Publications about the Queen Group, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, Roger Taylor. John Dicon: Legend Against the Background of Queen Success

It is unlikely that there is a man who has never heard about queen Group And her deceased frontman. After all, on September 5, as they say, the "whole world community" celebrated the 60th anniversary of the birth of Freddie Mercury, and the press was again sent to various kinds of initiations and memories: families, friends, secretaries, musicians, former lovers, former gardeners, former lovers of former gardeners. At the beginning of the XXI century, the singer who went out of life only 15 years ago, became an almost mythological character, and in the insane number of available information it is extremely difficult to separate reliable information from journalistic fiction.

Not surprising: Mercury has always been a "lackless piece" for a yellow press, tirelessly savoring the details of his stormy personal life and extravagant behavior. All this sense husk seems to finally departed from us of real Freddie - an extraordinarily gifted person with an amazing fate, which a bright meteor swept along the musical chain and forever remained the most famous frontman of the most popular rock band.

*** "I will not become a star," said Freddie, grunted his head sadly. "What's wrong with you?" His friend's friend consisted. "You know what you are famous." Hearing him, Mercury was proudly stood, making his hands and proclaimed: "I will not become a star! I will become a legend !!!"

This bike is told about Freddie, his classmates on the artistic college in Ilning, where the Mercury-student tried in vain to find himself in the visual arts. To this day, the most famous work of Freddie - the coat of arms, the emblem of the Queen group; It is also known that he often painted the then universal idol Jimi Hendricks, then jokingly disguised him into the suit of the Victorian era, then depicting his homeland in the outfits - India.

Her Majesty
Freddie was not Englishman, he was not Indian. His tribesmen are now inhabited by Iran, but Freddie is coming there, he would be in a very inappropriate place, especially considering his sexual orientation. Fortunately, Mercury's ancestors emigrated from the country, which was then called Persia, a thousand years ago. They adhered to ancient faith His homeland - Zoroastrianism and, escaped from the spread of Islam, moved to India. Zoroastrians, followers of the prophet Zarathustra, in the spaciousness called fireprokelons, are the adherents of the oldest monotheistic religion from now existing. In their ideas, the world created by the Divine named Ahura Mazda is the warp of the good pendulum of SPAENT-lane and the evil spirit of Ariman, in fact, only the illusion necessary to feel the light and welcome. It seems that this thesis - from Christ to Tolkien - remains in strength to this day.
So, Persians-Zoroastrians downtown in India, primarily in the vicinity of Bombay, retained their ethnos and religion, and almost completely adopted Indian skills. Thanks to the separation, they became a kind of elite of their region, and with the advent of the British-Colonizers, many began to work for a new power. Freddie's father, Bom Bulsar, was civil servants. He and his spouse Jeri were born and the Indian province of Gujarat (Gujarat). To the north of Bombay there is also the town of Bulsar, who Freddie is obliged to its real name. Nevertheless, even before the birth of the firstborn, the wife of Bulsar moved to Zanzibar Island, english possession in southeast Africa. There, Bom was the important position of the Treasurer of the Supreme Court, owned luxury, local standards, home and contained several servants. Jerle could not work, and the high-ranking accountant himself returned home in a half-day day. After that hour, no one left in Zanzibar in the service - it became too hot. In a word, a child who received the name of Faroh (from different sources - Faroh, FaroKh or Farok, according to his sister), in the first years of life, love and parental care was surrounded.
And then the requested necessity called Bom back to India. The Bulsar family, in which the one-year-old daughter Kashmir appeared, moved to Bombay and gave her son to the surrounding college of St. Peter. The institution where the boy stayed ten years old, Freddie's classmates describe as a very pleasant place, Mercury himself subsequently did not particularly spread about the time spent there. But it is clear that the school provided a huge impact On the formation of Bulsar as a person. St. Peter's College was a kind of British oasis in a conquered country. Teachers carefully observed all the English rituals and made people from the motley student's brethren, who could in the future could easily become part of the metropolis. Special emphasis was made on sports activities, in which Bulsar had achieved notable success (as it was useful then at the savual stadium concerts!). And from the point of view of music, the following is important: Faruh (though Zoroastrian) sang in the choir of the Anglican Church, and it was probably his first vocal experience. He also took the lessons on the piano - first, but the Mother's insistence, and then - with suddenly broken enthusiasm. B of England was gaining the power of rock and roll, and with classmates with friends Faruch, who was increasingly called to English Manner - Freddie, gathered the team of The Hectics, in which only modestly played the piano. The repertoire of the group consisted of a standard set of rock and roll hits of that time: Little Richard, Elvis Presley, FTS Domino; Performing skills were at the infancy, but everything compensated for the squeal of the fan, which sounds the same and in Liverpool, and in Bombay ... "Freddie always smiled. Always how much I remember him in school," recalls Derrick Brunche, another participant Hectics.
At the weekend, the son returned to his parents and immersed in the boiling life of the Indian metropolis. The boy grew at the present crossroads of cultures. On the one hand, the pictures of India, folk singing and sweet hits from the movies, on the other, are the majestic rituals of Zoroastrianism. Chopornaya english system learning church, music lessons, where the teacher loved to tell the ward about the great composers and the famous opapax. Finally, school theatrical performances in which Freddie also showed great abilities.
By the time Freddie graduated from school, his parents had already worked on Zanzibar again. The young man returned home, but the idyllic and boring life did not work - in January 1964, the revolution broke out on the island. The United Kingdom gradually "disconnected" of the colony, and local princes were not ready for the transfer of power. People's uprising followed, during which the Negro majority of the population was notified by anger either the Arabs and ords from India. All who could carry his legs were hastily made. Bomi and his family was lucky - as civil servants they could move to England. On this, the Son has long insisted on this - it is clear that the prospects to make the Rock and Roll star career, and any other, in Zanzibar were even less than in Bombay, but England is the most suitable place.
Soon, refugees with a miserable two suitcases in the hands found themselves at Heathrow Airport and the dowel at all close to the town of Feltem, the suburb of London, where Bom found the work of the accountant. For Freddie's parents, it was an exile from RAS from the respectable and influential government official Bomi turned into a banal account for nothing in any meaningful office, and instead of the luxurious nature and the hot southern sun, a sad rainy landscapes of England appeared in front of him. However, Freddie experienced completely different feelings: he found himself and the heart music events, and fabulous London, who a little later became a swingement, survived the bitleania, the coming of rhythm-n-blues, hard rock ... Moving took place to Kik, it is impossible in time.

