofthat -
517
00:42:46,680 --> 00:42:48,830
we called him the Old Queen.
518
00:42:48,880 --> 00:42:50,598
Just privately.
519
00:43:02,080 --> 00:43:05,675
His mic-stand technique,
this half-mic-stand thing,
520
00:43:05,720 --> 00:43:08,712
I think, traces back to Ibex.
521
00:43:09,360 --> 00:43:12,716
In those days,
you're talking 1968, '69,
522
00:43:12,760 --> 00:43:16,151
equipment wasn't very good,
very professional.
523
00:43:16,200 --> 00:43:19,511
I think it was just he was swinging
a mic stand around
524
00:43:19,560 --> 00:43:22,439
and the bottom fell off
and he couldn't get it back on.
525
00:43:22,480 --> 00:43:26,189
Nobody had road managers.
Well, we didn't in those days.
526
00:43:26,240 --> 00:43:28,959
So nobody came rushing
to fit it back to the thing,
527
00:43:29,000 --> 00:43:31,674
and he just pranced around
and made the most of it.
528
00:43:38,360 --> 00:43:42,274
He had this unwavering belief
529
00:43:42,320 --> 00:43:45,312
and this ambition to make it,
530
00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:48,432
and to be the biggest thing,
or as big as anyihing else.
531
00:43:54,960 --> 00:43:57,998
When we left Hampton...
532
00:43:58,880 --> 00:44:00,712
and moved on to college,
533
00:44:00,760 --> 00:44:04,469
Brian and I were the only two
who really wanted to carry on
534
00:44:04,520 --> 00:44:08,354
with some kind of serious approach.
535
00:44:09,240 --> 00:44:13,711
Smile evolved out ofthat.
We advenised for a drummer
536
00:44:13,760 --> 00:44:15,558
and we got Roger.
537
00:44:18,720 --> 00:44:21,439
Smile were a great band.
They were really good.
538
00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:30,440
I remember some gig that we played,
539
00:44:30,480 --> 00:44:33,598
which was us as Smile,
me and Tim Staffell...
540
00:44:35,600 --> 00:44:37,511
and Roger.
541
00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:41,713
Freddie came along.
I don't remember Where it was.
542
00:44:41,760 --> 00:44:44,274
He used to often come along
and see us play.
543
00:44:44,320 --> 00:44:46,880
At that stage, he's just an enthusiast.
544
00:44:46,920 --> 00:44:49,878
He offers comments.
He says, "This is really good.
545
00:44:49,920 --> 00:44:52,116
"It's great how you use light and shade,
546
00:44:52,160 --> 00:44:56,199
"you're aware of building up
atmospheres, bringing them down,
547
00:44:56,240 --> 00:45:00,120
"but you're not dressing right
and you're not addressing the audience.
548
00:45:00,160 --> 00:45:03,118
"You should do this.
There's opponunities to connect."
549
00:45:08,920 --> 00:45:13,596
I could see that I wasn't going
in that direction with Brian and Roger.
550
00:45:13,640 --> 00:45:16,154
So I moved on
551
00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:20,433
and tried to find something that was
more in line with What I wanted to do.
552
00:45:20,480 --> 00:45:22,835
Tim got the most disillusioned
and said,
553
00:45:22,880 --> 00:45:26,032
"I'm going to join this group
called Humpy Bong."
554
00:45:26,080 --> 00:45:29,038
Humpy Bong were
an offshoot ofthe Bee Gees.
555
00:45:29,080 --> 00:45:31,117
Their drummer had set up this group.
556
00:45:31,160 --> 00:45:34,471
They had an appearance on
Top Of The Pops, which was big-time.
557
00:45:34,520 --> 00:45:37,638
Tim said, "I'm going with these guys.
I'm going to go for it."
558
00:45:42,600 --> 00:45:45,911
Freddie was always there and said,
"I'll sing.
559
00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:50,636
"We can do this, put the band
together like this, et cetera, do this."
560
00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:53,832
We gradually went, OK.
561
00:45:56,720 --> 00:46:01,237
It was exactly right. Freddie wanted
to do the theatrical stuff
562
00:46:01,280 --> 00:46:03,317
that Smile was moving towards.
563
00:46:03,360 --> 00:46:06,716
I gradually got uncomfonable with it
and moved away.
564
00:46:08,040 --> 00:46:10,111
Good job I did.
565
00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:15,474
I could do with a fraction
ofthe money.
566
00:46:15,520 --> 00:46:18,797
But I've had a really good time.
567
00:46:21,640 --> 00:46:24,951
Ijust didn't have it in me
to do What Freddie did.
568
00:46:25,000 --> 00:46:27,435
I was never a showman.
569
00:46:27,480 --> 00:46:31,030
I really wasn't the writer
that Freddie was.
570
00:46:31,080 --> 00:46:34,960
So I tend to view it these days as...
571
00:46:35,000 --> 00:46:37,037
I'm glad I got out ofthe way.
572
00:46:37,080 --> 00:46:39,674
Ifl hadn't,
the world wouldn't have had Queen.
573
00:46:45,680 --> 00:46:49,799
He wrote this song for the first album
574
00:46:49,840 --> 00:46:52,434
called My Fairy King.
575
00:46:52,480 --> 00:46:54,471
There's a line in that,
576
00:46:54,520 --> 00:46:58,434
"Oh, Mother Mercury,
What have you done to me?"
577
00:46:58,480 --> 00:47:01,199
And it was after that,
that he said to me,
578
00:47:01,240 --> 00:47:03,959
"I'm going to become Mercury.
579
00:47:04,000 --> 00:47:08,073
"The mother in this song is my mother
and I will become Mercury."
580
00:47:08,120 --> 00:47:09,997
We all went...
581
00:47:10,040 --> 00:47:11,872
Thinking, "Is he mad?"
582
00:47:11,920 --> 00:47:16,710
But again he was serious and he changed
his name to Freddie Mercury.
583
00:47:26,240 --> 00:47:28,880
He'd cast himself a role.
584
00:47:28,920 --> 00:47:30,911
He became...
585
00:47:32,160 --> 00:47:33,559
the actor.
586
00:47:33,600 --> 00:47:36,718
Most ofthe stuffl do is pretending,
it's like acting.
587
00:47:36,760 --> 00:47:40,276
You go on stage
and I pretend to be a macho man.
588
00:47:40,320 --> 00:47:42,596
In my videos, you go through
589
00:47:42,640 --> 00:47:44,995
all the different characters,
pretending.
590
00:47:45,040 --> 00:47:49,432
I think changing his name was pan of
him assuming this different skin.
591
00:47:49,480 --> 00:47:53,030
Ithink it helped him be
this person that he wanted to be.
592
00:47:55,160 --> 00:47:57,959
The young Bulsara person
was still there,
593
00:47:58,000 --> 00:48:01,550
but for the public,
he was this different character.
594
00:48:01,600 --> 00:48:03,113
This god.
595
00:48:13,480 --> 00:48:15,551
My name is Mick Rock.
596
00:48:15,600 --> 00:48:20,549
I took a lot of early key images
of Queen and Freddie
597
00:48:20,600 --> 00:48:23,672
and was a close friend of Freddie's.
598
00:48:30,200 --> 00:48:32,032
My name is Mary Austin.
599
00:48:32,080 --> 00:48:34,435
I'm a long-term friend of Freddie.
600
00:48:40,440 --> 00:48:44,752
We were very into the fashion world
of Kensington, if you can call it that.
601
00:48:46,120 --> 00:48:50,910
Biba was one of the great places
for fashion at that time.
602
00:48:50,960 --> 00:48:55,397
Underground fashion.
Not haute couture in any sense, but...
603
00:48:55,440 --> 00:48:57,431
the fashion of the people.
604
00:48:58,960 --> 00:49:02,840
Part of the attraction was the girls
who worked there were so beautiful.
605
00:49:02,880 --> 00:49:06,396
They were dressed just right.
They were well presented as well.
606
00:49:06,440 --> 00:49:09,637
We used to just go in there
to enjoy the scenery.
607
00:49:09,680 --> 00:49:11,671
I know Freddie did as well.
608
00:49:14,000 --> 00:49:17,072
One of those ladies was Mary Austin.
609
00:49:17,120 --> 00:49:21,114
I met Mary at a echoed
in Imperial College, my own college,
610
00:49:21,160 --> 00:49:25,279
and just got chatting to her
because she was sitting behind me.
611
00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:28,950
I was pretty shy but I plucked up
the courage to ask her out.
612
00:49:29,720 --> 00:49:34,112
We went out a few times.
She was very wary of anyone.
613
00:49:34,160 --> 00:49:38,631
We'd go out for a drink, say good night,
and quick peck on the cheek.
614
00:49:38,680 --> 00:49:40,432
We never got beyond that.
615
00:49:40,480 --> 00:49:44,758
But there came a point Where
Freddie staned to talk to me about her.
616
00:49:45,880 --> 00:49:47,757
Freddie wanted to go outwith her.
617
00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:51,077
I said, "We're not really going out.
We're just good friends.
618
00:49:51,120 --> 00:49:53,191
"I'II introduce you to her." So I did.
619
00:49:53,240 --> 00:49:56,710
He would come in with...
620
00:49:56,760 --> 00:49:59,878
Occasionally, he was brave enough
to come in on his own,
621
00:49:59,920 --> 00:50:04,949
but most times he would come
with Roger or somebody.
622
00:50:05,000 --> 00:50:08,197
He would smile
and say hello in passing,
623
00:50:08,240 --> 00:50:11,312
which became quite often.
