Two In The Think Tank - 149 - Freddie Mercury and Queen

Episode Date: August 29, 2018

This week we look at a rock icon who has one of the most famous voices (and moustaches) in history! It’s the legend himself, Freddie Mercury! We look at his life growing up, his career with Queen, a...nd Matt gives Freddie’s famous call and response a go!Melbourne LIVE show on October 13th : https://www.moshtix.com.au/v2/event/do-go-on-live/105917?&skin=4406&ref=hwlrUK shows : https://dogoonpod.com/events/Support the show and get rewards like bonus episodes: www.patreon.com/DoGoOnPodSubmit a topic idea directly to the hat: http://bit.ly/DoGoOnHat Twitter: @DoGoOnPodInstagram: @DoGoOnPodFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoGoOnPod/Email us: dogoonpod@gmail.comCheck out Matt's new podcast Prime Mates: https://www.planetbroadcasting.com/our-shows/prime-matesReferences and further reading:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j40JKpvhr88https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mercuryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_(band) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey everybody, Jess and Dave, just jumping in really quickly at the top here to make sure that you are across all the details for our upcoming Christmas show. That's right, we are doing a live show in Melbourne Saturday December the 2nd, 2023, our final podcast of the year, our Christmas special. It's downstairs at Morris House, which usually be called the European beer cafe. On Saturday December the 2nd, 2023 at 4.30pm, come along, come one, come all, and get tickets at dogoonpod.com. This episode is brought to you by Progressive. Most of you aren't just listening right now.
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Starting point is 00:01:23 You could start your new career in months, not years. Take classes online or on campus Visit PlanetBroadcasting.com for more podcasts from our great mates. Hello everybody, my name is Dave. What rap starts with hello everybody? All good ones. And I was just making a suggestion on how I think the show should start. Hello everybody, my name is Dave. And welcome to the do-go-one podcast. My name is Dave. Warnakie, and I'm here with Jess Perkins and Massachusetts. Oh, he rhymed Dave with Dave.
Starting point is 00:02:19 Yeah. Hey, that technically rhymes is no good, but... It's a rhyme 101. I'm gonna rhyme Jess with miss nice. That's rhyme 102 Matt with cat Dave with Dave Exactly see Dave doesn't rhyme with anything wave. Oh, okay except for that and orange Okay, that works too and And purple. And silver. It's mostly colours.
Starting point is 00:02:47 My name's Rhymes with every colour. That I'm a rainbow. Rainbow boy. Little rainbow boy. Little rainbow Dave. I'm going to change, you know how I always update our Nicknife to our group chat. Yes. I'm just going to change Dave to just the emoji of a rainbow.
Starting point is 00:03:03 That's a real improvement because at the moment he's been boy. No, he's boy who belongs in the beat. Oh, sorry. I forget that because you never see your name. No, I forgot I'm lonely girl. I don't remember why. Beaded one. That showed me.
Starting point is 00:03:17 It shows you. You're no discerning pictures. Just a floating beard. That's all we see. Cut the beard pictures. Just a floating bead. That's all we say. Cut the bead off. You don't exist. Oh. Samson's hair, Matt's beard, no power's left. You are nothing. Thank you. The way we do this show is I did get people to suggest ways of describing the show and
Starting point is 00:03:43 I don't have any of them ready. I'll do one of them next week. So why don't you have your own? You have a crack. Okay, describe the show to the listeners. Three obvious friends hang out. One teaches the other two about a topic that they've researched real hard. And we start the episode, the other two don't know what the topic is.
Starting point is 00:04:02 That's pretty good. And we start the episode with a question from the report giver to get us on to the topic. This question also could be real hard. Everything here is real hard. Rock. Rock hard. And Jess's question. Which I always write.
Starting point is 00:04:22 So here I am reading it right now. Ah, yes. Reading. Pointing out a laptop. That's how I read. Not a touch screen, Jess. No, I know, but I must point to read. This is something you've known about me for a long time. Love this character. I mean, where are you from? I don't know. They're not too distant from you. What's sick?
Starting point is 00:04:50 What is the stage name of Furok Balsara? I mean, I know this, I think. Well, first can I just say you're an idiot, forgetting a stage name. For Rock. Come on. I think he's a Farokster. Is it Freddie Mercury? It is Freddie Mercury. All right, I stand corrected.
Starting point is 00:05:13 That is a sweet name. Freddie Mercury is a fantastic stage name. So would For Rock Mercury be? For Rock. For Rock is so good. That is very good. Are we talking about Freddie Mercury? We're talking about Freddie, For Rock. so good. That is very good. Are we talking about Freddie Mercury? We're talking about Freddie,
Starting point is 00:05:25 fucking Mercury. Ah, forock. So for ages, my topics have all been voted on, which is always really nice. I really enjoy doing that, but it's kind of liberating then to be able to just choose. Oh, but it's also terrifying. It's terrifying.
Starting point is 00:05:38 It's terrifying. You're like, I mean, is this right? Is this good? To people who want to hear this, and then I went back through the hat to grab all the names of the people who suggested it and it's been suggested a lot. Some people just suggesting Freddie Mercury, some people saying Freddie Mercury and Queen. Are you ignoring those people? No, I'll be doing a bit of both but the focus is definitely
Starting point is 00:05:57 on Freddie. On for rock. On for rock. And rock. We will for rock you. That's got to be sort of a bug. We are the... Tell me, so I'll have to ride it. I guess we'll find out. Oh, dear. Um, this is suggested by, okay, here we go. Gina Thrap, Will White, Jocelyn Benthard, Paul Sedan, Derek Hurigan. Uh, what a, Kevin Packrand.
Starting point is 00:06:22 I mean, Jess, it does sound a lot, you've logged in to random, name-generated.com, but like... Swack. When someone was named Swack. Swack! Oh, Thrap, sorry. Come on, mate. Also...
Starting point is 00:06:33 That's the sound that, um, that spotterman makes when he... Jackson. Jackson. Ha-ha-ha. Boom, boom, Thrap. Boom, boom, Thrap. We will, we will, forock you. Boom, boom, Thrap. Boom, boom, thrap, we will, we will, for rock you. Boom boom, thrap.
Starting point is 00:06:48 Boom boom, thrap. That's a bit of beatbox humor. I'm pretty good at it. Yeah, okay. We've also suggested by Amelia Baseloni. He's like every single name I think. Just let me thank these people. I'd love he slipped into a slide accent.
Starting point is 00:07:08 I did it. Polonin! These names have been some of the best we've ever had and we always get great names. This one's just one name, it's Ashmita. Oh my god. And also my cat gold man. Hmm. Okay.
Starting point is 00:07:23 Thanks for letting me get through that so seamlessly. Wow, every single one of those names was amazing. Thrap really. Thrap just that. Copping it. Copping it, what love? Yeah, praise. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:07:38 What, how did you turn that positive thing, I say? I'm doing negative thing. I'm sorry, too. Okay, so. Boom, boom, Jeff. Okay, so... Bum, bum, frat. Bum, bum, frat. For rock, bolsara was born on the 5th of September 1946 in Zanzibar. Did you know that? I did know that.
Starting point is 00:07:58 Do you know what where Zanzibar is now? Tens of Nia. Oh, you've got a little geography right, bye-bye. The capital is now? Tanzania. God, he's good at little geography, right, bye-bye. Oh, good. Um. The capital is Dar El Salam. And I think Zanzibar must be some sort of a restaurant or chain in America because. Zanzibar.
Starting point is 00:08:15 Yeah, because Jack Black in the song says. To Zanzibar. I won't make it, but I'll order in from Zanzibar. And now I'm fucking fucking fucking cute as green. That's a great time to stay somewhere. And it's been a bit more on time. They were all great. I make today a total of you.
Starting point is 00:08:37 Total of you. Total of you. Yes. Yes, I still got slam dunked by you there. I love this supportive environment. I love it. He's even supporting. He's, I know you really got me there.
Starting point is 00:08:56 I know. That's supportive it is. Yeah. Yeah. Again, I'm saying positive. You're taking my tone all the way. I mean, mainly is your head cold so pray for Bob. Yeah, I know.
Starting point is 00:09:08 I think I sound kind of cool. You're trending. No, I'm alright. Your face is like, ooh. His parents were from a region of the then province of Bombay in British India. They'd moved to Zanzibar for his father's work. He worked at the British colonial office, I think it was some kind of civil servant.
Starting point is 00:09:32 And for rock spent his childhood in India. He began taking piano lessons when he was seven years old and when he was eight in 1954, he was sent to a boarding school near Bombay. The school was called St Peter's School and this is where he started to call himself Freddie. E. Farok didn't cut it.