WHO TO BE?
At the insistence of Freddie's parents continued learning. First at the Polytechnic Institute in Ayluors, then from September 1966 - in an art college in Iling. The last institution gave its students a diploma, who was not recognized everywhere, and released more famous musicians than the artists consisted. (Among the aligns of the Ilning - Pete Townshend and Ron Wood.) However, for young people who were exactly sure of their giftedness, but did not yet know what they were manifested, it was quite a suitable place.
Students of the course, where Blesar studied, described the comrade as a completely normal guy who had managed well, was, probably overly shy and closed, while, as all around, he twisted novels with girls and, of course, was fond of rock and roll - But who was not fond of them then?
Kashmir, sister Freddie, remembers that at that time he began to move away from his parents, and in general he tried to forget his exotic roots and shonened "ancestors" who stubbornly did not want to "assimilate". It was a completely ordinary conflict of "fathers and children": the young man did not want to listen to reproaches and instructing parents, and he also treated him without much enthusiasm. (But we write now about Mercury-singer, and not about Bulsar-artist ...) ended in that Freddie began free life, removing apartments and spending the night with friends almost on the floor. This rapidly stray period continued until the meeting of our hero with his future bride Marie Austin. Finally forget about Zanzibar helped the pseudonym - from now on Freddie responded to the name Merciory ("mercury", or "Mercury", - by the name of the planet, by whose sign was born Freddie).
In the same Ilney, a person's vocalist and bassist named Tim Staffell studied at the rock music. He sang in the popular Smile team, and other participants in this ensemble were painfully acquaintances of our characters: guitarist, young astrophysicist, excellent, but all sciences, especially physics and mathematics, playing on a self-made tool of own manufacture, and a failed dental doctor, subsequently - a student -biologist. Learned?
To explain what the abyss divided Freddie and Smile at that time, it is enough to say that this group managed to play heating from Pink Floyd. A Previous composition Astrophysics Brian Mea., Team of 1984, managed to be at one concert with Jimi Hendrix. It is said that Jimi, going out of the dressing room, turned to Rubian with a question: "Hey. Friend, from which side of the scene?" "Right," Mei replied. So the historical conversation took place two, perhaps the most famous guitarists in the world. Subsequently, Smile performed with T-Rex, Family, YES (with the latter they were often compared), and on February 27, 1969, Godi played on a certain festival after the FREE themselves headed by Paul Rogers. (Remember this fact.)
Freddie began his friends with Steffels thanks to general musical interests. He began to actively be interested in the life of the group, often visited her rehearsals and literally tortured the wonderful experience of rockers with its useful tips. But the most important advice that is attributed to Merciory, was extremely simple: "I know what you are missing. You do not have enough of me!" He really did not think to "sit down" his friend. Familiarity with Smile just became for Freddie "Moment of Truth", creative self-determination. If he used to be sure that he would be a star, but did not know how this would achieve, he now clearly understood: his path is up to the music. "Free artist" knew who he wants to become: the second Giji Hendrix. True, an attempt to master the game on the guitar was unsuccessful. And why? Freddie is an excellent pianist. And you can depict the idol with a "imaginary" guitar in your hands. In addition, he began to open his amazing voice ...
In the summer of 1969, Mercury graduated from college and took the search for the group. And in order to reduce the ends with the ends, a couple with Roger Taylor (thereby the failed dentist from Smile) ... rented a shopping kiosk on the market. Their establishment was, according to the memoirs of visitors, "the size of the body of the background booth", and its contained accounted for 10 pounds per month. At first, Freddie and Roger tried to sell antiques, then switched to used clothing. Once, friends were lucky enough to acquire 100 fur jackets for 50 pounds and sell for 8 each. Joy from a well-performed operation overshadowed only one thing - mistakenly the favorite jacket of Mercury himself was sold. (But other information, not Mercury, and Taylor. As you can see, the mythologization was even the very first steps of rock legends.) It is also said that the then guitarist Tomorrow Steve Hou has been taped in the Lark.

