Great King Rat is Freddy's all powerful alter ego. Freddy's early background; staid and conforming towards societal norms was entirely at odds with his talent, his ambition and his sexil apetite. He projected the undesirable parts of his personality onto a theatrical character that was the antithesis of his upbringing, the Great King Rat. The name originates from a spell binding but eerily chilling song by Audience called House on the Hill..where " there lives a King Rat who wears a judge's black hat ", (signifying death). House on the Hill was released on the 21st May 1971 shortly before Great King Rat was written by Freddie that year. Led Zeppelin were the top band at that time and Freddie , whilst admiring, Robert Plant's vocals as the best he'd ever heard, set out to topple Zep, using a song as innovative yet powerful as any Zep anthem . Great King Rat was throwing down the gauntlet to all comers as the rock anthem to make Heartbreaker seem tame and War Pigs appear lumbering. Freddie had the talent and ambition to go right to the top.and his alter ego GKR scorns and challenges all who might claim to be the god of rock..( "you sinners get in line / you're gonna find yourself the rival ". This is sheer bravado and instills great confidence on Freddie but bravado invariably masks self doubt ..
Freddie understood his sexuality and flamboyance would attract raw hostility in seventies UK.It did, initially , but the Song prophetically proclaims "you're gonna realise tomorrow" (that Freddie deserves forgiveness and inderstanding)
The song is self-mocking but brilliantly takes the elements of its age and introduces the stage persona ,snarling and clad in tight black satin ,that Freddy could use to face the hecklers, the disbelievers who deep down still clung onto needy maternal love and the trappings of white christian teachings which forbade Freddie's sexuality and natural instincts. Moreover the year the song was written , a specific Law was introduced making it illegal for same sex marriages to be recognised , "always wanted by the Law" He was owning, in advance, the reputation of the legal/family/religious outcast. He was the rebel taking on the establishment determined to prove others wrong willingly painting himself as the miscreant to do so.
The old man is simply Freddy's Dad who understood that his son would be tough and fight to the end..Freddy's final victory , when the prophecy of Great King Rat came true, was Live Aid. He was the voice that went around the world when ,on the sane day the mighty Zeppelin crumbled
I love the song because it was the very first of Freddie's songs, yet told us everything about him. Sometimes sequels don't improve on the original. Great King Rat really had it all. The more I listen to it the better it gets... unsurprisingly really, as it's the autobiography of the greatest performer of all..the Great Pretender
Great King Rat is Freddy's all powerful alter ego. Freddy's early background; staid and conforming towards societal norms was entirely at odds with his talent, his ambition and his sexil apetite. He projected the undesirable parts of his personality onto a theatrical character that was the antithesis of his upbringing, the Great King Rat. The name originates from a spell binding but eerily chilling song by Audience called House on the Hill..where " there lives a King Rat who wears a judge's black hat ", (signifying death). House on the Hill was released on the 21st May 1971 shortly before Great King Rat was written by Freddie that year. Led Zeppelin were the top band at that time and Freddie , whilst admiring, Robert Plant's vocals as the best he'd ever heard, set out to topple Zep, using a song as innovative yet powerful as any Zep anthem . Great King Rat was throwing down the gauntlet to all comers as the rock anthem to make Heartbreaker seem tame and War Pigs appear lumbering. Freddie had the talent and ambition to go right to the top.and his alter ego GKR scorns and challenges all who might claim to be the god of rock..( "you sinners get in line / you're gonna find yourself the rival ". This is sheer bravado and instills great confidence on Freddie but bravado invariably masks self doubt ..
Freddie understood his sexuality and flamboyance would attract raw hostility in seventies UK.It did, initially , but the Song prophetically proclaims "you're gonna realise tomorrow" (that Freddie deserves forgiveness and inderstanding)
The song is self-mocking but brilliantly takes the elements of its age and introduces the stage persona ,snarling and clad in tight black satin ,that Freddy could use to face the hecklers, the disbelievers who deep down still clung onto needy maternal love and the trappings of white christian teachings which forbade Freddie's sexuality and natural instincts. Moreover the year the song was written , a specific Law was introduced making it illegal for same sex marriages to be recognised , "always wanted by the Law" He was owning, in advance, the reputation of the legal/family/religious outcast. He was the rebel taking on the establishment determined to prove others wrong willingly painting himself as the miscreant to do so.
The old man is simply Freddy's Dad who understood that his son would be tough and fight to the end..Freddy's final victory , when the prophecy of Great King Rat came true, was Live Aid. He was the voice that went around the world when ,on the sane day the mighty Zeppelin crumbled
I love the song because it was the very first of Freddie's songs, yet told us everything about him. Sometimes sequels don't improve on the original. Great King Rat really had it all. The more I listen to it the better it gets... unsurprisingly really, as it's the autobiography of the greatest performer of all..the Great Pretender