Starting point is 00:09:56 Imagine you put so much effort into naming a child, I assume. I guess you don't just do a random word name. Don't want to come with for rock. Yeah. And they must have felt so good about that. But then the kid goes and changes it to like Fred. Like are you serious? We gave you an interesting name. We gave you the name of a prince and you've taken a dog's name.
Starting point is 00:10:22 What are you a little dog? Fred. If you're going to be cold Fred, will you sleep on the floor, your dog? You'll never be a superstar with that name. Boy, well, how you wrong. Ooh, sizzle, ooh. Oh, really? Does he have a noteworthy laugh in some way?
Starting point is 00:10:38 At the age of 12, we started his first band. I just want to say throughout this entire report there are some very good band names. His first band when he was 12 was called The Hechtics. That's a great band, man. Love it. It's a different 12 year old. Pretty clever.
Starting point is 00:10:56 It makes you think. Ha ha ha. Ooh. The Hechtics. I get it. Or is it The Hechtics? My God, it works on twoctic. I get it. Or is it the hectic? My God, it works on two levels. Life at 12.
Starting point is 00:11:10 They covered a lot of music such as Cliff Richard and Little Richard, specifically Richards. And Freddie Wout, his fellow students, with his ability to listen to a song on the radio and then play what he'd heard on the piano. I'm really glad he said that. I thought it was going to be, he could wowed his fellow students by his ability to listen to a song on the radio. Check this out guys. Oh wow, I can hear it too. No, that's good as me. This kid is so kind of genius.
Starting point is 00:11:43 That is a talent. To play it back. Absolutely. That means like he goes with his egos. Ba-ba-ba-ba. Yeah. Scrumming his e like a trumpet. Is that what that means? Yeah, so you could play the piano like an e- trumpet.
Starting point is 00:12:00 Yes. I'm really glad Matt translated that. To handle. Yeah, I can play by years. Cup that for Eddie. He can only do one. In 1963 when he was 17, he moved back to Zanzibar, where his parents were still living, and not long after he returned, though, Fredy and his family fled from Zanzibar for safety reasons due to the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution. I mean, you did say they fled Zanzibar.
Starting point is 00:12:39 I was going to let it go, but then Matt and I, we locked out. And he gave me a look. Not funny, because it was bad. Lots of people died. Lots of people fled. fled. Sorry, sorry, sorry. Freddie and his family fled. Brilliant.
Starting point is 00:12:56 The safety reasons. Oh God, I wish I had heard that bit before I jumped in. I had said it. Due to the 1964 Zenzabar revolution in which thousands of Arabs and Indians were killed. So they left and they went to England. So they moved to the UK and he enrolled in Olesworth Polytechnic, which is now known as the West Tim's College in West London. And he studied art there. He ended up earning a diploma in art and graphic design. Am I not knowing that? I didn't know that. I didn't know that.
Starting point is 00:13:30 Huh, thank you. This has been worth it. I'm very graduated. He joined a few bands. He worked selling secondhand clothes in Kensington market with his girlfriend Mary Oster. In 1969 he joined the Liverpool-based band Ibex. Later renamed Reckage. What's Ibex? How's that spelled? I-B-E-X. Ibex. Oh. Ibex. Ibex. Sounds like a, yeah like a some sort of a thing dropping or water It fizzes up and it makes you tell me feel better If I wasn't
Starting point is 00:14:10 If I wasn't it's an effervescent. It's an I begs on my down. Is that a saying? Yeah Okay, it goes all the way back. You're thinking of an alky salsa alky salsa. That's a good band. That's a good band Freddie and the alky salsas That's a good toss. Just. Freddie and the Alka Sources. Mini, mini, mini, mini, mini. That's a good task. Just to point that out of her ear. When the band wreckage failed to take off. That sounds like a dimeback Darryl side project. Yeah, it doesn't have a metalish.
Starting point is 00:14:40 Yeah. Well then he joined a second band called Sour Milk Sea. Did you mean that as a joke wreckage failed to take off? No, it was pretty good It's because stuff is a pretty good accident. Then yes That wreckage was a pretty good accident. Thank you. So the wreckage crashed and burned. Yes So Yeah, this is all worth it. So he goes and joins another band and then by early the next year though, they'd broken up as well.
Starting point is 00:15:09 So he was... Has he played piano and singing? Is that his song? Yeah, yeah. He took up guitar later as well, but his main things were, yes, singing and the piano. And listening. And listening to radio specifically. Really on that was the on call.
Starting point is 00:15:27 The band, it'd come out with a little tape deck. But he put it really close to his own ear. Take this out, just as he nods to the crowd. That was good act out that. And everyone is just losing it. Looking him go. Oh, it was honestly breathtaking. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:48 A couple of years earlier though in 1968, a guitarist by the name of Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College and a bassist named Tim Staffel, decided to form a band. Brian placed an ad on a college notice board for a drummer and Roger Taylor, a young dental student, auditioned and got the job. The group called themselves Smile. I like it. Did you say Freddie joined? No, so this stage was Brian.
Starting point is 00:16:22 Because he's got a famous smile as well. Oh he does, good point. So it's just Brian, Roger and a guy called T. And the dentist. Roger's the dentist, the drummer, the dental student. Yeah. Is that why they call it smile? Oh maybe. I didn't see that much more.
Starting point is 00:16:41 Fred has got a very famous smile. I think you'll find. That man who's not yet in the band. What about the dentist? Oh yeah, I don't know. So in a classic Beatles situation, Tim left smile to join the Beatles to go join a band called Humpey Bong. Oh yeah, no, no, no, no.
Starting point is 00:17:04 I mean, smile was bad enough, but you left that for Humpey Bow Well, please tell me that they went on to become like Led Zeppelin or something He needs this So I was just a stretching story He needs this one Please, please Humpey Bow
Starting point is 00:17:24 I think I know what, I think I know the other decision here. Laters suckers. Bung, Bung, that was Humpey Bong with that hit. Humpey Bong and all know. Humpey Bong. I'd love to know the story behind the name. I'd love to hear some Humpey Bong. So after Tim left, Freddie Mercury joined. And at this stage, it's just Freddie, Brian, and Roger. These are little fun facts. So Tim, the one who left to join Humpey Bong,
Starting point is 00:17:57 Humpey Bong eventually split up. He went on to join another couple of bands and played music for a little while. He did not join Led Zeppelin. He finally left music in the late 70s to concentrate on a flourishing business as a freelance animator and model maker. His work includes Thomas the Tank Engine. Wow.
Starting point is 00:18:15 So he did work with the beetle. Yes. So he was fine. He did well. He did well. Probably lived a better life. Than a rock and roll life. Well, let's see you, let's see how Freddie's life went. There's only, there's only ways up. Yes. And then
Starting point is 00:18:31 the way is up. Not one of their songs. I don't recognize that Humpey Bond classic. So the following year 1971 smile were joined by bassist John Deacon. Freddie encouraged the band name change to Queen, despite initial reservations from the other band members and their management. Everyone was like, don't know about that. We profess smile. Yes, smile is really good. So this is a quote from Freddie about the name Queen. It's very regal, obviously, and that sounds splendid. Oh, yeah, I guess it is a bit regal. Oh, hang on, Queen has two meanings. I want to say two, I mean, one is the ban queen.
Starting point is 00:19:11 Yeah. But I guess in some ways, didn't even exist at that stage. So it was just the regal one. Well, as he goes on to say, it's a strong name, very universal and immediate. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. So it doesn't, you know, anyway.
Starting point is 00:19:30 And it's regal. And it's regal, obviously, he says, um, because that's, yeah, isn't the queen's name? The, the, that's right. That's their first name. Yeah. So the Humpey Bongs also, quite a regal name, 50% regal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wish fuck, we should have been that do-go-on. Fuck, one quarter regal. I feel like an idiot. So Queen's got gay connotations. Yeah. Seeing openly gay man at this time, you did mention a girlfriend before. No, he's not at this time. Right, but he was aware of the connotations. Yes. When, hmm, interesting.
Starting point is 00:20:06 So, about this same time, sort of as it's rebranding into Queen, this is when he changed his surname to Mercury. So, now he is in full, Freddie Mercury. It's a flight. Amazing, man. So good. He also used his graphics, graphic design skills to design the Queen logo called the Queen crest shortly before the release of the band's first album the logo combines
Starting point is 00:20:31 the Zodiac signs of all four members so it has two lines for Leo because that's Deakin and Taylor a crab for cancer and two fairies for Virgo where Virgos those little fairies are we fairies it's's not fairies, but it's a virgin. A virgin woman. Yeah. Well, fairies. What is a fairy if not a virgin woman? Thank you, Matthew.