Mountain goats and shipwreck wreckage
Instead of collecting the team itself, Freddie went through easier and studied the musical press in search of announcements of vocalist admission. Soon a suitable group was found - it was a team from Liverpool with funny title IBEX. For a very long time, the poor fees were confident that this word sounds "in DadiTeki mysteriously" until they found in the dictionary: "Mountain Goat". But embarrassed, the guys rushed to storm the stony peaks of rock-olimpa. "I have ideas about your show," so said to them Freddie, having come to listening than conquering gullible Liverpools. Very soon IBEX was forced to ask her frontman: "Freddie, please, wait calmly at least a minute!" Their order was embarrassed by the extravagant behavior of the singer on the scene.
At first in the repertoire of the group were a pack version songs The. Beatles, Yes, the genus Stewart and many others, and the Crown Road of Freddie became "Jailhouse Rock" Elvis Presley. Then the writing vein woke up with an ambitious Mercury. Together with the guitar player Mike Burbsin, he wrote several (according to some reports, from ten to twenty), among whom was the presence of the future hit "Stone Cold Crazy". Already then Freddie worked, sitting at the piano. "He played as a classic pianist, his songs sounded very unusual and largely anticipated the Queen style," recalls one of the familiar groups IBEX.
Memories of Freddie participants of his first team are perhaps as contradiction as Queen reviews. Musicians describe Mercury as a man is extremely shy: "The magnificent hair challenged his eyes, he said quietly, barely heard, and smiling, covered his face with his hand, embarrassed by protruding teeth." The singer never refused routine work, did not capricious, wouldingly helped unload equipment, it was precisely all the difficulty of traveling in ragged trucks and overnight on the floor of foreign apartments. The center of the universe was a scene for him, Freddie was transformed into an extrovert, became the king of his own world. His outfits, appearance, hairstyle seemed to mean for the Nenets most in the world. He could easily stand in front of the mirror, analyzing his own appearance. Mercury sought to buy the most fadeklock in the most prestigious IT boutiques for the Metack definition of friends, "he could spend the last singing to look like a rich."
Oddly enough, the temptations of the psychedelic era were passed by the singer: he skeptical about drugs and only once delivered a lot of fun minutes to comrades from Smile, when he accidentally brewed tea with marijuana hesitated. Mercury and did not suspect it.

Eyewitnesses do not recall any "oddities" in the behavior of Freddie, repeating how modest and shy was he in his ordinary life. "Perhaps he really was not too chasing the girls, but only in comparison with us," said Dammet. According to him, at that time everyone was concerned about their "steep", and in the concept of "cool" there was also a certain composure, if not indifference. In this regard, Freddie was "supercrut".
For IBEX concerts, Mercuryuri came up with a fashionable psychedelic effect: projection of mysterious pictures through hot oil, and then he invented his crown number: juggling with microphone resistant. Focus was partly forced - a stand fell from one of the speeches from the rack, and Freddie had nothing left, except to twist the fragment before the admiring audience.
Age of IBEX was short-lived - immigrants from another city, the musicians gave themselves a promise to try happiness during the summer and if nothing came out, return to their usual classes. Alas, but IBEX had no visible achievements, so the musicians returned to Liverpool. IBEX manager Ken Testi (he did a lot and for Queen in their early years) tried to save the situation - "wrote out" from London Freddie, and under the new name Wrecked team existed a little more. Alas, but the group "wreckage wreckage" fully justified its name and soon broke up.
"We were naive, Freddie - also, but by and large for him, Ibex and Wrecket were the same as the first car: used, purchased for the last money. Sooner or later it has to be replaced," says Ken Testi.
By the time of returning to London Mercury already understood that he would never be able to live the usual life from salary to wages. He not only sought to become famous - he literally shouted to everyone about it. Freddie no longer went to the subway or on the bus: he always ordered a taxi, even if after that he had nothing to buy for dinner. Friends laughed at him secretly, and Mercury enjoyed the effect. His listening to the role of Vocalist to the Sour Milk Sea team ("Sea of \u200b\u200bProstokvashi") He furnished as a real performance: Roger Taylor opened the door in front of him, the technician Smile John Harris, as a second, carried in a box of a microphone, and between them, Freddie strokes: In Fur Jacket, boots on the platform and "designer" pants. It would be absurd to refuse such a person! Especially when the time listening to the question is: "While the texts of our songs?" - This bottle answered: "No, thank you, I have my own!"
Sour Milk SEA, despite the incomplete name, were a rather respectable team, the truth is not very suitable for Freddie. They preferred blues rocks, and the best achievement was considered to appease at warming up Deep Purple.. On May 20, 1970, Mercury won the first concert with them. Freddie's desire to progress literally ripped a group into parts. A talented guitarist Chris Dammet with delight perceived the ideas of the singer. Together, they began to compose non-thoughts (one of them, "Lover", subsequently turned about "Liar" on the album "Queen-1"), by order of the Rhythm guitarist Jeremy Gallop. "Freddie was a pop singer, he was fond of The Move, The Hollies. Steve Uynewood, etc., we played straight blues, - Jeremy was angry. - Freddie says that the transitions of one tonality to another will make a song more interesting. What nonsense ! " It was difficult to argue with Jeremy, because he, heir to a rich businessman, invested his own money into the team and personally bought Chris Dammemet Gibson SG and the "Marshallovsky" Combik (his tool had no poor man). Therefore, with a gallon quarrel, it was simply selected from Chris all the things previously purchased to him and, in fact, deprived the ladies of chances to continue the musical career.