624
00:50:12,520 --> 00:50:16,309
I think this went on
for about five or six months.
625
00:50:17,320 --> 00:50:22,998
Finally, he asked me if I wanted
to go out on a date.
626
00:50:23,040 --> 00:50:28,479
It was a very emotional attachment
for the two of them immediately.
627
00:50:28,520 --> 00:50:32,593
Five months later,
we were living together
628
00:50:32,640 --> 00:50:38,636
and continued that
for six years, I think.
629
00:50:38,680 --> 00:50:42,150
She looked after Freddie.
630
00:50:42,200 --> 00:50:44,271
But he was very considerate
towards her.
631
00:50:44,320 --> 00:50:46,834
Whatever was going on,
that was a love affair.
632
00:50:46,880 --> 00:50:50,077
He'd had relationships with girls.
633
00:50:53,160 --> 00:50:56,391
But, looking back on it,
I don't think his hean was ever in it.
634
00:50:56,440 --> 00:50:58,238
With Mary, it obviously was.
635
00:50:58,280 --> 00:51:01,955
They were very sweet.
They were like a married couple.
636
00:51:02,000 --> 00:51:05,231
This was obviously true love.
637
00:51:05,280 --> 00:51:09,592
It worked also because Freddie,
like I said, was underneath very shy
638
00:51:09,640 --> 00:51:11,358
and she was as well.
639
00:51:11,400 --> 00:51:16,270
I think they were a good match.
I could see that.
640
00:51:16,320 --> 00:51:20,234
Yes, to me, it was a marriage.
She is my common-law Wife.
641
00:51:20,280 --> 00:51:23,910
We carry on like we were married.
642
00:51:23,960 --> 00:51:26,156
Marriage is a term for other people.
643
00:51:26,200 --> 00:51:29,158
We believed in each other.
Fuck everybody else.
644
00:51:29,200 --> 00:51:31,714
It's fair to say
that she was the love of his life.
645
00:51:46,360 --> 00:51:48,192
After six years together,
646
00:51:48,240 --> 00:51:51,949
Mary's suspicion something was
going wrong with their domestic idyll
647
00:51:52,000 --> 00:51:53,991
was confirmed.
648
00:51:55,280 --> 00:51:57,112
A watershed conversation with Freddie
649
00:51:57,160 --> 00:52:00,198
changed the nature
of their relationship forever.
650
00:52:08,640 --> 00:52:13,794
I think, if I were to be really honest,
651
00:52:13,840 --> 00:52:16,036
that would've been...
652
00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:19,277
I think I realised -
well, I know I realised -
653
00:52:21,360 --> 00:52:26,309
when he first joined
John Reid Enterprises.
654
00:52:26,360 --> 00:52:29,512
I really did realise then...
655
00:52:30,800 --> 00:52:33,918
Why the relationship had changed.
656
00:52:33,960 --> 00:52:37,396
I didn't know he was with,
or who he was seeing,
657
00:52:37,440 --> 00:52:39,636
but I had a good idea then.
658
00:52:42,480 --> 00:52:44,471
But I wasn't absolutely sure.
659
00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:50,755
So I knew that this man wasn't
at one with himself over something.
660
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:54,839
I could see that he was
feeling bad about something.
661
00:52:55,920 --> 00:53:00,391
Wasn't feeling comfonable,
avoiding situations, which wasn't Freddie.
662
00:53:00,440 --> 00:53:03,796
These things weren't the person
that I first met.
663
00:53:17,560 --> 00:53:21,155
It was a relief, really,
to actually hear it from him,
664
00:53:21,200 --> 00:53:25,273
to have surmised
that that was the problem,
665
00:53:25,320 --> 00:53:29,314
probably for the last two years
of the six years we were together...
666
00:53:32,200 --> 00:53:36,831
to know that I had more or less
guessed right.
667
00:53:36,880 --> 00:53:38,837
So it was a great relief for me.
668
00:53:38,880 --> 00:53:42,475
I felt that a huge burden
had been lifted.
669
00:53:42,520 --> 00:53:47,435
I enjoyed the fact that he was able
to be honest and frank with me.
670
00:54:05,240 --> 00:54:09,552
But certainly
once that had been discussed,
671
00:54:09,600 --> 00:54:12,319
he was a different person again.
672
00:54:12,360 --> 00:54:16,319
He was like the person I'd known
in the early years.
673
00:54:16,360 --> 00:54:20,319
He was more at one with himself,
more relaxed, more happy.
674
00:54:20,360 --> 00:54:23,591
I don't think he ever thought
that I would be supportive...
675
00:54:26,520 --> 00:54:28,511
of him...
676
00:54:29,960 --> 00:54:33,476
say, of him becoming a gay.
677
00:54:33,520 --> 00:54:37,832
But I was.
Because it was pan of himself.
678
00:54:39,520 --> 00:54:43,434
It was nice to see Freddie
at one with himself, more than nice.
679
00:54:43,480 --> 00:54:45,471
It was wonderful. He was such...
680
00:54:46,880 --> 00:54:49,030
a happy person.
681
00:54:49,080 --> 00:54:54,280
You couldn't deny Freddie
the right to be at one with himself.
682
00:55:01,640 --> 00:55:06,032
I see it as a Iove...a love that.
683
00:55:11,640 --> 00:55:16,032
...that you accept
and somehow understand
684
00:55:16,080 --> 00:55:20,392
because you want
the person inside to grow,
685
00:55:20,440 --> 00:55:26,118
and you're fascinated
to see this person Within
686
00:55:27,680 --> 00:55:30,479
totally at ease
and at one with themselves.
687
00:55:30,520 --> 00:55:35,515
There's a great feeling, a great...
688
00:55:36,400 --> 00:55:39,916
almost euphoric feeling
689
00:55:39,960 --> 00:55:43,874
that you are Witnessing the development.
690
00:55:43,920 --> 00:55:45,911
It's just...
691
00:55:46,960 --> 00:55:50,078
He gave so much,
so how could you not give?
692
00:56:07,360 --> 00:56:10,193
Freddie had great taste.
693
00:56:10,240 --> 00:56:16,031
And...the surroundings
of his beautiful home
694
00:56:16,080 --> 00:56:21,871
sometimes led to a really rather relaxed,
sophisticated evening.
695
00:56:21,920 --> 00:56:24,912
But other times,
there was the odd Wild moment
696
00:56:24,960 --> 00:56:27,520
which I would
I think need to consult my lawyer
697
00:56:27,560 --> 00:56:30,234
before talking about in great detail.
698
00:56:32,960 --> 00:56:34,712
Freddie knew how to give a pafly.
699
00:56:38,640 --> 00:56:42,952
Freddie threw many of the Wildest
parties in the history of rock.
700
00:56:43,920 --> 00:56:46,878
This footage was shot
at one of the greatest of all,
701
00:56:46,920 --> 00:56:49,116
his 3ch birthday in Munich.
702
00:56:51,560 --> 00:56:55,030
We walk in and there were
trolls and dwarves
703
00:56:55,080 --> 00:56:58,516
and ogres and thieves and ballerinas
704
00:56:58,560 --> 00:57:01,951
and transvestites and transsexuals, and...
705
00:57:02,000 --> 00:57:05,072
I think there's two or three people
ofthe third sex there.
706
00:57:10,840 --> 00:57:12,831
Are we X-rated?
707
00:57:16,920 --> 00:57:19,230
He did have
the most extraordinary parfies.
708
00:57:24,280 --> 00:57:26,590
There was a dwan' covered in liver.
709
00:57:26,640 --> 00:57:31,589
He laid on a platter and Whenever
anybody dug this knife into him,
710
00:57:31,640 --> 00:57:33,313
he would go like that.
711
00:57:33,360 --> 00:57:38,719
The Whole plate of liver
would quiver. Like péte.
712
00:57:38,760 --> 00:57:42,469
So it was like a moving pété pastiche.
713
00:57:52,880 --> 00:57:56,077
I had no intention
of going in a pool with anybody.
714
00:57:56,120 --> 00:58:01,320
I wound up in flagrante delicto,
under the catering table.
715
00:58:13,800 --> 00:58:17,839
It was wretched excess,
the worst thing I've ever been to.
716
00:58:17,880 --> 00:58:21,032
I'll probably go to hell because ofthat.
717
00:58:22,440 --> 00:58:24,795
It's nice memories, though.
718
00:58:35,080 --> 00:58:38,198
It became the longest party.
I stayed for three weeks.
719
00:58:38,240 --> 00:58:42,029
It scared a lot of people,
especially the locals. We could take it.
720
00:58:42,080 --> 00:58:45,311
I'm used to my grandmother
crawling with a knife in her teeth.
721
00:58:54,000 --> 00:58:58,198
I remember driving in his Rolls-Royce
in London if we were jolly
722
00:58:58,240 --> 00:59:01,358
and I'd put my head
out the Window and stan singing
723
00:59:01,400 --> 00:59:04,392
I Could Have Danced All Night
at the top of my voice.
724
00:59:04,440 --> 00:59:07,990
He, on the other side,
frightening people.
725
00:59:08,040 --> 00:59:12,193
Freddie tended to do things
in the grand style,
726
00:59:12,240 --> 00:59:17,553
like flying 80 people off to Barcelona
for a pafly.
727
00:59:18,560 --> 00:59:21,439
I don't see him as a Volvo-estate man
primarily.
728
00:59:21,480 --> 00:59:25,678
He spent his money for himself
729
00:59:25,720 --> 00:59:29,395
but not as the first thing,
for others, let them have fun,
730
00:59:29,440 --> 00:59:33,911
because I only have fun ifl can
see others happy, Whatever it is.
