Queen

LIL NAS X: QUEEN OF THE RED CARPET?

You would THINK that since Lil Nas X just signed that contract to be Brand Ambassador for YSL, that he would show off the brand on the red carpet at the MTV Music Awards. But apparently YSL’s elegant collection was just not exciting enough for Nas! He prefers extravagant and outrageous, so he wore an original hoop skirt and headpiece by Harris Reed, a 26 year old UK/American with an ultra-modern philosophy, and little interest in street-style. Reed is inspired by Elizabethan excess and thinks everyone should look like a queen – both men and women. His models are all tall and skinny and gender fluid – you can barely tell the boys from the girls. Maybe Nas signed up with the wrong company…

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

LOOK FAMILIAR? GUESS WHO THIS ROCKSTAR IS!

This stylish guy rocking purple and fuchsia, not to mention red velvet heels and a glitter mask, dined at Catch LA in West Hollywood last night. Observers of a certain generation are bound to guess that this is Boy George. But they are WRONG. This is an equally flamboyant, but much younger performer – it happens to be Adam Lambert, the current lead singer for Queen.

Photo Credit: BACKGRID-USA

THERE’S A GOOD CHANCE BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY WILL ROCK YOU!

Seems like we’ve been waiting FOREVER to see the Freddie Mercury story, Bohemian Rhapsody, and it finally has a release date in the fall. Original Queen band members (and producers) Brian May and Roger Taylor have been struggling to get this movie made – directors came and went, and the script was rewritten numerous times. Sacha Baron Cohen was ALMOST cast as Freddie, but left claiming “creative differences” –word leaked out that Cohen wanted an “adult film” and the Queen guys wanted “family friendly.” RAMI MALEK stepped in as Freddie, and had to learn to talk and sing with the huge prosthetic teeth he had to wear to resemble the singer. The fake teeth DID help Rami to look surprisingly like Freddie, according to the trailer…

ADAM LAMBERT’S HAIR MAKES BRIAN MAY LOOK YOUNGER!

One cannot escape the irony of the fact that grey hair has become such a fashion fad. It started a few years ago in London and Adam Lambert jumped on the bandwagon early. He’s pictured here with his Queen bandmate Brian May, whose hair is naturally grey. Silver-haired Adam, who tours as frontman for the band, looks like a better match with the rest of the older Queen musicians now. And Brian May looks younger!

Photo Credit: AKM-GSI

SACHA BARON COHEN WILL ROCK YOU!

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It may take time, but Sacha Baron Cohen gets what he wants. A movie biography of Queen has been bouncing around for eight years with assorted famous names attached to play Freddie Mercury. Two years ago Sacha Baron Cohen walked out of negotiations because he and surviving Queen band members Brian May and Roger Taylor didn’t see eye to eye. Brian thought Sacha would bring too much humor to a serious role. The movie was in limbo until Cohen made a triumphant return – and he is not only starring as the spandex clad Freddie, he is producing, writing, and directing the film! What could have been a rather ordinary rock movie suddenly is loaded with potential.

FREDDIE MERCURY’S LIFE WASN’T ALL RAINBOWS AND KITTENS

SO disappointed to hear that Sacha Baron Cohen won’t be playing Freddie Mercury in the movie of the Queen singer’s life. Cohen wanted to be very involved in the script writing and suggested his preferred directors. Which was fine with producers (including Robert DeNiro) except he wanted Freddie’s story to be realistic and gritty. Mercury had a girlfriend named Mary Austin for six years before he realized he was gay. Freddie claimed to have a wild but lonely life and he was shy – nothing like his outgoing stage persona. When he died of AIDS in 1991, he left his home and most of his money to his longtime friend Mary. It’s a fascinating but sad story – the remaining Queen bandmembers didn’t want Freddie presented that way. They picture a light musical story mostly about the band. (Like Mamma Mia, for heavens sake?) THAT’s why Sacha split and the movie is up in the air.(Don’t you love this vintage photo of Freddie and Michael Jackson? What do you suppose they were talking about?)

GET READY FOR A MICHAEL JACKSON/FREDDIE MERCURY DUET

We have the feeling that Michael Jackson is one of those singers who die but continue to release new music for years to come. Michael was a huge fan of Freddie Mercury of Queen back in the 80’s and frequently had him over to the house when Queen was on tour in the US. During one visit Freddie and Michael recorded some songs together. The music never saw the light of day until now. Michael’s estate has just okayed the release of the songs and Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen are putting the finishing touches on the music.

FREDDIE MERCURY MAY BE ALIVE AND WELL IN CANADA

Who doesn’t love and miss the late Freddie Mercury from Queen? We just encountered a video of a guy singing Freddie’s song “Somebody To Love “ and the look and sound is ASTONISHING! Ironically, it turns out the singer, Marc Martel, is frontman for the Canadian Christian gospel band “Downhere.” If you like revisiting Mercury, locate Marc’s startling version of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” All he needs is some spandex and a big mustache.

MICHAEL JACKSON: BEFORE LIZ TAYLOR THERE WAS FREDDIE MERCURY

We never knew that Michael Jackson was a big fan of Freddie Mercury’s. Back in the early 80’s Jackson used to go to all the Queen concerts at the Forum in LA and he went backstage and became friendly with Mercury. They went out to dinner a few times and then Freddie said that Michael just stopped going out. He said he had everything he wanted at home and didn’t have to leave the house. Freddie was perplexed because he loved to go out every night and he thought having a lot of experiences improved his music. (Photo above: Michael, Freddie and Queen bass player John Deacon.)

OPRAH IS SURRENDERING HER DAYTIME TV CROWN TO JUDGE JUDY

Katie Couric might be contemplating taking Oprah’s number one daytime spot, but that coveted place has already been filled! By Judge Judy! According to Deadline Hollywood, in the 2009 – 2010 season Judy finished as the number one daytime program with an average of ten million viewers – and actually surpassed Oprah. Judge Judy has been a hit for fifteen years and she’s doing better than ever. CBS just signed up Judy Sheindlin, 68, through 2015 and – sorry Katie- SHE is set to become the new queen of daytime TV.