Royal smile
And Merciory, on the contrary, came true a secret dream. Smile remained without a vocalist. From the height of our days, Tim Staffella's decision to leave the group seems to be madness, but in February 1970, it seemed that the team went into a dead end. The singer was increasingly fond of funk and coil, and the prospects to interest this music Maa and Taylor seemed zero. "I do not regret that I left smile. Otherwise, the world would lose Queen. They would not achieve such success with me." - said Staffelle later. Nevertheless, many recognized that the branded "Quinovskino" vocal harmonies arose even before joining Mercury. However, it makes no sense to try to divide the effects: Future participants of Queen "were cooked in one boiler," Mercury shared the roof over his head with the musicians smile, led a common business with Taylor and, naturally, did not miss the case to express his priceless tips to "Smillets".
Thus, with the care of Tim, the question of the applicant to the place at the microphone simply did not occur. But there was another one - what name to give a team. Did not doubt the fact that with the arrival of Freddie about the former smile could be forgotten. For a new start, a new name was required. Several options were discussed: The Great Dance, taken from the creativity of the science fiction writer Clive Lewis, ambitious The Rich Kids and, finally, proposed by Freddie Mercury Queen. "It sounds royally magnificently," said the singer and did not want to listen to anything else. Objections did not follow. Combining Smile and previous Freddie's previous teams, the musicians have begun work.
It is interesting to compare the opinions of those who communicated with the Queen participants at the first time, when the coming success did not even have to dream. "Brian was in ten light years in front of me, but he lacked hardness. Freddie considered him a talented, but fallen spiritual man, in turn, smile participants did not take Mercury seriously," said the relations of Maa and Morocyuri Chris Dammet. By the way, Freddie in old friendship tried to invite Dammet to Queen by the second guitarist. But the fate played with Chris a cruel joke.
He could not earn his own guitar, and he had to play on the Maa instrument, the famous homemade Red Special. The neck turned out to be too unusual, and Dammet could not remove any normal sound. Subsequently, Chris participated in a number of little-known teams and was engaged in various near-known business. In particular, he had a chance to train the game on the guitar of the participants of the Sex Pistols.
Bass-guitarist Barry Mitchell, who spoke not long with Queen, described their music as a mixture of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendricks. " In addition, the musician rather skeptically responded about Mercury's vocals: "Freddie sang at all at all as good as then. He could not keep notes, he was not enough breathing."
But Mercury was persistent and knew what he wants to achieve in music. The bizarre interests of the singer covered the beloved Jimi Hendricks ("Freddie hardly held away tears, having learned about his death"), and classical American musicals, and operetta, and The Beatles ... The whole musical world is in one head. But the Freddie collector was not. According to acquaintances, all his plates "fit in one table of the table., Among them was the album" Cabaret "Lisa Minhelli, several works LED Zeppelin, wheels The Beatles, Pretty Things, David Bowie ... no more than a dozen albums." True, living in the center of the Rock Universe, Freddie could get acquainted with musical innovations and without buying discs. Rock sounded on the radio ("Freddie always asked everyone to shut up when, transferred LED Zeppelin"), best groups That time was played in London clubs, often in one program with Queen.
It seems strange, but at first Queen was not very relied on their material. "Pretty boring to be at a concert and hear the songs that you do not know," said Brian Mei. Therefore, the set-list of the team consisted of Hits Buddy Holly, James Brown, Gina Vincent, Ricky Nelson, Little Richard, Shirley Basey, Bill Halei, Everly Brothers, Spencer Davis Group and The Yardbirds. From his own things, Queen initially performed only two - "Stone Cold Crazy" and "Liar".
In general, at first, things were not as fast as I wanted. Only a year later, Queen finally found a fourth like-minded person, John Dicon bass guitarist, electronics engineer in the specialty. Now there were three "technics" in the team and only one "humanitarian" (Freddie), and the Trinity was still rushing between the stability of the "serious career" and the risky fate of the rock and roll artist. Brian Mei led to observation in the observatory in Tenerife, worked for a teacher, and only did not finish the PhD (according to the terminology adopted in Russia) the dissertation. Colleagues-astrophysics were greatly worried about the loss of a talented specialist, whose work, according to their reviews, also drove to the doctoral. Roger Taylor received a scientific degree in biology, and John Dicon - in electronics, and only then they could completely devote themselves to the team. And only in 1973, the team finally received a contract with a label. Queen's late starts were competent with interest, but this is a completely different story. The story to which we will surely come back.

Vladimir Impaler
The work on the material used materials of the book Mark Hodkinson "Queen - The Early Years" (1995) and various online publications.

In your own words.

For the 60-year anniversary of the singer, the way out of several interesting releases under the general motto "Lover of Life, Singer of Songs" is timenary. Among them - the collection of the best compositions of the solo period "The Very Best of Freddie Mercury Solo" and the book "In His Own Words", the biography of the singer, built on his own statements ... So, what spoke about their solo things and work in general itself Freddie?

About solo album
Previously, I was often asked when I will release the solo. Funny - Roger Taylor released two disks, Brian Mei - one, and I stayed aside. I just waited when the right moment comes.

About the topics for creativity
Most people compound the music that lives in their soul. My songs are me. Sometimes this happens unconsciously, and I just begin to understand what I composed. Basically, I am writing love ballads, songs in which there is a place of sadness, torment and pain, and at the same time frivolous and mocking. This is my whole nature. Everything that I compose, once already written. I just am a romantic person, and although many wrote songs about love, I do it on my manner, and my compositions are a little different. These are things about what is happening in everyday life. People have already fallen in love, people have already parted, but they still do it, and I still write about it, coloring situations with different colors, everything happens by itself. I would like to choose other topics, everything comes down to lyrics and tragedies. I guess I am such a dramatic type. I do not know.

About himself
I am engaged in music so long that she is in my blood. It is unlikely that I can do something else. It remains to continue. This does not mean that I sing and play through the need, if necessary. The music brought me so much money that I can spend the most abstract way the rest of my life, without doing anything. But it is simply impossible. Nervous energy requires exit. Lie and relax in bed is not in my rules. Why waste time wasted when I have so many songs that I want to sing!

