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This topic is open for discussion about Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury by Lesley-Ann Jones



Book synopsis:
Revealing and intimate, based on more than 100 interviews with key figures in his life, this is the definitive biography of Queen front man Freddie Mercury, one of pop music’s best-loved and most complex figures.

As lead vocalist for the iconic rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury’s unmatched skills as a songwriter and flamboyant showmanship made him a superstar, and Queen a household name. But few people ever really glimpsed the man behind the glittering faÇade.

Mercury was the first major rock star to die from AIDS. Now, twenty years after his death, those closest to him are finally opening up about this pivotal figure in rock n’ roll. With unprecedented access to Mercury’s tribe, rock journalist Lesley-Ann Jones has crafted the definitive account of Mercury’s legendary life. Jones details Queen’s slow but steady rise to fame, and Mercury’s descent into dangerous, pleasure-seeking excesses. Jones doesn’t shy away from Mercury’s often colorful lifestyle—this was, after all, a man who once declared, “Darling, I’m doing everything with everyone.”

In her journey to understand Mercury, Jones traveled to London, Zanzibar, and India—talking with everyone from Freddie’s closest friends, to the sound engineer at Band Aid (who was responsible for making Queen louder than the other bands), to second cousins halfway around the world, an intimate and complicated portrait emerges. Meticulously researched, sympathetic yet not sensational, Mercury offers an unvarnished, revealing look at the extreme highs and lows of life in the fast lane.

Freddie Mercury will be the subject of a major motion picture titled Mercury, slated for 2012 production, produced by Graham King, starring Sacha Baron Cohen. This book is a key source for the film. Mercury is the most compelling, up-to-date portrait of an enigmatic entertainer who thrilled audiences around the world with a magnetism matched by few performers.

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I've been wanting to read this for a while now. I'm good for any time in December. My library has lots of copies.

im in

I requested this from the library as sort of a companion read: I don't think it will have enough words to count for points

Oh this looks so good! I love Freddie Mercury.
I don't usually do so well with biographies so I might just pop in to read the discussion.

I didn't think they were my thing either but I am really enjoying the Johnny Cash one.

I stopped by the library on the way home and picked this up. But I won't start it yet.

Count me in.

I picked it up today but don't know when I'll start it. I've got a lot of books in progress and I'd like to get some of them finished.

So any thoughts on when to start this? I have a copy and can start it any time.

I started this last night but didn't get far. Not because it's bad but just because I was busy and only have this in print.

I'll go ahead and start this one. Some of my 1st week Dec. BRs on on hold waiting for people to get their books.

I read a little more but I'm still at the introduction of the book where they are talking about the Live Aid performance. I watched that and it was amazing.

I'm going to get to this some time this week, I promise! I may end up postponing or canceling my Jurassic Park BR to fit it in, but I'm much more interested in this book.

I recently (this year, I think) watched a documentary called The Great Pretender, and it was amazing, too. Freddie performed with the Royal Ballet. It had a lot of great footage. I wish I had the DVD.

I saw the Live Aid performance, too. It was the summer before I got married.

I saw The Great Pretender doc and watched Live Aid live. I was a teenager and so that was the TV even to watch.

I really started reading this today and I'm at the beginning of chapter 4.

(view spoiler)[So it sounds like Freddie's parent's accepted his lifestyle. Maybe not at first but at some point anyway. I can kind of understand how he tried to keep his roots hidden. I know really nothing about Zanzibar but it appears to be a place that would not be accepting of homosexuals or any kind of nonconformist lifestyle. Kind of sad how he was starving for physical affection. But at the same time what kind of life would he have had if his parents hadn't sent him away to that school? (hide spoiler)]

Did everyone drop this read? I kind of put it aside because no one else was reading it but I'm out of library renewals. So I will probably finish it within the next week.

So I guess no one else is reading this after all. I've run out of renewals for it and plan on bringing back to the library until I have more time to sit and read a print book.