Freddie Mercury in his definitive pose – Denis O’Regan’s best photograph



‘I changeable the vocalist successful Manchester successful 1986, connected what would beryllium his remaining excursion with Queen. That signifier helium throws – nary 1 other ever did it. He’s similar a flexible toy’

‘He ever mentioned maine arsenic Doris’ … Freddie Mercury astatine Maine Road, Manchester, successful 1986. Photograph: Denis O’Regan/courtesy of west-current-variants.Com‘He perpetually referred to maine arsenic Doris’ … Freddie Mercury astatine Maine Road, Manchester, successful 1986. Photograph: Denis O’Regan/courtesy of west-present day-versions.ComInterview by mode of Dave SimpsonWed 16 Nov 2022 10.02 ESTLast modified connected Wed 16 Nov 2022 10.04 EST

I’ve been surrounded by means of bands each my lifestyles. I went to precocious schoolhouse successful Ealing, which is wherever Freddie Mercury went to creation college. Likewise Ronnie Wood and Pete Townshend. Olympic Studios, wherever Led Zeppelin, the Who and the Rolling Stones recorded, turned into successful adjacent by Barnes, wherein I lived. It’s a cinema present – the Stones recorded Sympathy for the Devil successful the country successful which you ticker movies.

I changed into astatine the periphery of each of it nevertheless my dada and ma wouldn’t let maine spell to creation assemblage and I ended up moving for an sum broker wrong the City. It wasn’t what I wanted to do. I started going to spot bands astatine Hammersmith Odeon, and noticed David Bowie arsenic Ziggy Stardust. One night, I smuggled a reasonably-priced Russian digicam successful to spot Paul McCartney and Wings doing their soundcheck. Queen person been the assistance act, truthful I took a photograph of them playing and managed to beforehand it. It turned into my archetypal ever photograph sale.

Freddie go truthful hard to representation portion helium turned into moving: helium mightiness had been successful that airs for a microsecond

I taught myself, nevertheless I couldn’t get a photograph walk with retired a portfolio and I couldn’t get a portfolio without a representation skip. Punk came alongside connected the due time: unexpectedly I had get close of introduction to to bands for 75p, and these had been the photos the euphony papers wanted. Once my telephone started performing successful NME, I changed into susceptible of manoeuvre matters more.

A lensman I’d met astatine a Damned gig shared a location with Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy. I hung accessible and successful the aboriginal Phil stated they person been going to Scandinavia. I said, “Take maine alongside?” which is however I became a circuit photographer. After Thin Lizzy, I changeable Bowie, the Stones, the Bee Gees and Neil Diamond. Duran Duran successful America go similar Beatlemania. Bowie go precise friendly, down to world and funny. I spent years with him sincerely each day. Being with the Stones go exquisite. Who wouldn’t request to beryllium paid to spell circular the satellite with a stone set connected their non-public jet?

I changeable Queen astatine the Magic Tour of 1986, which cipher knew would beryllium their remaining. They person been truthful large by means of then. I wanted to circuit with them arsenic it changed into this benignant of first-rate amusement and Freddie turned into a arsenic soon as-in-a-lifetime showman. I presume that is considered 1 of lone a fistful of photographs that exemplifies him. That signifier helium throws – nary idiosyncratic other ever did it. He seems similar a bendy toy. There’s besides the mode he’s retaining the microphone, 1 successful each of his emblems. He go truthful hard to representation whilst helium became transferring: helium could were successful that airs for a microsecond, due to the fact that helium mightiness person been spinning round.

I astir effectual had 36 photos connected a roll, and movie go truely luxurious truthful I couldn’t sprout changeable aft shot. Each clip I pressed the shutter it'd worth maine a pound. So I became similar a sniper. I’d travel Freddie circular arsenic if I had a movie integer camera, past erstwhile I noticed the changeable successful that nanosecond I’d instrumentality the photograph. The focusing became each manual. I’d often person a truly horrific headache aft shows due to the fact that the strain connected the encephalon was truthful severe. You’re looking the lighting fixtures and what the creator is doing truthful intently.

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This changed into a summertime clip display. The successful summation northbound you go, the aboriginal it receives darkish, truthful astatine Maine Road successful Manchester it turned into each successful daylight. I changeable connected an vintage Olympus and the movie ought to lone determination arsenic overmuch arsenic a definite pace, truthful if a idiosyncratic is shifting accelerated you privation sunlight hours to marque it work. Also, capturing retired person to the pack intended the individuals who adore him are wrong the identical photo.

Off grade Freddie whitethorn beryllium beauteous shy, but helium was probable the funniest idiosyncratic I ever went connected excursion with. Apparently, helium continually noted maine arsenic Doris. Brian May, Queen’s guitarist, said: “Didn’t you recognize?” I didn’t – Freddie glaringly utilized to sanction maine that erstwhile I wasn’t round. On stage, though, helium go successful bid that flamboyant. He’d bid a full assemblage – similar helium did astatine Live Aid. If you judge you studied of Freddie, this changeable mightiness beryllium it.

The accumulation sixty 9 Days by means of Denis O’Regan whitethorn beryllium regarded connected enactment astatine west-modern-day-editions.Com and successful idiosyncratic astatine the Denis O’Regan Gallery, London, connected 25 and 26 November

Denis O’Regan’s CV

Born: London, 1953
Trained: Self-taught
Influences: “David Bowie, the Beatles, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk. I bought my archetypal Mac successful 1987, 2 years earlier than Adobe released Photoshop, which I instantly followed.”
High factor: “My son’s transportation successful 2006. And David Bowie’s Serious Moonlight satellite tour, 1983.”
Low factor: “My mother’s astir cancers. She died successful 1978 astatine forty seven.”
Top tip: “Quit whining. Just bash it.”