Have you ever attended a Queen concert? In hindsight, I’m glad I didn’t. When Queen performed in nearby San Francisco in the late 1970s, I was in high school. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a couple of my buddies. After all, in the late 1970s, lead vocalist Freddie Mercury was youthful and at the peak of his game. He was a fantastic performance who completely enthralled the audience. Here’s how he progressed from a young man straight out of high school to a seasoned and well-known performer.
The Life Of The Queen’s Lead Vocalist, Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury In 1967
One of the earliest photographs of Freddie Mercury as a performer was taken in 1967. Mercury was a pretty private man, despite his huge personality onstage. When he wasn’t onstage, he was even labeled as shy. Mercury studied painting at Selworth Polytechnic in West London after moving to England with his family from Zanzibar. He subsequently went on to Ealing Art College to study graphic art and design. He received his diploma in 1969. His background in painting was instrumental in the creation of the Queen’s insignia.
Freddie Mercury In 1967
Ibex, August 1969
Mercury’s 25th birthday was on August 24, 1969, when this shot was taken. Ibex was an early Liverpool band that Mercury was a member of. Later, the band was renamed Wreckage. As members returned to their respective campuses, the band disbanded. Mercury responded to an advertisement for a singer for an Oxford-based band named Sour Milk Sea after the band disbanded. Mercury teamed up with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor after that band disbanded in 1970. Mercury became the lead vocalist for Smile, a band founded by the two.
Ibex, August 1969
Fresh Out Of College, 1969
This photograph was taken in 1969 at Ealing Art College in London. With Wreckage, he had one of his first concerts there. His former classmates were allegedly taken aback when they saw their quiet ex-classmate perform. Mercury, on the other hand, was set on becoming a celebrity. He told Chris Smith, a classmate “‘I’m going to be huge!’ You don’t realize how big I’m going to get!'” Mercury broke a mic stand during one of his first performances, and that became his gimmick.
Fresh Out Of College, 1969
Opening For Mott The Hoople In 1973
Queen performed five live concerts in and around London in 1973, as well as two live shows in Germany. Queen went on tour as the opening act for Mott The Hoople in the fall of 1973. They performed 31 gigs with them in the United Kingdom. This was a significant break for the young band, and they were allegedly greeted with rapturous applause. It allowed the band to practice song configurations and experiment with large-scale sound and lighting systems.
Opening For Mott The Hoople In 1973
Touring In The Early ’70s
In the early 1970s, Queen went on tour after releasing a new album, as is customary. In 1974, they performed 72 concerts, including the Sunbury Music Festival in Australia, 22 shows for the Queen II UK Tour, and 19 cities for the Queen II US Tour. After guitarist Brian May acquired hepatitis a month into the US tour, the band was forced to cancel the remaining shows. Later that year, the band embarked on the Sheer Heart Attack UK/European tour, performing in 30 locations.
Touring In The Early ’70s
1974 Interview
Carolyn Coon’s 1974 interview first featured in Melody Maker in December 1974. “The Queen Bee” was the initial title of the composition. Coon asked Mercury towards the end of the interview what he does with all of his money, to which he replied: “My love, put it to good use. I’m the only member of the band who isn’t particularly fond of money. I’m the one who immediately spends it. It just happens. I appreciate lovely stuff around me, and I like nice clothes.”
1974 Interview
Sheer Heart Attack Tour, 1974
Mercury was photographed in Copenhagen in November 1974. Queen’s Sheer Heart Attack Tour visited a number of European locations. The group’s rendition of “God Save The Queen” completed their setlist for the first time on this tour. The following songs from their newly released album, Sheer Heart Attack, were added to the repertoire for this tour: “In The Lap Of Gods,” “Killer Queen,” “March Of The Black Queen,” and “Bring Back That Leroy Brown.”
Sheer Heart Attack Tour, 1974
At Home In 1975
Mercury called this house in Holland Park, London, his home in 1975. The house is in Kensington, and Mercury is said to have written “Bohemian Rhapsody” there. A Night At The Opera was the title of the album on which the song was released. It was released in 1975 and spent nine weeks at the top of the UK Singles Chart. By the end of January 1976, it had sold over a million copies. With an estimated 6 million copies sold globally, it is one of the best-selling singles of all time.
