Latest news with #StateofShock
Malay Mail
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
The llama that ended a legend: Why Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson's duet dreams died
NEW YORK, April 30 — Freddie Mercury ended a promising studio session with Michael Jackson after the King of Pop brought a pet llama into the recording room. The bizarre moment became the last straw for Mercury, who was working with Jackson on a series of potential duets in 1983, bassist Jo Burt told the New York Post. 'I think the last straw was when Michael brought his pet llama into the studio,' said Burt, who worked on Mercury's solo debut Mr. Bad Guy. Mercury immediately called Queen's manager Jim 'Miami' Beach for help, saying, 'Miami, dear, can you get over here? You've got to get me out of here, I'm recording with a llama,' as Beach recalled in the 2012 documentary Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender. The unlikely collaboration had brought two musical legends together, as Mercury took a break from Queen and Jackson was fresh off the success of Thriller. They recorded three songs — 'Victory,' 'State of Shock,' and 'There Must Be More to Life Than This' — at Jackson's home studio in Encino, California. Despite early excitement, none of the tracks were completed in time for Mercury's solo album Mr. Bad Guy, released 40 years ago on April 29, 1985. Mercury would later release a solo version of 'There Must Be More to Life Than This,' while Jackson recorded 'State of Shock' with Mick Jagger for Victory by The Jacksons. According to producer Reinhold Mack, Mr. Bad Guy gave Mercury the rare freedom to create without compromise, away from the usual pressures of Queen's group dynamic. 'He just did something he liked from the bottom of his heart ... what he wanted it to be,' Mack said, praising Mercury's unfiltered creative control.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why a Llama Stopped Freddie Mercury from Finishing Duets with Michael Jackson
It appears a llama is to blame for why the world is missing a collaboration from Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson. After Queen went on hiatus in 1983, the "We Will Rock You" hitmaker — who died from complications from AIDS at the age of 45 — connected with the King of Pop, who died of apparent cardiac arrest at the age of 50. The pair were fans of one another and, as Mercury wanted to pursue a dancier sound on his solo record, they decided to collaborate. Related: Prince's Feud with Michael Jackson: Clues into Why He Skipped the 'We Are the World' Recording 40 Years Ago They ended up heading to Jackson's studio in Encino, Calif. and working on three tracks — Victory,' 'State of Shock' and 'There Must Be More to Life Than This. However, none of them ever made the cut for Mercury's 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy. Instead, a solo rendition of 'There Must Be More to Life Than This' appeared on Mr Bad Guy, while 'State of Shock' ended up being a collaboration with Mick Jagger on the Jackson 5's 1984 album Victory. 'I think the last straw was when Michael brought his pet llama into the studio,' Jo Burt — who played bass on Mr. Bad Guy — told the New York Post. He added: 'I think Freddie sort of took umbrage to that.' According to the publication, Mercury tapped Queen's manager Jim 'Miami' Beach to get out of the situation. 'Mercury rang me and said, 'Miami, dear, can you get over here? You've got to get me out of here, I'm recording with a llama,' ' Beach said in the 2012 documentary Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, per the New York Post. Mercury's album Mr. Bad Guy came at a time when he was looking for creative autonomy. Prior to his debut album, Mercury had recorded solo music under the pseudonym Larry Lurex in 1973 and later for the 1984 'Metropolis' soundtrack. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: The Unseen Freddie Mercury: Exploring the Private Man Behind the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Character Mercury only released one solo album — Mr. Bad Guy — however, he did release a 1988 collaborative album with opera singer Montserrat Caballé called Barcelona.'There Must Be More to Life Than This,' which he initially collaborated on with Jackson, was eventually featured on the 2014 compilation album Queen Forever. Read the original article on People
New York Post
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Why Freddie Mercury never finished 3 duets with Michael Jackson — it involves a llama
When Freddie Mercury was looking to break free of Queen as his band went on hiatus in 1983, he turned to a King — King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The two late music legends were mutual fans — Jackson even suggested that Queen release 'Another One Bites the Dust' as a single — and MJ was hot off of releasing his 'Thriller' blockbuster in 1982. Mercury wanted to move more in a dance direction, so they collaborated on three tracks at Jackson's home studio in Encino, California. But none of this dynamic duo's duets — 'Victory,' 'State of Shock,' and 'There Must Be More to Life Than This' — were completed to make Mercury's debut solo album, 'Mr. Bad Guy,' which came out 40 years ago on April 29, 1985. 7 Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson collaborated on three tracks that were never finished for 'Mr. Bad Guy.' Getty Images Blame it on Jackson's pet llama, Louie, who made a miffed Mercury bolt from their sessions. 'I think the last straw was when Michael brought his pet llama into the studio,' Jo Burt — who played fretless bass on 'Mr. Bad Guy' — exclusively told The Post. 