About compositions
"LIVING ON MY OWN"
In this song - all I. I live in my own and feel good. Especially this piece in the middle where SCT-improvisation is coming. People with such a lifestyle, like me, dangled around the world, move from the hotel to the hotel, and they are very alone. But this is my life, and I chose it myself. There are people who live in the basements thrown by everyone, but the song is not about them. She is about my personal loneliness. "How," you say, "can he be alone?" Yes, the crowds of people follow me, and yet I am alone, because sooner or later they will all leave. Successful people can be very alone.
"LOVE KILLS".
I have a little from Carmen Miranda. Once we were in Brazil, and this song - for all Brazilians who saw me and, I think, understood my "I". Just a cheerful thing with the hypnotic rhythm of this country. Brazil gave the world beautiful rhythms. Prepare, Brazil!
"My Love Is Dangerous".
Sometimes I think my love is really dangerous. Although I did not analyze myself to such an extent. One know - I am that person that is not suitable for everyone, maybe in this and there is a danger ... But who loves feelings without risk? Imagine if I composed the song "My Love Is Safe"? No one would listen to her!
"MR BAD GUY".
I wanted to compose a song where the orchestra would be involved in a complete coil. In Queen, we constantly thought about it, but at the last moment they always refused such thought, because Brian guitar successfully replaces any orchestra. And so it happened that there is not a single song on any album, where a full-fledged orchestra would sound. "Good," I thought, "he also needed to do it." L invited the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, and that's what happened! So magnificently, so pompous, so ... in my style. I am very glad. As for the text, he says that I can be gentle and affection, but I can be a "bad guy." This is another piece of my "I".
"The Great Pretender"
It's time to break the unwritten tradition. Many made a cover version, but in Queen we always avoided it, because and our creativity was in prosperity. If I came to the studio and said, "Let's give up such a song", the guys would have thought: "Oh, he probably checked", especially since others have always been tons of material. Therefore, we always worked on our own things, and now, when we agreed that everyone will deal with something solo, I thought about this song. I really wanted to sing her. This is a real candy for vocalists, to execute it - one pleasure, and is it important, my own or not! You often sing alien songs, taking a shower, and now I decided to turn on the entry and see what happens. The idea was completely spontaneous, but I thought it was worth bringing it to the stage of the finished product.
"Barcelona"
It all started with the fact that I just said, they say, it would be interesting to sing with Montserrat Caballe. I did not think that my words would have such an action, but a few months later she called me and said: "Let's try, suddenly something happens." I flew to Barcelona, \u200b\u200band before that I thought that it would be strange to come with empty hands, it's better to show something that the singer get some idea about how music would have to deal with. It was a right step. It would be difficult to try to explain to her on the fingers what kind of rock, and I just composed a few songs. Montserrat is a straightforward man, and she said later, was ready to answer: "No, perhaps, we will not succeed." Yes, and I was internally ready for refusal. But it turned out otherwise. This was crucial moment. Until now, I can not believe that a person has worked with me, such a caliber. I only do it that the song is worthy.

Mikhail Vladimirsky (transfer)
We thank EMI / Gala Records for the kindly provided text of Freddie Mercury interview.

In another social Network laid out in a team dedicated to a dishona, articles about it wonderful person in own translation. I think this will be interesting here.

Translation of english translation from German. Sorry for the prickness, ready to accept comments.

Queen - Pleasant madness in the crown
(Musikexpress & Sounds 1981)
Interviewer: Bernd Gockel

With a huge probability of Christmas cities, Queen will begin. On the rounds Queen 1977, 78, 79, the 80s, the show itself did not seriously change, and even the cooling mustache Freddie could not change it, but the Queen fans did not expect changes. They have enough to receive new wonderful songs. And this Queen provides them. And the image of the "macho" of Freddie does not worry fans or musicians, this is the show "King Queen", which did not give an interview for many years, and the fans do not hear a lot about him. Bernd Goke really succeeded in getting an interview with John Dicon, and there was something to tell. He first told about some unpleasant details in the Queen Crown.
The last album and 2 singles that you released are very successful in the USA. These are much simpler songs than pompous arrangements of previous years. Why?
John: Indeed, the songs are less complex than a few years ago. The reason is likely to be how we recorded the album. We have been together for 10 years, and decided to record phases, every time only 2 or 3 songs in a few weeks and then give yourself a recreation gap. . "Crazy Little Thing" was the first, and even if we did completely other songs after that, it seems that this first track as it may be a sign, direction. One way or another, the entire album is simpler and clear. Why so, I have no idea.
Have you come to this state in the past few years, when they said that we can't continue to write tricky songs, like "MustaPha" and "Bohemian Rhapsody"?
John: Well, you can't talk it so exaggerated. When you work on a new track in the studio, you wonder what ideas do you go. Especially when in the group there is, as we, 4 people who compose at all different songs. It is difficult to say that it affects us, or in what particular direction we will move.
Different opinions and struggle in the group?
John: Oh yes, about musical direction Groups, if we choose simple or complex songs. (In the German original, the interviewer says, and John gives out :-))
And who is on whose side?
John: It's hard to say. Everyone has different tastes in the group. Brian, of course, is more interested in music for his guitar. Roger is a major rock and roll, while I have weakness to "black music", where the bass is more important. And Freddie? It's impossible to say so simple, he has an unusual taste, everywhere gradually, there is no such style that it was possible to say that this is Freddie style.
The reason for the proximity between individual members of the group is a musical taste?
John: Honestly, she has 4 components, and everyone has a very individual, not at all similar to other taste. Of course, sometimes small groups are formed, but their composition varies each time. In groups, where only one person has the right word, as we all know, there is a danger that all participants will be forced to work in one direction. Fortunately, in the case of Queen it is not.
But at first was almost so?
John: Yes, at the beginning of Brian and Freddie were the most important components. They still write most of the songs, but Roger and I, we are now much more involved in the work of the group. Roger, meanwhile, has accumulated so many other material that he had to release a solo album. He could no longer try to carry it all into the group.
But he is still the only one who started the solo career?
John: So far, yes. I do not write so many songs as he, but I do not upset me that I can't write all my songs in Queen. Freddie could write its own album, because he, if he wants, can be very productive.
And why doesn't he do it? Is he too lazy?
John: Sometimes, yes ... I think so. While we work on the album, it works, but in the intervals he likes nothing to do.