Starting point is 00:20:51 I take it back. There's also a crown inside the queue, and the whole logo is overshadowed by an enormous phoenix. And the whole symbol bezel... I don't know if I know the queen crest. I have it here. I reckon, yeah, I know the queen grass. I have it here. I reckon. Yeah, I reckon I would have must have seen it.
Starting point is 00:21:08 But yeah, you know, you know, from like, the, yeah, it does look like a country's code of violence. Well, that's it. Yeah, it has a, it has quite a passing resemblance to the Royal code of arms of the United Kingdom. But it, you know, it represents each member of the band. In 1973, Queen signed a deal with Trident and EMI as their sort of managers. By July of that year, they released their debut album and effort influenced by heavy metal and progressive rock. The album was very well received by critics,
Starting point is 00:21:42 Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone called it superbb, and Chicago's Daily Herald called it, and above average debut. Whoa. I probably put the Superb review bigger on my poster, and then above average, I might make that look as more. Yeah. But that's just me. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:21:58 Actually, you didn't do graphic design, did you, so? Probably a bit more on brand for me to make it above average. Yeah. It's not fun. Yeah. What what year is this now? This is 1973. 73 right. Yeah. That's cool. He's in his mid 20s. Yeah, 47 was his birth wasn't yeah, that's right. Already got an old man nice. He's doing pretty well. Oh, nice. He's doing pretty well.
Starting point is 00:22:23 However, even the critics received it really well. It drew not a great or not a huge mainstream attention. The lead single was Keep Yourself Alive and it sold quite poorly. Their second LP, which was Queen 2, so the first one's called Queen. Second one's called Queen 2. Back in the habit.
Starting point is 00:22:45 Was released the following year, which is like quite a quick turn around. Oh, sure. So it's a 1974 second album that features a- So back in those days, it's not like you can just plug your guitar into a laptop. Or put it like it's- It's an effort. They did smash albums out of Beatles Royce so many in there. Sure.
Starting point is 00:23:04 Yeah, that's true. Yeah, it's crazy when you find out that the Beatles were not around for a long period of time. So yeah, they bring out the second album and it's got that iconic image taken by a photographer called Mick Rock, fucking amazing name. For Rock. Mick. Yeah. Of the four of them there. And that photo was the basis for the Bohemian Rhapsody video the following year. The album reached number five on the British album chart and became the first queen album to chart in the UK. Seven Seas of Raya reached number 10 in the UK giving the band their first hit. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:23:44 I know that song. Oh man, It's great. Really good piano intro. Yeah. What's the good seven C's of R I'm very casual queen fan. I had the my parents would have had the queen greatest hits when I was a kid. That would be my. So if it's on that, I know it. It is. Okay. All right. I know it. No, well, love it. You probably you'll know when you hear it because It is. Oh, okay. All right, I know it. No, well, love it. You probably, you'll know when you hear it, because it is one, that album, the greatest hits would be my introduction to Queen,
Starting point is 00:24:11 you know, as a kid. Yeah. I probably know a little bit more now, but I still don't know all of it, obviously. But that's a good one. And you said the Bohemian Rhapsody film was the following year. Is that from that album or a separate place?
Starting point is 00:24:22 Yeah, it's from that album. So that, on this second album. Actually, no, I beg you, a bigy-pan, it's on the following year, their third album, which I'll get to in a second. And I'll talk more about that video as well. The album is the first real testament to the band's distinctive layered sound and features long, complex, instrumental passages, fantasy lyrics, and musical virtuosity. So, in 1974, she a heart attack reached number two in the United Kingdom,
Starting point is 00:24:55 sold wealth throughout Europe and went gold in the US. It gave the band their first real experience with international success. So they are killing it at this point. They're doing really, really well. And at this point, they start to move away from progressive tendencies of their first two releases with more radio-friendly songs, like they're kind of trying to, I don't know, just be a bit more commercially available. So she, Hard Attack, introduced a new sound and melody pattern that would be refined on their next album called A Night at the Opera. Right, so that's a big, big famous one. Yeah. So A Night at the Opera came out in late 1975 taking its name from a popular Mark's Brothers movie. At the time it was the most expensive album ever produced.
Starting point is 00:25:45 I couldn't find a dollar figure on that and I couldn't find what surpassed it, but I could just, I found in several different places that said it was the most expensive album ever produced at the time. And it's like, how, how much? Right. I think the most expensive one now would be Guns and Roses, Chinese democracy. That one that took him like 18 years and they spent millions of dollars on it and then when it finally came out it was like oh so what you got cool imagine it would have been a hit if they released it's right on the back yeah yeah one of those the what was the album before that double anyway that doesn't matter is your illusion or something
Starting point is 00:26:20 like that yeah I think so um so this is the album that Bohemian Rhapsody was on, which was number one in the UK for nine weeks. It's still the third best selling single of all time in the UK. Wow. It's surpassed only by Band-Aids, do they know it's Christmas and Elton John's candle and the wind. It's the best selling commercial single in the UK. So, yeah, huge.
Starting point is 00:26:47 The Bohemian Rhapsody video is generally considered to be the first true music video ever produced because before that bands would make like short promotional films or videos of songs before, but they were usually made specifically to go onto a certain TV show. So like they'd be talking about this album and then they'd play this clip.
Starting point is 00:27:08 So like Bohemian Rhapsody, the video was quite unique. And Rolling Stones was, this is an article is talking about the impact of Bohemian Rhapsody. It says, its influence cannot be overstated, practically inventing the music video seven years before MTV went on the air. So it's kind of a first, which is pretty cool. That's pretty cool. Hey, Jess, do you talk at all about, um, when they toured Australia? I was, my next sentence is, the bands and I at the opera tour began in November, 1975, and covered Europe, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Starting point is 00:27:46 Yeah, cool. I think they, the story that I, and I, I don't, I've never looked this up or anything. But I think they played in summary early on before they were big. Oh, no. Which is like, summary is like, I think kind of jokingly, kind of seriously referred to
Starting point is 00:28:00 as sort of like Australia's woodstock. Woodstock, yeah. It was a big festival out in the out of suburbs of Melbourne. And they were on before, I think they were maybe second-lasts to understand it before, it's the guys name, he's saying, I was told. Yeah, Billy Thorpe and the other day.
Starting point is 00:28:16 I remember my dad would say, yeah, I went to, what's the called again? Sunbury. Sunbury, yeah, sore Thorpe. I was like, did you see Queen? I didn't know there was air. I've got to call him after this. And yeah, so thorpy, I think, was sort of headlining in Queen were on before and the
Starting point is 00:28:34 way it was told to me, I think by an uncle who maybe was there, was a crowd basically, they were quite aggro while Queen were on. Go, get thorpy up. We were so big. Oh my god. up. We want the lobby, go on. Oh my god. That's crazy. And then they became huge. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:50 And they would have already, like, you can't imagine that they would have been that far off what they'd become. Yeah, right, if you're second, you know, I second headliner. Yeah. And they sound like they very quickly were doing what. Yeah, like for a salvo, it was successful. But it's all big. Yeah. like for a album was successful. But Thorpe. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:29:05 Which is amazing, because it's like the Thorpe thing obviously didn't carry over into our time, but he was obviously massive in Australia at the time, yeah, in the 70s. Yeah, isn't that insane? Loudest band in Australia, I think they saw the toes and toes and toes. Well, damage you're hearing more than any other band.
Starting point is 00:29:26 You're welcome. Or your money back. So yeah, they were touring all over the world. And Freddie was very well known for his life performances. He had a highly theatrical style, often evoked a great deal of participation from the crowd, a bit of crowd work. Not crowd work, but like.
Starting point is 00:29:44 Where are you from? What are you doing? Banker. Oh, you're shit. No, it's all right. And here's another song. A two, three, four. This song's called,
Starting point is 00:29:55 This Guy's a Wanker Banker. Bit of improv. Yeah, grams, which means a fun. All right, I'm gonna need a occupation, a place, and a wacky name. Banker, bank, Mr and a wacky name. Banker, bank, Mr. Banks, fuck you. He was described as a performer after tease, shock, and ultimately, char.
Starting point is 00:30:19 That's why you took your banker classic tease. Classic tease. He's just a bully. Yeah. You say tease, I classic taste. Classic taste. He's just a bully. Yeah. You say tees, I say real piece of shit. LAUGHTER Tees shock an ultimately charming audience with various extravagant versions of himself.
Starting point is 00:30:36 You're a dickhead now, you're a rocker. Let's give this guy a round of applause. Ah! No! Nah, just joking. Hey, you're all right, man, yeah. All right, man, yeah. All right, here's Fred Deshert.