'I think Freddie sort of took umbrage to that.' Mercury called Queen manager Jim 'Miami' Beach to make his escape from the studio. 'Mercury rang me and said, 'Miami, dear, can you get over here? You've got to get me out of here, I'm recording with a llama,'' Beach recalled in the 2012 documentary 'Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender.' Mercury would go on to release a solo version of 'There Must Be More to Life Than This' on 'Mr. Bad Guy,' and Jackson ended up recording 'State of Shock' with Mick Jagger for 1984's 'Victory,' his last album with his brothers. It was all part of the creative freedom that Mercury was enjoying and experiencing for the first time on his debut solo project apart from Queen — with no compromises. 'He just did something he liked from the bottom of his heart … what he wanted it to be, without being talked into maybe a bit more guitars, or a bit more of this or more that,' said Reinhold Mack, who produced 'Mr. Bad Guy.' 'It was just like, 'This is it, this is how I want it.'' 7 Freddie Mercury dedicated 'Mr. Bad Guy' to 'my cat Jerry — also Tom, Oscar and Tiffany, and all the cat lovers across the universe' Getty Images Although Mercury had previously recorded two songs under the pseudonym Larry Lurex that were released in 1973 and contributed 'Love Kills' to the 1984 'Metropolis' soundtrack, 'Mr. Bad Guy' was his first true solo statement after taking Queen to killer heights with classics such as 'Somebody to Love,' 'We Are the Champions' and, of course, 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' The LP was born out of a time when a splintered and squabbling Queen was on hiatus after 1982's 'Hot Space.' 'I think he just wanted to stretch his wings a little because there are a lot of compromises you have to make when you're with a band,' said Fred Mandel, who played keyboards on 'Mr. Bad Guy' after previously touring with Queen and working on 1984's 'The Works.' 'And I think he just wanted to do something where he could make his own decisions.' 7 Freddie Mercury was ready to take it to the dance floor on his debut solo album, 1985's 'Mr. Bad Guy.' Getty Images Mercury wanted to explore more of the disco-rock groove of 1980's 'Another One Bites the Dust,' which continued on 'Hot Space,' but the rest of Queen wasn't having it. 'They didn't like that as a band too much,' said Mack, who first started working with Queen on 1980's 'The Game.' 'I think the 'Hot Space' album had started to take on this dance thing that he loved, and between him and Brian [May, Queen guitarist], the tension had stretched,' said Burt, who played on 'Man Made Paradise.' 7 'Leaving Queen was never really in the cards,' said Reinhold Mack, who produced Freddie Mercury's debut solo album. Getty Images But living in Munich, Germany — where he was in a relationship with restauranteur Winnie Kirchberger — and exploring the gay club scene there, Mercury was ready to take it to the dance floor. 'I think that's pretty well documented that he was very much clubbing, hanging out in bars a lot,' said Burt, who was in a relationship with Mercury's former fiancée, Mary Austin, at the time. 'I mean, the whole dance scene, he liked a lot,' said Mack. 'He liked grooves and, you know, Michael Jackson. And he said, 'I hate him. I hate Prince, too. Because they are so good.' ' Curt Cress — who played drums on 'Mr. Bad Guy' — recalls that Mercury was insistent on making a clean break from Queen, so much so that he had him re-record Roger Taylor's part on the title track. 7 Freddie Mercury performed with Queen at the Rock in Rio festival in Brazil in 1985. Getty Images 'It was a funny situation because I was playing on the song 'Mr. Bad Guy' because Roger Taylor played it already, and so they asked to wipe it off,' said Cress, who was recruited by Mack to work on the album. 'And so I played it again because Freddie didn't want to have a Queen album, so he didn't want to have the Queen guys on his record, but I said, 'I can't wipe it off, you know, because we have to ask Roger before.' But Roger said, 'No problem, just wipe it.'' Meanwhile, 'Made in Heaven' was a dedication to Mercury's godson, Mack's son John Frederick. The song would go on to become the title of the 1995 Queen album released after Mercury's 1991 death. 'I think the band, or the remaining people of the band, adopted it as their track,' said Mack. 7 Freddie Mercury rocked Live Aid with Queen just three months after releasing his debut solo album, 'Mr. Bad Guy.' Redferns Mercury also worked with Rod Stewart and Jeff Beck on 'Another Piece of My Heart,' another track that was never released on 'Mr. Bad Guy.' 'But it was great fun doing it,' said Mack. Although Mercury would go on to release a collaborative album with opera singer Montserrat Caballé, 'Barcelona,' 'Mr. Bad Guy' would be his one and only solo LP. One of his duets with Jackson, 'There Must Be More to Life Than This,' was eventually released on 2014's 'Queen Forever.' 7 Freddie Mercury dedicated the 'Mr. Bad Guy' track 'Made in Heaven' to his godson John Frederick Mack. Redferns While 'Mr. Bad Guy,' which Mercury dedicated to 'my cat Jerry — also Tom, Oscar and Tiffany, and all the cat lovers across the universe' — found the singer stretching out beyond Queen, it was never meant for him to split from the group that had made him a rock god. In fact, just three months after the album was released, the band gave its iconic performance at Live Aid. 'I felt they were like four brothers, really,' said Mandel, who was playing in Elton John's band at the time. 'I think they just wanted some time off.' 'Leaving Queen was never really in the cards,' added Mack. 'But I think 'Mr. Bad Guy' still holds up. The album is good.'