And what are the relationship between participants in personal life? How in Pink Floyd, who lived in four different places in the world and met only in the studio, if it was necessary?
John: No, no, we all live near London and see each other very often. I know that some groups are hard if they live far from each other. It is important to meet regularly and discuss urgent problems. We usually do not do something if at least three of us do not agree. This is a democratic process.
So this "something" is done, even if the 4th participant does not agree and has serious doubts?
John: It depends on the fear of doubt. If he has truly strong reasons and arguments against the decision to do something, then we do not do this ... and sometimes it happens.
Do you sometimes feel, already being together for 10 years, after a long tour, what do not want to see the rest for several months?
John: I am sure that you feel ... it is necessary. Take the WHO. They almost broke 2-3 years ago due to the fact that Pete Townsend has lost interest. But then due to the death of Keit Muna, they began again, and everything went again as it should. I saw them in Los Angeles, and they were just gorgeous. And Pink Floyd, well, this is a strange group. We are still trying to make LP and tour every year, get everywhere, but Floyd spoke several times in Los Angeles, a few New York and several in London and now in Dortmund. And then, for a long time, nothing.
Or them new albumwhich is essentially not better album Roger ....
John: True, and it is not easy for the group. Because fans do not know about it. They think Pink Floyd is Pink Floyd. People from the outside do not notice that in the problem group. And I can assume that the atmosphere is not that good, if the drummer, in this case Nikki Mason, feels that it is no more than the drummer without the right to vote.
In Queen, fortunately, otherwise, even if we recently had a similar problem. We all started working with the Flash Gordon plate, but at the end of the work Brian began to talk to us whether there would be any song on the disk or not. This is a very unusual thing for us, and it has become a certain problem. Brian wanted a German producer with whom he worked closely in Munich, while we would prefer the album from Queen. We agreed then, but were not very happy. However, for the world it was another Queen album. People outside the group have no idea how personal songs are. For them, this is a Queen song, even if it is very personal only for one of the members.
Then, as about, for example, "Another One Bites The Dust", how much is the personal song and how much does it characterize you?
John: This song was written because I always wanted to do something in the direction of black music, disco. I achieved that this song would hit the album as it was. This is not a typical Queen song, and I do not know if we will ever do something similar again. We had disagreements about this song. Our company wanted to release this song as a single because of her great success on "black" radio stations. Roger tried to avoid it because, as he said, it is too "disco-style", and it is not good for Queen's reputation.
Should this happen more and more?
John: It happens yes. Brian, for example, do not like Freddie's song, or vice versa. We do not say this to each other immediately, but it can be felt. Another One Bites The Dust is the most recent example. Roger did not agree, because it was thinking that it would be too pop, and because Queen should not live single-hits. He wanted to keep the positions that we have as a concert group, and we all agree with this.

Perhaps now the question of your show. If you still play today, for example, "Bohemian Rhapsodia", is it not boring or old-fashioned?
John: The biggest problem with living performances, in the fact that we are trying to get rid of old songs without people, too all this is noticeable. And, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody - old song For us, this is Queen 1975, but it is difficult to throw it if you know that people expect to hear it.
So you go on compromises?
John: A little, we are trying to imagine the old, and the new material is so large as possible.
What songs would you like to throw out your speeches most?
John: We are trying to solve this problem, playing old hits as a mixture. Sometimes Brian thinks he no longer wants to play his solo at the next concert. He says this for a long time, but in some way, it is the chip of our show. We run against the "gumwall" (I do not know such a word, gumtree - to get to see). The same with Bohemian Rhapsody. It's hard. But you need to see that new fans appear in our concerts every time. They come for the first time, and they want to hear also the old material. Thus, it may happen that we are how long existing group We must turn around old hits. But this happens with all the old groups.

John Deacon is the personality legendary. Despite the fact that his name is somewhat lost against the background of the frontmen of the Queen Freddie Mercury group and Brian Maa, it was he who had the strongest influence on the work of this team, becoming one of the authors of the most spent hits in his time. This bass guitarist did not play a particularly difficult thing in terms of musical parties, nevertheless today remains one of the most revered rock bass players who are copied by all who are not too lazy.

John Dicon - Who is it?

This musician without exaggeration can be called one of the founders of rock. After the first wave of rock and roll and the second wave british Roca, led to the appearance of heavy metal, the Queen group, the foundation of which is referred to by 1964, did not change its style to the end of its existence, although there were quite a lot of experiments.

John Dicon, together with Roger Taylor, amounted to that the ridge of the group in the form of bass and drums, which became the basis of the phenomenal sound Queen. Of course, Vocal Mercury, and guitar Maa deserve attention. But John Dicon, one can say, thereby "gray cardinal", whose name is not particularly advertised, although it was he who has written many of the most popular compositions with which the group itself has been associated, who has made a lot of noise in the world of rock. Each of the team members contributed to the rock music, and they can rightly be called the founding fathers. Dicon John Moore (another musician), with which the Queen bass guitarist is often confused, although they also read in the homeland, but nothing has nothing to do with this musician. They are consonant only by names, no more.

Why did it all start?

A musician was born on August 19, 1951 in Leicester. In his youth, Dicon John was distinguished to the electronics, and it was often possible to catch with a soldering iron in his hands.

But this did not prevent him in his 14 years to organize group The. Opposition, which at least constantly changed its composition, nevertheless has become quite popular in his hometown (leter).

The real professional career of the musician began and to this day is associated with the Queen group. The most interesting thing is that a dishona at the time of coming to the main composition was only 19 years old. He became the most young team member, but before that he managed to work and the session rhythm guitarist, and the keyboard player.

