Rare Behind the Scenes Photographs From the Making of Queen’s “I Want To Break Free” (1984)

These photographs come from the private archive of Peter Hince, taken during the filming of Queen’s I Want To Break Free music video in 1984 at Limehouse Studios in London’s Docklands and a second studio in Battersea.

As Peter Hince recalled:

“The video for I Want To Break Free was done over two days, a brave tongue-in-cheek move by the band, well received... except in America, where it marked the beginning of the end for their popularity. The second day was the dressing-up in drag day. Fred revelled in it, and the others got into the spirit surprisingly well. John was happy as a grumpy old grandmother but refused currants and sultanas for warts. Brian, though convincing, was unlikely to change careers, and Roger was just a bit too convincing as he shaved his legs for his schoolgirl role. The atmosphere was very good and everyone appreciated that rock stars could make fun of themselves.

“The following morning, I flew to Japan with John, Roger and his assistant Crystal for a three-week promotional tour of the Far East, Australia and Los Angeles for The Works. The other single from The Works was ‘It’s a Hard Life,’ a grand pompous affair the band hated, done at Arri studios in Munich. Fred’s deep-pink, shiny outfit made him look like an overcooked tandoori king prawn.”

The images offer a rare behind the scenes look at that moment, not just the performance, but the atmosphere around it.

Peter Hince began his career in the music business in 1973 as an eighteen-year-old roadie working with David Bowie. Later that year, while touring with Mott the Hoople, he first encountered the then-unknown band Queen, who were supporting the group on their UK tour. During this period, Hince also worked on tours for artists including Lou Reed, Mick Ronson, Supertramp and Roxy Music, among others prominent in the 1970s music scene.

In the summer of 1975, as Queen recorded A Night at the Opera, Hince joined the band full-time. He served primarily as roadie to Freddie Mercury and bassist John Deacon, later becoming head of the band’s road crew. During his more than a decade with Queen, Hince developed a passion for photography. Trusted by the band, he was frequently able to capture set-up and candid moments in the studio, during rehearsals, on video shoots and behind the scenes on tour. Many of these photographs were subsequently used internationally on album sleeves, single covers, posters and other promotional material.

Following Queen’s final tour in 1986, Hince left the music industry and turned his long-standing hobby into a successful career as a photographer. He went on to win awards for his advertising work as well as for his distinctive black-and-white underwater photography. Throughout this period he remained close to Queen, particularly Freddie Mercury, photographing Mercury’s solo projects and attending many of his private events and gatherings.

Based in London and Munich, Peter Hince continues to write, manage his photographic archive, and appear as a corporate and guest speaker on Queen and the music business of the 1970s and 1980s.