731
00:59:33,960 --> 00:59:37,954
Out comes the Ribena and it begins.
732
00:59:39,120 --> 00:59:42,317
Or you'll run.
You think, I can't, I've got to go.
733
00:59:43,600 --> 00:59:46,274
There was flamenco dancers, fireworks.
734
00:59:46,320 --> 00:59:49,711
It was extraordinary,
it was like being on a Fellini set.
735
00:59:54,200 --> 00:59:56,191
It was one ofthose panies
736
00:59:56,240 --> 01:00:00,393
Where you had to come dressed
as your favourite person.
737
01:00:01,520 --> 01:00:03,750
He just came dressed as himself,
obviously.
738
01:00:11,360 --> 01:00:14,557
I'm Jim Hutton, Freddie's last lover.
739
01:00:19,320 --> 01:00:22,438
Freddie's sexuality, never
a straightforward matter,
740
01:00:22,480 --> 01:00:27,156
was shaped by the experimental,
liberal attitudes of the late '60s and '70s.
741
01:00:28,120 --> 01:00:33,320
The bisexual thing, the androgynous,
the boy-girl, the he-she,
742
01:00:33,360 --> 01:00:36,751
the ambiguity,
that was the spirit of the time.
743
01:00:36,800 --> 01:00:40,316
Freddie was right
in the middle ofthat,
744
01:00:40,360 --> 01:00:43,955
spiritually, emotionally, sexually.
745
01:00:44,000 --> 01:00:46,674
He was clearly a man of his time.
746
01:00:48,640 --> 01:00:52,190
I think pan of it
was the fashion of the day.
747
01:00:53,000 --> 01:00:55,355
But pan of it was very much him.
748
01:00:55,400 --> 01:00:58,631
He was always
a bit larger than anybody else
749
01:00:58,680 --> 01:01:01,672
and would go a bit more
to extremes than anyone else.
750
01:01:05,520 --> 01:01:07,033
That appealed to me.
751
01:01:07,080 --> 01:01:09,230
David Bowie was my friend,
752
01:01:09,280 --> 01:01:15,231
and Freddie was one step beyond David
in terms of how camp he was.
753
01:01:41,320 --> 01:01:45,553
As far as Freddie was concerned,
his sexuality was his own business.
754
01:01:45,600 --> 01:01:49,355
There were a lot ofthings
that Freddie kept to himself.
755
01:01:49,400 --> 01:01:51,676
I suppose that was one ofthem, really.
756
01:01:51,720 --> 01:01:54,473
I don't think he discussed it,
other than with Mary.
757
01:01:54,520 --> 01:02:00,789
He felt that was one side of him
that he didn't want anyone to know about.
758
01:02:00,840 --> 01:02:05,835
Freddie didn't have to shout
to demonstrate. He lived gay.
759
01:02:05,880 --> 01:02:09,475
If you went anywhere near him
or were involved with him,
760
01:02:09,520 --> 01:02:11,716
he was gay.
761
01:02:25,080 --> 01:02:27,879
He had his boyfriends.
762
01:02:27,920 --> 01:02:32,312
He didn't hide it, but, on the other hand,
he didn't show off about it.
763
01:02:32,360 --> 01:02:34,271
He liked to keep a mystique about him.
764
01:02:41,960 --> 01:02:44,918
The signs are there
for anyone to see, but then again...
765
01:02:46,120 --> 01:02:48,111
What are signs?
766
01:02:49,280 --> 01:02:52,955
I could see somebody mincing down
the street and say, "He's gay."
767
01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:54,320
Not necessarily so.
768
01:02:54,360 --> 01:02:59,309
I think he's somebody who just lived his life
how he wanted, very much,
769
01:02:59,360 --> 01:03:02,955
and really didn't want
to become a figurehead
770
01:03:03,000 --> 01:03:05,310
for the gay movement, panicularly.
771
01:03:07,280 --> 01:03:11,035
There were at least two occasions
in the press
772
01:03:11,080 --> 01:03:13,879
Where he admitted to being gay.
773
01:03:13,920 --> 01:03:17,754
But they don't really...
It's there in black and White.
774
01:03:17,800 --> 01:03:21,111
But people don't pick up on it.
775
01:03:21,160 --> 01:03:24,596
You don't acquiesce or deny,
or anyihing, you just...
776
01:03:32,560 --> 01:03:34,756
If he was a youngster today...
777
01:03:35,800 --> 01:03:38,838
a young 30-year-old, 40-year-old,
778
01:03:38,880 --> 01:03:40,598
it wouldn't bother him
779
01:03:40,640 --> 01:03:43,792
because things have changed
so much over the years.
780
01:03:45,400 --> 01:03:48,597
In which, I suppose, in a way,
he played his pan.
781
01:03:48,640 --> 01:03:53,157
I'm not scared of doing
What I want to do, before I hide...
782
01:03:53,200 --> 01:03:57,239
Like when I went out,
I had to perform a little as well,
783
01:03:57,280 --> 01:03:59,840
in not letting them down.
784
01:03:59,880 --> 01:04:02,838
Because Freddie Mercury...
I don't know What it means,
785
01:04:02,880 --> 01:04:07,511
but he had to react in a cenain way,
What the press had told people.
786
01:04:07,560 --> 01:04:12,953
A lot ofthe time, I used to do that,
so that I was actually living...
787
01:04:13,000 --> 01:04:15,879
in a way, living a false image of myself.
788
01:04:15,920 --> 01:04:18,036
And now I'm not worried.
789
01:04:18,080 --> 01:04:20,959
Ifl make a fool of myself,
if I fall into a dustbin,
790
01:04:21,000 --> 01:04:25,358
which I have many times,
I don't worry, I'm having a good time.
791
01:04:33,080 --> 01:04:35,071
I suppose every gay person...
792
01:04:36,920 --> 01:04:39,036
they don't want their parents to know.
793
01:04:39,080 --> 01:04:43,631
They do, but it's hard
to actually break the news to them.
794
01:04:43,680 --> 01:04:47,594
I think ifthey knew he was gay,
it wouldn't have made much difference.
795
01:04:47,640 --> 01:04:49,597
I don't think he needed to tell them.
796
01:04:49,640 --> 01:04:52,029
I think he knew the general public knew.
797
01:04:55,280 --> 01:04:59,877
In his later years, Freddie returned to
a life of monogamous domestic bliss
798
01:04:59,920 --> 01:05:01,991
shared this time with Jim Hutton,
799
01:05:02,040 --> 01:05:04,873
who he used to introduce
to people as his husband.
800
01:05:04,920 --> 01:05:09,869
It was excess in every direction.
I was extremely promiscuous.
801
01:05:09,920 --> 01:05:13,959
But I've stopped all that, having sex,
and started growing tulips.
802
01:05:14,000 --> 01:05:16,276
The gay scene is so flippant, anyway.
803
01:05:18,040 --> 01:05:21,396
I suppose there comes a time
in everyone's life to settle down.
804
01:05:26,760 --> 01:05:30,913
I wanted a genuine tranquil
after the storm.
805
01:05:30,960 --> 01:05:34,032
But finding that wonderful person
is very hard.
806
01:05:34,080 --> 01:05:39,359
There is the solace which I've got,
it's like I don't have to try so hard.
807
01:05:39,400 --> 01:05:43,155
I don't have to prove myself. I have
a very understanding relationship.
808
01:05:43,200 --> 01:05:44,634
It sounds so boring.
809
01:05:44,680 --> 01:05:47,718
He used to get a little bit
irritated with me sometimes.
810
01:05:47,760 --> 01:05:50,798
Things like his cats.
811
01:05:50,840 --> 01:05:53,753
The cats would often come to me
instead of him.
812
01:05:53,800 --> 01:05:56,758
He used to get a bit shitty about that.
813
01:05:59,000 --> 01:06:03,233
At the end ofthe day, he would say,
"I've got somebody to go home to."
814
01:06:05,160 --> 01:06:09,358
No matter Where you are, once
you've got someone to come home to,
815
01:06:09,400 --> 01:06:11,516
that's when you feel more secure.
816
01:06:17,320 --> 01:06:20,517
I'm very happy with my relationship
at the moment.
817
01:06:20,560 --> 01:06:25,316
I really couldn't ask for better.
818
01:06:25,360 --> 01:06:31,879
I've finally found a niche
that! was looking for all my life.
819
01:06:31,920 --> 01:06:35,117
And no fucker in this universe
is going to upset it.
820
01:06:35,160 --> 01:06:38,232
I do like to think his last years...
821
01:06:39,280 --> 01:06:42,511
were as happy as they could
have possibly ever been.
822
01:06:57,640 --> 01:07:00,359
Though Freddie had a background
in fashion design,
823
01:07:00,400 --> 01:07:03,870
he turned to professional help
for stage costumes.
824
01:07:03,920 --> 01:07:07,993
Diana Moseley's creations would
eventually give rein to his fantasies.
825
01:07:08,040 --> 01:07:12,750
But when in 1973, Queen needed
outfits for their Olympia concerts,
826
01:07:12,800 --> 01:07:15,394
he and Brian showed up
at Zandra Rhodes's loft.
827
01:07:16,360 --> 01:07:20,672
I'd made clothes previously
for T. Rex.
828
01:07:22,560 --> 01:07:25,678
So maybe they'd seen those.
829
01:07:25,720 --> 01:07:29,873
In the early days, for Freddie,
there was still this search of image.
