Another one bites his style: 7 artists Freddie Mercury inspired, on anniversary of Queen icon’s death BY MELANIE DOSTIS
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Tuesday, November 24, 2015, 6:00 AM
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Tuesday marks the 24th anniversary of Freddie Mercury's death.
The show has gone on.
It’s been 24 years since the death of legendary singer Freddie Mercury, but his style carries on with a current worldwide Queen tour, helmed by Adam Lambert.
Tuesday marks the anniversary of the “Bohemian Rhapsody” singer’s death from AIDS-related pneumonia on Nov. 24, 1991.
And, the flamboyant crooner may have have famously said “nothing really matters,” but the artists he’s inspired would strongly disagree.
The consummate frontman’s creative power has touched genres from heavy metal to pop — and still has a lasting impact on several of today’s musicians.
Here are seven artists that probably wouldn’t exist without Mercury’s influence:
Katy Perry
The pop star listened to Freddie Mercury for the first time when she was 15.
The 31-year-old is a “killer queen” in the pop scene and she has said she owes her musical juices to an early introduction of Mercury’s music.
“Freddie Mercury was — and remains — my biggest influence,” the singer once told the Daily Star, adding praise for his sarcastic and “I don’t give a f---” approach to songwriting.
The singer almost took her adoration to permanent levels, claiming she once wanted a huge tattoo of Mercury’s face on her back.
Kurt Cobain
The Nirvana singer referenced Mercury in his suicide note.
Cobain, another musician gone too early, cited Mercury not only as an inspiration, but even referenced him in his suicide note.
The Nirvana frontman wrote “I totally admire and envy” Mercury’s love for the crowd — something the singer said he never relished.
Years earlier, a young Cobain was listening to Mercury’s voice on repeat.
“I would take a nap in the van and listen to Queen...We’d get stuck after work with a dead battery because I listened to Queen too much,” he recalled about his childhood in his documentary “Kurt Cobain: About a Son.”
The Nirvana singer referenced Mercury in his suicide note.
Cobain, another musician gone too early, cited Mercury not only as an inspiration, but even referenced him in his suicide note.
The Nirvana frontman wrote “I totally admire and envy” Mercury’s love for the crowd — something the singer said he never relished.
Years earlier, a young Cobain was listening to Mercury’s voice on repeat.
“I would take a nap in the van and listen to Queen...We’d get stuck after work with a dead battery because I listened to Queen too much,” he recalled about his childhood in his documentary “Kurt Cobain: About a Son.”
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga created her stage name from a Queen song.
Considering the pop diva’s stage name hails from Queen’s “Radio Gaga” track, it’s no surprise the “Born this Way” singer is a big fan of Mercury.
“He was not only a singer but also a fantastic performer, a man of the theatre and someone who constantly transformed himself. In short: a genius,” she toldthe Daily Record.
The 29-year-old has even joined the Adam Lambert-fronted Queen on stage, singing her rendition of “Another One Bites the Dust.”
Lady Gaga created her stage name from a Queen song.
Considering the pop diva’s stage name hails from Queen’s “Radio Gaga” track, it’s no surprise the “Born this Way” singer is a big fan of Mercury.
“He was not only a singer but also a fantastic performer, a man of the theatre and someone who constantly transformed himself. In short: a genius,” she toldthe Daily Record.
The 29-year-old has even joined the Adam Lambert-fronted Queen on stage, singing her rendition of “Another One Bites the Dust.”
PSY
Pop sensation PSY has said his showmanship comes from an adoration for Mercury's performances.
The Korean pop star, who emerged on the American music scene with “Gangam Style,” has said his love of music was sparked early on by Mercury.
“My lifetime role model and hero is Freddie Mercury,” he told the New York Times.
The singer became an inspiration to PSY when he saw footage of Mercury’s now-famous performance at Wembley Stadium in 1975
“His songwriting skills, I cannot even approach, but his showmanship, I learned it from his videos,” he added.
Pop sensation PSY has said his showmanship comes from an adoration for Mercury's performances.
The Korean pop star, who emerged on the American music scene with “Gangam Style,” has said his love of music was sparked early on by Mercury.
