Freddie Mercury
“I’m Possessed by Love”: Freddie Mercury’s Loneliest, Most Libidinous Era Revisited
In 1985, Freddie Mercury was the biggest rock star on the planet, fresh off a decade of global domination with Queen. But behind the aviator shades and the high-energy showmanship of his debut solo album, Mr. Bad Guy, was a man grappling with the heavy toll of his own superstardom.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the record’s release, Queen’s official YouTube channel has unveiled the final installment of a three-part mini-series. The episode dives deep into a classic, intimate 1985 interview between Mercury and journalist David Wigg in Munich—a conversation that peels back the “butch” chocolate-box exterior to reveal the “gypsy” heart underneath.
While the music on Mr. Bad Guy leaned into the pulsating disco and synth-pop rhythms of the mid-eighties, the lyrics often stood in stark contrast to the upbeat tempo. In the newly released footage, Mercury discusses the UK No. 1 hit “Living On My Own,” a track famously paired with a video of his legendary 39th birthday bash. This monochrome masquerade was defined by a surreal checkerboard theme, where the dizzying patterns and masked guests created a frantic backdrop for a song essentially about isolation. The visual of a crowded, “garish” ball serves as the perfect irony for Mercury’s reflections on fame and loneliness.
“That’s very me,” Mercury tells Wigg. “When you think about someone like me and my lifestyle, I mean I have to go around the world and live in hotels and that can be very lonely.”
Yet, in true Freddie fashion, he refuses to wallow. “I’m not complaining,” he insists with a grin. “I’m just saying I’m living on my own and having a boogie time.”
The interview also touches on the more provocative corners of the album. Discussing “Foolin’ Around,” Mercury bypasses the lyrics entirely to focus on the “sexual element” of the track’s rhythm.
When Wigg asks if “My Love Is Dangerous” serves as a warning to potential suitors, Mercury doesn’t flinch. “I’m not a very good partner for anybody,” he admits. “But who wants their love to be safe? I mean, can you imagine writing a song ‘My Love Is Safe’? It would never sell.”
“I’m possessed by love. Yeah. Isn’t everybody, though?” — Freddie Mercury
Even when discussing the album’s marketing, Mercury’s wit remains sharp. He jokes about appearing naked on a beach for the cover, before describing the actual artwork—an iconic shot of him in dark shades—as a “chocolate box cover of me… looking very butch.”
Perhaps the most poignant moment comes when Wigg asks if the singer might appear with angel wings on the sleeve (a nod to the track “Made In Heaven”). Mercury’s response is quick, self-deprecating, and slightly haunting: “Oh, no, nothing like that. They were clipped off a long time ago.”
The anniversary celebration culminates with the release of the special edition vinyl reissue, available now in translucent green and as a picture disc. For fans, this retrospective offers a rare look at Mercury as he truly was in 1985: a man at the height of his powers, yet vulnerable enough to admit that, deep down, he was just a romantic looking for a groove.
The final episode of the Mr. Bad Guy series premieres Friday, December 19, at 2 PM GMT on the Queen Official YouTube channel.
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