830
01:07:29,920 --> 01:07:34,517
Freddie was a freethinker,
831
01:07:34,560 --> 01:07:39,111
because if you look at the Whole
transition and the different ways
832
01:07:39,160 --> 01:07:40,958
that he changed looks,
833
01:07:41,000 --> 01:07:43,435
I think that shows
a wonderful free spirit.
834
01:07:51,440 --> 01:07:55,559
He wanted black nail varnish.
He wanted and he would shop.
835
01:07:55,600 --> 01:07:59,559
He had overnight this clear idea
836
01:07:59,600 --> 01:08:02,991
of What he was going to wear and Why.
837
01:08:03,040 --> 01:08:06,158
She brought the materials
and said, have a bit ofthis, this.
838
01:08:06,200 --> 01:08:09,830
She said, "I see you
as something rather big,
839
01:08:09,880 --> 01:08:11,678
"very dramatic and flowing."
840
01:08:11,720 --> 01:08:14,997
The very first costume that I did
for Freddie
841
01:08:15,040 --> 01:08:19,955
was like a tiny, narrow,
rather ethnic bodice,
842
01:08:20,000 --> 01:08:25,473
and then wonderful fan pleating,
so that he could lift his arms.
843
01:08:32,720 --> 01:08:37,635
He fits in with glam rock
and definitely not with punk.
844
01:08:37,680 --> 01:08:42,231
They had a bit more magic,
not so much in-your-face as glam rock.
845
01:08:42,280 --> 01:08:47,229
They were perhaps
a bit more fairy tale-like.
846
01:08:47,280 --> 01:08:49,317
Perhaps. A bit gentler.
847
01:08:49,360 --> 01:08:52,671
I made fairy-tale clothes
for Princess Diana
848
01:08:52,720 --> 01:08:58,989
and rather wonderful flights of
the imagination for Freddie Mercury.
849
01:08:59,040 --> 01:09:02,920
Because he was bridging that gap
from first of all,
850
01:09:02,960 --> 01:09:07,113
going through that Whole thing
of being very made-up,
851
01:09:07,160 --> 01:09:11,791
one ofthe first people to do that,
to do the butterfly thing,
852
01:09:11,840 --> 01:09:15,549
then going through
to the economy of another look,
853
01:09:15,600 --> 01:09:21,118
so it's rather exciting that he went
through so many different changes.
854
01:09:27,160 --> 01:09:31,711
The only thing in fashion that you can
rely on is the fact that it changes.
855
01:09:33,120 --> 01:09:37,079
I was just one ofthe changes.
But a very glamorous one.
856
01:09:49,960 --> 01:09:52,793
In 1984, Freddie hired Diana Moseley
857
01:09:52,840 --> 01:09:55,673
to style the video
for! Was Born To Love You.
858
01:09:55,720 --> 01:09:57,836
She went on to dress the Magic Tour
859
01:09:57,880 --> 01:10:01,669
and organise Freddie's private wardrobe
and public costumes.
860
01:10:02,720 --> 01:10:06,315
Born To Love You was going to have
nothing but women in. No men.
861
01:10:06,360 --> 01:10:10,115
It was going to have 1,000 in
but only ended up with 300.
862
01:10:10,160 --> 01:10:15,155
This one, he was their warrior.
It was his love song.
863
01:10:15,200 --> 01:10:18,591
So I dressed him in White.
864
01:10:18,640 --> 01:10:21,439
White and silver, but he was this son of...
865
01:10:23,240 --> 01:10:26,756
Romeo, for want of a better word,
866
01:10:26,800 --> 01:10:28,916
with a battle jacket on.
867
01:10:40,720 --> 01:10:43,872
Freddie wasn't into it,
as people might have thought.
868
01:10:43,920 --> 01:10:45,911
He would dress properly for an occasion
869
01:10:45,960 --> 01:10:49,351
but he wasn't
a complete fashion addict.
870
01:11:03,160 --> 01:11:06,915
With the Magic Tour,
the one thing we all hooked on,
871
01:11:06,960 --> 01:11:10,510
or got everyone to think about,
was White.
872
01:11:10,560 --> 01:11:15,396
Using that, because it's so fantastic
for lighting in the big stadiums.
873
01:11:15,440 --> 01:11:18,637
The guys right at the back
get to see something.
874
01:11:31,600 --> 01:11:34,956
I remember Freddie on that occasion
phoning up from Sweden,
875
01:11:35,000 --> 01:11:38,516
Where they did their opening nights
on the tour.
876
01:11:41,200 --> 01:11:45,433
"It isn't working. We need something else.
I've got to do something.
877
01:11:45,480 --> 01:11:48,199
"I've had this idea.
The others don't like it but I do.
878
01:11:48,240 --> 01:11:52,871
"I want a crown and I want a cloak
with the ermine in."
879
01:11:52,920 --> 01:11:58,040
All I said was, "You want a metal crown,
as real as we can make it?"
880
01:11:58,080 --> 01:12:00,390
He said yes. 80 that was it.
881
01:12:00,440 --> 01:12:02,590
I suppose that's What Freddie liked.
882
01:12:02,640 --> 01:12:06,998
[picked up on What he was talking
about quickly and was true to it.
883
01:12:11,800 --> 01:12:13,552
They went over the top a few times.
884
01:12:13,600 --> 01:12:15,876
Alarming lapses of taste.
885
01:12:15,920 --> 01:12:19,276
Some of it was not in good taste
but it was always tongue-in-cheek.
886
01:12:25,120 --> 01:12:28,590
Freddie's attempts to imbue
rock music with elements of opera
887
01:12:28,640 --> 01:12:30,836
were scorned by the rock press.
888
01:12:30,880 --> 01:12:34,760
The classical world, however,
took his ambitions much more seriously,
889
01:12:34,800 --> 01:12:39,476
and on several notable occasions,
he got to realise his dreams.
890
01:12:39,520 --> 01:12:41,431
I am Montserrat Caballé.
891
01:12:41,480 --> 01:12:44,552
I am the voice that sang
with Freddie Mercury
892
01:12:44,600 --> 01:12:47,877
the song Barcelona,
the song from my city.
893
01:12:49,840 --> 01:12:52,832
In May 1983, Freddie's love of opera
894
01:12:52,880 --> 01:12:56,350
led to him see Pavarotti
singing Verdi in Covent Garden.
895
01:12:56,400 --> 01:13:00,792
That night, an unexpected
and unforgettable love affair was born.
896
01:13:00,840 --> 01:13:04,356
The performance was
Un Ballo In Maschera, an opera by Verdi.
897
01:13:06,040 --> 01:13:09,192
What happens is the tenor
gets a big aria,
898
01:13:09,240 --> 01:13:11,231
almost as soon as he comes on.
899
01:13:11,280 --> 01:13:13,112
Freddie was, "Look, that's good.
900
01:13:13,160 --> 01:13:16,676
"He sings just like he does
on the records."
901
01:13:16,720 --> 01:13:22,591
Then a trio comes up Where
the soprano appears for the first time.
902
01:13:23,640 --> 01:13:26,109
It's actually some beautiful music.
903
01:13:32,520 --> 01:13:34,670
We didn't plan it,
904
01:13:34,720 --> 01:13:37,678
but it was Montserrat
who was actually singing.
905
01:13:37,720 --> 01:13:42,157
He didn't know the name.
He didn't know anyihing about her.
906
01:13:42,200 --> 01:13:45,716
She came on.
She sang in that first bit.
907
01:13:45,760 --> 01:13:51,631
At the end of her bit,
his jawjust dropped, jaw fell open.
908
01:13:51,680 --> 01:13:55,514
He says,
"When is she coming back again?
909
01:13:55,560 --> 01:13:59,155
"I want to hear more ofthis woman.
Who is it?"
910
01:13:59,200 --> 01:14:02,670
I said, "It's Montserrat Caballé,
a Spanish soprano."
911
01:14:03,880 --> 01:14:06,679
He says, "Have you got
any of her recordings?
912
01:14:06,720 --> 01:14:09,030
"I want to listen to it. I want to hear her."
913
01:14:09,080 --> 01:14:11,117
That was how it all staned.
914
01:14:22,600 --> 01:14:24,989
He phoned me up in a great state
of excitement.
915
01:14:25,040 --> 01:14:27,634
He said, "You'll never guess.
I've had a message
916
01:14:27,680 --> 01:14:30,593
"to say that Montserrat Caballé
917
01:14:30,640 --> 01:14:33,473
"would like to meet me.
I'm not going Without you."
918
01:14:45,760 --> 01:14:49,310
It's amazing. I'm going into opera.
Forget rock and roll.
919
01:15:02,600 --> 01:15:05,319
The meeting was set up
for about two o'clock.
920
01:15:16,520 --> 01:15:20,036
Freddie was just pacing up and down.
921
01:15:20,080 --> 01:15:22,071
I've never seen him so nervous.
922
01:15:22,120 --> 01:15:25,954
I had to keep looking out the door
of the salon,
923
01:15:26,000 --> 01:15:29,709
every two, three minutes,
to see as and when she was arriving.
924
01:15:29,760 --> 01:15:33,037
They finally arrived about quaner past two.
925
01:15:33,080 --> 01:15:35,993
It was a magical sight in the foyer.
926
01:15:36,040 --> 01:15:40,955
The crowds just split up.
Like the paning ofthe Red Sea.
927
01:15:41,000 --> 01:15:42,991
Montserrat just came through.
928
01:15:49,160 --> 01:15:52,835
Here is the room Where we first met.
929
01:15:52,880 --> 01:15:55,554
When I entered the room...
930
01:15:55,600 --> 01:15:58,513
he was so cold in his hands.
