Call Answered: Gary Mullen Interview: One Night Of Queen
Jul 18, 2024
I have been a fan of Queen's for most of my life. I love their hits, and have always been fascinated by Freddie Mercury.
When I received information on Gary Mullen & The Works who perform their Queen Tribute show, One Night of Queen, my interest was piqued.
In this interview, Gary answered my call to reveal:
- What he is looking forward to about their upcoming show at District Hall in Norwalk, CT
- How he formed his band, and show One Night of Queen
- What he relates to most about Freddie Mercury
- The most heartfelt fan encounter
- So much more
Connect with Gary Mullen & The Works: Website, Facebook, Instagram
One Night of Queen will play District Hall in Norwalk, CT on Sunday, August 25, 2024 at 8pm EST.
One Night of Queen performed by Gary Mullen & The Works is a spectacular live concert, recreating the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of arguably the greatest rock band of all time. They have been hailed as the World’s Premiere Queen Tribute Band and have received rave reviews from over 650 Performing Arts Centers, Casinos, Fairs, Festivals, and Corporate buyers in the USA since 2008.
1. On August 25 you and your band will be performing One Night of Queen at District Music Hall in Norwalk, CT. One Night of Queen is a tribute band celebrating the legacy of Freddie Mercury and the music of Queen. What are you looking forward to most about this upcoming show? This will be our first time playing in Norwalk, so we are excited for that, and just looking forward to rocking with the folks in the audience.
2. Let's go back to the beginning. How did you get into Queen/Freddie Mercury? Freddie & Queen were the first band that I got into. I saw the "We Are The Champions" video on TV when I was a kid, and they blew me away, the music, the singing, the energy they had was awesome.
3. What was it about your love of Freddie Mercury/Queen that made you go, "I want to create my own tribute band? "I have been a lifelong Queen fan, but professionally for me, it all started after I had been on the UK TV show Stars In Their Eyes, where you would sing as a famous singer, my performance on that show as Freddie was the winning performance of the show. I started the band the following year after the win, and we started touring early 2002.
Gary Mullen & The Works, Photo Credit: QuentinProd Photos
4. It is uncanny to me how much you look & sound like Freddie Mercury. Like the lyrics of the song, "Sends shivers down my spine." What do you relate to most about him? The connection with the audience. He made the audience part of the show, with vocal calls and responses, and encouraging them to boogie with the band. These are things that are core elements of our show.
5. What do you bring, as Gary Mullen, to these performances that you feel make them your own and not just a recreation of Freddie Mercury? Like Freddie, I love that audience interaction and communication, that we're all there to have a good time. That's crucial to me.
6. If Freddie Mercury was still alive, which song do you wish you could sing with him? I think it would have to be "Somebody To Love," it's always been one of my favorites.
7. Let's find out more about you by playing with some of Queen's song titles.
- "You're My Best Friend" - If you were to dedicate this song to someone in your life, who would that be? My wife, she's been the one who has been there through this whole crazy journey. Her support and belief helped me to move forward, and helped with my drive to continue for so long.
- "The Show Must Go On" - When has there been a time when you weren't feeling your best, but you had to go on with the show? There's been a couple of times where I've had the flu, and just thought, screw this, I need to go out on that stage, otherwise there's going to be a lot of disappointed folks.
- "Bohemian Rhapsody" - What is an event that has happened to you that sent shivers down your spine? When we played Hyde Park, in London to nearly 50,000 people. That was one of the most adrenaline filled, and quickest feeling performances I think we ever done.
- "We Will Rock You" - To me, this song is an anthem to get yourself psyched up. What is something you do before each show to get yourself pumped up? I listen to an 80's playlist while warming up. As a child of that decade, listening to songs I grew up with helps get me fired up for the show.
- "I Want To Break Free" - Is there anything you want to break free from? Not really, just a fun song to perform.
One Night of Queen, Photo Credit: Margolin Photography
8. What has been your most heartfelt fan encounter? I had a lady come a few years back to meet me with her husband after the show, and she brought Freddie's 'Live Aid' belt, that she had bought at an auction, for me to try on. That blew me away. There are a few fans who have grown up coming to our shows, who now bring their kids, that always makes me smile.
9. What is the craziest thing to happen to you during a show? Apart from a power cut this year during one of our French Arena shows, the other one that stands out, is when a woman from the audience climbed on the stage, and proceeded to strip down to her underwear! We didn't know what to do! I couldn't sing for laughing so hard, because security was trying to get her offstage, and she wasn't having any of it!
10. What is something we didn't get to talk about in this interview that you'd like my audience to know about you? I'm a bit of a movie nerd, play some instruments...badly, and like to sketch from time to time. I'm pretty boring really lol.
BONUS QUESTIONS:
11. Pancakes or French Toast? Maybe French Toast
12. Coffee or Tea? How do you take it? Tea, milk and 2 teaspoons of sugar
13. If you could have any super power, which one would you like to have? Flight, Superman's my favorite superhero.
14. Favorite way to stay in shape? Long walks, lifting weights. Running around the stage for the show also gets the body moving!
15. Boxers or Briefs? Trunks rather than boxers, and briefs only when under the costumes.
Gary Mullen as Freddie Mercury Photo Credit, Margolin Photography
More on Gary Mullen:
Gary has been a lifelong Queen fan and has always been a keen singer.
His career as Freddie started in 2000, when his wife and his mother secretly applied to the Granada TV show Stars in Their Eyes. Gary won the overall Live Grand Final, polling 864,838 votes, more than double the runner up and setting the all time record for votes on the show.
Gary is featured in the Stars in Their Eyes video, CD and book and has represented the UK on Euro Stars in Their Eyes.
After the television experience Gary performed as a solo artist, but immediately started to receive rave reviews and was encouraged by the audience reaction, therefore, in 2002, he created One Night of Queen and formed his band The Works.
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