Queen drummer Roger Taylor has revealed that bandmate Sir Brian May was left "furiously jealous" after Taylor received the original 20ft bronze statue of Freddie Mercury for his garden. Taylor shared the story during an interview with radio presenter Chris Evans on Virgin Radio, where they played a game of True or False.
During the game, Taylor read a statement claiming he was arrested in 1983 for trying to steal a 20ft bronze statue from outside a London theatre. Evans guessed the statement was true, but Taylor corrected him: "Well, no, it's not actually. I wasn't arrested. I didn't steal it but they did give it to me."
How Taylor Got the Statue
Taylor explained that the statue, which had stood on the Dominion canopy, was offered to him when the show closed. "It was the massive 20ft statue of Freddie which they wanted to store in a warehouse when the show closed. I said, 'No, I'll have that in my garden. Why not? It's going to be cheap'," he said.
The gift reportedly left May envious, prompting him to commission his own version. Taylor revealed: "And Brian was absolutely furiously jealous and eventually they made another one and he's got it in his garden. Mine's the original."
Anniversary Reflections
The story comes ahead of the 35th anniversary of Freddie Mercury's death on November 24. In an interview with the Metro, May said he and Taylor avoid the anniversary. "I don't celebrate the anniversary of his death. It's a day to avoid because it brings up pain," he said.
May added: "The day he died was one of the most terrible days of our lives. I acknowledge Freddie all the time and he's in my life very strongly. I know Roger feels the same."
Taylor is scheduled to appear on James Martin's Saturday Morning on ITV on Saturday, October 31.
