Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender
Little Richard. David Bowie. Elton John. Prince. Madonna. There’s a long tradition of pop-music artists who dare to push theatrical boundaries and blur gender lines, none more adroitly than the late Queen front man, Freddie Mercury. His unabashed flamboyance, which often teetered on the edge of camp, burns brightly for many of today’s biggest stars, most notably Lady Gaga (who is named after the 1984 Queen hit “Radio Ga Ga”) and Adam Lambert (who has performed lead vocals for Queen live in concert on several occasions). They owe an enormous debt to Mercury, one of the most iconic performers ever to command the stage and arguably rock’s greatest showman (or woman). This handsomely assembled and officially sanctioned photo book includes rare and never-before-seen photos of Mercury—from his childhood in Zanzibar to his final, frail appearances on the set of music videos in 1991—as well as personal anecdotes from those who knew him closely. The images are a moving tribute to one man’s style revolution and will appeal to casual and hard-core fans alike. --Chris Keech