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Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic
Freddie Mercury was rock’s most dazzling showman, a legendary entertainer who in 1991, at the age of just forty-five, became the first major music star to die of AIDS. Mercury’s soaring four-octave voice was a defining element in Queen’s unique sound, crucial to the success of the band’s fifteen studio albums, from Queen (1973) to Made in Heaven (1995). He was also a supremely talented songwriter and musician who wrote many of the band’s greatest hits, including ‘Killer Queen’, ‘We Are the Champions’ and their biggest triumph, the epic anthem ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. As a solo artist he released two acclaimed Mr. Bad Guy in 1985 and the operatic 'Barcelona' with Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé in 1988.Mercury’s extraordinary charisma was perhaps best seen in his imperious live performances, in which he’d hold vast stadium crowds to rapturous attention. His outrageous theatrics, physicality and over-the-top costumes led one commentator to describe him as ‘a performer out to tease, shock, and ultimately charm his audience with various extravagant versions of himself’. He pushed the limits of camp in everything he did. His extreme behaviour, in a society in which being gay was only starting to be accepted, just added to Freddie Mercury’s allure.With expert understanding, Mark Blake traces Mercury’s life from his childhood in Zanzibar and India to his untimely death, and charts his astonishing achievements including in Queen’s world-conquering performance at Live Aid in 1985.In the year that marks what would have been his seventieth birthday, Freddie A Life celebrates a remarkable life, lived to the fullest. Featuring revealing interviews with fellow musicians, producers and collaborators, and a detailed discography and timeline, this is a memorable tribute to a unique recording artist and an irreplaceable performer who rocked the world.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
November 7, 2016
I was under a spell by the story of Freddie Mercury's life. I was also devastated at the end of the book. A book hasn't made me want to cry since I was a child reading Caroline b. Cooney's Twins. It all goes to show how well this book showed you Freddie Mercury. It's amazing how these two dimension pages bring you into a multidimensional world. The photography, book design, and quotes are superb. The story telling was personal but respectful. I learned so many things about Queen and music from the 70s and 80s; whether it was about Bowie, punk rock, or Opera. All the while Mercury remained the star of the show.
October 29, 2018
I did not realize the talent this one man possessed and how truly amazing he was until I read this book. I’ll be watching Queen music videos and crying now.
February 18, 2019
I love this man more than life. Nothing more to day.
February 19, 2019
Mr. Blake begins with his age (10y) at the time he first saw FM in 1974. The majority is written from the viewpoint of a fan rather than as a rock journalist reporting the facts as told to him. I liked that. It felt more of a conversation than an article about someone unattainable. More human.
June 18, 2018
Excellent retrospective of the life of a true superstar. I'm so excited about the new Mercury biopic coming out that I had to read up some more on his interesting life. Learned a lot of interesting things about his life and the struggles he had to deal with. Even on his final months, he was laying down tracks and recording snippets of songs for the other members of Queen to harmonize with, create music for and publish "after I'm gone." One of the highlights of the book was all the behind-the-scenes photos, including some from video shoots and backstage at concerts, along with the details about each Queen album and how some of the songs came together. It was a collaborative effort, and you can really get a sense of how much the other members of Queen miss Freddie Mercury and make every effort to keep his memory alive, even as they find other singers to front the band. The latest, Adam Lambert, says that he's not there to replace Mercury, but keep his memory alive and share how much he inspired the young singer.
December 1, 2018
Loved this book. I love, love, love Freddie Mercury...he's a sweetheart and so bloody talented. Freddie is a true superstar.
I cried at the end...it really cut me up which is testament to how well written this is.
I highly recommend this book!!
I cried at the end...it really cut me up which is testament to how well written this is.
I highly recommend this book!!
November 12, 2023
Spoiler: he dies at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2018
If you still miss Freddie Mercury
This book gives you a look inside Queen, how the guys met and formed the group, their albums, concerts and tours, what inspired some of their songs and such. I didn't find much I wasn't already aware of except a more intimate look at Freddie's last years.
I don't believe there will be another to equal Freddie Mercury. He was unique, his voice, his looks and dress, his stage presence, his showmanship. He was a bit arrogant in whatever he did. His attitude toward money apparently was "I didn't have it but now I have it." He shared his incredible talent with the world and I for one am better for it.
When you consider the combined talent and intelligence when Queen took the stage, it boggles the mind. Brian May is now an astrophysicist; he put his education on hold to join Queen and share great music with the world. John Deacon and Roger Taylor also put their lives, careers and education on hold, and together they were phenomenal.
4
This book gives you a look inside Queen, how the guys met and formed the group, their albums, concerts and tours, what inspired some of their songs and such. I didn't find much I wasn't already aware of except a more intimate look at Freddie's last years.
I don't believe there will be another to equal Freddie Mercury. He was unique, his voice, his looks and dress, his stage presence, his showmanship. He was a bit arrogant in whatever he did. His attitude toward money apparently was "I didn't have it but now I have it." He shared his incredible talent with the world and I for one am better for it.
When you consider the combined talent and intelligence when Queen took the stage, it boggles the mind. Brian May is now an astrophysicist; he put his education on hold to join Queen and share great music with the world. John Deacon and Roger Taylor also put their lives, careers and education on hold, and together they were phenomenal.
4
April 3, 2018
"I don't have any aspirations to live to seventy. I don't want to sound moribid. I've lived a full life, and if I'm dead tomorrow, I don't give a damn. I've done it all, I really have." (1987). I'm not sure how many people are aware that he was from Zanzibar, that he grew up in Mumbai, and he had a four-octave range. Probably the best part of the book was reading about how he came up with Crazy Little Thing Called Love while in the bathtub... he rushed over to the studio and told the guys to hurry and up and get it down before "one of them would ruin it." A great read.
"I've seen every blue-eyed floozy on the wayyyyyyyy."
"I've seen every blue-eyed floozy on the wayyyyyyyy."
January 31, 2018
Pics & information were nothing special; most have been published elsewhere & there are better bios out there. Love Freddie, though...he was definitely one of a kind (of magic).
April 9, 2020
It isn't often that I criticize a book for being too short, but Mark Blake's biography of Freddie Mercury gallops through the rock star's life. Mercury died at 45, but this book, while giving us much of what we need to know, doesn't go much beyond a series of important events.
Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on the African island of Zanzibar to Parsee Indian parents. He spent time in a boarding school in India, and then, when there was a revolution in Zanzibar, went with his parents to England. He had always shown an interest in music, and became an unofficial roadie to a band called Smile. They had a lead vocalist already, but when that guy quit, Mercury got the gig. They changed their name to Queen and became huge stars.
All that is dutifully reported by Blake, but I wanted more on the creative process. One chapter covers the recording and release of two of Queen's biggest albums, A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races. The single from the former, "Bohemian Rhapsody," which is today Queen's signature hit, gets a couple of pages. I would think a whole chapter could be devoted to the process behind that one song. "Listeners have spent forty years analysing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and wondering whether its central character – a suicidal murderer in mental turmoil? – was a metaphor for something. And if so, what?" I wish Blake could have elaborated on the "what."
Blake makes a lot of hay about Mercury's flamboyance. It's interesting to see how his behavior in the '70s wasn't seen as controversial, because of the time period: "The gay connotations of the name might have bothered some in those times. But in 1970 it had not occurred to many people that Freddie might be homosexual." But he was, though he had a long-time relationship with a woman, Mary Austin. But he lived life to the fullest."I sleep with men, women, cats, you name it. I’ll go to bed with anything," he said.
Blake depicts the other band mates perfunctorily, but a bit as if they were along for the ride. He quotes Brian May and Roger Taylor liberally (John Deacon retired from the group and has not made any public appearances or interviews since). Often Blake uses direct quotes, and they are not exactly bon mots: "But asked if he thought A Day at the Races had been a little overblown, Roger admitted, ‘Yes, some of it was.’" I don't think a direct quote was called for there.
Still, the book has a lot of fun information for Queen fans. Such as when Mercury went to a costume party, dressed as himself. Or that Queen threw parties at a brothel in Cologne, Germany and at another party had the wait staff adorned only with body paint. I also found in interesting that Queen was much more popular in Britain than America. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the third-highest selling single in British history, and long after Queen were considered irrelevant in the U.S. they were still hitting number one in England with their last albums.
After reading the book, though, I still don't feel I knew Mercury, and maybe because he was unknowable. But I think that this book isn't the definitive biography of the man.
Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on the African island of Zanzibar to Parsee Indian parents. He spent time in a boarding school in India, and then, when there was a revolution in Zanzibar, went with his parents to England. He had always shown an interest in music, and became an unofficial roadie to a band called Smile. They had a lead vocalist already, but when that guy quit, Mercury got the gig. They changed their name to Queen and became huge stars.
All that is dutifully reported by Blake, but I wanted more on the creative process. One chapter covers the recording and release of two of Queen's biggest albums, A Night At The Opera and A Day At The Races. The single from the former, "Bohemian Rhapsody," which is today Queen's signature hit, gets a couple of pages. I would think a whole chapter could be devoted to the process behind that one song. "Listeners have spent forty years analysing ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ and wondering whether its central character – a suicidal murderer in mental turmoil? – was a metaphor for something. And if so, what?" I wish Blake could have elaborated on the "what."
Blake makes a lot of hay about Mercury's flamboyance. It's interesting to see how his behavior in the '70s wasn't seen as controversial, because of the time period: "The gay connotations of the name might have bothered some in those times. But in 1970 it had not occurred to many people that Freddie might be homosexual." But he was, though he had a long-time relationship with a woman, Mary Austin. But he lived life to the fullest."I sleep with men, women, cats, you name it. I’ll go to bed with anything," he said.
Blake depicts the other band mates perfunctorily, but a bit as if they were along for the ride. He quotes Brian May and Roger Taylor liberally (John Deacon retired from the group and has not made any public appearances or interviews since). Often Blake uses direct quotes, and they are not exactly bon mots: "But asked if he thought A Day at the Races had been a little overblown, Roger admitted, ‘Yes, some of it was.’" I don't think a direct quote was called for there.
Still, the book has a lot of fun information for Queen fans. Such as when Mercury went to a costume party, dressed as himself. Or that Queen threw parties at a brothel in Cologne, Germany and at another party had the wait staff adorned only with body paint. I also found in interesting that Queen was much more popular in Britain than America. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is the third-highest selling single in British history, and long after Queen were considered irrelevant in the U.S. they were still hitting number one in England with their last albums.
After reading the book, though, I still don't feel I knew Mercury, and maybe because he was unknowable. But I think that this book isn't the definitive biography of the man.
October 8, 2022
Mark Blake's Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic is a biography based on the legendary lead singer of Queen. The biography looks into the singer's childhood and life before he reinvented himself into the icon Freddie Mercury, his years before Queen became a band, and of course, the years Queen was together.
The biography was relatively short. I would have loved more information, but the author made up for that with his passion for Queen's music. It was evident throughout the entire book that Blake was an honest fan of Queen. He handled every stage of Mercury's life with care. He did his best to represent who Mercury was as a human being and artist. I loved that the book wasn't just a list of facts. It told a story and kept it interesting with antidotes from Mercury's life. A Kind of Magic features multiple quotes from the people closest to Mercury, such as Queen band members Brian May, Taylor Roger, and John Deacon. Blake even included quotes from the man himself. It felt like I was getting the authentic version of Mercury's life and not a fictitious tale of the many rumors surrounding the legend.
As a music lover, it's nice to read more about the recording process of one of the greatest bands in history. I also loved how Blake described in much detail each Queen album's musical aspects. The pictures featured in the biography were stunning! I had never even seen some of those pictures before, which was a delightful surprise.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic. However, I hope to find another book that goes even further into the musical genius that is Freddie Mercury. It was a tad more basic in the overview of his life than I had expected. Still, Blake's sensitivity and love for the book's subject made it enjoyable.
The biography was relatively short. I would have loved more information, but the author made up for that with his passion for Queen's music. It was evident throughout the entire book that Blake was an honest fan of Queen. He handled every stage of Mercury's life with care. He did his best to represent who Mercury was as a human being and artist. I loved that the book wasn't just a list of facts. It told a story and kept it interesting with antidotes from Mercury's life. A Kind of Magic features multiple quotes from the people closest to Mercury, such as Queen band members Brian May, Taylor Roger, and John Deacon. Blake even included quotes from the man himself. It felt like I was getting the authentic version of Mercury's life and not a fictitious tale of the many rumors surrounding the legend.
As a music lover, it's nice to read more about the recording process of one of the greatest bands in history. I also loved how Blake described in much detail each Queen album's musical aspects. The pictures featured in the biography were stunning! I had never even seen some of those pictures before, which was a delightful surprise.
Overall, I enjoyed reading Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic. However, I hope to find another book that goes even further into the musical genius that is Freddie Mercury. It was a tad more basic in the overview of his life than I had expected. Still, Blake's sensitivity and love for the book's subject made it enjoyable.
