Freddie Mercury: “Jimi Hendrix is very important. He’s my idol”
Although Freddie Mercury was a frontman, he appreciated showmen of all shapes and sizes across the entertainment industry. While they may not have been traditional rock vocalists of a comparable mould to himself, the Queen singer could extract their most desirable qualities and infiltrate them with his own artistry.
Mercury was far from the shy and retiring performer; rather, he thrived in the spotlight, revelling in the gaze of every eye fixed firmly upon him. Contrasting his more subdued personal demeanour, the Queen frontman transformed into a larger-than-life character when adorned in his iconic yellow jacket. Onstage, Mercury’s persona knew no bounds, a testament to his ability to command attention and embody the essence of showmanship.
This personality trait is common among many artists, who can only truly become themselves once they step in front of a crowd and escape the reality of day-to-day life. Mercury was born to entertain the masses, as was his hero Jimi Hendrix, but the American guitarist was equally as reserved when it related to anything unrelated to his craft.
Considering Hendrix oozed confidence at his shows and his penchant for audacious stunts such as smashing up his guitars, it seems remarkable to imagine him as a shrinking violet. However, for Mercury, this ability to mutate into a different person was just as inspiring as his musical ability. In his mind, this proved that he could also do the same.
During an interview with Circus Magazine in 1975, Mercury lifted the lid on the set of artists who he viewed as his biggest influences. Naturally, he began by declaring his love for Hendrix, stating: “Jimi Hendrix is very important. He’s my idol. He sort of epitomises, from his presentation onstage, the whole works of a rock star. There’s no way you can compare him. You either have the magic, or you don’t. There’s no way you can work up to it. There’s nobody who can take his place.”
In contrast to Hendrix, the Queen singer singled out Liza Minelli, who came from a musical theatre background, which is a world away from rock ‘n’ roll. He also praised Led Zeppelin, describing frontman Robert Plant as “one of the most original vocalists of our time” and claimed the group deserved every ounce of their success.
While he greatly admired Led Zeppelin and Minelli, Mercury’s respect for Hendrix was insurmountable. He later name-checked his idol on Queen’s 1989 track ‘The Miracle’, further demonstrating his obsession with the guitarist.
Furthermore, he also once said: “Jimi Hendrix was just a beautiful man, a master showman and a dedicated musician. I would scour the country to see him whenever he played because he really had everything any rock ’n’ roll star should have: all the style and presence.”
As much as he admired Hendrix’s awe-inspiring musicianship, the like of which we may never witness again, it was his whole package that captivated Mercury and provided him with the courage to become a star in his own right.