931
01:15:58,560 --> 01:16:00,790
I was very cold too.
932
01:16:00,840 --> 01:16:06,119
But I could feel his cold hands
and I thought, he's cooler than me.
933
01:16:06,160 --> 01:16:08,993
He's nervous too, so that's good.
934
01:16:09,040 --> 01:16:13,910
When people are nervous,
that means both are expecting
935
01:16:13,960 --> 01:16:16,110
something from the other one.
936
01:16:17,760 --> 01:16:19,751
A piano was in the corner.
937
01:16:19,800 --> 01:16:21,199
Well prepared.
938
01:16:21,240 --> 01:16:25,598
So we stepped up from the table
and we went to the corner.
939
01:16:25,640 --> 01:16:28,075
He was playing
and I was beginning to sing.
940
01:16:28,120 --> 01:16:31,033
We could go on
for hours and hours and hours.
941
01:16:31,080 --> 01:16:34,277
So when we finished,
we look at each other,
942
01:16:34,320 --> 01:16:39,599
and I knew it,
that he has conquered me.
943
01:16:49,840 --> 01:16:52,719
After a memorable performance
at Covent Garden,
944
01:16:52,760 --> 01:16:56,719
Freddie, Montserrat and Mike Moran
went back to Garden Lodge
945
01:16:56,760 --> 01:17:00,754
and spontaneously improvised
around the piano until sunrise.
946
01:17:04,240 --> 01:17:08,359
It was a very special night,
a very, very special night.
947
01:17:08,400 --> 01:17:10,596
A wonderful night.
948
01:17:10,640 --> 01:17:12,631
I will never forget.
949
01:17:17,080 --> 01:17:22,200
It was so wonderful that we don't
realise the time passed so fast
950
01:17:22,240 --> 01:17:27,076
and then someone says,
"It's almost six.
951
01:17:27,120 --> 01:17:31,034
"I think you have to stop,
because you have sung a concert."
952
01:17:31,080 --> 01:17:33,959
I say, ”I'm tired but it's wonderful, ”
953
01:17:41,080 --> 01:17:44,755
Every five minutes, he would say,
"You've got to go, catch a flight."
954
01:17:44,800 --> 01:17:46,791
She says, "You don't want me here?"
955
01:17:46,840 --> 01:17:48,353
He says, "I do,
956
01:17:48,400 --> 01:17:52,189
"but I don't want to get into trouble
because you're tired and late."
957
01:17:52,240 --> 01:17:55,312
You're not tired?
You must rest a little.
958
01:17:55,360 --> 01:17:58,000
- You want me to go?
- I don't want you to go.
959
01:17:58,040 --> 01:18:01,078
I think you must rest.
960
01:18:02,080 --> 01:18:04,356
I come to terrible risk?
961
01:18:05,320 --> 01:18:07,630
I can sing till six in the morning.
962
01:18:07,680 --> 01:18:12,436
I think it was six o'clock in the morning
when I left home
963
01:18:12,480 --> 01:18:17,395
and all the people was in the street,
there was lots of people...
964
01:18:17,440 --> 01:18:22,116
surprised I spent the night
at Freddie's home.
965
01:18:27,560 --> 01:18:30,996
I just thought,
maybe one song or a duet.
966
01:18:31,040 --> 01:18:35,398
She said, "Only one song?
Are you sure? "Only one song?"
967
01:18:35,440 --> 01:18:39,115
I said, "Let's see how we get on.
If you like more of my music..."
968
01:18:39,160 --> 01:18:43,597
She said, "How many songs does
a normal rock-and-roll album have?"
969
01:18:43,640 --> 01:18:47,156
I said, "Something like ten."
"We'll do ten songs, then."
970
01:18:49,680 --> 01:18:53,275
She just said, "Yes, write ten songs.
Tomorrow."
971
01:18:57,120 --> 01:19:00,590
Musicians understand each other
very well.
972
01:19:00,640 --> 01:19:02,756
They're married in music.
973
01:19:02,800 --> 01:19:05,394
This is What was happening
with Freddie and with me.
974
01:19:16,120 --> 01:19:17,918
It's such a challenge.
975
01:19:17,960 --> 01:19:23,319
It's going to be great. I've never
thought of writing songs in that way.
976
01:19:23,360 --> 01:19:25,556
Now she's said
she wants to do duets with me,
977
01:19:25,600 --> 01:19:28,513
I have to think in a totally different way.
978
01:19:45,320 --> 01:19:49,598
He loved me a lot. And I loved him too.
979
01:19:58,120 --> 01:20:01,317
For him, it was normal,
but for me, no.
980
01:20:02,160 --> 01:20:07,838
I told him, "Listen, do you think
I have to perform with you?
981
01:20:07,880 --> 01:20:13,080
"I don't feel like...
I am old, I am big, I don't know."
982
01:20:13,120 --> 01:20:15,714
He says, "Listen.
983
01:20:15,760 --> 01:20:18,070
"Music has not age."
984
01:20:28,400 --> 01:20:30,789
Of all the things he did Without Queen,
985
01:20:30,840 --> 01:20:33,036
I think he was most proud of this.
986
01:20:37,920 --> 01:20:41,800
For the opera world,
it has been a revolution, a real revolution.
987
01:20:52,160 --> 01:20:54,197
The song was absolutely wonderful.
988
01:20:54,240 --> 01:20:59,030
I still get goosebumps when I hear it.
I've heard it 10,000 times.
989
01:20:59,080 --> 01:21:01,594
It was operatic, over the top,
melodramatic.
990
01:21:01,640 --> 01:21:04,439
But in many respects, it was true opera.
991
01:21:19,160 --> 01:21:24,394
He was just beside himself with
happiness this was gonna happen.
992
01:21:24,440 --> 01:21:26,670
And everything had to be perfect.
993
01:21:26,720 --> 01:21:30,315
There were flowers put in
the control room for her arrival.
994
01:21:30,360 --> 01:21:33,000
I remember him insisting
that the studio in London
995
01:21:33,040 --> 01:21:35,793
redecorate the ladies' bathroom
996
01:21:35,840 --> 01:21:37,513
just in case she might use it.
997
01:21:41,200 --> 01:21:42,918
I remember Fred saying to me,
998
01:21:42,960 --> 01:21:45,634
"I can't go on stage
and do my usual thing,
999
01:21:45,680 --> 01:21:50,914
"because she's an opera singer.
Maybe I'd better tone down the act."
1000
01:21:52,280 --> 01:21:55,830
Of course,
What he'd temporarily forgotten
1001
01:21:55,880 --> 01:21:57,678
was this was an operatic diva.
1002
01:21:57,720 --> 01:22:02,430
When she went on stage,
she was like a bloody volcano.
1003
01:22:02,480 --> 01:22:05,154
As soon as she started,
he looked over at me,
1004
01:22:05,200 --> 01:22:07,760
"Bloody hell, I've got competition here."
1005
01:22:07,800 --> 01:22:10,838
It was actually quite a fiery combination.
1006
01:22:14,720 --> 01:22:20,113
It was a marvellous moment
of my life, this one year together.
1007
01:22:20,160 --> 01:22:22,720
I will always remember.
1008
01:22:22,760 --> 01:22:28,631
One of the most surprising, beautiful,
and happy...of my life.
1009
01:22:28,680 --> 01:22:34,278
I mean, it was like an extension,
a Window open to the world.
1010
01:22:45,120 --> 01:22:48,476
Many, many people, young people,
1011
01:22:48,520 --> 01:22:50,511
come today to the opera.
1012
01:22:50,560 --> 01:22:53,712
They always say,
"We wanted so much to find out
1013
01:22:53,760 --> 01:22:57,196
"who is the woman that screams
so much with Freddie?"
1014
01:23:07,200 --> 01:23:09,237
"We are very thankful
to him and to you
1015
01:23:09,280 --> 01:23:11,476
"because this way, we have met
1016
01:23:11,520 --> 01:23:14,160
"two worlds coming together
for the first time."
1017
01:23:18,680 --> 01:23:25,234
One day, he was saying in front
of many friends, we were together,
1018
01:23:25,280 --> 01:23:28,750
"I love music and she is the music."
1019
01:23:41,200 --> 01:23:46,274
I have many proposals many times
to do it again.
1020
01:23:46,320 --> 01:23:49,870
Something with other colleagues
and things.
1021
01:23:49,920 --> 01:23:52,639
But, you know...
1022
01:23:52,680 --> 01:23:56,594
it has to be...
1023
01:23:56,640 --> 01:24:01,510
it has to be something very special
that follows Freddie and me together.
1024
01:24:01,560 --> 01:24:03,073
Very special.
1025
01:24:23,280 --> 01:24:27,990
In the early '80$, tired of stardom
and the attendant invasion of his privacy,
1026
01:24:28,040 --> 01:24:31,795
Freddie left England for a spell
of exile and enjoyment.
1027
01:24:31,840 --> 01:24:35,799
The party town that best suited
his needs was New York.
1028
01:24:35,840 --> 01:24:38,150
I'm Reinhold Mack.
1029
01:24:38,200 --> 01:24:41,192
I happened to produce
some of the Queen albums
1030
01:24:41,240 --> 01:24:43,914
and one of Freddie Mercury's
solo albums.
1031
01:24:53,040 --> 01:24:56,749
I'm Walter Yetnikoff.
I was Freddie Mercury's record boss
1032
01:24:56,800 --> 01:24:59,269
when we released his solo album,
Mr Bad Guy.
1033
01:25:03,040 --> 01:25:06,795
But there was also Munich,
with its liberating anonymity.
