Image Source: Getty / Steve Jennings / Anwar Hussein
For many fans, Queen's operatic rock music is an escape - a passport to a world with zero judgment and catchy chants. For Princess Diana, it was a literal escape - one that included drag, reruns of Golden Girls, and 20 minutes at a gay bar.
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury became close friends with the "People's Princess" in the mid-'80s when Diana's every move was heavily monitored by the media. According to a memoir by actress Cleo Rocos, she, Mercury, and the princess were sipping Champagne and watching reruns of Golden Girls at the home of comedian Kenny Everett one evening, creating their own subplots for the sitcom, albeit with a "much a naughtier storyline." When Diana found out Everett, Mercury, and Rocos were headed to the infamous gay bar Royal Vauxhall Tavern later that night, Diana asked if she could tag along.
For many fans, Queen's operatic rock music is an escape - a passport to a world with zero judgment and catchy chants. For Princess Diana, it was a literal escape - one that included drag, reruns of Golden Girls, and 20 minutes at a gay bar.
Queen frontman Freddie Mercury became close friends with the "People's Princess" in the mid-'80s when Diana's every move was heavily monitored by the media. According to a memoir by actress Cleo Rocos, she, Mercury, and the princess were sipping Champagne and watching reruns of Golden Girls at the home of comedian Kenny Everett one evening, creating their own subplots for the sitcom, albeit with a "much a naughtier storyline." When Diana found out Everett, Mercury, and Rocos were headed to the infamous gay bar Royal Vauxhall Tavern later that night, Diana asked if she could tag along.
- 11/8/2018
- by Natalie Rivera
- Popsugar.com
As the undisputed king of American gothic, Vincent Price holds a unique position regarding his association with British horror. From the mid sixties, nearly all his films were made in the UK, and while not as distinguished as The House of Usher (1960), Tales of Terror (1962) and The Raven (1963), they are not without interest. As an actor perfectly suited to English gothic, Price’s output includes two career-defining performances. In a nutshell, he had the best of both worlds.
Masque of the Red Death (1964)
The British phase of his career began with a bang. After directing all of Price’s Poe chillers for American International Pictures, Roger Corman wanted to give the formula a fresh approach by making his next film in England. Aip’s Samuel Z Arkoff and James H Nicholson had already produced several European films, so the next step was to establish a London base with Louis M Heyward in charge.
Masque of the Red Death (1964)
The British phase of his career began with a bang. After directing all of Price’s Poe chillers for American International Pictures, Roger Corman wanted to give the formula a fresh approach by making his next film in England. Aip’s Samuel Z Arkoff and James H Nicholson had already produced several European films, so the next step was to establish a London base with Louis M Heyward in charge.
- 4/11/2014
- Shadowlocked
Though Princess Diana's life has been picked apart endlessly since her death in 1997, new details about her personal life were just revealed in Cleo Rocos' memoir.
According to the British actress, the Princess of Wales, Freddie Mercury (of the band Queen), and her co-star Kenny Everett were hanging out and decided to go to the gay nightclub Vauxhall Tavern.
With the unmistakable royal insisting to tag along for "one drink," the group put their heads together to disguise Lady Di. According to the book, "She tried on the outfit Kenny had intended to wear: a camouflage army jacket, hair tucked up into a leather cap and dark aviator sunglasses. Scrutinizing her in the half light, we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just -- just -- pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model.”
As for the clubgoers reactions, Cleo says, "When...
According to the British actress, the Princess of Wales, Freddie Mercury (of the band Queen), and her co-star Kenny Everett were hanging out and decided to go to the gay nightclub Vauxhall Tavern.
With the unmistakable royal insisting to tag along for "one drink," the group put their heads together to disguise Lady Di. According to the book, "She tried on the outfit Kenny had intended to wear: a camouflage army jacket, hair tucked up into a leather cap and dark aviator sunglasses. Scrutinizing her in the half light, we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just -- just -- pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model.”
As for the clubgoers reactions, Cleo says, "When...
- 4/3/2013
- GossipCenter
Princess Diana . . . as a Drag King! The late, beloved British royal reportedly had a wild night out in the late 80s in which famous friend Freddie Mercury helped her go incognito at a London gay bar -- by disguising William and Harry's mum as a man. In her new memoir The Power of Positive Drinking, British TV actress Cleo Rocos writes that she, the late Queen frontman and comedian Kenny Everett prepped Diana's disguise, dressing her in an army jacket, cap and sunglasses. Arriving [...]...
