Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury Unite for a Breathtaking Version of “There Must Be More to Life Than This”

When the iconic voice of Queen joined forces with the King of Pop, it created one of the most fascinating artistic pairings in modern music. Their first encounter took place backstage at a Queen concert in Los Angeles, where a young Michael Jackson openly expressed his admiration for Freddie Mercury. Jackson attended several shows before finally meeting Mercury and the rest of Queen—Roger Taylor, Brian May, and John Deacon.

In the years that followed, their connection deepened into a genuine friendship built on creativity and mutual respect. Despite their contrasting personalities, Mercury admired Jackson’s instincts and often referred to him as his “Little Brother.” By 1983, the two reunited in Jackson’s home studio to experiment with new music, including ‘There Must Be More To Life Than This,’ a track Mercury had originally written for Queen’s 1982 album *Hot Space*.

Mercury later reflected that the material they created together had great promise, but their schedules were simply too packed to complete anything properly. In his biography *Mercury: An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury*, he acknowledged that despite their enthusiasm, the timing was never on their side, and the songs remained unfinished.

Yet time alone wasn’t the only obstacle standing in their way. Queen’s manager, Jim “Miami” Beach, recalled that Mercury grew increasingly uncomfortable with Jackson’s unusual studio habits—particularly his insistence on bringing his pet llama into the recording space. Eventually, Mercury called Beach in frustration, asking to be pulled from the sessions.

The friction between them was further heightened by reports that Jackson disapproved of Mercury’s drug use during their time in the studio. Their personal differences, combined with the pressures of their skyrocketing careers, created a tension that neither could resolve, and the collaboration quietly came to a halt.

Despite the setback, the friendship between the two icons left behind an intriguing musical legacy. Their studio time captured a rare moment where two vastly different creative worlds collided—a moment that would remain hidden for years as fans wondered what might have been if the partnership had continued.

Two years later, in 1985, Mercury revisited the material on his own, releasing a reworked version of the song on his debut solo album *Mr. Bad Guy*. Though the collaboration with Jackson had ended, the track lived on as a testament to their brief and ambitious partnership.

It wasn’t until long after both artists had passed—Mercury in 1991 and Jackson in 2009—that the long-rumored duet finally emerged. The combined version appeared on Queen’s 2014 compilation *Queen Forever*, produced and mixed by William Orbit and built around the original 1981 recording featuring May, Taylor, and Deacon. After decades of anticipation, fans were finally able to hear the closest thing to the collaboration that once seemed impossible.

Years later, another piece of their collaboration resurfaced in archival discussions and fan circles, reminding listeners of the unique chemistry between the two artists. Although their partnership was brief, the fragments they left behind continue to fuel fascination, debate, and admiration among music lovers worldwide.

The story of Mercury and Jackson’s creative attempt remains one of music’s most intriguing what-ifs—a glimpse of two extraordinary talents briefly crossing paths, leaving behind echoes of brilliance that continue to captivate new generations.