Starting point is 00:30:47 I got a quote here from a guy called David Bowie. Oh. Familiar? We've done a report on him. And V? David Bowie. Is that David Bowie? Is that his name?
Starting point is 00:30:59 Johnny Cash. Yes. This is David Bowie talking about Fred. He says, Fred, he took it further than the rest. He took it over the edge. And of course, I always admired a man who wears tights. I only saw him in concert once, and as I say, he was definitely a man who could hold an audience
Starting point is 00:31:14 in the palm of his hand. Wow, he only saw him for some reason. To perform together. Yeah. They did a hit together. Huge hit. Yep. Maybe, or maybe or maybe, maybe. Maybe it was like a real Debra and he would just stay backstage.
Starting point is 00:31:28 Was I love the fact that David Bowie is saying that someone took it over the edge. Yeah. Yeah. So he starred us, the thin white Duke. These are characters he created. Yeah. And he's like, Faw, Freddie was wacky. Whoa. Right.
Starting point is 00:31:40 I took it too far. Yeah, back off. Back it off. I've got you at about an an 11 I need you about a seven Brian may later wrote that Freddie could make is a quiz the last person at the back of the furthest stand in a stadium feel that he was connected. Yeah Brian how many people in the back of the stand if you spoke and did Brian you piece piece of work. You know how you knew that because he's like, you there, what's your name? Not you, not you. Right in the back.
Starting point is 00:32:10 Right in the back. In the show, this possible stand. Back row. Back row. Terrible haircut. Yeah. You. Yeah, I'm talking to you. Oh, it feels like he's talking to me.
Starting point is 00:32:19 Okay, that's something we can do in our future live shows. Great. You connect with the back. Yeah, you think you're safe in the back row? We all tease you. I'm gonna get you. Don't have an ordinary haircut down the back. Can we get headset mics so I can go roaming through the crowd?
Starting point is 00:32:36 Like Madonna's style microphones. Yeah, like Madonna roams through the crowd. Just crowd work. Just picking on people. Yeah. Like a virgin. Yeah, you look like one G.I. Fives and all those persons friends One of the greatest life performances in history was Queen's performance at Live Aid in 1985
Starting point is 00:33:02 You ever seen footage of this? That's one where it gets that. Yes. Oh, and he's wearing like that. That weed, the app flap. The, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's pointing and they're not even doing, it's not we all rock you. Yeah, it's ready to go.
Starting point is 00:33:15 Ready to go go. Yeah, it's really that sweet gold jacket. And then the mic on my stand. Yeah, with it. It's like an off stand. That's 86. Really? Oh.
Starting point is 00:33:23 So Live Aid 85, yes, he does have the broken mics in because originally he was like singing live in a show one time and the mic stand broke off the heavy bass of the stand and he kept that for the rest of his shows. I was wondering, I'm like, they did it differently back then. I'm quite figured out full Mark St. Gettel. Or you can describe the Mark. Yeah. He did that on purpose because he could sort of play
Starting point is 00:33:50 with it quite a bit. Not like Fancy, though. Down that's a guy I can work in Mark Stain anyway. Topic for another day. Do you mean the videos are when he tries to flip it and he fuxx it? He always loves to flip it. Sometimes it just crashes.
Starting point is 00:34:05 I think the Logies last year. What? Throughout the mic stand, he loves to flip it, loves to throw it in the air and then try and grab it. Yeah. Mist it. Not the Logies. You only get one shot of that, Johnny.
Starting point is 00:34:18 You only get one shot of the Logies. He will not be bothered back. This must sound like absolutely gibberish to overseas listeners, fans, and local. I don't know who John Farnam is and the logo is. I mean, can't he just fall for the dude? So Dave, please put on the loudest jacket in the world. Sorry, just got chilly in here.
Starting point is 00:34:34 It's very colorful. Oh, Dave's just getting dressed, everyone. It's a bit garish. He's getting into a sleeping bag. I take my jackets over the edge The guitar from YouTube Yeah, if I'm picking between my jackets and the guitar from YouTube, I'd take my jacket. Yeah Every time every turn
Starting point is 00:35:00 So we're talking live aid in 1985 a Critic did a retrospective review of Live Aid in 2005 and wrote this. Those who compile lists of great rock front men and award the top spots to Mick Jagger, Robert Plan, etc. are all guilty of a terrible oversight. Freddie, as evidenced by his Live Aid performance, was easily the most godlike of them all. And I've watched, you watch it all on YouTube, it's 20 minutes of pure magic, it is so good. I watched it earlier today, because I was like,
Starting point is 00:35:32 oh, all right, well, we'll see how good it is. And I was expecting to watch like a couple of minutes of it, and I watched the whole thing. He's so engaging, he's so much fun to watch, and his voice is incredible live. And this is back in the day before in years where they could like hear themselves better He's just that good. Oh, yeah, it's like an outdoors stadium and it's pretty tough fucking packed There's like 72,000 people there or something like that. It was insane Did it?
Starting point is 00:36:02 But it up is that the first one of the second, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, did it, Love it. It isn't stay tuned I'm on my toes and it hurts. Well stay up there. That's pure wedding. I don't care. I'm in the second position Don't get which as we know is Doggy doggy I'm on my tippy toes doing doggy. This is weird Feels right. You're always going to doggie second. Anyway. It's always skipping a dog.
Starting point is 00:36:55 What other order do you do? Never mind. Oh dear, alright. That stuff is really kidding. Number one. Normal. Number two, reverse normal. Yeah, so what Matt was talking about before was the audience clapping along to Radio Gargar, because it was based on the video, the music video for Radio Gaga, and had like this clapped up,
Starting point is 00:37:26 and then sort of like all put their fists out in the air. So everyone in the crowd is doing that, and this is Brian May talking about seeing that in the crowd. He's like, I'd never seen anything like that in my life, and it wasn't calculated either. We understood that audience and played to them, but this was one of those weird accidents because of the music video. I remember thinking, oh great, they've picked it up. And then I thought, hang on, this isn't a queen audience. This is a general audience who bought tickets before they even knew we were on the bill. And they did it. How did they know? Nobody told them to do it. So everybody in the crowd knew, that's pretty cool.
Starting point is 00:38:00 He does understand how mob mentality works, right? Oh, you are just shitting all over anything on joyful today. No it is. No there is. No there is. May is right. They all just magically figured it out individually. There are no the real listeners that it's not just Queen fans, everyone's a queen fan. Yeah. Thank you David. Yeah. Matt, leaf out of Dave's book, please. Please. Thank you, WER.
Starting point is 00:38:27 Okay. Remember to give that leaf back. Over the course of his career, Freddie performed an estimated 700 concerts in countries all around the world with Queen. I've such on the success of Queen. I think there's obviously a lot more detail that could go into that too.
Starting point is 00:38:44 But I want to look at Freddie as a person as well. It's about Freddie Mercury and Queen. So in addition to his work with Queen, he also put out two solo albums, several singles as well. He's two full albums outside the band were Mr. Bad Guy, Love It, which came out 1985. That is so him. That's a bad guy. Such a mister. And Barcelona, which came out three years later in 1988. Barcelona Badboy. Barcelona Badboy.
Starting point is 00:39:16 Barcelona. Was it a successful card? I think I've ever heard a solo for a D song. Well, both of them were still pretty well received, obviously not as successful as Queen's music and he also did a lot of like collaborating with other people on different things. So he did a lot of work in music in general but obviously Queen was like the main thing that he was recognised for. In the early 70s he had a long-term relationship with Mary Austin, who I mentioned briefly
Starting point is 00:39:47 earlier. They lived together for several years in West Kensington, in London. But by the mid-70s Freddie was having an affair with a male American record executive. And at the end of 1976 he told Mary about the affair and his sexuality, which ended their romantic relationship. But the sweetest part is that it didn't end their friendship. Nice. Nice. He moved out of the place that they shared.
Starting point is 00:40:13 He moved into a flat by himself and he bought Mary one nearby as well. Nice. A nice guy. Yeah, my ex-boyfriend did not buy me property. Mr. Nascar should have been his album. Yeah. Not my ex-boyfriend did not buy me property Mr. Nascar should have been his album. Yeah Not your ex-boyfriend. No, God knows he should have been Mr. Badboy. Yeah, Mr. Badboy You will light. Yeah Yeah, because he travels
Starting point is 00:40:39 He's not just a bad boy in Melbourne. Oh no, he's a bad boy all over the place. He's got three different passports. Yeah Boy in Melbourne. Oh no. He's a bad boy all over the place. He's got three different passports. Yeah. Yeah. So in the 1985 in an interview, Freddie said, he's talking about Mary. He said, all my lovers asked me why they couldn't replace Mary, but it's simply impossible. The only friend I've got is Mary and I don't want anybody else. To me, she was my common law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other and that's enough for me. He also wrote several songs about Mary, the most notable of which is love of my life.
