TURN BACK THE TIME, BABE. BOOK 2. KINGS WILL BE CROWNED (ENGLISH VERSION)

IT'S ALWAYS HIT OR MISS

John Reid was flabbersgasted when he listened to Bohemian Rhapsody. I looked closely each one of his gestures but he seemed unmoved. As though he would be listening the news on the radio, with neat attention. Freddie took my hand tightly as that wonder was still playing, full of ups and downs, like a roller coaster of different feelings till getting to that postcoital guitar, as I liked to call it, which finished it all with "any way the wind blows".

- Say something now, Reid or else shut it up -Roger got impatient after giving him two seconds margin of reaction.

- Don't you like it?

- How couldn't I? I know about music, smartasses. I distinguised gold from mud.

- Then... -Freddie started impatient letting go of my hand and pacing restlessly in front of him.

- Then I'm just saying I like it. I'm not saying releasing as a single is a good idea.

- I don't know if it's good or bad, I'm telling you it's the only alternative. It has to be Bo Rhap or nothing.

- Listen, stay cool. We need something straight, shocking. You have a lot of good songs in that record. We need something which fit into a radio formula. 6 minutes is too long.

- The song cannot be shorten, John. Read my lips.

- Just for the single. It can stay as originally made on the record.

- What? That's ridiculous.

- Our goal is it can broadcasted on the radio, ok?

- And they will.

- You are crazy, nobody will broadcast a 6 minutes song. It's too long. Think about it.

- We've already thought about it. Or Bo Rhap as it is made or nothing.

John Reid watched them as though they were possesed. In a way they were. Queen was possesed by its own monster.

When I found out John Reid was going to hear it for the first time, I was willing to be witness. I felt goosebumps when I was witness of such an historical moment of determination, wild instinct, almost unearthly intuition. They saw it so clear, so inevitable. It was amazing how they got what they wanted without swallowing their pride. But now it was time to persuade the record companies and that wouldn't be easy.

John felt a big admiration for this sign of professional integrity and you could even say their arrogance. But as their manager, was doing his job trying to discourage them if should it be a failure. They had invested a lot of money to pissing it all away just for their artistic hunch.

- Have you given an interview to Record Mirror?

- Yes -Freddie just admitted staring at him through his glass of white wine.

John Reid had invited him to have lunch at Montpelliano, just two blocks away his mansion.

John Reid didn't show so much enthusiasm taking charge of Queen at first. Elton John was taking much of his time, professional and sentimental. But at the end he had agreed a meeting with them and of course the first thing he set his eyes on was another gay like Freddie. It was a downright gay magnetism. It wasn't exactly sexual appealing for each other, just pure chemistry.

It was such a peculiar relationship taking into account they both were alike. Their burst of temper could be anthological but deep down they proved to be just a couple of teddie bears.

- I thought I told you, you had to inform me about each meeting with the press.

- Oh, Mr. Control, it's alright.