The Mountain Studios were owned by a small group of Dutch shareholders who had no connection to the music industry. They were not very happy with the way the studios were run. The Swiss Alex Grob had built the studios with the Dutch financial support but he spent more time in Los Angeles with Anita Kerr, his American wife, than running the Montreux Studios.
December 4th 1971, the Montreux Casino caught fire and burnt down in the middle of a concert by Frank Zappa. A song was composed by rock band Deep Purple by name “Smoke on the Water” which quickly became world famous.

Four years later, a young sound engineer, David Richards, settles down in Montreux and takes  control of the brand new recording studio that was built in the new casino. His first clients were the Rolling Stones. They came to finalize their new album “Black and Blue”. They will be the first from a long list. David Bowie, Yes, Duran Duran, Chris Rea, Sting, Phil Collins, AC/DC, Brian Ferry, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, Michael Jackson, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, B.B.King, Marvin Gaye to name a few.
And Queen, of course.
Queen came in 1978 to record their album “Jazz”. The title was chosen as a tribute to the famous Montreux Jazz Festival. Back in England, Queen got caught by the tax office who claimed an astronomical amount based on past earnings, and their advisers suggested the band should buy the Mountain Studios rather than pay the tax. When Jim Beach contacted Alex Grob telling him of their intention to buy the place, he was happy to do the negotiations, as were the Dutch shareholders. In 1979, the contract was signed. Freddie was reticent in the beginning, but he finally fell in love with the town where he appreciated its tranquillity.


At the same time David Richards became Queen’s sound engineer and producer and they recorded part of the following albums: « Hot Space » in 1982, « A Kind of Magic » in 1986, but also «The Miracle» in 1989, «Innuendo» in 1991 and the posthumous «Made in Heaven» in 1995. Note the song "Under Pressure" which appears on the album "Hot Space" written and performed by Queen and David Bowie. This was the first collaboration of the group with another artist. Originally David Bowie came to Montreux to sing the chorus of another song from Queen "Cool Cat". The result has unfortunately not been released at the request of Bowie who was not happy with it, but since he was there they began working on what became "Under Pressure" which actually started as a jam session between Queen and Bowie. The songwriting is credited to all five participants and royalties are divided into five.

While they were recording the vocals for “Made in Heaven”, in the course of 1991, Freddie was already quite affected with his illness. David Richards explains in an interview published by the Rolling Stones magazine in Germany in 1995: “It has taken us much more time for the vocal parts than usual since Freddie needed frequent breaks. But he also wanted to be more precise, more accurate because he knew there would be no other chance for him. His last recording needed  to be perfect ».


Freddie Mercury wants to work until the end until his last breath even if he knows that the songs he was recording would be published after his death. One can figure out, for him, the sense of each word. The ultimate song he recorded was “Mother Love” whose words are written by guitarist Brian May. The last song Freddie Mercury wrote is “A Winter’s Tale”, a nostalgic and peaceful consideration of Montreux.
The sky, the water, the mountains, the sea gulls, children’s scream .... An interrupted moment that ends like that : «Am I dreaming? Am I dreaming? Oooh - it's bliss»
The remaining members of the band will need many years finishing the songs to finally come to the release of “Made in Heaven” in 1995. On the cover: the “Lake House”, a small property where Freddie would go to find peace and inspiration.

Today, the Mountain Studios have disappeared. The place has been converted into a bar. David Richards has left Montreux to settle down in Attalens. But he sometimes returns to see his friends.