There is a very modest side to me too. How far away from me is the image? It's about 20 steps away.

Africans of my generation-and even today-generally have both an English and an African name. Whites were either unable or unwilling to pronounce an African name, and considered it uncivilized to have one. That day, Miss Mdingane told me that my new name was Nelson. Why she bestowed this particular name upon me I have no idea. Perhaps it had something to do with the great British sea captain Lord Nelson, but that would be only a guess.

When I cut my hair, the whole sound changed, my style changed.

I don't like to be called Elvis the Pelvis. It's one of the most childish expressions I've ever heard coming from an adult. But if they wanna call me that, there's nothin' I can do about it, so I just have to accept it.

I feel that the name Queen actually fitted that time. It lent itself to a lot of things, like the theatre, and it was grand. It was very pompous, with all kinds of connotations. It meant so much. It wasn't just one precise label. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.

I thought up the name Queen early on. It couldn't have been King; it doesn't have the same ring or aura as Queen.