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Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography

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Freddie Mercury: The Definitive Biography

By: Lesley-Ann Jones
Narrated by: Jane Collingwood, Lesley-Ann Jones, Hugh Lee, Kristopher Milnes, Kevin Shenn
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About this listen

This is the definitive biography of Freddie Mercury. Written by an award-winning rock journalist, Lesley-Ann Jones toured widely with Queen forming lasting friendships with the band. Now, having secured access to the remaining band members and those who were closest to Freddie, from childhood to death, Lesley-Ann has written the most in depth account of one of music's best loved and most complex figures. Meticulously researched, sympathetic, unsensational, the audiobook - like the forthcoming film - will focus on the period in the 1980s when Queen began to fragment, before their Live Aid performance put them back in the frame. In her journey to understand the man behind the legend, Lesley-Ann Jones has travelled from London to Zanzibar to India. Packed with exclusive interviews and told with the invaluable perspective that the twenty years since Mercury's death presents, Freddie Mercury is the most up to date portrait of a legendary man.

©2011 Lesley-Ann Jones (P)2012 Hodder & Stoughton Entertainment & Celebrities Instruction & Technique Music Biography Celebrity Royalty

Critic Reviews

"No one has captured better than Lesley-Ann Jones the magical, enchanting dualism of Freddie Mercury." ( The Times)
All stars
Most relevant  
As others have stated, the numerous voices used to speak the part of various sources made it difficult to listen to.
A large majority of the content were quotes from sources which are readily available online.

The medical content about AIDS was laboured and seemed to be used to pad out the story.

If you are interested in the story of Freddie Mercury and Queen then there are some excellent Documentaries available on line.

What I expected from a Journalist

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A wonderful story, well told and well narrated .
I thought the accents were appropriate and useful.
I wish to congratulate the author.
Well done.
Thank you.

A beautiful way to appreciate a phenomenon.

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Don't be put off by the negative comments regarding the voices. I found this technique to be integral to writing and the story.

Immersive story

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I liked that the author actual knew Freddie but often her narrative style was rather jumbled with not a clear enough time line.

Now audible au need some books about the band to help fill in the gaps

It's nice that she actually knew him

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I enjoyed this audiobook. Wish you were still here maestro. Inspiring, incitefull, symphonic, plus just great

Freddie Mercury

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I broke one of my rules with this book. I tend to buy autobiographies. Well that isn't an option with Freddie Mercury. I can't really believe that there is anything better about Freddie about, so I recommend this book without too many reservations. I've watched a lot of documentaries about Queen and Freddie Mercury over the years, and thought I had a pretty good handle on his life. The movie Bohemian Rhapsody was another source, although I don't think it pretends to be anything but a BASED on a true story. There are a lot of situations where they took dramatic licence with the truth - still a great movie though.

This book tells the story of Freddie from a very wide variety of sources. I wasn't sure about that initially as there seemed to be a lot of contradictions. But as I listened a bit longer I realised that everyone who knew Freddie saw different sides of his personality. I'm not sure anyone could claim to know the whole person. Jim Hutton and Peter Freestone weren't involved much in his music. Same with Mary Austin. Those in the band lead quite different personal lives.

I imagine this book gives fans of Freddie as good an insight as possible into the many and varied sides of his personality.

The story is great. The book is well read by Lesley-Anne Jones. What did grate a bit was the actors portraying the interview subjects. While I can't say I was impressed by that method of telling their side of the story, it would have been too hard for one person to adequately do all the different voices. I particularly disliked the portrayal of people with accents such as Freddy's mother, Barbara Valentine, and Mack. Some readings wouldn't have been out of place in racist '70s sitcoms

All in all I recommend the book. Just be prepared to get past some iffy accents..........

Very well researched. Recommended.

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AMAZING, I have been watching a lot about Queen and Freddie Mercury of late. I have wanted to know more yes the new movie and documentary help but being told the life of one of the most amazing singers of all time through the eyes of someone who knew him personally gives a much better view of the singer.

Lesley goes into much detail about the singer and what life was like being on tour with the band the the struggles Freddie had to face on a day to day basis. I love how she gives her honest thoughts throughout the book and does try and cover up anything it's all from what she saw through her own eyes.

I also love the added narrations of the other members of the band its a great touch to keep you listening to be honest it plays out like an audio drama that used to play on old-time radio more than someone reading there book.

To sum up if your a fan of Queen, GET THIS BOOK.
If you're a fan of Bio's GET THIS BOOK.
and more important if your a fan of Freddie GET THIS BOOK. You will love it from start to finish and will learn a great deal more then what you thought you knew about the singer that is FREDDIE MERCURY

Freddie Mercury Though The Eyes Of A Friend

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A lot has been written about Freddie Mercury, but this biography is probably the most balanced. Nonjudgemental, the entire life of this once-in-a-lifetime is covered. Unlike other bios out there, the author, a journalist, uses her professionalism to create a wonderful record. The use of actors for the various quotes worked sometimes, sometimes not. However, I found the account of the final days especially moving. Really great and highly recommended. PS This was the first book I had read the used the word ‘vodka’ as a verb. ‘He vodkaed through the morning...’ Brilliant!

Informative, entertaining, balanced but really, really sad...

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Too much irrelevant information. . Story out of order. Too many ridiculous voices . Worst biography Ive heard. Whole story is padded out with irreverent information . Such a great life terribly told

Incredibly frustrating

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Truly awful. Goes off on irrelevant tangents. Voices are shocking and quite possible insulting to the actual people involved. Just watch Queen: Days of Our Lives instead……..

Just Don't Do It

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