Magnifico!: The A to Z of Queen

Description

The story of Queen is rich with anecdotes, trivia, humour and tragedy - accompanied by some of the best-known songs of all time. In this revealing profile, acclaimed biographer Mark Blake uses a unique 'A to Z' approach to shed new light on the legendary band. With every entry aiming to celebrate, inform, entertain or amuse, Blake's complete portrait covers not only the major hits and bestselling albums, but also the inside stories behind the music. Via a series of essays, lists and mini biographies, the author shares a wealth of lesser-known details - gained from over thirty years of original interviews - and explores what the songs of Queen say about their creators. The book's format also allows it to take fascinating tangents, charting the places, characters and events that, often inadvertently, played a part in shaping the band and informing its music. Elsewhere, entries offer light-hearted trivia - from a list of LPs the band was listening to in 1970 to tales of the fifteen Jimi Hendrix gigs Freddie Mercury hitchhiked around the UK to attend - as well as serious analysis, including the truth behind Mercury's funeral, which was effectively controlled by Queen's management, and a reflection on the ways in which the flamboyant frontman confronted the twentieth century's sexual mores and prejudices. Addressing the phenomenal success of Bohemian Rhapsody, while challenging the fictionalised account it sold to cinemagoers, Blake builds on the band's enduring audience appeal in order to provide a fresh and unparalleled take on Queen's music, story and legacy.

Mark Blake is an acclaimed music journalist and author. Former assistant editor of Q magazine and long-time contributor to Mojo, Blake has written for many high-profile publications including Rolling Stone and Billboard. Among his previous books are the bestselling Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd and Bring It On Home: PeterGrant, Led Zeppelin and Beyond, which was listed as a 'Music Book of the Year' by TheTimes, the Sunday Times, the Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph. Blake has edited and contributed to titles about Freddie Mercury, Keith Richards and punk music. He has also worked on official projects for Queen, Pink Floyd, the W ho and the Jimi Hendrix estate. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.

'A royal banquet of Mercury and co. morsels ... Blake has enough knowledge and research in his locker to take us on a deep dive into lesser-known corners of the band's history ... there's something here for casuals and obsessives alike ... You want it all? There's not much missing here. 9/10.' -- Classic Rock 'An engaging mix of humour and detailed critical analysis, delving fathoms deep into the before and after of the band's classic line-up and generally leaving no scara unmooshed ... great fun. 4/5.' -- Mojo