Music Stories Episode 7 (Queen - Show Must Go On)

      Welcome to music stories. I’m you host, Damian DeadLove. We’re back on track tonight, I apologize for the creative misadventure of episode 6. But enough about the past let’s move forward, shall we?

      Tonights band is the one and only, Queen. Huge fan of this band they changed the music scene through innovation and vision. It certainly helped to have one of the most charismatic front men ever. But the other three guys were brilliant in their own right. The four of them together is summed up by one word. Legendary!

      Queen: Freddie Mercury - Vocals, and Piano, Brian May - Guitar, and Vocals, Roger Taylor - Drums, and Vocals, John Deacon - Bass, and Vocals. Mercury, May, and Taylor all had songs which they sang lead vocals on. Freddie, always seemed to sing on the hits we know because he was a phenomenal singer and it just happened to work out that way.

      “Innuendo”, and “Made In Heaven” were Queen’s last two albums. The former was the last album made while Mercury was alive. The latter was released posthumously after his death. The year was 1991 when “Innuendo” was released. “Made In Heaven” was 1995.

      “Innuendo” spawned many memorable songs such as: “I’m Going Slightly Mad”, “Headlong”, and “These Are The Days Of Our Lives”. The title track was also a single, and was a banger. It had Zeppelin vibes, and is one of my favorite songs by them. But we’re here to focus on the last single ever released.

      “Show Must Go On”, is the song this story revolves around. There was a rumor floating around that Freddie, penned the lyrics because it seemed almost autobiographical about his life. As is normal on this show that was a misconception by many fans and critics.

      In fact Freddie was so ill at the time he didn’t write any words or music. He knew time was short and the end was near. It was revealed in an interview with, Brian May, that Mercury insisted that May, and Taylor keep handing him lyrics to sing. He even knew there would be an album after his death, because of the amount of songs that had been written.

      May, was the one who penned the lyrics to “Show Must Go On”. It was about Freddie dying, and the bands journey coming to an end, but from May’s point of view. Of loosing a bandmate, a brother, and a friend.

      In that same interview he told the story of recording the iconic song. May stated, “Freddie, arrives at the studio. He’s frail, in great pain, and can hardly walk. When he asked was Mercury sure he was up to singing? That Freddie, responded in typical fashion by bracing himself up against the soundboard and slamming back a shot of Vodka. Then said, “Let’s do this, darling! If you heard this tune before you know Freddie sung his ass off.

      I always get misty-eyed when listening to it. It’s a brilliant and heartfelt performance. If you never heard it, you owe it to yourself.

      That’s our show for tonight. Remember music is the soundtrack of our lives. Peace, Love, and Lennon.



Damian DeadLove