1034
01:25:09,920 --> 01:25:11,558
Everybody knew who he was,
1035
01:25:11,600 --> 01:25:14,194
but they also knew
he didn't want to be known,
1036
01:25:14,240 --> 01:25:17,995
so everybody would go on the other
side of the street, going...
1037
01:25:18,040 --> 01:25:19,519
But leave him alone.
1038
01:25:19,560 --> 01:25:25,192
Nobody really treated him
as being the star.
1039
01:25:26,960 --> 01:25:30,715
They didn't want autographs,
just took him for What he was,
1040
01:25:30,760 --> 01:25:33,036
the nice guy paying for lots of drinks.
1041
01:25:40,880 --> 01:25:44,157
When I went to Rio,
I missed the Carnival.
1042
01:25:44,200 --> 01:25:47,955
They have Fasching over here,
so I got into that.
1043
01:25:48,000 --> 01:25:50,150
My God, they do know how to boogie.
1044
01:25:50,840 --> 01:25:53,593
They just don't stop.
So I was upside down for days.
1045
01:25:53,640 --> 01:25:58,476
They didn't tell me that the Fasching
comes to an end on Shrove Tuesday.
1046
01:25:58,520 --> 01:26:00,670
I burned myself out
a few days before.
1047
01:26:06,240 --> 01:26:09,392
I live life to the full.
Every day is Fasching for me.
1048
01:26:12,520 --> 01:26:16,070
I liked him because he was
very bouncy, effusive, enthusiastic.
1049
01:26:16,120 --> 01:26:18,077
And son of drunk.
1050
01:26:21,320 --> 01:26:24,711
I'm using the term advisedly.
I think Freddie Mercury was a genius.
1051
01:26:24,760 --> 01:26:28,435
If you are a genius, you have certain
liberties given to you by society.
1052
01:26:28,480 --> 01:26:31,472
You can act a little different.
You're expected to.
1053
01:26:35,200 --> 01:26:37,953
I liked the music that I heard in the studio.
1054
01:26:47,800 --> 01:26:50,679
To hell with it,
I'll have Freddie Mercury, not Queen.
1055
01:26:50,720 --> 01:26:52,711
It's quite outrageous.
1056
01:26:53,760 --> 01:26:57,276
I think it's new for me as well
because I've actually allowed...
1057
01:26:58,680 --> 01:27:01,798
an orchestra to go mad,
rather than restrict them.
1058
01:27:01,840 --> 01:27:06,391
I said, play all the notes that you
haven't played in your life before.
1059
01:27:06,440 --> 01:27:09,193
So they all went completely crazy.
1060
01:27:11,400 --> 01:27:15,234
So there's basically a world war
going on on that track.
1061
01:27:27,760 --> 01:27:32,880
Though loved by the fans, the Mr Bad Guy
album was a commercial flop.
1062
01:27:32,920 --> 01:27:34,593
It did about 160,000,
1063
01:27:34,640 --> 01:27:39,794
which for another person
would have been an interesting result.
1064
01:27:39,840 --> 01:27:45,040
For an offshoot of Queen,
it was a great disappointment.
1065
01:27:48,800 --> 01:27:51,952
It was certainly not one of my best deals
I've ever done.
1066
01:27:58,960 --> 01:28:03,477
Despite the fact it was not a success,
I'm glad we did this thing together
1067
01:28:03,520 --> 01:28:05,158
as pan of my memory bank.
1068
01:28:07,320 --> 01:28:10,915
The fact that it didn't work,
shoot me, fuck it.
1069
01:28:10,960 --> 01:28:13,110
I don't know if you'll edit that out or not.
1070
01:28:19,000 --> 01:28:22,311
He was absolutely genius.
1071
01:28:22,360 --> 01:28:23,953
Mike is an absolute genius.
1072
01:28:24,000 --> 01:28:26,958
I told him that many times
and he said...
1073
01:28:27,000 --> 01:28:28,479
Absolute genius.
1074
01:28:28,520 --> 01:28:32,036
When we were doing Hot Space,
we started in Switzerland,
1075
01:28:32,080 --> 01:28:34,037
then went on to Munich.
1076
01:28:34,080 --> 01:28:37,675
As time went by, it got longer and longer
and people didn't show up,
1077
01:28:37,720 --> 01:28:39,438
people went skiing.
1078
01:28:39,480 --> 01:28:42,438
Freddie became the godfather
of one of my children,
1079
01:28:42,480 --> 01:28:45,074
simply because I made a bet.
1080
01:28:45,120 --> 01:28:50,069
I said I think it's easier to conceive
and give birth to a child
1081
01:28:50,120 --> 01:28:52,157
than getting this album finished.
1082
01:28:58,200 --> 01:29:00,237
I think I won by about a week.
1083
01:29:00,280 --> 01:29:04,911
Freddie took the godfather thing
terribly serious.
1084
01:29:04,960 --> 01:29:11,070
He gave him a set of cutlery
and teddy bears ten miles high.
1085
01:29:11,120 --> 01:29:13,191
All sorts of stuff.
1086
01:29:13,240 --> 01:29:18,633
Really constantly asked, is he eating
all right, What are you feeding him?
1087
01:29:18,680 --> 01:29:22,878
I think he cared more
than his mother did.
1088
01:29:32,080 --> 01:29:34,594
In New York,
you could walk on the Wild side.
1089
01:29:34,640 --> 01:29:36,631
That was Why I was here
1090
01:29:36,680 --> 01:29:39,718
and clearly Why many other people,
including Freddie,
1091
01:29:39,760 --> 01:29:42,195
were drawn to spend a lot of time here.
1092
01:29:48,320 --> 01:29:51,711
If we were going
to The Saint in New York...
1093
01:29:53,080 --> 01:29:56,038
he would join the queue of people to get in
1094
01:29:56,080 --> 01:30:00,631
rather than just go to the front
and just get ushered in
1095
01:30:00,680 --> 01:30:07,393
because he didn't want to be seen
to be famous.
1096
01:30:07,440 --> 01:30:11,718
But everybody would then say,
"It's Freddie Mercury in the queue."
1097
01:30:19,320 --> 01:30:23,359
Freddie was an adventurer. We were
both interested in blurring the lines.
1098
01:30:25,800 --> 01:30:28,918
You could do that in New York
like no other city in the world.
1099
01:30:28,960 --> 01:30:33,431
In the late '703 and into the '803,
it was really...
1100
01:30:33,480 --> 01:30:35,869
If you want to talk about decadence,
1101
01:30:35,920 --> 01:30:38,594
this was the place
to be truly decadent.
1102
01:30:44,920 --> 01:30:48,436
You could be the extreme part
of your personality.
1103
01:30:48,480 --> 01:30:50,710
That was what was exciting
about New York.
1104
01:30:50,760 --> 01:30:54,310
Of course, that's What killed
a lot of people over the years
1105
01:30:54,360 --> 01:30:57,591
and nearly got me eventually.
1106
01:30:57,640 --> 01:31:01,918
I'm sure that it was here that...
1107
01:31:01,960 --> 01:31:04,952
that Freddie contracted...
1108
01:31:06,680 --> 01:31:08,956
the illness that killed him.
1109
01:31:22,320 --> 01:31:25,870
Though he once thought
Montreux tediously quiet,
1110
01:31:25,920 --> 01:31:29,151
Freddie's increasing appreciation
of its tranquil beauty
1111
01:31:29,200 --> 01:31:31,077
led him from the late '80$ onwards
1112
01:31:31,120 --> 01:31:35,796
to buy a flat there and occupy
his time with its decoration.
1113
01:31:35,840 --> 01:31:40,516
This distracted him partially from
the far more serious matter at hand.
1114
01:31:40,560 --> 01:31:43,154
Though they all heard about it
in different ways,
1115
01:31:43,200 --> 01:31:45,669
the news that Freddie
was HIV-positive
1116
01:31:45,720 --> 01:31:48,917
was equally devastating
for all those close to him.
1117
01:31:50,720 --> 01:31:55,669
I received a telephone call
from Freddie's GP...
1118
01:31:56,840 --> 01:32:00,196
to say that he had had no response
from telephone calls
1119
01:32:00,240 --> 01:32:02,675
and would I remind him to call,
1120
01:32:02,720 --> 01:32:06,350
which I did,
subsequently got calls back,
1121
01:32:06,400 --> 01:32:08,391
saying, "I still haven't had a call."
1122
01:32:08,440 --> 01:32:11,671
Sol pursued... In the end, I was told
1123
01:32:11,720 --> 01:32:16,078
Why the GP
needed to speak to Freddie.
1124
01:32:19,440 --> 01:32:22,592
I felt my heart fall out of my boots.
1125
01:32:22,640 --> 01:32:26,315
I suppose anyone's
immediate reaction is, are you sure?
1126
01:32:27,480 --> 01:32:31,269
"Yes, I am sure, darling.
The best doctor. The best of everything."
1127
01:32:33,240 --> 01:32:37,552
A natural reaction, I suppose,
is to say, "Let's find somebody else."
1128
01:32:41,240 --> 01:32:43,231
He then just said to me, "Listen.
1129
01:32:46,440 --> 01:32:48,954
"The door is always open
if you want to leave."
1130
01:32:51,120 --> 01:32:54,476
My reaction was,
I said, "Don't be so silly.
1131
01:32:55,360 --> 01:32:57,590
"I'm not going to walk out over this."
1132
01:32:57,640 --> 01:33:01,520
One of our family visits,
we were in his bedroom,
1133
01:33:01,560 --> 01:33:05,633
just me and Roger,
and he just told us.