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lindley Mayer Gulledge: Dancing through a career ... with kindness
Lindley Mayer Gulledge's resume reflects a long, vibrant career in dance, acting, business ownership, mentoring and more. But no matter which role she is filling, kindness is what directs her path. Gulledge is celebrating 10 years of her studio, Shock Dance Center. It's a milestone that she says means the world to her and those who are following in her agile footsteps. 'My mom put me in dance when I was 3 years old, and I feel like the moment I put my tap shoes on, I knew that was what I was going to do for the rest of my life,' she says. 'I know for a lot of people, it takes them a little while to figure it out, but I'm so thankful to my mom for that. She was a dancer as well, and I guess I just had it in my blood. But from that moment on, it just continued to be a huge part of my life and shaped me in so many different ways.' Gulledge says her life has been directed in no small part by her siblings, who have developmental and physical disabilities, as well as her parents, who have supported her every step of the way. 'That was a struggle for me, especially being the older one, and I immediately wanted to take on that role of being a voice and being an advocate,' she says. 'It made me grow up very, very quickly, but it also gave me a heart for giving back, and really for wanting, ultimately, to create a program for kids like my siblings to feel a purpose, create friendships and to work out and to have something to do every single week that they look forward to.' The pageant world has also been an important part of Gulledge's life. She held the title of Miss South Carolina's Teen 2005 and Miss South Carolina United States in 2016. She is currently serving as the Palmetto State Star Director for the Miss South Carolina organization. Through that work, she continues to mentor young women and encourage them to be true to themselves. After training and working in California for several years, Gulledge knew she wanted to open a studio. The name she chose comes from her signature dance solo, called 'State of Shock.' 'I wanted to keep performing as long as I could, as long as my body would let me, and which I still am thankful that I get to do,' she says. 'But ultimately, I knew that I wanted to create that space. I wanted to bring my love for the special needs community and my passion for dance together. And that's what I did with Shock.' With programs for toddlers through high school, Gulledge and her team are teaching discipline, commitment and hard work, with a generous portion of joy and delight. In addition to extensive recreational and competition dance programs, Shock also gives Gulledge a place to make her vision a reality. Shock Stars is a free, inclusive dance program for children with disabilities that lets everyone shine. 'It has grown so much over the years,' she says. 'We've also watched some of these kids grow up. This will be our 10th anniversary of Shock Dance, and we've had Shock Stars since our studio's inception. And of course, my siblings have been a part of it for all of those 10 years, but other kids have been a part of that as well. That is my favorite part about the studio. And I think my other favorite part is getting to watch the other kids interact with them.' Shock Stars is held on a day when not many of the other programs are in session, but Gulledge says the students come anyway. As a result, everyone benefits. 'They're buddies to these kids inside and outside of the studio,' she says. Shock Stars even have their own competition team. 'That is my dream come true,' Gulledge says. 'I can't imagine anything more special than that. They want friendships, and they want to be treated just like everybody else, and they want to be understood.' Outside the studio, Gulledge is a wife and mother, and she remains actively involved in the lives of the many young people she mentors and influences through her work. 'I always tell them I have 100 kids, because I love them all with all of my heart and I know them all and I know what their journey is and I know where they want to go,' she says. Learn more at and This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Lindley Mayer Gulledge: Dancing through a career ... with kindness
