clarification of Thor Arnold's role in Freddie's life [QueenConcerts]

clarification of Thor Arnold's role in Freddie's life

thundergod 07.07.2017 15:56	Hello fellow Queen fans, This is my first time here. I am the same "Thor Arnold" listed with certain Freddie Mercury articles and photographs. I am now 62 years old and alive and well and living near the beach in San Diego California. Half of my life was in New York City where I met Freddie in the early winter of 1980. We became very close friends during his two+ years of living in New York. We stayed friends (although more casual) through the Germany days up until his unfortunate death. My last visit to see him was in London, about six months prior to his passing. He and his touring crew and personal crew from the Queen Over America tour (1980) became friends with not only me, but with my three best friends of that time period, namely: Joseph Scardilli (deceased), John Murphy (deceased) and Lee Nolan who is alive and living now in Palm Springs California, two and 1/2 hours away from San Diego. Freddie was one of the most sincere, down to earth, good natured and caring individuals I have ever known. There was never a "star attitude" toward his friends...He wanted to be part of our world and gladly gave us many moments of entry into his. I miss him tremendously.
matt z 07.07.2017 17:26	Welcome to QZ if it is indeed you, Thor. I'm certain you'll find ample questions from participants on this site. As for me, I can't think of many Except this: Throughout all the years of my fandom (ups and downs etc) I've never seen much attention given to Freddie's ARTWORK ....not his collections. His own art. I've seen bits and pieces and was told some photographs were shown in the "stormtroopers in stilettos" exhibition. ..then there's the few seconds of some works in THE UNTOLD STORY....but do YOU yourself have any examples of Fred's work? Ive yet to hear any attempts being made to compile it. I'd LOVE to see that in person. Maybe a traveling exhibition one day with the blessings of his family. I'll take it on your word that you're not trolling the super fans here ;-) Wish u well, Thor
thundergod 08.07.2017 03:53	I thought my message was simple and to the point. I'm not sure why I would be impersonating Thor. I was not a very famous part of his life, but because of my unusual name, people tend to remember me. I was never his lover...just a good friend. There is a picture of Freddie, his boyfriend at the time, John Murphy and myself in a jacuzzi that circulates around. As you may know, when I met Freddy, I was a nursing student at Columbia University in New York. I first worked at Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center just a few blocks from Freddie's skyrise New York apartment. We spoke a lot about his music ( I was there during the Michael Jackson / Los Angeles work (which never took off) and the "Under Pressure" days with David Bowie who Freddie said never really liked the song and so, it never appeared on the Bowie album. Artwork is probably more in Mary's realm and not knowing too much about art, not in mine. I'll never forget however, the artistic point of view Freddie spoofed on when he teased the slightly overweight Peter Freestone (Phoebe) and said one day..."And there came Phoebe, cascading down the stairs like a Rubens painting." I laughed for weeks. I hope you believe now that what I typed was true.
Supersonic_Man89 08.07.2017 04:11	Hey Thor! Hope you're splendid and thanks for dropping by! I have a couple of questions, as i'm sure many others will :) 1) Your insight into Bowie not liking UP is fascinating, have you got insight into any other Queen songs that were recorded from that era? 2) Roger Taylor has commented on Hot Space sounding a bit like music from a gay night club - what was the reaction from Freddie's circle of gay friends? Did they enjoy it, or did they think it was weaker than Queen's earlier outputs - and if so, would they ever have the nerve to tell Freddie? 3) Feel free to skip this question if it's a little too sensitive - when did you find out Freddie was ill and what was your meeting like in the spring/summer of 1991? Thank you in advance and i hope you have a great weekend.
Cruella de Vil 08.07.2017 05:44	Thank you for sharing these intimate memories. Freddie's generosity and fun that we hear and read about shine through.
matt z 08.07.2017 06:29	Thanks for the reply, Thor. I didn't mean anything to reflect upon YOUR character, rather some of the wanking bores who will conjure up stories from time to time claiming an "undiscovered song/video" on these message boards. I'm very thankful you were kind enough to post a reply. I do appreciate that. If I'm not mistaken you're the fella that would look like a cross pollination of Kid Rock (for this, I DO apologize) and Tobey MacGuire, with the height of a Jesse Ventura. It's a pleasure to have inquired and been answered. I hope times have been kind to you. San Diego ain't half bad. MJ- That's gotta be another story. I always had this belief that he was just a very alienated "man child" (as they'd call it these days) and not the twisted person he's been made out to be. I suppose it doesn't matter much now. Any truth to the Llama story? Or was it the "cocaine story "? (most frequent explanations given for the project never reaching fruition) I always figured those were just two easy jokes out of both camps to lessen the fact that the collaboration just wasn't "working out". Freddie was very well quoted as saying "I could've been on THRILLER - Imagine the residuals! " Though i DO think their version of "State of Shock" is awesome, even in leaked demo form. You gave this info voluntarily. ...so I'll ask another. ....Was the rumored "third" song they worked on referred to as "VICTORY", the same song that the Jacksons later released? Or was it something else entirely? Did the guys ever "trade licks" (guitar talk) in a live setting or were they intimidated of each other? MJ's been regarded as a very constant Queen and very much Freddie fan. I very seriously doubt that the general public will hear any of that at ANY time soon. So as it stands, this "third collaboration" is just a rumor. Lastly, yeah... that fella could definitely be called Rubinesque.... you seldom hear that term these days. Nowadays it'd more likely be "Jonah Hill" or "Fluffy". It's actually sweet in a rotund way. Personally, I appreciate you coming to the forum here. There are many people here who would qualify for a doctorate in QUEEN *(if one were offered) and folks who scrupulously entertain the notion of keeping accurate factual histories of the band. As the first person to respond on this one, I gotta say THANK YOU. Very thoughtful of you. Greetings from the San Fernando Valley.
Holly2003 08.07.2017 06:48	Thanks for sharing these stories about the music Thor. Much appreciated.
anderssteen 08.07.2017 09:01	How nice of you to share your memories with us. Thank you very much!
thundergod 08.07.2017 13:27	Thanks Matt Z, I am glad we can be Queenzone friends. Here is what I know about Michael Jackson and the California work sessions. Freddie always had great respect for MJ, that is until the failure of the collaboration. He had rented a small mansion in LA and worked with Michael for several weeks. He did not want to talk about the failure at the time. I do know that Michael was somewhat offended by a "Get Well" card Freddie had sent to him shortly after the Pepsi scalp burn episode which Michael considered his most trying personal incident ever. Freddie wrote something like "While you are recuperating, move over and let someone else have a #1 hit song." It was meant as a joke, a complimentary joke, but MJ apparently took it wrong like any other alienated man-child (as you so succinctly put it...LOL) I don't know the Llama or the cocaine story having never heard of these stories. I would just call the collaboration a failure due to artistic "irreconcilable differences." Also, Freddie never mentioned any song or working title called "Victory." This could be just a rumor. Freddie was never intimidated by anyone that I know of. As a matter of fact he relayed a funny story of Montserrat Caballe (Barcelona) being very much intimidated by Freddie. When she told Freddie that she was just so nervous, he took her hand and said..."relax girl, it's just Rock and Roll." Peter Freestone was and is so devoted to Freddie, that he didn't mind the wide variety (no pun intended) of Fat jokes. He seriously kept Freddie organized and happy, even if he, Peter had to stay awake 24 hours and then continue to make things easy for Freddie the next day. In more tender moments, it was so obvious that he knew Peter was special and loved him very much. Well, that's enough for now. Matt Z, you come across as smart and very clever. That is quite admirable to me. (I do not understand the kid rock reference...I hate him and his republican ways...not ME at all)
Chief Mouse 08.07.2017 13:49	Thanks for stopping by and sharing interesting stories, sir :-)
thundergod 08.07.2017 13:50	Hey Supersonic_Man89 Hot Space was created, I believe during the Germany days well after the New York days. Freddie and I just spoke on the phone during that time period with only one visit. He never forgot his old friends, but he developed a whole host of new friends in Germany and was very busy. Freddie was very much inspired by the New York and then Munich gay scene. Even with "disco is dead" rampaging around America, he came out with "Born to Love You" a disco dance classic, on his solo album. This was very much like Cher's future "Do you Believe in Life after Love" The gay community was not really allowed to label these songs as "disco songs" but BOY we danced our asses off and we were at the discos...LOL. About Bowie and Under Pressure...I was told that Bowie hated Freddie's "De, dah, dah" Zanzibari chants which Bowie was convinced "cheapened" the song. Thanks for the questions...I probably do not know as much as many might like me to.
Sebastian 08.07.2017 13:54	thundergod wrote: Freddie never mentioned any song or working title called "Victory." Really? Are you sure?
adrian b 08.07.2017 13:57	Hi Thor - good to hear from you. Wondered if I could ask a question, was freddie too bothered about the lack of success in the us after hot space and the works tour never making it stateside? It seemed that he was happy to be back in London in 1985 and his garden lodge home was where he wanted to be. Also that Paul prenter guy was a complete a### wasn't he, did you have much to do with him? What was your favourite Fred/queen tune? Sorry that was more than one question
thundergod 08.07.2017 13:58	Thanks also for the nice comments by Cruella de Ville (one of Freddie's FAVORITE Disney characters), Holly2003 and Chief Mouse...Oh and Anderssteen, as you are a distinguished visitor from Neptune (or is it Uranus), your comments were especially very much appreciated
thundergod 08.07.2017 14:08	Sebastian, To tell you the truth, Freddie did not tell me everything. He loved to talk about successes but did not share all that much about any disappointing collaborations. Freddie was big into keeping the atmosphere light and FUN. Maybe "Victory" is true, but I just don't know.
thundergod 08.07.2017 14:20	Adrian b, Freddie returned to London for awhile after he left New York, but pretty soon, he was off to Munich Germany. He made many connections in Munich, liked the fast-paced lifestyle and was smitten with a guy named Winifred (Wini) who he started a relationship with (and who was later diagnosed). Mary always kept the Garden Lodge ready for whenever he wanted to visit. After Germany he met his last lover, Jim Hutton who he found to be a great comfort through the rest of his years.
stevelondon20 08.07.2017 14:27	Hi Thundergod. Long shot here, but did Fred ever discuss what Bo Rhap was about? Cheers.
Killer_queenIII 08.07.2017 14:42	Hi Thundergod! umm... I've read Ratty Hince's book about his time with Queen and one of the chapters he mentioned '"The Pink Angels" led by a chap named Thor'. Care to share some memories about the Pink Angels and Queen?
adrian b 08.07.2017 15:13	Thanks for sharing, I bet he loved New York. Only been a few times but it's a great place to visit, I'm sure it was a bit shady and dangerous in the early 80's
thundergod 08.07.2017 15:36	stevelondon20 Bohemian Rhapsody was based on Freddie's love of opera. The wording and the music sounded like it was from the 1800's with things like Scaramouche, Fandango, the use of a weapon (gun against my head) which is throughout Opera. Any deep meaning (if there was one) I never was told this. Again with "Barcelona", he created an opera like atmosphere with Montserrat Caballe. That would be all I know..but WHAT great music this is. Killer_queenlll There were no "pink angels" that I am aware of . He did, however, like to call himself Mother and we were all his daughters. A game he started long before we met was to come up with a nickname for each of us based on our last names with some "B" rated actress. He, of course was Melina, for Melina Mercuri. Lee Nolan was Kathleen for Kathleen Nolan...a name that still sticks today. I was P.P...who is a "B" rated English actress P.P Arnold (I never heard of her...and my name was unique enough, so I was called Thor, my real name). Elton John was Sharon..is there a Sharon John actress somewhere? Joe Scardilli was named Liza for Liza Minnelli, etc.
stevelondon20 08.07.2017 15:59	thundergod wrote: stevelondon20 Bohemian Rhapsody was based on Freddie's love of opera. The wording and the music sounded like it was from the 1800's with things like Scaramouche, Fandango, the use of a weapon (gun against my head) which is throughout Opera. Any deep meaning (if there was one) I never was told this. Again with "Barcelona", he created an opera like atmosphere with Montserrat Caballe. That would be all I know..but WHAT great music this is. Killer_queenlll There were no "pink angels" that I am aware of . He did, however, like to call himself Mother and we were all his daughters. A game he started long before we met was to come up with a nickname for each of us based on our last names with some "B" rated actress. He, of course was Melina, for Melina Mercuri. Lee Nolan was Kathleen for Kathleen Nolan...a name that still sticks today. I was P.P...who is a "B" rated English actress P.P Arnold (I never heard of her...and my name was unique enough, so I was called Thor, my real name). Elton John was Sharon..is there a Sharon John actress somewhere? Joe Scardilli was named Liza for Liza Minnelli, etc. Thanks mate. Really appreciate your response.
felix ibex 08.07.2017 16:21	Hi Thor did you ever read Jim Huttons Book? if you have what are your thoughts. I became close to Jim before his Passing and I love the Book
thundergod 08.07.2017 17:00	felix ibex, I did not know Jim Hutton well. I know he was just the match Freddie was looking to tussle with when he was strong and when not, to get much encouragement and comfort from him. He was a good Irish, man's man who exuded the proper amount of masculinity and then, love and care for Freddie. I met him several times and he was a GREAT drinking buddy, although sometimes he went a bit too far. Unfortunately during the declining months, I did not continue to know Jim very well. I know he was responsible for up-keep of the Garden Lodge and I think built the large Coy Pond which Freddie loved so much.
dysan 08.07.2017 18:27	Fantastic stuff. Welcome Thor.
Killer_queenIII 08.07.2017 21:03	thundergod wrote: Killer_queenlll There were no "pink angels" that I am aware of . He did, however, like to call himself Mother and we were all his daughters. A game he started long before we met was to come up with a nickname for each of us based on our last names with some "B" rated actress. He, of course was Melina, for Melina Mercuri. Lee Nolan was Kathleen for Kathleen Nolan...a name that still sticks today. I was P.P...who is a "B" rated English actress P.P Arnold (I never heard of her...and my name was unique enough, so I was called Thor, my real name). Elton John was Sharon..is there a Sharon John actress somewhere? Joe Scardilli was named Liza for Liza Minnelli, etc. Thanks so much! and again, welcome to Queenzone!!!
Projector Freddie 08.07.2017 21:27	Hi Thor, This is all very interesting stuff. Thank you for sharing the side of Freddie that we fans didn't get to experience. I also live in San Diego, near the Hillcrest area, and thin kit would be great if you hosted a small event and recalled memories like Peter Freestone does. Would be a fun get together!
thundergod 08.07.2017 22:45	Projector Freddie, I am not sure if I am ready for that yet. I got on to this site 48 hours ago...hosting an event?....nah. Maybe in the future.
The Fairy King 09.07.2017 03:06	Holy shit, finally something interesting on QZ. Welcome Thor and thanks for taking the time to answer some questions. <3
Invisible Woman 09.07.2017 04:35	Hi Thor I would ask you something, I hope that is not so demanding. If you could put here at least one photo of you and Freddie, a photo that has not never been published in books or internet?That'd be very nice. :) And I have one question.I read (I think in "Mercury and Me)that this nickname,Liza, was for Joe Fanelli.Is this the same person or only same nickname? Thank you in advance.
oligneisti 09.07.2017 10:07	May I ask, what is the story behind the name Thor?
Anton3283 09.07.2017 12:07	Hello,Thor. What's your favorite Queen album ? When on Freddie's body appeared signs of illiness? Thank you. Good day to you
thundergod 09.07.2017 12:27	Hi Invisible Woman, Unfortunately, all the photos from that time period were done as slides. Freddie got a big kick out of the various "slide-shows" that Lee Nolan created and set to music. Rather primitive, I know, but this was the early 80's. I never liked to be bothered with taking the pictures, and Lee (Kathleen) Nolan did such a good job with them. I will ask him if he would like to share some of these personal slides and if he knows how to convert slides into digital pics. Also, you are correct..Joe Fanelli was the original "Liza" but with my friend's last name being Scardilli...what else could one do with that name..LOL. Piccadilly would have worked, but that is a place, not a "B" actress's name. Hey oligneisty, I was born in New York City during a very bad thunderstorm on 3/13/1955. My Father proclaimed it as a "sign from the gods" while he was celebrating my birth with his drinking buddy, Jimmy Kelly. My parents are German and Austrian but the name was borrowed from Norse Mythology. My middle name is kinda strange too..Quentin. All through school I thought Quentin was a sissy name so I told people I did not have a middle name. Also, a shout out to The Fairy King..you are very welcome. I had no idea that people would be so interested in my connections with Freddie. As I am not a name dropper, most of my current friends know that I knew Freddie but do not know many of the details, unless they ask. Thank you all for asking.
Chief Mouse 09.07.2017 12:35	I could easily scan some of your slides in high resolution, I have a proper 35mm film photo scanner. Unfortunately I live in Europe. But there are scanning services all around. Every photo lab should have one. It would be awesome if you and your friends ever decide to share some of these memories caught on camera :)
thundergod 09.07.2017 12:42	Hello Anton3283, Our friend John Murphy was the first to pass from AIDS. That was all of our first real wake-up calls to this menace. The topic was kept silent for a year or so after that. As Freddie was physically looking thinner and weaker with each of our visits, he did tell us he was suffering from AIDS. We had all been worried about him during the Germany days because we knew he was still out there partying while some of us had already changed our habits. But, he was never bitter or sad or "why me" and accepted his fate like the professional that he was. If only he had been able to hang on a few more years for the new treatments to become available. Ahhh, yes...such a great loss.
thundergod 09.07.2017 12:53	Chief Mouse, I will talk to Lee as soon as I can. He is the owner of the slides and at other times I know he was asked to accept money for their release but held on to the bulk of them (unreleased). I know I have a few earlier snap-shots, but it would be quite a major effort to rummage through boxes and boxes of not-too-carefully labeled memories. Remember, another 36 or 37 years have passed since the early 1980s. Lee is our best bet...his slides are meticulously organized.
Chief Mouse 09.07.2017 12:58	Thanks for your reply, Thor. You are very kind. Fans are hungry as hell for this kind of stuff so excuse us for asking :) This thread was inevitable to turn into a Q&A.
SpaceGrey 09.07.2017 13:09	thundergod wrote: Hello Anton3283, Our friend John Murphy was the first to pass from AIDS. That was all of our first real wake-up calls to this menace. The topic was kept silent for a year or so after that. As Freddie was physically looking thinner and weaker with each of our visits, he did tell us he was suffering from AIDS. We had all been worried about him during the Germany days because we knew he was still out there partying while some of us had already changed our habits. But, he was never bitter or sad or "why me" and accepted his fate like the professional that he was. If only he had been able to hang on a few more years for the new treatments to become available. Ahhh, yes...such a great loss. Thank you for reply. I hope you're ok. When Freddie started suspect that HIV in his body? Did you watch last Freddie documentary with John Blunt as Freddie?
thundergod 09.07.2017 13:20	Hi SpaceGrey, When John Murphy passed away, all of us, including Freddie, knew that the odds were that some of the rest of us would go eventually too. I believe at first Freddie ignored the signs and gained confidence in that very usual self-preservation mechanism of believing that "this could never happen to me." I did not see that "John Blunt" documentary, but will Google it soon. Thanks for the tip.
oligneisti 09.07.2017 13:52	Thanks for the reply. Thor, or Þór, is a common name in my country and when your name popped up in books about Queen/Freddie I always wondered if you had Nordic roots. But your story is actually quite cool. You have stumbled upon a weird (and wonderful) community which includes many people who really know a lot about Queen and Freddie. The question is always if you know of any unreleased songs. When you talk about "Zanzibari chants" is that a description from Freddie? He was always so quiet about about his youth so any references to Zanzibar or India are of great interest.
Shvili 09.07.2017 14:25	Hello Thor: It is a great pleasure to have you share some of your memories about Freddie, as a personal friend to the man that most of the world looks up to as an iconic, almost mythological figure. I’ve always wondered what attracted Freddie to Germany. I’ve lived in NYC since I was 17. Before that I lived in Europe and was lucky enough to have my parent show me around the continent. Have visited everywhere between Baltics to UK including Austria and Germany. Having general understanding of Freddie’s personality, I’ve always thought that NYC or LA would be best places for him outside of London. Do you have any idea what attracted him to Germany? He didn’t even speak German as far as I know.
Chief Mouse 09.07.2017 14:29	Shvili wrote: He didn’t even speak German as far as I know. . ;)
Richard Orchard 09.07.2017 14:45	Thanks for sharing your memories Thor. Much appreciated.
master marathon runner 09.07.2017 16:13	Hi Thor and very best wishes to you. Glad you are well. This is a landmark day on Queenzone. Thankyou for having the courtesy and thoughtfulness to contact us all with this great piece of Freddie and Queen history. All the best for the future.
thundergod 09.07.2017 20:15	Hey Svili, I think I may have accidentally erased my response to your message as it does not appear here like all the others...so here goes again: I never quite understood why, but for certain tax reasons, Freddie had to be out of the U.K. but for no longer than 2 years. I'm not sure if he had to stay another two years outside of his country. Whatever the reason, he went to Munich and immersed himself in the fast-paced German gay scene which he really enjoyed. He met a man there and had a relationship going. Also, he made visits to Montrose Switzerland and the people there loved him. As you know, they built a statue to him (shame on the US and the U.K. for not doing such a tribute to such a great person and musical genius themselves). I don't think he needed to speak German as many spoke English as well and then he did have Winifred to translate Shout out to Richard Orchard and master marathon runner...thank you for your kind words.
thundergod 09.07.2017 20:45	Hello again olegneisti, I can only WISH that I knew of some hidden away or unreleased music. The Queen Corporation has tight control over anything like that. Has anybody tried to get info from them?
thundergod 09.07.2017 20:56	Some funny stories that I remember from the early 80's with Freddie: When I met him at a New York City after hours bar called "The Anvil" I had no idea who he was. In America at that time, everyone knew Queen but ironically very few knew it's creator Freddie Mercury. When asked, he told me his name was Fred and he was a musician. I said ok, cool. He insisted that we go back to his hotel in MY car. In the rearview mirror, I saw a limousine following every turn I made and very close to my car (later learning that this was his driver and a frantic Peter Freestone). This raised some suspicion in me and Freddie finally came clean with who he was. I know he LOVED the fact that I picked him up without knowing who he was. He liked me a lot because I proved over and over to him that I liked him for him and not his money or his fame. We only ever spent one night together and from then on it was all friendship.
thundergod 09.07.2017 21:08	Next day, Freddie asked if I wanted to attend his concert that night in Philadelphia. I politely declined because I was working full time and going to school full time. When I got home that late morning, I said WAIT..how often does an opportunity like this come along. Well I cut school and called in sick to my job. I had no way of contacting Freddie at that point but I did remember what hotel he said he was staying at in Philly and he had mentioned his "hotel name" Alfred Mason. I contacted him from the hotel lobby and said..."well, I made it here after all. I had never been to a Queen concert and I was completely awed and amazed. After the concert we went to a bar and dance club called I think "the Stairs" or "Steps." Another One Bites the Dust coincidentally was blasting from the dance floor Well, Freddie Mercury does not carry ID and when the doorman said he could not go in without ID, Freddie did something only very rarely that he called "pulling rank." Of course we got in and Freddie commented.."I should BUY this PLACE and BURN it DOWN" a line I will never forget.
Sheer Brass Neck 09.07.2017 22:13	Yes, welcome Thor. You seem lovely, and Matt Z. like a lot of long time posters have seen so much shit tossed around I'm glad you didn't take his response personally. No question, just welcome :)
thundergod 09.07.2017 22:35	Thank you Sheer Brass Neck...I appreciate your message
thundergod 09.07.2017 23:04	Late response to one of adrians questions. Actually Paul Prenter was very nice to me and my friends... His unrequited attraction to my friend Joe Scardilli actually helped me and my crew become a group of friends with Freddie rather than me just being a solo friend. It made things so much more fun and Freddie liked our popularity in the gay culture of New York. As a matter of fact, I worked my way through school working as a bartender at a popular gay club called "Uncle Charlies Downtown" Freddy loved it there and developed a crush on a big, buff Puerto Rican colleague bartender named Ray.
thundergod 09.07.2017 23:46	Interesting memory: After Philadelphia my next exposure to a Queen concert was in Montreal 1981. Lee Nolan and myself were invited to join Freddie for his Montreal concert. Overnight at a nice hotel, at about 4AM, the general fire alarm for the hotel went off. We all went to the stairs and ran out of the building. Freddie was on one of the higher floors, perhaps the 40th floor. The alarm lasted for about 1 hour and we found out later that it was a dumpster fire on the second level below the lobby. At breakfast, that morning we asked Freddie what HE did during the "fire." His response: "Well, dahling, I did two toots, blew dried my hair and ran down 40 flights"..outrageously funny for us.