May 25, 2019
I don't read a lot of biographies because they aren't a genre I prefer. Yet I was intrigued by Freddie Mercury, both the man and the star. A friend gifted me a copy of this book for Christmas and unfortunately, it set far too long on my Kindle without being read. I decided to change that while on vacation and am so glad I did. This book was well-written and I think an honest look at the many facets that made up Freddie Mercury.
"The other members of Queen wrote songs – often great songs – but it was Freddie who sold them."
This book covers Mercury from his youth until his death and beyond. I felt like I was really getting to know him as I read the book and found it interesting that as flamboyant and eccentric and he was on stage he was such a private person off stage. It was nice to read about him through the people who knew him best, Brian May and Roger Taylor. I think it would have been fantastic to have heard from John Deacon but through reading the book I understand why that isn't possible.
"It was an early example of the power of persuasion and unstinting belief that Mercury would apply to himself and his band mates in Queen. Nothing was impossible, he maintained, if you put your mind to it."
Like him or not one has to admit that Mercury was a very talented man. If you are a fan of Queen or Mercury then this book is a must-read. It's entertaining and written in a way that makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing life right along with Mercury and the rest of the band.
"The other members of Queen wrote songs – often great songs – but it was Freddie who sold them."
This book covers Mercury from his youth until his death and beyond. I felt like I was really getting to know him as I read the book and found it interesting that as flamboyant and eccentric and he was on stage he was such a private person off stage. It was nice to read about him through the people who knew him best, Brian May and Roger Taylor. I think it would have been fantastic to have heard from John Deacon but through reading the book I understand why that isn't possible.
"It was an early example of the power of persuasion and unstinting belief that Mercury would apply to himself and his band mates in Queen. Nothing was impossible, he maintained, if you put your mind to it."
Like him or not one has to admit that Mercury was a very talented man. If you are a fan of Queen or Mercury then this book is a must-read. It's entertaining and written in a way that makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing life right along with Mercury and the rest of the band.
January 17, 2019
Definitely one of the better books about Freddie Mercury imo. I loved all the photos and how this book didn't focus on Freddie's sexuality but on Freddie as the performer. I enjoyed the parts about the early years the most. Just reading about Freddie's determination to become a star and staying true to himself is so inspiring. And ofcourse the last part about his final months always makes me emotional.
Amazing beautiful man.
"Freddie was fully focused, never allowing anything or anyone to get in the way of his vision for the future. He was truly a free spirit. There are not many of these in the world. To achieve this, you have to be, like Freddie, fearless – unafraid of upsetting anyone's apple cart. "
- Brian May
Amazing beautiful man.
"Freddie was fully focused, never allowing anything or anyone to get in the way of his vision for the future. He was truly a free spirit. There are not many of these in the world. To achieve this, you have to be, like Freddie, fearless – unafraid of upsetting anyone's apple cart. "
- Brian May
November 8, 2021
It ends around 80% (?), then it is all references and notes and bibliography :(
But I loved it, it is like a condensed version of Freddie Mercury: His Life in His Own Words: less quotes from Freddie but more of Brian May and Roger Taylor (I loved John Deacon when he said "I don't want to be nasty but let's just say Robbie Williams is no Freddie Mercury"🤣) and there is also more description about post-FM: funeral, the FM Tribute Concert, a bit about his movie, statue, legacy, FM's replacement as lead singer of Queen, etc.
But I loved it, it is like a condensed version of Freddie Mercury: His Life in His Own Words: less quotes from Freddie but more of Brian May and Roger Taylor (I loved John Deacon when he said "I don't want to be nasty but let's just say Robbie Williams is no Freddie Mercury"🤣) and there is also more description about post-FM: funeral, the FM Tribute Concert, a bit about his movie, statue, legacy, FM's replacement as lead singer of Queen, etc.
February 8, 2019
I couldn't put this story down. I have always LOVED Freddie Mercury. Something about him was/is mesmerizing. This book provided so much to his story that I didn't know. As I read it I would pull up songs mentioned and be like oh yeah, I heard this. Some times song titles allude me.
He seemed like such a troubled soul with all his partners , drugs and alcohol and it just made me adore him more.
I was lying down reading the last chapters..sobbing. My hair was soaked. I will be heading to London this summer and will visit his home and what ever else I can see having to do with the wonderful,talented, AWESOME Freddie Mercury
He seemed like such a troubled soul with all his partners , drugs and alcohol and it just made me adore him more.
