In a recent exclusive interview with Total Guitar, Queen guitarist Brian May revealed an unexpected detail about the band’s songwriting process.
When asked about the final section of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ May stated that it was primarily Freddie Mercury’s idea. Despite his reputation as a pianist, Mercury had a talent for writing heavy riffs, such as the one in ‘Ogre Battle.’ Contrary to popular belief, the late frontman was not only interested in the lighter side of music, as the musician explained:
“But it’s funny; Freddie was a good riffmeister! Many people think the riff for ‘Ogre Battle’ [from 1974’s ‘Queen II’] is mine, but it came from Freddie’s head. So he had excellent ‘heavy’ sensibilities. He was an admirer of Jimi Hendrix. People believe he was only concerned with the lighter stuff, but this is not the case. He enjoyed the heavy stuff, too.”
Mercury’s Unconventional Guitar Technique
Previously, in a 2019 interview with Guitar World, May provided more details about Mercury’s guitar skills, noting:
“He was an excellent guitarist who used only downstrokes. He composed the riff for ‘Ogre Battle.’ I used to play with both up and down strokes, but he only used downstrokes. Imagine how quickly his right hand moved! He had a lot of energy on the guitar, and it really showed in that song.
Recognition From Peers
Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe echoed May’s observations, describing ‘Ogre Battle’ as a watershed moment in his musical career. Sixx praised Mercury’s guitar skills, noting the song’s complexity and the difficulty of replicating its riff. The bassist said:
“My friends and I had already discovered the first Queen album and were blown away by all of the incredible melodies and chord progressions that were unlike anything we’d ever heard. But when we dropped the needle on ‘Ogre Battle,’ it was the most mind-blowing moment for me because it combined the coolest, hardest rock riffs with the most extreme, beautiful melody. Brian May once told me that Freddie Mercury wrote the guitar riff, which I had no idea about. It’s extremely difficult to play! But when you really study Queen’s music, you get such an incredible education in the art of songwriting.”
Queen’s ‘Ogre Battle‘ is one of their heaviest songs, with a thrash sound coming from the guitar riff and drums. Mercury’s ogre-like screams heighten the tension, while Roger Taylor’s high harmonies in the chorus highlight the hook. The song depicts a battle between two ogres.
