| Stelios 05.09.2014 06:14 |
This is only speculation of course and in no way try to diminish his showmanship. We know Freddie used vodka and beer during the performances but what about drugs like cocaine,speed or ecstasy? I remember Brian saying on the comentary on one of the live releases,that "Freddie is loaded here, i don't know with what..." or something similar. On the other hand Pheobe has stated that when he used cocaine in the studio, and came sober the next day to listen the results he thought they were crap.But this has to do more with creativity than with performance. I have seen on you-tube bands really high on coke, and you can tell, they are on their own world. With Freddie that was never the case because he always tried to connect. However a mild use of some drug may just gave him the extra edge, and performances like "Live in Montreal" indicate that there may had been some kind of extra stimulant. What do you think? |
| Costa86 05.09.2014 06:18 |
It has been said that Queen were never a big "druggie" band. And it's probably true. We know Fred's drug of choice was coke. I'm sure he used it before a few shows, but it wasn't something which characterised his performance. He wasn't known for looking drugged during shows - he may have been during a few, but it wasn't the norm. My guess is he sometimes consumed some coke, just to get him going. I'm not sure he drank much before a show - it would be counter-productive. Alcohol makes you exhausted after some time, especially if you stop drinking, like he'd have to do while singing. Sure he had his beer and a few shots, but nothing to get him drunk. We all have our drugs of choice, don't we? |
| thomasquinn 32989 05.09.2014 07:52 |
A little bit of alcohol (not wine!!! Too acidic!) can make singing easier because it's a muscle relaxant. A lot of alcohol makes it practically impossible for exactly the same reason. A small dose of cocaine will make a person more cocky and self-confident. I can imagine that Freddie, being a person with a complicated ego (shyness-extroversion being in conflict within his person) may have felt he needed a boost on days when he wasn't feeling as confident. He was enough of a pro not to overdo it when he still had to perform, I'd say. What happened when he WASN'T performing is an entirely different story. It strikes me that Freddie's extremely sexual (and often course at that) remarks during the 1980s shows might be influenced by drink and coke to some degree, as both these substances tend to limit inhibition and cocaine is known to boost ones sex drive. |
| luthorn 05.09.2014 09:27 |
From what was said over the years, Freddie was on coke during Live Aid. |
| Nitroboy 05.09.2014 10:14 |
I've never heard rumours that even suggested he consumed drugs before going on stage. However we do have some audience recordings where he's had a bit too much alcohol before a show, resulting in some amusing moments. As for the Rock Montreal comment, the band was quite angry with the film crew and general film production of those two shows. There have been some shows where Freddie would have had some steroids injected into his neck, to deal with vocal issues (nodules can be a bitch!). |
| BradF 05.09.2014 11:07 |
I think in Jim Hutton's book he referenced Freddie using coke before Live Aid and possibly a handful of other shows just prior to that. |
| Gregsynth 05.09.2014 11:37 |
Peter Freestone said that Freddie didn't take anything before live shows so he could "remain in control." Now as for the after-show stuff, it's probably an entirely different story! |
| pittrek 05.09.2014 11:40 |
He was drunk on many of the shows but I'm not sure if he was on drugs on any of them. At least on any of the recordings I've heard |
| TRS-Romania 05.09.2014 14:57 |
Freddie used cocaine at Wembley 86 exactly before ”Now I'm Here” was performed (which is exactly after the BM guitar solo) Watch the performance and you will notice. link Jim Hutton some years ago told me about it ...and no, cocaine didn't take over Freddie's life! |
| Costa86 05.09.2014 15:14 |
Gregsynth wrote: Peter Freestone said that Freddie didn't take anything before live shows so he could "remain in control." Now as for the after-show stuff, it's probably an entirely different story!Of course it's a different story. |
| people on streets 05.09.2014 15:32 |
TRS-Romania wrote: Freddie used cocaine at Wembley 86 exactly before ”Now I'm Here” was performed (which is exactly after the BM guitar solo) Watch the performance and you will notice. link Jim Hutton some years ago told me about it ...and no, cocaine didn't take over Freddie's life!I think he did coke at Live Aid as well. |
| Doga 05.09.2014 15:39 |
