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Freddie Mercury

Lisa Robinson’s “There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll” autobiography

Talking about their friendship, Freddie [Mercury] said, “Three or four years ago Michael used to come and see our shows at the L.A. Forum. I guess he liked us and he kept coming to see us and then we started talking and we used to go out and have dinners. Now, I think he just stays home and doesn’t like coming out at all. At least that’s what he says. He tells me whatever he wants, he can get at home. Anything he wants, he just buys it.” I said I thought that kind of isolation was scary. “I know,” Freddie said, “and that’s not me. But that’s his bag. I’d be bored to death. I have to go out every night. I hate staying in one room for too long anyway, I just like to keep moving. Maybe it’s because he started very young. I mean sometimes when I’m talking to him I think, my god, he’s only twenty-five and I’m thirty-seven, but he’s been in the business longer than I have, because he started so young. So, we can talk to each other on a very good parallel, because he has the same sort of experiences that I have.”

Brian May, “Queen” lead guitarist, “Daily Express (June 29, 2009) (archived)

May adds that Mercury couldn’t resist poking light-hearted fun at the title of Jackson’s then forthcoming album Bad back in 1987 after playing his Queen bandmates his recordings with the superstar.

“Amusingly, after Freddie and Michael had spent some time together recording, Freddie came back and played us the work in progress,” May explains.

“He remarked that Michael had come up with a great album title, Bad. A little later Freddie smiled his wicked conspiratorial smile and said: ‘I have a perfect idea for our own album title – you may love it or hate it but think about it. We can call it, wait for it… Good!’”