- 4/2/2013
- by Justin Ravitz
- Us Weekly
Sounds like Lady Diana Spencer wasn't always the buttoned-up princess the world knew her as. Not only did she go on a (rather tame-looking) ski holiday -- a man! a book! booze! -- but now it turns out British singer Freddie Mercury once took her to a gay bar. In drag.
Wait, what?
That's what a new book is claiming. According to British TV personality Cleo Rocos (via the New York Daily News), "The Power of Positive Drinking" has within its pages an anecdote about when the Queen frontman took the people's princess to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a popular gay club in the 1980s.
According to Rocos, himself, Mercury and friend Kenny Everett smuggled the princess into the club in disguise -- she was wearing a bulky army jacket with dark sunglasses and a cap.
"We felt she was so obviously Princess Diana, she would be discovered at any...
Wait, what?
That's what a new book is claiming. According to British TV personality Cleo Rocos (via the New York Daily News), "The Power of Positive Drinking" has within its pages an anecdote about when the Queen frontman took the people's princess to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a popular gay club in the 1980s.
According to Rocos, himself, Mercury and friend Kenny Everett smuggled the princess into the club in disguise -- she was wearing a bulky army jacket with dark sunglasses and a cap.
"We felt she was so obviously Princess Diana, she would be discovered at any...
- 4/2/2013
- by editorial@zap2it.com
- Pop2it
Princess Diana continues to fascinate. A surprising, if hard-to-prove, tale about the late royal's life is now coming to light. According to a new book, the late princess once dressed up as a man and sneaked into a gay bar in London with Queen frontman Freddy Mercury, British deejay Kenny Everett and actress Cleo Rocos. Rocos reveals the supposed incident in her new book, The Power of Positive Drinking, claiming that the royal was unrecognizable in a large jacket and Aviator shades while at London's Royal Vauxhall Tavern. According to Rocos' tale, the incident took shape after Diana had spent the afternoon drinking champagne with the trio, which led to the...
- 4/1/2013
- E! Online
London, April 1: Princess Diana was once taken inside a gay bar dressed as a man by Queen star Freddie Mercury. She later sent a note saying: "We must do it again!"
Cleo Rocos, who went with the princess, said Diana looked like a male model, The Sun reported.
Disguised Diana was delighted when she was served in the bar without being recognised. She was wearing a camouflage army jacket, black leather cap and aviator sunglasses.
The princess had a wine and a beer.
"When we walked in, we felt she would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. She loved it," TV.
Cleo Rocos, who went with the princess, said Diana looked like a male model, The Sun reported.
Disguised Diana was delighted when she was served in the bar without being recognised. She was wearing a camouflage army jacket, black leather cap and aviator sunglasses.
The princess had a wine and a beer.
"When we walked in, we felt she would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. She loved it," TV.
- 4/1/2013
- by Shiva Prakash
- RealBollywood.com
Freddie Mercury once dressed Princess Diana as a man and smuggled her into a gay bar, it has been claimed. The late Queen rocker and comedian Kenny Everett reportedly gave the British royal - who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 - an army jacket, cap and sunglasses to wear for a night out in South London homosexual haunt the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in the 1980s, according to comedienne Cleo Rocos. A piece in Cleo's new memoir 'The Power of Positive Drinking' - which is serialised in the Sunday Times newspaper - explains: ''Freddie told her we were...
- 4/1/2013
- Virgin Media - Celebrity
Freddie Mercury once dressed Princess Diana as a man and smuggled her into a gay bar, it has been claimed. The late Queen rocker and comedian Kenny Everett reportedly gave the British royal - who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 - an army jacket, cap and sunglasses to wear for a night out in South London homosexual haunt the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in the 1980s, according to comedienne Cleo Rocos. A piece in Cleo's new memoir 'The Power of Positive Drinking' - which is serialised in the Sunday Times newspaper - explains: 'Freddie told her we were going to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a notorious gay bar in London. Diana said she had never heard...
