Random Inaccuracies In 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (14 items)

(#10) 'We Will Rock You' Was Released In 1977, Not 1980

A strange song switcheroo occurs with the classic stadium anthem "We Will Rock You." The film shows the song being recorded in 1980, all because Freddie Mercury is late to a session and Brian May wants to record something that will involve the fans.

Although the story behind the "We Will Rock You" recording session is mostly true, the song was actually released on 1977's News of the World, alongside "We Are The Champions."
(#4) No One In Queen Was Upset About Freddie Mercury's Solo Album

In the film, when Freddie Mercury signs a $4 million solo contract with CBS, the rest of the band reacts with frustration and anger, causing a temporary split. But the truth is much less dramatic.

Mercury's first solo album, Mr. Bad Guy, was released in 1985 - a whole four years after Roger Taylor's album, Fun in Space. Mercury's solo career was such a non-issue that Taylor and Brian May both performed on the hit "Love Kills." Taylor recalls in Freddie Mercury: A Life of Magic (via Ultimate Classic Rock):

I don't think Freddie really wanted to go solo. It's just that he got an awful lot of money from CBS. When it came down to actually doing a solo album, he did sort of miss us. He used to ring me up, and I'd have to fly to Munich to do his background vocals.
(#2) Freddie Mercury Was Friends With Queen For A Year Before Joining The Band

In the film, a shy Freddie Mercury approaches Brian May and Roger Taylor moments after Tim Staffell, the singer and bass player for the band Smile, bails on them. Mercury impresses them so much with his voice that they agree to take this mysterious ragamuffin into their fold. This couldn't be further from the truth.

Mashable reports Mercury was friends with everyone in Smile, including Staffell, before the band's dissolution. His band Ibex played with Smile, and Mercury, May, and Taylor lived together for a time before they started Queen.
(#5) Freddie Mercury Met Mary Austin Through Brian May

In the film, Freddie Mercury meets his longtime partner, Mary Austin, on the same night he meets the band. Mercury walks backstage and tells Austin he likes her coat in a clumsy sequence. She rebuffs him, but he finds her at the boutique where she works, and they begin their relationship.

In reality, according to Biography, Mercury met Austin in 1969, a year before joining Queen. At the time, she was casually dating Brian May, as May told Yahoo, but Mercury asked May for permission to ask her out, and the two quickly became inseparable.
(#3) The Entire Timeline Of Freddie Mercury's HIV Diagnosis Is Off

In the film, Freddie Mercury learns about his positive HIV diagnoses before the band's Live Aid performance in 1985, and it's one of the reasons the group finally gets their act together. In reality, Mercury likely didn't know about the illness until 1987, two years after Live Aid. According to E! News, Roger Taylor said he and the rest of the band weren't clued in until 1989.

And, as The Guardian reported, Mercury didn't tell the rest of the world until 1991, a day before he passed.
(#12) The Band's First Gig Went Pretty Well

In the film, after Freddie Mercury joins Smile and before the band becomes Queen, they play an ill-fated first gig. Mercury's off-tempo, he breaks his microphone stand, and the group is kind of all over the place.

In reality, Mercury was road-hardened by the band's first gig because he had spent time performing and touring with his band Ibex. The scene where Mercury performs with a broken mic stand is something he did during his days in Ibex. Rather than struggling to get through the set as they do in the film, the band opened their first show with the total shredder, "Stone Cold Crazy" and exuded confidence on stage.