The Mayor of Zagreb has called for Freddie Mercury to make a comeback gig in the Croatian capital.

Speaking on national television about his musical preferences, Milan Bandic said he wanted to attract rock legends to the city.

"I would like to see David Bowie play in Zagreb. And Freddie Mercury could come, too," he said.

Mayor Bandic reportedly seemed shocked to be told that the Queen frontman had died 18 years ago.

The mistake caused shock among many Croatians but Bandic himself shrugged off the gaffe.

His prospects in the second round of local elections to be held this Sunday seem to have been unharmed with political pundits expecting him to get a new mandate.

Zagreb resident Mirjana Popovic said: "It might seem he is a little bit out of touch when he says things like this but he is the right man for mayor."

Similar sort of story concerns a certain Charlie Chaplin who wrote 'This Is My Song' for a film which he was directing ('A Countess From Hong Kong')...

He was certain that it'd be perfect for Al Jolson to sing...trouble was, Jolson had been dead over fifteen years previously!

Chaplin wasn't convinced of this fact until he was shown a picture of Jolson's tombstone...

In the end, it went to Pet Clark who is, happily, still very much alive!

There is another story and again it concerning music to a film. After a press screening or the premier of the Dirk Bogarde film Death In Venice, a member of the audience (or press or production staff) shouted out to sign up this composer for more films and only had to be reminded that Gustav Mahler had died around 60 years previous. It was the wonderful Adagietto from his Fifth Symphony that was used for the film.