1134
01:33:05,680 --> 01:33:10,959
I was in the kitchen on my own
and he came down from upstairs.
1135
01:33:12,160 --> 01:33:15,835
He said,
"I've got something to tell you."
1136
01:33:17,040 --> 01:33:18,599
"Yeah, OK."
1137
01:33:18,640 --> 01:33:21,758
"Look, you know I'm sick, don't you?"
1138
01:33:21,800 --> 01:33:26,476
I said, "I've got a good idea."
He said, "You know What it is?"
1139
01:33:27,800 --> 01:33:29,359
I said, yeah.
1140
01:33:29,400 --> 01:33:32,916
He said, "That's it. You know. That's it.
1141
01:33:32,960 --> 01:33:36,430
"It won't be talked about any more.
We do not speak about it."
1142
01:33:36,480 --> 01:33:39,871
And then at one point, he decided
1143
01:33:39,920 --> 01:33:44,437
to invite us
all over to the house for a meeting,
1144
01:33:44,480 --> 01:33:48,110
and he just told us the absolute facts,
1145
01:33:48,160 --> 01:33:51,516
the facts that we were really
starting to realise anyway.
1146
01:33:53,040 --> 01:33:57,193
Really, that produced a coming together,
a closing of the ranks.
1147
01:33:57,240 --> 01:34:00,073
The way he was telling me that.
1148
01:34:01,240 --> 01:34:05,916
"I am seropositive," he says.
1149
01:34:07,880 --> 01:34:10,838
"I developed the illness."
1150
01:34:12,240 --> 01:34:14,754
I say, "But you are so strong.
1151
01:34:16,240 --> 01:34:19,551
"You sing like you sing."
1152
01:34:20,400 --> 01:34:24,871
"Yes, I still can do it," he says.
1153
01:34:24,920 --> 01:34:28,038
"But it comes a moment, no more,
and I know that.
1154
01:34:29,040 --> 01:34:31,509
"And I want you to know.
1155
01:34:31,560 --> 01:34:34,757
"Because it's my duty
to tell you this."
1156
01:34:35,720 --> 01:34:37,996
I say, "No, it's not duty.
1157
01:34:38,040 --> 01:34:41,112
"But I am very thankful
that you have told me,
1158
01:34:41,160 --> 01:34:43,959
"because that means
I have your friendship
1159
01:34:44,000 --> 01:34:46,560
"and this is as important
as anything to me."
1160
01:34:59,000 --> 01:35:02,789
Everything had to be treated
very normally. He had to be too.
1161
01:35:02,840 --> 01:35:07,152
If he found that you were flagging,
you were becoming too emotional,
1162
01:35:07,200 --> 01:35:12,229
then he would naturally
push you back in line
1163
01:35:12,280 --> 01:35:16,160
and bring forward who he felt
that he could rely on
1164
01:35:16,200 --> 01:35:18,157
for What he needed.
1165
01:35:18,200 --> 01:35:20,350
Because of his illness - he had it -
1166
01:35:20,400 --> 01:35:25,554
so he didn't need someone else
to remind him all the time.
1167
01:35:25,600 --> 01:35:28,752
He used to love us
and respect us so much
1168
01:35:28,800 --> 01:35:30,871
that he didn't want to mm us.
1169
01:35:30,920 --> 01:35:34,436
We knew all along
and we didn't want to displease him
1170
01:35:34,480 --> 01:35:38,519
because we loved him equally well,
as much.
1171
01:35:40,200 --> 01:35:42,589
But that was sad.
1172
01:35:42,640 --> 01:35:45,439
At first, I couldn't believe
What he was telling me.
1173
01:35:46,720 --> 01:35:49,712
Basically,
it was just going above my head.
1174
01:35:50,800 --> 01:35:53,997
It was only later in the months
as he deteriorated
1175
01:35:54,040 --> 01:35:56,873
that it started to sink in.
1176
01:35:56,920 --> 01:36:00,914
But even then, I just kept on hoping
he would come out of it.
1177
01:36:00,960 --> 01:36:06,399
We knew in August, September,
that he was really "I.
1178
01:36:06,440 --> 01:36:09,193
He was in Montreux.
1179
01:36:10,400 --> 01:36:13,950
Always he used to be with us
on my birthday.
1180
01:36:14,000 --> 01:36:17,231
This birthday,
he sent me flowers from Montreux.
1181
01:36:17,280 --> 01:36:22,434
He said, "Sorry, Mum, this time
I can't be with you on your birthday
1182
01:36:22,480 --> 01:36:24,391
"but I'll make it up."
1183
01:36:24,440 --> 01:36:28,513
But, of course, it was October
and he was very ill.
1184
01:36:28,560 --> 01:36:30,631
It was very sad at that time.
1185
01:36:47,880 --> 01:36:51,111
He would never
dwell on things like that
1186
01:36:51,160 --> 01:36:54,471
because, for him, life was incredible
1187
01:36:54,520 --> 01:36:59,310
and had to be pursued
the best way possible at all times.
1188
01:36:59,360 --> 01:37:02,637
That's Why he never stopped
being creative.
1189
01:37:02,680 --> 01:37:07,197
He could've easily given up
and disappeared somewhere
1190
01:37:07,240 --> 01:37:12,679
and lived the rest of his life in isolation,
but he did not do that.
1191
01:37:12,720 --> 01:37:15,439
It's another example
of how brave the man was.
1192
01:37:15,480 --> 01:37:18,950
He was out working
until he could actually work no more.
1193
01:37:19,000 --> 01:37:23,437
One regret was that there was
still music in him when he died.
1194
01:37:23,480 --> 01:37:27,838
It was there, it was in his brain,
1195
01:37:27,880 --> 01:37:32,397
but because of the body,
he wasn't able to produce it.
1196
01:37:32,440 --> 01:37:35,558
If he didn't have the music,
1197
01:37:35,600 --> 01:37:38,638
he wouldn't have lasted as long,
he really wouldn't.
1198
01:37:38,680 --> 01:37:42,230
And still with that immense humour
and that immense drive.
1199
01:37:43,000 --> 01:37:48,632
That's What people will never know
that weren't around at the time,
1200
01:37:48,680 --> 01:37:51,911
he still had that incredible commitment,
1201
01:37:51,960 --> 01:37:54,474
that incredible
commitment to perfection.
1202
01:38:09,640 --> 01:38:13,599
All you're doing
is making his life easier,
1203
01:38:13,640 --> 01:38:17,349
making him able to deal
with his life a little bit easier,
1204
01:38:17,400 --> 01:38:20,279
giving him
that little bit more quality of life.
1205
01:38:20,320 --> 01:38:26,350
The hardest part was the fact that you
knew Whatever you were doing...
1206
01:38:27,280 --> 01:38:29,271
wasn't curing him.
1207
01:38:30,240 --> 01:38:34,916
You were going to spend a year,
two years, doing this for this guy,
1208
01:38:34,960 --> 01:38:36,758
and he still would die at the end.
1209
01:38:36,800 --> 01:38:38,791
At first, I didn't believe it.
1210
01:38:40,240 --> 01:38:42,231
"No, it must be something else."
1211
01:38:43,120 --> 01:38:46,750
It's a very hard thing to realise
1212
01:38:46,800 --> 01:38:49,633
if it's somebody
that's very close to you.
1213
01:38:49,680 --> 01:38:54,117
I had some comfortable cashmere,
soft silk clothes made for him.
1214
01:38:55,000 --> 01:38:57,719
Because even
wearing clothing was hurting him.
1215
01:38:57,760 --> 01:39:01,310
I sat and played Scrabble with him,
helped move furniture around,
1216
01:39:01,360 --> 01:39:04,557
so the other guys could have
a bit of a break in the house.
1217
01:39:05,600 --> 01:39:08,479
He was a spirit to the last.
1218
01:39:09,560 --> 01:39:13,758
He said, "I can't drink champagne
any more, you drink it for me."
1219
01:39:16,240 --> 01:39:19,198
A bottle of champagne to myself.
1220
01:39:19,240 --> 01:39:21,231
Freddie watching.
1221
01:39:23,040 --> 01:39:25,395
He wouldn't let the illness
1222
01:39:25,440 --> 01:39:29,320
get in between his friends
and people around him.
1223
01:39:29,360 --> 01:39:31,636
He suffered so dreadfully.
1224
01:39:31,680 --> 01:39:34,593
But he never told anybody about it.
1225
01:39:34,640 --> 01:39:37,075
When we were doing
the Slightly Mad video,
1226
01:39:37,120 --> 01:39:40,511
Freddie was
on a completely different plane.
1227
01:39:40,560 --> 01:39:43,951
Normally, under the lighting,
everybody gets very hot.
1228
01:39:44,000 --> 01:39:48,870
Freddie had thermals on underneath
all the clothing I'd put on him,
1229
01:39:48,920 --> 01:39:50,831
underneath all the lights.
1230
01:39:50,880 --> 01:39:52,871
He had no body weight at all.
1231
01:39:52,920 --> 01:39:55,992
I was absolutely amazed
how he carried it through.
1232
01:39:56,040 --> 01:39:58,839
He even timed his own death.
1233
01:39:58,880 --> 01:40:03,113
The best thing we could do
for Freddie was just to talk to him,
1234
01:40:03,160 --> 01:40:06,835
let him know that
Whatever he decided was right.
1235
01:40:06,880 --> 01:40:11,431
If he wanted to go,
don't hang around for us.
1236
01:40:11,480 --> 01:40:14,598
We're gonna be around afterwards.
