Queen Drummer Says Freddie Mercury Stayed Up Till 6 a.m. for Scrabble

Roger Taylor, the drummer for Queen, says the late frontman Freddie Mercury treated the board game Scrabble with the same intensity he brought to live performance. In an interview with Classic Rock magazine, Taylor described the late-night matches as epic battles that often lasted until the early morning hours.

The games involved Mercury, Taylor, Sir Brian May, and John Deacon. Taylor recalled that the sessions regularly extended past midnight, frequently ending at six o'clock in the morning. He noted that Mercury was a skilled player who prioritized scoring over vocabulary.

"I've always liked a bit of Scrabble, but it's not about words, it's about points. Fred was very good at it," Taylor told the publication. He added that the competitive nature of the game mirrored the dynamic between the four musicians when they were not on stage.

Mercury died in 1991 at the age of 45 from complications related to AIDS. While he was famous for his stage presence and musical output, these late-night games offer insight into the band's off-stage friendships. Taylor said he continues to play Scrabble today because it evokes memories of his time with Mercury.

The band's legacy persists through Queen + Adam Lambert, a touring project led by Taylor and May. The group has performed worldwide, keeping songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Don't Stop Me Now, We Will Rock You, and Somebody To Love in the public consciousness.