| duritz 11.11.2014 18:37 |
Hello my fellow Queen nuts/ Whilst watching Nation's Favourite Queen Songs tonight when they got onto Who Wants To Live Forever I was really struck by Brian May stating that when writing this song he was thinking about his fathers death.....and the fact Freddie was ill. I would imagine May was composing this song around late 85 or early 86. I always thought Freddie's admission to band was around 88/89? I don't know.....maybe May just kind of forgot as you can do but I was taken aback as I consider myself somewhat of a Mercury anorak. |
| winterspelt 11.11.2014 21:34 |
. |
| winterspelt 11.11.2014 21:36 |
Brian has said millions of times that he wrote it inspired in a line from Highlander. Also Brian has said another million times that during the magic tour Freddie said he felt he could not be able to tour again and nobody understood the meaning of those words until Freddie told them about AIDS a lot later. So, it can be that Brian is confused, is lying or you misunderstood something. In any case, we can be 100% sure that the band didnt knew about Freddie's illness in 1986 and WWTLF was not made with Freddie in mind. It would not be the first time Brian makes a mistake like this, so dont worry about it. |
| matt z 12.11.2014 00:16 |
It was ALSO a glaringly Obvious concept of the screenplay. The highlander had outlived (most of) his loves in life and wouldn't share his time with others as well again because of the pain attached to it. |
| emrabt 12.11.2014 02:45 |
Brian honestly just lies his arse off these days... he seems to think everything needs a connection to Freddie. The other week he claimed Freddie watched Wayne world while on his death bed and gave his full approval. |
| andyb1968 12.11.2014 04:26 |
I don't think he lies, I get pulled up all the time when I tell a story and my missus will say, that didn't happen then it was years before then, its an age thing I'm afraid : ( |
| duritz 12.11.2014 05:26 |
Obviously the song makes total conceptual sense in regards to Highlander. I suppose like Andyb says it was just a total slip up as can happen though I would've thought you could remember distinct periods of songwriting. That Waynes World comment .......May really said that? That's ridiculous! On the other hand there is an army of us anoraks out there who pick up on every little thing the members say.I got to admit I did for a nanosecond entertain the idea that May would know by saying such a thing [any little bread crumb]it would be picked up. |
| soxtalon 12.11.2014 06:43 |
emrabt wrote: Brian honestly just lies his arse off these days... he seems to think everything needs a connection to Freddie. The other week he claimed Freddie watched Wayne world while on his death bed and gave his full approval.To be fair he's stated this all along. Way back in 1992 during an interview he stated that they had been sent a rough cut (at least of the scene) and that Freddie had laughed at it... |
| brENsKi 12.11.2014 07:29 |
emrabt wrote: Brian honestly just lies his arse off these days... he seems to think everything needs a connection to Freddie. The other week he claimed Freddie watched Wayne world while on his death bed and gave his full approval.he also gave his approval to the Queen+5ive collaboration and the McFly cover saying "both have my blessing adn everyone knows that 5ive & McFly are my favourite boybands" |
| FreddieCat 12.11.2014 10:10 |
And let's not forget the new ending to Mother Love Freddie gave Brian during the writing of his Diablerie book. |
| fofum 12.11.2014 10:34 |
How do you mean FreddieCat? |
| The Real Wizard 12.11.2014 10:47 |
People need to realize that the years can get mushy in one's head. Brian lives in the present, not the past. He doesn't study his past the way a lot of people do here. His ability to retain information isn't a problem if he's a doctor of science. He just doesn't have a memory like Jimmy Page when it comes to his own past, because his last 30 years haven't been dedicated to archiving and reliving his past. Do you know exactly where your mind was on September 24, 1988? He doesn't either. So sure, sometimes he forgets which song was on which album, and which year that album was released. All that said - in what year did his dad die? I think he's definitely got that one wrong, as it was surely later in the 80s, yes? |
| Martin Packer 12.11.2014 10:49 |
I think Brian tacitly suspected something was seriously wrong with Freddie in that timeframe - and subsequently that firmed up in his brain over the decades as "I knew and wrote it about him". But as has been said the song fits the Highlander theme perfectly so no need to suppose he actually DID write it about Freddie. He might, though, think it ironic or unfortunate - as things turned out. |
| The Real Wizard 12.11.2014 10:51 |
