(Credits: Far Out / Spotify)
Mon 5 January 2026 18:49, UK
There is no easy way to predict whether a song will connect with the people to become a hit or fail to make the light of day, even for a talent like Queen’s Brian May.
Just because everything flows smoothly in the studio doesn’t necessarily mean that it’ll translate to a recording that is worthy of being released as a single. On the other hand, those sessions that can feel like grinding your teeth can, in an unexpected way, reap the biggest rewards.
Naturally, studio environments can often be filled with tension, which can be fertile ground for musical greatness. These hostile settings can occasionally help artists unlock their full potential, as Queen discovered when they worked with David Bowie on ‘Under Pressure’.
Both Bowie and Queen had already, respectively, achieved so much in the music industry when they began work on the collaboration in 1981. As a result, they were both forthright in their opinions, which had made them among the biggest stars in the world. Neither Freddie Mercury nor Bowie was prepared to play second fiddle in the creative pecking order, and both wanted to be the one who was calling the shots.
Too many cooks in the kitchen is often the reason why most supergroups flatter to deceive despite their immense individual talents. However, in this case, while the creative process was complex for those involved, it was all worth it for the final product, much to May’s surprise.
Queen’s Brian May wailing on guitar. (Credits: Far Out / Paul Williams)
For the recording, Bowie headed to Queen’s studio in Montreux, Switzerland, where they were making their upcoming album Hot Space.
At the time, Bowie was already in Montreux, as he was recording ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’ for the soundtrack to the horror film Cat People.
While at the same recording facility, they naturally crossed paths and decided to experiment in the studio, leading to the creation of ‘Under Pressure’. Despite the song title, there was no pressure on the two artists to create a hit record, and it should, in theory, have been a relaxed, freewheeling process.
Their first act together saw Bowie provide backing vocals on the Queen track ‘Cool Cat’, although his efforts were removed from the later released version. They continued working together and wrote ‘Under Pressure’, a track credited to Bowie along with all four members of Queen. While this marked their first time working together, Bowie had known Mercury since they were teenagers.
As quoted by the Express, May reflected on the collaboration and explained why he found it difficult: “It wasn’t easy because we were all precocious boys and David was very… forceful… Freddie and David locked horns, without a doubt. But that’s when the sparks fly and that’s why it turned out so great… (They battled) in subtle ways, like who would arrive last at the studio. So it was sort of wonderful and terrible.”
At first, May was discontent with the completed version of the track, but later changed his mind and learned to love ‘Under Pressure’, adding: “At the time, I wasn’t happy about the mix. Looking back I still think it’s a very special song.”
Additionally, during an interview with Mojo in 2008, May elaborated on the strange chemistry in the studio, admitting: “It was hard, because you had four very precocious boys and David, who was precocious enough for all of us. David took over the song lyrically. Looking back, it’s a great song, but it should have been mixed differently. Freddie and David had a fierce battle over that. It’s a significant song because of David and its lyrical content.”
It was never going to be a straightforward experience with esteemed artists like Mercury and Bowie forcing themselves to get on the same creative page. Thankfully, the blood, sweat, and tears were worth it to create a song that topped the charts, proving that they could act as perfect foils for one another.
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