At Home In 1975
August 1975
Another photograph of Mercury taken in his London home in 1975. Seven years before MTV was founded, the 1975 release of “Bohemian Rhapsody” was followed by a promotional film. According to Rolling Stone, one of the events that contributed to the formation of music videos was its influence. It’s widely regarded as one of the best rock tunes ever written. It has been voted as one of the greatest songs in popular music in numerous polls, and readers of Rolling Stone voted Mercury’s vocal performance as the greatest in rock history.
August 1975
Sheer Heart Attack Japanese Tour, 1975
In 1975, the Sheer Heart Attack Tour expanded to eight cities in Japan. Mercury fell in love with Japanese culture after seeing the band perform in front of adoring crowds. During his concerts in other cities, he frequently wore a kimono. He developed a fervent interest in Japanese art and antiques. And it was a love that was shared. When Bohemian Rhapsody was released in 2018, it became one of the biggest box office hits in Japanese history. Between 1975 and 1985, the band toured Japan a total of six times.
Sheer Heart Attack Japanese Tour, 1975
The Look In 1975
Queen had taken over the rock music world in August of 1975. Mercury, like many other contemporaneous musicians, had the rocker style of the day, complete with long hair. Zandra Rhodes was hired to dress the band at this period. The band was also able to spend more money on a new lighting setup and cutting-edge stage effects. Styx, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Kansas, and REO Speedwagon were among the major support acts on the tour. The Sheer Heart Attack Tour, which comprised 78 shows, was apparently cut short when the truck bringing their equipment crashed, resulting in the cancellation of 35 North American shows.
The Look In 1975
Two US Tours In 1977
This photograph was taken at a Queen concert in Atlanta in 1977. In 1977, Queen performed 85 gigs on two separate tours. The first tour, A Day At The Races, featured 40 shows in North America and another 19 in the United Kingdom. They went on a second tour later that year, the News Of The World Tour North America, where they played 26 shows. The tour concluded with 20 more shows in the United Kingdom and Europe. That’s a lot of performances!
Two US Tours In 1977
News Of The World Tour 1977
On December 15, 1977, Queen performed at the Aladdin Theater in Las Vegas. Many of the songs played were chart-topping singles for the band, and the setlist read like a Billboard Top 20. Queen’s early successes “We Will Rock You,” “Somebody To Love,” “Killer Queen,” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” were among the songs performed. The show was part of the North American tour of News Of The World. Between November 11 and December 22, they performed in a total of 26 cities.
News Of The World Tour 1977
The Forum In 1977
Mercury, dressed in one of his kimonos, performs in Inglewood, California, in 1977. On March 2-3, the band performed two shows at the Forum. “A Day At The Races,” “Somebody To Love,” “Killer Queen,” “You’re My Best Friend,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and, of course, “God Save The Queen” were among the tunes on the concert’s playlist. The Day At The Races Tour was the first time Queen performed in New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
The Forum In 1977
News Of The World Tour 1978
Between 1977 and 1978, the News Of The World Tour took place. It was the tour that followed the debut of Queen’s two most successful songs, “We Are The Champions” and “We Will Rock You,” both of which have lasted an unbelievable amount of time. These songs are so well-known that even those who were not alive when Freddie Mercury played them are familiar with them. To make room for new material, most of the earlier songs from Queen’s first two albums were removed from the tour’s playlist. The modified version of “Love Of My Life,” which had fans singing along, was one of the tour’s highlights.
News Of The World Tour 1978
The Game Tour, 1980
Freddie Mercury had already shaved his signature long locks and ceased painting his fingernails. He was seen sans the famous ’70s adornments in the “Save Me” video and the album art for the pivotal album The Game, which will be released in June. According to Jacky Gunn’s 1992 book Queen: As It Began, the modifications caused “the sadness of many of his female followers,” and “gifts of razors and bottles of black nail paint swamped the band’s headquarters.”