- 4/1/2013
- Monsters and Critics
For a welcome piece of retro-gossip, The Telegraph notes that comedian Cleo Rocos's new book, The Power of Positive Drinking, contains the claim that she, fellow comedian Kenny Everett, and Freddie Mercury once dressed Princess Diana up as a man (the costume supposedly included an army jacket, cap, and sunglasses) and brought her to a south London gay bar for the night. "We felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute," writes Rocos. "But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared." While Rocos maintains that Diana's disguise was a convincing one, she added that Mercury's presence was enough to distract the club's patrons from looking too hard at anyone else.
- 3/31/2013
- by Delia Paunescu
- Vulture
According to a new book, Queen Legend Freddie Mercury snuck Princess Diana into a notorious gay bar in the late 1980s -- and the beloved royal went unnoticed.
In "The Power of Positive Drinking," comedian Cleo Rocos writes about how she, TV star Kenny Everett and Mercury disguised Princess Diana as a male model so that she could sneak into the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in south London. Dressed in an army jacket, black cap and sunglasses, Diana enjoyed a night out on the town, free of attention.
"When we walked in ... we felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. But she loved it," Rocos says, adding that the venue was packed, but the presence of Mercury, Everett and herself helped divert attention from Diana so that she could order drinks at the bar.
In "The Power of Positive Drinking," comedian Cleo Rocos writes about how she, TV star Kenny Everett and Mercury disguised Princess Diana as a male model so that she could sneak into the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in south London. Dressed in an army jacket, black cap and sunglasses, Diana enjoyed a night out on the town, free of attention.
"When we walked in ... we felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. But she loved it," Rocos says, adding that the venue was packed, but the presence of Mercury, Everett and herself helped divert attention from Diana so that she could order drinks at the bar.
- 3/31/2013
- by Leigh Blickley
- Huffington Post
Rebbie Jackson attends Michael JacksonThe Life of an Icon World Premiere. Photo copyright Solarpix / PR Photos. Rebbie Jackson attends Michael JacksonThe Life of an Icon World Premiere. Photo copyright Solarpix / PR Photos. Cleo Rocos attends Michael JacksonThe Life of an Icon World Premiere. Photo copyright Solarpix / PR Photos. Edith Bowman attends Michael JacksonThe Life of an Icon World Premiere. Photo copyright Solarpix / PR Photos. Jodie Marsh attends Michael JacksonThe Life of an Icon World Premiere. Photo copyright Solarpix / PR Photos. 11/02/2011 - Tony Blackburn - "Michael Jackson: The Life of an Icon" World Premiere - Arrivals - Empire Leicester Square - London, UK © Landmark / PR Photos 11/02/2011...
- 11/6/2011
- by M&C
- Monsters and Critics
Caprice attending the London Lifestyle Awards 2010 at the Plaza Riverbank Hotel on the Albert Embankment.Photo copyright by Landmark / PR Photos. Brendon Cole and Zoe Hobbs attending the London Lifestyle Awards 2010 at the Plaza Riverbank Hotel on the Albert Embankment.Photo copyright by Landmark / PR Photos. Sophie Anderton attending the London Lifestyle Awards 2010 at the Plaza Riverbank Hotel on the Albert Embankment.Photo copyright by Landmark / PR Photos. Jason Gardiner attending the London Lifestyle Awards 2010 at the Plaza Riverbank Hotel on the Albert Embankment.Photo copyright by Landmark / PR Photos. Cleo Rocos attending the London Lifestyle Awards 2010 at the Plaza Riverbank Hotel on the Albert Embankment.Photo copyright by Landmark / PR...
- 10/11/2010
- by James Wray
- Monsters and Critics
For talking about the outside world Sam Pepper has been punished. On Friday, Sam hinted to fellow housemates, John James and Josie, who was popular on the outside.
Last night, Sam was called to the Diary Room where he had to glue peppercorns on to a board saying:
“I Sam Pepper Will Not Talk About The Outside World Ever Again….. Honestly I Wont”
Sam was not allowed to leave the Diary Room until he had covered all the letters with peppercorns.
During this, Big Brother played him some music and read him interesting facts about peppers and peppercorns.
Related posts:Big Brother 2010: Shabby Katchadourian punished for nominations chatCharlie Punished For Talking About Nominations & Put Up For EvictionBIG Brother 2010: Mario Wins Save And Replace – Nominates Sam PEPPERGeorge Galloway Could Be Punished For Taking part In Celebrity Big BrotherCelebrity Big Brother: Cleo Rocos And Carole Malone Get Punished!Copyright...