Queen.

Since the appearance of this British group, which is not less revered (if not more) today than the Liverpool Four (The Beatles), success was due not only by the vocal abilities of the Great Persian, but also the other participants of the team.

The group has become so megapopular that so far hundreds of millions of music lovers are admired by her work. Until some time, the authors of popular hits of the group John Watch did not listened, although he made his adjustments to the sound of some compositions. But the real breakthrough was the writing of the Stone Cold Crazy hit, which was published in the third official album of the group. And then the compositions were followed, which today belong to the "golden" rock music foundation.

John Dicon: Songs

Vocals and guitar occupy a second place, but emphasize the general direction of the track.

By the way, few of the listeners guess that John Deacon wrote such famous compositions like You're My Best Friend, One Year of Love, Back Chat, Spread Your Wings and even I Want to Break Free. Just in these compositions, the musician revealed his talent entirely and completely, proving that he is not only a hard rocker, but also an excellent melody who knows how to touch the soul even when writing an energetic sounding rhythm.

After the death of Freddie Mercury, the Watch did not leave the team, although the statements about his care were heard since 1992. But then, when he said that at a concert with a group plays for the last time at the presentation of the new composition No One But You (Only The Good Die Young - analogy with Iron Maiden 1988), it happened. Final stage big scene became concert The. Show Must GO ON, organized by Elton John. After that, the legendary bassist left the world of rock music.

What does the musician do now?

It even reached the fact that in 2004, John Dicon refused to take part in the project Brian Maja and Roger Taylor called Queen + Paul Rogers and did not even appear on the official ceremony for the Group's inclusion in the Rock and Roll Fame.

Unfortunately, practically nothing is known about the current life of the musician. As John Dicon lives now and what does it do, it remains only to guess. However, judging by the statements infrequently falling into the press, he categorically condemned the recording of the Hita WE ARE CHAMPONS with Robbie Williams as a vocalist, stating that he clearly does not reach Mercury. In principle, it is. This, of course, you can argue a lot, but the opinion of Dicon is obvious: Williams is not Mercury (even with all due respect to the singer).

Afterword

John Dicon, no doubt, can be considered one of the most prominent musicians of all times and peoples. Although in the Queen group he did not occupy a dominant position, to discount his contribution to the development of rock music, it is impossible, especially since its immortal compositions and still remain an example for the imitation of which is not one generation of musicians. There are even specialized video materials, training style games on a bass guitar, which belongs to this musician. And there is something to see (especially if you consider the finger, and not a media technique).

Perhaps he did not play anything special in terms of bass guitar parties, but the rhythm section sounded so that even now in the initial sounds it is possible to easily determine what it is Queen, and not something else. Take at least another One Bites The Dust. In terms of technology, the game Dicon, of course, is not an innovator, but in terms of the approach to writing compositions, it can be attributed to those geniuses that, being invisible, contributed to history. And the rock scene knows a lot of such examples. And this musician only emphasizes the foundation of such an approval.

John Richard Deacon was born on August 19, 1951 in the town of Leicester in the family Lillian Molly and Arthur Henry Dicon. John's father worked at Norwich Union's insurance company. When John was seven years old, his father gave him the first guitar. "It was a red plastic guitar Tommy Steele," recalls Dix (so his name was friends).

From the oldest age, Dix loved the electronics, and he could often meet him with a soldering iron in his hands. Father in every way encouraged the love of his son to electronics, because it was his hobby. John itself adapted his old coil tape recorder to record the radio. Dix admits that on his decision to become a musician influenced the creativity of The Beatles.

At the age of 14, the Deacon created his first group that was named The Opposition. Despite the fact that the group often changed their composition, she had enough fans in their native lester. Initially, John was not a bassist in the group, but after the team left Clive Kaseldin, he did not stay anything, how to close a vacant place. The group changed the name first on the New Opposition, and then on The Art. In August 1969. of the year ART played her last concert, and Dix went to London to study electronics in Chelsea College.

John did not part with his guitar, although she no longer played in any group. Dix first graduated from honors in college, and in the second year of study he became boring, and he decided to join some group. In local newspapers, he was looking for ads for a group set, and even several times came to audition. While in 1971, his friend did not introduce him to one of the discs with Brian Mayeh and Roger Taylor. He learned that they need a bass player.

Two days later, he came with his bass guitar to the lecture hall of the Imperial College, where at this time rehearsed a new group. A few days later, Dix is \u200b\u200bthe fourth and last member of the Queen group. Later there was a legend that he became the seventh and last bassist, which was selected for Queen.

"We immediately understood that he was what it was necessary, although he was so quiet. John almost did not speak with us, "Brian Mei remembers. - We from the first days called Dicaches John. I do not even know why we first called him. " And on the cover of the first album Queen was the name of the Dicon John, but later Dick himself explained to the guys that his name is John Dicon. "Another stupid error," say then May.

Dix wrote less than everyone else in the group, but all his works became absolute hits. The first song of the Dicon "Stone Cold Crazy" appeared only on the third plate Queen - Sheer Heart Attack.

His team comrades recognized the songs "You" Re My Best Friend "," Spread Your Wings "," Another One Bites The Dust "," I Want To Break Free "among the best Queen history.

Quiet and calm Dix \u200b\u200bloved to relax. "This is great to drink a few weeks in a row," suddenly, John told for everyone in an interview after the concert for Wembley.

After tragic death Freddie Mercury John decided to leave the show business forever and devote himself to the family. "Queen does not exist without Freddie," said Dick somehow. And he no longer returned to a group that does not exist.

He condemned the recording of the WE ARE CHAMPONS with Robbie Williams. "Robbie Williams is not Freddie Mercury," Dick said. "Freddie cannot be replaced, and even more so, Williams." John Dicon also rejected the offer to participate in the Queen + Paul Rogers project.

