IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE
Basingstoke, Hampshire UK
20th August 2006.
On 5 September, had he lived, the legendary Freddie Mercury would have been 60 years old.
To mark the occasion, there are two new collections coming out – one of his solo recordings and another of the videos made as a solo artist. Locally, The Academy here in Basingstoke is hosting a very special tribute show, with the internationally acclaimed band MERCURY, on Saturday 2nd September.
Within Queen and as a solo artist, Freddie took all the theatrical skills he could lay his hands on, combined them with a superb rock singing voice, and made something that was hard to resist.
Landing on English shores from Zanzibar aged 18, Freddie played in rock 'n' roll bands with friends but, like many, it was Jimi Hendrix that made him think about music in a different way.
He found drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May working with another band, and when that broke up, in stepped Freddie. With the addition of bassist John Deacon, Queen was born.
Freddie’s solo career actually started before the first Queen album came out, with a single called I Can Hear Music, released under the slightly incredible name Larry Lurex. It would be more than a decade before we had a further solo release from him.
During that time, Queen established themselves among the leaders in the rock field and stormed through a heart-stopping set at 1985’s Live Aid.
It was in 1985 that Freddie's first solo album, Mr Bad Guy, came out, with the title track and Living On My Own performing well as singles. Thereafter, he sporadically released solo singles such as the mountainous Barcelona, which was the official song for the Olympics in that legendary city.
Sadly, towards the end of the 1980s, Freddie was diagnosed HIV positive. He went on to develop AIDS but, despite his prognosis, Freddie kept on writing and recording, both with Queen and as a solo artist. And it was posthumously that the majority of Freddie’s solo material came to see the light of day, as video and audio collections appeared during the 1990s.
He may have passed away in November 1991, but Freddie’s mark on music has lasted well into the new millennium and is brought to a new generation through tribute shows such as Mercury.
Mercury's first gig was played in humble surroundings at the George and Dragon pub in Derbyshire on 19th February 1999. Tolo Pomar of Romantic Corporation in Spain was in England searching for a Queen Tribute Act to play a summer season in Mallorca - so in stepped Mercury.
Mercury were catapulted into the limelight and won "Best show in Spain Award 1999", returning to Mallorca for two further seasons gaining 100's of loyal fans who now follow them across the UK.
Mercury's performances have been televised live from Holland to Hungary. A New Years Eve concert in Dubai was broadcast live by MTV Asia to millions of homes. But perhaps Mercury's most memorable moment was being invited to perform a live gig for Roger Taylor and his friends.
Today, Mercury are enjoying success worldwide, filling large venues and leaving audiences feeling fully entertained by the kind of show Queen themselves would have been proud to deliver.
The Academy is Basingstoke’s only 24 hours, 7 days a week, Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball Hall and live music venue. The Queen tribute show on 2nd September starts at 8.30pm and goes on til late with live DJ entertainment.
Advance tickets (£7) and restaurant bookings are available by contacting The Academy, telephone 01256 327273; admission is restricted to over 18’s. Further details are available on the Academy website (www.academyclubs.com).
The Legend Lives on…………………….
ENDS
Note to Editors
There are three Academy's currently in the South - Basingstoke, Boscombe and Eastleigh. All operate 24 hours, 7 days a week, and offer extensive Snooker, Pool and Nine Ball. Uniquely to The Academy venues, they now show live premiership football on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. In addition to this, professional Darts are available as well as huge satellite screens with surround sound showing live sporting events. Discreet but loaded fruit machines offer maximum payouts and that all-important thrill! The Fun Bars with their light refreshing décor offer a variety of entertainment for all ages, definitely not to be missed! The Basingstoke venue also boasts a function room and superb Chinese Restaurant.
(http://www.academyclubs.com/).
Further details of the tribute band Mercury are available at: www.mercury-queentribute.co.uk
Media enquiries to: John Hicks M.IDM
Headline Promotions, Press & PR
Mobile: 07771 575 654
Fax: 0707 520 9717
john@headlinepromotions.co.uk
http://www.headlinepromotions.blogspot.com/
Keywords: Freddie Mercury, Mercury, The Academy, Queen tribute, Barcelona, headline promotions, Basingstoke, MTV