Last night, Sam was called to the Diary Room where he had to glue peppercorns on to a board saying:
“I Sam Pepper Will Not Talk About The Outside World Ever Again….. Honestly I Wont”
Sam was not allowed to leave the Diary Room until he had covered all the letters with peppercorns.
During this, Big Brother played him some music and read him interesting facts about peppers and peppercorns.
Related posts:Big Brother 2010: Shabby Katchadourian punished for nominations chatCharlie Punished For Talking About Nominations & Put Up For EvictionBIG Brother 2010: Mario Wins Save And Replace – Nominates Sam PEPPERGeorge Galloway Could Be Punished For Taking part In Celebrity Big BrotherCelebrity Big Brother: Cleo Rocos And Carole Malone Get Punished!Copyright...
- 8/9/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Channel 4 have just released details of what we can expect from tonight’s edition of Big Brother, and it looks like it’s going to be a good ‘un!
We’ll see Davina McCaw parroting things the housemates have said to each other, which set off a row between John James and Ife.
We’ll also hear Davina repeating what Caoimhe said when she labeled Corin as being “rough, and how Ife mistakenly laid claim to something Keeley had said, and therefore, Keeley missed out on a prize…
And the chatty parrot also repeats a conversation Josie had about fancying John James, then of course, we’ll get to see the moments before and after Ife’s eviction.
Then finally, we’ll see Ben’s reaction to finding all his fellow housemates dressing and sounding just like him!
Related posts:Big Brother 2010: British housemates win over the Germans in football task!
We’ll see Davina McCaw parroting things the housemates have said to each other, which set off a row between John James and Ife.
We’ll also hear Davina repeating what Caoimhe said when she labeled Corin as being “rough, and how Ife mistakenly laid claim to something Keeley had said, and therefore, Keeley missed out on a prize…
And the chatty parrot also repeats a conversation Josie had about fancying John James, then of course, we’ll get to see the moments before and after Ife’s eviction.
Then finally, we’ll see Ben’s reaction to finding all his fellow housemates dressing and sounding just like him!
Related posts:Big Brother 2010: British housemates win over the Germans in football task!
- 7/17/2010
- by Sarah
- Unreality
Channel 4 is to bring back 24 hour live streaming from the Big Brother House for its final series which starts on June 9th. The move will give viewers the ultimate reality experience, literally enabling them to follow the action in the house as it happens, around the clock.
Live streaming of the house (see notes below) will be accessible via the official Big Brother site www.channel4.com/bigbrother. Viewers will pay a small fee to access the footage; 49p for a day pass; £1.99 for a week pass; and £14.99 for a season pass for the whole 13 week series. The money generated through the sales of passes will cover some of the costs it takes to run the streaming.
As a nod to the fans who have watched and supported the show for the past ten years Channel 4 is giving away 1000 free season passes for the feed. The giveaway will...
Live streaming of the house (see notes below) will be accessible via the official Big Brother site www.channel4.com/bigbrother. Viewers will pay a small fee to access the footage; 49p for a day pass; £1.99 for a week pass; and £14.99 for a season pass for the whole 13 week series. The money generated through the sales of passes will cover some of the costs it takes to run the streaming.
As a nod to the fans who have watched and supported the show for the past ten years Channel 4 is giving away 1000 free season passes for the feed. The giveaway will...
- 6/4/2010
- by Lisa McGarry
- Unreality
Daryl Hannah (photos) has won the heart of a British DJ - who is wooing her with socks. Besotted Chris Evans begged the Hollywood beauty to marry him - but pals reckon he is wasting his time. The Virgin Radio star became infatuated with the actress after interviewing her on his morning show and bombarded her with calls, love letters and even a pair of socks. In one sock he stuffed a scrap of paper asking her out for lunch, while in the other he suggested they should tie the knot. A friend says, "As soon as Chris saw Daryl he fell for her. He kicked everyone out of the radio studio and just interviewed her and her friend, Cleo Rocos, on their own. Chris is used to getting his way with women and when he got no response from his messages that just made him more interested. But he is wasting his time."...
- 11/13/2000
- WENN
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