Whether you’re a fan of Queen or not, you will likely know the name of the band’s inimitable frontman Freddie Mercury. With his distinctive style, unmatchable stage presence, and unbelievable vocal range, Mercury was the face of Queen throughout the majority of their career, becoming well-known amongst fans for his notable ability to hold even the largest of crowds in the palm of his hand. He sadly passed away in 1991, but will always be remembered as a figurehead of pop and rock music.
Subsequently, tributes to Mercury are frequent and come from a wide range of fans. One such tribute that blew up the Internet when it happened came courtesy of Russian actor Vitaliy Gogunskiy, who in 2016 gave a performance as Mercury on the popular television show “One to One”. Donning a fetching pair of black and white trousers that were very similar to Mercury’s ‘harlequin’-esque outfit, as well as a broad-shouldered blazer and a mustache, Gogunskiy looked strikingly similar to the singer.
He even sounded like the Queen frontman too! Singing the band’s iconic 1984 hit ‘I Want To Break Free’, Gogunskiy absolutely nailed Mercury’s dramatic vocal delivery (albeit with a strong Russian accent) and crazy vocal range, clearly possessing a significant amount of singing talent himself. He had obviously spent a good deal of time studying Mercury’s onstage moves too, holding his fist in the air as he emerged onstage and emulating Mercury’s flamboyant gestures and walks across the stage.
If you’re anything like us, Music Man readers, Gogunskiy’s surprisingly accurate impression will have whetted your appetite for some real Freddie Mercury action. If that is indeed the case, then check out this video of Queen at Wembley in 1986, also performing ‘I Want To Break Free’. Alongside bandmates Brian May, John Deacon, and Roger Taylor, the real-life Mercury is the picture of flamboyance and showmanship, strutting around the enormous stage like he owns every single inch of it!
No tribute act will ever match up to the otherworldly talents of the real-life Freddie Mercury, but you have to agree that Russian actor Vitaliy Gogunskiy gave it his best shot. It’s an incredibly difficult thing to even come close to mimicking someone so talented, but Gogunskiy had clearly done his homework and, as such, delivered a tribute to Freddie Mercury that arguably surpassed the majority of other tributes that are out there.