Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson Collaboration Ended Due to Unusual Studio Incident Involving a Llama

In 1983, iconic musicians Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson attempted to collaborate on several tracks during a break in their respective careers. However, the sessions came to a halt after Jackson brought his pet llama, Louie, into the studio, which reportedly upset Mercury. According to Jo Burt, bassist for Mercury’s solo album ‘Mr. Bad Guy’, the unusual choice of studio companion may have been the final straw for Mercury, who was reportedly uncomfortable with the situation. Queen’s manager, Jim ‘Miami’ Beach, confirmed this in a 2012 documentary, recalling how Mercury called him for help, stating he was ‘recording with a llama.’ As a result, the songs “Victory,” “State of Shock,” and “There Must Be More to Life Than This” were never completed as intended duets. Although “State of Shock” was later recorded with Mick Jagger, the other tracks saw limited or posthumous releases. Jackson, known for his collection of exotic animals including Bubbles the chimpanzee and Thriller the tiger, was no stranger to eccentric behavior, which sometimes clashed with collaborators. Mercury would go on to return to Queen and give his legendary Live Aid performance in 1985 before passing away in 1991. Jackson died in 2009.