Killer_queenIII 10.07.2017 02:40	hahahhahaha You have really good anecdotes, especially that "fire" at Montreal and he wanna buy Steps/The Stairs and burn it! It's nice hear them from the man who knew Freddie, and glad to know you were having a good time. We hope you enjoyed your stay here at QZ.
thomasquinn 32989 10.07.2017 03:43	Hi Thor, Thank you so much for your wonderful memories and insights, and thank you for indulging us - I can imagine it to be a little overwhelming when you're jumped on by a horde of eager fans bombarding you with questions left and right. I don't have any good questions right now, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the read! Also, how awesome is it (from Freddie's perspective) to walk into a bar called The Anvil and meet a guy named Thor? That is, forgive the pun, the stuff of legend.
cmsdrums 10.07.2017 05:28	Just to echo the other comments here Thor - thank you very much for your interesting and unique input; fascinating to read. Best regards to you,
Costa86 10.07.2017 06:16	This is brilliant. Thanks for all this, Thor. I've seen you in one or two of the Freddie documentaries I think, and always wondered what had become of you. Nice to know you are doing well.
musicland munich 10.07.2017 07:30	Hi Thor I live quite near Munich. Maybe you can remember a person called Peter Ambacher ( Ms. Piggy), He was part of Freddie's party entourage over here. He also took trips to New York with Freddie and his friends. In case you can remember him, he still alive and well, but unfortunatelly the last surviver of the circle. He still contributes storys and memorys with the local press. There are a few Club's and Bar's Freddie attended wich are still running. Most of them had a change of ownership meanwhile, but still standing for what they were famous once, like the "Ochsengarten" or the " Deutsche Eiche". link link Welcome to the forum and thank you for joining us.
kokax 10.07.2017 10:39	Hello Thor & everyone else ! ( coincidently this is my first post… I have been a silent reader for some while, tried to sign -up forever, but for some technical reason only managed today ). Anyways, I was wondering if I could ask a few questions ? Eg. : -Are you aware of any more “zanzibari chants” (lol) in Queen songs from the eighties ? -Did Freddie ever mention his upbringing in India & Zanzibar ? -In case you read the books about FM by his inner circle, the way he is described, do these books reflect the Freddie you knew or does he seem somewhat “distorted” ? -Could you elaborate a bit on Winnie Kirchberger ? What might be the reason he is rarely mentioned in the “official party line”? Was the diamond ring Freddie wore in 84/5 related to Kirchberger ? Were you around when Freddie alledgedly ( according to German reports) gave Kirchberger a ring during the 39th bday party in Munich which Kirchberger later on dumbed on the floor ? ( or is it just tabloid media fluff?) .
thundergod 10.07.2017 12:21	Hi Kokax, My knowledge of Freddie's stay in Munich is very limited. For example, I did not even know Winnie's last name until you mentioned it. I know nothing of this ring you mentioned or Freddie's 39th Birthday party. I personally have only read one or two books on Freddies life namely "Mercury An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury" by Lesley-Ann Jones. While he was In Germany, Freddie and I corresponded only by phone and as I remember there was always a terrible and distracting voice delay on the phone which lead to awkward conversations as we often both spoke at the same time.We had to start using walkie-talkie language like "OVER" after each sentence. To answer any questions about Freddie's life after New York, all I would be able to do is refer to what is written in this book or Jim Hutton's book "Mercury and me." After Germany, I was only in London for a week at a time and always at the Logan Place Garden Lodge. This was only about six or seven times and Freddie, for some reason, no longer talked about Munich, but we enjoyed reminiscing about our time and adventures from 1980-1983 New York where we saw each other about 3-4 times per week and talked by phone everyday. Freddie talked about his upbringing (in Zanzibar, never in India) but only when he was asked about it. The "Zanzibari chant" I may have mistaken for "Eastern chant" as I forget how he labeled it. Besides "Under Pressure" during each concert that I attended, he always had an audience participation routine where he would start the chant words..and then wanted to hear it back from the audience. Each time was more complicated and once the audience messed it up he would say something like..."not too fucking bad...you're alright!"
thundergod 10.07.2017 12:26	Late reply to musicland munich, I have met a few Peter's through Freddie but not a Ms. Piggy (I would have remembered that). I have no knowledge of the Bavarian clubs that Freddie went to...sorry. It never came up.
thundergod 10.07.2017 12:45	Here is another funny story. Before a concert trip to Chicago, Freddie took us to Cartier's on Fifth Ave and had us all pick out a clock that we wanted. I still have mine, but it doesn't work and somehow the ruby on the outside of the casing got lost- my damn luck. Anyway, we attended the first of two concerts in Chicago. Normally, after a concert, the venue would always provided food and drinks for the band, the tour operators and invited guests. Now remember from another reply, I told you that Freddie rarely displayed "star attitude." Well, when Freddie saw that only cold buffet items were available, he threw a fit. He demanded to speak to the Manager and said..I WANT HOT FOOD in a very intimidating tone of voice. The next day after the concert, there was laid a FEAST of wonderful hot foods and specialties and great wines and Champagne. Immediately after the concert and before the buffet, Freddie allowed us into the "cool down room" immediately after the concert. Well let's say that "little white lines" were presented to us in the cool down room, prior to the buffet. Suddenly, none of us were hungry and we wanted to get out to the clubs of Chicago. We passed the manager on the way out and Freddie simply said "thank you." Later when we questioned him on this unusual display, he laughed and said "well, they are supposed to give me hot food- I don't have to eat it" We laughed all night.
thundergod 10.07.2017 13:02	Correction...Somewhere I mistakenly spelled Montreux, Switzerland as Montrose, Switzerland...please ignore . My apologies to all of you and to Heidi and her Grandfather..lol
matt z 10.07.2017 13:24	I feel this may be the dumbest question ever, err the silliest. But oddly enough it's probably relevant. Since you knew Freddie back in his NY days. ... Did Freddie Mercury ever visit ...... (dun dun dun! )..... QUEENS? (*wouldn't seem likely) ALSO. ..on the NYC subject. .. when I got to watch their only Saturday Night Live performance, it seemed that both he and Eddie Murphy were a bit talkative. ...what was that about? Who admired who? And more generally, were the bandmates at all localized and "chummy" in the early 80's or were they living completely separate lives? Much had been said about John's departure from the band due to the effect of Fred's passing on him. I'm grateful you've filled in some details that ppl may otherwise not have known. Particularly the MJ, FM split....the media always conjures up something salacious
noorie 10.07.2017 13:28	This is one of the most interesting topics on QZ in the longest time. Thanks Thor! You should write a book containing all your personal anecdotes about Freddie. It makes for lovely reading!
thundergod 10.07.2017 13:57	OK mattZ...interesting, yet crazy questions indeed....LOL . I can answer a few of them. We all went on a day trip to one of Long Islands nearest great beaches called Jones Beach. Freddie rented a limousine and we packed it tight with beach toys, picnic lunches, and all kinds of crazy costume items. So, to get to Jones Beach, you must drive through Queens for about 1/2 hour but I don't think Freddie ever spent time there, unless he may have had a Queen Concert at the old Shea Stadium (like the Beatles had in 1965-66 and Billy Joel and Paul McCartney on closing night, etc.) which is located in Queens at Flushing Meadow. By the time I met Freddie, the band members all got along fine but did not do any socializing together and were all pursuing their own lives. Brian May and Roger Taylor were very respectful of Freddie's friends and talked with us each time we met, and it was always great to see them. Unfortunately, I never heard or said a word to John Deacon, but I just assumed he was "the quiet one." Freddie never had even one bad or slightly bad word to say about them. Now the Saturday Night Live performance was interesting. The night before the show, Freddie had a major fight with a guy he was dating from New Jersey, with minor wrecking of his hotel room. He got about 1/2 hour of sleep, but Freddie always loved the day after a "good" boyfriend fight. You notice that Freddies singing was not at it's best that night and with good reason. As far a Eddie Murphy was involved, I don't remember anything unusual.
thundergod 10.07.2017 14:04	Thank you noorie. A book? Well I think that every memory I have will probably be laid out right here! I hope I have enough to last a few weeks here, the responses have been unbelievable.
noorie 10.07.2017 15:02	Well, if ever you decide to write a book, please let me know. You have your first customer lined up right here! :) (And tons more from QZ, I imagine.)
kokax 10.07.2017 15:17	thanks so much for your replies Thor ! May I throw in another silly one ? When you met in 1980 were the Tom of Finland and Mineshaft t-shirts fashionable in the NY scene ? Would you buy that in the clubs ? Did he wear them as a hidden signal, or just because he liked them without further thoughts... ? Thanks so much for your time !
thundergod 10.07.2017 16:36	HaHa kokax, Considering how fashion conscious and fashion adventurous that gays are SUPPOSED to be, in the early 80's we ALL dressed exactly the same. Everyone had a moustache, everyone wore blue jeans, and everyone wore denim jackets. We called that outfit the "Leisure Suit". In the winter, the denim jacket was exchanged for a leather jacket. Freddie wore the same clothes that we were wearing, one almost HAD to then.to look sexually desireable. We all had tank-tops (I think British call them singlets) under our jackets or white tee-shirts. I prefered plain white, but I think Freddy did have logo tees like you mentioned from Tom of Finland and the famous Mineshaft sex club in the meat-packing district of New York. In New York he played the average Joe and never HID anything...he loved that about New York.
matt z 10.07.2017 21:17	Well, while we've got your attention here (*in spite of the spam attacks that keep occurring on this site) I think I'd read somewhere that Elton John was called Sharon by Rod Stewart (go figure) and I wouldn't know the origin of that inside joke. That would explain no b movie actress. But (!) On the subject of b-movie actresses. Did Freddie have a favorite? By that time, Joan Crawford, Betty Davis, Sophia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida (what a talented woman), Vivien Leigh, Diana Dors, Melina Mercouri, Sara Montiel, Marlene Dietrich and even someone heralded like Elizabeth Taylor were all pretty much getting scant parts or completely retired. Did Freddie ever accumulate any movie memorabilia? I'd get the feeling he would be more fond of the former than someone say like Marilyn Monroe. ...or am I wrong? Where did his fascination with b movie queens come from? Did he frequent many midnight movies? Films? They'd have only been available in reel to reel home projection or tv broadcasts/vhs/beta transfers at the time. P.s. Was he a FAN of Barbara Valentin's films or just the lifestyle?
thundergod 10.07.2017 22:43	Oh Brother, matt Z...6 questions..seriously..LOL, I will try 1) I really don't think Rod Stewart was involved in this very gay game, but I may be wrong. I just always assumed it was a Freddie creation. 2) One of Freddie's all time favorite movies was called "The Women" with Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, and Joan Crawford. One night when we were all a bit buzzed, He kept rewinding the movie to his favorite scenes, over and over and acted out many of the short scenes such as "Pardon me while I Un-swallow", "Watercress, I'd sooner eat my way across the front lawn" and his favorite scene when I think it was Joan Crawford pulling a chair under herself with her leg only and not missing a beat of a gossipy conversation the girls were having. 3) He was a collector of some pretty valuable Japanese art (paintings and sculptures) which he displayed throughout the Garden Lodge. I don't remember any movie memorabilia. He had an animated picture of his beloved cat (Delilah) which was drawn by the Disney Studio and was supposed to become an animated feature named "Delilah". I guess the project was scrapped when he became increasingly ill. 4) I DO believe he prefered "B" actresses because they were more consistently campy than the other Stars. 5) I had heard of Barbara Valentin, but I forgot what I had read about her, so I went back and re-read her chapter in "Mercury-An Intimate Biography of Freddie Mercury" by Lesley-Ann Jones. Although it probably comforted Barbara, I sincerely believe that he was 99% gay and maybe 1% bisexual at the most (well, except maybe when he was as high as a kite). He craved companionship and I guess she provided that. Again, I could be wrong..Remember, I never saw them interact with each other. I was not involved in the Munich days at all. So, matt Z....maybe give me two questions at a time. Please remember, most of my knowledge of Freddie is from 1980 to 1983 and after that only about six or seven one week visits, some phone calls and letters after 1983. I AM having fun reminiscing though, so thanks for your communications.
matt z 10.07.2017 23:44	Thanks, Thor. It's much appreciated. I find it absolutely AMAZING that an animated film/segment/story was to take place regarding Delilah. What a revelation. (ppl here really love to trash on that song) I don't find it anything out of the ordinary for someone who wrote "Lazing on a Sunday Afternoon" I really think it was 3 questions. The other Rod Stewart thing... it's supposedly a fact. (but an "internet fact" at best) Hell if I know. Thanks for the frank communication. This is really engrossing. I'm sorry if the writing is a bit lengthy. Long day, couple of brews. The mind wanders. I'll have to check out "the women" one of these days. The campiest I've seen Crawford was in that William Castle flick STRAIT- JACKET where she tries to seduce her daughter's fiancee. That was hilarious. I only found it by way of Horror Author "Robert Bloch"... plenty of beheadings and studio props. It's "something else". "Fantastic trash"? ....something like that This is all just a comment. Thanks for the recall, it's all very interesting and very MUCH appreciated. I believe you may be actually closing much speculation for the "uber-fans" on this site. I know you've shed plenty light on things for me. Thank you. You may yet complete some of the tapestry that is the band's history. This is invaluable
stevelondon20 11.07.2017 01:20	If I may ask a Question please Thor. Hot Space is personally one of my favourite Albums, and there is so much shit surrounding it, that it really baffles me. What's your Opinion on it? Was it really the cause of huge uproar within the Band? Was Freddie really upset with the Chart Performance? Cheers.
thundergod 11.07.2017 02:29	stevelondon, Sorry, but I do not know much about the Hot Space album or anything other than it probably did cause a rift between the band members. I think the band was getting tired of each other after such a long time together. I believe they each had their own ideas about what Hot Space should be and how it should be done and it may have been missing the cohesiveness that was once always there. But, when they realized that Freddies days would be limited I'll bet they all craved what they had there and any differences may have seemed petty. One of my favorite quotes come from Judy Collins (of all people) with "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone." I think this philosophy is very much present within the two remaining band members. Maybe Hot Space would have even been better if some members didn't try to reign Freddie in and continued to follow his vision.
Dr Magus 11.07.2017 04:32	Hi Thor may i ask you a question? Did Freddie ever mention Paul Rodgers at all? Did he have any posters of him on the wall in his apartment? Did he play Free records all night long gushing about how Paul was his idol and all time favourite singer?
kokax 11.07.2017 05:30	Hi Thor, thanks a lot for the update on fashion trends at the time ! Much appreciated ! :) So where you also present during the event at his NY apartment with music journalist Lisa Robinson if I may ask ? If so, did she come along to watch a slideshow with FM's friends as well as her friend Fran Lebowitz as she recalls in her memory ....or was the event a party as Peter Freestone mentions in his book that Robinson attended with photographer Annie Leiboviz ?
stevelondon20 11.07.2017 06:49	thundergod wrote: stevelondon, Sorry, but I do not know much about the Hot Space album or anything other than it probably did cause a rift between the band members. I think the band was getting tired of each other after such a long time together. I believe they each had their own ideas about what Hot Space should be and how it should be done and it may have been missing the cohesiveness that was once always there. But, when they realized that Freddies days would be limited I'll bet they all craved what they had there and any differences may have seemed petty. One of my favorite quotes come from Judy Collins (of all people) with "Don't it always seem to go, that you don't know what you've got till it's gone." I think this philosophy is very much present within the two remaining band members. Maybe Hot Space would have even been better if some members didn't try to reign Freddie in and continued to follow his vision. Once again, Thanks mate.
on my way up 11.07.2017 08:39	Wonderful to read all your memories of Freddie, Thor. From the group of friends Freddie probably had the most glamorous job but: were the others of you able to talk with Freddie about everyday problems? The party and extravagant side is often talked about (also the sad side, it must have been so hard for all of you when that awful disease hit your group of friends) but it'd be very nice to know that Freddie also had this very humane side to him. Caring for people, giving to charity, having attention for whatever problems his loved ones experience etc. Did - to your knowledge - Freddie ever meet Grace Jones and/or Keith Haring? I saw Jones in concert last week and adore Haring's art. That's why I ask. Was Freddie by 1980 - when you met him - still critical of his performance after a show or was having a nice time all that was on his mind then? Did he listen back to any concert recordings t ohear how he sounded?
thundergod 11.07.2017 11:01	Hi Dr. Magus, Well, I never heard anything about Paul Rodgers from Freddie. I, personally was never a Bad Company fan. I did not know who he was but remembered the song "Bad Company." I attended one of the Queen with Paul Rogers concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in, I think in the 90's but, to tell you the truth, I only really enjoyed the large screen presentation and tribute to Freddie with footage of him singing Bohemian Rhapsody. If YOU are a Paul Roger's fan, I am sorry that I was not more impressed with him.The band playing the "Bad Company" song with him seemed very un-Queen like. Freddie, as far as I know was very fond of Cliff Richards and Dave Clark, both of whom I had met at Freddie's house. Paul Rogers was not mentioned as I recall and I never saw posters of him on Freddie's walls. Hello again kokax, Now I am confused. I thought it was Fran Lebowitz for the longest time BUT the lady was supposed to be a photographer...and that would be Annie Leibovitz, right? I knew it was the one who was a lesbian, but maybe they both were. Whichever person it was, they did NOT come over for the slideshow at all. When we played it as part of the original plan (with Freddie's encouragement), it interrupted her non-stop talking and she seemed quite a bit "put-out." Hey there on my way up, Actually, Freddie prefered to talk about everyday things and problems and during our close friendship in New York, he confided in me when he felt a little blue, comforted me if I was blue and often asked me for boyfriend advice. He was such a cerebral, empathetic and compassionate guy, a true Renaissance man. I know Freddie knew Grace Jones when she was dating steroided-out Dolph Lundgren...he loved Grace's "I Need a Man." I do not recognize the name Keith Haring - sorry. After a show, in that time period, he enjoyed forgetting about the show, did not mention it and just wanted to go hit the town with his "daughters" I do not know if he listened over his concert recordings, at least he never did in front of me.
Shvili 11.07.2017 11:07	Thanks for the answers Thor. I know this next one is a silly question..but...during your times with Freddie in NYC or LA have you witnessed a situation where his female fans recognized him at a club, bar or a street and were trying to get it on with the rock star? Known to happened a lot. what was Freddie's reaction? lol
thundergod 11.07.2017 13:15	Hello again Shvili, Good question. It is uncanny, but Freddie, in the early 80's in the US, was very RARELY recognized. Crazy, right? But ,for starters, he had recently evolved his short haired, moustached look. Most people were still looking for his long-haired appearance. The gay community was quite segregated between male and female in those days. Except for Studio 54, very few straight women frequented the gay bars like they do today. Also, as I mentioned in another reply, we all looked alike so it was easy for five mustached men to not be scrutinized by the public for the possibility of a mixture of regular gay guys and one RockStar.
Invisible Woman 11.07.2017 16:27	My question is based on the question of the previous member. Is there any woman around your circle of friends?How did Freddie behave towards women?
thundergod 11.07.2017 17:02	Invisible Woman, Freddie loved Mary above anyone else, man or woman. It was obvious every time I saw them together. Even if Freddie was upset about something and might vent about it among his male friends, when Mary was suddenly present, his whole demeanor would change. I think she represented the calm in every storm of his life and he cherished her for that. I know he always thought that she sacrificed her own happiness for his. I believe that even with the love of a son and his father, she put off marriage out of respect for Freddie until after his passing. In our circle in New York at that time there really were no women around us. Of course, Freddie had many female, more celebrity type friends from his past that he would entertain. Some I met, some I did not. I had never seen a female stranger throw herself at him or try to divert his attention in New York. Certainly though, in Munich, I understand now more than then, that he developed a strong female companionship with Barbara Valentin who I never met.
Shvili 11.07.2017 19:35	Thor, Sounds to me like Mercury has managed to find a sort of "goldilocks zone" for himself. Enjoy the fame and whatever comes with it and at the same time, maintain the level of privacy, which allows one to enjoy the benefits of being an average person. Perfect! What could be better than that?! In any case... i am happy that you are well and feel honored to have had the opportunity to reminisce with somebody that Freddie called a Friend. Thank you.
mike hunt 11.07.2017 22:19	You said you spoke with freddie in his last years? Did he say he missed the good old days of partying? Or missed touring? Did he mention any regrets? Like he should have read the signs and slowed down when friends were getting sick and dying. Just curious what you guys talked about in those last years.
thundergod 12.07.2017 00:47	Hey mike hunt, Freddie never expressed any regrets. After that year or so of denial, I think he realized the risks of his behaviors but was willing to test them. Once he knew he was HIV positive but was still strong and stage worthy, I believe he accepted his fate. As I said recently, I never heard him complain.He never became self-centered or displayed "poor me" behaviors and he never forgot his friends and always made time for us even when he was feeling pretty bad. As I was a Registered Nurse, he did seek out some personal care during my last two visits as well as simple treatment recommendations for things like nausea, constipation and appetite increase measures other than drugs. I was glad to be of some use to him. I think, more than anything else he missed being healthy...just as anyone would.
Supersonic_Man89 12.07.2017 03:22	Hey Thor, Thanks once again for all the time and effort you've put into the replies here. We realy appreciate it. Top man! 1) How did Freddie deal with stress? If there was a problem/obstacle in his life, how would he overcome it? 2) How did Freddie deal with loneliness and not finding the right one? 3) Did you and Freddie ever argue/fall out? Thanks!!
Invisible Woman 12.07.2017 05:27	Thor, But that about Mary was before Freddie met Jim? Perhaps I am wrong, but I have the impression that she was obsessed with Freddie and that imposed on him the guilt because he could not love her as a lover. According to Jim's book, his role in his life was not so huge. In "Mercury and me" Jim also says that she initially was kind to him,but later, after some events and her attitude, it became clear that she not like Jim. Do you think this could be true? I know you said you didn't meet Jim well but you could see them together(Freddie and Jim) when you visited Freddie in his house. How they did relate to each other, did you see the closeness and love between them? Thank you very much for answering the previous question and I promise I will not bother you with such questions anymore.:)
Ivo-1976 12.07.2017 07:18	Wow! Great thread! Thank you Thor!
Ivo-1976 12.07.2017 07:35	You get a lot of questions :-) Maybe can you tell us about your visits to Freddie in London?
kokax 12.07.2017 09:12	Hello Thor ! Thanks very much for clarifying. It seems Fran Lebowitz is a public speaker among others, so it might have been her ( and not famous photographer Annie L. :) Your replies are really fantastic and a great reminder why doesn't hurt to double check if there's an opportunity instead of taking everything printed as the "bible". cheers !
matt z 12.07.2017 12:17	Two parter..musical contemporaries. That you know of. ...did Fred wish to collaborate with any of his contemporaries? Did Fred ever meet Prince Rogers Nelson/attend any of his shows? I know he'd been photographed with Annie Lennox...though nothing more than mutual admiration as far as I'd heard
YAWN 12.07.2017 12:58	Thor, good to see you. I just wanted to reach out and let you know that the book you're referring to by Lesley Ann Jones has been proven false by loads of people involved with Queen, including but not limited to Jacky Smith, Chris "Crystal" Taylor, Peter Straker, Jim Hutton and many more. Most take issue with the Barbara V part of the book, as Freddie told Chris Taylor and Jim Hutton that he never had a sexual relationship with her, and so did Barbara. That was part of the issue with the channel 5 docudrama with John Blunt, actually. Brian May and Freddie's mother and sister tried to stop it from happening as it involved Lelsey and included false information about Freddie including Barbara. Funny thing is, Barbara was on The Untold Story documentary which featured his family, Jim, Mary, Peter Freestone, the band, and many friends and Barbara herself never claimed to have been a lover. Peter Freestone (as I'm sure you know) has written that he too doesn't believe it was true. She only seemed to claim she had a sexual relationship with him to Lesley who is known as being the most innacurate biographer of all time. Chris Taylor has called her out on many lies (most being Barbara) she's told. Apparently, Lesley got caught claiming to be places with Queen that she wasnt....and according to those who knew Freddie and are active on social media, she is a tabloid writer and nothing more. Barbara also once claimed Freddie tried to kill her in her sleep by choking her around the neck in a trance. So, let's all remember to take that woman's word with a giant grain of salt. I see no reason why Freddie would not have told his friends he was romantically involved with a woman if he had been. And I also don't see why he would tell people that he hadn't been involved with her, if he had. Theres no doubt they were close friends, but lovers....highly doubtful. With that in mind, and with the question of his sexuality always being brought up... Mary, Peter Freestone, Straker, Diana M, and the band all seemed to agree that he was gay. Peter said he never saw him take a woman home for sex in all the time he knew Freddie and as you know Paul Prenter said the same. Actually, he said "Freddie would sooner walk on water than sleep with a woman". Of course, his word is often dismissed due to his choices that later hurt Freddie greatly. So my question is: I know you mentioned believing Freddie was 99% gay and 1%bi, but after having pretty much ruled out Barbara as a lover, would you still say he was 1% bi? Everyone in his circle seems to believe he was simply gay. I must admit, all signs point to that. Theres nothing wrong with it, of course. I'd just like to hear your thoughts on it with this information.
beemack74 12.07.2017 18:59	Hello Thor , great to have you here! You are a familiar character to me, mostly from Peter Freestone's book which I have read several times. It's absolutely wonderful to hear all your first-hand memories of your time with Freddie. Fascinating stuff!
mike hunt 12.07.2017 23:23	Not that it matters to me, but if Mary and Diana? His designer? Said he was gay i would tend to believe them over internet people who didn't know him saying he was bi.
Sebastian 13.07.2017 02:09	mike hunt wrote: Not that it matters to me, but if Mary and Diana? His designer? Said he was gay i would tend to believe them over internet people who didn't know him saying he was bi. There still seems to be a lot of taboo regarding the word 'gay.' Some homophobes cannot fathom the idea that a talented musician (or a talented anything, for that matter) happened to be gay, and prefer to revert to the 'bi' label. As you say, people who actually knew him are far better sources than internet speculation for this particular matter.
Stelios 13.07.2017 05:14	Sebastian wrote: mike hunt wrote: Not that it matters to me, but if Mary and Diana? His designer? Said he was gay i would tend to believe them over internet people who didn't know him saying he was bi. There still seems to be a lot of taboo regarding the word 'gay.' Some homophobes cannot fathom the idea that a talented musician (or a talented anything, for that matter) happened to be gay, and prefer to revert to the 'bi' label. As you say, people who actually knew him are far better sources than internet speculation for this particular matter. I disagree. People actually expect someone talented -especially in the arts- to be at least a little bit gay to 100% homosexual. Freddie challenged the ideas about manhood and masculinity and if in fact to be homosexual reinforces the masculine identiy (rather than the opposite) or at least redefines it. And this is such a difficult concept to comprehend so most people grab on the "bisexual concept " because its a safer approach or something they can hold on to.
The Fairy King 13.07.2017 05:30	Sebastian wrote: mike hunt wrote: Not that it matters to me, but if Mary and Diana? His designer? Said he was gay i would tend to believe them over internet people who didn't know him saying he was bi. There still seems to be a lot of taboo regarding the word 'gay.' Some homophobes cannot fathom the idea that a talented musician (or a talented anything, for that matter) happened to be gay, and prefer to revert to the 'bi' label. As you say, people who actually knew him are far better sources than internet speculation for this particular matter. Usually women tend to stress he was absolutely bi, had sex with women and loved Mary till the end. Oh if i had a nickel... On a sidenote, almost 26 years after his passing we still talk about the guy. He would probably laugh and be the first to tell us to get a life and move on. :D
Sebastian 13.07.2017 08:08	He wouldn't be the first or last gay person to have been with people of the opposite sex. The flipside also happens sometimes (straight people having at some point being with someone from the same sex, whether it's intercourse or merely snogging, or perhaps just a bit of private parts grabbing), but they'd rarely, if ever, admit to that, lest they're thought of as being gay.
Invisible Woman 13.07.2017 08:33	To be honest,It doesn't matter to me whether he was gay or bi. I am a straight woman and I don't think he loved Mary until the end.He loved her like a sister or friend. I think his greatest love was Jim. Of course I did not know they, my opinion based on what I read in books, various texts, seen in documentaries,listening to his music, watching videos and photos on the internet ... Some kind of inner feeling tells me it was so,that Freddie loved Jim strongly,sincerely and deeply. People are interested in the lives of celebrities and have their own opinions about them. None of us knew Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon, Mozart, Nikola Tesla, Dostoevsky...but people still talk about them and are interested for their lives. I don't think that Freddie would laugh about what we're now discussing about him and his sexuality. I think that he would be glad that people remember him today, love his music and talk about him. I hope that Thor will come back here and tell us something about this and other interesting things.
splicksplack 13.07.2017 08:34	Thor, great to see you refer to Freddie's 'hotel name' as Arnold Mason. In 1979 on Queen's UK tour some friends and I managed to get to the suite floor of the hotel they were staying at in Liverpool. Something I'm ashamed of now. We asked a hotel worker which suites the band were in and were given the suite names and the 'assumed' or 'hotel' names of the band. I remember one being Mr. Mason but we chose another. The door was answered by Roger Taylor. But that's another story. Would love to have been on the NYC gay scene in the early eighties but I didn't get to NYC until '94 and have been a regular visitor since.
thundergod 13.07.2017 09:30	Looks like I am a little behind in my replies back. Supersonic_Man89 Dealing with stress is difficult for me to answer. I would guess that his way at the time I knew him was socializing, getting buzzed and finding sexual partners. I was doing the same thing back then, only realizing that in the long run, choosing quantity over quality in relationships was truly unfulfilling. Your second question is answered the same way. I believe he countered any loneliness with many temporary sexual relationships that when over, just led t the next one. Lastly, I can honestly say that I never had even one argument with Freddie. Silly arguments about men or competition in getting men thankfully was never a problem. Freddie like them stocky (we called his type "barrels") whereas, I went for the "thin and well-defined " type. We had fun sometimes trying to match each other with men and then pursuing anything further on our own. Invisible Woman Mary was always present, even when he was deeply involved with Jim. She lived mostly in the Garden Lodge and was very involved in the Queen Corporation. She was quiet and polite with Freddie's guests, but never really joined in our dinners and events. Of course she was present with each concert tour and that is where I saw her mostly. Also, I did meet Jim several times and on several tours including the "Kind of Magic" concert in London. They were always loving toward each other as far as I could tell. Hello Ivo-1976 .Thank you. Visits to Freddie were always exciting. Although when going out at night, Freddie usually did not come out, like he had in New York. I guess, when you are so well-known like in Britain, it was preferable to just to stay home. He had his live-in friend/workers there and Jim and Mary. During the early London visits he sent us out to have fun times with the locals by ourselves. In the later visits, we mostly stayed at home with Freddie but he also encouraged us to "go out some and have a good time for him"
splicksplack 13.07.2017 10:03	Hi Thor Do you recall a gay club quite close to Logan Place called Copa's? Full of moustaches and singlets. Ha ha. One of Freddie's friends used to go there a lot - the UK DJ and comedian Kenny Everett. Did you ever meet him?
MiracleTour 13.07.2017 11:30	Thor, these are some amazing anecdotes. Thanks so much for sharing. The one about Freddie talking about buying and burning that club down was hilarious. Since you spent a lot of time with him in the early 80s, I have to ask: In the early 80s when the illness was new, did AIDS ever come up as a topic when Freddie was around? If so, how did Freddie view it? When did you learn Freddie was HIV-positive? Thanks for the insights, Thor. I'm certainly not trying to be ghoulish. There's just a lot of unanswered questions about my rock hero that will probably stubbornly remain that way.