It's hard to know if the others were suspecting there was a problem before the Magic tour. Only they truly know. Roger and John may have better answers, but I doubt they'd be willing to talk about it in great detail. It took Roger 20 years to even talk about how he found out about Freddie's death, and he still has to hold back tears in the Days documentary. |
| malicedoom 12.11.2014 10:58 |
Brian has also said he wrote All Dead, All Dead about Freddie. What, you haven't heard this??? Sheesh. It's been everywhere. |
| The Real Wizard 12.11.2014 11:03 |
malicedoom wrote: Brian has also said he wrote All Dead, All Dead about Freddie.It's about his cat. He said so 25 years ago. Stick to facts, please. |
| winterspelt 12.11.2014 12:23 |
emrabt wrote: Brian honestly just lies his arse off these days... he seems to think everything needs a connection to Freddie. The other week he claimed Freddie watched Wayne world while on his death bed and gave his full approval.The movie was released in February 1992, so it is very possible that Freddie had seen the actual scene featuring BoRhap or at least a very clear idea about what was going to be on film. |
| malicedoom 12.11.2014 13:21 |
The Real Wizard wrote: It's about his cat. He said so 25 years ago. Stick to facts, please. ---------------- Um, yes. I know. |
| duritz 12.11.2014 13:26 |
Whilst I totally appreciate as Wizard states peoples recollections get "mushy" I think such matters as loved one's passing are more likely to stay locked in the mind. So sure song titles,inspirations,performances are likely to be fudged I just found it strange mixing up quite potent details. Now Harold his father I think passed away in June of 88 whilst recording of The Miracle was taking place. January of that year his daughter Emily was born. So a pretty distinct year all round really....life,death etc. Maybe Harold May was gravely ill in what I presume to be the year May wrote Forever[85]. Also of note was that this was also pre Magic tour. The impression I have got from my nerd activities was the first time the band learnt of Mercury not wanting to perform for much longer was [in Mays own words]in Spain a few days before Knebworth when Mercury and Deacon got into a bit of a spat and Mercury said "well I won't always be here to do this". I fully acknowledge though that dates get musty as do recollections plus who is to say the band have fully divulged the exact time frames. |
| duritz 12.11.2014 13:35 |
Sorry my last post may read unclear May says ....."and with Freddie etc" in terms of Who Wants To Live Forver on last nights show. The above conversation in Spain was 1986 and May himself stated "it was kind of uncharacteristic because he was always up for everything and very strong.We thought maybe it was just a stage he was going through,or maybe there was something wrong.I remember having that thought in my head but you just push that thought aside". So there is as suggested an inkling. That's why I was surprised last night that May said what he did in conjuction to a song wrote pre Kind Of Magic release,pre Magic tour when I would've imagined things were looking pretty good band wise. |
| Doga 12.11.2014 13:38 |
two words: BRIAN BLESSED |
| matt z 12.11.2014 14:36 |
^ this. Just kidding. (Felt like playing the wizard role) Those hawkmen always grossed me out whenever the film came on tv. When I was young I found them hideous and scary. Hideous in a Turkish prison/Greek gymnasium way. Uber gay. I still find it kinda frightening seeing how greasy they look... And how "scantily clad" they are That IS odd of Brian to make another association. I hope it's not old age.... or I fear he'll start announcing BoRhap as being about Freddie's illness. I think the band suspected things were wrong considering how much Brian and Roger loathe recollections of sessions in Germany and the gay scene that Fred indulged in. Though there was no sufficient testing at the time you've gotta expect that they all were screened for insurance purposes prior to embarking on tours. As for Wayne's world. .. I don't think he'd make that up. Screeners get prior runs before a premiere. Those can be months in advance. Rough cuts can even be made a year prior to completion. Films are almost never shot in sequence. It's likely they'd seen the tv show as well. They had to be consulted before approving it's admission into the film. Ill see if I can find Penelope Spheeris on some kind of revival program someday and ask her. That or find another way to inquire as to the shooting schedule and band approval The only thing that-might discount it is Mike Myers' interview bit shown in COTW where he says "we received a letter from the band thanking us for using "our song in your film" .... etc. Where he says the studio intercut Wayne's world bits into the BoRhap music video. Anyways the point to be made is that Mike tells the story there as if it had an element of surprise. But then again. It might have just been the formality of pre production versus actual production. Who knows anymore. |