Starting point is 00:41:15 Right. So there's a bit of speculation, not speculation around his sexual orientation, but some say he heard it from the public while others would argue that he was very openly gay. Keep in mind that homosexual acts between adult males over the age of 21 had only been dig criminalised in the UK in 1967. So it wasn't exactly the safest, almost, inclusive time to be gay. Do you think it's a coincidence that the year before they brought home the World Cup?
Starting point is 00:41:46 Maybe. And then all of a sudden they said, you know, let's let people love. Yeah, because they were just like they lined up. Actually, I think it might have been in relation to an event in Australia in 1966. Pray tell. Some sort of sporting sporting cup. Spawning cup. Some sort of Sporting, sporting cup. Sporting cup. Some sort of foot bowl.
Starting point is 00:42:09 I was saying that right. That's another one of my favorite water keying. Mezzanah. Mezzanah. His eyes go really big and cute. That's great artwork. You're not talking about the St. Kudal Saints 966. Yes, I am. I have a breaking premship. A great artwork. When you're not talking about the St. Kudel Science 966, I am.
Starting point is 00:42:25 I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am.
Starting point is 00:42:33 I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am. I am.
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Starting point is 00:43:27 Take classes online or on campus, and financial aid is available to qualified students, including the GI Bill. Now is the time. Mycomputercareer.edu. Um, in 1992, John Marshall of Gay Times, amazing, didn't know that existed. I love it. You have seen the airports in the UK. Yeah, gay times He said the following he said that Freddie was a scene queen not afraid to publicly express his gayness But unwilling to analyze or justify his lifestyle It was as if Freddie Mercury was saying to the world. I am what I am. So what? And that in itself for some was a statement. I kind of like that. It's like, he's making a statement, which kind of the statement. His statement is no comment. I want a statement from him. So I'll take anything I can from him to be the statement. Yeah, that's the statement.
Starting point is 00:44:21 Something he is the statement. He is the statement. Yeah. Thank you, Freddie. Um, something that was surprising to a lot of people was that despite his on stage, flame buoyant and extravagant personality, Freddie was actually quite shy and quiet, especially on people he didn't know all that well. Um, you know, it's something I can relate to as a delicate flower myself. Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:44:49 Yeah. I mean, you're just making some noises. Bad. Bad. Bad. Bad. Siddharvibap. So I was just scatatting Freddy star scar scatting
Starting point is 00:45:08 Sharding Freddy's Freddy star But I'm gonna say this Oh Why can't Oh Not that curry bit of poly through on that Oh no But I'll be on that bottom
Starting point is 00:45:24 Yeah Not that curry. Bit of follow through on that. Oh no. Bit of bee on that bottom. Yeah. Yeah. Um, as going to say, there's the fun thing. It's not all that fun, but it's, I suppose, interesting. I suppose factual. Well, so I was just talking about how Freddie was like quite introverted and Kurt Cobain's suicide note mentions how he admired it and
Starting point is 00:45:45 viewed the way Mercury seems to love relish love relish in the love and adoration from the crowd like he was when he was on stage he was like on and he was having the best time is really engaging he's like he's a he's a delight to watch it's so fun. Right but Kurt didn't feel that way when he himself yeah so he admired that in front Right, but Kurt didn't feel that way. I mean, he himself, yeah. So he admired that in Freddie, but probably didn't feel like he could replicate himself. So after fans noticed,
Starting point is 00:46:14 Freddie's increasingly gone to appearance. In 1988, the media reported the Mercury was seriously ill with AIDS frequently being mentioned as a likely illness. He flatly denied this, insisting he was merely exhausted, too busy to provide interviews. Also, he didn't do a lot of interviews anyway, because he was quite shy. But he was just like, no, I'm just tired. I'm just really burnt out, we tour a lot. He had in fact been diagnosed as HIV positive in April of 1987, but he didn't make his illness
Starting point is 00:46:42 public and denied that anything was wrong. But despite the denial, the British press pursued and there were rampant rumors over the next few years, filled by his increasingly gone to periods. He's got really thin and quite grey. And also because of Queen's absence from touring and reports from former lovers to various tabloid journals. So yeah, by 1990, so over a couple of years, Rumi's about his health were rife though everywhere. He kept his condition really private to protect those closest to him, but Brian May confirmed an interview several years later in 93 that Freddie had told the band much earlier that he was sick, probably quite soon after 93 that Freddie had told the band much earlier
Starting point is 00:47:25 that he was sick, probably quite soon after he found out he told the band, but they all kept it quiet, which I was things quite nice too, like Freddie didn't tell many people, but those of you did all protected him and all said, no, he's not, he's fine. They weren't like, I will not, they confirm not to nine. I will not make a statement. And that is my statement.
Starting point is 00:47:45 Ooh. What does that mean? Choosing not to make a statement was for some statement they needed. So the music video for these are the days of our lives. Features are very thin and sick looking Freddie in what are his final scenes in front of the camera. The rest of the band were basically almost on call. They were ready to record whenever Freddie felt able to come into the studio. It was like an hour or two at a time whenever he felt like he could.
Starting point is 00:48:15 And Brian Mayer said, he just kept saying, write me more, write me stuff. I want to just sing, I want to sing this and do this and when I'm going, you can finish it. Like he was, he was kind of fearless. And just a guy called Justin Shirley Smith, who was his assistant engineer for those last recording sessions, said, this is hard to explain to people, but it wasn't sad. It was very happy. Freddie was one of the funniest people I've ever encountered. I was laughing most of the time with him.
Starting point is 00:48:43 Freddie was saying, I'm not going to think about it, I'm just going to do this. I just wanted to get on with the music, which I want to just put out to you guys now that I would have a very the opposite thought, if I ever, I mean, I've got a cold right now and I thought about just canceling the whole show. Not just the recording, but just like throwing in the towel. Right, it's over. It's, we're done. If it was me, I'd come out and say, come on, I'll just say words.
Starting point is 00:49:10 You can finish it later. You can edit it together later. Hello, goodbye. Fred. I've got a great imagination. Jerome, my, John, Jigsaw puzzles. 79. Hello again.
Starting point is 00:49:26 Where I've been. Well, hey, where's all the questions coming about? It's a very defensive final recording. Back off. No, I'm sorry. Hey, you're all right. I was going through all the stages of creeping. Yeah, it's got acceptance.
Starting point is 00:49:49 Yeah. I can't wait to hear that report. If anyone wants to chop that newer report somehow, yes. Well, these questions come about. Anyway, so they're continuing to work. They're recording. In June of 91, Freddie retired to his home in Kensington and Mary, he's a former lover,
Starting point is 00:50:15 visited him all the time, she helped the gastrim, as his health deteriorated. His partner, a guy called Jim Hutton, who was also tested HIV positive in 1990, lived with Mercury for the last six years of his life and nursed him during his illness. Near the end of his life, Mercury was starting to lose his sight. He deteriorated to the point where he couldn't get out of bed. And due to this condition, he kind of decided to hasten it along a little bit.
Starting point is 00:50:43 He stopped taking his medication and just took painkillers. So that was in June of 91. By November of 91, he called their manager, Queen's Manager, Jim Beech. He said, brought him over to his home and he made a public statement that was released the following day. And this is the statement that Freddie made. He said, following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I've been tested HIV positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private to date, to protect the privacy of those around me.
Starting point is 00:51:20 However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth. And I hope that everyone will join with me, my doctors, and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease. My privacy has always been very special to me, and I'm famous for my lack of interviews. Please understand this policy will continue. So I'm not going to be talking about it. Because other people have argued that, have argued since, that if he had come out about it much sooner, he could have been a really powerful voice in, like, raising awareness and, you know, all that sort of thing.
Starting point is 00:51:55 But I think in that statement it kind of makes sense, because he was very private, that it makes sense why he didn't say anything, because it was just sort of, he wanted to protect the people around him and I don't know kind of yeah I mean it's very very personal short yeah totally like pressure I he should have said something selfish yeah seriously it's sounds like up to the individual he's the one dying yeah he should be able to do with that in any way he wants to he knows he's gonna die and he wants to do that privately and keep working. Yeah, if you want to say something, then amazing. Then, yeah, great. But if you want to shut the door and, you know,
Starting point is 00:52:32 dial in the bedroom, that's also. That's fine too. I'm just, because I was alive then, you guys were barely alive then. And I've got, I don't know if I can remember him dying, but I do remember being in rap city being a hit. And I've just looked it up, and I reckon I was thinking would it have been,
Starting point is 00:52:48 like, like jump back into the charts, because he died, and it was... Lane's World. In Australia, it was top five in 1991, which I don't know if that's Lane's World as well. Lane's World's 92. I've got that later. Yes, that's...