Sebastian 13.07.2017 12:51	splicksplack wrote: We asked a hotel worker which suites the band were in and were given the suite names and the 'assumed' or 'hotel' names of the band. I remember one being Mr. Mason but we chose another. The door was answered by Roger Taylor. Frederick went by Alfred Mason, Brian by either Chris Mullins (a play on the name of his then wife) or Brian Manley, John by Jason Dane or Judge Dread (JD, JD, JD), Rog was either Roy Tanner (RT) or Rudolph de Rainbow.
The Fairy King 13.07.2017 15:04	Sebastian wrote: splicksplack wrote: We asked a hotel worker which suites the band were in and were given the suite names and the 'assumed' or 'hotel' names of the band. I remember one being Mr. Mason but we chose another. The door was answered by Roger Taylor. ....Rudolph de Rainbow. That is hilarious!
vin221 13.07.2017 15:22	Thor, is that you in this home video from Garden Lodge (looks like 1986)?: link
kokax 14.07.2017 05:08	Invisible woman , ..."None of us knew Leonardo da Vinci, Napoleon, Mozart, Nikola Tesla, Dostoevsky...but people still talk about them and are interested for their lives. " Right.... except that their biographies were written by historians after doing research and by not tabloid media/ghost writers who have been trained to write stories that sell -and- if it suits the story line better- at the cost of fact checking. Although that stuff you refer to has been copied and pasted over the time and gradually taken a life on its own, it does not mean that inevitably everything you seem to be so attached to is necessarily correct. --If Holly Golightly was interviewed on Santa Claus's origins, and she replied he's from North Korea, you'd also believe that, right ? :) :) ( Obviously I exaggerate, but hope you get my point )
Sebastian 14.07.2017 07:46	kokax wrote: except that their biographies were written by historians after doing research I wish that were true...
Invisible Woman 14.07.2017 08:18	kokax, I didn't mean is the truth or the untruth. I only said that people will always be interested in the lives of celebrities, scientists, politicians, musicians, actors, etc. And what is the absolute truth no one will know. No one can know everything about the other person even if sees that person every day or lives with that person. But everyone can have his own opinion and some his own conclusion. It is for a person to believe or not believe in something that hears, reads, sees... That was what I wanted to say with that post.
kokax 14.07.2017 08:37	Sebastian, to put it more modestly : at least , if you search for a biography on a historical person, chances are you 'd find some more reliable authors than those who usually work for the Daily Mail, The Sun etcpp. Invisible Woman... thanks, got it !
Sebastian 14.07.2017 08:51	Yeah. There, I agree.
matt z 14.07.2017 11:56	Dear Thor, What is the proper way to pronounce Mjolnir? Is it very heavy? How do you feel about Chris Hemsworth and his depiction of your life? Are there any details missing in the films? Will you be watching THOR:RAGNAROK? Really though: Have you been asked about being depicted in the upcoming "QUEEN/FREDDIE" film? And something FUN: If you could authorize casting. ..who would fit your bill as A) YOURSELF and B) Freddie. ....etc. ...
Mercury Roadrunner 14.07.2017 12:48	hello, thundergod, i'm a huge Freddie Mercury fan and also I am a huge fan of New York - can you, please, say what were Freddie's favorite places in New York? what were his favorite parts of the city? What was that thing that he liked so much about NYC as about a place where he lived? Thank you in advance. Respects.
mike hunt 15.07.2017 16:33	The only conflicting story you said Thor was when you said Freddie was never intimidated by anyone and Cabelle was the one who was nervous when the two met. I watched the Freddie Mercury Documentary numerous times and Peter Freestone (that's his name right?) clearly say's Freddie was a nervous wreck when the 2 of them met, and told Mike Moran he wasn't going alone. The Freddie/Cabelle combo was one the highlights of his career for me, and my favorite of his 80's work.
matt z 15.07.2017 17:06	Ditto that sentiment about BARCELONA. As a unit, it easily trumps any QUEEN album (unfortunately) from the 1980's. And sadly yes, even with songs like WWTLF, GAGA etc. as a unit
mike hunt 15.07.2017 17:29	I Agree! I even like it more than The Game, which I like a lot as well. At least half of the Game was recorded in 79, but is still an 80's album since it was Released in 1980. I wonder what a Barcelona 2 would have sounded like. I know Freddie said it was a difficult album to make, and sounded like he would never do it again, but over time I think he would have gone back and recorded with her. He was full of ideas, exploring new sounds. Maybe he would have had Cabelle sing on a Queen Record.
Sebastian 15.07.2017 22:05	And, in that case, the motto 'she is Freddie's favourite singer' would actually come from the horse's mouth.
mike hunt 15.07.2017 23:15	Aretha, Cabelle, and perhaps plant were his favorite singers going by freddie's interviews over the years. He mentioned liza in the early days. Aretha/Cabelle I think were 1 and 2. Guitarist goes to Hendrix
Invisible Woman 16.07.2017 02:52	In his book Jim says that Freddie was very fond of listening Aretha Franklin,Dionne Warwick and Natalie Cole. He also said that in his last days Freddie mostly listened Natalie's album Unforgettable... with Love.
luthorn 16.07.2017 13:43	Thor, Firstly, I would like to thank you for breathing some fresh air into this community. It has been really stale here over the last 5-10 years. Secondly, thank you or the stories. I believe you should write down and document your memories in a cohesive fashion. Perhaps publish it at a later date. Let's not forget, there are very few survivals of the early 1980s gay scene, so even from this angle your memories are invaluable to humanity. Thirdly, I would kill for some pictures from that era. Queen was at its peak in 1980-1982, so anything unpublished that you could share would be a joy for all of us. My only question to you, in fact I ask this all famous people: what did Freddie eat for breakfast? Cheers!!!
mike hunt 16.07.2017 16:06	1980 to 1982 they were at their peak only live. Not the studio records.
Seed_Of_Rhy 17.07.2017 14:58	Hello, mr Arnold and big thanks for participating! Me also think, you really doin good by revealing this. 1) Maybe my question (or a similar one) has been already posted here...nevertheless, what's your opinion about Jim Hutton? What kind of man was he? Has it changed with the years and after his sadly passing? How do'ya think - was he a true love of Freddie (perhaps 2nd "Love of His Life" after Mary) or mostly live-in houseworker.and some kind of bushwife? 2) Have Freddy told you any views on his future? Did he make any plans on solo career or life after the "Barcelona" or maybe after "Innuendo".
luthorn 17.07.2017 20:20	mike hunt wrote: 1980 to 1982 they were at their peak only live. Not the studio records. That was a great peak.
mike hunt 17.07.2017 21:09	Good old fred could do no wrong vocally in the early 80's.
Sebastian 17.07.2017 22:04	Oh, yes, he could.
Daniel Nester 18.07.2017 21:30	Herm.
matt z 19.07.2017 03:47	Sebastian. ..i DO disagree with "my cunt" (Mike Hunt) He suggests that the partying and drinking didn't have any effect on performances. But let's be considerate and REAL here. I'm gonna bet that if you asked 90% of major touring artists of that day IF THEY'D BE RECORDED EVERY LIVE SHOW they'd vehemently state HELL NO! They couldn't possibly expect any "miscues" or bad notes would be REMEMBERED after the concert experience (unless if brought up by critics or fellow musicians) it's just preposterous. Thankfully. ....some people HAD recorded these gigs. ...crap quality or not. ....it's an indelible part of the band's history. It's also something sorely desired from uber fans. ...live gigs
Sebastian 19.07.2017 08:02	That's all true, but it doesn't change the fact that yes, he could do wrong, and he did. That doesn't make him any less of a magnificent singer, of course. Black and white, greyscale, colours, etc.
Voice of Reason 2018 19.07.2017 08:47	A very big welcome to Queenzone Thor! Great stories indeed!
matt z 19.07.2017 11:15	Might add that it's great to finally have a voice of reason on the QZ message board. Maybe it's a sign of good things to come
jrd1951 19.07.2017 12:23	I am sure that you had fun and all that but it was the 'Rock N America' tour in 1980...............xx
Penetration_Guru 19.07.2017 17:04	matt z wrote: Might add that it's great to finally have a voice of reason on the QZ message board. Maybe it's a sign of good things to come We had one before. Possibly two. We can only hope this is the same individual
mike hunt 19.07.2017 19:27	Oh, calm down people! Of course he wasn't perfect, I just think he was very good in that era, so yea, he wasn't perfect. Had some bad nights, didn't hit every high note. So let's Just say he was at his personal best in the early 80's. Youtube didn't exist back then, every show wasn't shown on the computer like it is now.
The Fairy King 20.07.2017 02:03	Seed_Of_Rhy wrote: Hello, mr Arnold and big thanks for participating! Me also think, you really doin good by revealing this. 1) "....Freddie....." 2) ".....Freddy.....". Pick one. The right one.
The Fonz 24.07.2017 22:25	best thread in a while.
Seed_Of_Rhy 25.07.2017 12:59	The Fairy King wrote: Pick one. The right one. Hmmm...diminutives never were my best %) But Freddie seems canonic. It's not that i'm kidding...still under impression of Richards/ Langthorne book.know nothing about printed version. But in kindle one a bunch of surnames (mostly people of Freddie's circle) are misspeld.
The Ghost of Lester Burnham 26.07.2017 02:31	jrd1951 wrote: I am sure that you had fun and all that but it was the 'Rock N America' tour in 1980...............xx Rock 'n' America was 1982.
The Real Wizard 27.07.2017 19:39	thundergod wrote: Here is another funny story. Before a concert trip to Chicago, Freddie took us to Cartier's on Fifth Ave and had us all pick out a clock that we wanted. I still have mine, but it doesn't work and somehow the ruby on the outside of the casing got lost- my damn luck. Anyway, we attended the first of two concerts in Chicago. Normally, after a concert, the venue would always provided food and drinks for the band, the tour operators and invited guests. Now remember from another reply, I told you that Freddie rarely displayed "star attitude." Well, when Freddie saw that only cold buffet items were available, he threw a fit. He demanded to speak to the Manager and said..I WANT HOT FOOD in a very intimidating tone of voice. The next day after the concert, there was laid a FEAST of wonderful hot foods and specialties and great wines and Champagne. Immediately after the concert and before the buffet, Freddie allowed us into the "cool down room" immediately after the concert. Well let's say that "little white lines" were presented to us in the cool down room, prior to the buffet. Suddenly, none of us were hungry and we wanted to get out to the clubs of Chicago. We passed the manager on the way out and Freddie simply said "thank you." Later when we questioned him on this unusual display, he laughed and said "well, they are supposed to give me hot food- I don't have to eat it" We laughed all night. Comedy gold.
The Real Wizard 27.07.2017 19:41	thundergod wrote: By the time I met Freddie, the band members all got along fine but did not do any socializing together and were all pursuing their own lives. Brian May and Roger Taylor were very respectful of Freddie's friends and talked with us each time we met, and it was always great to see them. Unfortunately, I never heard or said a word to John Deacon, but I just assumed he was "the quiet one." Freddie never had even one bad or slightly bad word to say about them. No doubt - he was a complete pro, even around his friends. Thanks for sharing your stories ! This has all been a very enlightening read. Threads like these undoubtedly remind so many people (lurkers too, not just those who post) why they love this band so much. New insight into most of the old bands is at a premium, and you've presented us with a treasure trove of new tales. Thanks for taking the time to share them.
The Real Wizard 27.07.2017 20:20	Shvili wrote: Sounds to me like Mercury has managed to find a sort of "goldilocks zone" for himself. Enjoy the fame and whatever comes with it and at the same time, maintain the level of privacy, which allows one to enjoy the benefits of being an average person. Perfect! What could be better than that?! Exactly. But in finding safe places where he could blend in and not be recognized, that anonymity also allowed him the freedom to lead a hedonistic lifestyle under the radar. And like so many people on that gay scene, it took him. A reminder that there really is no utopia.
thundergod 28.07.2017 00:37	Hello everyone, This is Thor Arnold again...just got back from a trip to New York to see family and participate in a family reunion. I know I missed a lot of questions but give me a chance to go through them and see which ones I can actually answer. Be back with some replies. Thanks to all those that have written such kind words.
thundergod 28.07.2017 00:45	Splicksplack hi< I did go to the Copa several times while in London. I remember it being a fun place up until "Heaven" took the crowd over. As far as Kenny the DJ goes, I probably saw or heard him but did not know his name...sorry.
thundergod 28.07.2017 00:54	Miracle Tour hello, We spoke about our friend John Murphy who was first of our crew to pass. We all felt badly and talked about it one time that I can remember. As I have said, some of us started taking precautions on our own but but not discuss it in a group. Personally, I stopped using "poppers", convinced that this was the main cause of it and also started faithfully to wear a condom.
thundergod 28.07.2017 00:57	P.S. Splicksplack... I said his hotel name was Alfred Mason, not Arnold (my last name) Mason. I see this has already been corrected.
thundergod 28.07.2017 01:02	vin221 hey there, You know, I never saw this home video before, but YES it is me, Lee Nolan and my 7-year relationship partner Brandon. Thank you Vin for showing me the site...what fun!
thundergod 28.07.2017 01:13	Matt Z hello again As far as I know, the New York years may not be in the new movie at all...but if they are, I think my name will be mentioned. I doubt my role would be portrayed but if I had to choose someone to play me, the Thor movie actor would be a coincidental great pick. As for Freddie, I haven't a clue but perhaps a cute, short, thin built Bollywood actor with an English accent and a moustache? Does anyone know of any? LOL
thundergod 28.07.2017 01:27	Time for a funny Freddie story. So, Freddie took us on his leased private jet ...Elvis's old "Lisa Marie" for concerts in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He had a fight with his recent boyfriend (what else is new). So Lee Nolan and I went out in Phoenix with the purpose in mind of finding Freddie a date in Los Angeles. Well, I found this very gorgeous bartender and invited him on the jet for the short trip to L.A. Freddie met him but thought I had invited him along for me. I planned to surprise him later and send the guy to his room. Anyway, that same day, the fight with his boyfriend was mended and he was to meet up with Freddie in LA. So, not wanting to disappoint this boy, I brought him to my room...LOL. Freddie was happy and I was happy and I hope Lee was happy somehow.
thundergod 28.07.2017 01:28	More answers to the questions I can answer later. bye for now. Thor
Dr Magus 28.07.2017 09:20	Hi Thor. How long was his wang?
YAWN 28.07.2017 10:33	Welcome back, Thor. I'm glad to see you're still with us. I look forward to your thoughts on my question I asked a few days ago. As a member of the LGBT community myself, getting to speak with you is really special. Guys like Lee and yourself lived at the height of the scene and survived. Your generation came before us and really opened some major doors. To live out loud...and to be safe while doing it. In short, guys like yourself are a bit of an inspiration for me. Thanks for taking the time to share your stories here.
shakespeares sister 28.07.2017 14:52	thundergod wrote: Time for a funny Freddie story. So, Freddie took us on his leased private jet ...Elvis's old "Lisa Marie" for concerts in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He had a fight with his recent boyfriend (what else is new). So Lee Nolan and I went out in Phoenix with the purpose in mind of finding Freddie a date in Los Angeles. Well, I found this very gorgeous bartender and invited him on the jet for the short trip to L.A. Freddie met him but thought I had invited him along for me. I planned to surprise him later and send the guy to his room. Anyway, that same day, the fight with his boyfriend was mended and he was to meet up with Freddie in LA. So, not wanting to disappoint this boy, I brought him to my room...LOL. Freddie was happy and I was happy and I hope Lee was happy somehow. Dear Thor! Thanks a lot für sharing your memories of Freddie with us. Great stories. Nice to read ! It seems to me that Freddie had fights with his boyfriends very often. How come? What were the reasons for it? Did Freddie start the quarrels ? Thank you for answering !
thundergod 28.07.2017 15:57	Mercury Roadrunner hello, I think I have mentioned before that Freddie loved New York because despite being a major city, he could walk down the street undetected for the most part. Therefore, the freedom that the city offered him was priceless to him. Favorite places? He had an authentic Chinese Restaurant that he liked a lot. I think it was called "Madame Woo's" but I may be wrong. He really liked the major club of the time, "The Saint" where the dance floor had an actual planetarium projector and a large ceiling dome. Stars, planets and galaxies were frequently providing an other than worldly atmosphere on the dance floor.. He liked going there because he was never hounded for autographs or pictures and could enjoy the club just like anyone else. And he liked "Uncle Charlies" where I worked part time while going to school.
thundergod 28.07.2017 16:03	Hello again Mike Hunt, The story I got from Freddie was that Montserrat Caballe was intimidated by him. As I was not a witness to the actual event in Spain, I'll go with what Peter Freestone said because he WAS there.
thundergod 28.07.2017 16:17	Hi luthorn, In New York, being a city where people did not generally go out until 1 or 2 AM on Saturday nights, we often skipped breakfast and went right to brunch/lunch on Sunday afternoon. We went occasionally to a restaurant but mostly ate at Freddie's apartment.where Peter Freestone (Phoebe) would whip up hearty, delicious English favorites. Beef Wellington and Crispy Pork were two of my favorites.
thundergod 28.07.2017 16:31	Seed_Of_Rhy hi, During the later years, I was only an occasional visitor to London. One thing I do know I have mentioned before. He was so looking forward to a Disney animated movie named "Delilah" which featured an animated version of his beloved cat of the same name. That idea was scrapped probably due to Freddie's failing health. I think Innuendo was planned to be his last work. Heavily costumed videos could probably not be done twice in a row. "Who Wants to Live Forever" was an appropriate farewell, showing his fierce acceptance of his fate.
thundergod 28.07.2017 16:40	Hello jrd1951, Having participated in some of the tour of 1980-1981, I know for a fact that it was the "Queen over America" tour. At least that is what my backstage pass said.
thundergod 28.07.2017 16:51	Dr. Magus...no reply Villiers hello, I am not seeing your question, could you repeat it please?
YAWN 28.07.2017 16:55	Sure, here it was- way back on page 5: Thor, good to see you. I just wanted to reach out and let you know that the book you're referring to by Lesley Ann Jones has been proven false by loads of people involved with Queen, including but not limited to Jacky Smith, Chris "Crystal" Taylor, Peter Straker, Jim Hutton and many more. Most take issue with the Barbara V part of the book, as Freddie told Chris Taylor and Jim Hutton that he never had a sexual relationship with her, and so did Barbara. That was part of the issue with the channel 5 docudrama with John Blunt, actually. Brian May and Freddie's mother and sister tried to stop it from happening as it involved Lelsey and included false information about Freddie including Barbara. Funny thing is, Barbara was on The Untold Story documentary which featured his family, Jim, Mary, Peter Freestone, the band, and many friends and Barbara herself never claimed to have been a lover. Peter Freestone (as I'm sure you know) has written that he too doesn't believe it was true. She only seemed to claim she had a sexual relationship with him to Lesley who is known as being the most innacurate biographer of all time. Chris Taylor has called her out on many lies (most being Barbara) she's told. Apparently, Lesley got caught claiming to be places with Queen that she wasnt....and according to those who knew Freddie and are active on social media, she is a tabloid writer and nothing more. Barbara also once claimed Freddie tried to kill her in her sleep by choking her around the neck in a trance. So, let's all remember to take that woman's word with a giant grain of salt. I see no reason why Freddie would not have told his friends he was romantically involved with a woman if he had been. And I also don't see why he would tell people that he hadn't been involved with her, if he had. Theres no doubt they were close friends, but lovers....highly doubtful. With that in mind, and with the question of his sexuality always being brought up... Mary, Peter Freestone, Straker, Diana M, and the band all seemed to agree that he was gay. Peter said he never saw him take a woman home for sex in all the time he knew Freddie and as you know Paul Prenter said the same. Actually, he said "Freddie would sooner walk on water than sleep with a woman". Of course, his word is often dismissed due to his choices that later hurt Freddie greatly. So my question is: I know you mentioned believing Freddie was 99% gay and 1%bi, but after having pretty much ruled out Barbara as a lover, would you still say he was 1% bi? Everyone in his circle seems to believe he was simply gay. I must admit, all signs point to that. Theres nothing wrong with it, of course. I'd just like to hear your thoughts on it with this information.
thundergod 28.07.2017 16:56	Hey Shakespeare's Sister, Well, all I can say about the boyfriend fights is that Freddie seemed to get "fired up" after a fight and this gave him emotional strength to use creatively. He really was at his best when making-up after a big fight. It made him feel alive and potent.
thundergod 28.07.2017 17:10	Villiers Hi again, I do remember the question now. I have been flipping back to page 6 to answer missed questions but did not go back to page 5, sorry. I think I stated that Freddie was only 1% (IF EVEN THAT MUCH) bi, I never witnessed any bisexual behavior but I don't think that rules it out completely. Any way you look at it, less than 1% does not suggest an active bisexual life. Plus, I did not know him in the early days of Queen.
thundergod 28.07.2017 17:16	Funny Freddie Statement: When we asked him how he could keep the concert crowds so enthusiastic throughout an entire concert, he replied, "Dahling, it's easy. When you have absolutely Nothing more to Give... Give them Wardrobe"
YAWN 28.07.2017 17:56	Thanks. Definitely interesting. One last question, if you don't mind. Were the NY Daughters familiar with his London pals? David Evans and David Minns, Peter Straker and so-on? I know you said you visited him in London from time to time, but I'd be curious to know if his London group and NY group mingled as well. Minns seemed to be out of the picture by the early 80s, but he was back around later in his life. Did your paths ever cross?
thundergod 28.07.2017 20:18	Hey again Villiers, I did meet Peter Straker from time to time. Another good friend who's name I forgot was the guy who used to work for Yoko Ono and had countless funny stories about her Diva ways and the boy Shawn being spoiled rotten. I also met Dave Clark (from the Dave Clark Five) and Cliff Richard, known in America only for singing "Suddenly" with Olivia Newton John but I hear he was called the "British Elvis" back home. We all enjoyed the "Garden Lodge" live-in friends/workers, most of all Phoebe.
YAWN 28.07.2017 20:35	Very cool. Thanks again for taking the time to write here. Take care, Thor.
matt z 28.07.2017 22:04	Thought of another semi ridiculous question... Regarding home gaming systems/consoles. The video game market exploded in the mid 80's-90's..... Did Freddie ever indulge in video games/ arcade games? I've seen the rushes of "The making of ONE VISION" from DoRo on the Magic Years documentary. ..you can see Brian playing pinball. Did Freddie have any video game habits? If so did he have a favorite? Or did he just stay o ut with SCRABBLE
thundergod 29.07.2017 06:31	Matt Z hey, I never saw Freddie play a video game or talk about a video game. I don't think he was interested.
Seed_Of_Rhy 29.07.2017 09:56	thundergod wrote: He was so looking forward to a Disney animated movie named "Delilah" which featured an animated version of his beloved cat of the same name. That idea was scrapped probably due to Freddie's failing health. Oh, wow that's cute! Piece of info that was never mentioned in any book or article on Freddie. Sadly his passing stopped any efforts, it would be great to see him as a filmmaker.:) Can you tell us more about: if he was to produce or co-write the storyline? How it would be look like - more as animated documentary or kind of fiction/family-child movie ? Was it to include animated version of him?
thundergod 30.07.2017 03:48	Hi again Seed_Of_Rhy, Disney's"Delilah" was very much in the beginning stages. He had wanted to put his song "Delilah" in, perhaps the theme song of the movie. He also would have had some creative input but Disney has excellent animation artists, filmmakers, and song writers. It was, again, too early to know what the finished product would have in it. Also, as far as I know, Freddie was not going to be a character in the movie.
Nitroboy 30.07.2017 11:24	Dr Magus wrote: Hi Thor. How long was his wang? You can find the specs of the various microphones Freddie used, by Googling the various model numbers :)
Borhap80 30.07.2017 16:39	Hi Thor. Really appreciate your time and response to the questions. There have been rumours about Freddie knowing Rudolf Nureyev. Did he mention him or do you know something about this? Thomas
thundergod 30.07.2017 17:35	Hi Nitroboy, What are you talking about? microphones? I don't think that is what Dr Magus had in mind. Hello Borhap80, I know he met Nureyev, but I don't think they pursued any friendship, at least he never talked about one.
Dean_ 30.07.2017 22:36	What sort of music are you into Thor? Freddie, from what I've read, loved Jimi Hendrix and the likes of Led Zeppelin etc in the earlier years. Did he enjoy heavier music when you knew him or was he more interested in what was happening at the time, what was playing in clubs etc? Thank you for the great insight and hope you're well.
Shvili 30.07.2017 23:04	Hi Thor, As a close friend, has Freddie ever shared true meaning behind any of his songs to you? For example, the song “We Are The Champions” is sometimes interpreted to be inspired by and dedicated to gay community.
Seed_Of_Rhy 31.07.2017 09:34	Hello, Thor! Thank for the answers. Delilah's good song for animation.Even a short film plus Freddie's creativity would have borne the great result. And Tor, I know that got probably bother you to death with my questions %) but the next are about the relationship side now: 1) With whom of Queen (except of course Freddie) you get well? if not from the band maybe with some of the staff or workers? 2) How d'you think if Freddie could be just a friend with a man who firstly attracted him sexually? Had Freddie judge every man as a sexual object before he got certain for himself that they should be just friends?
kokax 31.07.2017 12:05	Hi Thor, sorry, me again ...could I ask some more ( silly) questions ? - when you first met, did it occur to you that Freddie was of "non- western " descent ? -would he ever explain or talk about his Parsi background ? ( although he had a western education, am totally "wowed" by the fact that as an immigrant to the UK he became one of the world's biggest rockstars. Who else could say that of him/herself, at least among those in his generation ?) -did you get to meet photographer Mick Rock who apparently also hung out with Freddie in NY in the early eighties ? - Peter Freestone mentioned in his book (or somewhere else?) that Freddie showed different facettes of himself to different people. Would you have an opinion on that ?--Thanks so much !
Nitroboy 31.07.2017 13:03	thundergod wrote: Hi Nitroboy, What are you talking about? microphones? I don't think that is what Dr Magus had in mind. I'm pulling his leg because he's being a disrespectful asshole, asking about such a personal thing. I know you're sharing private stories and moments, but I assume you'd agree there's a limit somewhere :)
shakespeares sister 31.07.2017 15:41	Nitroboy wrote: thundergod wrote: Hi Nitroboy, What are you talking about? microphones? I don't think that is what Dr Magus had in mind. I'm pulling his leg because he's being a disrespectful asshole, asking about such a personal thing. I know you're sharing private stories and moments, but I assume you'd agree there's a limit somewhere :) Sorry, but wasn't it Freddie who used the "How big is your dick?" question as an opening line in his talks in the bars? So why is it disrespectful now of Dr. Magus to ask? I think it's just funny!
mike hunt 01.08.2017 02:06	Poor Thor, Question after Question
Sheldon 01.08.2017 08:03	Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. Here is an unpleasant one: To be honest, it feels rather silly to me for guys in their 30s running after cocks, anuses (or pussies) and booze for the majority of their spare time. During my 20 years as a Queen fan I have always thought of Freddie as an intelligent and sophisticated person, who also had a less sophisticated side. In documentaries it seems that whenever any of his non-gay friends are being interviewed, they talk about his intelligence, talent, professionalism and love for classical music etc., while the gay friends almost always talk solely about partying and sex (and how extremely gay he was). The same trend seems to continue in this thread. Was it really like this for you that Freddie only cared about partying when spending time with his gay entourage and went to places like museums, the opera or the ballet with entirely different people? Or perhaps there was a time period in his life when he mostly cared about partying and sex and this happened to be the time period when you spent the most time with him?
thundergod 02.08.2017 20:38	Wow Sheldon, I think I need to answer you first. Most of Freddie's sophistication and intelligence was earned prior to my meeting with him. His creative genius spoke for itself in the early 1980's. When Freddie came to New York City and found that he, unrecognized for once, blended in with the gay crowd...He Loved It! To me and my friends there was no doubt that he was a gay man. As far as I know, for 2 1/2 years although still busy with two concert tours and two collaborations, he liked to enjoy himself the same in the way that the culture allowed at that time. Yes, I was one of those partying friends and Freddie found good escape with us. Having had an extensive appreciation for Opera myself, Freddie and I occasionally discussed it. Are you aware of anyone who attended Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" ALL four parts at the Metropolitan Opera House... twice?...That would have been me. I also enjoyed operas by Puccini, Benjamin Britten,and Mozart, etc. I attended about fifteen Broadway shows and two in London. I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbia University, made a nice career for myself, and I've been retired since age 60. Most of all, I am still alive. So please don't put Freddie down for being gay and enjoying what the common man was enjoying back then. He was still an "intelligent and sophisticated person.". He took a break from that so called sophistication and enjoyed himself despite the odds that were against him. We often remarked "on his intelligence, talent, professionalism and love for classical music" but NOT in a snotty, holier than thou, sort of way.. Sorry Sheldon but this is my "unpleasant" reply to your question. But thank you for the question.
