[atypicaluser]

I don't think you know Freddy Mercury or Queen all that well. Considering they provided the score for two films (Flash Gordon, Highlander) and allowed their music on scores of commercials (e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zr5lZWx9X0 ) yeah, he'd/they'd shill.

[jamesgagan]

I know them well enough to know that commerical features Dwight Yoakum's version of the song and it aired many years after Freddy Mercury died.

[atypicaluser]

My apologies. Would a spot from 1980 suffice? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9KDXJ2AlKQ

[philwelch]

Highlander still had a traditional orchestral score alongside the Queen songs. The Highlander TV series also liberally used some of the songs, most prominently the album recording of the title song "Princes of the Universe" as the theme song, but also variations on "Who Wants To Live Forever" in the score.

There's no question Queen was a fully-sold-out pop band at the end. With their talent they could have easily pursued a less commercial path--and in their early albums, had a fair deal of influence from heavy metal and progressive rock--but for whatever reasons, they didn't. Not a criticism, just a fact.