The Game Tour, 1980
Jazz Tour 1979-1980
Mercury altered his image once more in 1979, opting for leather over leotards on the Jazz Tour in North America (1979-1980). The tour included 35 shows across the United States and Canada. The Queen Jazz Tour was a concert tour in promotion of the album Jazz by the British rock band Queen. The show put on by the band made the tour unforgettable.
Jazz Tour 1979 1980
The Game Japanese Tour, 1981
The Game Tour was a concert tour by the British rock band Queen to promote their 1980 album The Game, which was a commercial success. This was the photo’s original caption: “From February 12 to 18, 1981, British rock band Queen performed a soundcheck at the Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. (Vocals) Freddie Mercury”
The Game Japanese Tour, 1981
Hot Space North American Tour, 1982
Hot Space North American Tour, 1982
‘It’s A Hard Life’ video, 1984
On June 22, 1984, this shot was taken in Munich, Germany, while Queen was filming a video for their latest single, “It’s A Hard Life.” For obvious reasons, the Mercury “eye” ensemble!
‘It’s A Hard Life’ Video, 1984
Onstage in 1985
Queen performed at the 1985 Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium in London. The performance is widely regarded as their best to date. The band performed a 21-minute concert that included covers of “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” among other songs.
Onstage In 1985
Fashion Aid Show 1985
Mercury’s presence at Live Aid wasn’t his first philanthropic event in 1985. On November 5, 1985, he is pictured with actress Jane Seymour at the Fashion Behalf presentation in aid of African famine relief.
Fashion Aid Show 1985
The Magic Tour 1986
Queen’s final tour with Freddie Mercury was the Magic Tour in 1986. This image was captured in Brussels. On August 9, 1986, in Knebworth Park, Stevenage, England, the tour’s last concert took place. The performance drew an estimated 200,000 attendees.
The Magic Tour 1986
Mercury In London, 1986
This concert took place on January 1, 1986, prior to the start of The Magic Tour in June of that year. After all, Freddie Mercury was a musical pioneer. He was a stickler for detail. And he was always changing himself and his music. He didn’t want to become bored, therefore he was always attempting new things.
Mercury In London, 1986
Last Trip To Japan, 1986
In 1986, during an interview with the Japanese music magazine Music Life in Tokyo, this portrait of Freddie Mercury was taken. It was to be his last trip to the country.
Last Trip To Japan, 1986
May 1987
Mercury cut his famed mustache in 1987. At the Ivor Novello Awards in May 1987, Queen’s Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon accept the prize for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.
May 1987
Ivor Novello Awards, 1987
Classic Rock Icon, Queen, won the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music in May 1987, and Freddie Mercury was there with Annie Lennox.
Ivor Novello Awards, 1987
Ibiza, Spain
Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballe played in Ibiza’s Ku Club in 1987. Barcelona is the name of the record that the two collaborated on.
Ibiza, Spain
Spain, 1987
On May 28, 1987, while in Spain, Mercury took a break on the tennis court at Pikes Hotel in Ibiza.
Spain, 1987
Mercury And Mary Austin
Mary Austin was said to be Mercury’s only true friend, according to legend. She was his girlfriend at the time, and later became a close friend and confidante. This photograph of the couple was shot in 1988.
Mercury And Mary Austin
Freddie certainly had quite the life until his unfortunate passing in 1991 as a result of bronchial pneumonia, a complication of AIDS. Thankfully his legacy was lived on through the Beatles, and consequently through the children of the other Beatles. We believe it is time to take a look at the lives of the Beatles children and see what they have gotten up to!
Almost all of us grew up listening to the Beatles’ songs, and at least some of us feel ourselves to be inspired by them. How many of us, on the other hand, would claim to be their biological children? Well, there are over 16 people who claim to be direct descendants of the legendary Beatles!
The Children of the Beatles – Where Are They Now
Although the bulk of their children is biological, a few were adopted or are stepchildren. In the list below, you can notice not only the undeniable resemblance between the sons and daughters and their fathers but also that the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Many of these Beatles ancestors are skilled musicians in their way, some as young as youngsters and others as adults.