YAWN 02.08.2017 21:39	I am glad Freddie had a group of fellow gay friends like you Thor - he is often portrayed as having no genuine friends at all (people taking his somewhat melodramatic statements of only having one friend [Mary] literally!) It's good to know he had people in his life with whom he could just let loose and have a laugh with. I love hearing his friends repeat all his one-liners. I always got the impression from photos and other footage that he looked really happy with the 'New York Daughters' and that he was all different personalities rolled into one, sophisticated and occasionally wild. I feel people should give Freddie a break - he was only doing what other gay men of the time were doing. After repressing it for so long; it must have felt somewhat close to freedom; finally getting to explore that aspect of himself, especially as he slipped under the radar of the press by blending in. I think it makes it all the more tragic what happened to him in the end.
thundergod 03.08.2017 01:49	Hey Villiers, I appreciate your response and couldn't agree with you more! Some people think Freddie belongs in a single box, unaware of the multiple aspects of his personality and lifestyle. Here is a Freddie quote just for you. Freddie loved his new short haired, moustached look in the early eighties. He even told us,"Ooooh dear, during that whole long hair and outrageous clothes thing, I knew I looked ridiculous... BUT IT WORKED!."
Sheer Brass Neck 03.08.2017 03:44	Your reply to Sheldon was infinitely more gracious than mine would have been :)
thundergod 03.08.2017 04:56	Thank you for your comment Sheer Brass Neck. I am just a visitor here and all comments and questions are considered. If I can answer a question, I will. I've never claimed to be an expert on Freddie and I realize there are large gaps in my knowledge of "all things Freddie." But I am glad to answer what I can. About 90-95% of responses have been very kind and thoughtful. Thank you all.
matt z 03.08.2017 05:50	^Ditto that sentiment. The whole question came off as disparaging. Anyways. Thanks for the replies. Being that you've brought up the Delilah feature once again, I figure I could ask something relevant. For some time (late 90's- 00's) I'd heard from different Queen fan sites (fan pages) that "there likely was no Delilah; cause we've never seen photos of her"... and Delilah was somewhat relegated to mythic status (these are super fans of course. ...cause who rightfully gives 2.....someone else's pet etc etc) Point is...Delilah....was she truly Freddie's favorite cat? ...or was she simply "Queen Bitch the Majestic" who did whatever she wanted, and this oddly delighted Fred? Maybe both? What become of Delilah anyways? Was she the one that defected to the neighbors lawn? Btw: It IS odd even talking about someone else's pet. Also. ..did Freddie ever meet Prince Rogers Nelson? ....attend any of his shows? The time frame is right for early 80's NY/LA shows and 85-87 European tours. I've wondered what's driven me to "majestic" bands after all. ...QUEEN, a KING OF POP, a PRINCE, ....guess the rock world is kinda short on the princesses
Chopin1995 03.08.2017 11:05	Thank you Thor! Nice to hear from you. I don't have any questions but reading your memories is interesting enough. I wish you all the best!
thundergod 03.08.2017 13:47	Hi matt z, Delilah was very real and I saw her two or three times. She was very shy and often hid from strangers at the Garden Lodge. I do not know what became of her after Freddie's passing but I am sure that plans for her were made and carried out. Also, I don't believe that I ever heard the name Prince Rogers Nelson. Who is/was he anyway? Hello Chopin 1995, Thank you for your pleasant comments.
Sebastian 03.08.2017 15:28	Wikipedia wrote: Prince Rogers Nelson (June 7, 1958 – April 21, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, philanthropist, dancer and record producer. He was a musical innovator who was known for his eclectic work, flamboyant stage presence, extravagant dress and makeup, and wide vocal range. His music integrates a wide variety of styles, including funk, rock, R&B, new wave, soul, psychedelia, and pop. He has sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won seven Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award for the film Purple Rain. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, his first year of eligibility.
matt z 03.08.2017 16:43	thundergod wrote: Hi matt z, Delilah was very real and I saw her two or three times. She was very shy and often hid from strangers at the Garden Lodge. I do not know what became of her after Freddie's passing but I am sure that plans for her were made and carried out. Also, I don't believe that I ever heard the name Prince Rogers Nelson. Who is/was he anyway? Hello Chopin 1995, Thank you for your pleasant comments. Oh... some little guy known as PRINCE. I've used his full name just to jar people for years. Now that he's "passed on" it's become more common to use his full name. Briefly he was "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince" or O(+> , supremely talented and dedicated individual from Minneapolis, Minnesota. .... also known as The Purple Yoda
matt z 03.08.2017 16:48	I'd have said "Prince", only. .. he was a composer among other things and composers tend to be known by their full names. . After all...who could forget Yohann Gambolputty de Von Ausfern -Schplenden schlitter crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangel-dongel-dungel-burstein-von knacker thrasher apple banger. ..err..umm.. Little help?
Invisible Woman 03.08.2017 16:53	Hello again,Thor Here are some of my questions -Did Freddie ever have some kind of fear that his voice would not be good for some live performance? -When you went to visit Freddie in his house Garden Lodge did you ever hear him that called Jim "my husband"?(That's Jim said in his book,that Freddie called him "my husband). Thanks in advance.
smilefairyqueen 03.08.2017 18:55	Hey Thor! Thanks for answering these questions. It's very cool to be able to talk to you. I have a few questions. You don't have to answer all of them if you don't want to. 1.) Is it true that Freddie was moody/ had a temper? 2.) I heard some of his gay friends in London could be bitchy and fight for Freddie's attention, was this true for the New York daughters? Or was he treated like everybody else in the friend group? 3.) Did anybody ever tell him no? Or was he pretty much indulged/ everybody kissed his ass? 4.) Could you tell more funny anecdotes about Freddie? They are hilarious! I love hearing about him from people who knew him personally. Thank you SO much for answering these questions. You seem like a great guy! I always thought Phoebe was great too.
Penetration_Guru 03.08.2017 19:57	matt z wrote: After all...who could forget Yohann Gambolputty de Von Ausfern -Schplenden schlitter crasscrenbon-fried-digger-dingle-dangel-dongel-dungel-burstein-von knacker thrasher apple banger. ..err..umm.. Little help? He was from Ulm
Sheldon 03.08.2017 20:26	Thor, thank you very much, that was a great reply! I'm happy to hear that you guys had more in common than what has been told previously in this thread. Just to be absolutely clear, it is the whole hedonistic lifestyle that that I'm not a huge fan of, no matter what sexual preferences anyone has. It just seems that with the exception of Peter Straker (if I remember correctly), Freddie's gay friends never talk about anything else than excessive partying in documentaries. Perhaps this even is because of personal biases of documentary makers who might want to show the gay community in a bad and decadent way, who knows. Also, I have a feeling that Freddie wanted to keep his personal life and activities private and when very exact details are told to the world by his friends, it just feels wrong somehow. You, of course, knew the guy personally, so you know the truth while I only make assumptions. I must say that I have enjoyed this thread a lot, like everyone else here too. I just would love to hear more stories about Freddie the human being and not Freddie the sex and drug addict (deliberate exagerration). If my first post offended you, I apologize and I wish you all the best. Thank you for joining us here!
Arnaldo "Ogre-" Silveira 03.08.2017 21:10	thundergod wrote: Thank you noorie. A book? Well I think that every memory I have will probably be laid out right here! I hope I have enough to last a few weeks here, the responses have been unbelievable. It is great that you found Queenzone and decided to chat with us here, Thor. Thank you very much for your time and willingness to share. Cheers, Ogre-
thundergod 03.08.2017 21:25	Oh matt z, Aren't you just the riddler! I did not know Prince's real name, but I sure enjoyed his talent and his music. Now, had you said "Prince Michael Jackson" I would have known immediately who it was. Or even "Blanket"...LOL. I certainly did know Yohann though, and I never forgot him. I just used to spell it wrong - Johann!
thundergod 03.08.2017 22:03	Hey Sebastion, Thanks for helping me out with the Prince thing. Hello again Invisible Woman, I know during my time with him that he never mentioned loosing his voice. He had a Laryngologist in New York who saw him for sore throats or strained throat. This is probably know to all but he could never have his teeth fixed due to possible changes to his voice. He was always very self-conscious of his teeth and tried to hide them when possible. Few pictures of Freddie smiling. Also, "my husband" was not a popular phrase back then...he would call Jim his lover. But things may have changed a few years later when we were more like casual friends with only limited visits. Hi smilefairyqueen, 1) Freddie is somewhat notorious for his occasional blow-ups, but his mood never changed when dealing with me or my friends. 2) As one might expect, Freddie's older group of friends was a little jealous of his new friends. They tried to be catty sometimes but Freddie would have no tolerance for that. In New York, we were just a close-knit group of everyday friends. In the later visits to London, there was an unintentional competition of which group was the most clever and who could keep Freddie's attention the longest. I could hold my own but it was Lee Nolan (Kathleen) who was skilled at making people laugh hysterically and feel good. I must say, Lee won every time. 3) The new friends, as I have said were never indulgent out of his "stardom" but were occasionally out of his "character." as a person. 4) Here's probably a new Freddie story for you: While either in London or New York, I forget which one, Freddie attended David Bowie's version of "The Elephant Man." After the show they met back stage and Freddie offered him some lines of coca-cola for him and the people back stage. Freddie said that there was little left to share because "Miss Bowie went ACROSS the lines."
thundergod 03.08.2017 22:22	Hi again Sheldon, Thank you for the explanation of your first comment. Hedonism is and should not be a permanent character trait. As I've said, I managed mine. Back then, growing up gay was horribly damaging to one's sense of self. It was wrong, sinful and it was our own fault for "choosing" to be that way. Because of that, we were all a little socially awkward throughout school, even college, so making up for lost time during young adulthood could definitely make hedonism last into your thirties. And, the fact substances were quite popular during the Studio 54 disco era dwarfs in comparison to the heroine, bath salts and fentanyl problems we face today...at least in the US. A big Thank You for the kind words of Arnaldo "Ogre-" Silviera
smilefairyqueen 03.08.2017 22:43	Thank you for answering Thor! Did Freddie ever talk about his childhood and going to boarding school in India? He never really talked about his childhood in interviews or to people, so I wonder if he ever told his close friends anything. It must have been interesting to have him as a friend and to get to know him on a personal level.
thundergod 03.08.2017 22:54	Hello again smilefairyqueen, Freddie rarely discussed his up-bringing, his family or his ancestry except when we once asked him his real name and he told us only a little about Zanzibar; never about India. I learned more in subsequent books about his life than from him directly. He very much loved being English and he "seemed" to have more pride in that than in his actual heritage.
matt z 04.08.2017 07:09	Alright. Cool, Thorbert. So.....long story short, did Freddie ever catch Prince (THE Prince from Minneapolis) LIVE in concert? ....was Freddie a fan? He was HUGE for some time...i could imagine he held some opinion about the guy. Likewise with Annie Lennox.... I'm very biased and think that they and maybe Depeche Mode managed to be the greatest talents of the 80's alongside Michael Jackson (who gradually wrote less and less of his own material - likely lost "the spark" after the initial anger from those accusations) PS. Much has been made about the "silly hat" parties. ....did anybody ever "WIN" with some crazy creative piece? Thanks , Thor.
dudeofqueen 04.08.2017 08:03	thundergod, I've been following this thread with great interest, Thank you for feeling able to contribute here - I know that there are some scarily weird people that contribute from time to time and it must be difficult for you to be so open and share your memories so freely. A couple of things from me: Would Freddie ever discuss Queen recording sessions with his non-band friends? If so, how did it come across; a schlep or something that really enthused him? Which stories stick out? Freddie's love of musical theatre is well-known; did he ever express an interest in branching out into that sphere with you? Were you aware of any test sessions done for Phantom Of The Opera for Tim Rice & Andrew Lloyd-Webber? How did Freddie's personal and / or working relationships with Brian, Roger and John crop up in conversation? How did they all come across? Was Freddie aware of his impact on the global music scene as a private individual; did he appear to know what he was responsible for?
Seed_Of_Rhy 04.08.2017 12:09	Thor hello again! Have you ever seen Freddie makin' tea or doing some little cookin' or housework? I askin this because of lot of theme-books tell us that Freddie wasn't able (or didn't like) to do many ordinary things in case of serving himself. I always thought that its authors are exagerrate about. Was he keen in using LP or VHS Player, TV-set or any household appliances? Does he read serious books/literature exept the "Spatacus Guide" or merchandise booklets?
Mr.Michael 04.08.2017 13:30	Yes, it was the 80's and it wasn't hip back then, but why didn't Freddie shave his armpits?
thundergod 04.08.2017 13:56	Hey matt z, I am sorry, but other than a little bits and pieces about David Bowie, Micheal Jackson, Elton John, Cliff Richards and Dave Clark, I really don't know much of Freddie's preferences in other artists.but he enjoyed the popular songs of that time with two groups that come to mind... Spandau Ballet ("True") and Toto ("Africa"). I participated in only one silly hat party held at Freddie's New York home on Easter Sunday. The theme, of course, was to come up with the silliest Easter Bonnet. I don't remember there being any winner or any prize. Lee Nolan has the photo of all of us which thankfully I haven't seen in 25 years!
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:21	Hello dudeofqueen, Unfortunately, I am not qualified to give you proper answers to most of your questions.as I don't know much about the inner workings of Queen. What I can tell you is: Freddie rarely spoke of his recording sessions or at least, not to my group of friends. I've already mentioned to someone else my impression of the limited times that I met the other band members...please refer back to that. I never heard him mention "Phantom of the Opera." at all. Thank you for your questions despite my unsatisfying answers.
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:21	Hello dudeofqueen, Unfortunately, I am not qualified to give you proper answers to most of your questions.as I don't know much about the inner workings of Queen. What I can tell you is: Freddie rarely spoke of his recording sessions or at least, not to my group of friends. I've already mentioned to someone else my impression of the limited times that I met the other band members...please refer back to that. I never heard him mention "Phantom of the Opera." at all. Thank you for your questions despite my unsatisfying answers.
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:21	Hello dudeofqueen, Unfortunately, I am not qualified to give you proper answers to most of your questions.as I don't know much about the inner workings of Queen. What I can tell you is: Freddie rarely spoke of his recording sessions or at least, not to my group of friends. I've already mentioned to someone else my impression of the limited times that I met the other band members...please refer back to that. I never heard him mention "Phantom of the Opera." at all. Thank you for your questions despite my unsatisfying answers.
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:42	Hello again Seed_Of_Rhy, The only domestic work I've ever seen Freddie doing was the same as you saw - Vacuuming in the "I Want to Break Free" video. Seriously, he had his paid employees Franelli and Freestone doing all of that work as well as Jim Hutton. Also, Freddie had a little music and TV mini half-loft which was built off of the back of his living room at the Garden Lodge. There he had the latest home entertainment systems of the time, but I could not tell you the brand names or the systems used. I don't know what books he was reading. He did not talk about that or read books in front of us. He was quite busy but always made time for his friends.
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:43	Oops...sorry for the double "dudeofqueen" reply.
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:44	Yikes!...make that TRIPLE "dudeofqueen" reply.
thundergod 04.08.2017 14:46	Mr Michael hello, Why would Freddie answer a question that we never sunk low enough to ask?
Mr.Michael 04.08.2017 15:21	After Live Aid some alarm bells should have rang. Freddie's armpit was like a god damn rainforest. Freestone said in some of his Ask Phoebe-sections that someone used to shave Freddie's back, and it wouldn't have hurt to trim those pits. Like I said in the 80's it wasn't done. Nowadays it's considered hygienic. But on a more serious note. How did your group cope with the dangerous new disease when it was first mentioned? You hang out in NYC from when to where? About '80-'83? Or when did Freddie stop visiting New York? Obviously that was the time when Aids started to claim victims. Was this ever discussed (surely it was a topic) and how where the reaction? Like already mentioned in another topic Freddie reacted with a "fuck it"-attitude. But was it really like this? You yourself said you are lucky to be alive. Do you now feel it's actually a miracle because it must have been a very scary time for you all? I don't know the actual odds, but surely the risk was huge. When was the last time you saw Freddie and did you speak to him after that?
smilefairyqueen 04.08.2017 16:51	Besides the bars, what other places did you guys go to in nyc? What were his favorite restaurants/ food?
kokax 04.08.2017 16:57	Hi Thor ! me again..I was wondering if you saw my ( silly ) questions on page 9 ? ( am reposting here the last part) -did you get to meet photographer Mick Rock who apparently also hung out with Freddie in NY in the early eighties ? - Peter Freestone mentioned in his book (or somewhere else?) that Freddie showed different facettes of himself to different people. Would you have an opinion on that ?--Thanks so much !
Barry Durex 04.08.2017 17:51	Mr.Michael wrote: After Live Aid some alarm bells should have rang. Freddie's armpit was like a god damn rainforest. Freestone said in some of his Ask Phoebe-sections that someone used to shave Freddie's back, and it wouldn't have hurt to trim those pits. Like I said in the 80's it wasn't done. Nowadays it's considered hygienic. I don't shave my armpits, does that make me unhygienic?
thomasquinn 32989 04.08.2017 18:18	Hi Thor, Thanks for all the answers, it's very interesting to read. If it's convenient, I have one question (or more accurately: a few questions on one theme) to ask: What sort of subjects did Freddie like to talk about with you guys, niceties and personal matters aside? What was a conversation with Freddie in a social context like, as in: did he talk more, or listen more? Would he talk with interest about a subject, or jump from topic to topic? And, did he ever (spontaneously) sing and/or ask your opinion on anything musical, like a snippet of lyrics or a melodic phrase? I hope I'm not taxing your recollection too much!
Mr.Michael 04.08.2017 18:18	Barry Durex wrote: Mr.Michael wrote: After Live Aid some alarm bells should have rang. Freddie's armpit was like a god damn rainforest. Freestone said in some of his Ask Phoebe-sections that someone used to shave Freddie's back, and it wouldn't have hurt to trim those pits. Like I said in the 80's it wasn't done. Nowadays it's considered hygienic. I don't shave my armpits, does that make me unhygienic? Lets just say that hopefully you use a good deodorant. At least during the summer.
thundergod 04.08.2017 18:54	Mr. Michael hello again, I guess you have not read this thread from the beginning. Most of your questions have been already answered. Please refer back to them.
Barry Durex 04.08.2017 19:07	Mr.Michael wrote: Barry Durex wrote: Mr.Michael wrote: After Live Aid some alarm bells should have rang. Freddie's armpit was like a god damn rainforest. Freestone said in some of his Ask Phoebe-sections that someone used to shave Freddie's back, and it wouldn't have hurt to trim those pits. Like I said in the 80's it wasn't done. Nowadays it's considered hygienic. I don't shave my armpits, does that make me unhygienic? Lets just say that hopefully you use a good deodorant. At least during the summer. Let's just say I wash myself and don't just apply a good deodorant.
thundergod 04.08.2017 19:08	Hey again smilefairyqueen, The only one I can remember was that Chinese restaurant that I've already mentioned. We usually ate in Freddie's apartment with meals prepared by that true natural-born chef, Phoebe. He was able to whip up some great delicacies for us. Also, I was working weekends as a bartender while going to school at a place called "Uncle Charlies Restaurant", a popular place for that time period. Freddie met me and Lee there a couple of times.
thundergod 04.08.2017 19:35	Hi again kokax, I may have met Mike Stone, but I do not remember his name and he did not go out with our group of five. Also, of course Freddie showed different sides of himself to different people, don't we all. My personality with Freddie was different from my personality at school and different from my personality at work, where I had to be overwhelmingly entertaining to get good tips. I did manage to have fun though in all three settings. I never actually witnessed Freddie creating music, but I am sure he showed his serious side when writing that music and great business skills when he was with his producers.
thundergod 04.08.2017 19:52	Ha ha thomasquinn 32989, I love your definition of "Marxism"...I got a good laugh. Well those 2 and a half years were very busy. As I've already mentioned, we occasionally talked about opera. We often talked about our dates. And often talked about how many of his concerts my group could attend...the flight attendants usually could not make it, so basically it was me and Lee. He told us funny "inside stories" some of which I should not repeat. And we had various get-togethers and just laughed about stuff current, past, and future. Freddie mostly wanted to keep things light, except when he was having man problems. Then he would often confide in me quite seriously.
thundergod 04.08.2017 19:57	There, I am caught up. I think I will just avoid the "armpit wars" section.
Mr.Michael 04.08.2017 20:02	Barry Durex wrote: Mr.Michael wrote: Barry Durex wrote: Mr.Michael wrote: After Live Aid some alarm bells should have rang. Freddie's armpit was like a god damn rainforest. Freestone said in some of his Ask Phoebe-sections that someone used to shave Freddie's back, and it wouldn't have hurt to trim those pits. Like I said in the 80's it wasn't done. Nowadays it's considered hygienic. I don't shave my armpits, does that make me unhygienic? Lets just say that hopefully you use a good deodorant. At least during the summer. Let's just say I wash myself and don't just apply a good deodorant. Congratulations. Sounds like its working out very nicely. Thor: I read the answers but I didn't find anything about talking about the new disease in New York '80-'83 when the first reports came. You talked more about the later times? Weren't you at all concerned during the early days? Or was it more of a west coast problem at first? Do you remember the very last time you had any contact with Freddie?
Barry Durex 04.08.2017 20:43	thundergod wrote: There, I am caught up. I think I will just avoid the "armpit wars" section. I like you.
Shvili 05.08.2017 01:00	Hey Thor, What made you decide to come here?
conundrumme 05.08.2017 01:53	HI Thor! What is your favorite Freddie/Queen song & video? And what do you miss most about Freddie after all these time? Thank You :)
thundergod 05.08.2017 04:33	Hey again Shvili, I googled my name and came across some fictional stuff about my relationship with Freddie. I guess my name was also mentioned in queenzone, so I wrote to try to correct any falsehoods (i.e. I was his lover at one time), etc.
thundergod 05.08.2017 04:47	Hello conundrumme, Having come out during the disco era, I must admit that besides "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Killer Queen" which I heard for the first time when I was driving to a Medical School interview in Virginia (I did not get in), it would have to be Freddie's "I Was Born to Love You". I know hiss and boos from forever Queen fans but I am a "70's-80's" kind of guy whose first ever dance was to Donna Summer's "Love to Love You Baby." So perhaps that is why. And my favorite Queen Video was "Radio Ga Ga" as well as "I Want to Break Free" which I thought was a hoot. I miss Freddie and Joe Scardilli and John Murphy all equally. Their crime was just being born about 15 years too early. If so, they would all still be with us.
thundergod 05.08.2017 04:51	Sorry, change "if so" to "if not" from my last reply.
conundrumme 05.08.2017 05:35	Oh Thor, I love Freddie's I Was Born To Love You too! Not Queen's version. I particularly love the video where he chases the girl around the house - choreographed perfectly too! I was exposed by my folks to the Bee Gees growing up so I get the hisses & boos :P I agree too that they exist "too ahead" for society but take comfort in the times and memories you get to share with them, and then share with us. Thank You and have a great weekend!
thundergod 05.08.2017 06:27	conundrumme, So nice to read your response. Freddie used to get excited about that video and told us..."Look, look, I stop chasing her to play a note on the piano." He got a kick out of that.
Invisible Woman 05.08.2017 14:57	How much did I realize, while living in New York Freddie didn't have any cat? And the flowers? Did he even like flowers then? Which of Queen albums you like the most? Thank you for answering my previous questions.
smilefairyqueen 05.08.2017 16:08	Did you ever notice any particular quirks that freddie had?
kokax 05.08.2017 16:28	thanks so much for your reply Thor and have a nice weekend ! ( in fact, I meant this guy : link )
Iron Butterfly 05.08.2017 19:02	I have no questions, at least not yet, but have been reading this thread since it started. Thank you for doing this, Thundergod! Very kind of you.
brunogorski 05.08.2017 19:23	What a cool thread. Been reading since first post, awesome stuff. Thanks for being with us, Thor. Lots of love from Brazil. :)
thundergod 05.08.2017 21:35	Hey kokax, Thank for the Mike Rock interview. I do not remember him at all. If you are a fan of his, I am sorry but he seems fairly boring. His photography is just ok in my eyes. But, who am I to criticize. If the pics helped sell albums and Queen liked them, well then God bless them.
thundergod 05.08.2017 21:42	Hi Invisible Woman, Freddie had no cats in New York. There was always a very nice flower arrangement present, probably picked out by Phoebe. I thought "Innuendo" was the most heartfelt, but my favorite had to be "The Game" and then, the "Greatest Hits" albums are wonderful to listen to and I STILL do in my car.
thundergod 05.08.2017 21:46	Hi smilefairyqueen, The only quirk I saw was that "need" to argue and fight with his boyfriends. That was foreign to my behavior, but then again I never had artistic, creative energy to recharge.
thundergod 05.08.2017 21:53	Hello Bullet with Butterfly Wings, Greetings brunogorski, Thank you both so much for your pleasant entries. I'm glad you find this thread interesting. I haven't conjured up these thoughts in many years. It is fun for me and takes me back to an outstandingly fulfilling 1980 to 1983. Ain't youth great!!
kokax 05.08.2017 22:21	Hi Thor, thanks for your reply.... I just was curious to see if you may have met another "source" or as it turned out did not..." fan" and "boring " aren't words I'd use, but who am I to judge ? ( I have admired the Queen II cover with the Marlene Dietrich pose forever since 1979 when I first had a chance to listen to Queen after a friend saw them in concert to promote the Jazz album.....shortly after I got familiar with the other seventies albums incl. Queen II without bothering who the photographer of Queen II and Sheer Heart Attack was until 2 years ago when I rediscovered the band of my youth again thanks to youtube etc... and no censorship. I have spent most of my adult years in Asia without much updates on the Western world).
shakespeares sister 05.08.2017 22:28	thundergod wrote: conundrumme, So nice to read your response. Freddie used to get excited about that video and told us..."Look, look, I stop chasing her to play a note on the piano." He got a kick out of that. Dear Thor, did Freddie ever tell you who he wrote that song for? I love the song so much, it's so full of energy and good feelings.
Invisible Woman 06.08.2017 10:22	Thor, When was the last time you saw Freddie did he ever mentioned his musical legacy? Was he wondering what would happen to Queen after? Did he mention something about the will, was he concerned about what would happen to Jim,Jo,Phoebe and his cats after his deat? I don't have any more questions, but I continue to read. Thanks a lot.:)
Dr Magus 06.08.2017 10:37	Hi Thor. How big was his John Thomas? Sorry if i sound insensitive but you're the only on here with first-hand experience of his magic flute! Thanks for your answer to my other question by the way regarding Paul Rodgers.
Mr.Michael 06.08.2017 10:53	Did you ever run into Rock Hudson, Dan Hartman or Gaetan Dougas in those clubs?
Darthritis1 06.08.2017 17:01	Hello Thor. Thank you very much for visiting this site and sharing your memories and anecdotes about Freddie. I am constantly logging in just to read the updates and it's lovely to read things that have never been shared before e.g regarding Delilah. Here in the UK (well in England and Wales, Scotland didn't follow until 1980) it's been 50 years since homosexuality was partially decriminalised so there's been a lot of programmes on the BBC. Of course, although 'legal' there were still massive restrictions on behaviour and of course public attitudes were still mostly intolerant and even hostile. My question - did you ever have conversations about what you all felt about the general attitudes back then towards homosexuality, the discrimination that people faced and the fact that it was so difficult to be open as a gay individual? Did Freddie ever express any opinions about gay musical artists who were open about their sexuality - I know that many were still closeted, apart from a minority, as it could potentially damage their career. A few exceptions in the UK were Holly Johnson from Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Jimmy Somerville with Bronski Beat and The Communards (Not sure you were familiar with them in the states). They caused quite a stir if I remember. Do you remember if he ever expressed opinions about Pride,Stonewall and those who were were lobbying for gay rights? Thank you. I appreciate that you're being bombarded with questions and of course the passage time means that you'll be struggling to remember everything that us nosey lot want to know.
