Queen of Rock and Roll

Another Brit who exuded a similar level of spandex-clad sex appeal was Queen front man Freddie Mercury, whose legendary stage presence and classically trained voice generated the largest television audience ever recorded at his memorial concert following his death in 1992. Mercury’s obsession with opera was one of the driving forces in advancing his vocal talents, even teaming up with Monserrat Caballe for the grandiloquent 'Barcelona' in 1985. The best example of Mercury’s sublime range and tone is the 1975 classic 'Bohemian Rhapsody', in which his voice provided every single one of the overlapping harmonies. It was perhaps the clash between his conservative upbringing and his flamboyant sexuality – he was known to keep a tent backstage for sex sessions with young male friends during gigs – that created the passion and emotion behind his voice. This contradiction of shyness and flamboyance was responsible for more top 10 hits than anyone since The Beatles, and his hounding by the tabloids in the two years up to his death showed that his contradictions fascinated the public. 'I am a man of extremes,' he once said. 'I have a soft side and hard side. I can be vulnerable and I can be strong. There are no half measures with me.'

Now the flamboyant and crooning traditions seem to sit side by side. Smooth, distinctive voices such as Robbie Williams and Craig David sitting next to the distinctive, almost painful accuracy of Dizzee Rascal and Thom Yorke of Radiohead. Inspired by American and British influences the the British male vocal tradition continues to evolve.