🔘 I’M GOING SLIGHTLY MAD – Single: Mar. 1991

I’m Going Slightly Mad – Single: March 1991

b/w “The Hitman”

7" Single — Parlophone QUEEN 17 / 20 4257 7

Released: March 4, 1991 (UK)

A surreal, darkly humorous single from Innuendo, released during Freddie Mercury’s final year.

Released on March 4, 1991, I’m Going Slightly Mad was the second UK single from Queen’s album Innuendo. Written collectively by the band, the track blends cabaret‑styled humour with a haunting, understated arrangement. Freddie Mercury’s performance—wry, theatrical, and knowingly absurd—became one of his most iconic late‑period portrayals.

🔘 – Key Highlights

• Released March 4, 1991 on Parlophone

• Second UK single from Innuendo

• Written collectively by Queen

• Video features Mercury in one of his final filmed performances

• Peaked at No. 22 on the UK Singles Chart

🔘 – Overview

Released on March 4, 1991, I’m Going Slightly Mad was the second UK single from Queen’s album Innuendo. Written collectively by the band, the track blends cabaret‑styled humour with a haunting, understated arrangement. Freddie Mercury’s performance—wry, theatrical, and knowingly absurd—became one of his most iconic late‑period portrayals.

The B‑side, “The Hitman,” is a heavy rock track from the same album, offering a stark contrast to the A‑side’s surreal tone. Both songs were produced by Queen and David Richards, continuing the collaborative production approach of the band’s final years.

The single entered the UK Singles Chart on March 16, 1991, remaining for five weeks and peaking at No. 22. Its release coincided with a period of intense speculation about Mercury’s health, and the music video—featuring the band in exaggerated costumes—has since become one of Queen’s most discussed visual works.

🔘 – The Story

Released on March 4, 1991, I’m Going Slightly Mad arrived during one of the most emotionally charged periods in Queen’s history. The band were promoting Innuendo, their final album released during Freddie Mercury’s lifetime, and the single’s surreal humour masked a deeper poignancy.

The music video, filmed in late 1990, has become one of Queen’s most iconic visual statements. Mercury appears in a long black wig, white face paint, and eccentric costume, embodying a theatrical, almost vaudevillian persona. Despite his declining health, his performance is full of wit, timing, and expressive nuance.

The B‑side, “The Hitman,” represents the heavier side of Innuendo, showcasing the band’s ability to shift between humour, drama, and hard rock within the same era.

The single’s chart performance—five weeks on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 22—reflects the band’s enduring popularity even as public speculation about Mercury’s health intensified. Today, the single stands as one of the defining artistic statements of Queen’s final chapter.

🔘 – Track List

UK 7" Single — Parlophone QUEEN 17 / 20 4257 7

I’m Going Slightly Mad – Queen

The Hitman – Queen

Produced by Queen & David Richards.

℗ 1991 Queen Productions Ltd.

🔘 – Variants (UK)

• 7" Single, Paper Label — QUEEN 17 / 20 4257 7

• 7" Single, Silver Injection Label — QUEEN 17

• 7" Single, Solid Silver Injection — QUEEN 17

• 7" Picture Disc (Shaped) — QUEENPD 17 / 20 4257 0

• 7" Picture Disc (Uncut) — QUEENPD 17 / 20 4257 0

• 12" Single — 20 4257 8 / 12 QUEENG 17

• CD Single — CDQUEEN 17 / 20 4257 2

• Cassette Single — TCQUEEN 17

All variants physically verified.

🔘 – Chart Performance

UK Singles Chart

Entered: March 16, 1991

Peak Position: No. 22

Weeks on Chart: 5

Chart Run:

16/03/1991 — 24

23/03/1991 — 22 (peak)

30/03/1991 — 30

06/04/1991 — 47

13/04/1991 — 73

🔘 – Context & Notes

Artist: Queen

Label: Parlophone (UK)

Release Date: March 4, 1991

Format: 7" vinyl single (multiple variants)

Catalogue: QUEEN 17 / 20 4257 7

I’m Going Slightly Mad is one of Queen’s most distinctive late‑career singles. Its surreal humour masks a deeper poignancy, especially in hindsight. The video—featuring Mercury in a long black wig, white face paint, and eccentric costume—was filmed during a period of declining health, yet he delivers a performance full of wit and theatricality.

The B‑side, “The Hitman,” represents the heavier side of Innuendo, making the single a compact showcase of the album’s stylistic range.

🔘 – Visual Archive

Queen — I’m Going Slightly Mad — UK 7" Single Sleeve (1991).

🔘 – Related Material

• Innuendo (1991)

• “Innuendo” (1991 single)

• “Headlong” (1991 single)

• Queen 1990–1991 singles

See tabs at the foot of the post for navigation.

🔘 – Discography

I’m Going Slightly Mad (1991 single)

Innuendo (1991 album)

“The Hitman” (1991 B‑side)

🔘 – Mini‑Timeline

February 1991: Innuendo album released

March 4, 1991: I’m Going Slightly Mad single released

March 16, 1991: Enters UK chart

April 1991: Exits chart after five weeks

🔘 – Glam Flashback

Queen’s final era blended humour, theatricality, and emotional depth. I’m Going Slightly Mad stands as a testament to Mercury’s ability to turn vulnerability into performance art.

🔘 – Closing Notes

A surreal, witty, and poignant single, I’m Going Slightly Mad remains one of the defining moments of Queen’s late‑career artistry.

🔘 – Hashtags

#Queen #ImGoingSlightlyMad #Innuendo #1991 #Parlophone #FreddieMercury #ReleaseChronicle

🔘 – Sources

Parlophone Records (1991)

Official Charts Company

Sleeve and label credits

Physical release verification

🔘 – Copyright Notice

All magazine scans, photographs, and original text excerpts referenced in this entry remain the property of their respective copyright holders. This Chronicle entry is a transformative, non‑commercial archival summary created for historical documentation and educational reference. No ownership of the original material is claimed or implied.