Vocal harmony 06.08.2017 19:57	Dr Magus wrote: Hi Thor. How big was his John Thomas? Sorry if i sound insensitive but you're the only on here with first-hand experience of his magic flute!. Grow up, your becoming boring
The Real Wizard 07.08.2017 01:03	thundergod wrote: He told us funny "inside stories" some of which I should not repeat. But that's precisely the stuff we want to hear the most ! The dynamics between the band members and how it contributed to the band's ongoing history is what people likely most want to understand.
The Real Wizard 07.08.2017 01:04	thundergod wrote: The only quirk I saw was that "need" to argue and fight with his boyfriends. That was foreign to my behavior, but then again I never had artistic, creative energy to recharge. Very aptly put.
thundergod 07.08.2017 05:19	Sorry The Real Wizard, I do not want to reveal things that I have no right to reveal. This is where I draw the line on this thread. Thank you for your SECOND reply.
Costa86 07.08.2017 18:58	^A true gentleman.
smilefairyqueen 07.08.2017 19:23	I understand why you wouldn't want to reveal those stories. I think most of us just want to hear about your experiences being his friend and the fun times you guys had together.
thundergod 07.08.2017 21:58	Thank you Costa86 and smilefairyqueen for your understanding. I am a loyal friend of Freddie's and not a gossip monger.Both of your messages were very kind.
thundergod 07.08.2017 22:13	Hey Invisible Woman, I visited Freddie for the last time in the summer of 1990. Unfortunately, he was not up for any entertaining, but he gave both myself and Lee 1,000 Pounds each to go out and have a good time. He was always so generous and kind to us. We made sure that we spent quality time with him each day. It was very flattering to see that he had the collage of pictures of us all together that Lee had created for him two years prior, on the side table.near his bed.
thundergod 07.08.2017 22:19	Hello Mr. Michael, I had a friend back then before meeting Freddie that had been a boyfriend of Rock Hudson's for a short time. I lost touch with that guy and I do not know what may have become of him. A co-worker at Uncle Charlies Restaurant named Grady was friends with Dan Hartman and he stopped by the restaurant several times. I have never met Gaetan Dougas.
thundergod 07.08.2017 22:19	Hello Mr. Michael, I had a friend back then before meeting Freddie that had been a boyfriend of Rock Hudson's for a short time. I lost touch with that guy and I do not know what may have become of him. A co-worker at Uncle Charlies Restaurant named Grady was friends with Dan Hartman and he stopped by the restaurant several times. I have never met Gaetan Dougas.
thundergod 07.08.2017 22:24	Hi Shakespeare's Sister, I don't know if "I Was Born to Love You" was dedicated to any one person in particular. I think it was just a whimsical fantasy song with a great dance beat.
thundergod 07.08.2017 22:56	Hi there Darthritis 1, Ha, ha I hope YOUR arthritis is not as bad as mine. I needed a left knee replacement 10 years ago and now my right knee has acted up, to say nothing of the horribly swollen knuckles in both hands. Anyway, I was lucky. I moved to New York City on graduation day from High School (June 1973). I grew up in the suburbs but couldn't wait to leave home and explore my feeling and new freedoms in the Big Apple. Being gay in Manhattan was not a problem and I felt no discrimination living in the West Greenwich Village section of New York and working in a bar called "Marie's Crisis" I am aware of the problems others had hailing from small towns in the Southern and Mid-Western parts of the USA. Many of them moved to New York like myself, but I heard stories about others who could not escape their small towns where discrimination was alive and well. Of course San Francisco and Southern California were also refuges from most of the hate and in 1985, I headed West to San Diego. I don't remember Freddie mentioning any hardships but of course he had to remain "undeclared" all of his life. He was, as you know, able to flaunt his sexuality on stage without the audience really catching on. After all there was David Bowie, Elton John and Mick Jagger doing some of the same antics on stage. I did know of "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" and "Bronski Beat" but I remember Freddie only mentioned Elton John and Dave Clark and their closeted lifestyles.at the time. Finally, unfortunately we never really discussed Gay Pride nor attend the large parade and celebrations in New York.
Shvili 08.08.2017 00:49	Hi Thor, Did Freddie smoke weed?
YAWN 08.08.2017 01:28	Thor, I hope you don't mind if I ask one more. In Peter's book, he mentions a few men Freddie dated in the states during the early 80s. I won't ask for great detail on the relationship (if there was one) but I was wondering who he was mainly dating during those years. Peter mentioned Peter Morgan, Bill (apparently an abusive guy), Charles and a few others. Did he have someone during that time that he was particularly serious with in America? Ive seen a great handwritten note to Jim Hutton Freddie wrote that warms the heart ("You make me a very happy man. Yes, happier than I've ever been") and im glad he found his happiness in Jim, but I would hope he was able to experience something similar with another lover before Jim. Everyone deserves some real happiness and bliss throughout their lives. Thanks again for all this. It's been great to read your responses.
thundergod 08.08.2017 05:17	Hey Shvili, I never saw Freddie asking for or smoking weed.
thundergod 08.08.2017 05:26	Hi Villiers, Peter Morgan was his driver in New York. I never saw them being amorous with each other. Bill was the guy that Freddie had a big hotel damaging fight with the night before the Saturday Night Live performance. I do not know who Charles was. I have already mentioned that he really liked a Puerto Rican-American guy named Ray and dated him for a short time. Jim Hutton was after New York and he was well suited for Freddie.as far as I witnessed.
YAWN 08.08.2017 07:31
Mr.Michael 08.08.2017 12:22	Thank you for your answers. Maybe it has been mentioned before, but after Freddie left New York was that it? Did he even visit the city anymore? Queen did no more shows in the States after '82, Freddie spend some time there until 1983? Was there ever any specific reason for this? He had just seen everything and it was time to move on? Once he was gone he never came back? Do you ever get nostalgic when you pass those old places where Freddie's appartment was or the clubs were and think back to the earlier days? This maybe a bit personal, but how lucky do you feel in hindsight about Aids? How nerve wrecking were those times? When people you knew were getting sick and dying. It was obviously sad, but how did it affect your own fears. Did you get scared when you maybe saw a scar/mole in your hand/leg and thought it was KS? Was there ever a panic atmosphere like "we are all going to get this"? When you look at documentaries about those days you kinda get that feeling, but was it really like that? Have you already seen the Freddie docu pic with John Blunt? It's on You Tube if you want to check it out. It would be very interesting to hear your thoughts about it. It has been getting mixed comments, but I actually think Freddie is portrayed pretty good in it.
YAWN 08.08.2017 15:07	Brian May and Freddie's mother and sister disagreed, Mr Michael. They tried to get that docudrama canned due to inaccuracies. Plus Lesley Ann Jones was a major part of it. She's been called out on lies about Freddie she's printed by tons of people close to Freddie. Even Mr Freestone stayed clear of it. Peter Straker told Chris Taylor that he didn't know she'd be in it. Unfortunately, the docudrama was full of tabloid lies (mainly Barbara's role in his life) and it made quite a few people close to Freddie pretty upset. To each their own, but I personally found it be cringe worthy and considering Freddie's mother wanted it canned, makes it even worse imo.
matt z 09.08.2017 06:16	Ah crud. Can't seem to "quote source" u here Thor ...but it's refreshing to know that Freddie likely didn't smoke doobs. Though I DO wonder when and how he ever "mellowed out " if he ever did. As one who didn't read often, didn't idle away hourswith pinball/games etc. ..when did he ever relax? Brian's been quoted as saying he was frenetic. Guess it must be that way. Another question for indulgences. Was Fred the Heineken and Stoli guy that we've seen onstage? Or did he have a favorite brew? Drink? As a sometime singer, I understand the different effects that different brews have on the palate and the membranes. Personally i can't drink anything other than Budweiser before, after and during singing. All the other artificial stuff tends to choke my elasticity. Another thing. I make it a rule to never eat 4-5 hours before singing. Did Freddie have a regiment prior to singing? I'm in no way comparing myself. ..these are just things I've noticed when attempting to sing. People have to follow a lot of rules. Some drink tea, some make bizarre mushroom concoctions (Durst from Limp Bizkit stunk up the place for instance when I'd worked around/with them) Did Freddie have anything besides those lozenges/cough drops and maybe a "toot"?
thundergod 09.08.2017 07:53	Hi again Mr. Michael, After Freddie left New York, in 1983, you are correct- I don't think he ever came back. He sold his New York Skyscraper home at that time. Lee and I left N.Y. at the end of 1984 and headed to San Diego to "try it out". I never left to this day. We tried to get him to visit us several times, but he preferred to see us in London. Did I ever mention that Freddie, generous as he was, flew myself, Lee and Brandon out to London via the Concorde. It was a blast. Coming back you arrived an hour before you left...how crazy. Now a days when I go back to New York, I do see Freddie's old building and remember the carefree old days with a sigh. He left New York because the required time to be away for tax purposes was up and he needed to return to London where the rest of the band was after the two tours. Many of the friends I had developed from working in the bars passed away. Other friends from my neighborhood passed away. The only thing I did that probably saved me was using a condom exclusively from 1984 and beyond and nearly always from 1979 to 1984. Additionally, my personal preference was to be a "sender" and not a "receiver" which may have helped. Once the test was developed, I always knew my HIV status and it has been negative all of these years. In the early days, yes I felt, "when will it happen to me". By the time I moved to San Diego, I had more confidence and felt that the precautions I took were helping me stay well. As I have said before, the four remaining friends after John Murphy passed away, discussed aids once or maybe twice. It was such a depressing topic and Freddie preferred not to talk about it. What he actually THOUGHT of it, I do not know. I will check out the John Blunt thing soon. Thank you for the tip.
thundergod 09.08.2017 08:08	Hey matt z, It seems that during New York, I can recall that Freddie drank Vodka and sometimes Brandy. In London, because the visits were special occasions, I remember drinking a lot of Champagne( He Loved "Moet and Chandon") and hence the mention of it in "Killer Queen" I'm sure he did drink beer, but I don't remember ever seeing him. Other than some cocktails to relax, Freddie was almost always in hyper-drive, which made life a little more fun for us of course. I never witnessed Freddie preparing for a performance but saw him only afterward, so I cannot answer the last part of your question. As I already mentioned, he did have a Dr. to manage his throat and recommend treatments.
splicksplack 09.08.2017 10:25	Hi Thor, How cool to read you worked in Marie's Crisis. I always visit when I'm in NYC. Sadly, like London a lot of gay venues are closing mainly due to astronomical rents. In the past few years Splash and Rawhide closed. Also a great gay gift/bookshop on 8th called Rainbows and Flags I think. I picked up the Mark Blake Queen book there. What bars/ clubs did you guys go to in NYC?
thundergod 10.08.2017 04:21	Hey splicksplack, Ha, ha. I started working at Marie's Crisis in 1973 when I was 17 years old. For some reason, the drinking age in New York was 17 at the time. This was before Freddie, but I had some great times there. Did you know that the building is a landmark because Thomas Paine wrote "The Crisis Papers" there. The mirror behind the bar displays the French motto "Liberte, Egalite Fraternite" in a mirrored mosaic of the American Revolution. On a lighter note, Bette Midler used to live in the upper apartment in the early seventies. She left her tub running once and flooded Marie's Crisis. What a laugh. We went to "The Eagle", "The Spike", "Ty's", "Badlands", "The Saint" and of course "The Anvil" where I first met Freddie (this bar started getting busy at 4AM which was great for night workers and bartenders)- Oh, and Famous Musicians!
thundergod 10.08.2017 04:30	Oops, sorry. I googled Marie's Crisis and there saw that the mirror depicts the French Revolution. I really should have remembered that having looked at it hundreds of times. LOL. No offense meant to any French people on this site. You guys AND your country are great!
Iron Butterfly 10.08.2017 05:45	Hi ThunderGod. Was there any place Freddie would have liked to have traveled, but never went? Or perform a concert in a country that he never got to perform in? Was there anything out of the ordinary that he collected? Thanks for your time :)
thundergod 10.08.2017 06:49	Hello Bullet with Butterfly Wings, I cannot answer the first question. I think over the years he went almost everywhere..hmmm...maybe not Antarctica. But I know he had a thing for Japan and collected several artistic pieces such as vases and paintings and a medium sized porcelain, ornately dressed doll from there. He brought Lee and myself kimono's back from his trip to Japan. i still have mine but it does not fit anymore... maybe after that next diet...LOL
dudeofqueen 10.08.2017 10:24	thundergod, re: >my personal preference was to be a "sender" and not a "receiver" which may have helped. Absolute. Gold. Right there......
Iron Butterfly 10.08.2017 18:07	thundergod wrote: Hello Bullet with Butterfly Wings, I cannot answer the first question. I think over the years he went almost everywhere..hmmm...maybe not Antarctica. But I know he had a thing for Japan and collected several artistic pieces such as vases and paintings and a medium sized porcelain, ornately dressed doll from there. He brought Lee and myself kimono's back from his trip to Japan. i still have mine but it does not fit anymore... maybe after that next diet...LOL Thanks for your reply :).
thundergod 10.08.2017 19:47	Thank you dudeofqueen for your comment.- much appreciated.! You are welcome Bullet with Butterfly Wings...anytime
conundrumme 11.08.2017 10:30	Hi Thor! As an opera fan, what do you think of the Barcelona album? Did Freddie ever asked for feedback during the process of making the album, or after its release? Thanks!
talismaniak 11.08.2017 20:18	I appreciate your efforts here Thor But "my personal preference was to be a "sender" and not a "receiver" which may have helped." is a little bit too much detail ;-)
thundergod 11.08.2017 22:53	Hey Conundrumme, Freddie had given me an advance video of "Barcelona" and I absolutely loved it. I was not all that familiar with the work of Montserrat Caballe, but after Barcelona, I tried to familiarize myself with some of her work. Fantastic! Hello talismaniak, Those who needed to know understood my slight variation of the words. Someone asked me how I stayed alive and I think that statement suggests a reason why but not a certainty.
PrimeJiveUSA 12.08.2017 03:47	I hadn't visited this site in many months and visited today and stumbled upon this incredible thread! Wow. This has got to be the coolest thing I've ever seen on either Queenzone or Queenonline. I have poured over the pictures from Phoebe's book for years wondering what the people in those photo's were like. Wondering if they were phony hangers-on or truly friends to Freddie. I can't describe how insanely fantastic it is to have you here, Thor, and interacting with us! Thank you so much and hang around here forever, please!
thundergod 12.08.2017 05:20	Hello PrimeJiveUSA, Wow, thank you so much for your response. I'm glad you are enjoying the thread. I like sharing my memories and answering whatever questions I can. I understand that I am not the last word in Freddie and Queen information.
BETA215 12.08.2017 05:30	Yeah, not many people have said this: but it's magnific to have you here. I hope this isn't only a temporary visit, for then leaving QueenZone for a long time. You're a great dude, from whom we actually learned a lot, and we're very proud that you're here. Thank you, for insisting in posting here besides some unfortunate comments. We all did bad comments, at least once in our lives. P.S.: Is this you? link
PrimeJiveUSA 12.08.2017 22:09	@Thor When I was 11-12 years old and obsessed with all things Queen back in 1980-82(Freddie's New York phase) and I was a member of the Queen International Fan Club, we would receive a quarterly magazine/newsletter where one of the band members would pen a handwritten letter to the fans(photo-copied of course). I distinctly remember Freddie writing about his time in "fab New York" and how he had taken up "smoking" and how hung over he was. You were one of the people that was with him during all of that! And you were in LA with him when they were recording parts of The Works! I can't tell you how cool it is that you have entered these boards! You admit that you aren't an encyclopedia of knowledge about Queen...but who cares! LOL...you bring something to the table that is rare indeed. First-hand, personal experience with Freddie and observations about him as a person. You say you weren't his "lover" but you did share one encounter with him...yeah...that's AWESOME! And I'm saying that as a totally straight, heterosexual guy! You spent the night with Freddie Mercury! I just went to a concert last week in Nashville where Adam Lambert described Freddie as a "god" and the crowd roared at any video image of Freddie...and you were friends with him! What an honor to have you here.
thundergod 12.08.2017 23:53	Hey There BETA215, This is my second attempt to respond to you. Something must have gone wrong with the first try. Anyway, Yes that is me next to Freddie in LA. He looks GREAT. I look like something the cat dragged in - oh well! Thank you for sending me the info to get your ...let's say borrowed merchandise ...connection site.
thundergod 13.08.2017 00:03	Hello again PrimeJiveUSA, Freddie did smoke when I met him but I don't know if he STARTED in New York or not. I'm sure his doctors were not pleased with this. I have watched some video's with Adam Lambert and although no Freddie, he was better than Paul Rogers when I saw the (new) Queen at the Hollywood Bowl. In my opinion, he did not fit in at all. I found him to be a bit of...bad company. Adam, I'd say is pretty good.
SmokyQuartz 13.08.2017 01:30	Hi Thor I don't post here that often, my interest is mainly Queen in the 70's and Freddie, well, I imprinted on him as a 5 year old girl when I watched Bohemian Rhapsody, lol. He lit up my imagination with his 'gotta leave you all behind and face the truth,' etc, and My Fairy King, etc, I think for a while I thought he really was some otherworldly figure. What others have said, it's truly amazing to have someone here who actually knew Freddie and yet are giving us their time, so thank you! It's also amazing because we've heard about you, you are in the fable, so to speak, and now you're 'real' and talking to us. It gives me an opportunity to say how sorry I am for what happened with AIDS in the 80's and for the loss of your friends. I wish there was more I could say. I wasn't directly affected, and was only 15 when it all started, but it hurts to think about still and I've since had losses of my own My question would be how did Freddie cope with death as an abstract idea (before or after aids making an appearance), did he ever share a philosophy about that? And, had he lived, how do you imagine he would have approached getting older? Last one I promise....did you ever see his creative side at work in or outside the studio, if so what were those sessions like? Thanks Thor! :-)
conundrumme 13.08.2017 03:00	Nice to finally put a face to your name, Thor! Even if that's not a recent pix :)
thundergod 13.08.2017 05:11	Hello SmokyQuartz, Thank you for your kind words. I'll repeat what I have already answered about my remembrance of the death subject. We were young with the instinct/notion in us of living long lives. With Freddie, we only had one discussion of death after our friend John Murphy passed away. I believe we all lied to ourselves with that inner little voice that said "it could not happen to us." The topic was never again brought up even when I visited Freddie in 1990. Although quite ill at that point, he always kept a brave face. It seemed obvious that he had come to terms with his fate. It was also clear that I would not be seeing him again and I would need to come to terms with that. Also, I never got to see the creative Freddie at work with his music but I did get to enjoy the finished product as did the rest of the world. I also got to see many Queen concerts culminating with Queen at Wembley Stadium for the "Kind of Magic" performance. It was absolutely fantastic. Even Mic Jagger (one box away) seemed to really like it too..LOL
thundergod 13.08.2017 05:16	I am sorry that this last reply is so broken up, which kind of makes it more difficult to read.
Vocal harmony 13.08.2017 13:24	Hi Thor, I think we are all aware of the band's connection to Japan, they enjoyed playing there and seemed to some extent to embrace the culture. What I've always wondered was did Freddie ever express more of a liking for certain tours or periods on tour than others?
thundergod 13.08.2017 19:21	Sorry Vocal harmony, All I know is that he loved his two tours when he was based in New York. Other than that, he never mentioned to me any favorite tours. I know he was very proud of Live Aid and Kind of Majic at Wembley..
BETA215 13.08.2017 21:02	@thundergod Oh, sorry if it bothered you! That's my signature, a message that is always shown under every of my replies. Don't pay attention to that. I hope my greetings were profound enough :)
thundergod 13.08.2017 22:02	Hello BETA215, I'm afraid I don't understand your last reply. What supposedly "bothered me", in your opinion, because nothing bothered me at all about your message. I said nothing about the words below your message except Thank You for the info. I am confused. Your words were great and easy to read about... but "profound?" Hmmmm. .
RBoulain 14.08.2017 14:14	Hi Thor! My first time posting here. First of all, I wanted to thank you for your contribution to the forum, I've been reading you and enjoying like a kid. I don't have any specific questions but what I like most are the random memories and stories you shared, so funny and sweet, if you have (as I suppose you do) more of those to tell us it would be so great. Thank you!
LOTV 14.08.2017 14:48	An interesting read, and seemingly genuine. Thanks Thor you have been candid but respectful (as much as we crave any new morsel). The narrative on this time in Fred's life is very consistent in that away from music he liked to keep things light and was indeed a hedonist, but without being unduly cruel to anyone. It also does seem to support the narrative that in terms of sexual behaviour he was irresponsible and selfish, something which his critics love to jump on. It also corroborates the story that away from his party loving side not many people really knew him. Indeed Brian and Roger maintain that they hardly knew him and that after the formative years they spent very little time together away from the music. In many ways I can't help but get the feeling that Freddie was a treasured colleague as opposed to an out and out friend. It's his relationship with Deaky that intrigues me the most. Seemingly polar opposites (although let's face it one would have to be bloody naive to believe that John wasn't a rock star in the formative years, I'm sure he was no saint) I've read that they were the closest in the band, something John's retirement adds credence too. Thor, you say you never spoke to John so for now I guess we remain in the dark. I've only ever read one book on Fred as it's been chronicled so often how private he was and I have no desire to read 1000s of pages on his drug taking and partying. Hence I'm new here and it's been a treat to read a genuine inside view on a certain period of his. Of course we have all read some outrageous quotes from Freddie and for some it matters not if they are true, they seem in keeping. My fave involves Fred allegedly in a Turkish brothel, probably a quote Queen ultras are sick of and as true as The Bible but it does make me chuckle. Mr Mercury certainly still captures the imagination. Because of his tragic early passing he's frozen in time as the mustachiod gay rock god of legend. Long may he reign!
PrimeJiveUSA 14.08.2017 14:55	"I've been reading you and enjoying like a kid." Yep! Perfectly stated, RBoulain! @Thor So, I guess you were a part of the group called the "New York Daughters"? I am curious as to certain dynamics within this social group. Was there ever any sinickering at Freddie without his knowledge...you know, mocking or making fun of him? Did anyone say anything about how they thought his teeth were disgusting or hideous? I've always wondered about these kinds of things because you KNOW that in the "real world" if Freddie were just an average joe that it is human nature for many people to do this. I know he was made fun of by other kids before he became a star. Or is star-power so blinding that none of you would think to talk that way amongst yourselves when Freddie wasn't present?
thundergod 14.08.2017 19:12	OK everyone, I have a feeling some participants are not reading this thread from the beginning because a few of the more recent comments and questions were already answered as best as I could. PrimeJive USA, Thank you for the compliment. However, the discussion about "Mother" and "Daughters" has been covered. It should be somewhere on page 1,2 or 3. For the sake of others, I don't want to repeat my replies UNLESS for some reason you were not able to read the earlier pages. I must scold you on your remarks about his teeth. I already explained how Freddie felt about his teeth. He hated them, His friends accepted him without regard to any physical characteristics. We covered this in the "armpit wars" section. Please read it and let's not start any "teeth wars". I will not comment on any messages like THAT again. Friends accept, they do not mock.
thundergod 14.08.2017 19:37	Hi RBoulain, Thank you so much for your comments. I think I might be running low on clever and funny statements until some new ones come to mind. But, here is one in keeping with my last reply. As I have said, Dave Clark was a good friend of Freddie's. I have always had a crush on Dave Clark, starting in the 60's. Freddie had him over the house in London and Lee and myself got tickets to the show he directed called "Time" on the West End. I was a bit shocked to see the amount of plastic surgery done on Dave Clark's face. especially because it didn't look right. I, asked Freddie, after he left, if Dave was aware of his appearance? Freddie answered: "Well, of course he knows dahling. What was he supposed to do?... 'Say, Hello, how are you...sorry, but my cheeks have fallen." Although Freddie said it in a joking way, and we took it that way it may have indicated his true feelings about friends criticizing other friend's personal attributes..
thundergod 14.08.2017 19:39	Hey there LOTV, Thank you for your kind words and then, the historical references, which I was not aware of.
raucousmonster 14.08.2017 20:05	Hi Thor, you must be bored by now of everyone saying how thrilled they are with your contributions here but here comes another one. I think it's a lovely thing you're doing for us fans of Queen and those, like me who love Freddie in particular. I know Freddie wasn't one for dwelling on the past but I like to think that as his health declined he must have taken great comfort and joy from the friendship, camaraderie and all round fun times he shared with you and the guys in New York during those years. The gay abandon of it all if you'll forgive the pun... But for someone in his position to find a bunch of good guys he could trust and just be himself with must have been a real blessing in his life so aside from your wonderful contributions here, for what it's worth I'd just like to say thank you for being such a good friend to Freddie. If I could throw one question at you (if you don't mind?) It's probably very boring but I wanted to think of something different to the previous questions. I've always been fascinated by Freddie's moustache. Not just because I love that look on him and feel he rocked a tash better than just about anybody. But also because it was such a big change of image from how he looked before. I understand why he decided to grow it as it was very much the look of the time in his social scene. But I wonder did he just decide out of the blue to grow it. Or if he'd been thinking about it for a while and finally just went for it? I suspect he already had the moustache by the time you met him and the subject never came up because it wasn't a big deal. But to the outside world it's probably one of the most iconic lip warmers there's ever been. Is there nothing the man couldn't excel at! Lol!
Shvili 14.08.2017 20:35	Hi Thor, We all know that Freddie loved giving gifts to his Friends and I am sure you are one of them. In response, how would you go about choosing a gift for Freddie? if you recall, what are some of the gifts you've given him and was there an instance when he was particularly excited about a specific gift?
thundergod 14.08.2017 20:41	Hey raucousmonster, I am not at all bored with this site. I am learning things about Freddie and Queen that perhaps I should know but do not until someone in the group here tells me about it. I enjoy learning as much as sharing these precious memories.. Now, in my world at the time moustaches were a requirement. As some friends would know, I used to say that I wouldn't date anyone without a moustache. But that was at that time. These days I like having a very closely cropped beard and moustache, but often clean shaven as well. I laugh at those days when there was a strict, so to speak, "dress code." I do not know when Freddie first started his new look. Maybe someone here has that answer. If so, please reply to this. He did look great with it...that is for sure.
Shvili 14.08.2017 20:57
thundergod 14.08.2017 21:02	Hello again Shvili, Great question! Our first Christmas together we bought him a new handmade leather jacket (go figure) from a great little shop in the West Village. It was hard to get his exact measurements, but Phoebe helped us out and did not let Freddie know. I remember that he wore it in the autumn and winter often and he loved it. The most important gift from myself and Lee was a collage of the few actual photographs (not the larger slide collection), in a beautiful golden (not gold) frame. I have already mentioned that we saw it displayed on his bedroom side- table on our last visit to him. Here is a funny gift to him thanks to Lee Nolan who thought of it. On our last visit, Freddie was having a problem with constipation due to certain meds he was taking. I went out to get a "Fleets Enema" which is common in the US but perhaps not so much in the UK as was proven when the pharmacist asked what it was for. Lee and I were trying to be polite as to what it was, but then some English woman blared out "Ya shove it up ya bum!" Well, instead of a flower basket that we had planned to get for Freddie, Lee had the idea to make a very decorative "Fleets Enema" bouquet basket. Freddie, despite the pain he was in, thought it was wonderful....and useful!
thundergod 14.08.2017 21:05	Shvili..I see an attempt to say something...but it did not go over. This happened to me once too.
Shvili 14.08.2017 21:31	Thanks for answer Thor...Fleet story is too funny. Don't know what happened to the previous post. Tried to post a link to a pic "Freddie growing mustache" which I think is 1980. If the link works it's the first pic here. link
PrimeJiveUSA 14.08.2017 22:02	@Thor I'm horrified that I offended you and please accept my sincere apology. I guess I have a too cynical view of human beings. You are right, true friends don't make fun behind friends backs and I'm glad this wasn't the case here.