TRS-Romania wrote: Freddie used cocaine at Wembley 86 exactly before ”Now I'm Here” was performed (which is exactly after the BM guitar solo) Watch the performance and you will notice. link Jim Hutton some years ago told me about it ...and no, cocaine didn't take over Freddie's life!It can be aswell for the 10 minutes of rest during the guitar solo. |
| musicland munich 05.09.2014 15:52 |
It is a well known fact that a lot of singers use steroids ( not just for medical reasons) to have a more powerfull voice. Rod Sewart himself admitted the use of steroids to have a better voice occassionally. On that Coke thing we can't be sure, if he used it before or during shows he would have chosen smaller amounts to stay foused. On the other hand Freddie had a lot of cocaine overdoses...knowing that...he won't use coke during a show, the risk would be very high. |
| Nitroboy 05.09.2014 16:09 |
TRS-Romania wrote: Freddie used cocaine at Wembley 86 exactly before ”Now I'm Here” was performed (which is exactly after the BM guitar solo) Watch the performance and you will notice. link Jim Hutton some years ago told me about it ...and no, cocaine didn't take over Freddie's life! Proof? Anything in the video that hints at him being under the influence of drugs??? |
| Ghostwithasmile is BACK! 05.09.2014 16:13 |
pittrek wrote: He was drunk on many of the shows but I'm not sure if he was on drugs on any of them. At least on any of the recordings I've heardWhat avout Frankfurt 82 ? Think Freddie enjoyed some that night. |
| Penetration_Guru 05.09.2014 17:15 |
Rarely have I seen such a stream of passing off rumour/opinion as fact. 1. I'm sure the drug use in the band was greater than is generally admitted, and extends to some currently-live people. 2. There is no specific proof of that. 3. Jim Hutton's book is not reliable. He all but claims to have written One Vision, and claimed Freddie died in his arms. Anything he said is open to question. |
| The King Of Rhye 05.09.2014 18:02 |
All I know about any drug use or drinking during Rock Montreal is that the same dang half-empty bottle of Heineken sits on top of the piano forever.......lol! And its not Freddie, but there's the story about how Brian decided to never again get drunk before a show after getting smashed with Joe Perry before playing a show with Aerosmith on the bill and then realizing he couldn't hear himself playing........ |
| Stelios 06.09.2014 05:40 |
For me it goes like that. If he used cocaine on a regular basis, in his off stage life, he would have been accustomed to the drug and knew his limits. Now, a line or two before a show would be like oiling the machine.Its not like he was druged. Also the statment "beeing drunk" stretches the case.A glass of vodka and/or some beers during the show dosen't exactly make you drunk especially concidering the amount of adrenaline that was pussing to the opposite side. So my guess is that he have found just the right amount of drug/alcohol use, to boost his performance, where he wanted it to be. |
| Nitroboy 06.09.2014 05:50 |
Stelios wrote: For me it goes like that. If he used cocaine on a regular basis, in his off stage life, he would have been accustomed to the drug and knew his limits. Now, a line or two before a show would be like oiling the machine.Its not like he was druged. Also the statment "beeing drunk" stretches the case.A glass of vodka and/or some beers during the show dosen't exactly make you drunk especially concidering the amount of adrenaline that was pussing to the opposite side. So my guess is that he have found just the right amount of drug/alcohol use, to boost his performance, where he wanted it to be. But there are some shows where he's sky high drunk |
| SmokyQuartz 06.09.2014 16:17 |
which ones Nitroboy? Re a previous post about him having taken coke at Wembley, if he had, he doesn't seem drugged up at all. He's not over doing the performance, his timing is perfect, etc. Not questioning whether it's true or not, just saying it doesn't seem to have affected his performance at all. |
| musicland munich 06.09.2014 17:23 |
^ ha... like MACK have said " One bottle of Vodka a two lines of Coke...and Freddie still walks straight" |
| Elektra 06.09.2014 23:38 |
He loved his Vodka and Of course he used Coke so did Roger during Brians Guitar Solo |
| Stelios 07.09.2014 06:32 |
musicland munich wrote: ^ ha... like MACK have said " One bottle of Vodka a two lines of Coke...and Freddie still walks straight"When did MACK said that? Is it on some interview? |
| musicland munich 07.09.2014 11:46 |
^ during the four hours documetry "40 Jahre Queen" on the german TV-Channel VOX. |
| luthorn 07.09.2014 11:56 |
It's not that easy to tell if someone is on coke, unless you know them well enough. I had a boss who would hit fresh powder and it took me a while to figure out why is he so energetic all of the sudden. Given Freddie was 'shy', I would say coke would be one way to work the jekyll hyde persona. In right quantities coke is a marvelous thing. |