Queen: Mercury Rising
As a young boy growing up in Tanzania and India, Farrokh Bulsara knew he was destined to make a name for himself in the music industry. When he died in 1991, aged 45, he was hailed as one of Britain’s biggest names and perhaps the greatest frontman in rock and roll history. The world knows him by another name: Freddie Mercury. The gripping documentary Queen: The Rise of Mercury chronicles the meteoric rise of Mercury and his bandmates and their enduring popularity for their enduring contributions to the music industry.
Explosive, bold and eclectic, Queen is made up of four distinct characters who somehow blend seamlessly with their artistic sensibilities. Each band member is a scholar whose wit and intuition serve them well as they carve out their identities in a skeptical music industry. In the early days, executives knew they were special but weren’t sure how best to market them given their eccentric voices.
They were sometimes attacked by critics, but fans from all over the world worshiped at their altar, especially after We Are the Champions and We Will Rock You – two of the most stirring songs in modern music.
The film is a treasure trove for die-hard Queen fans and admirers of the original artist who refuse to sacrifice their integrity for fleeting popularity. It had the honor of interviewing guitarist Brian May, various producers, executives and other music industry insiders who have witnessed this phenomenon firsthand. Excerpts from countless concert performances highlight their artistic depth and contain songs that have earned a place on the soundtrack of our lives. We learn the inspiration behind some of these tunes and the keys to creating them in the studio. The film also reveals the final act of the band’s reign, when Mercury dies of AIDS complications.
From their androgynous appeal to their unorthodox orchestration and a cappella, this band is a rare combination of the bizarre and the universal. Queen: Mercury Rising shows us how this quintessential band broke all the rules and why they still matter.
Directed by: Maureen Goldthorpe