RBoulain 14.08.2017 22:51	My god! You really made my night with this one, hahaha! To be honest, I would have reacted exactly the same way as you did, asking that. Thank you, so kind of you :), and so kind of Freddie, I'm sure he did his best to try not to look at Dave's eyebrows, I read (as you mentioned aswell) they were very close friends. And the musical must have been something worth to see! xxxx thundergod wrote: Hi RBoulain, Thank you so much for your comments. I think I might be running low on clever and funny statements until some new ones come to mind. But, here is one in keeping with my last reply. As I have said, Dave Clark was a good friend of Freddie's. I have always had a crush on Dave Clark, starting in the 60's. Freddie had him over the house in London and Lee and myself got tickets to the show he directed called "Time" on the West End. I was a bit shocked to see the amount of plastic surgery done on Dave Clark's face. especially because it didn't look right. I, asked Freddie, after he left, if Dave was aware of his appearance? Freddie answered: "Well, of course he knows dahling. What was he supposed to do?... 'Say, Hello, how are you...sorry, but my cheeks have fallen." Although Freddie said it in a joking way, and we took it that way it may have indicated his true feelings about friends criticizing other friend's personal attributes..
luthorn 15.08.2017 01:01	Thor, What is your view of other Freddie's friends at that time, Paul Prenter in particular? Paul has received a lot of negative coverage over the years and is not seen in a good light at all; yet Freddie had a great working relationship with him until he didn't. What was it really like back in the good ole days? Thank you, Luthorn
thundergod 15.08.2017 02:02	Hi again luthorn, On page three of this thread you will find the little info on how I knew Paul Prenter. In those days, everything seemed to be fine with him. I never heard Freddie say anything bad about him. What may have happened after 1983, I really do not know. I am not aware of any rumors surrounding him nor his behavior.
LOTV 15.08.2017 10:39	Hi Thor Although Freddie never came out in the strictest sense with hindsight it was pretty clear he wasn't particularly in either. Clearly despite being able to be anonymous to a certain extent he was also publicly gay within the community. I was a child when he was in his mustashiod pomp so it never really occurred to me that the look was a massive giveaway, although I was ribbed from time to time for liking a 'gay band'. I've heard that Fred never addressed his sexuality directly because he was worried about the impact it would have on his career. Do you think this is a fair explanation or was it more he never felt the need and as far as he was concerned it was obvious but nobody else's fucking business Darling? Also, perhaps a lot bigger a question: considering how much he could have done for AIDS awareness do you not think that he should have been more open about his illness? Personally I don't judge on that as I can understand not wanting the intrusion however some are very critical, pointing again to what they believe was a selfish nature. As a band they've always cherished their own privacy, I don't think it can be said that they are champions for illness awareness whether that be AIDS or anything else.
SmokyQuartz 15.08.2017 11:31	@ Thor Thanks so much for your reply to me. Sorry if I repeated an earlier subject and I think it's correct that we make this easy for you and for people reading it. Love the funny stories, hope you stick around. :-)
thundergod 15.08.2017 17:35	Hi again LOTV, Your statements are excellent. You even offer answers for your own question. OK, let me begin. In the 80's, being gay was still very much looked down on. Things were improving compared to the 60's and 70's. This is why gay people flocked to safe havens like the Castro, San Francisco, Fire Island, NY, the West Village of Greenwich Village, NY and West Hollywood, Los Angeles. London was similar.in the 80's and Earl's Court was the place to live and to be. So, for people like me and my friends, we could live without enduring the brunt of hatred.Now, if I were rich and famous, and gave years of clues to my true nature and still had millions of fans straight and gay. Why WOULD I want to blurt it out. I would keep them guessing. Those who could easily pick up on Freddie's clues. Once at a concert, Freddie shouted out that "this next song is dedicated to the real queens in the audience." We knew what he meant, but I'm sure some took it as "Queen fans." To you second question: At that time, it was better for people such as Elizabeth Taylor to promote AIDS awareness. Freddie's reluctance to state his disease publically was not good for AIDS awareness, but considering the time era and what he was going through, I can't really blame him. Even Elton John did not join the fight until there was Ryan White, a straight boy, despite the fact that he was a good friend of Freddie's. Did the rest of Queen jump on the AIDS awareness need after Freddie's death....no. And for that reason, I agree with you about the lack of "championship" Queen had for illness awareness I also love your Freddieesc answer of "nobody else's fucking business Darling"..ha,ha,ha
thundergod 15.08.2017 17:39	Correction to incomplete sentence on last responce: Those who could easily pick up on most of Freddie's clues, did.
thundergod 15.08.2017 17:41	Hey SmokyQuartz, I enjoyed your last statement. Thank you !
kosimodo 15.08.2017 20:01	Thor, just wow! 2Q from my side: we dont know much about the indian zanzibar past of Freddie. Could you share as much as you can? And you told about how difficult it was being gay when you were younger. Did Freddie tell you about his youth? Or about when he started dating men... Apparantly it was after Mary. But i guess he was born gay, so...
Rainbow61 16.08.2017 00:20	This is the FIRST time in my life I've ever posted anything on a forum, but this is so fantastic, I had to jump in. Best Freddie information I've ever read. Thank you Thor for your time. You bring a much needed genuineness that is often lacking in other interviews/comments about Freddie. So my question is multi-part: "What would a typical night out with Freddie be like?" Did he arrange to pick up his friends in his limo and drive to the bars or did you just meet him there? Did you go to multiple places each night? Did you walk from place to place? Did you have your own "spot" in the bars or did you just take whatever tables were available? Did Freddie ever get up and dance? Did people leave Freddie alone, or did they approach him in the bars to chat him up or get autographs? Did everyone take turns paying for drinks or did Freddie cover everyone? Did you guys go out for breakfast in the morning like many people do? Just trying to get a sense of what an average night would be like. Thanks again for your time. Sorry to blast you with so many questions on my first outing!
Saint Jiub 16.08.2017 01:27	oops
Saint Jiub 16.08.2017 01:30	Panchgani wrote: Rainbow61 wrote: Did he arrange to pick up his friends in his limo and drive to the bars or did you just meet him there? On the subject of limos ... On page 183 of Peter Freestone's book, Peter mentions Freddie's distaste for "exceedingly common" 25 foot limos, and would only use them when required, such as for transport to and from a Queen gig. Peter did mention the exception of using a limo for an excusion to Jones Beach on the ocean just outside Manhattan. ... Thor - Do you have any recollection of Jones Beach that you wish to share? Rainbow61 - I apologize for hijacking your question, but I had been wanting to ask about Jones Beach for over a week ... and your question provided a perfect "segway" ...
kokax 16.08.2017 06:25	Hi Thor, as you mention Ryan White and Elton John... would you know if Freddie was friends with any activist or did he support anyone "quietly" ? speaking of Elton John... earlier on in this thread you mention going with Freddie and some more friends to Cartier . I read Elton John apparently also chose Cartier for his friends.... was that a trendy thing to do at the time ?
LOTV 16.08.2017 10:31	Thor, many thanks for your time on here and thoughtful responses. It's a pleasure and a bit surreal for me to be communicating directly (albeit through the idiotnet ;-0 ) with someone who was a friend of Fred's. I'm in your camp with regards to Fred keeping his illness quiet as his own personal right but I do struggle to defend it when confronted with vehement counter argument that he could have done more. As for coming out - fair enough. Everyone knew what he was. The whole coming out thing is a bit prehistoric anyway. Christ, at 17 I didn't feel obliged to declare to the world that actually I find a good pair of tits attractive did I? I think the fact Fred was gay adds to the flamboyance and unique nature - a gay Indian who made his mark in a predominately white straight music genre before becoming the Legend. But, it was only a part of him and no Queen fan or indeed music fan should give a shit who he chose to sleep with, why is it our fucking business? It actually amuses me his sexuality made some straight metallers uncomfortable, especially as he and Queen transcended that genre (thank fuck, have you heard Dickinson butcher Queen with his contrived warble?). Thanks again Hammer.
LOTV 16.08.2017 10:44	One small point I would take up in Queen's defense is after Freddie's death they did then press GO on AIDS awareness starting off with the Trust and the concert etc. Obviously they couldn't go against his wishes when he was alive so perhaps harsh to judge them there. As a band however they do cherish privacy over using the name for a better cause (unless it's badgers). Whatever, it's only rock n roll for fuck sake. On the point of Fred sharing his illness with the band Brian and Roger have been inconsistent with their responses over the years. In some interviews they will have us believe they had no clue (how could they not?) and only found out near the end where in other interviews we'd be told they knew for a handful of years. Also a hell of a lot of people claim to have known despite us being told it was a very select few.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.08.2017 13:33	@Thor I know you stated you liked I Was Born To Love You. Just curious, did you/do you like Staying Power and Body Language?
YAWN 16.08.2017 16:49	Thor, seeing as you knew Freddie during this time (1981) I was wondering if you could tell me the name of this man with Freddie. He was clearly present on tour with him in Venezuela and Japan but no one seems to know his name. He is simply listed as 'a boyfriend' in books. As an inquisitive fan with no life, I simply must know his name!
thundergod 16.08.2017 18:46	Hello all, I will try to answer your questions in reverse order. Villiers I do not recognize that person at all. Was this relationship supposed to be in New York? I guess it happened in South America which I know nothing of.. However, I do believe that the leather jacket Freddie is wearing in the pics is the one we gave him for Christmas in 1981. So, thank you for the pics and sorry I can't answer your question.
thundergod 16.08.2017 18:50	Hey PrimeJive, Oh, oh...I hope those two songs are not your favorites because I really did not think much of either one. Soooo much better work was done earlier and then again later.
thundergod 16.08.2017 19:01	Hi again LOTV, I really enjoy your observations, heartfelt comments and excellent knowledge about what you write! I am positive the band knew he was gay. When his four new NY friends met them, what were they to think? Oh...Freddie has four single straight guys in his company now- LOL. Thank you for informing me that Queen actually did make an effort to promote AIDS awareness. I take back most of my former comment on the subject.
thundergod 16.08.2017 19:22	Hello kokax, I do not remember any activists that Freddie was supportive of in New York. It was early in the AIDS crisis. Of course he knew Andy Warhol and Liza Minelli etc. but I don't know of any activists that he was even giving "quiet" support to. At this time, Freddie stayed quiet about proclaiming his sexuality and also, it was before he contracted the disease. He certainly was entitled, as anyone is, to make his own associations at this time in his career. Freddie loved Cartier. It was relatively close to his NY apartment (Condo actually). The afternoon before our trip to Chicago we had some time to kill, so Freddie had the idea to take a little trip to Cartier. He asked the four of us to pick out decorative table clocks. I have already mentioned the fate of my clock with the unfortunate lost ruby stone in another, earlier response. I did not know that Elton John liked the same company - I can't shop there but Freddie made it a special treat to us. It's a beautiful store on Fifth Ave.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.08.2017 19:26	Can you imagine how many people that are Queen fans around the world would love to be here chatting with you like we are? If so many fans that aren't members of Queenzone(or active members) knew what was happening here I think this place would be flooded. Like I've stated previously, I haven't really been active on these boards much at all until seeing Queen+Adam Lambert recently brought me back here to chat it up and I stumbled across this. I was like...Oh...My...G. You don't have to respond to this Thor, I'm just ruminating on what a privilege this is!
thundergod 16.08.2017 19:35	Hello Panchgani, You are correct. Freddie did not like the attention that a limosine gathered. He had a Lincoln Towne Car once he bought his condo in New York. To make two of our escapades a little more special, he did ordered a limosine to go to Jones Beach for the day and an actual "yellow" limosine for our trip out of San Francisco to the Russian River, a popular, mostly gay retreat at that time. I believe that Lee has a slide of Freddie lying on the roof of the tacky yet fabulous yellow limosine with one leg kicked up high. I'll have to ask him to show it to me again - it is a classic photo (slide)! I will try to get him to share it with all of you here.He's a little let's say "difficult" when it comes to sharing his pictures.
thundergod 16.08.2017 19:42	Hey rainbow61, Wow...that's a lot of questions. You will get answers if I am able to give them but my energy is a bit drained right now so I promise I will get back to you a little later.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.08.2017 19:46	Thor...that jacket you all gave him for Christmas 1981 I've seen him wear in many photos and I've always thought it was really cool "rock star" type yhing. Speaking of Christmas, how many did you spend at Garden Lodge?
Rainbow61 16.08.2017 22:09	I understand. When you started posting, you probably had no idea how quickly popular you would become! If you chose to, I'm sure you could answers multiple questions every day. That would become exhausting after a while. I have a feeling we are just the first wave of people who have discovered this gem of a forum. While it's fun to learn about Freddie the rock star. Freddie the everyday guy who liked to hang out with his friends is somehow even more interesting, hence all my questions about what a typical night was like. I like to believe that his friends were a little oasis in his busy and demanding life as an international rock star. Thanks again.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.08.2017 22:35	@Rainbow61 I understand how answering all of these questions can be incredibly tiring...especially typing it all out! Just curious Rainbow, have you seen the YouTube videos at Garden Lodge with Thor in them?
Rainbow61 16.08.2017 23:44	@PrimeJive USA To be honest, I did see some of those YouTube videos, but I didn't finish them. Initially I thought how great it would be to see Freddie in his home, but then it struck me part way through that the videos might be invasive. I hadn't considered that when I initially started watching them, but upon consideration, I felt guilty about it, so I stopped. Freddie seemed like such a private guy...doubtful he would have liked showing the world his beloved place of retreat. My simple gesture of trying to be respectful...if a bit late!
PrimeJiveUSA 17.08.2017 01:11	Now you're making me feel guilty for watching them! Actually, I have to admit I did feel kind of wrong watching them.
Rainbow61 17.08.2017 03:27
Rainbow61 17.08.2017 03:36	@ PrimeJiveUSA I apologize...not my intent to make anyone feel guilty. The privacy thing is why I have never purchased Jim Hutton's book, "Mercury and Me". I have read snippets of it online, but my impression from other people is that it reveals aspects of Freddie's personal life that he was fiercely protective of. Thor...did you see the Garden Lodge tapes that were posted on YouTube or read Jim Hutton's book? What did you think of them?
kokax 17.08.2017 06:56	Hi Thor, thanks very much for your reply. In fact, what I meant is : where there AIDS sufferers ( sorry my mistake, I wrote activists) that he supported financially ("quietly" as I wrote ) ? Just asking because according to Peter Freestone and Lesley Ann Jones (?) he gave quite a bit to AIDS related charities before he passed away and occasionally signed cheques to people who had a difficult time ? You :" He certainly was entitled, as anyone is, to make his own associations at this time in his career. " Of course ! I am sorry if my question appeared intrusive. This thread is fascinating, seriously ! With all these small anecdotes and details you bring to live a much more nuanced FM than one imagines from the various books. Could I ask more ? I apologize .... Did he know Andy Warhol personally in NY ? If so, did Freddie visit Warhol's Factory ? I only read about Warhol's stopover in Hongkong in 1982 where he met several Queen members... After Warhol died, his diaries were released and the Queen encounter in Hongkong was summarized as , "Met one of those English rock bands in the elevator, think it was The Clash. Joe Strummer and Mick Jones maybe ." ---lol :) In fact, have you ever seen a print of the photo Warhol apparently took of Freddie in Hongkong (link ? Did Freddie also know/ meet Robert Mapplethorpe ? ---- maybe Truman Capote ? ( is it true that the 39th Munich birthday party was inspired by Capote's Black & White Ball ?) ok, I better stop, sorry ....
LOTV 17.08.2017 09:24	thundergod wrote: Hi again LOTV, I really enjoy your observations, heartfelt comments and excellent knowledge about what you write! I am positive the band knew he was gay. When his four new NY friends met them, what were they to think? Oh...Freddie has four single straight guys in his company now- LOL. Thank you for informing me that Queen actually did make an effort to promote AIDS awareness. I take back most of my former comment on the subject. Thanks old bean. Ironically I'm not very well read on Fred, due to as I stated earlier I know there's been so much bollocks written on a man not many knew. I'd imagine the band did know he was gay, my point was regarding telling them about his illness / them realising he had it. They are very contradictory with their responses on the subject. No matter, dear boy. A lighter question: apart from all the DISCO clubs and parties of the gay scene did you ever go see / listen to any rock music with Freddie? Of course he loved the scene's sound and opera and all that but he clearly liked Rock n Roll too else he wouldn't have been a rock singer, he'd have been a pop singer. Did you ever go see the New York Dolls or anybody like that? Thanks, as ever, for your time.
thundergod 17.08.2017 20:38	OK Rainbow61 let's see about your questions. - A night out with Freddie was affectionately called a "pub crawl." We'd go to a club, size up the crowd, and most times, move on. Sometimes we left without even touching our round of drinks (by the way, we all took turns buying the drinks - It was not just Freddie). We all enjoyed the freedom of just moving on even though the grass was not always greener at the next place. - We usually met at Freddie's place before starting the pub crawl. His apartment was outstanding, over-looking 5 of New York City's major bridges, the closest being the 59thSt. Bridge (Queensborough Bridge) which looks great all lit up. Another of my favorite times was when I was on my 1 hour nightime break from the nearby hospital.I would grab a cab, fly up to Freddie's and spend 45 minutes with him then rush back to work. My Fri, Sat, Sun evening job was finished by midnight so I would drive up to Freddie's and we'd all start the night off at 1:00AM. - We never stayed in one place long enough to have our own spot - lol. We often walked around Greenwich Village where I lived, occasionally stopping at my apartment. The clubs were close to each other so it was easy to just walk.and Freddie, of course, loved this blending into the crowd, in the club and even on the street . I can only remember one or two times when he was recognized.but the person was very pleasant and respected his space. - With so many all-night full restaurants we might have a snack if we broke up early or if it was a longer night, we might have breakfast. - I hope this answers most of your questions.
thundergod 17.08.2017 20:53	Hello kosimodo, As I've mentioned before, Freddie did not speak much about his family or up-bringing. He told us once that he was born in Zanzibar and that his parents were Persian (not Indian). I did not even know until now that Freddie went to boarding school in India- probably India because it is partly an English speaking country probably with better schools than Zanzibar, but I don't know for sure. Sorry, but I know very little of Freddie's youth and the early situation with Mary. He would refer to her as his good friend and at times, his soul-mate. He enjoyed people who did not try to use him for their own benefit. My group treated Freddie the same way...never expecting things because of who he was. Two or three times I bought my own airline ticket to London without thinking twice.
thundergod 17.08.2017 21:05	Hey PrimeJiveUSA, I never spent Christmas in London. But Freddie spent Christmas '81 and '82 with us in New York. We tried to make those two times as special as possible for Freddie and ourselves. We even invited Freddie's friend David Hodo (from the Village People) for one of them. He was a charming, sweet person and lived one block away from my place.
thundergod 17.08.2017 21:09	Hey LOTV, I missed this one. I have not seen "Dikinson's warble" and have no idea who he is. Could you drop me a line with connection to this site. I would like to hear it.
thundergod 17.08.2017 21:15	Hello kokax, I can't answer any questions about Freddie and Andy Warhol. I met Warhol briefly at Studio 54, but I was not with Freddie at that time. I think it was before the late '80s which is when I met Freddie.
thundergod 17.08.2017 21:22	Hi again Rainbow61, I did see the "Garden Lodge" tapes thanks to a member of Queenzone. It was interesting, but there are much better pictures of us. Since this is a video, it was more cool than the poor lighting and all looking silly in our "shorty-shorts"...very unflattering - lol. I did not read Jim Hutton's book. Did I miss something good or not so much?
thundergod 17.08.2017 21:33	Hi again quickly kokax, So sorry to report to you that I THOUGHT I knew that Freddie and Andy Warhol were friends, but if he thought that Queen was the Clash...oh well.
thundergod 17.08.2017 21:36	Also kokax, Thank you for the referral to the Freddie pictures link. Under that silly picture of me and Freddie on lounge chairs at his temporary home in LA it says "Freddie in Ibiza" ...LOL.
PrimeJiveUSA 18.08.2017 00:49	@Thor Oh..I thought you were in one of those Garden Lodge Christmas videos! There is a video where Freddie is sitting on a couch and signing a bunch of stuff(nighttime). I always thought you were in that video behind the couch. Well...that is you in the garden outside with your leg propped up though? There is a table set up there and you all are talking and standing around.
PrimeJiveUSA 18.08.2017 00:52	Rainbow61...no need to apologize! You are an ethical person...cheers. Me? Maybe not as much as I like to think! My curiosity about Freddie tends to be overpowering.
PrimeJiveUSA 18.08.2017 01:39	"Is This The Real Life" by Mark Blake is a much-heralded book within the fan community. It's a riveting read. It names our Thor as a "fling". Thor is dispelling this here. Wow. This is big stuff!
Rainbow61 18.08.2017 02:17	Thor...Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful answers. If you ever wanted to attend the Freddie birthday party in Montreux as a guest speaker you would be a HUGE hit...(No, I have never been to his birthday bash, but it sure looks like fun) Did you ever visit Freddie in Montreux? Any thoughts on the "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie with Rami Malek slated for release next year? Are you excited about it or do you think that capturing Freddie on film is a nearly impossible task? Will you go see it? I am cautiously optimistic it will be a good movie. BTW, I never read "Mercury and Me"...have only seen snippets on Google books.
Rainbow61 18.08.2017 02:38	PrimeJiveUSA I have read countless articles about Freddie and watched most of the YouTube documentaries and his interviews multiple times, so I am right there in the curiosity department!! There is something absolutely fascinating about him. I have the book by Peter Freestone and The Great Pretender: Life in Pictures book. Thanks for the Mark Blake bio recommendation.
LOTV 18.08.2017 09:33	thundergod wrote: Hey LOTV, I missed this one. I have not seen "Dikinson's warble" and have no idea who he is. Could you drop me a line with connection to this site. I would like to hear it. Apologies, this is my colloquial indulgence. I tend to presume everybody knows what the fuck I am talking about when indeed the truth be the opposite. I know what Bohemian Rhapsody is about! Anyway, I digress. Dickinson being he of the Sacred Cow and with a pilot license. Bruce of Iron Maiden. He and they have butchered a handful of Queen songs. Fucking horrible stuff, and there's been some stinking Queen covers over the years. If you do have the time I'd be interested in your reply on my question in my post above about rock n roll, but no drama. Had to smile at Fred being friends with the Village People chap, was there an old queen in the music business Fred wasn't friends with?
LOTV 18.08.2017 09:38	Rainbow61 wrote: Thor...Thanks so much for all of your thoughtful answers. If you ever wanted to attend the Freddie birthday party in Montreux as a guest speaker you would be a HUGE hit...(No, I have never been to his birthday bash, but it sure looks like fun) Did you ever visit Freddie in Montreux? Any thoughts on the "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie with Rami Malek slated for release next year? Are you excited about it or do you think that capturing Freddie on film is a nearly impossible task? Will you go see it? I am cautiously optimistic it will be a good movie. BTW, I never read "Mercury and Me"...have only seen snippets on Google books. From the noises that the band have been making it will be a sanitised load of shit. They are such an institution now they are intent on the brand being wholesome. I certainly wouldn't be expecting anything as interesting as The Doors. It'll be a PG and it will be more like the film of We Will Rock You. Queen were once a Rock n Roll band now they are just a show.
Rainbow61 18.08.2017 14:07	@LOTV. Just some thoughts... It's interesting how polarizing so many Queen/Freddie topics are. For example, people are either completely offended and angry with Brian and Roger for touring with Adam Lambert, or they think it is a great idea to keep Queen music going and they love the show. Either Freddie is the best singer/front man that has ever lived and Adam Lambert is a Karaoke joke, or Freddie had a fantastic voice, but Adam Lambert has a different, but amazing voice as well. Either people want a dark R-rated Freddie movie so that the more salacious aspects of his life are covered, or they want something more "sanitized" as you call it. In the court of public opinion, Brian and Roger, as major drivers of this project simply can't win. I'm sure they know that. How much do we want to know about Freddie's life outside of music and how much are we entitled to know? Not sure. It's not an easy question, as he was a complicated guy. I don't believe that his death removes the privacy and dignity he deserves. Hopefully the writer and director will find a way to treat their subject with respect, but not whitewash his life either. Yes, we know he was gay, yes, we know by his own admission he was promiscuous. Can they convey that without showing multiple detailed scenes of Freddie's liaisons around the world? I believe they can. What image do we want to be left with after seeing the film? I think it should be that he was an amazing and beloved singer whose rise to rock stardom was improbable given his upbringing. As a front man he was unparalleled. He was gay during a time when it wasn't easy to be gay...especially if you were famous. He led a rock star life, but at the same time, was content to hang out with his buddies and often shunned public attention. And boy could he ever write and compose music!!! Thor, do you have any thoughts as to how detailed this movie should be? (If you even think the movie should be made) Being new to posting online , I am not sure how to do the
Rainbow61 18.08.2017 14:11	Sorry...I didn't finish my last sentence. I am not sure how to do the answer in a box thing that other people do, so I just hit "quick reply" for everything. Yes, I'm such a newbie!
LOTV 18.08.2017 14:29	Rainbow61 wrote: @LOTV. Just some thoughts... It's interesting how polarizing so many Queen/Freddie topics are. For example, people are either completely offended and angry with Brian and Roger for touring with Adam Lambert, or they think it is a great idea to keep Queen music going and they love the show. Either Freddie is the best singer/front man that has ever lived and Adam Lambert is a Karaoke joke, or Freddie had a fantastic voice, but Adam Lambert has a different, but amazing voice as well. Either people want a dark R-rated Freddie movie so that the more salacious aspects of his life are covered, or they want something more "sanitized" as you call it. In the court of public opinion, Brian and Roger, as major drivers of this project simply can't win. I'm sure they know that. How much do we want to know about Freddie's life outside of music and how much are we entitled to know? Not sure. It's not an easy question, as he was a complicated guy. I don't believe that his death removes the privacy and dignity he deserves. Hopefully the writer and director will find a way to treat their subject with respect, but not whitewash his life either. Yes, we know he was gay, yes, we know by his own admission he was promiscuous. Can they convey that without showing multiple detailed scenes of Freddie's liaisons around the world? I believe they can. What image do we want to be left with after seeing the film? I think it should be that he was an amazing and beloved singer whose rise to rock stardom was improbable given his upbringing. As a front man he was unparalleled. He was gay during a time when it wasn't easy to be gay...especially if you were famous. He led a rock star life, but at the same time, was content to hang out with his buddies and often shunned public attention. And boy could he ever write and compose music!!! Thor, do you have any thoughts as to how detailed this movie should be? (If you even think the movie should be made) Being new to posting online , I am not sure how to do the @Rainbow: To clarify my thoughts on Queen with Adam. I've seen them twice, once in Chicago. Both times I thought they were very good. I happen to like Adam and thought he was very good. The second time especially as I was standing close to the stage nicely oiled shall we say was fantastic. They were loud, rocky and it was a superb night (the crowd were fucking stale and timid which was disappointing, we were looked down upon and tutted at for giving it some for fuck's sake). I actually think they should drop the + AL as everybody knows what's going on, like it or not Adam is the new front man. It's not a new thing in rock, it's just there's never been bigger boots to fill (sorry INXS fans). I am going again to see them in Newcastle. Seeing Bri and Rog in the flesh again is still a thrill and the show is solid, not a lot to dislike IMO. But.... Adam is a pop singer not a rock singer. It might be a good night out and a good show, but let's face it it's more theater than rock n roll now. A fact pretty much highlighted in the set list threads. They're not a rock n roll band anymore they're an institution, a brand, a business who's product is rock, Does this mean they are shit now? Does it fuck. Also, it's their music they can do what the fuck they want with it. Freddie himself said he doesn't give a shit once he's dead. But it is different. That's the way I see it. On the film: I don't want to see a tabloid sordid view on Freddie's life either but I do want to see a balanced view on the band not a brand friendly one. For Christ sake they were rockers back in the day, let's not ake them out to be children's TV presenters (although that's a bad comparison). TBH just as is the case for books Freddie was so private away from the drugs, booze and gay scene that not sure what material there is to use. Let's see stuff on the early days struggle, their cunt of a manager, the rows in the studio, Geldoff hunting down Fred to bully him to get them to do Live Aid (and Fred's rumoured reaction to being left off the single), the Sun City blow up etc etc. None of that should be sanitized. I fear we will get a bland coming of age movie of a little Indian boy and his geeky chums who became mega-stars.
