Drum alumnus performs in ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
BIMM London is pleased to announce that recent drumming graduate Charlie Fiske has a performance role in the current Queen biopic movie, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’, which is released internationally this week.
Until recently, the young graduate (who spent this summer touring with Indie Pop trio ‘The Tailormade‘) had to keep the exciting news of his involvement with the film a secret, due to strict confidentiality agreements.
Now, in the week that the 20th Century Fox production officially premiers in the UK, Charlie is able to explain all about how he secured his role as a drummer in the film, which celebrates the band Queen and their iconic frontman, Freddie Mercury.
“It’s a very surreal story.” Exclaims Charlie.
“I was at home one evening, hunting online for drumming work, when I stumbled across an ad’ that read ‘Drummer and keyboard player wanted for major feature film’. The drummer had to be a specific height, with a specific hair colour, a particular build and they wanted pictures of their hands when applying.”
In spite of the incredibly specific physical requirements, Charlie was exactly what the kind of real-life drummer the production team were looking for. Within hours of applying, he was contacted to arrange an audition. He recalls the moment he secured the role vividly.
“I sat with some extras waiting to be called in for my audition, whilst a nearby TV played the Queen Live Aid set. When watching the footage, I knew it wouldn’t just be drum skills they were looking for. It was the motions, the head movements, the arm movements, etc. With that in mind, I did my best to copy the movements and did the auditions with zero nerves, because assumed I didn’t have the part anyway!”
A few weeks later, Charlie was contacted with the news that he’d secured the role of drumming double for one of the films primary characters, the great Roger Taylor. Soon after, he was performing for cameras on-set whilst being observed by the real Roger Taylor, Brian May and Bob Geldof.
“It was the most surreal thing I’ve ever done!” Said Charlie, who added: “The first-ever song I played on my very first gig was ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ too! So, you could call it destiny, perhaps?”
We’re so pleased for Charlie and his successful feature in a major Hollywood movie, and will be keeping an eye on his progress with his promising performance career.