| AlbaNo1 12.11.2014 14:57 |
Just cant believe Brian in this instance about Who Wants to Live Forever and dont think hes getting mixed up. |
| duritz 12.11.2014 15:05 |
I am glad you found it odd too Matt Z. I kind of sat up when he said that more due to thinking I was pretty familiar with the timeline though I do have to say I have never been clear totally on the timeline and maybe ultimately it is the bands personal business. I didn't know May had been sort of connecting things often.I have always found him and Taylor pretty concise in terms of recollections.Who knows? I wouldn't be surprised if the more casual fan could think Forever has another layer of meaning. I had always thought it was strictly a case of being inspired from the narrative of Highlander.So it is not just merely a ghoulish preoccupation with Freddie's health status but also the origins of a song that you think is about one thing but actually being about much bigger emotions. I too also thought May is getting older and maybe the whole journey has become tied up in a mix of feelings.I suppose nothing is concrete no matter how many times a story/version is perpetuated. I have to say as incredibly arrogant and possibly foolish as this sounds I don't think Who Wants To Live Forever was written in context to Freddie's situation,maybe Harold yes. For one thing is it me or would handing a song to Freddie with this title be a tad flippant or insensitive in light if the group knew he was ill then? Especially considering the beautiful sensitivity of These Are The Days or the sheer transcendant glory of Show Must Go On. |
| AlbaNo1 12.11.2014 15:27 |
The song has obviously grown in significance since Freddie;s death. Im only surprised its taken Brian this long to fabricate his inspiration behind writing it. |
| The Real Wizard 12.11.2014 20:23 |
matt z wrote: ^ this. Just kidding. (Felt like playing the wizard role)Ha ! Flattering that I've been immortalized like this. There sure are worse ways. |
| duritz 12.11.2014 20:29 |
Watched programme again for a bit tonight as it was repeated and May states "my father dying and knowing Freddie was ill". I am going to have to just leave it there! I can take account of less then precise recall due to the passage of time but I just find it odd when talking about a pacific song.... we are not saying "what you did on the 24th of September". I dunno. I have known May to kind of repeat anecdotes and perhaps move the situations[one being Mercury downing a vodka to sing Mother Love,Show Must Go On etc] that's cool. If you have told a story a thousand times there is bound to be movement on certain things but completely changing the context of a song is at the least a bit strange. I automatically thought people here would bring it up and discuss what I suppose is a mere factual breadcrumb to the demographic the programme was largely aimed at[possible punters for the new Forever compilation]. No doubt it will be in my stocking but what I would really want is more official dvd stuff! Has anyone noticed how expensive Greatest Hits 1 dvd on amazon is? |
| matt z 13.11.2014 05:12 |
I've seen greatest video hits at BEST BUY for like $16.. sometimes even $12 ... and that includes both GH I & II on dvd. Had you seen it sold at an expensive rate? |
| Costa86 13.11.2014 15:41 |
Question: Is Brian slowly becoming senile, considering the amount of crap he's been spouting as of late? He wrote WWTLF knowing Freddie was sick? Seriously? Where the hell did he pull that one out of? |
| FreddieCat 14.11.2014 21:29 |
duritz wrote: Whilst I totally appreciate as Wizard states peoples recollections get "mushy" I think such matters as loved one's passing are more likely to stay locked in the mind. So sure song titles,inspirations,performances are likely to be fudged I just found it strange mixing up quite potent details. Now Harold his father I think passed away in June of 88 whilst recording of The Miracle was taking place. January of that year his daughter Emily was born. So a pretty distinct year all round really....life,death etc. Maybe Harold May was gravely ill in what I presume to be the year May wrote Forever[85]. Also of note was that this was also pre Magic tour. The impression I have got from my nerd activities was the first time the band learnt of Mercury not wanting to perform for much longer was [in Mays own words]in Spain a few days before Knebworth when Mercury and Deacon got into a bit of a spat and Mercury said "well I won't always be here to do this". I fully acknowledge though that dates get musty as do recollections plus who is to say the band have fully divulged the exact time frames.Harold May, according to Brian, was born in 1921 and died at age 66. So, I believe the year of his death was 1987. WWTLF was released June 1986 probably during the period of his dad's cancer illness. 1987 was the year everyone knew about Freddie's illness, but possibly some suspected he was ill in 1986 due to fatigue during Magic tour and possibly discovering that some of Freddie's lovers were sick and dying from AIDS. Brian may now relate the song period to the two illnesses, but it seams more closely time related to his dads illness. |
