Peter Straker Interview: Freddie Mercury, Hair & the Album They Made Together

Peter Straker tells the extraordinary story of his journey from the original London production of Hair to a remarkable career spanning theatre, film, cabaret and recorded music—and his enduring friendship with Freddie Mercury. Born in Jamaica and raised in Britain, Peter grew up surrounded by classical music and opera. After deciding that he wanted to perform, he began singing in working men’s clubs before winning a role in the revolutionary original London production of Hair. Peter explains why Hair was so important, how it challenged theatrical convention and censorship, and what life was really like for its young, diverse cast in late-1960s London. He also discusses his pioneering screen and stage roles, including Girl Stroke Boy, The Rocky Horror Show and Tommy, as well as his recording career and his contribution to the Alan Parsons Project album I Robot. At the heart of the interview is Peter’s friendship with Freddie Mercury. Peter remembers their first meeting in a London restaurant, playing tennis together, their shared passion for theatre, ballet and opera—and the complaint they received about their extremely short tennis shorts. Peter reveals how he simply asked Freddie to produce an album for him. Freddie agreed and enlisted Queen producer Roy Thomas Baker to help create Peter’s 1977 album This One’s on Me. Freddie encouraged Peter to write songs, attended his theatrical performances and remained closely involved in his musical development. Peter also reflects on what Freddie may have learned from him, the devastating losses of the AIDS era, his friendship with Donna Summer and the importance of continuing to perform and reinterpret songs throughout his life. This is an intimate, funny and moving conversation with an artist whose life connects some of the most important moments in British theatre, rock and popular culture. CHAPTERS 00:00 Preview 01:12 Introduction 01:38 Moving from Jamaica to Britain 02:33 Growing up in a musical family 03:23 His mother’s values and a strict upbringing 04:40 Where Peter’s drive came from 05:48 Deciding to become an actor 07:08 Singing in working men’s clubs 08:00 Auditioning for Hair 10:35 Why Hair was revolutionary 12:00 Changing censorship and changing society 15:00 Life inside the original Hair company 16:50 Choosing pioneering theatrical roles 17:29 Playing the Acid Queen in Tommy 18:59 Becoming a recording artist 19:58 The BBC playlist system 21:28 Working with the Alan Parsons Project 22:45 Meeting Freddie Mercury 24:22 What Freddie was like in private 25:04 Playing tennis together 25:20 The extremely short shorts complaint 26:14 Asking Freddie to produce an album 26:58 Roy Thomas Baker joins the project 27:22 Recording This One’s on Me 27:35 Freddie’s songwriting advice 28:35 Creating an album outside musical fashion 30:08 What Freddie Mercury learned from Peter 30:36 Their shared love of theatre 31:51 Freddie supporting Peter’s stage career 32:36 Freddie’s love of opera 33:00 Seeing Queen during “Bohemian Rhapsody” 34:40 Gay life and friendship in the 1970s 35:00 Living through the AIDS crisis 36:10 Losing friends and confronting grief 39:19 Peter’s friendship with Donna Summer 41:40 Friendship, fame and staying connected 43:00 Interpreting songs with age and experience 45:00 Reworking Peter’s own music 47:00 Final thoughts If you enjoy these independent interviews, you can support the channel using the Super Thanks button beneath the video. Subscribe to Pop: The History Makers for more revealing conversations with the artists, musicians, writers and producers who created pop history. #PeterStraker #FreddieMercury #Queen #HairMusical #ThisOnesOnMe #RoyThomasBaker #AlanParsonsProject #RockHistory #MusicInterview #TheatreHistory #PopTheHistoryMakers #SteveBlame