After Looking At The Guys In The Case, Mick Rock Agreed To Take Pictures For The Cover Of The Album Queen

After looking at the guys in the case, Mick Rock agreed to take pictures for the cover of the album Queen II. But before that, under the contract with Trident, Mick had to do in Great Newport Street Studios a few promotional photos for the upcoming tour.

On the first take, everyone lined up around Mercury, who was holding a huge scepter. However, these pompous shots looked too trite (Brian didn’t like this photo, and for the cover it was not taken).

Then Mick Rock decided to persuade all to undress to the waist. «It was absolutely shameless kitsch, but Mercury immediately caught fire with this idea.»

«The others stood to attention and pouted, looking like a bunch of Schoolgirls, only with balls». However, Freddie was not the first time to be naked in public, he worked as a sitter for 5 pounds for a couple of hours in the evening courses, when he studied in Ealing, and then, having saved money, bought a Levi’s. Useful and scepter…»

«They wanted something sensational – for example, photos, which everyone will say», stresses Mick Rock. The plan worked. Nude photo shoot Queen shocked the least sophisticated rock critics, and the group immediately aroused the interest of New Musical Express (the same magazine, which a few months before called the debut album Queen “tub of sour urine”) and Mirabelle (then influential magazine for teenage girls). However, the first scandalous photo shoot was published by Disc.