Starting point is 00:53:04 That's... There's a huge resurgence in the US because he was there the queen had kind of lost that those always had a following in the US, but it dwindled. Yeah, and they kind of stopped touring there too. And then once Freddie died, spoiler alert, there was like a big jump. I know I talk about it literally in probably another couple of minutes. I remember hearing, I don't know if this is true or not, but you know the film they made for, the song called I Want to Break Free or Break Free or something like that, and it's him in drag. They're all in drag. They're all in drag. And on some rock I saw a while back, apparently that hurt their popularity in America
Starting point is 00:53:46 with the conservative sort of Bible belt regions. I don't know if that's 100% true. I think that's true. I think it was, but like they weren't even, they were just being silly, like they just, they didn't give a fuck really. They were just like, no, this is funny. Yeah, I mean, it's time an iconic look, right?
Starting point is 00:54:02 Doesn't bark just like that, like, Like, it's like the vacuum cleaner. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like it's a real iconic outfit. On the evening of the 24th of November, just over 24 hours after issuing that statement, Freddie Mercury died at the age of 45 at his home in Kensington. The official cause of death
Starting point is 00:54:22 was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS. Jim Hutton, his partner, quite a long time, was president, his bedside when he died, and Hutton said Mercury died wearing the wedding bands that Hutton had given him. There are lots of other people around as well. Right, so he gave that he must have known that it was... He must have felt that it was... He gave a statement 24 hours beforehand, amazing. Yeah. His funeral service was three days later on the 27th of November,
Starting point is 00:54:49 and was attended by his family and 35 of his close friends, including the remaining members of Queen and Elton John. His coffin was carried out of the chapel to take my hand, precious Lord, and you've got a friend by Aritha Franklin, who only just passed away very recently as well. But that was at Freddy's request, he wanted that, he wanted Aritha Franklin played. Also in accordance with his wishes, Mary Austin took possession of his cramated remains and buried them in an undisclosed location. The whereabouts of his ashes are believed to be known
Starting point is 00:55:23 only to Mary Austin, who was stated that she will never reveal where she's buried in. Wow. Which is pretty amazing. Their friendship seems really incredible. In his will, he left his London home to her, rather than his partner Jim, saying to her, you would have been my wife and it would have been yours anyway. He also left to the vast majority of his wealth and recording royalties. Well, she's doing very well. She's doing very well. He left £500,000 to his chef, £500,000 to his personal assistant, £100,000 to his driver,
Starting point is 00:55:58 and £500,000 to Jim Hunton. His partner got the same amount as his chef and his PA. Mary gets the house. And the partner had been there for the last six years. I'm going. We've been living with him for the last six. Looking after him and also... I think they'd been together for a while before that as well.
Starting point is 00:56:14 And also dying himself. Yes. Although he and the Dine in 2010. Oh really? Yeah. So he was HIV positive, but that doesn't mean AIDS. Right now it develops into AIDS. Hmm. So he was HIV positive He died in 2010. So Mary's got the house. She still lives there Garden lodging Kensington with her family and the outer walls of Garden lodge became a shrine to Freddie following his death with Morders paying tribute by covering the walls and graffiti messages.
Starting point is 00:56:46 Three years after his death, Time at Magazine reported, since Freddie's death, the wall outside the house has become London's biggest rock and roll shrine and fans still go there to pay their respects. So she, yeah, isn't that amazing? We should go there. We should definitely go there. Yeah. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:57:03 So I think that's pretty amazing like there. We should definitely go there. Yeah. Yeah. So I think that's pretty amazing like there. I like there. I like that relationship and that it almost feels like I mean I mean I mean I have a must be such a strange thing to go through and if we obviously we have an idea but. Like you said we. But the people that are like there before. I can still walk down the street, okay, Bob, you're the one who asked to go out and shielded by big sonnies. Big sonnies. And my large, burly security guards.
Starting point is 00:57:38 Yeah. Rocco and Dave. This Dave. Yeah. I protect you. Yeah. He's got a little life yeah he's got a little drone he shoots little people look by somebody that's so close to me yeah I found it you know kids toddlers yeah yeah who are just as big as fans yeah in the in the dog
Starting point is 00:58:01 community she's done a lot for them, it's a dog named Bob. It's true. So Twitter is a dog named Bob. It's a cat named Monica dog called Bob and fuck you Matt apparently. And Matt can go fucking self. Sorry Matt. Not fair enough. Just a little bit about his legacy. So as you kind of touched on before that, in the US, Queens popularity had lagged in the 80s,
Starting point is 00:58:31 but sales of Queen albums went up dramatically in 1992, the following year's death. And the movie Wayne's World, which featured Behemium Rhapsody, also came out in 1992. So that's given it a bit of a boost as well. According to the recording industry association of America, Queen has sold 34.5 million album albums. Apple's. Wow. Do you get one free with every album? 34.5 million albums in the US by 2004,
Starting point is 00:59:08 albums in the US by 2004, which is about half of which have been sold since Freddie's death in 1991. So huge gap, a huge boost at the end there. Estimates of Queen's total worldwide record sales to date have been set as high as 300 million. And how many apples? About 300 million. And one. Oh, no. and how many apples? About 300 million. And one. Oh. Oh. I accidentally got sent to.
Starting point is 00:59:28 Yeah, and they didn't. I was like, I'm not sending this back. Good ate it. In the UK, Queen has now spent more collective weeks on the UK album charts than any other musical act, including The Beatles. And Queen's greatest hits is the best-selling album of all time in the UK. There are several statues and memorials of Freddie all over the world, including a 10-foot tall statue in Switzerland, where people still gather every year on the first weekend of September to celebrate. Did you have a connection?
Starting point is 00:59:57 Yeah, I think he rented a place there for a while. I think that's where he wrote quite a bit of music. Oh, right. Okay. So it did a specific area that he spent quite a bit of time. At the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Queen performed, we will rock you with Jesse J performing the vocals. However, before they started, a giant screen on stage showed Freddie's call and response routine. Matt, give us an example of Freddie's call and response. Bit of aero. Yeah, perfect.
Starting point is 01:00:28 Bit of aero. Shibbibab. Shibbibab. Shibbibab. So they showed Freddy doing... Bit of aero. Bit of aero. Bit of aero.
Starting point is 01:00:37 Bit of aero. Shibbibab. Bit of aero. Bit of aero. Bit of aero. Bit of aero. That's beautiful. He said your name or what?
Starting point is 01:00:48 That's beautiful. So they had, yeah, this screen of Freddie doing that from the 1986 Wembley Stadium show. That's my way to bring the gold jacket. And the audience at the closing ceremony were responding to like this giant screen of Freddie doing it. It was really cool. That is. And you know how I feel about opening and closing ceremonies of Olympics fondly fondly. We were all thinking.
Starting point is 01:01:17 Yeah. I was about to say that before you did, but for you did, but. Uh, just to finish off as well, Brian may announced in an interview in September of 2010 that Sasha Baron Cohen was going to be playing Freddie Mercury. You like he would have meant it great, Freddie? In a film, Tionally. Just because of the resemblance. So Time Magazine also commented on the resemblance, but also seeability.
Starting point is 01:01:45 Not that I don't know that I've heard Sashabanko sing. Have you seen Madagascar? Oh my god, of course. I like to move it, move it. I think he's also in... What's that Victor Hugo? LA Miz, the film adaptation. Oh shit, he is too, isn't he?
Starting point is 01:02:00 Which I haven't seen. Not being a musical. Goa. But I believe he had a camera... Or at least a cameo. as well as Rusty and huge We're both in there as well, isn't it? Yeah, it was Rusty in there. Yeah, Rusty's in there always in there my mate your mate
Starting point is 01:02:17 Retreated but Retreated Bob I'm free treated He's re-treated Bob. I'm re-treated. I'm going to re-treat her to her nice meal. I haven't really got my head around this Twitter game, but yeah, I re-treated Bob. Just in my best twin ever, 600 re-trees. I made 600 people run away from the screen. That's how disgusted they were with what I wrote.
Starting point is 01:02:44 God bless. Oh, man, gee they were with what I wrote. God bless. Oh, Medji. God saves the Queen. God, look after New Zealand. And God, retread Australia. Bloody hell. All right. I'm a little crow. What does he think retreat means? I don't understand the question. So I love it. What Eric needs? I love question. Sorry, love. You're a need to say love. Yeah, you might. And I'd hate it. You're right, love. Oh, you're so rusty.
