Queen

Queen begin their first solo British tour on October 30th 1974 at Manchester’s Palace Theatre. Playing songs from their new album ’Sheer Heart Attack’ and their first big hit single Killer... read more Queen. I wanted a different angle from the usual pit photographs and wandered up to take this shot from one of the boxes at the Palace. I just remember how incredibly exciting and flamboyant Freddie Mercury was.

Freddie live at the Rainbow wearing a Zandra Rhodes creation. Interesting note for Queen fans, Johnny Dewe Mathews images of Queen backstage (see 'Queen' in the drop-down menu) were taken at the same... read more gig.

At the time Freddie Mercury was sharing his apartment with Mary Austin. They were a couple before he moved out of the closet. I used to go there for tea. Freddie was very proud of his new purple satin... read more sheets and when I was visiting suggested I shoot this picture. I used available light and a high ASA and did nothing with these images for years.

Queen in the studio: These were the 1st ever photos taken of the group in my studio in 1973. They were never used and have never been seen until now. At the time when I was asked by their then agent I... read more had never heard of them, But with Freddie it was immediately apparent that I was in the presence of a charismatic visionary who was totally focused .He set the dress sense for the whole band and I remember that he smelt of something delicious. They were very confused by my casual approach to taking photos. I had no assistants and no lights and only listened to blues music. But Freddie warmed up when I told him that I had taken many photos of Derek Jarman and Andrew Logans “Alternative Miss World “ I also told him about photographing Andy Warhol at his Mao show in Paris with a Brownie Box camera .He looked at me as if he was genuinely impressed!

Queen in the studio: These were the 1st ever photos taken of the group in my studio in 1973. They were never used and have never been seen until now. At the time when I was asked by their then agent I... read more had never heard of them, But with Freddie it was immediately apparent that I was in the presence of a charismatic visionary who was totally focused .He set the dress sense for the whole band and I remember that he smelt of something delicious. They were very confused by my casual approach to taking photos. I had no assistants and no lights and only listened to blues music. But Freddie warmed up when I told him that I had taken many photos of Derek Jarman and Andrew Logans “Alternative Miss World “ I also told him about photographing Andy Warhol at his Mao show in Paris with a Brownie Box camera .He looked at me as if he was genuinely impressed!

Queen in the studio: These were the 1st ever photos taken of the group in my studio in 1973. They were never used and have never been seen until now. At the time when I was asked by their then agent I... read more had never heard of them, But with Freddie it was immediately apparent that I was in the presence of a charismatic visionary who was totally focused .He set the dress sense for the whole band and I remember that he smelt of something delicious. They were very confused by my casual approach to taking photos. I had no assistants and no lights and only listened to blues music. But Freddie warmed up when I told him that I had taken many photos of Derek Jarman and Andrew Logans “Alternative Miss World “ I also told him about photographing Andy Warhol at his Mao show in Paris with a Brownie Box camera .He looked at me as if he was genuinely impressed!

Queen in the studio: These were the 1st ever photos taken of the group in my studio in 1973. They were never used and have never been seen until now. At the time when I was asked by their then agent I... read more had never heard of them, But with Freddie it was immediately apparent that I was in the presence of a charismatic visionary who was totally focused .He set the dress sense for the whole band and I remember that he smelt of something delicious. They were very confused by my casual approach to taking photos. I had no assistants and no lights and only listened to blues music. But Freddie warmed up when I told him that I had taken many photos of Derek Jarman and Andrew Logans “Alternative Miss World “ I also told him about photographing Andy Warhol at his Mao show in Paris with a Brownie Box camera .He looked at me as if he was genuinely impressed!

Queen in the studio: These were the 1st ever photos taken of the group in my studio in 1973. They were never used and have never been seen until now. At the time when I was asked by their then agent I... read more had never heard of them, But with Freddie it was immediately apparent that I was in the presence of a charismatic visionary who was totally focused .He set the dress sense for the whole band and I remember that he smelt of something delicious. They were very confused by my casual approach to taking photos. I had no assistants and no lights and only listened to blues music. But Freddie warmed up when I told him that I had taken many photos of Derek Jarman and Andrew Logans “Alternative Miss World “ I also told him about photographing Andy Warhol at his Mao show in Paris with a Brownie Box camera .He looked at me as if he was genuinely impressed!

Taken in the dressing room before the concert. They were very relaxed and would occasionally make mad funny faces at me, joking between themselves as they dressed and made up to perfection for their stage... read more entrance.

Taken in the dressing room before the concert. They were very relaxed and would occasionally make mad funny faces at me, joking between themselves as they dressed and made up to perfection for their stage... read more entrance.

Taken in the dressing room before the concert. They were very relaxed and would occasionally make mad funny faces at me, joking between themselves as they dressed and made up to perfection for their stage... read more entrance.

Taken in the dressing room before the concert. They were very relaxed and would occasionally make mad funny faces at me, joking between themselves as they dressed and made up to perfection for their stage... read more entrance.

Taken in the dressing room before the concert. They were very relaxed and would occasionally make mad funny faces at me, joking between themselves as they dressed and made up to perfection for their stage... read more entrance.