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Airdate: The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody

Richard E. Grant narrates this doco which interviews Brian May, Roger Taylor, John Reid and more.

bohrhapMAX will air Queen documentary The Story of Bohemian Rhapsody tomorrow night, which is a 2004 documentary.

Publicity notes indicate this is an Australian premiere, but it actually aired on Ovation 2008, which I reviewed here.

When Queen defiantly released their classic rock anthem in 1976, they broke the mould. At 5:55 seconds, with opera sequences and a ground-breaking video clip, the British band went against every rule in the book. Freddie Mercury’s song still sits at the top of critics’ lists and audience favourites, and yet there is no clear unison on what the song is about. This documentary, with Richard E. Grant as narrator, dissects the history, content and appreciation of the song with loving enthusiasm. It has gone to great pains to uncover the people behind the song, making it a ‘must-see’ for any fan of the hit. Brian May and Roger Taylor return to the makeshift recording studios outside London where they recorded the song. The documentary also chats to band manager John Reid about Freddie composing the song in his London flat. Mercury’s elderly mother, and sister, reflect on the success of the band with their first number one. And there is recognition of the support from Kenny Everett, then a DJ, who played the song incessantly on his radio show -despite the staggering 5:55min length. This is a fascinating, meticulous documentary of a stunning piece of art. Don’t miss it.

9pm Tuesday on MAX.

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