‘Under Pressure’ – Queen & Bowie Mix It Up
How did the song “Under Pressure” – Queen & Bowie, come to be? Was it booze? Queen drummer, Roger Taylor says it was definitely a factor. Other accounts of the…
A side view of Dave Santia’s painting of Freddie Mercury and David Bowie: ‘Under Pressure’ – Queen & Bowie
Dave SantiaHow did the song "Under Pressure" - Queen & Bowie, come to be? Was it booze? Queen drummer, Roger Taylor says it was definitely a factor. Other accounts of the history of the song (including farout.com) are more specific listing a mix of wine and cocaine. Whatever happened in the Mountain Studios in Montreux, Switzerland back in 1981, the results were undeniable. Out of that session came one of the world's greatest rock songs. This recording session is one of the moments of rock that I would have loved to have seen for myself... oh, to be a fly on the wall for the making of "Under Pressure" - Queen and Bowie in the same studio? It had to have been electric.
What were Queen & Bowie Doing in Switzerland?
Recording. Queen was finishing up Hot Space in one studio and David Bowie was in another studio recording the theme and title track for the movie Cat People. Within hours of Queen arriving, David swung by. The initial thought was that he'd sing backup vocals on Queen's "Cool Cats." As the story goes, they were all just having fun and jamming on covers from bands like Cream. Roger Taylor tells the story in Mark Blake’s book Is This the Real Life?: The Untold Story of Freddie Mercury and Queen saying, “In the end, David said, ‘This is stupid, why don’t we just write one?'” So they did.
The Writing Process of 'Under Pressure' - Queen & Bowie
Guitarist Brian May of Queen has alluded on more than one occasion that the writing process was strained. In a 2008 interview with Mojo Brian said, "It was hard because you had four very precocious boys and David, who was precocious enough for all of us. David took over the song lyrically. Looking back, it's a great song but it should have been mixed differently. Freddie and David had a fierce battle over that."
To be clear... you read that right. Brian May said "Under Pressure" should have been "mixed differently." I wish Brian May would mix it as he saw fit. I'd love to hear it. I think the song is already amazing. I'd love to know his vision for it.
It was Queen's bassist, John Deacon who came up with the signature sound of the song, those two bass notes were a game-changer. According to the documentary, Queen - Days of Our Lives, John Deacon forgot the bassline. Roger Taylor recounted the events saying that Deacon came up with the bassline, left for pizza, and when he came back, he'd forgotten his own idea. Roger helped remind him and, obviously, it did work out.
Bowie and Mercury Met 12 Years Before They Recorded "Under Pressure"
It's crazy but true. Freddie fit David for a pair of boots. Radiox.co.uk tells the complete story. The nutshell version: Freddie Mercury was working in a boot shop to make ends meet when David Bowie came in to buy a pair of boots he couldn't afford. They were both struggling musicians at the time.
Freddie Mercury exuded charisma. When he was on (or off) stage, it seemed like all eyes were on Freddie. Here are some pics... tell me I'm wrong.
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Freddie Mercury would've turned 76 today (September 5), and it goes without saying that his presence is certainly missed in the rock and roll landscape.
There was no one quite like Freddie when Queen arrived in the 1970s, and there really hasn't been anyone quite like him since. There have definitely been imitators, but there truly is only one Freddie Mercury.
In honor of his birthday, scroll through the photos below of Freddie both on stage and behind-the-scenes.
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Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
British singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury of rock band Queen during the group's British tour, circa 1975. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
British singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury of rock band Queen in concert, 1984. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
British singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury of rock band Queen during the group's British tour, circa 1975. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
British singer and songwriter Freddie Mercury of rock band Queen performs at Leeds Football Club, England, 29th May 1982. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Drummer Roger Taylor and singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen perform at the Playhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1st September 1976. (Photo by Gary Merrin/Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen attends a ballet class in Covent Garden, London, 3rd October 1979. (Photo by Colin Davey/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen attends a ballet class in Covent Garden, London, 3rd October 1979. (Photo by Colin Davey/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of British rock band Queen attends a ballet class in Covent Garden, London, 3rd October 1979. (Photo by Colin Davey/Evening Standard/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Musicians Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) and Roger Taylor of British rock band Queen perform a free concert in London's Hyde Park, 18th September 1976. (Photo by Keystone Features/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Freddie Mercury (1946-1991), singer with Queen, standing in front of a drumkit as he sings into a microphone on stage during a live concert performance by the band at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom, on 5 June 1982. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) shaving his moustache, 12th April 1984. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) shaving his moustache, 12th April 1984. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) in concert with his hard rock group Queen, June 1977. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
May 1978: Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), singer with popular British rock group Queen, on stage with the band at the first of three sell-out nights at London's Wembley Arena, May 1972. (Photo by Gary Merrin/Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
September 1976: British rock group Queen at Les Ambassadeurs, where they were presented with silver, gold and platinum discs for sales in excess of one million of their hit single 'Bohemian Rhapsody', which was No 1 for 9 weeks. The band are, from left to right; Brian May, John Deacon (standing), Roger Taylor and Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991). (Photo by Ian Tyas/Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
1982: Rock singer Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), of the popular British group Queen, has his moustache groomed. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
3rd September 1984: British rock group Queen in concert with singer Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991) and guitarist Brian May. (Photo by Rogers/Express/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
31st October 1977: Singer songwriter Elton John (Reginald Dwight) with star of musicals Peter Straker, and Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), singer with the group Queen. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
8th September 1976: British rock group Queen at Les Ambassadeurs, where they were presented with silver, gold and platinum discs for sales in excess of one million of their hit single 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. The band are, from left to right, John Deacon, Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), Roger Taylor and Brian May. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
1984: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
circa 1975: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert during the group's British tour. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
1984: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 1970s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
29th May 1982: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert at Leeds Football Club. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
circa 1975: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert during the group's British tour. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
5th June 1982: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert in Milton Keynes. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
11th June 1977: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, finishing the group's UK tour with two sell-out concerts at London's Earls Court. All proceeds from these shows go to the HRH The Queen's Silver Jubilee appeal. (Photo by Gary Merrin/Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
Photo by Keystone/Getty Images5th June 1982: Lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) in concert at Milton Keynes. He revealed in November of 1991 that he was suffering from AIDS and died with 48 hours of announcing that he was ill. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
circa 1980: Lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) in concert during the group's British tour. He revealed in November of 1991 that he was suffering from AIDS and died with 48 hours of announcing that he was ill. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
British rock group Queen in concert, from left to right; Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), John Deacon, and Brian May. Original Publication: People Disc - HU0463 (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Freddie Mercury: Photos On Stage and Behind-The-Scenes
British stadium rock group Queen on stage, with lead singer Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991) in the foreground. Original Publication: People Disc - HU0462 (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
