Freddie Mercury The great pretender : a life in pictures

Little Richard. David Bowie. Elton John. Prince. Madonna. There's a long tradition of pop-music artists who dare to push theatrical boundaries and blur gender lines, none more adroitly than the late Queen front man, Freddie Mercury. His unabashed flamboyance, which often teetered on the edge of camp, burns brightly for many of today's biggest stars, most notably Lady Gaga (who is named after the 1984 Queen hit Radio Ga Ga ) and Adam Lambert (who has performed lead vocals for Queen live in concert on several occasions). They owe an enormous debt to Mercury, one of the most iconic performers ever to command the stage and arguably rock's greatest showman (or woman). This handsomely assembled and officially sanctioned photo book includes rare and never-before-seen photos of Mercury from his childhood in Zanzibar to his final, frail appearances on the set of music videos in 1991 as well as personal anecdotes from those who knew him closely. The images are a moving tribute to one man's style revolution and will appeal to casual and hard-core fans alike.--Keech, Chris Copyright 2010 Booklist

Iconic Queen front man, Freddie Mercury (1946-91) had always been a flamboyant, larger-than-life figure. This lavish, oversized book of photographs is a fitting tribute to his life and work. The book includes images from every stage of Mercury's life, from his childhood in Zanzibar and India to his early musical career in England and his rise to international fame fronting Queen. Although filled with many images of Mercury striking his trademark dramatic stage poses, the book also reveals the singer's more personal, vulnerable side-a distinct and fascinating contrast. Detailed captions and a lengthy essay by Guardian and Observer photography writer O'Hagan complement the photos. Two full-length biographies of the pop star were released earlier this year: July saw the release of Lesley-Ann Jones's Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury; Laura Jackson's Freddie Mercury: The Biography was published in September. An audio CD with a radio interview of the singer is also included here. Verdict Recommended for readers interested in Queen and 1970s rock. [Look for a review of the DVD of the same name in LJ 1/13.-Ed.]-Dave Valencia, Seattle P.L. (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.