Following the successful release of six Funko POP! Vinyl Queen figures in 2018, it has been announced that a further three figures are due to be added to the Queen collection, with an expected release date around the first few months of 2021.
The three new figures will be dedicated to Freddie Mercury (x2) and Queen's 1977 studio album cover "News Of The World"
Freddie Mercury - Live Aid 1985
This particular figure of Freddie Mercury is inspired by his performance during the iconic Live Aid relief concert, held simultaneously at the Wembley Stadium in London and the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia on 13 July 1985. The figure has Freddie dressed in a white tank-top and blue jeans, exactly what he wore during the 22 minutes Live Aid set.
The following video shows Freddie performing at the 1985 Live Aid relief concert.
The Freddie Mercury 1985 Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and will be the 183rd of the series. It is due for release around February/March 2021.
Royal Freddie Mercury
This particular figure of Freddie Mercury is inspired by his appearance at the end of Queen's show during the famous Magic Tour of 1986; the tour was to be the final tour Queen performed with Freddie.
Freddie appeared with the famous cape and crown just after the final number "We Are The Champions" ready for the closing "God Save The Queen"
The following video shows Freddie dressed in the iconic royal cape and crown costume at the end of each of the 1986 Magic Tour shows, this one filmed at Wembley Stadium.
The Royal Freddie Mercury Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and will be the 184th of the series. It is due for release around February/March 2021.
News Of The World
This particular figure, a silver, red-eyed robot, usually known as "Frank", is inspired by the album artwork cover for Queen's 1977 studio album "News Of The World".
The album cover itself was inspired by the front cover of an issue of Astounding Science Fiction magazine from October 1953, which featured a giant intelligent robot holding a dead body of a man. Queen was so inspired by the cover that they contacted the American sci-fi artist Frank Kelly Freas, who agreed to modify the artwork by replacing the single dead man with the four "dead" band members.
Frank comes packaged in a hard protector case, with a backdrop of the famous album cover.
The News Of The World POP! Vinyl continues the Funko POP! Albums collection and will be the 6th of the series. It is due for release around February/March 2021.
The original six POP! Vinyl Queen figures, which were part of the POP! Rocks range, included three dedicated to Freddie Mercury with the remaining figures dedicated each to Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.
Black and White Harlequin Freddie Mercury
This particular figure of Freddie Mercury is inspired by his performances during the 1970s in the full-length bodysuits, of which Freddie wore an array of designs, most of which boasted a plunging scoop neckline that bared his chest.
The black and white harlequin costume was one of Freddie's most recognisable stage designs; it was actioned at Bonhams Auctions in 2012 and sold for a staggering £22,500.
It is believed that Freddie was inspired by a costume worn by the ballet dancer, Vaslav Nijinsky, in Carnaval.
In an interview in June 1977 with 'New Musical Express', Freddie was quoted saying
"I'm into this ballet thing, and that's why I'm trying to put across this Nijinsky costume' and trying to put across our music in a more artistic manner than before. A lot of people just dismiss it and say I'm wearing a silly little outfit, rather than being critical and saying that formal ballet may not be quite right for rock 'n' roll."
"I want to do different things. I don't want to keep playing the same formula over and over again, otherwise you just go insane. I don't want to become stale. I want to be creative."
The following video shows Freddie performing 'Love Of My Life' dressed in the black and white Harlequin costume during the 1977 News of the World album tour.
The Black and White Harlequin Freddie Mercury Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and is the 92nd of the series.
Brian May 80s look
The Brian May figure exhibits him with his iconic long, curly hair dressed in a white shirt, black trousers and white shoes playing his legendary red special guitar.
Brian would often be seen playing dressed as his figure shows, most notably at the Live Aid relief concert. The below video shows Brian dressed similarly in 1981 live at Montreal (Queen Rock Montreal) during The Game tour
The Brian May Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and is the 93rd of the series.
Roger Taylor 70s Outfit
The Roger Taylor figure exhibits him holding his drum sticks with his long blonde hair dressed in a partially opened silver tank-top style shirt, black trousers, black shoes with a pair of red-white-blue armbands.
The following video is an amalgamation of footage of Roger Taylor during Queen's performance at Hyde Park in 1974.
The Roger Taylor Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and is the 94th of the series.
John Deacon with Long Hair
The John Deacon figure exhibits him with his early 1970s long hair dressed in an all-black suit and black shoes playing his Fender Precision Bass
The below video shows Queen performing ‘Keep Yourself Alive’ where John deacon is dressed like his Funko Pop! figure.
The John Deacon Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and is the 95th of the series.
Yellow Jacket Freddie Mercury
This particular figure of Freddie Mercury is inspired by his performances during the 1986 Magic Tour. The distinctive outfit comprises of the military-style, multi-buckle fastening bright yellow jacket and a pair of white trousers with red and gold piping.
The costume was probably the most recognisable of Freddie's stage designs; it was actioned at Bonhams Auctions in 2004 and sold for a staggering £26,290.
The following video shows Freddie performing 'A Kind Of Magic' dressed in the iconic yellow jacket costume during the 1986 A Kind Of Magic album tour, filmed at Wembley Stadium.
The Yellow Jacket Freddie Mercury Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and is the 96th of the series.
Special Diamond Collection Edition Freddie Mercury
This particular figure of Freddie Mercury is inspired by his performances during the America and Japan concerts of Queen's 1982 studio album 'Hot Space' tour.
Freddie is bare-chested with a red and white armband, dressed in white trousers with red piping and a red sash type belt.
As this figure is part of the diamond collection, the trousers are finished in a glitter coating.
The following video shows Freddie performing 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' dressed in the white trousers during the American and Japan tour of the 1982 Hot Space album tour, filmed at the Japan Seibu Lions Stadium.
The Freddie Mercury Glittery Diamond Funko POP! Vinyl continues the POP! Rocks collection and is the 97th of the series.
As a Queen fan, I certainly grabbed the opportunity to obtain the original 6 POP! Vinyl figures soon after their release. The POP! figures, part of the Funko brand, are certainly a massive business, with many characters and iconic stars already available in the various range of collections. Pricing depends on the retailer, but expect a retail price between £10 to £20.
I certainly will be pre-ordering the new figures to extend my collection.
How About You?
Do you like the Funko POP! Queen collection?
Do you have a favorite figure?
Any favourite costumes you would like to feature on a future release?
Leave your thoughts in the comments!!