| matt z 15.11.2014 05:09 |
If my reading amounts to something right then Harold May died of lung disease, The reason Brian doesn't like smoking. It's more than probable that he had it on the mind. It's a prolonged disease. As for Freddie. Who knows. Don't badger him with inquiries. Crossed lines or whatever. People usually know when things are going wrong. ... PARTICULARLY artists. They have a great deal of empathy |
| FreddieCat 15.11.2014 11:51 |
matt z wrote: If my reading amounts to something right then Harold May died of lung disease, The reason Brian doesn't like smoking. It's more than probable that he had it on the mind. It's a prolonged disease. As for Freddie. Who knows. Don't badger him with inquiries. Crossed lines or whatever. People usually know when things are going wrong. ... PARTICULARLY artists. They have a great deal of empathyI don't think Brian became a cigarette hater because of his dad's illness/death. Probably had always hated them. But the emotional turmoil of losing his dad gave him the concrete reason to hate them outside of his own personal dislike of the smell and all things fowl associated with them. I think it is amazing that he managed to keep his antipathy of cigrettes contained in the presence of his bandmates and fellow cigarette smoking rockers. I would have given up on all of them. |
| Oscar J 15.11.2014 12:04 |
Why should he always have hated cigarettes? |
| pittrek 15.11.2014 13:06 |
1) Brian May is an old man trying to talk about things which happened 3 decades ago without preparations. Of course he gets some facts wrong. Do YOU remember what you've been doing 3 decades ago (if you were alive)? 2) If you spend almost every day together with a person for 15 years you will notice "something" is happening with him without actually having "that speech". 3) "Forever" and "Who Wants To Live Forever" are 2 completely different songs |
| BETA215 15.11.2014 13:22 |
pittrek wrote: 3) "Forever" and "Who Wants To Live Forever" are 2 completely different songs Forever isn't something like a piano version of WWTLF? |
| FreddieCat 15.11.2014 19:08 |
Oscar J wrote: Why should he always have hated cigarettes?Because they smell like living breathing shit and his dad probably smoked them at home. Brian no doubt breathed and smelled the foul stupid things while growing up. Then he had to breath and smell the toxic shit cigarettes of his three band mates. |
| Oscar J 15.11.2014 19:56 |
FreddieCat wrote: Because they smell like living breathing shit and his dad probably smoked them at home. Brian no doubt breathed and smelled the foul stupid things while growing up. Then he had to breath and smell the toxic shit cigarettes of his three band mates.So he hated cigarettes because you think they smell shit. |
| FreddieCat 16.11.2014 09:53 |
Oscar J wrote:It is not an opinion that they smell like shit and are toxic. It's a fact. where I live, people are restricted from lighting up in public places and businesses.FreddieCat wrote: Because they smell like living breathing shit and his dad probably smoked them at home. Brian no doubt breathed and smelled the foul stupid things while growing up. Then he had to breath and smell the toxic shit cigarettes of his three band mates.So he hated cigarettes because you think they smell shit. |
| Oscar J 16.11.2014 10:02 |
"It is not an opinion that they smell like shit and are toxic." The first statement is an opinion, the second is not. |
| The Real Wizard 16.11.2014 15:29 |
Semantics. The only people who don't think so are smokers who have lost most of their sense of smell and taste. Unless we want to get into a philosophical discussion of epistemology... |
| BETA215 16.11.2014 16:14 |
And if we entered in that kind of discussion in the Personal forum? |
| Day dop 16.11.2014 22:45 |
FreddieCat wrote:There's a distinct difference between the smell of shit and the smell of cigarettes. Shit really is worse, I promise you.Oscar J wrote:It is not an opinion that they smell like shit and are toxic. It's a fact. where I live, people are restricted from lighting up in public places and businesses.FreddieCat wrote: Because they smell like living breathing shit and his dad probably smoked them at home. Brian no doubt breathed and smelled the foul stupid things while growing up. Then he had to breath and smell the toxic shit cigarettes of his three band mates.So he hated cigarettes because you think they smell shit. |