Today it is practically nothing about it. No one really knows where he lives, and what he does.

WE "VE ALWAYS DECIDED OUTSELVES WHAT WANTED TO PUT OUT AS OUR SINGLES AND THAT SORT OF THINGS. WE USED TO GET INVOLVED IN THE ART WORK OUTSIDE INFLUENCE WHE WE WERE RECORDING, YOU KNOW. WE" Ve Never Even in The Early Days, We Are Never Moulded by Some Sort of The Record Company Or The Management Company. I Mean, The Image That The Band Had In The Early Days Came From Inside of the Group. SO Artistically WE Sort of Had Our Own Direction and We Were Self-Contained There, and It Was Just Really The Sort of Management Business Side Really and the Time We "Ve Been Put Together for Five Or Six Years. So We Have a Fair Experience of the Business Will Be Different Managers, That Will Be My Oversight. We Thought We" D Take the Step and Trying Managing Ourselves Really.

There "Re Two Main Campanies, One of Which IS" The Queen Production ", Which is Really for the English Services, Maybe The Time Is in England. And WE Have One Called "Rain Cloud Production", Which Is Through the Overseas Services We do, Which Tends to the More Active One Now As We Do Most Of Our Recordings Overseas.The Studio, Well Jim Beach Tends to Take a Very Active Interest In that "Cause He Actually Has Three Staff There. And Afterter That It" S Mainly Roger and Myself. That "S The Way IT" S Gone and Brian and Freddie Are Quite Happy Fit to Be Like That. SO That Way Carries On So That Something Happened Naturally, So Any Sort of Decision On That If Jim Doesn "T, If He Wants To Ask, He Ask Me and Roger, and That Will Be. I Am The Only One Who Really Keeps An Eye on BasiCally How Much Money Is Coming In, Going Out, And Most of the Position We "Er in. AND ALSO THAT ... THERE ARE OVERALL STRATEGY OF THE BUSINESS SIDE. He "S Correct, You Know. By The Physics at School A-Levels, 3 A-Levels, I Went On to Do Electronics In University in Three Years for That, Which Involved A Lot Of Maths As Well, (PHEW) QUITE A Lot of Maths.

Money Is Not The Drive So Much Now. I Mean There Was A Period WHEN WORTHWHILE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW ALL THOSE YEARS OF HIGH TAX DEDUCTION, WE DIDN "T REALLY GET MUCH OUT OF IT. SO WE HAD A PERIOD WENT A ... We Were More Conscious About Earning. So Money Out Of It, With That, That "S All Settled Down, That" S Going The Past. And Because Our Records Sell Around The World, I Mean, Everybody SHOLD BE Recently Financely Secure for the Rest of their Lives ... AND TRACK YUR WAY.

In England We Live In A Semi-Detached Victorian House, "Cos We Like Victorian Houses, You Know. Not Quite Beginner for Main Move If I Find Somewhere Else in Three Years. But ... We Live in West London Fairly Close in ..., I Quite Like Really. You know, My Children Go to a Local, Local Catholic School Just Down The Road. IT "S QUITE NEIGHBOURLY REALLY. I Wouldn "T ... The DiffiCult Thing in Living in A Big House in London Is That You Can Get Very Isolated, You Know, and it" S: You know to Walk Around and Go Down to the High Street, Going to Smiths And Boots, Woolworths, You Know, Have Everything "S VERY HANDY. I QUITE LIKE THAT.

But We Actually Has Bought a House in America As Well, Which Is Mainly at the Moment a Holiday Home.

We always decided that we want to release as singles and everything in such a kind. We have always been involved in creative work. We are actually very little exposed to outside when they were recorded. Even in the early days, we never influenced recording campaigns or management. I mean the image that the group was in early days, walked from the inside of the group itself. Those. From a creative point of view, we, as it were, our own direction and in this sense we were independent, the whole problem was in management, and by the time we have already worked together for 5 or 6 years. We have extensive experience with two different managers, now it will be my responsibility. We thought that we would go to this step and try to conduct business ourselves.

There are two main companies, one of which QP, which works on the UK. And we still have "Rain Cloud Production", which works abroad (literally - over the sea, presumably in America), which is becoming increasingly active, because We are recorded mainly there. Studio, in the sense of Jim Beach takes an increasingly active part in this, because he has there in general, 3 employees. Well, then there is also a Roger and me. So everything turned out. And Brian and Freddie were satisfied with this. And we decided that even if everything goes, and that if Jima needs a Council to make a decision, he will ask me and Roger. I am the only one who actually watches how much money comes and is consumed and what our financial situation is consumed. And there is still a general business strategy. He is right, you know. At school, I had some fives in physics, so I studied electronics at the university for three years and including a lot of mathematics, (fuh) a lot of mathematics.

Money is not the main thing now. I mean, there was a period when they had a meaning, well, you know, all those years those with tremendous taxes were calculated, we really didn't really have much. Therefore, we had a period when we thought how to earn. Now that money is no longer the main thing, all this is already in the past. Our plates are sold worldwide, I want to say, now we are materially secured until the end of our life and can go our own way.

In England, we live in the house (literally - a few owners under one roof, a house for two owners) Victorian style, because we like such houses, you know. I am not the first to move, if I find something else in three. But, ... We live in West London closed enough ... I like it. My children go to the local Catholic school on the same street. Here is a very good-neighborly atmosphere. The complexity of life in a big house in London is that you are starting to feel in isolation, and therefore it is nice sometimes just stroll, go to the shopping center and everything is at hand, I like it.

Well, we generally bought a house in America, where we basically go to rest.