Sophia Michaels
Freddie Mercury and Carrie Fisher are two of the great icons of the 1970s and 1980s. They both made their mark on science fiction – Fisher through her role in Star Wars and Mercury through science fiction-themed songs like “The Invisible Man” and “Flash.” A book says the two had an affair in the 1970s. Here’s what the book had to say.
What a new book has to say about Freddie Mercury and Carrie Fisher
According to news.com.au, Darwin Porter and Danforth Prince wrote a biography of Fisher and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, called Carrie Fisher & Debbie Reynolds: Princess Leia & Unsinkable Tammy in Hell. The book’s title refers to Fisher’s role as Princess Leia in Star Wars and Reynolds’ roles as the title characters in the popular 1950s movies The Unsinkable Molly Brown and Tammy and the Bachelor. Reynolds also had a hit pop song called “Tammy,” proving she could find success in various mediums.
Outsiders have sometimes classified Mercury as gay, sometimes as bisexual. Porter and Prince recount him having affairs with men and women, reports NME. The Sydney Morning Herald says Fisher met Mercury when she attended a party thrown by Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. Reynolds also attended the party.
Porter and Prince wrote “In addition to an endless parade of boys and young men on the side, Mercury occasionally seduced a young woman and had a long-time relationship with Mary Austin…Carrie said she didn’t want to interfere with his ongoing love affair, but he dismissed her concerns.” According to Metro, the book says Mercury replied “A bloke like me needs extra.”
The books says Mercury and Fisher had an affair in 1973. Fisher would have been 17 at the time. The affair would have happened four years before the release of Star Wars made Fisher a household name.
What Freddie Mercury thought of ‘Star Wars’
Shockingly, Mercury once dismissed Star Wars in his music. According to The A.V. Club, the rock icon released a song called “Bicycle Race” which includes the line “I don’t like Star Wars.” This lyric must have been surprising at a time when Star Wars was incredibly popular and almost universally beloved.
The A.V. Club says the lyrics should not be taken at face value. Instead, the line was a comment on Star Wars’ incredible ubiquity. Regardless of Mercury feelings towards the space opera franchise, he would incorporate Star Wars into Queen’s shows.
Darth Vader at a Queen concert?
Specifically, he would enter the stage on the shoulders of a man dressed as Darth Vader in 1979 and 1980, reports Vanity Fair. Darth Vader was popular with the rock bands of the day. The villain makes a cameo in the video for Blondie’s classic pop-reggae tune “Tide Is High.”
What Fisher thought of Mercury, his use of Darth Vader’s likeness, and Blondie’s use of Darth Vader’s likeness is unclear. According to The A.V. Club, an image of Mercury perched on Vader’s shoulders would become an iconic image of the singer. Whether Fisher inspired it in any way will remain a mystery. And if there’s one thing classic rock fans love, it’s a good mystery.
Written by: CheatSheet
