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Brian May says that Freddie Mercury loved the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' rock-out in 'Wayne's World'

Wayne's World (Credit: Paramount)
Wayne's World (Credit: Paramount)

Brian May showed the ailing Freddie Mercury the Bohemian Rhapsody scene from Wayne's World – and the Queen frontman loved it.

Guitarist May said Mercury “laughed and laughed” at the now-iconic sequence.

In a Reunited Apart reunion interview, organised by Josh Gad with cast members Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Alice Cooper and Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, May said that Myers had given him a VHS tape of the movie, not long before Mercury's death in 1991.

In the scene, Wayne, Garth and crew-members Terry (Lee Tergesen), Alan (Michael DeLuise) and the 'partied out' Phil (Sean Gregory Sullivan) rock-out to the operatic classic during the film's opening credits.

“You, Mike, did get me the tape, a VHS or something, I think, and I took it round to Freddie not long before he went and showed it to him, because you said you wanted to have that approval,” May said.

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 30:  Mike Myers and Brian May attend "Bohemian Rhapsody" New York premiere at The Paris Theatre on October 30, 2018 in New York City.  (Photo by John Lamparski/WireImage)
Mike Myers and Brian May attend Bohemian Rhapsody New York premiere at The Paris Theatre on October 30, 2018 in New York City (Credit: John Lamparski/WireImage)

“He loved it, he laughed and laughed. He was very weak, but he just smiled and laughed, and said 'Yeah, how wonderful is that.'“

May went on to say that the use of the track in Wayne’s World led to a resurgence of popularity for Queen in the US.

“You did it,” May added. “You got us back to a new American public, and Freddie was very aware of that. You should know that he got totally into it, and he went to the next place knowing what had happened. We loved it, we still love it and always will.”

Blown away by that, Myers replied: “I didn’t know that. My little Toronto head can’t handle that. But that’s fantastic.”

Mercury died in November 1991, aged 45, due to complications from AIDS; Wayne's World was released in February 1992.

Queen drummer Roger Taylor, who along with Judd Apatow, Tia Carrere and Rob Lowe also joined in the interview, added: “One, we found it hilarious, and two, we found it very rewarding. We released an album and I think the sketch was such a hit, that was responsible for the album being a hit. But I have to say, we loved the movie as well.”

You can check out the whole reunion here.

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