The Children Of The Beatles Where Are They Now
John Charles Julian Lennon
Parents: John Lennon and Cynthia Lennon
Born: April 8, 1963
Julian was the first to be conceived, appearing only as the Beatles’ popularity grew. As a child, he was the inspiration for three major Beatles songs: John’s “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and “Good Night,” as well as Paul’s “Hey Jude,” written to console Julian following his parents’ divorce. Following John’s abandonment of Cynthia for Yoko Ono, the father and son were divorced for a while. They eventually reconnected in the early 1970s. Julian’s artistic pursuits had grabbed John’s interest, and he purchased a guitar for him and taught him the ropes. Julian followed in his father’s footsteps in the end. He made a living as a singer, songwriter, actress, and director after that.
John Charles Julian Lennon
Julian Lennon Today
Julian’s first record, “Valotte,” was a major hit in 1984, garnering him two top ten singles as well as a Grammy award for Best New Artist. However, his subsequent albums were not as highly acclaimed. In 1991, Julian took a vacation from the music industry. In 2002, he released a new version of “When I’m Sixty-Four,” over a decade later. He started the White Feather Foundation in 2009, a charity or environmental organization named after something his father once told him. On the 70th anniversary of his father’s birth in 2010, Julian opened a show of 35 images, including his collection of Beatles memorabilia, to mark his father’s birth. “Timeless: The Photography of Julian Lennon” is a book on Julian Lennon’s photography.
Julian Lennon Today
Zak Starkey
Parents: Ringo Starr and Maureen Cox
Born: September 13, 1965
Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey welcomed their first child, Zak, earlier that year after marrying earlier that year. Zak couldn’t help but be fascinated by his father’s drums, despite his father’s best efforts to keep him out of the increasingly stressful music business. After all, his godfather Keith Moon (of The Who) gifted him a drum kit when he was eight years old. With a father and godfather like those two, it’s no surprise that the kid was into drums and rock ‘n’ roll. He has been interested in it since his parents divorced in 1975. He was a member of the Icicle Works and afterward the All-Starr Party of his father.
Zak Starkey
Zak Starky Today
Zak got his big break in the mid-90s when he took over his godfather’s job. Fans of the Who and members of the band thought he was a perfect fit for the group. It’s also not easy to cast someone in the role of such a well-known rock star. As a result, Zak began recording and touring with Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey. He was the third drummer for Oasis from 2004 to 2009. He also looked after Johnny Marr and the Healers’ sticks. In 1985, Zak married Sarah Menikides, and Tatia was the first Beatle grandchild (who is now also a musician).
Zak Starky Today
Jason Starkey
Parents: Ringo Starr and Maureen Cox
Born: August 19, 1967
Two years after their marriage, Ringo and Maureen welcomed their second child, Jason. When Jason was younger, he was still the family’s secret rebel. When he was seven years old, his parents divorced. Ringo was granted visiting rights, while Maureen was given custody of each of her sons. Jason, like many other divorced kids, began behaving badly. He got himself into a lot of difficulties and had to deal with legal troubles. In 1987, when he was 20 years old, he was charged £125 for attempting to rob a car stereo. He was accused of cocaine use a few years ago.
Jason Starkey
Jason Starkey Today
Jason eventually put his criminal background behind him and went on to form other independent bands. Jason is a drummer, just like his older brother and father. In the mid-’80s, he played drums alongside his brother Zak for Buddy Curtis and the Grasshoppers, The People’s Friend, Empire Of Sponge, and even Musty Jack Sponge and the Exploding Nudists. Jason, on the other hand, appears to be unconcerned in his family’s history for no apparent reason. “Being Ringo Starr’s son is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.” He once said, “It’s a complete agony.” Regardless, Jason developed an interest in the music industry and worked as a road manager and drummer. He’s been married to fashion designer Flora Evans since 2010, and the couple has three sons together.
Jason Starkey Today
Mary Anna McCartney
Parents: Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
Born: August 28, 1969
Paul and Linda were both expecting Mary when they married in 1969. You may remember her as the small child who famously looked out of Paul’s uniform on the back cover of his debut solo album, ‘McCartney’ (which included the photo taken by her mother). Paul and Linda’s maternal oldest child is Mary. Mary, like her mother, had a passion for photography. She went on to have a successful career as a photographer and reporter. Fashion and portrait photography are her specialties. In 2001, she produced the television documentary ‘Wingspan,’ about her parents’ band. In the film, she also played her father’s interviewer.