Starting point is 01:03:12 No, thanks. No, thanks, rusty. Anyway, so Sasha Baron. Sasha Baron can't. Filming was planned to begin sometime in 2011. Weirdly though, in 2013, Sasha Baron canme dropped out. I don't think they filmed or maybe they'd done little bit, I don't know. He dropped out due to creative differences with the members of Queen. Oh.
Starting point is 01:03:37 Ting-gallon with Queen. So then in December of 2013, it was announced that Ben Wishor, best known for playing Q in the James Bond films, had Ben chosen to replace Sasha Baron Cohen as Freddie Mercury. Not bad. But then he also dropped out. Right, because he's quite nerdy, but I suppose that's the look in James Bond maybe he's less nerdy looking. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:04:01 If he's not dressed as Q. Yeah, true. With floppy hair and big glasses. So then on the 4th of November 2016, it was announced that the film was now backed by 20th Century Fox, and shooting was set to begin in early 2017. And Freddie will now be played by Rami Malik,
Starting point is 01:04:20 and at this stage, it's set to come out in the next couple of months. It's been quite a process. Can I watch the trailer for it. Yeah, he's Mr. Robado, right? Or some of my Miss Potsy's, what's that show? Mr. Robot. That's the guy who plays him. Is that right?
Starting point is 01:04:33 Am I saying that wrong, Mr. Robot? You guys are looking at me look. I've not even seen it. Like I've lost my mind. Don't mind how I got to Mr. Robot. Is that right? Is that wrong? I don't know. I think Is that right? Is that wrong?
Starting point is 01:04:45 I don't know. I think that's right. Anyway, I think the guy from Mr. Robot plays Freddie. And I'm pretty sure Mike Myers plays a British or Scottish exec or something. Oh, it's always good. Oh, he's back. It's always good when he does that. So that gentleman is my report on Freddie Mercury. Great stuff. Thank you so much.
Starting point is 01:05:10 Ami Malek is Mr. Robotic. Mr Robotic. Mr Robotic. I don't know what Mr Robotic is. Is that bad? It's a quite an acclaimed series. Right. It's about a this guy who's like a sort of like a Mr. Robot type. Okay. Yeah. I can. Yeah. I mean, you're pretty much saying to watch it now. Yeah, done. Sorted. Yeah. It's like it's about Mr. Robot. So, yeah. Sorry for the spoilers there. But just that was a great report. Thank you. What an amazing life. Yeah, really cool, dude.
Starting point is 01:05:48 I mean, while I was listening, while I was researching, sorry, I was listening to a lot of Queen music, and that was pretty cool. I enjoyed doing that. It was good. I'm definitely going to listen to some now. Maybe I'll go dive back into the back catalog. Please. Yeah, I'd love to hear if, uh, listen as, uh, obviously some are into him and them.
Starting point is 01:06:10 Yeah. But I'll be interesting. And I, another thing I heard, why did I hear this about, um, about, talking about Mark Miser and Wayne's world. He really had to fight against the, um, studio, the film studio to get Bohemian rap city and they wanted something more modern, maybe like Guns and Roses or something, and they're saying, Queen, it's old.
Starting point is 01:06:32 But it's interesting now knowing now the time that it was soon after his death that maybe they would have, but they saw it as being like an old, why this song, it's like an old song and he's like, no, it's got to be this song old song and he's like no it's got to be this song And supposedly he fought hard for it and obviously that's the most iconic scene in the film in the greatest film that's ever been It's a very good film. It's not my all-time favorite. It's legit. I love it No disagreements from me Shout-outs to our friends at Mike Check and the Mike Check Republic.
Starting point is 01:07:06 The podcast about Mike, my ass might be this. Oh sure. I think people know that. Made if you need to, yeah, if you need to spell it out because people don't know it. Does I think that might mean it's time for the segment of the show called Fact, Quote or Question. I brought to you by our Patreon supporters. If you want to chip into our Patreon, if you listen every week, we put a lot of effort into the show with the reports, all the stuff that we put out there. If you're going to twerth a buck or two and you listen every week, you can go to patreon.com slash dogoonpod and in exchange for your supporting the show will give you some even more
Starting point is 01:07:45 content. Yes, some even more content. That's what even talks even more good on the bonus episodes. We, um, uh, we've, yeah, this month's bonus episodes have been very fun to do. I'm looking for to. So this week's fact, quote or question giver is Mr. Zach Steinbacher. Ah, Zach is a bit of supporter for a long time, Zach. Yes, legend. And the other thing that the Fact Quotal question segment gives you the chance to offer either a Fact Quotal question, for me to read out to Jess and Av, but it also, you get to give yourself your entitled. And Zach has given himself the title of official fourth
Starting point is 01:08:27 do-go-on member Nick Mason's inaugural Patreon shout out. It's a complex title. Really catchy there, Zach. Floor's off the top. Oh, yeah. I mean, we had to put it into an acronym. I'd put it on make a little plaque. Twitter just to remind yourself. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:08:45 And he has offered a fact as a question and here it is. Fact as a question. Okay, yep. Sorry. The player who holds the record for reaching a thousand points in the NHL, the quickest, also has the record for reaching a thousand points in the NHL, the quickest, also has the record for being the second quickest. What? It's a nice, in fact, NHL being the national hockey league in North America. North America, yes. And he said he, CIF Dave, or Jess, know who it is.
Starting point is 01:09:21 Wayne Gritzky. Gritzky. Yes. Yay. Highlyitzky. Yes. Yay! Highly hockey players. Yeah, it's gonna say. He's not supposed to name a follow-up player. I would have really struggled.
Starting point is 01:09:31 But the interesting thing is, he's still the only man to reach 2000 points. So he's the fastest and only to get to the second thousand. That's very impressive. Oh, that is really cool. The only other player I know is a Vetchkin, the Russian guy that just won't bless you. So fucking stupid.
Starting point is 01:09:51 You hate it so much. You dumb fuck. So I'm just going through a bad cliche joke book here. I bless you. To anything foreign. It's very old school. It's such a dad joke. That'll be you, Zach.
Starting point is 01:10:19 How's was that? Oh, that's so good. Thank you, Zach. Thank you so much, Zach. The other thing we like to do at the end of the episode is go through some other of our patrons and giving them a bloody shout out. A shout out, yeah. I bless you.
Starting point is 01:10:36 Ah! Ah! Okay, I love it. You just gotta get in them. Also, can I tap out just for one week? I've just come up with the thing. Yeah. Yeah, sure. I'm not tired. You're not. It's you and me, baby. Come on. All right. So the episode was about Queen. Yes. So what about like, I mean, it could be band names. We've probably done that before.
Starting point is 01:10:59 But what about, um, we've done stage names before as well. What about a column response? What? Yeah, great. Well, it could be, so I mean, you know, pretty wide brief that, but. So what, if they're on stage, what would be their column response? Okay, and then we'll act it out.
Starting point is 01:11:21 Yeah. All right, love it. Let's give this a crack. I'd love to thank from Parker in what I believe to be Colorado, Co. Oh yeah, baby. In the United States of America. Alexandra Cosmiski. Bless you. Bless you.
Starting point is 01:11:42 But but bless you. So the cool and response? Is that where you're going to be from, Alexandra? Bless you. Oh, bless you. Oh, bless you. Oh, bless you. Is that why you're going to be from Alexandra? Bless you. Oh, bless you. That's really nice. That's offering. Oh, bless you. Oh, it's a religious surcer, mate.
Starting point is 01:11:55 I mean, that's what they said. Quayne's concerts were like religious surcer. That's what I call church. Oh, yeah. Thank you, Alexandra. Great name. Alexandra. Great name, Alexandra Cosmiski.
Starting point is 01:12:09 I like that quite a lot. No, but but bless you. And I'd also love to thank from British Columbia in Canada, Dustin Bullchild. Oh. Just a couple of cracking names straight off that Child That's that's the call. Yeah, where's the response? I want the response is you just want to back at you Or do you move and we say child? That's good. I say moot you say child moot child moot child
Starting point is 01:12:43 Love it or Or I say, mrrr, you say, mrrr, yeah. Moo, wha, mrrr, wha. I'm so sorry, this is, this is, this is, this is, it's my fault. Why Jess should always do this. What, can you, where am I? It's not too late. Nah, let's keep going with this, this is great. Thank you Dustin from British Columbia. Do we say it's from Canada?