I was lying down reading the last chapters..sobbing. My hair was soaked. I will be heading to London this summer and will visit his home and what ever else I can see having to do with the wonderful,talented, AWESOME Freddie Mercury
April 17, 2019
Mercury 's Magic
After reading several books on the life of Freddie Mercury and Queen, I feel this is the most generous and positive account of the magic Freddy brought to this world. Freddie, Brian, Roger, and John caught a ride on the tale of a comet and brought with them the music of our lives. This book brings the positive events to light without digging up the proverbial skeletons in the closet. It is honest and true without the nastiness we all have in our lives. Mr. Blake did a good job bringing Freddie Mercury to life in a way that even Farrokh Bulsara would love!
After reading several books on the life of Freddie Mercury and Queen, I feel this is the most generous and positive account of the magic Freddy brought to this world. Freddie, Brian, Roger, and John caught a ride on the tale of a comet and brought with them the music of our lives. This book brings the positive events to light without digging up the proverbial skeletons in the closet. It is honest and true without the nastiness we all have in our lives. Mr. Blake did a good job bringing Freddie Mercury to life in a way that even Farrokh Bulsara would love!
November 29, 2018
I picked this up from our PL because coworker Lisa said it was awesome. It is. Queen was MY band during my senior year (imagine a female iteration of Wayne's World in rural Virginia!) sadly after they had stopped touring in the U.S. and Freddie has always owned a piece of my heart. Say what you will about the quasi-biopic, I enjoyed it and am pleased about the renewed interest in this amazing band.
November 12, 2018
Very enjoyable
It’s hard to think that it’s nearly 3 decades since we said goodbye to Mr M. This book brought back the whole emotional rollercoaster of seeing Queen on TOTP for the first time ,falling in and out of love with them (and then finally in again ). Great book. Shame that there’s probably not much more to say on the subject, or sadly no one much left to say it .
It’s hard to think that it’s nearly 3 decades since we said goodbye to Mr M. This book brought back the whole emotional rollercoaster of seeing Queen on TOTP for the first time ,falling in and out of love with them (and then finally in again ). Great book. Shame that there’s probably not much more to say on the subject, or sadly no one much left to say it .
March 22, 2021
I love the name of the book - A Kind of Magic. Freddie Mercury certainly had a kind of magic, which was evident in his songwriting and performing. He was the ultimate performer and I had an amazing voice.
This book by Mark Blake has some wonderful information and stories about Freddie, with great photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book by Mark Blake has some wonderful information and stories about Freddie, with great photographs. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
March 1, 2017
This book is indeed magical with its gorgeous pictures and wonderful quotations and the stories behind the songs and Freddie's life.
http://nicolewbrown.blogspot.com/2017...
http://nicolewbrown.blogspot.com/2017...
February 5, 2018
même si l’on connaît la vie de freddy et les anecdotes d’enregistrements c’est un bonheur de voir le choix des magnifiques photos... aussi, j’ai presque pas pleuré en lisant sur ses derniers moments de studio.
January 5, 2019
This was the most exceptional book I have read in a long time. The details of Freddie's personal life was balanced with what we all want to know about Queen as a whole and their music: because honestly, what else did Freddie live for if not to rock you?
January 17, 2019
This book is amazing! I total recommend this book for anybody who would want to use this book to learn about this wonderful man. I used it as a resource for a school project, and it hit all the bases I needed to. Amazing book.
May 11, 2019
I set out to read something quickly about the facts of Freddie Mercury from all angles and perspectives. This book delivered. Excelled in succinct accounts and a coherent tapestry throughout his life.
July 1, 2019
Truly enjoyed this book on Freddie Mercury’s life and the story of Queen. Multitalented man who died way too young. Was interesting to read the biography after seeing the movie with Rami Malik which I thoroughly loved.
February 4, 2018
Imprescindible para cualquier fan de Freddy Mercury. Totalmente recomendable.
November 5, 2018
A wonderful, concise biography of Mercury. Perfect pre-game to the biopic. From film reviews, probably a more in-depth look at the artist and group.
December 13, 2018
Love Freddie Mercury. I watched Bohemian Rhapsody and fell in love. now I'm picking up every book that has anything to do with this Rock King.
December 15, 2018
4.5 stars. Just what I was looking for after watching the movie.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews