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Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic Hardcover – Illustrated, October 1, 2016

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 667 ratings

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Freddie Mercury was one of rock's most dazzling front men. When he died in 1991, the music world lost one of its most flamboyant characters, as well as a supremely talented writer and vocalist. Best known as the lead singer of Queen, his amazing four-octave voice was a distinctive element in the band's unique sound, which resulted in more than a dozen million-selling albums through the 1970s, '80s, and early '90s. Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic charts his extraordinary career in the context of the life he led in the glare of rock stardom.

With expert understanding, Mark Blake traces Freddie's astonishing achievements from his childhood in Zanzibar and India to his world-conquering performance at Live Aid in 1985 and beyond. Published just ahead of what would have been Freddie's 70th birthday, this special book features a retrospective commentary on his studio and live albums, a complete discography, photographs, and memorabilia throughout.
Freddie Mercury: A Kind of Magic is an essential tribute to a truly innovative recording artist and an irreplaceable performer who rocked the world.
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mark Blake (London, UK) is a music journalist and editor. A former assistant editor of Q magazine, his work has also been published in MOJO, the Times (London'), 'Classic Rock, the Daily Telegraph, the London Evening Standard, and the Sunday Express. He is the author of the bestselling biography Pigs Might Fly: The Inside Story of Pink Floyd, Is This the Real Life: The Untold Story of Freddie Mercury and Queen, and Pretend You're in a War: The Who & the Sixties. He lives just outside London with his wife and son.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Backbeat; Illustrated edition (October 1, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1495030113
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1495030116
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.77 x 1 x 11.22 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 667 ratings

About the author

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Mark Blake
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Mark Blake has been writing about popular music and culture since 1989. His latest books are MAGNIFICO!: THE A–Z OF QUEEN, published by Nine Eight Books in November 2021, and BRING IT ON HOME: PETER GRANT, LED ZEPPELIN & BEYOND, THE STORY OF ROCK'S GREATEST MANAGER, published by Da Capo/Little Brown in October 2018

A former Assistant Editor of Q and regular contributor to MOJO and CLASSIC ROCK magazines, Blake is the also the author of PRETEND YOU'RE IN A WAR: THE WHO & THE SIXTIES (Aurum, 2014); IS THIS THE REAL LIFE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF QUEEN (Aurum, 2010) and PIGS MIGHT FLY: THE INSIDE STORY OF PINK FLOYD (Aurum, 2007 & 2013), published as COMFORTABLY NUMB (Da Capo, 2008) in the US.

Website: www.markrblake.com

Twitter @markblake3

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
667 global ratings
A MUST HAVE book.  Great photos.. never seen in anything previously.
5 Stars
A MUST HAVE book. Great photos.. never seen in anything previously.
Hardcover book, when for the price , I expected a paperback. Many photos... and ones I’ve never seen, throughout. Not just in the middle, with explanations. Well written from the author’s point of view as an avid fan, but not only covering what he liked about Freddie and the band, but other aspects. I learned several things just by skimming the photos that I never knew before. I just started reading this but I hope to find out more. It’s written in a way that makes it compelling to read and difficult to put down, too. I highly recommend this book. If you think the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was the real story... think again. A lot of it is made simple and frankly “made-up” for the movie (perhaps leaving out some of the homosexual situations that change the course of Freddie’s life to appeal to the general audience. But it’s 2020... we can now handle the LGBTQ lifestyle (I think, I hope). This book doesn’t hold back. I’ve read other books on Freddie and watched many videos, but this is a great book. I’d consider it first before any other book I’ve read on Freddie’s life with Queen and to the tragic end of his life.The book is well made, has heavy paper pages that almost make you feel that the pages are stuck together... but it’s just good paper - thick. Excellent photos, like I’ve said, never seen before. Interviews with people who knew him but you’ve never heard before. This is a must have if you want to explore the fantastic life of Freddie Mercury. Buy it!!!
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Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020
Hardcover book, when for the price , I expected a paperback. Many photos... and ones I’ve never seen, throughout. Not just in the middle, with explanations. Well written from the author’s point of view as an avid fan, but not only covering what he liked about Freddie and the band, but other aspects. I learned several things just by skimming the photos that I never knew before. I just started reading this but I hope to find out more. It’s written in a way that makes it compelling to read and difficult to put down, too. I highly recommend this book. If you think the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was the real story... think again. A lot of it is made simple and frankly “made-up” for the movie (perhaps leaving out some of the homosexual situations that change the course of Freddie’s life to appeal to the general audience. But it’s 2020... we can now handle the LGBTQ lifestyle (I think, I hope). This book doesn’t hold back. I’ve read other books on Freddie and watched many videos, but this is a great book. I’d consider it first before any other book I’ve read on Freddie’s life with Queen and to the tragic end of his life.
The book is well made, has heavy paper pages that almost make you feel that the pages are stuck together... but it’s just good paper - thick. Excellent photos, like I’ve said, never seen before. Interviews with people who knew him but you’ve never heard before. This is a must have if you want to explore the fantastic life of Freddie Mercury. Buy it!!!
Customer image
5.0 out of 5 stars A MUST HAVE book. Great photos.. never seen in anything previously.
Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020
Hardcover book, when for the price , I expected a paperback. Many photos... and ones I’ve never seen, throughout. Not just in the middle, with explanations. Well written from the author’s point of view as an avid fan, but not only covering what he liked about Freddie and the band, but other aspects. I learned several things just by skimming the photos that I never knew before. I just started reading this but I hope to find out more. It’s written in a way that makes it compelling to read and difficult to put down, too. I highly recommend this book. If you think the movie Bohemian Rhapsody was the real story... think again. A lot of it is made simple and frankly “made-up” for the movie (perhaps leaving out some of the homosexual situations that change the course of Freddie’s life to appeal to the general audience. But it’s 2020... we can now handle the LGBTQ lifestyle (I think, I hope). This book doesn’t hold back. I’ve read other books on Freddie and watched many videos, but this is a great book. I’d consider it first before any other book I’ve read on Freddie’s life with Queen and to the tragic end of his life.
The book is well made, has heavy paper pages that almost make you feel that the pages are stuck together... but it’s just good paper - thick. Excellent photos, like I’ve said, never seen before. Interviews with people who knew him but you’ve never heard before. This is a must have if you want to explore the fantastic life of Freddie Mercury. Buy it!!!
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10 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2023
I wanted to learn more about Freddie. This book has great content (for someone who hasnt read any other bios on him) and amazing color pics. The book was carefully packaged so no damage whatsoever. A receipt was included inside the front cover. Thanks so much!
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. Lots of great pics I haven't seen before. Whoever thought a picture of someone waiting to board a flight could be so gorgeous? The book is laid out well--each chapter has a timeline of events for the chapter. The stories from Freddie's grade school and college friends are fun and interesting, and the quotes throughout are good. The last few chapters are sad, but not depressing, it deals with Freddie's strength and courage as he continues to sing and record, with his bandmates by his side. I read a lot of reviews of other books and chose this one because I don't want to read details of how someone dies, but how they lived. The last page has nice quotes from Roger and Brian, which tell how much they love and miss him. Great Read! I recommend it.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2019
Good book. Easy reading. Learned a couple of new things about Freddie and Queen. This is my third book about him.
Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2021
This is a quality book starting with the stock it’s printed on. The layout is great. There are great pictures, many that I’ve never seen before, chronologies throughout and ending with Queen’s abundant discography.
It’s truthful with stories of Queen’s development from a fledgling band to becoming the kings of stadium rock. There are many stories of victories and defeats. There’s both humor and tragedy.
I highly recommend this book to all Queen fans.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2022
I've read many books about Freddie. I love each one because I learn something new about him in every book. This book is an easy read and informative. I love the cover picture too!
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2020
This is wonderful. It's interesting, it's loaded with many photographs. Even if you're not a fan, you will enjoy perusing it, reading it, or even just looking at the pictures. Fine Quality, big size but not so it takes up so much room. I love this book. Is it faithful as to content? Who cares. It's a lovely tribute to Freddie Mercury and Queen. I'd give it another star or two if I had that option. On a scale of 1-10 I give it an 11.
2 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2021
I bought this book used. It’s very worn. I wish I had known how worn it was. It appears to have been in a local library. Should’ve just bought the new one. It has some cool pics in it.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Jayne Bowen
5.0 out of 5 stars Birthday present
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 13, 2024
Lovely product
Client Kindle
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent livre pour mieux connaitre Queen
Reviewed in France on April 13, 2022
Pour les fans de Queen et de Freddie Mercury et son génie musical, sa voix incomparable et son talent de compositeur.
Monsieur Freddie Mercury est et restera irremplaçable.
One person found this helpful
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Cliente Amazon
1.0 out of 5 stars El libro ha llegado en mal estado
Reviewed in Spain on April 11, 2022
El libro ha llegado dañado. Es para un regalo y por ello no puedo devolverlo.
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Cliente Amazon
1.0 out of 5 stars El libro ha llegado en mal estado
Reviewed in Spain on April 11, 2022
El libro ha llegado dañado. Es para un regalo y por ello no puedo devolverlo.
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Cliente Amazon
5.0 out of 5 stars Un ulteriore ricordo di una grande rockstar
Reviewed in Italy on October 23, 2020
Un libro che celebra la vita di una grande star. Vita passata all"insegna del cambiamento e della continua ricerca del nuovo e del sorprendente.
Ottime foto ben commentate.
Bel libro che arricchisce ulteriormente la "conoscenza" di Freddy e dei Queen.
Da collezionare.
BensMom98
5.0 out of 5 stars Super interesting!
Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2019
I was pleased when this book arrived just 24 hours after my order and even more pleased with the book itself. Tons of photos from Freddy's youth and career, and various quotes from him and those in his life. Not sure how accurate everything is but it's thoroughly enjoyable.

The only thing I wish is that the book was smaller in size. It's a coffee-table book, which makes it heavy to hold and it doesn't fit well in my bookcase. I prefer this to reading it on my android though, so I'm okay with these small issues. Recommended!