Queen from A to Z: Facts, Lists, Anecdotes The grand story of Queen has been told many times, not least in the highly successful biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody" from 2018. Mark Blake, who has written several books about Queen and Freddie Mercury, focuses in his A-Z primarily on the lesser-known facts, uncovering an impressive wealth of information that is likely to surprise many fans. "Magnifico!" also outlines the band's overall work, delving into each album and major hit, with a particular emphasis on the insider stories behind the music and revealing what these songs say about the musicians who created them. It looks at events, people, and places that inadvertently influenced the band's career - starting with the bassist who played two gigs with Queen and was fired for being too energetic on stage, or the members of Freddie Mercury's school band. Other entries add additional facets to the well-known facts or offer entertaining digressions - for example, about the LPs the band members were listening to in 1970, the 15 gigs in the UK by Jimi Hendrix that Freddie Mercury traveled across the country to see, or the bizarre cover versions that Queen performed in their early years. However, "Magnifico!" also includes in-depth analyses. Blake describes how Queen's management staged Freddie Mercury's funeral and the impact of the singer's coming out on the sexual morals of the late 20th century. The author also thoroughly addresses the phenomenal success of the film "Bohemian Rhapsody," explaining which alternative version of the Queen story is told here and how far it is from the truth. A book that is just as enjoyable to read in one sitting as it is to flip through - lovingly illustrated and full of unexpected insights.