Hi, I´m writing from Argentina and I always think about something that happened in 1981. When the band was here, they met (except for Roger) the president, by the time an illegal president. We where between 1976-1983 under a militar government, with 30.000 dead people.
Why, in God´s name, Brian, Freddie, and John went to meet that man?
I can´t understand that.
And there was te South Africa thing too in 1984.
Someone can explain those things?
Would you refuse to meet with guy who ordered to kill 30 000 people if you're in his country?
In South Africa - there was another case, read biography of Queen - Brian explained it - they played for white, black people and a lot of other artists played there before.
deleted user 05.01.2005 13:29
Yeah theres something about that on the "Champions of the World" video
Serry Funster wrote: Would you refuse to meet with guy who ordered to kill 30 000 people if you're in his country?
In South Africa - there was another case, read biography of Queen - Brian explained it - they played for white, black people and a lot of other artists played there before.
I believe I heard an interview with Freddie Mercury, in which he stated that Queen didn't meddle in politics. They were a non-politics kind of band. Not like U2 for example.
Still I don't know why they met that Videla (spelled right?) fella. I always thought Roger did the right thing by refusing it. But hey, who am I to judge. I never played for a stadium with over 100k people. Also, living in the country that I do, my life will probably be pampered from pram to coffin.
As for the South-African concert. Don't see the harm in uniting black and white for one evening. Perhaps it might even have contributed to some very small extend.
Serry Funster wrote: Would you refuse to meet with guy who ordered to kill 30 000 people if you're in his country?
In South Africa - there was another case, read biography of Queen - Brian explained it - they played for white, black people and a lot of other artists played there before.
Roger refuse!!
Yeah, because others came to President Viola (sorry if I spell his name wrong). If they all refused - who know what could be...
I'm not sure about that.
However, like most people, I believe that going to South Africa was a statement in and of itself. I applaud them for it actually.
QUE HACES MARTO??
UN GUSTO PAPA, ME PRESENTO, DIEGO DE BUENOS AIRES.
WELL, I WILL GIVE YOU A CLUE
THE PEOPLE WHO ORGANIZED THE CONCERTS IN ARGENTINA, HAD SOME KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT
SO, YOU HAVE A POSSIBLE REASON
Un argento mas en el foro, buenisimo que haya mas compatriotas. Bienvenido, soy fer.
About this meeting. I read that journalist of "gente" told years later that was very an unconfortable meeting, because Viola didn't know exactly how to talk of, and the rest of the band were uncomfortable becasue there were in front of a southamenrican dictator. So the meeting was a little bit cold.
By the way, that was part of a operation of public relationships made by the military government during the "political opening". During those days Viola met not only 3 of Queen Memebers but another argentinian rock musicians like Charly Garcia, el flaco Spinetta, David Lebon and others.
I guess the fact that Roger Taylor didn't come was a way of all the band to protest.
About south Africa, that was very unfair cos, after all, Queen played with non-segregated audiences.
deleted user 05.01.2005 22:52
Sun City was something that the press preyed upon. And from what I've heard, the Falklands war was just a scapegoat, so I don't blame the Argentinians.
Well, i guess Greg Brooks, maybe can be wrong. In 1984, a few months later Argentina recovered their democracy, a famous argentinian publication called "Humor" printed -with permission of an american magazine, i guess i was RS because it never appear the name of the mag that they asked for permission - a picture of three memebers of Queen smilng with president Viola, and the epigraph - translated from the american maganzine - said that they were smiling because they were enjoying a striptease by Taylor.
So the meeting was documented.