Is This The Real Life? by Mark Blake

Author:Mark Blake [Mark Blake]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781845136598
Publisher: Aurum Press
Published: 2010-12-14T16:00:00+00:00

‘There’s nothing wrong with going to bed with somebody of your own sex. I think everybody’s bisexual to a certain degree.’

In October 1976 Elton John discussed his sexuality in a candid interview with Rolling Stone magazine. It was a bold move by a mainstream pop star for the time. A year later, Elton announced his decision to retire from playing live and had broken up his songwriting partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin, dropping out of the public eye to plan his next move.

Behind the scenes and unknown to the public at the time, Elton was also dealing with the end of his tempestuous personal relationship with John Reid, also his manager. Professionally, there was also another issue to contend with. As Reid’s former PR Caroline Boucher explains, ‘Freddie and Elton got on very well, but you couldn’t manage Freddie and Elton.’

‘It was obviously going to end in tears,’ adds Bob Mercer. ‘If John Reid was in my office with Freddie, then inevitably there would be a phone call from Elton: “What’s he doing with her?” As another insider recalls, ‘If Elton had a tour, then that took priority, and with the different personalities in Queen, you can imagine how that went down.’

With lawyer Jim Beach negotiating, Queen’s separation from John Reid Enterprises was underway before their second US tour in 1977. Reid would receive a substantial pay-off for the early termination of the management contract, plus 15 per cent of the royalties generated by the Queen albums already released. Queen were also still paying a percentage of royalties to Trident; an arrangement that would only expire with the release of their next album.

Queen’s relationship with John Reid had been fruitful for both parties, but they were wary of signing with another manager. Reid delivered the paperwork to the back garden of Roger Taylor’s country house in order to get the necessary signatures. At the time, Queen were filming a promo for ‘We Will Rock You’ and their next single, ‘Spread Your Wings’, attempting to mime in the bitter cold and under a dusting of snow, and after Freddie had consumed the best part of a bottle of brandy. The band themselves squeezed into the back of Mercury’s Rolls-Royce and signed the documents.

Initially, they decided to manage themselves, with Pete Brown and Paul Prenter assisting. Before long, their circumstances would change again. Queen’s lawyer Jim Beach gave up his position with Harbottle & Lewis and was soon installed as the band’s business manager. ‘Jim took me out to lunch and told me he was thinking of becoming Queen’s business manager,’ remembers Bob Mercer. ‘I was very encouraging. I’d been on the suffering end of the whole Freddie Mercury-John Reid-Elton John thing, and I could please absolutely no one.’ Two years later, Brian May would admit, ‘I think we were in real danger of splitting up when the John Reid situation got really sticky.’

Jim Beach established three new companies: Queen Productions Ltd, Queen Music Ltd and Queen Films Ltd; the last of which was created in response to the growing trend for pop promos.

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