My mate John Knight is a builder.

And back in the mid 80s, he was part of a crew renovating Freddie Mercury’s house in Kensington. Freddie was throwing a huge party for his 40th birthday and needed everything finished in time. The builders worked round the clock managed to get it all done minutes before the guests arrived. Freddie was so grateful that he invited them all to stay for the party. John, no stranger to a drink and a good night out, described scenes of decadence akin to a bacchanalian orgy. Spectacular quantities of caviar and champagne, A-list celebrities consorting with whores, and dwarves proffering cocaine on silver platters were just some of the scenes John witnessed. I don’t think he’s ever quite recovered. Today would have been the host’s 68th birthday so let’s remember that extravagant talent and fantastic flamboyance. Such a tragedy that this song was so prophetic.