YAWN 18.08.2017 14:37	I have yet another question (sorry) but it's to clear something up. I've read in some books that Freddie had a relationship with John Murphy (I believe Paul Prenter stated this when he sold his story on Freddie) but I am sure Peter Freestone said the opposite. Were they lovers at one point or just friends? I always assumed Freddie had platonic friendships with the New York Daughters. I ask this because, a certain badly researched biography tries to lay the blame on John Murphy for sleeping with "Patient Zero" Gaetan Dugas and subsequently infecting Freddie(!) as if you could actually pinpoint the particular person! Sorry if this is a bit morbid, but it has been bothering me ever since reading the book. I just think it's wrong they pinned the blame on specific people and named them too.
thundergod 18.08.2017 17:10	Oh Villiers, What nonsence. John Murphy was in my group and enjoyed a platonic relationship with Freddie. I was the only one of the group who started as a one night stand and then became a good platonic friend as well. John Murphy met a guy who had done some gay porn, fell in love, and moved to Texas..We all missed him and then found out that the boyfriend passed away followed rather quickly by John's death.The boyfriend was not patient zero, but who knows what was in his history. My friends believe that it was a person named Winfried (or Winnie) from Munich that probably passed the disease onto Freddie. For God's sake, please Charlatans, leave poor departed John out of this. This news kind of angers me. John was a great, caring, fun friend who treated his friends like gold. May he rest in peace.
thundergod 18.08.2017 17:26	LOTV and Rainbow61, Wow, your discussion is so well written and thought provoking. Thanks for posting it. I was disappointed to hear that the upcoming movie will have a PG rating. Could the motive be to include a brand new young audience to appreciate Queen music or an attempt to whitewash Freddie's lifestyle because they never really understood it nor really WANTED to understand it and perhaps are a little bitter that the results of his demise had on them and their band. But, this is going further with conjecture than I am entitled to go. I'm glad that two super-fans are sharing their thoughts here.
YAWN 18.08.2017 18:54	Thanks for your answer Thor - I had a feeling it wasn't true and it's good to have it confirmed and debunked. It read it today in the Somebody to Love biography and it smacked of BS. That's the problem us fans have with Freddie biographies - there isn't a single one that isn't full of false statements, chapters about sexual relationships that never happened - usually with women(!) in Lesley Ann Jones', and insane leaps of logic about how he contracted his illness (not helped by things Paul Prenter said to the press)...but I guess that's what brought you here in the first place, to clear up rumours regarding yourself and Freddie. I don't even have any hope for the biopic anymore, in case the screenwriter is relying on aforementioned biographies.
matt z 18.08.2017 20:01	^ I'm hoping the film is completely bombastic and inspiring. But I can't really imagine Singer's "vision" of it, considering he's done nothing like that. I would've expected voice overs i.e. RAY (Jamie Foxx vehicle). But who knows. I hope it's bombastic and inspiring - or a completely tacky and ludicrous bomb that's "so bad it's good" (like casting a muscle bound Austrian for Brian). Like somewhere between BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and SHOWGIRLS I don't think many on this site thought it'd ever get made. Eh.....we shall see! That said. Going back to general questions. Mr. Thunderbolt... did Freddie have a particular fondness for any treat for an occasional "sweet tooth"? Also. ..do you know if Freddie continued to "pound the ivories" into 90'-91-? Much had been made of the fact that he virtually cut them out of the 80's live shows and sometimes delegated the studio work to others as well (with Mike Moran's work being obviously for his greater strengths as a classical player on BARCELONA) I know it was a fragile time, I'm just a bit curious if he continued to play. Many thanks again, Thor.
Rainbow61 18.08.2017 20:51	I wasn't aware the movie had any kind of rating yet. They would have to leave out a lot of stuff to make it PG, that's for sure. I see it possibly being a PG-13 movie, but I'm just guessing. LOTV...I also wonder what the source material will be that is accurate and not tabloid like? Matt Z: Bombastic and inspiring movie. I certainly hope so! I might be descending into a rabbit's hole with this comment but....I wonder if somehow our own personal backgrounds play a role in what we want to see from this movie? What would be whitewashing to some might be "modesty or "privacy" to others. I am really excited about this movie...would be fantastic if they can pull it off. But I wonder if I were a gay male (I'm a happily married straight woman), would I feel differently about what I want this film to include? If I had lived through that horrific nightmare of AIDS during the 80's and had personally known people who died, maybe I would want my lifestyle to be front and center. I believe that giving that part of Freddie's life short shrift would be tantamount to saying that his lifestyle was shameful and therefore should be glossed over. I would be very disappointed and upset if they did that. My only hesitation in Bryan Singer focusing too much on the "Freddie is gay" aspect is that it might overshadow the total person he was. I get annoyed when people refer to him as a gay singer...as if being gay is wrong so let's point it out. He was a singer who was gay. Would you call someone a "straight" singer? Thor, a big thank you for your continuing narrative on Freddie's life. Your comments are beautiful pieces of the Freddie Mercury mosaic!
thundergod 18.08.2017 21:57	Sorry matt z, I really don't know anything about continued piano work. I actually only heard him play the piano once on his Grand Piano at the Garden Lodge and once on his baby grand at the New York condominium. Also, just as Rainbow61 said. It would be insulting to Freddie's memory if his gay life was fully minimized. Its very fine to minimize salaciousness - but to the youth of today, being gay is no big deal...thank goodness!
thundergod 18.08.2017 22:11	Rainbow61, Great remarks, I hope my answer to matt z shows my support of your statement on the subject.Thank you so much for your refreshing outlook. By the way Rainbow, when I recently went back to New York for a family reunion, my two nieces quietly admitted to me that they accidentally ran across this thread. I was immediately embarrassed of all the mentions of coke and gay bars. To my surprise, both were very supportive and said they have things in their past of being single girls then and happily married now that they would like not to mention. I hope they develop a good appreciation for Queen music other than just "Bohemian Rhapsody." The movie might assist with that.
Rainbow61 19.08.2017 04:20	Thor, More than a few people smiled in "guilty" agreement with your nieces. Who hasn't done something in the carefree days of youth that one wouldn't want to become public knowledge. So glad they were supportive of their uncle! As with many people, Bohemian Rhapsody was also my gateway to Queen. I still remember seeing that video for the first time on a Saturday morning while watching Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" in the mid 70's. I was mesmerized by how beautifully strange it all was. I was in my mid-teens and became an instant fan that day! People do seem far more tolerant now than in the 70's and 80's, thank God, although the suicide rate among gay teens and young adults is alarmingly high. That tells me we still have a ways to go. That leads me to my next question, which might be hard to answer. If Freddie were a young man today in these more tolerant times, do you think he would he be more open about being gay? He is so often described as being private and rather shy that I wonder if he was naturally like that or did being gay contribute to those personality traits out of necessity for preservation of career and possibly family harmony? Did you notice that shy side of him as well?
matt z 19.08.2017 09:01	Just throwing this out there again. Did Freddie have a favorite "sweet"? Every now and then people eat some candy....never saw him with bubblegum, nor with a lollipop....just cigarettes and Strepsils lozenges (*according to Jim Hutton's book) Thanks, Thor.
YAWN 19.08.2017 16:15	^ Jim Hutton also said he was a big fan of Quality Street and Godiva chocolate. Sorry for cutting in...Again, as a fan with no life, I picked that detail up and never forgot it lol. @Thor, you mentioned John going to Texas. I asked this question last week but it doesn't show on the thread (blank post)- In Peter's book he said the NY Daughters had ties to Texas and tried to get Freddie into visiting there. He doesn't mention Freddie going there very often to just visit, but I was wondering when you guys did go, where In Texas did you visit? Or was it only John who spent time there? Peter made it seem as if you guys all enjoyed the state at some point.
thundergod 19.08.2017 17:54	Hi Villiers, OK, let me tell you the Texas story. The five friends were thinking of taking a quick Holiday to have some fun. We all decided on Houston, Texas for some reason that I do not exactly remember. John did not have a connection in Texas yet, but as American Airlines is well represented in Texas, Joe and John could fly there for free. Freddie paid for myself and Lee. We had a rip roaring time in Houston and I even met somebody very nice. After we all returned home, I kept in touch with my new Houston friend. Several weeks later, I was feeling blue for some reason. Freddie, in his generosity, was concerned and offered to fly my Houston friend to New York for the weekend. Well, that weekend (in '82) was the time of a major snowstorm in New York. Traffic was paralyzed, many subways were stopped. Freddie invited all of us to come to his condominium including my Houston friend Paul while it was still snowing. Freddie laid out some lines and said, "Now, Dahlings, it is snowing inside as well." Needless to say, we had a great time and later, all went out in the snow to have some Winter fun.
thundergod 19.08.2017 17:56	Hey matt z, It looks like Villiers has answered your question. I remember the Godiva chocolates, but would not have said that I observed a "sweet tooth" in Freddie.
thundergod 19.08.2017 18:00	All, I keep forgetting to include Peter Freestone in our group of friends. He played a very important role and we all loved him for that, plus the fact that he has an incredibly nice and warm personality.
YAWN 19.08.2017 18:30	Hey Thor, thanks for that. Houston back in the early 80s- man, I'd always figured the only fun Houston offered in the 70s and 80s was NASA and maybe the museum district. Houston seemed pretty boring to me growing up lol (I had family there and visited quite a bit). These days, I myself frequent Montrose near Houston. Nice to hear you guys had a good time here as well. Loved that he had your Houston friend flown in for you. Sounds like Freddie was indeed very generous. You know, the only consistent theme we see in biographies and stories about Freddie seems to be that he cared for his friends deeply. They seemed to be one of the true great joys of his life. You should know your friendship was likely something that kept him going when things got rough.
thundergod 19.08.2017 21:54	Thanks Villiers for such thoughtful views of Freddie and how he treated his friends. I was blessed to know him.
Shvili 19.08.2017 23:03	Hey Thor, I've heard that Freddie had a tendency to get infatuated with people, to the point of having his driver follow a taxi driver which he liked in NYC. Having lived in NY for most of my adult life, I can say that's a sure way to get your behind kicked even today. My question is, have you seen any kind of drama involving Freddie along those lines. in General, have you experienced homophobic outbursts in 80's NYC. How was it? For example, Freddie's apartment in Manhattan is to this day one of the trendiest places in the city; All kinds of important people live there; Some of them very conservative. Did anyone complain about mustached men coming and going all the time? There have been several major fights in that apartment as I've heard and I'm sure you guys were not saints and were partying there to the fullest. So what gives? were you guys passing yourselves as Rhode Island cops. Those folks tend to have mustaches. p.s. in previous posts you've mentioned that you worked at Memorial Sloan. Just Wanted to shout out because that hospital saved a life of my family member for what I'm forever grateful.
thundergod 20.08.2017 06:32	Hey Shivili, Yes I worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital for three years, but I worked in Pediatric Oncology. After three years I was completely burned out because in those days with long in-patient stays, you became attached to these kids that you knew were going to die. I became fully attached to a precocious 11 year old girl named Stacy. After she passed, her mother Rivelle asked me to visit her in South Africa. I brought my boyfriend Brandon along and despite the fact that Rivelle had not yet gotten over the loss of her daughter, we all tried to have a good time. We went to Kruger National Park and had some memorable encounters with Giraffes, Elephants and Wildebeests. That taxi driver thing I never witnessed. The only major drama with Freddie was, as I have mentioned before, his Friday night hotel wrecking fight with Bill, his New Jersey boyfriend. He was so tired the day of his Saturday Night Live performance because of this major fight.
djcamper 20.08.2017 06:39	Hello Thor, thanks for this thread. It's been very interesting. You mentioned earlier you don't think body language being a good song. I wonder whether you discissued with freddie which queen tracks you like more and what was his reaction when you told him some of his songs you don't like or don't find good?
Sheer Brass Neck 20.08.2017 12:18	Hmmm, something happened and my post didn't appear, time to try again. Two questions in two posts for you Thor. Q1: With talk of the movie in this thread, and seeing your photo poolside with Freddie, are you concerned that the movie will be overly sanitized for mass audiences? For instance, you know the reality of your relationship and that of the New York Daughters in Freddie's life. Knowing that it will be a family friendly movie, the truth of what went on in your get togethers won't be addressed. But sex and partying were obviously a big part of your group. If the picture showing you and Freddie was portrayed in the movie as Freddie lounging poolside with a random heterosexual American football player after he went to an NFL game, you'd know that wasn't the truth. Wondering how you feel and would hope that a very important part of his life is treated.
Rainbow61 20.08.2017 12:20	Thor...MUCH respect to you for that career path. While it must have been gratifying to help the most vulnerable in such difficult circumstances, I can only imagine how every death would tear your heart out. If there is a purpose behind such tragedies, I have yet to discover it. That Stacey's mother asked you to visit her after her daughter passed tells me everything about the level of compassion and care you provided! After those three years did you continue with nursing, but in a different capacity, or did you choose another profession altogether? If you changed careers, what did you do next?
Sheer Brass Neck 20.08.2017 16:16	Q2: To what extent was Billy Squier involved in Freddie's NewYork days? Obviously musically they worked together on occasion, and I think that 1982 when Freddie sang on Emotions in Motion was a time frame when he was in NYC a great deal. I might and probably am reading too much into it but I've often wondered if Billy's song Everybody wants you was inspired or about Freddie. Very much about someone making the NYC scene, and the line "throw your affections anyway the wind blows" not only references Bohemian Rhapsody, but is sung in a very similar style. Also "everybody knows you, everybody snows you" could be construed as a cocaine reference and Freddie's enjoyment of coke was well known within his circle of friends. Or I might be far off track! Enjoy your comments immensely and appreciate the way you reveal lots of amazing anecdotes while respecting Freddie's and others privacy.
PrimeJiveUSA 20.08.2017 17:13	SBN...wow...I never considered that before about Everybody Wants You. They also shared thr same lroducer(Mack). Good question!
Invisible Woman 20.08.2017 17:24	Thor, As I said I have no more questions.I just want to say that I like the way you talk about Freddie and how you describe him. When reading some biographies or watching documentary, many people talk about him as a rock star or an eccentric person obsessed with sex.But you describe him as a human being. In his book Jim Hatton also described Freddie as a man,not rock star. It's clear that your posts and his book are about the same person. Many people have negative comments about Jim's book without reading any part, but I really like it. I know you said that you didn't read "Mercury and Me", but if you ever read it, I'd like to share your opinion about it. That's all from me, I hope I did not bother you with my comments and questions. Thank you very much, all the best.
Rainbow61 20.08.2017 17:40	A related question to the one Sheer Brass Neck asked is: Did you ever see the play "Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God"? It had limited run in NYC for a couple months in 97-98. Billy Squier wrote a song entitled "I Have Watched You Fly." for the second run of the play. Touching lyrics...you can tell he cared about Freddie a great deal.
Shvili 20.08.2017 21:58	Thor, Very touching story about Stacy. Considering how emotionally and physically exhausted I have felt after visiting someone in hospital, I can only imagine the kind of strength,dedication and professionalism its takes for folks to work there;Especially when one is given the responsibility to care for children.
Sheer Brass Neck 21.08.2017 01:37	Prime Jive USA, thank you. Blind squirrel finding the occasional acorn ;) but if Billy Squier were to set the record straight we may find the truth. Rainbow61, was going to ask that to Thor when he replied but glad you did. I think that is the definitive Freddie tribute song, Billy Squier wrote it the night after Freddie passed and I think it is splendid.
Sheer Brass Neck 21.08.2017 01:41	Double post
The Real Wizard 22.08.2017 02:12	thundergod wrote: I do not know when Freddie first started his new look. Maybe someone here has that answer. If so, please reply to this. He did look great with it...that is for sure. It was in early 1980.
The Real Wizard 22.08.2017 06:06	thundergod wrote: The five friends were thinking of taking a quick Holiday to have some fun. We all decided on Houston, Texas for some reason that I do not exactly remember. John did not have a connection in Texas yet, but as American Airlines is well represented in Texas, Joe and John could fly there for free. Freddie paid for myself and Lee. We had a rip roaring time in Houston and I even met somebody very nice. After we all returned home, I kept in touch with my new Houston friend. Several weeks later, I was feeling blue for some reason. Freddie, in his generosity, was concerned and offered to fly my Houston friend to New York for the weekend. Well, that weekend (in '82) was the time of a major snowstorm in New York. Traffic was paralyzed, many subways were stopped. Freddie invited all of us to come to his condominium including my Houston friend Paul while it was still snowing. Freddie laid out some lines and said, "Now, Dahlings, it is snowing inside as well." Needless to say, we had a great time and later, all went out in the snow to have some Winter fun. Both touching and hilarious - thanks for posting all these gems.
thundergod 22.08.2017 18:30	Thank you The Real Wizard for the mustache information. Therefore I met Freddie in the same year that he grew it. And also, thank you for the kind response you gave regarding our "Winter escapade" with Freddie.
thundergod 22.08.2017 18:36	Oh..oh Sheer Brass Neck, I am embarrassed to admit that I know very little about Billy Squires. I will Google it after writing here and hopefully hear and recognize the song you are talking about. Thanks Rainbow61 for answering the question.
thundergod 22.08.2017 18:53	Hey Shvili, I greatly appreciate your thoughts on my early career, believe it or not despite those horrible outcomes for most of the kids, I found it very rewarding. Back in those days we had some success with certain Leukemia patients and even better results with Hodgkin's disease. To see those kids actually recover was inspiring to me especially after the horrors of the necessary treatments. Hello Rainbow61, After my three years in pediatrics, I moved to San Diego and got a job in Physical Rehabilitation which I stayed in for forty years. Although some poor paraplegic and quadriplegic patients were AGAIN so sad, good outcomes and recoveries were many and SO gratifying.
thundergod 22.08.2017 19:01	TO ALL QUEENZONE PARTICIPANTS, I think I may be sending too much information about myself which was not my reason for being here. Myself and my group of friends were an important part of Freddie's life but in the entire scheme of things, we were only a small slice. I am sure that some super-fans would like to discuss Freddie's life and not mine. I was, after all just a friend, while Freddie was a SUPERSTAR!
thundergod 22.08.2017 19:23	Hi djcamper, Sorry it has taken me so long to reply. I was not in a position to make comments on ANY of Freddie's earlier works. He knew we all loved his solo album containing "I Was Born to Love You" and later we flipped over "Barcelona." However since none of the New York group of friends were musically inclined (I failed at playing the accordion after four years of instruction- LOL). none of us thought we could make constructive criticism about any kind of music, least of all Freddie's.
thundergod 22.08.2017 19:30	ALL- I forgot who asked this but I remember not answering it. The Garden Lodge video that has me, Brandon (getting autographs on the couch) and Lee was at the same time as the outdoor dinner which was the Summer. It was the year we flew out for "Kind of Magic" performance at Wembley Stadium. What a GREAT concert.
thundergod 22.08.2017 19:30	ALL- I forgot who asked this but I remember not answering it. The Garden Lodge video that has me, Brandon (getting autographs on the couch) and Lee was at the same time as the outdoor dinner which was the Summer. It was the year we flew out for "Kind of Magic" performance at Wembley Stadium. What a GREAT concert.
thundergod 22.08.2017 19:41	Hello again Invisible Woman, Freddie was one of the most "down to earth" persons that I have ever spent time with. Again, I've said this before, he was so, (to borrow your name), INVISIBLE against the New York City backdrop, that it led to so much more camaraderie than would have been possible anywhere else at that time.
Rainbow61 22.08.2017 20:41	Dear Thor, Sorry about asking a personal question about your work. Will definitely keep questions more Freddie oriented. I started rereading posts from earlier, just to make sure I am not asking the same questions that other fans already asked. As always, thank you for your kind and thoughtful responses! Did you consider Freddie to be a shy person? If so, in what way? So many other people that knew him stated he was in interviews, so it made me wonder if you ever saw that side of him as well. That he could exude such confidence on stage and be shy off stage makes him even more fascinating...and endearing!
SmokyQuartz 22.08.2017 22:22	Hi again Thor I've been reading with interest, all credit to you for the work you've done (and yes I understand you want to redirect the focus back to Freddie, as a good friend would) Can you tell us any interesting anecdotes about how he related to his cats (or them with him)? Was he a real 'parent' with them? lol
thundergod 22.08.2017 22:22	Hey Rainbow61, No,no, I don't mind answering personal questions at all. I am just concerned about die-hard fans being turned off by hearing too much about me as if I think that I were famous and not sticking to the real star Freddie. I think I will leave the answer to those who follow this thread. Twenty pages later, I think I may have run out of good Freddie information, but I've noticed that many of the questions tend to jog my memory. Because it forces me to re-live that precious time in MY history....I love to answer what I know about but have to shy away from some questions where I just don't know or don't ACCURATELY remember.
thundergod 22.08.2017 22:32	Also, Rainbow61, Freddie was very shy socially. As, I remember I came up to him when I met him in that after-hours club, he did not pursue me. When we all went out socially later on, I notice that he tended to shy away from strangers and was very happy just talking to us. Occasionally, we had to "heard in" a person that we believed was Freddie's type and after starting the small talk necessary, introduce him.
thundergod 22.08.2017 22:36	Hello again Smoky Quartz, I don't have any stories about Freddie's cats. He did not have any pets in New York and so I only saw them on trips to London. It said something about them however, when Freddie was in his upstairs bedroom and all the cats were stretched out with him. He loved them.
PrimeJiveUSA 22.08.2017 23:58	@Thor That was me asking about those couch and garden videos. Thanks so much for your response!
kokax 23.08.2017 04:09	Hi Thor, thank you for your replies ( re Warhol ) ! The credit for posting the pix of you and Freddie goes to someone else though... When you were all hanging out together in NY, did you ever see Grace Jones who apparently performed in some of the clubs for a while ?
thundergod 23.08.2017 04:33	Hey kokax, I don't know if Freddie ever saw Grace Jones. He did not speak of her. I did see her perform once at a short-lived club called "Le Mouche". She had live dobermans and at least three motorcycles on stage singing "La Vie en Rose" and it was fantastic.
kevinbobbs 23.08.2017 12:27	Hi Thor, This thread has been amazingly fresh for this forum. My personal question is, would you say Freddie used drugs ocassionally for recreational purposes only, or was it something that he used very frequently? He always seemed so much in control of himself. Thanks!
thundergod 23.08.2017 12:44	Hello kevinbobbs, I never saw any addictive behavior in Freddie. He definitely only used substances for recreation. I think he felt the need to always come up with clever discourse to keep everyone laughing. The substance made that easier for him. People also need to remember that the early 80's was a time when cocaine use was considered normal behavior. Studio 54 had their famous moon with a coke spoon heading toward it. In other words, cocaine was treated as an "everyone does it" thing and there were very few stories of it leading to total drug addiction.
smilefairyqueen 23.08.2017 17:13	I have heard freddie described as having a childlike demeanor in some ways, would you say this is true?
Rainbow61 23.08.2017 19:35	How much did Freddie like nature/the outdoors? Did you ever go for a stroll through Central Park to see spring flowers/trees in bloom, go somewhere to see the beautiful autumn leaves, go for a walk during a snowfall just because it is so beautiful (I know you mentioned that one time he flew a friend of yours to NYC during a bad storm and you went out in the snow later that evening for some "winter fun") All those activities are quite "centering" and relaxing...or was Freddie not really into those particular ways of relaxing?
thundergod 23.08.2017 21:10	Hello again smilefairyqueen, No, I never witnessed a childlike demeanor in the 80's nor during the time he was sick. False!
thundergod 23.08.2017 21:27	Hi Rainbow61, Well, because of my schedule with school and work, we mostly got together in the evening/night. That weekend in the snow, I got someone to cover me at work. so I was free for the entire time. I remember that Freddie did like walking through the West Village (where I lived). My apartment was on the first floor and I had a large patio in a small oasis of trees, grass and flowers which was the courtyard. (Rare in New York City). It was so easy to sit out there and appreciate a small bit of the outdoors, which Freddie enjoyed. We never did get to Central Park but we did go to the old World Trade Center buildings which were in a 15 minute walking distance from my place..
smilefairyqueen 24.08.2017 06:55	Thank you for answering Thor! I meant childlike demeanor in a cheeky/silly endearing way, not in an immature sense. I think you mentioned going to Fire Island in a previous post. Was that a fun trip?
kokax 24.08.2017 13:44	Hey Thor, thanks (again) very much for your memories ! Wow..I bet it was fantastic to see Grace Jones with dobermans & motorcycles at Le Mouche! WOW ! ( even if Freddie was not with you :) I apologize btw for throwing in occasional questions that may seem totally dumb/random or weird ... It's just that somehow I think /hope there could be maybe stuff/ situations/incidents that have not been told while I hope I am not too intrusive... hm... dunno...very banal, simple things ? Cheers, !
thundergod 24.08.2017 20:39	Hey smilefairyqueen, You would think that Fire Island would be an obvious spot for us to escape to. It is a gorgeous strip of wonderful beaches with boardwalks only and no cars as well as one and two level (only) beautiful houses. There is also a main area with restaurants, clubs and general meeting places. Finally, of course, the visitors and the home owners were either gay or gay friendly - even the police! Our trip to the beach was a much closer, easier to get to beach,well fit for a day-trip, named Jones Beach. We had ourselves a blast in the water and picnicking on the sand. Peter Freestone prepared a delicious picnic lunch for us.
thundergod 24.08.2017 20:59	Hi kokax, I will attempt to answer any question. No one here has asked any dumb or weird questions....that is, if you dismiss what I called the "armpit wars" and the almost but avoided "teeth wars" When it's been years since you have experienced something, it often helps to remember more details when a question is asked. I have wished I could answer EVERY question, but I have absolutely NO interest in misrepresenting Freddie like unfortunately some of those so-called "biographers" have.
Rainbow61 24.08.2017 22:33	Your place in The Village sounded absolutely lovely! Thanks for that wonderful description and in general for being so gracious. It has been such a joy to read your posts. I was thinking the same thing as Kokax...."Hope Thor is not getting frustrated by these questions that at times seem random or silly." Thanks for being reassuring on that account. You have been such a good sport about responding to all our queries! I recall Peter Freestone stating in one of his "Ask Phoebe" posts that Freddie had gym equipment in NYC and LA, but never used it himself. I was surprised because I have seen pictures and videos of Freddie where it looked like he had worked out...especially noticeable with his arms. He had better muscle definition than I would expect a non-exerciser to have unless he was blessed with supremely good genes! What do you think?
thundergod 24.08.2017 23:50	Hello Rainbow, Gosh you say the nicest things. Thank you so much. Freddie bought a complete home gym set-up in New York. When he was about to leave, he gave his unused equipment too me. As I had already relocated to San Diego, I stored it at my sister's house on Long Island. Unfortunately, when my nephew decided to start working out. He used all the equipment without asking me, and eventually, it all disappeared and new heavier equipment replaced.it. I was very upset, but my sister said she had no idea he would sell it. This boy is now on steroids (which he denies) and is a self-centered asshole. (my sister is a saint however).to deal with him.