Mary Anna McCartney
Mary McCartney Today
Mary’s mother was 29 years old when she died of breast cancer at the age of 56. She went on to become a skilled photographer as well as a vegetarian cookbook author. She is currently in charge of the photo department of her father’s company, MPL Communications. In addition to her full-time career, Mary enjoys volunteering in her leisure time. She is active in a number of volunteer organizations. In 1998, she married Alistair Donald, a director, and TV executive. Arthur Donald, her father’s oldest of eight grandkids, was born to her in 1999, making her his first grandchild. Mary’s younger brother, Elliot Donald, was born in 2002. In 2005, the couple divorced. In 2010, she married agent Simon Aboud. She and Aboud have two boys together.
Mary McCartney Today
Lee Parkin Starkey
Parents: Ringo Starr and Maureen Cox
Born: November 11, 1970
Lee arrived at an inopportune time. Her parents’ marriage was in serious difficulties shortly after the Beatles split in 1970. Ringo and Maureen, on the other hand, will have to wait five years before filing for divorce. Lee rose to prominence in 1989 after appearing in an Oldsmobile commercial with her father. Lee co-founded Planet Alice, a Los Angeles shop specializing in stylish 1960s designs, around the same time. It eventually shut down, and Lee went on to work as a fashion designer and cosmetics artist.
Lee Parkin Starkey
Lee Starkey Today
Lee was diagnosed with a brain tumor a year after her mother died of leukemia in 1994 at the age of 48. She had to undergo surgery as well as radiation therapy. Unfortunately, the tumor returned in 2001, necessitating yet another round of treatment. Lee’s health has thankfully improved since then. She frequently attends her brothers’ concerts, as well as those of Stella McCartney (who we’ll talk about next). For a long period, Lee has been dating Kasabian/Beady Eye bassist Jay Mehler. In 2009, Lee gave birth to triplets, a first for the Beatles. It’s hardly unexpected that she and her relatives live in London.
Lee Starkey Today
Stella Nina McCartney
Parents: Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
Born: September 13, 1971
As a child, Stella traveled the world with her parents and their music group, Wings (and her siblings). According to Paul, Stella’s rough delivery prompted the group’s name. Paul waited outside the operating room, hoping she would be born “on the wings of an angel,” but she was delivered by emergency C-section. Because Stella is the most well-known of Paul and Linda’s daughters, this may have been a blessing in disguise. She has established herself as a well-known figure in the fashion world. Her interest in fashion and sewing began at an early age.
Stella Nina McCartney
Stella McCartney Today
Stella worked her way up the corporate ladder before launching her own clothing line in 2001. Stella McCartney now has 17 stores in 17 countries. Stella attracted a bevy of athletes as well as a slew of famous clients (including her personal friend and model Kate Moss). She was in charge of designing the clothing for all British Olympians competing in the 2012 Games. The following year, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to design. Stella isn’t afraid to cause a ruckus. She wore an “It’s About F–king Time” top to her father’s induction ceremony at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She is married to Alasdhair Willis, a publisher, and they have four children together.
Stella McCartney Today
Sean Taro Ono Lennon
Parents: John Lennon and Yoko Ono
Born: October 9, 1975
Sean is John and Yoko’s only child, having been born on his father’s 35th birthday. After the birth of his second kid, John took a vacation from music to focus on his family. Sean had an influence on John, and as a result, he composed the song “Beautiful Kid.” The song was featured on John’s 1980 comeback album, “Double Fantasy,” which was recorded just before his death. Sean is the first Beatle child born in America. Sean, like his artistic parents, pursued a career as a singer. Sean sang vocals and production on his mother’s solo albums It’s Alright, Starpeace, and Onobox from childhood through adolescence.