Starting point is 01:13:06 Yeah, so cool. This is a B.C. Meeeee. That's right. Thank you. Meeeee. Can I thank some people? Please, Jess. I would like to thank from...
Starting point is 01:13:16 What's that? I'd like to say I haven haven't looked at Biduri. It's going to be... Bein a Queensland town, that'll be Biduri. Oh, Clooney Station. I've lost it. Is that too much information now? Why just giving his full address now?
Starting point is 01:13:37 That's the place he lives at. Let's just say Biduri. In Queensland. Let's also say he's post-curred. And as a description, 5 foot 7, black hair, big mustache. Not sure, but he's got a big mustache. Patrick Tully. Patrick Tully.
Starting point is 01:13:57 From Atback Queensland, looking at these, oh, this is an amazing place. Look at that. That's allie As. So I reckon he's called a response a bit, yeah, and then you go, oh my god, it's a surprise actually. That's a pretty sad concert though, if his response is an echo. But Patrick, tell me, that's so great that you're listening out there on that beautiful rural block. Yeah, thank you.
Starting point is 01:14:29 Thank you for it. Sorry. Sorry, I'm an idiot. I'm not sorry. I would also like to thank a bit closer to home. From Mount Martha here in Victoria, I'd like to thank David Brown. David Brown, great name. It sounds like a man you could trust to read the weather.
Starting point is 01:14:51 Is there, maybe that's because it's a David Brown. Darren Brown, don't trust that guy. Isn't David Brown the one who wrote the Da Vinci code? Oh, Dan Brown. Fuck. That's his dad. Yeah. David Brown's my dad's name. You can call me Dan Brown because that's my name
Starting point is 01:15:08 Now master I play golf at man bars a few times lovely. Okay, so he's called responses for Five Response they just keep counting four five six seven That's the response. They just keep counting. Four, five, six, seven. Stop at seven. Obviously. Oh, no, that's annoying. Don't stop at it. Seven.
Starting point is 01:15:31 What about seven? David Brown, keep doing what you're doing because it's good stuff. That's great. Thank you, David. Now, I would like to thank from Smithfield, Pennsylvania, United States of America, Curtis, Blue, cousin of Orlando, definite relation, definite relation. Does sound like, um, Kit, Blue, Kit, Blue, Blue, obviously flowers, um,
Starting point is 01:15:59 And the noise of a flower is of course, Matt. Pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, pedal, okay. Flour is of course man Puddle Puddle Puddle Okay, so he says petta we say puddle Puddle Puddle Fuck, that is shit We like nonsensical
Starting point is 01:16:18 I cannot get those words back in a moment Puddle Puddle Puddle People at home going, Patron's going, please don't be me this week. Please. This is so stupid. That's great. And finally, I would like to thank all the way from Hamilton in New Zealand. Ah. Another beautiful spot. New Zealand. I paused for just to say that. She does it every time. I'm getting predictable. From Hamilton, it is Riley Stokes.
Starting point is 01:16:51 That's a good name. That is bloody good. Which by the way, I said I was at work the other day of my day job. I was signing someone up to our loyalty program and I got a first name in last name. And I went, oh, those are good names. And she was quite taken up, I shouldn't laugh and she was like, thank you. Like she was quite flattered. Well, so she should be. So absolutely, but I was just like,
Starting point is 01:17:13 oh, it's a weird thing to say to someone. I'd love to have a complimentable name. Yeah. I got a pretty plain Jane name. Do you ever say that when you sign up to the loyalty program, oh shit, man. Cool. Yeah. Sometimes I say, God, your parents were cruel I got a pretty plain Jane name. Do you ever say that when you sign up to the loyalty program? Oh shit. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:17:26 What a shock. Sometimes I say, God, your parents were cruel, weren't they? That's stupid. Riley Stoke is an extra fire. Riley Stoke. So the client, one of the classic calling responses is, we don't need no water, let the motherfucker burn. Burn motherfucker.
Starting point is 01:17:41 Burn. Stoke the fire. Yeah. Is that Riley Stoke's the fire? Yeah. Love it. I was going with Riley didn stoke the fire. Yeah, that Riley stokes the fire. Yeah, I was going with Riley Didn't start the fire. Riley didn't stoke the fire. Yeah, perfect What are we doing? We're swearing in it. Oh, it's a bit crack When I think of Riley, I think burn Sorry, Riley. Riley, don't give me that vibe
Starting point is 01:18:04 Can you make a very nice people? Yeah, all right, what about this? Have fun out there. That's the call. Take it easy. And the responses. Put on sunscreen. Thanks, O'Millian.
Starting point is 01:18:15 Okay. Let's go for it. All right, here we go. Have fun out there. Thanks O'Millian. Oh, that's a, that's a gigo on there. That's a gigo. Grouts are fat to friendship. However, is a. Oh, that's a that's a gig. Oh, that's yeah. Groudsurf out to friendship.
Starting point is 01:18:27 However, is a fuck yeah, whoever says Robert plans the greatest frontman ever is obviously over Stook for Riley Stokes. He's a fool over Stook over Stook. Riley Stokes Robert plant. Obviously. He's famous some color responses But all But all pedal It was pedal pedal pedal pedal pedal power now. Yeah, it's a big bike. I love riding keep on pedaling pedal pedal pedal thanks everyone in summary the support to the patreon you are you're fantastic We're I feel like you're a fantastic feel like you're the're the response together, we make a great show. Thank you.
Starting point is 01:19:06 It's a beautiful day. That is beautiful, Dave. It's time for some of that. And to sum up the whole episode, if you want to get in contact at any time or buy tickets to any of our upcoming shows or just say, hey, you can always head on over to our website dogoonpod.com. And then there's app dogoon pod for Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We're always online.
Starting point is 01:19:26 And if you're coming to our Melbourne show, remember to contribute generously to Jess's snack bucket. I thought it was a magnet bucket. Well magnet and snacks. This feels like a real reward. Do not keep it funny. Snack bucket sounds like a KFC meal. Okay.
Starting point is 01:19:43 It's just it's just I'm taking donations. If you want to contribute to my magnet collection, while we're on tour. And also, I said that I wanted to be, I look after snacks for you guys. So really, it's for you all benefit too. For people give me their money. And if I have any like, pound,
Starting point is 01:20:02 they're like, oh, I can't get it. I can't, but I'm taking this in exchange at around 10 bucks worth. What's the point oh, I can't get it. I can't, I can't put ballad taking this in exchange. It's about like 10 bucks worth. What's the point? I'll just leave it there. Just chuck it by well. After it for you. Alright. Um, alright. Just hold on to it. And just one day get back over there to Sunny Old Britaine. Nah, just give it to me for snacks and magnets. Snacks and magnets. What do just quickly would you guys have a favorite queen song?
Starting point is 01:20:25 Oh tough. Oh I love you're my best friend. Oh that's a really beautiful song. Yeah really nice. We were playing that in the car yesterday it's very sweet. So love. That is a really good one. Yeah it is really nice.
Starting point is 01:20:39 I love it. Somebody to love is pretty amazing. It's good one. I think mine's don't stop me now. Oh good one. Yes. I heard that a lot when I first traveled overseas. It's good one. I think mine's don't stop me now. Oh, good one. Yes. I heard that a lot when I first traveled overseas. It sort of became the anthem of the trip.
Starting point is 01:20:49 Oh, it's great to hear the song you think of the trip. Yeah. Very good. nostalgia. It's called Dave. Look it up. Look it up. You're taking a beautiful moment of the adress
Starting point is 01:20:59 and you make me feel like a fuck with. Good. That's my job. Thanks for telling the last of you said, Jess. Jess? You're making me live. Thank Good. That's my job. Thanks a ton, I like this idea, Jess. Jess, you're making me live. Thank you. You're my best friend. Put it up.
Starting point is 01:21:10 Put it up. Thanks guys, we're back another episode. Next week, the big 150th episode cannot wait. We'll be here, you'll be there. It's gonna be great. Who knows what else will happen. Who knows? Thanks again guys, see you then, bye bye. Bye. It's gonna be great. Who knows what else will happen. Who knows? Oh, thanks again guys. See you then.
Starting point is 01:21:26 Bye-bye. Bye. Lola deitos. Yeah. Ha-ha-ha! Incredible. This podcast is part of the Planet Broadcasting Network. Visit PlanetBroadcasting.com for more podcasts from our great mites.
Starting point is 01:21:46 I mean, if you won't, it's up to you. This episode is brought to you by Progressive. Most of you aren't just listening right now. You're driving, cleaning, and even exercising. But what if you could be saving money by switching to Progressive? Drivers who save by switching save nearly $750 on average, and auto customers qualify for an average of seven discounts.
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