10 September 1978 – Queen are at Super Bear Studios in Berre-les-Alpes, near Nice, France, to record songs for the ‘Jazz’ album.

Tonight the most “tremendous electrical thunderstorm that lasted ages” (Peter Hince) gave “Dead On Time” a perfect ending!

Brian May’s “Dead on Time” is a breathless rocker of a song that rolls faster than any live rendition of ‘Sheer Heart Attack.’ It’s an astounding yet underrated song. It features some of the fastest and most aggressive guitar work by Brian, as well as intense, frantic drumming by Roger. Freddie’s superb runaway-train vocals keep up with the fast pace. The songs up-tempo supports the lyrics about a man rushing through his life. It was considered by fans to be an ideal live number, but was curiously never played in concert.

The song ends with the sound of a thunderbolt, followed by Mercury screaming “YOUR’RE DEAD!”

Queen always the innovative, phenomenal band, using all and any techniques to achieve remarkable and unique sound, were able to capture a live thunderstorm on tape!

The thunderbolt was actually recorded live by Brian on a portable recorder during a vicious thunderstorm. He was able to record thunder, lightning and rain effects. The album’s liner notes credit the thunderbolt; “courtesy of God.”

Interviewer: Was it hard to build up the solo speed in ‘Dead On Time’?

“I don’t think so. That was something I was quite pleased with, but really nobody else was. It’s something which nobody ever mentions very much. Fat Bottomed Girls I thought was okay, but fairly banal. I thought people would be much more interested in ‘Dead On Time’, but it didn’t really get that much airplay. The explosions at the end are a real thunderstorm which occurred when we were in the south of France. We put a tape recorder outside.”

Brian May – On The Record, 1982

This beautiful picture of the band during ‘Jazz’ sessions was taken by Christopher Hopper

10 September 1984 – Freddie Mercury released ‘Love Kills’ – This is his 1st solo single. It peaked at number 10 on the UK charts.

(It was released in the USA the next day, 11 September 1984)

Freddie was never one to remain inactive for very long, he started recording tracks for a proposed solo album shortly after the 1982 ‘Hot Space’ tour, with ‘Love Kills’ being one of the early survivors to make it past the demo stage. Initially, the song was submitted for Queen’s ‘The Works’ album but, after several unsuccessful attempts, it was discarded and set aside. Freddie recognized the songs potential and decided to work on the track further. It was later offered to Italian composer, Giorgio Moroder for the restored and updated version of the 1927 Fritz Lang film ‘Metropolis.’

How Moroder became involved in the writing of the song is uncertain. On the soundtrack to ‘Metropolis,’ a set of lyrics is printed that is completely different from the well-known version. Reportedly, when Moroder first asked Freddie to contribute to the song, he agreed but was displeased with the result and chose to rewrite it. This set of lyrics, though, sounds akin to the personal feel that Freddie had been going for and would later explore on his solo album, the finished lyrics also contain several of Freddie’s trademarks. But considering the song was practically finished before Moroder’s involvement, the extent of his contributions has remained a mystery. But, Peter Freestone later revealed that Freddie would play the song to Moroder over the telephone and that Moroder actually contributed considerably to the recording, justifying his co-credit.

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September 1975, London, UK – Freddie Mercury at Coliseum National Opera

In this day Queen being presented with a Gold and Silver Awards for their first three album + Award for the sales of the single ‘Killer Queen’

Watal Asanuma/Shinko Music

Queen aren’t likely to be back in Britain until ’86 at least. But there’s always Freddie’s solo album to look forward to, he further explains;

“It’s very beat orientated. It’s just some things I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I think it’s a very natural album and I hope people will like my voice.

“I won’t be touring on my own though or splitting up with Queen. Without the others I would be nothing. The press always makes out that I’m the wild one and they’re all quiet, but it’s not true. I’ve got some wild stories about Brian May you wouldn’t believe.”

“Ambitions? Oh I don’t know. I don’t want to be a great actor. I don’t think I’d be very good at it. I’m alright when I’ve got a costume on and I can hide behind my role but I would be hopeless doing something straighter.”

“Doing this job is like being a housewife. Everyday I get up and I’ve got lots of chores to do. Really, you know, it’s not very spectacular.”

Freddie Mercury Interview with Record Mirror January 1985

This beautiful picture of Freddie was taken by Koh Hasebe during an interview at Okura Hotel, Tokyo, May 1985

Little Farrokh Bulsara on his 4th birthday in Zanzibar. He’s wearing his prayer cap and a beautiful celebration garland which is traditionally worn for Temple blessings on special occasions such as birthdays and weddings.

“At the age of four or five Freddie wanted to say that he could sing and we used to take him to parties and he would say, ‘Can I sing?’ So I would get a chocolate as a prize (for him).”

“He used to write all his music before going to college put it under the pillow and telling me not to remove any pieces of paper underneath…”

Jer Bulsara 🌹

Freddie was a born star 🌟

“We know that if we stay together all the time we get on each other’s nerves, then we always sort of iron that out. Yes, we argue, but in the end what’s really the key issue, is that we come up with the product, some good stuff. We use our intelligence. It’s very easy to get egotistical and say: ‘Yes, I’m the greatest!’. Egos can run riot and all kinds of things can happen, but you have to keep one foot on the ground and we have learned to accept each other instinctively now. That’s called being professional, I guess.”

Freddie Mercury

Queen in Montreux 1988