Zandra Rhodes Reveals What It Was Like To Dress Freddie Mercury

The Telegraph tracked down Zandra Rhodes, who remembered what it was like to dress Queen's Freddie Mercury. She recalled, "One day Freddie [Mercury] rang me. I didn't really know who he was then. He said he and Brian [May] wanted outfits for a big show."

Rhodes continued:

"They both turned up about 7 o'clock one night, clattering up three flights of stairs in their platform boots. I hadn't designed any menswear then, but I'd already done some things for Marc Bolan, so I knew they'd want something flamboyant. Freddie needed to be able to move his arms, so he loved the idea of pleats."

Rhodes remembered the final, white satin creations but she couldn't recall how much she charged for them. Her designs will be featured in the "Stormtroopers in Stilettos: Queen, The Early Years" exhibition, set to open in London later this month. Also on display? Freddie's ballet pumps. The Telegraph writes of a 1976 anecdote:

Sid Vicious bumped into Freddie and said 'Ullo Fred, I see you've bought ballet to the masses then.' To which Freddie replied, 'Oh yes, Mr Ferocious. Trying my best dear.'

My dear! Read the rest at the Telegraph. And for more rock and roll style, check out what was in Janis Joplin's purse.