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Decades before he was the king of Christmas anthems, Cliff Richard was the most exciting pop star in Britain. As of the late 1950s, he has had 67 top ten singles, after Elvis, to whom he was often compared. Even John Lennon openly praised Cliff for changing the face of British music and for inspiring the Beatles in their earliest days. Another aspiring idol, Farrokh Bulsara, also looked up at Cliff before transforming into Freddie Mercury.
In the late 1960s, Farrokh was a graphics student eager to become a rock star. He moved in similar circles as May and Taylor and followed their band Smile.
May recalls his future bandmate looking at a series of stars to help him overcome his natural shyness.
May said, « It was him; he was very shy, Freddie, all that goes with it, I think he has some kind of world woven around him. And of course he was incredibly sociable on stage, but that was his kind of stage personality and I think he came from that perspective, he was very shy as a boy. «
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May added, « He (Freddie) was inspired by the likes of Cliff Richard and Jimi Hendrix, and he sort of made himself what he wanted to see. «
Roger joked that Freddie had little real experience of performing in the early days before Queen: “None at all before Smile was founded. Only Cliff Richard imitations in front of his mirror. ”
Brian added, « Freddie was a shy boy. Who was worried about their skin and teeth and what they looked like. But he overcame everything to become this rock god. . . «
Brian said, « Freddie was just a natural at communicating with the entire audience. An amazing thing to see . . . He loved it. He lived on it. He lived off that feeling of contact with the audience, and I think it came from a fan.
« He was that fan who sat there and watched Jimi Hendrix and Jimi Hendrix make that contact, and I think he made Freddie feel like anything was possible. «
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Freddie often talked about looking up at Jimi Hendrix, who was making waves around the world before Queen formed himself with his outrageous style and exceptional stage presence.
Freddie said, « Jimi Hendrix was just a beautiful man, a master showman and a dedicated musician. I would scour the country to see him whenever he played because he really had everything a rock and roll star should have. all the style and presence. «
Five years earlier, Freddie and Cliff were brought together by mutual friend and rock star Dave Clarke, who wrote the stage musical Time.
Cliff starred in the London production in 1986 while Freddie sang the title track of the concept album promoting the show.
Dave stayed close to the Queen star during his illness and was the man next to Freddie’s bed the night he died.
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Freddie Mercury, Queen, Roger Taylor, Cliff Richard, Brian May, Smile
World News – UK – Freddie Mercury adored Cliff Richard, say bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor
Ref: https://www.express.co.uk