Don't wait.
1237
01:40:14,640 --> 01:40:20,511
Don't hang on to this life if it's not
right for you. If you're ready, go.
1238
01:40:29,400 --> 01:40:33,359
The last six months or 30,
Elton was a regular visitor.
1239
01:40:33,400 --> 01:40:35,391
He cared so much about Freddie.
1240
01:40:37,200 --> 01:40:41,159
Sometimes he might only be able
to stay for five, ten minutes.
1241
01:40:41,200 --> 01:40:45,637
You could see the emotion in his face
when he left. He really cared for him.
1242
01:40:45,680 --> 01:40:50,197
The last weeks of his life,
there was a lot of media outside...
1243
01:40:51,680 --> 01:40:55,435
which we tried to keep away,
1244
01:40:55,480 --> 01:40:59,553
but the odd statements
that were made by them outside
1245
01:40:59,600 --> 01:41:01,671
were particularly unpleasant.
1246
01:41:01,720 --> 01:41:03,438
The very last time he came,
1247
01:41:03,480 --> 01:41:06,996
he knew it was the last time
he'd see Freddie,
1248
01:41:07,040 --> 01:41:10,237
because Freddie
had already stopped the drugs
1249
01:41:10,280 --> 01:41:11,839
for a week and a half,
1250
01:41:11,880 --> 01:41:14,952
and Elton had to go off to Paris
to do some work.
1251
01:41:16,880 --> 01:41:21,113
Elton said, "No, I've had enough
of this sneaking around."
1252
01:41:21,160 --> 01:41:26,155
He came in his Bentley,
his big, dark green Bentley,
1253
01:41:26,200 --> 01:41:29,556
and parked
straight outside Garden Lodge.
1254
01:41:29,600 --> 01:41:32,877
The press came running over to him.
"What are you doing here?"
1255
01:41:32,920 --> 01:41:37,596
He says, "I've just come to see
my friend," and came in the door.
1256
01:41:48,240 --> 01:41:52,029
The statement was
one of the hardest things to do,
1257
01:41:52,080 --> 01:41:56,711
because, not only for himself,
but he knew he would never be going
1258
01:41:56,760 --> 01:41:58,876
outside the doors
of Garden Lodge again.
1259
01:41:58,920 --> 01:42:02,151
He knew he wouldn't have to worry
about photographs.
1260
01:42:02,200 --> 01:42:08,958
Once the statement was done,
he knew his life was over, sort of thing.
1261
01:42:10,040 --> 01:42:13,795
One of the reasons
that it took so much
1262
01:42:13,840 --> 01:42:18,073
was because it was going to make
public liars out of all of us around him.
1263
01:42:19,600 --> 01:42:25,471
Because everybody had denied
him having the disease.
1264
01:42:25,520 --> 01:42:27,670
To friends, family, everything else.
1265
01:42:27,720 --> 01:42:32,840
He certainly wanted to protect
his parents, sister, his family.
1266
01:42:33,520 --> 01:42:37,514
I think he wanted to protect
everybody Within the house too
1267
01:42:37,560 --> 01:42:40,996
that were taking care of him
and looking after him,
1268
01:42:41,040 --> 01:42:43,998
so that they weren't hassled.
1269
01:42:44,040 --> 01:42:47,431
He didn't want people
to see him deteriorating.
1270
01:42:47,480 --> 01:42:50,836
He didn't want to put them
through the upset.
1271
01:42:50,880 --> 01:42:54,236
We went downstairs
and we played a game of Scrabble.
1272
01:42:54,280 --> 01:42:56,271
And I drank champagne.
1273
01:42:57,000 --> 01:42:58,877
Just the two of us.
1274
01:43:00,640 --> 01:43:02,870
As I left,
1275
01:43:02,920 --> 01:43:07,312
he said, "Thank you for spending
the afternoon with an old man."
1276
01:43:17,480 --> 01:43:20,313
I saw a man become incredibly brave.
1277
01:43:22,800 --> 01:43:27,920
I saw a man become
incredibly emotional at times.
1278
01:43:28,640 --> 01:43:32,395
I saw depths of this person
1279
01:43:32,440 --> 01:43:37,355
that was an exaggeration
of What was,
1280
01:43:37,400 --> 01:43:40,836
that had been primarily there
all those years.
1281
01:43:43,880 --> 01:43:46,269
And respected and admired him
even more.
1282
01:43:49,600 --> 01:43:52,513
He would sleep, wake up, sleep.
1283
01:43:52,560 --> 01:43:54,551
The television would be on.
1284
01:43:56,160 --> 01:43:58,515
Sometimes he'd talk
for a few minutes.
1285
01:43:59,360 --> 01:44:02,113
But it was just sitting there,
holding hands,
1286
01:44:02,160 --> 01:44:04,276
so that he knew
someone was there with him.
1287
01:44:10,000 --> 01:44:15,359
The Sunday morning, early,
his breathing changed.
1288
01:44:15,400 --> 01:44:17,960
We called the doctor
and he explained
1289
01:44:18,000 --> 01:44:20,560
that basically he had gone into a coma.
1290
01:44:23,640 --> 01:44:25,631
Mary came and went.
1291
01:44:27,280 --> 01:44:33,754
His parents called up, but the doctor
said, "Don't let them come now.
1292
01:44:34,840 --> 01:44:40,199
"He might be better later on."
That sort of thing.
1293
01:44:40,240 --> 01:44:45,952
We just stopped people from coming
because of the state he was in.
1294
01:44:49,880 --> 01:44:55,398
As the doctor was over in the mews,
just getting into his car,
1295
01:44:55,440 --> 01:44:59,479
Jim and I were up there,
we were going to change his clothes,
1296
01:44:59,520 --> 01:45:03,878
and noticed that his chest wasn't
moving. He had stopped breathing.
1297
01:45:03,920 --> 01:45:05,911
I went up.
1298
01:45:10,640 --> 01:45:14,634
I just said to Phoebe, Peter,
"He's gone."
1299
01:45:21,040 --> 01:45:25,352
The usual thing is to see
if he is breathing, the mirror.
1300
01:45:25,400 --> 01:45:27,710
I just looked at him and said,
"He's gone."
1301
01:45:29,000 --> 01:45:30,274
Phoned Mary.
1302
01:45:42,200 --> 01:45:44,396
He'd given himself...
1303
01:45:45,880 --> 01:45:50,113
a limit, and I think, personally,
1304
01:45:50,160 --> 01:45:55,439
that when he couldn't record any more,
1305
01:45:55,480 --> 01:45:57,915
or have the energy
to do that any more,
1306
01:45:57,960 --> 01:45:59,951
then it would be the end.
1307
01:46:00,680 --> 01:46:04,469
Because his life, really,
had been his work.
1308
01:46:04,520 --> 01:46:07,512
I think his joy had been that.
1309
01:46:09,240 --> 01:46:11,231
I think Without it...
1310
01:46:12,960 --> 01:46:17,750
he wouldn't have been
strong enough to face...
1311
01:46:19,040 --> 01:46:21,031
What he had to face.
1312
01:46:21,080 --> 01:46:23,879
So he did it on his own terms.
1313
01:46:23,920 --> 01:46:27,390
It was very, very upsetting, because...
1314
01:46:27,440 --> 01:46:29,716
Obviously, I knew it was coming,
1315
01:46:29,760 --> 01:46:31,751
but I just didn't want it to come.
1316
01:46:35,840 --> 01:46:39,595
I can picture it, when it happened,
the day, the time.
1317
01:46:42,240 --> 01:46:48,395
It was still a shock because I didn't
think it would be coming when it did.
1318
01:46:52,840 --> 01:46:56,071
I was hoping, there'll be a cure,
just got to hang on,
1319
01:46:56,120 --> 01:47:00,079
it'll come, but even now,
there is no cure, isn't there?
1320
01:47:00,120 --> 01:47:03,078
The medications, obviously,
they're getting there.
1321
01:47:06,120 --> 01:47:08,509
It's a pity it didn't happen
a few years ago.
1322
01:47:10,760 --> 01:47:12,194
That's life.
1323
01:47:12,240 --> 01:47:15,676
I suppose his time was up
and that was it.
1324
01:47:15,720 --> 01:47:19,190
He suddenly announced one day
after Sunday lunch,
1325
01:47:19,240 --> 01:47:21,709
"I know exactly
Where I want you to put me.
1326
01:47:26,600 --> 01:47:30,070
"But no one's to know because
I don't want anyone to dig me up,"
1327
01:47:30,120 --> 01:47:32,031
were his exact words.
1328
01:47:32,080 --> 01:47:34,469
"I just want to rest in peace."
1329
01:47:46,840 --> 01:47:50,515
I think in the end being natural
and being genuine is what wins.
1330
01:47:50,560 --> 01:47:54,110
In the end, all the mistakes
and excuses are down to me.
1331
01:47:54,160 --> 01:47:56,800
I'd like to feel
that I'm just being my honest self.
1332
01:47:56,840 --> 01:47:59,275
I don't give a shit
what people say about me.
1333
01:47:59,320 --> 01:48:03,314
I don't regret any of the things I did.
I'm just me. I'm just me.
1334
01:48:11,800 --> 01:48:13,074
C'est la vie.
1335
01:49:07,680 --> 01:49:09,512
I'm a very loving person.
1336
01:49:11,800 --> 01:49:13,199
How about that?
1337
01:51:32,840 --> 01:51:37,118
If I had to do it all over again, Why not?
I'd do it slightly differently.
1338
01:51:44,400 --> 01:51:46,391
I still love you.