kisses of fire - roger taylor

TWO

"Right, so, without further ado, let's begin!" said Freddie, waving at the excited crowd. He turned around to Roger and Brian to see if they were ready to start playing. They all nodded at each other, as Freddie introduced their first song. "This one's called Keep Yourself Alive!"

As soon as Brian started playing the opening his guitar, everyone in the crowd was screaming, and when Roger started with the drum intro, everyone was jumping up and down. Then, when Freddie started to sing, lots of the crowd also sang along with him, and the others were still jumping around, or dancing with their friends, and others were watching them, in awe of his beautiful voice. Rosaline felt as though she had been hypnotised, feeling completely captivated by the band as they played, and Freddie flamboyantly dancing around.

He had such a unique and powerful voice: unlike anyone else Rosaline and John had heard before. In fact, there was something about Queen as a whole which really appealed to her- they had such a distinctive and outstanding sound, when all the instruments softly played together.

Also, when all the boys sung and harmonised together, it was as though all their voices were missing parts of jigsaw pieces that had just found each other, and fitted together seamlessly and effortlessly. Well, whatever they had, it was working, and that was for sure.

Queen played five songs in total, before their final song: Doing Alright.

"This one is a delicate little number, now" Freddie told the audience, out of breath after singing and dancing round the stage with the other boys. "It's called Doing Alright!"

The crowd was silent, once again as they listened intently to the soft opening of the song, a beautiful mixture of piano and acoustic guitar filled the room. Bodies swayed side to side, in time with the melodic tune. Then, once again when it got to the rock section of the song, everyone was back to jumping around each other, getting hot and sweaty again. However, this is what the boys loved: seeing the music move people, and seeing them enjoy and get into it.

After they had finished, the crowd erupted into fits of applause and cheers to congratulate them. Freddie, Brian and Roger ecstatically and appreciatively shouted their thanks to the crowd, and bowed.

"They were phenomenal!" Rosaline spoke, stunned. They had now made their way out of the crowd, and back over to the bar.

"I know, right! They were incredible" replied John, feeling the same way, "You know what, Rose?"

"What?" questioned Rosaline, resting her head on his shoulder.

"Seeing Queen perform, and the passion they have for music has made me realise how much I actually want to pursue music"

"John, that's great! You'll have to speak to the boys, or, even better, the owners of the pub to see if you can get your band in here! It's an amazing stage, I mean, the atmosphere is amaz-"

"Well, yeah, I guess. But I want something more... like, just seeing Queen perform tonight, and seeing the possibility of what can be said created and performed, and the friendship side of things... made me just...you know, want to be part of something like that?"

"Like what? A band? You're already part of a band, Johnny" she laughed, using her nickname for him.

"No, like Queen. They're not like any other band I've come across"

"I do know where you're coming from. Well, why don't you go speak to them! As far as I could see, they didn't have a bass player there with them tonight! And you, my friend, are honestly one of, if the not, most talented bassists I have ever seen!"

"Really? Do you think I should go and speak to them!" John smiled.

"Of course! I'll come with you!" Rosaline said, excited to meet the band.

"Okay then!" He laughed, as he took her by the hand, leading her backstage.

There were several Queen posters leading them backstage, where they were met with a few girls and boys, who they assumed were friends of the band. John gave Rosaline a questioning look, to which she just nodded at him, raising her eyebrows as if to tell him to go through to their dressing rooms.

"Excuse me, do you know where the band are, please?" He politely asked one of the men who were backstage.

"I'm pretty sure they just left, but you might catch them round the exit" he spoke, "it's just straight down there, then take your first left, mate."

"Ok, thank you" John nodded.

They followed the directions they were given, to be met with none other than Queen outside. They were standing around several cars outside, talking and laughing with each other.

"Come on, John, you got this! I'll come up with you if you want"

"Let's go!"