 Freddie Mercury onstage (photo by Mick
Rock) |
Killer
Queen
Photographs by Mick Rock
Original Text by Brian May, Mick Rock, and Mary Austin
Published by Genesis Publications
212 pages
Review by David Chiu
Any fans of Queen, especially of their
early years, certainly know of the group's association with Mick
Rock in the '70s. Rock has been the renowned photographer of
the glam era, having shot David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust
phase and would later on capture acts such as Lou Reed and Blondie.
So it was a perfect match between him and a group riding on the
glam wave just as they were becoming to be the greatest band
in British rock.
Killer Queen
captures the group at their most regal and flamboyant even when
they were just starting out back in 1973. Rock's timing when
these early photographs starting from their first gig at Imperial
College was absolutely perfect, and the relationship cemented
in the next few of years. Certainly the most memorable of Rock's
photographs of the band included the iconic Queen II album
cover (later recreated for the "Bohemian Rhapsody"
video) and the sweaty photo session that would grace the Sheer
Heart Attack album. Fans of Queen's early years spanning
1971 to 1975 (between the albums Queen and A Night
at the Opera) will delight at Rock's glamorous shots of the
band at their most pompous.
Early un-used press shot (photo by
Mick Rock)
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This 212-page exquisitely-produced photo
book also contains outtakes, test Polaroids, and other previously
unseen snapshots that might even surprise die-hard fans who thought
they've seen everything. Not surprisingly Freddie Mercury looked
the most photogenic (not to slight the others) with his luxurious
hair, makeup, tight costumes, and black-polished nails. Rock
captures Mercury as an androgynous sex symbol of this period
along with Bowie's Ziggy. Look at Mercury caressing his mike
in those action scenes (he was born to be a star)---and
Rock puts his stamp on those moments perfectly.
Early un-used press shot (photo by
Mick Rock)
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Queen guitarist Brian May, Mick Rock, and
Mercury's long time friend Mary Austin provide insightful commentary
on some of the pictures and reminisce of that wonderful time
in the group's history (it also features quotes of the period
from all four members). May puts it in appropriate perspective
when he says, "Looking back, it is obvious that Mick
was a master of his art very early on. The images in this book
(including many we rejected at the time, sometimes for artistic
reasons, sometimes for reasons of vanity!) stand up fresh and
untarnished by time."
Through Mick Rock's photography, Queen's
30-year reign never looked so royal and majestic as it does on
Killer Queen.
For more information, visit Genesis Publications
http://www.genesis-publications.com
Killer Queen
is published by Genesis Publications. It is available for ordering
by calling 1-800-775-1111 or direct from www.genesis-publications.com.
Killer Queen
is available in a limited edition of 2,500, of which 2,150 are
quarter-leather bound, and 350 fully-leather bound - all copies
being numbered and signed by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Mick
Rock
Price: £225 for regular copies, £375
for fully-leather bound deluxe copies
All photographs are by Mick
Rock, and are copyrighted by the photographer himself. They are
used solely for this article. They cannot be reproduced or used
in any way without the written and expressed permission of the
publisher.
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