In a recent interview, the host returned to the episode that occurred in 1985: «It wasn’t something for me, but I was expensive»
by Rolling Stone
Photos: Stefania D’Alessandro/Getty Images (1) and Peter Röshler (2)
Some stories, due to their absurdity, never get old. For example, the story of Freddie Mercury’s attempted flirtation with Paolo Bonolis. Yes, if it’s the first time you’ve heard it, you understood correctly: Freddie Mercury and Paolo Bonolis.
We are in 1985. The presenter is 24 years old and is halfway through his career Bim Boom Bam on Italia 1. The rock star is 39 and is releasing his first solo album Mr. Bad Guy after ten years of worldwide success with Queen. Alongside an event in London the two end up having dinner together. According to what Bonolis said in his autobiography (Because I was talking to myself2019), and reiterated today in an interview with Courier, «we started chatting. After a while I understood that he would have wanted us to go somewhere else.”
«I immediately made things clear», recalls Bonolis, «Freddie, I love his music, I think it’s fantastic. But we have different hormonal horizons, really: it’s not for me.” Remembering the event al Courieradds in response to the interviewer: «But I was cute, you know?».
Freddy, however, didn’t give up: «He asked me for my address, I gave my mother’s: a year and a half later he gave me two tickets for the famous Wembley concert». But there was no room for a second meeting: “Obviously I went, but we didn’t see each other afterwards.”
Too bad we can’t know the story from Mercury’s side.
