Pop: The History Makers with Steve Blame Peter Straker - Freddie Mercury's close friend
Peter Straker - the man who was close friends with Freddie Mercury.
When Peter Straker first recorded music he was the given the moniker of the Black Bowie. He was fresh from a career defining role as Hud in Hair - the musical that redefined the musical, outrageous, brave and trailblazing. His career as an actor, found him choosing roles which were audacious and bold - playing what we'd term today as a non-binary role in Girl/Boy - a film way ahead of its time. He was the narrator in the original Tommy musical, and much later in 2017 played the role that Tina Turner took in the film, the Acid Queen. His roles in the west end are numerous and has had a stellar career, his voice captivating.
Born in 1943 in Jamaica, Peter's recording career started in the late 1970s. He had just met Freddie Mercury with whom he was to become firm friends. Mercury helped him getting a recording deal with EMI and even co-produced with Roy Thomas Baker (who produced the first three Queen albums) This One's For Me, Straker's first album on the label.
His career as a recording artist stuttered and he reconsidered what was he doing. In the end he continued as a stage actor in countless musicals, and even in classical roles in the Bristol Old Vic and the National Theatre in London.
His close friendship with the legendary Queen frontman, Freddie Mercury, shines a light on the private side of Freddie - and gives an insight in that era, what Freddie's interests were, and humanises a person we often just see as an icon or idol - I found his insights fascinating.
Today Peter Straker has a 3-track digital single on Cherry Red Records, Just Spend the Night with Me - a 2023 mix of his original single.
Here are some links to hear the new material
https://sendeyo.com/en/e8da47ddfc
Lyric Video here: https://youtu.be/rX01DLn4Jew
Order Digital Single link: https://cherryred.co/PeterStraker2023
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