Sean Taro Ono Lennon
Sean Lennon Today
He wrote music with Lenny Kravitz and joined Cibo Matto before joining to the Beastie Boys’ record label, Grand Royal. Sean has made a few solo albums, recorded a few movie soundtracks, and collaborated with a variety of musicians in addition to his mother. To name a few, he collaborated with the Flaming Lips, Albert Hammond Jr. of the Strokes, and Mark Ronson. His band was eventually formed by him and his model girlfriend Charlotte Kemp Muhl. The avant-garde folk band Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger released their first full-length album, ‘Midnight Sun,’ in 2014. Steve Jobs visited Manhattan in 1984 and attended a party hosted by Yoko Ono in memory of her late spouse. Sean was given one of the earliest Macintosh computers by Steve Jobs.
Sean Lennon Today
James Louis McCartney
Parents: Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
Born: September 12, 1977
His father, James Paul McCartney, was the inspiration for James McCartney’s name. James, Paul and Linda’s only child, has always had a passion for music. It’s not because of his father’s presence, either. What is the real cause for this? In the famous ‘Back to the Future’ sequence, he saw Marty McFly strumming the guitar. Paul immediately saw his son’s passion for the guitar and jumped in to get him a Stratocaster. The instrument was previously owned by Carl Perkins. On a handful of his father’s solo recordings, James played guitar and percussion (such as “Flaming Pie” and “Driving Rain”).
James Louis McCartney
James McCartney Today
James chose to continue his musical profession after a few years. James released his debut album, “Me,” in 2013, after a pair of pop-rock EPs co-produced by Paul. However, a year prior, James had managed to create a bit of a media frenzy. When Ringo declared in 2012 that he, Sean Lennon, Zak Starkey, and Dhani Harrison (next on the list) would establish a second-generation Beatles band, he upset the apple cart. What exactly is going on here? Although James suggested that a reincarnation of their Beatles fathers was possible, not all of the boys agreed. James said, “I don’t believe it’s something Zak needs to do.” “Perhaps Jason will be interested in doing it. I’d be willing to participate. Sean seemed to like it, and Dhani seemed to enjoy it as well. I’d be delighted to help.”
James McCartney Today
Dhani Harrison
Parents: George Harrison and Olivia Harrison
Born: August 1, 1978
Dhani is George and Olivia’s only child, and they married a month after Dhani was born. Because of his hobbies and pursuit of Indian philosophy, George decided to name his son after the 6th and 7th notes on the Indian music scale. Who knows, maybe he was always destined to be a guitarist. After his father died in 2001, Dhani helped Jeff Lynne finish his father’s song, “Brainwashed,” and as a result, he became a brilliant musician. The following year, Dhani played acoustic guitar at the “Concert for George” tribute. Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney were among the band’s members. Following that, Dhani went off on his own a few years ago.
Dhani Harrison
Dhani Harrison Today
In 2006, he co-founded Thenewno2, an alternative rock band. The band has since released a number of tracks. Dhani is a member of the punk group Fistful of Mercy, which also comprises Ben Harper and Joseph Arthur. His latest musical collaborations are quite diverse. He’s toured with Eric Clapton, appeared on Wu-Tang Clan’s “The Heart Gently Weeps,” and has shared the stage with Pearl Jam several times. Dhani married Solveig “Sola” Karadottir in 2012, but the marriage was short-lived. As a couple, they never had children. In addition to his artistic endeavors, Dhani took part in the Beatles video game. He was a significant figure in the development of the video game “The Beatles: Rock Band,” bringing together the remaining members of the band as well as the game’s creators.
Dhani Harrison Today
Beatrice Milly McCartney
Parents: Paul McCartney and Heather Mills
Born: October 28, 2003
Beatrice Mills, Paul’s second child, was born in 2003 to Paul and Heather Mills. Beatrice Milly is claimed to be based on Heather’s mother Beatrice and Paul’s aunt Milly. Beatrice McCartney, McCartney’s youngest sibling, is his sole child with Heather, whom he married in his 60s. Despite their bitter parting, Paul and Heather agreed to share custody of their daughter Beatrice. In 2011, she served as a flower girl during her father’s wedding to Nancy Shevell. Beatrice is known to be a gifted saxophonist, but she has no intention of pursuing a musical career. Sea biology, on the other hand, appears to be a better fit for her.
Beatrice Milly McCartney