“My lifetime role model and hero is Freddie Mercury,” he told the New York Times.
The singer became an inspiration to PSY when he saw footage of Mercury’s now-famous performance at Wembley Stadium in 1975
“His songwriting skills, I cannot even approach, but his showmanship, I learned it from his videos,” he added.
Adam Lambert
Queen guitarist Brian May and Adam Lambert perform during the opening night of their North American tour in 2014.
The “American Idol” finalist is seemingly the heir apparent to Mercury’s glittery throne, touring with the band since 2011.
And, the young star was a big fan of Mercury before trying his luck at filling the lead vocalist’s shoes.
“Everybody knows Queen peripherally, you hear them at sporting events and stadiums, my dad helped me make the connection between the music and the people making it,” he told the Telegraph.
While he says Queen is a part of his blood now, the singer stands firm that he isn’t taking Mercury’s place.
“There’s never going to be another, and I’m not replacing him...I’m trying to share with the audience how much he inspired me,” he said at a press conference in September.
Queen guitarist Brian May and Adam Lambert perform during the opening night of their North American tour in 2014.
The “American Idol” finalist is seemingly the heir apparent to Mercury’s glittery throne, touring with the band since 2011.
And, the young star was a big fan of Mercury before trying his luck at filling the lead vocalist’s shoes.
“Everybody knows Queen peripherally, you hear them at sporting events and stadiums, my dad helped me make the connection between the music and the people making it,” he told the Telegraph.
While he says Queen is a part of his blood now, the singer stands firm that he isn’t taking Mercury’s place.
“There’s never going to be another, and I’m not replacing him...I’m trying to share with the audience how much he inspired me,” he said at a press conference in September.
Judas Priest
The band's frontman often asks "What would Freddie possibly do" when writing songs.
The heavy metal group was highly influential in their own right during the glam metal era of the 80s.
Yet, the band’s frontman, Rob Halford, still calls Mercury an inspiration.
“I’ve always thought — when I do a track, even with Priest — I’ll think, ‘Well, what would Freddie possibly do here,” he told the website loudwire.
The singer has called the Queen icon his “ultimate hero.”
The band's frontman often asks "What would Freddie possibly do" when writing songs.
The heavy metal group was highly influential in their own right during the glam metal era of the 80s.
Yet, the band’s frontman, Rob Halford, still calls Mercury an inspiration.
“I’ve always thought — when I do a track, even with Priest — I’ll think, ‘Well, what would Freddie possibly do here,” he told the website loudwire.
The singer has called the Queen icon his “ultimate hero.”
Dave Grohl
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters performed a birthday tribute to Mercury in September.
Another former member of Nirvana has also sung his praises to Mercury.
Earlier this year, Grohl created a super rock group when he was joined by Led Zeppelin bassist, John Paul Jones, and Queen drummer, Roger Taylor, in paying a birthday tribute to Mercury with a performance of “Under Pressure”
The lead singer of the Foo Fighters has said Mercury represents a musician’s goals, having always played like it was the last night of his life.
He even told the Washington Post he pulls up an image of Mercury performing whenever butterflies kick in before taking the stage.
"Every band should study Queen at Live Aid. If you really feel like that barrier is gone, you become Freddie Mercury. I consider him the greatest frontman of all time. Like, it's funny – you'd imagine that Freddie was more than human,” hetold NPR.
Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters performed a birthday tribute to Mercury in September.
Another former member of Nirvana has also sung his praises to Mercury.
Earlier this year, Grohl created a super rock group when he was joined by Led Zeppelin bassist, John Paul Jones, and Queen drummer, Roger Taylor, in paying a birthday tribute to Mercury with a performance of “Under Pressure”
The lead singer of the Foo Fighters has said Mercury represents a musician’s goals, having always played like it was the last night of his life.
He even told the Washington Post he pulls up an image of Mercury performing whenever butterflies kick in before taking the stage.
"Every band should study Queen at Live Aid. If you really feel like that barrier is gone, you become Freddie Mercury. I consider him the greatest frontman of all time. Like, it's funny – you'd imagine that Freddie was more than human,” hetold NPR.
