In this week’s Classic Countdown, Steve Bishop peeled back the glittering curtain to reveal a lesser-known insight into the genius of Freddie Mercury—not just as a vocalist, but as the ultimate showman.

On stage, Freddie Mercury was electric. But behind the flamboyant costumes and commanding presence was a man who understood his purpose with crystal clarity. “That’s the part of my role,” he once said. “I have to win them over. Otherwise, it’s not a successful gig.” This wasn’t just about performance—it was about connection. For Freddie, every audience had to leave feeling like they’d experienced something unforgettable.

Steve shared how Freddie’s approach to being Queen’s frontman wasn’t accidental—it was intentional, theatrical, and deeply rooted in his belief in showmanship. “I don’t like to go on stage sitting on a stool and do a show,” Mercury explained. “I’m very volatile… I like to put a song across in the way it is. It’s all part of showbiz and theatre.”

Rolling Stone once called Freddie “rock’s greatest performer,” praising how he could hold the attention of 300,000 people with a single gesture. Smash Hits highlighted his ability to switch from operatic elegance to raw rock energy in a heartbeat—making each concert feel like a full-scale production.

That mastery of live performance reached its pinnacle in some of the most iconic concerts in rock history. At Live Aid in 1985, Queen’s 20-minute set—including Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga, and We Are the Champions—was hailed as the defining moment of the event, with Mercury’s legendary “ay-oh” call-and-response uniting the globe. Earlier that year, at Rock in Rio, he mesmerised a crowd of 250,000 with the same blend of theatricality and sincerity. And in 1986, his powerful presence at Wembley Stadium during Queen’s final tour left fans awestruck. Whether leading singalongs or strutting across massive stages in a crown and cape, Mercury’s showmanship turned concerts into communal celebrations—an enduring signature of his legacy.

And perhaps that’s the secret Freddie never hid: on stage, he cooked. He wasn’t just singing—he was embodying every lyric, every emotion. “This is one element of me,” he said. “On stage—that’s my job.”

Whether belting out Somebody to Love or leading a Live Aid crowd in unified chorus, Freddie Mercury wasn’t just performing songs—he was shaping moments. And thanks to stories like this one, his legacy burns even brighter on the Classic Countdown stage.

Listen to the actual Backstory here: