Sacha Baron Cohen quits role of Freddie Mercury in Queen biopic

[shack]

Apparently he and the band had some "artistic" differences. He might have been good.

http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/sacha-b...om-freddie-mercury-role-in-queen-biopic-73107

 

[GameBoy27]

Maybe ask this guy.

 

[Bud Plug]

maybe ask this guy.

wow!!!!!!

 

[Ceiling Cat]

https://soundcloud.com/howardstern/sachabaroncohens_queen

As Cohen said in the interview with Stern, the band wanted to stay away from the scandalous activity that Freddy was indulging in. The band wanted a sanitized version of history.

The singer in the video may have a voice, but the project is all about telling the Freddy Mercury/ Queen story. I am sure they can dub Freddy's voice into Cohen singing scenes without any trouble.

 

[tribunus]

I really don't how Brian May and Roger Taylor have carried themselves in recent years. They try to prop up Queen with losers like Adam Lambert and Paul Rodgers as lead singer on tours. In interviews they downplay Freddy while propping themselves up when everyone knows the band was all about Mercury. At least John Deacon had the smarts to gracefully retire and happily collect his royalty cheques.

 

[Scarey]

I really don't how Brian May and Roger Taylor have carried themselves in recent years. They try to prop up Queen with losers like Adam Lambert and Paul Rodgers as lead singer on tours. In interviews they downplay Freddy while propping themselves up when everyone knows the band was all about Mercury. At least John Deacon had the smarts to gracefully retire and happily collect his royalty cheques.

Agreed.Brian and Roger should have stepped off that train a few stops ago.Classic example of not being able to let go of the glory days

 

[MissCroft]

Sacha Baron Cohen would have been great as Freddie Mercury and he seemed to really have his heart in it to do a really good portrayal. Sad.

I love Brian May and Roger Taylor but the idea was it was supposed to be a movie about Freddie. So I don't really know why they have so much say and control in the movie. I would think that Mary Austen, Dave Clark (i.e. his best friends) and his mother and sister would have more say but maybe they don't want to get involved or maybe don't want the movie to be made at all. I don't know.

Anyway, a great documentary that is enough of a Freddie movie for me:

 

[Bud Plug]

I really don't how Brian May and Roger Taylor have carried themselves in recent years. They try to prop up Queen with losers like Adam Lambert and Paul Rodgers as lead singer on tours. In interviews they downplay Freddy while propping themselves up when everyone knows the band was all about Mercury. At least John Deacon had the smarts to gracefully retire and happily collect his royalty cheques.

I agree that I don't like, and have no interest in, a cobbled together version of Queen.

However, I don't think it's accurate to say that Queen's success was all about Freddy. May, Taylor, and Dean deserve most of the credit for the songs, particularly May. It's May's sound, chops, compositional ability (particularly as a collaborator with Freddy), and talent for arrangement that make every Queen song so instantly recognizable. Freddy was one of the greatest front men ever, had a great (rock and roll) voice, and had a far more engaging personality than anyone else in the band. His life makes for a far more interesting movie. But May and Taylor are right when they take a large share of credit for what's on the albums.

 

[MissCroft]

However, I don't think it's accurate to say that Queen's success was all about Freddy. May, Taylor, and Dean deserve most of the credit for the songs, particularly May. It's May's sound, chops, compositional ability (particularly as a collaborator with Freddy), and talent for arrangement that make every Queen song so instantly recognizable.

Fair. May wrote We Will Rock You, Fat-Bottomed Girls, Keep Yourself Alive and others. John Deacon wrote Another One Bites the Dust. Freddie wrote Bohemian Rhapsody, Under Pressure (with David Bowie), and We are the Champions.


Freddie always said that he was not the 'leader' and that the four of them together were equal and made sure that the division of money/royalties was 25% for the four of them.

 

[Insidious Von]

Queen are not The Doors, Freddie Mercury didn't write most of the songs like Jim Morrison did. Therefore Mercury's estate doesn't have the last word on any project. Cohen could have showcased Mercury well but not if his actual story could not have been told. It could also be that the passing of David Bowie played a part in his decision.

From the stupid human attitude file: Robert Van Winkle otherwise known as Vanilla Ice. By 1996 Vanilla Ice was flat broke. When asked what happened to the money he made from Ice Ice Baby, he said that he got shaken down by Suge Knight. Attempting to preserve his dignity by lying. In fact Bowie and Deacon (who co-wrote Under Pressure) would have allowed him to keep his proceeds, if he had kept his mouth shut - he didn't. To quote Chrissie Hynde; Vanilla Ice shot his mouth off and David Bowie showed him what that hole was for.

 

[Steve Harper]

Agreed.Brian and Roger should have stepped off that train a few stops ago.Classic example of not being able to let go of the glory days

True. But if there is filthy lucre involved, anyone would jump at the chance. Even if they're already rich beyond rich. I don't blame them a bit. Lots of billionaires still go to work each day doing the same things that made them rich to begin with. Why should we expect May & Taylor to be any different?

 

[Insidious Von]

God is a Queen fan.

Though saddened by SBC's departure, he understands and forgives.