PrimeJiveUSA 25.08.2017 01:58	@Thor I'm embarrassed that it seemed like I was wanting to start "teeth wars". I've been over the moon with you joining these boards.
thundergod 25.08.2017 04:39	PrimeJive USA, I don't hold it against you. As I said, it was avoided and your apology was perfect and welcomed. You're very much ok with me PrimeJiveUSA. Thank you. After all, I was the one who asked Freddie that stupid question about Dave Clark awareness of his looks. We are in the same boat my friend!
smilefairyqueen 25.08.2017 06:59	Thank you for answering my question (again)! You are too kind answering everybody's questions. I just have one more, I promise! I always wondered about Phoebe's role in Freddie's friend group. Obviously he was Freddie's personal assistant, but did he go to the bars and clubs with you guys, or did he just stay home? Where was he when all the clubbing/partying was going on? He always seemed like Freddie's baby-sitter more than personal assistant! Only joking.
noorie 25.08.2017 17:25	Thor, I know our questions must seem unending, and it is really very very kind of you to take the time to reply to everybody. I have one question (2 actually, but since the second involves somebody else who is extremely private, I cannot ask that one), and that is do you know who the song Love of my Life really is about? Everybody says or assumes it is about Mary Austin, but then the lyrics don't make any sense, seeing that Freddie broke her heart. She has always been there for him, and the two have had a beautiful relationship all through. So was Mary's name just a cover-up, and if so, who is the real 'love' the song refers to? Just in case you do know.....? And once again, thanks loads! Your presence here is really valued!
noorie 25.08.2017 18:17	I also wanted to add that I had (wrongly) suggested you write a book about your times with Freddie; but instead of being commercial about it, you so generously shared your memories of Freddie freely with us here. That is so refreshing in these crass and commercial times. You chose to celebrate your friend rather than make money off him. Here's to you, Thor!!!
thundergod 25.08.2017 18:26	Hey smilefairyqueen, Phoebe was an integral part of Freddie's life, and always kept Freddie on target when work and tours were going on. Phoebe loved Freddie (platonic) and was his most loyal and caring friend. My group warmed up to him immediately. It was incredible and inspiring to see Phoebe sacrificing his own pleasure at every turn to help make Freddie's life easier. He really is one of a kind. I never heard him say one mean thing about anyone. Even when Freddie used his uhmmm...larger size to make certain jokes, Phoebe never showed any change in character. Truly amazing!
thundergod 25.08.2017 18:31	Hello noorie, Thank you for the kind words and thoughts. Unfortunately, I have no idea who, if anybody, was on Freddie's mind when he wrote "Love of my Life" It could have been just a tribute to the general idea of love, but I don't know.
thundergod 25.08.2017 18:34	change that to "general idea of love and love lost"
YAWN 25.08.2017 18:42	Noorie, that's something I've always wondered too. The timeline of events in Freddie's life that year points to it not being about her. For a start, Mary said at that time (1975) he was avoiding her, staying out all night with the excuse of recording and touring. We also know Freddie was seeing David Minns from Summer 1975 (they met in the January). The song was recorded between August and October 1975 at the height of his love affair with David and John Reid claims Freddie actually told confessed it was about him. Furthermore, I don't think Freddie actually came out to Mary until 1976. As much as he loved Mary, I can't imagine him penning a love song for someone he was avoiding, whilst cheating on her with a dude. However, because he once described her as the love of his life a good decade after the song was written, people put two and two together. Add to that, on documentaries about Freddie, they have LOML tinkling away in the background on Mary-related scenes, so it reinforces the myth.
YAWN 25.08.2017 18:44	Of course, like Thor just said (and I agree) it could be a general love song - I mean he wrote Somebody to Love when he HAD somebody to love!
thundergod 25.08.2017 18:52	Wow Villiers, You are full of great historical information on Freddie. Thank you for your feedback... Great job! I knew none of that. YOU know timelines..LOL nice!
YAWN 25.08.2017 19:03	I'm not proud of being this sad! I do have a life outside of Freddie, I swear.
thundergod 25.08.2017 20:23	Hey Villiers, No sadness involved. Would it be better to know the Periodic Table by heart. Nah!!
PrimeJiveUSA 25.08.2017 20:34	@Villiers So did David Minns break Freddie's heart? Also, does anybody.know when Freddie's most promiscuous era was? The mid-to-late '70's or the early '80's?
YAWN 25.08.2017 21:44	@PrimeJiveUSA David was Freddie's first serious male relationship (that we know of anyway!) curiously omitted from Lesley Ann Jones' biography - and it ultimately failed because Freddie cheated on him. So LOML can’t be about breaking up with David either (that was 1978). So I’m going to go with the song being just general, not specific to a person.
Rainbow61 25.08.2017 22:26	Hi Thor, Thanks for the info about the gym equipment. Yeah, I would be pretty mad if someone sold a present given to me by a dear friend. Your a_ _ hole comment about your nephew made me chuckle aloud...love your candor! Peter Freestone always struck me as a pretty likable person. Maybe his easygoing personality provided a good counterpoint to Freddie's more frenetic lifestyle. This is another one of those multi-part questions, but all pertain to the same topic...just take your pick!!! You mentioned before how great the Wembley "Magic Tour" concert was. Could you give us a bit more detail about that? What was it like to be a special guest of Freddie Mercury at that show? How did you get into the stadium? Were you sitting close to the stage? Were you seated in a group of just Freddie friends or were all the band family and friends seated in one large reserved section? Was there a particular song he sang or part of the show that really sticks out in your mind. Did you visit with Freddie immediately before or after the show? On a more serious note, it seems like many people had some kind of inkling that all might not be well with Freddie during this tour... that he acted differently. Did you also have that impression that something was not right? I have the DVD of that concert and love it, but wow, to have actually been there! The crowd energy seemed really good. Unfortunately I never saw Queen with Freddie, but I did catch 2 Queen + Adam Lambert shows this summer. First time seeing them. I figured they might not tour again in the states, so I didn't want to miss the opportunity. Was particularly excited to see the image of Freddie on the large screen! However...I was so disappointed that all of the people in the sections around me never stood up during the show. (I was not on the floor) A song would start that would make me clap and jump to my feet, but then I'd turn around and I'd be the only one standing, so I'd reluctantly sit back down as I didn't want to block the people behind me. It was pretty much like that through the whole show. "What is wrong with these people" I thought....sorry I digress.
YAWN 25.08.2017 22:45	@Rainbow61 Sounds like a strange crowd. At the Houston and Colorado shows, everyone was on their feet. Nobody would sit down or stop screaming. Kind of got on my nerves, to be honest lol. I know it's a concert, and that's part of the "fun", but I found it hard to hear the actual band half the time. I also got knocked around quite a bit lol. Yes, I know I sound like a stuffy old fart, but it's true. I can recall a few shows that Ratty and Peter Freestone mentioned that really got Freddie and the boys frustrated. I guess some audiences just don't get wild.
PrimeJiveUSA 26.08.2017 00:26	The famous Montreal crowd from '81 got Freddie visibly frustrated where he said "y'know you can move your ass around a bit".
Rainbow61 26.08.2017 01:13	@ Villiers No, you don't sound stuffy at all. Constant screaming would be annoying after a while, especially if the crowd drowns out the singing. I wasn't sure where to sit for the shows. While I thought it would be great to be on the floor, I decided against it because I was worried that either someone really tall would be in front of me or that I would have to stand for the entire show. So I opted for seats on the side and I'm glad I did. There were people seated on the floor several rows back from the stage that were completely blocked by the people standing in front of them. My seats were great, and in all fairness, the crowd did seem to enjoy the show (although the "Love of My Life singalong from the crowd was very weak) The Montreal crowd this summer was much more lively. Nice balance between standing and sitting and not too much screaming! @ PrimeJive In the DVD commentary by Brian and Roger of the 81 Montreal show, they said that Freddie mentioned the bit about moving around a bit because he was frustrated by the cameras for this filmed concert. Seems he and the band felt constricted by the filming process and I think they believed that made the crowd less active.
matt z 26.08.2017 01:38	Well. ...getting back to Thor. . Did you attend Brian's book signing in Hollywood/sunset yesterday? I'd looked around...didn't see any one with Thor like qualities. .although one fellow looked like Roger. ..all he'd need was dark shades, leg tattoo and a suit (*raspy voice)....hmm. on second thought. ... Guess he'd need a lot. I figure he'd have to know you after all these years. My apologies if it's too familiar a subject
PrimeJiveUSA 26.08.2017 02:14	Matt z While we wait for Thor's response, how big of a turnout was there. Were people fawning over Brian? Did he seem to be enjoying himself? I know he loves L.A.!
thundergod 26.08.2017 04:52	OK...matt z, I did not attend the book signing by Brian in LA, but you are kidding me when you say you were sure he would have recognized me after 35 years. NOT!
thundergod 26.08.2017 04:56	Hi PrimeJive USA, I was at that '81 Montreal concert. But I do not remember Freddie shouting to move anything.This was the night of the fire alarm episode that I have talked about previously.
thundergod 26.08.2017 05:06	Hey there Rainbow61, I think I already mentioned some comments about the Wembley concert. Remember, I dropped Mick Jagger's name, because he was in the box of seats next to my group's. So, any seats good enough for Mick would probably be good enough for us..LOL. By the way at the Montreal concert in '81, Brian May's parents were sitting right behind us. They looked very English and proper. We felt they were watching our response to Brian's guitar solos, so we over-did our clapping, hooting and hollering when he was show-cased...LOL
Rainbow61 26.08.2017 13:52	Thor, Thank you. Did you sense that Freddie was not feeling well or that something was off at the Wembley concert or do you think those observations from others about him acting differently are just "hindsight is 20-20" comments? Yes, it was kind of a funny at the Montreal show when Freddie told everyone they can move around and shift their asses because that comment was immediately followed by "You can take all your clothes off if you like, too". Then to continue the joke, John Deacon started the intro to "Under Pressure" and Freddie told him to "F_ _ _ off" in that lighthearted way that only he could pull off. Golden moments! I lived only about an hour away from Montreal and did not know about the show! Pre-Internet days. DARN!!!
kokax 26.08.2017 14:53	Hey Thor ! cool ( am refering to your last comment to me ) ! In fact, on the few occasions you talk ( a little bit ) about yourself, it also helps to put things into context and it's really enjoyable. Ok, can I take more liberties .... how tall was Freddie ? :)
thundergod 26.08.2017 16:28	Hi Rainbow61, I did not notice any slow down or lack of energy in Freddie during the Wembley concert. He was very proud of that concert and seemed to enjoy it very much. He knew it would be a special event or he wouldn't have invited us at that time. I remember him being in good spirits throughout that visit. I forget if we were told he was sick at that occasion. It could have been the next visit that we were given that sad information. If the critics said he was not equaling his best performances, I would agree with the hindsight comment. It was just as good if not better than the many previous concerts I witnessed in the early '80s.
thundergod 26.08.2017 16:28	Hi Rainbow61, I did not notice any slow down or lack of energy in Freddie during the Wembley concert. He was very proud of that concert and seemed to enjoy it very much. He knew it would be a special event or he wouldn't have invited us at that time. I remember him being in good spirits throughout that visit. I forget if we were told he was sick at that occasion. It could have been the next visit that we were given that sad information. If the critics said he was not equaling his best performances, I would agree with the hindsight comment. It was just as good if not better than the many previous concerts I witnessed in the early '80s.
thundergod 26.08.2017 16:36	Hi kokax, Thank you so much for your kindness and support of what I am writing here. I would guess that Freddie was about 5ft., 6 inches.but we never measured him...LOL. He was a smaller package of tremendous vitality, spirit and talent.
thundergod 26.08.2017 16:38	Sorry about the double response to Rainbow61
Rainbow61 26.08.2017 17:28	@ Thor, As always, thank you for your insight. I don't recall anything negative said about Freddie in terms of his concert performances during the Magic Tour. In some of the documentaries I've seen, there were a few people who knew him well who happened to comment that they noticed something different, but the comments were not critical at all. If Freddie was indeed diagnosed with AIDS in the spring of 87, it stands to reason that he probably had a gut feeling that something wasn't right during the Magic Tour, which was less than a year before. To me, that makes Freddie's performances during that tour even more remarkable (and heartbreaking)
Sheldon 26.08.2017 17:40	thundergod wrote: Hello Rainbow, Gosh you say the nicest things. Thank you so much. Freddie bought a complete home gym set-up in New York. When he was about to leave, he gave his unused equipment too me. As I had already relocated to San Diego, I stored it at my sister's house on Long Island. Unfortunately, when my nephew decided to start working out. He used all the equipment without asking me, and eventually, it all disappeared and new heavier equipment replaced.it. I was very upset, but my sister said she had no idea he would sell it. This boy is now on steroids (which he denies) and is a self-centered asshole. (my sister is a saint however).to deal with him. It has been mentioned on several occasions that Freddie did not work out. However, as someone who has been doing sports for the largest part of my life, I would say that in the 80s he looked fit. Also, this videos shows push-ups that you simply don't do so beautifully if you never workout: link Maybe he was embarrassed to work out and always did it alone when no-one saw him? There are people like this.
Rainbow61 26.08.2017 17:58	@Sheldon, Thanks for your perspective. I hadn't thought of that. I agree he looked extremely fit for someone who didn't exercise. Considering how often he took his shirt off during shows, I'm sure it would be important for him to look good, but like I said, maybe he was just one of the lucky ones who naturally comes by his nice physique!
YAWN 26.08.2017 19:13	There was a quote about it in which Freddie supposedly said: "I do workout sometimes, although I don't like going to the actual gym. It's a bit embarrassing, especially when there's all these big blokes looking at a weed trying to pick up the odd dumbbell." It's from the 'His Life in His Own Words' book. I am a bit dubious about quoting from that book however, because none of the quotes come with context or a source and many use it to twist his words to make him fit their heterosexual fantasies(!) That one seems legit though. And I can totally understand his reluctance to be seen all red and sweaty in a public gym! Same.
matt z 26.08.2017 21:40	thundergod wrote: OK...matt z, I did not attend the book signing by Brian in LA, but you are kidding me when you say you were sure he would have recognized me after 35 years. NOT!
Shvili 27.08.2017 00:13	I seriously doubt that Freddie was 5.6. most likely 5.9 at lest. In any case, no matter how short or tall or where the person comes from, sheer and row talent can't be stopped and it makes its way through.
matt z 27.08.2017 01:02	thundergod wrote: OK...matt z, I did not attend the book signing by Brian in LA, but you are kidding me when you say you were sure he would have recognized me after 35 years. NOT!
SmokyQuartz 27.08.2017 01:36	Thor What would you say are the 3 things you love / admired most about Freddie? For me it was 1) his genius, of course 2) his strength of character, shown throughout his career and tested and proven during his illness and 3) His understanding of people (there seem to be countless examples of how he could empathise with others despite being a star, one example has come to mind, a fan, I think she was called Helen, used to hang around outside his home in london. Apparently he was always sweet to her, where he could have been off. She has a blog somewhere online, and she wrote something like how she approached him in the road outside his house, and one of his first responses was to say lets get out of the road. Responsible and caring when the fan may have been so star struck as to not to think about that. Despite what is said about being in the rock n roll business, I think he had a hard job and played it consistently well.
PrimeJiveUSA 27.08.2017 01:45	@Thor Is there a difference at how people react to your association with Freddie from back in the early 80's as compared to now. Freddie has never been the star in America like he was in the rest of the world but it seems that his "legend" has grown here somewhat. Also, has there ever been a time where you were within earshot of someone that was talking about Queen/Freddie and you chimed in that you were a friend of his? If so, what was their reaction?
thundergod 27.08.2017 02:41	matt z, Your invisible type was great, but my decoder is not working right now...LOL Hope is was a good question.
thundergod 27.08.2017 02:44	Rainbow61, You are absolutely right when you say "that makes Freddie's performances during that tour even more remarkable (and heartbreaking)" Your sentiments are well received by me.
thundergod 27.08.2017 02:48	Hey Sheldon, I, personally did not witness Freddie working out, but you are right, perhaps he did it by himself. Freddie could eat like a horse with good English fare, but never gained weight. I was jealous of his genetics...lol
thundergod 27.08.2017 02:52	Villiers, Has ANYONE other than Peter Freestone and perhaps Jim Hutton written anything that is based on truth and not just an effort to get some money by creating a book with falsehoods.
thundergod 27.08.2017 02:58	Hi Shivili, I could be wrong. I am 6 ft. tall and it seemed he was 6 inches shorter than me. Maybe we can meet in the middle at 5 ft; 71/2 inches...Phoebe would probably know. I'm sure he was in on Freddie's costumes. When he met Freddie he was the wardrobe (director I believe) at an Opera House in London.
thundergod 27.08.2017 02:59	Will get to all the other questions ASAP
YAWN 27.08.2017 03:54	Thor, David Minns and David Evans have. link There's a link, if you're ever interested. If you get it on kindle, it's just about 10 bucks. Its a pretty fast read. It has a bunch of great info and stories from friends included. Much like your own. I think you might enjoy it. May bring back some more memories! You can really feel that the people who took part in it greatly miss him. One great story included in one of their 2 books (too many things to pack into 1 book- much like Peter Freestone had done) was told by a friend and chauffeur of his in the 70s: while on a drive, they were involved in a minor wreck thanks to faulty brakes. Freddie simply got out of the car, marched over to the closest house (wearing a Japanese kimono and a 5 o'clock shadow on his face, mind you) and asked to use the phone. Luckily, the home owners recognized him and were thrilled to let him in. Even made him a cup of tea. He signed a few autographs and was on his way. Freddie saved the day and the driver found it hilarious. Freddie was often described as someone who relied on others to get things done, so this one always stood out to me and definitely made me chuckle.
Rainbow61 27.08.2017 04:21	@Villiers Thanks for the funny story about Freddie and the phone. Loved it!
matt z 27.08.2017 08:20	Ah. Yeah. I attempted twice. The second time i even deleted the "respond with quote" bit, quoting you... Once again QUEENZONE site issues. In essence: 1) Wow! I hadn't thought of it that way. I'm usually good at recalling faces even from childhood. ...but with Brian having toured the world over...you're likely right. 2) 35 years? Does that mean you hadn't encountered the "BAND" after the initial new York days? 3) (*Being that i felt bad about merely COMMENTING and not asking a question) THE SILLY QUESTION: Being a Godfather to 4 children (3 of Mary's and Mack's child "Freddie Mack" did Freddie ever have an affinity for any UK children's television programs? The Muppets? The Sooty Show? Any weird junk like that? ...i asked this mainly because of the oddity of watching my nephews' tv favorite tv shows from time to time.... TEEN TITANS, the MUPPETS and what not. ... I just felt i should ask a question and not merely comment. PS. on the subject of the ridiculous... did Freddie have an opinion of Burt Reynolds? ....Tom Selleck? THOSE were two very prominent moustaches in the 1980's... just wondering. Wishing you well (and hopefully this isn't invisible as well) - Matt
Rainbow61 27.08.2017 16:26	@ matt z Mary only had 2 children and 1 was born after Freddie died. I believe he was only the Godfather to 2 children....one of Mary's and one of Mack's.
Costa86 27.08.2017 19:00	Freddie was 5'9", most likely. He was no less than 5'8.5". Definitely not 5'7.5". We know Brian's height, so easy to estimate.
thundergod 27.08.2017 19:13	Hello SmokyQuartz, Great question! After much thought, here is a list of Freddie's top qualities that I, personally admired most: 1) Lack of "Star attitude" and "Star arrogance" Treating average Joes like me with dignity and with quality, sincere friendship. 2) Absolute genius in all things musical. Unparalleled stage presence. Dynamic song writing and vocal reflection of his work. 3) Unsought-after generosity to me, our friends and SO many others. In short, to borrow a Princess Diana phrase (God rest her soul). He was actually "The People's Rock-star"
adreme13 27.08.2017 19:25	Hello Thor, I was wondering if Freddie ever took you sight seeing when you visited him in England or when you visited him while he was tour? Thanks so much!
thundergod 27.08.2017 19:42	Hey PrimeJiveUSA, Another great question! I can best answer it with one personal story. Prior to meeting Freddie I was good friends with my neighbors, a couple named Jim and Jim. They wanted to meet Freddie. So, Christmas '82 (the leather jacket Christmas) we decided to celebrate at their residence directly across from mine. Freddie brought a full case of Moet & Chandon to the party. Things went very well. As one of the Jim's was a short, studly muscle man, of course Freddie enjoyed meeting him/them. After that Christmas, we got together maybe twice more. Well, it turns out that Jim and Jim wanted Freddie as an exclusive friend for themselves. They tried several times to invite Freddie to things just with them. They became kind of distant to me and my friends as they pursued Freddie and his complete attention. Needless to say, they were no longer my friends. If Freddie ever accepted an invitation from them, to this day, I do not know. And If he did, that's fine, I did not OWN Freddie. By March of '82, there was no further talk of the two Jims. When my real friends met Freddie, they did not try to cut me out of the friendship for their own selfish pursuits. So to answer your question, these "friends" treated me with envy and jealousy because I knew Freddie and he was my friend.
thundergod 27.08.2017 20:02	Hello matt z, Yes, I only met the other band members after the many concerts Freddie invited me to. I NEVER met them in a social setting or ever at Freddie's home in London. So that does limit my brief encounters with them to late '80-'83 Brian and Roger were cordial and made a good effort at small-talk with us. And, as I have mentioned before, John was very quiet but not in a rude way at all. As far as Mary's first child is concerned, I met the toddler at the Garden Lodge just once. I think it was the day that Freddy had Jim Hutton install a swing set for him. We all played for about 1/2 hour. Mary was very polite but not so talkative. Her pride in this first child was obvious. I do not know what TV shows or characters were Freddie's favorites. Burt Reynolds was all the rage in the gay community after his Cosmopolitan photos. Freddie loved his mustache even more than his now revealed butt...LOL
thundergod 27.08.2017 20:12	Hi Costa86, Thanks for your better estimate of Freddie's height. It seems I am not the best at making an accurate assessment. Now you better not ask about his weight, because I have no idea...LOL I have learned from this site that many of the super-fans know a lot more than I do. I love when they chime in and set the record straight! I really appreciate learning "good" information about Freddie and the Band, Thanks to all of you Super-Fans!!!
thundergod 27.08.2017 20:15	Hey Villiers, Thanks for the funny Freddie story...these stories are truly precious!
thundergod 27.08.2017 20:28	Welcome Adreme 13, Ha, ha, in London Freddie was not able to go out or even out of the gates of Garden Lodge without being swamped for attention and autographs. He sent us to Brighton Beach for a day trip one time but did not come along. I had rented a car (big mistake) and we made our way down to Brighton. I did not even get lost. On my own, when escorting a Greek paraplegic patient to England. I did get to see the beautiful country-side that I had never seen in London, at a place called Ayers where a big rehabilitation facility exists. The area was fantastic! I also saw a different group of Britainers than I had seen in London. Of course, mixing pleasure with work, I immediately went down to see Freddie for the day before I had to head back. Riding the train was actually fun and I met a few people that were very interesting.
PrimeJiveUSA 27.08.2017 20:48	@Thor Did Freddie talk about "fans" much. Could you tell what his attitude was about them? Was he appreciative of them? Apprehensive and a little scared of them? Did he ever relay any stories of fans that he felt were truly nuts? lol
thundergod 27.08.2017 20:59	Hello PrimeJiveUSA, Freddie never mentioned anything to me about any particular fan. But he definitely appreciated his fans as a whole and knew better than any, how to entertain them. I already mentioned the "give them wardrobe" comment. I asked Freddie once why he yelled "fuck you" at almost every concert. I asked if he was mad at the crowd for perhaps not showing enough appreciation. Freddie replied immediately, "Dahling, they LOVE it."
SmokyQuartz 27.08.2017 21:30	thundergod wrote: Hello SmokyQuartz, Great question! After much thought, here is a list of Freddie's top qualities that I, personally admired most: 1) Lack of "Star attitude" and "Star arrogance" Treating average Joes like me with dignity and with quality, sincere friendship. 2) Absolute genius in all things musical. Unparalleled stage presence. Dynamic song writing and vocal reflection of his work. 3) Unsought-after generosity to me, our friends and SO many others. In short, to borrow a Princess Diana phrase (God rest her soul). He was actually "The People's Rock-star" I love your list Thor, thankyou. I think people 'know' this sort of thing, even when they've never met a person, they pick up whether that person seems genuine or not. I think that is why Freddie is so well liked, genius aside of course. By the way I support what Villiers said re books by David Evans / David Minns. It seems from what David Evans has written, he was a genuine friend of Freddie's and greatly misses him and also David Minns, who has sadly passed away now.
thundergod 27.08.2017 21:36	Thanks SmokyQuartz, I definitely will read their books when I can.Thanks for your support.
adreme13 27.08.2017 21:36	Thor, thank you! :) As a huge fan of Freddie's since I was a kid in the 70's, I really enjoy this thread. I was lucky enough to see him live twice as a teen, and got to briefly say hello to him before one show. He certainly was an amazing front man. I was so broken hearted when he left us, I truly hope he knew how much he meant to his fans. I want to say thank you for being a true friend to him.
thundergod 27.08.2017 21:40	Nice thoughts adreme13, Thank you so much. Freddie remains a one of a kind wonder in life as well as in death!
Rainbow61 28.08.2017 01:28	Thor, Such a great list of qualities. I hope they are able to capture the real Freddie in the movie! To reach that level of fame and still maintain your humility and be a genuine and kind person is truly rare. There is a great interview with Freddie in 1985 before the Rock in Rio festival. I think it embodies so many of the qualities people love in Freddie. If you haven't seen it, look for it on YouTube. He is utterly charming is this interview! Friendly, humble, sincere, and very funny! The interviewer begins immediately with a question about "I Want To Break Free". She seemed to think he had written it and that the song was for the gay community. The way he handled it was great. Did he ever mention that song and how it was received in the states? I just saw the video last year, and could not for the life of me figure out what all the commotion was about. Banned by MTV. How ridiculous! Here is a group of guys who are obviously spoofing and having fun. At the time I watched it, I didn't know anything about the Coronation Street connection, but enjoyed the video anyway. Thought it was quite entertaining!
Double-U 28.08.2017 11:02	Rainbow61 wrote: @Villiers Thanks for the funny story about Freddie and the phone. Loved it! The driver was Ratty, Freddie' s roadie. He wrote about it in his book. The accident happend while bringing Fred from a studio session outside of London to Mary who felt ill. I can assure you that Ratty's book is worth reading every page. Pain is so close to pleasure. link Btw.: Mary said in an interview with the BBC that during the "Magic Tour" Freddie already knew about what's coming the forthcoming years. Thor, thank you for all the stories and information and your time to share them with us. Always a really good start each day for me. Kind regards, W.
YAWN 28.08.2017 14:41	@Double-U Its been years since I have last read Ratty's book but Ratty first told the story in 'The Real Life' by David Evans and David Minns in the late 90s. The Great part about the book is that it has stories told by tons of friends (Ratty included) and it's all about Freddie. I too like Ratty's book, but I feel it focused more on Ratty himself and his awesome experiences working with Queen than it does on any member of the band.
on my way up 28.08.2017 14:58	- Since you met Freddie in 1980 and he then invited you to a Queen concert in Philadelphia, this would mean you saw the show in Philadelphia on 08/22/1980. Is that correct? That must have been a spectacular first show for you since Freddie was in TOP shape during that tour, looking and sounding absolutely fantastic. Are there any concerts you saw that stand out for you? Or shows you enjoyed most? - Did you attend Freddie's 39th birthday party in Munich in 1985? And if yes, can you spot yourself in the "living on my own" clip? - 1986 was a year of great professional succes for Freddie (Wembley concerts etc.) but it also looks like this was the year he slowed down in terms of partying etc. It looks like this slowing down started maybe in late 1985. Maybe the death of your friend (both you and Freddie) John Murphy had something to do with that? What do you think?
JomaDuckSoup 28.08.2017 17:28	Hi Thor, thank you very much for your stories and comments. You seem to be a very sweet and nice guy. I'm glad Freddie had friends like you. You always speak so warm about him. I'm sure he would be very proud of you! Tank you
PrimeJiveUSA 29.08.2017 01:24	@Thor I know you are featured in the "Freddie's Lovers" documentary. Do you know any others you are interviewed in? You still look young and healthy, btw! Once again...thrilled to be talking to you and dread the day you pull the plug here!
Cyborg 29.08.2017 21:12	Hi Thor, Thanks for visiting the forum and fueling our obsession with all things Freddie. I wanted to ask you if you could confirm the story that Freddie once took Princess Diana to a gay bar disguised as a man. Apparently, this happened in the late 80s, so maybe you weren't in such close contact with Freddie, but it'd be great if you could at least confirm that they knew each other. Link: telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/diana/9963557/Freddie-Mercury-smuggled-Princess-Diana-into-gay-bar-disguised-as-a-man.html
adreme13 29.08.2017 21:35	Cyborg, Peter Freestone already said that Freddie never even met Princess Diana in his "Ask Pheobe" column.
PrimeJiveUSA 30.08.2017 01:44	Uh-oh...I think I may have stepped over the line with Thor commenting on his current appearance. LOL...he may think I'm a stalker!
Rainbow61 30.08.2017 02:21	@PrimeJiveUSA Nah, you were just being complimentary.
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:16	Hi on my way up, I'm impressed, your memory is better than mine. I thought it was some time in October, but if you know the exact date of the Philadelphia concert, well then, you are right and I need to correct my memory...LOL The concert was unbelievable. I was so unaware of what a real rock concert was like that I found it very strange to have a ringing in my ears for the next 24 hours...but it was worth it, despite the discomfort. I have never seen Freddie outside of the US, Canada, and the UK. That birthday party in Munich would have been great, I'm sure but I am not in that video clip. John Murphy passed in 1983. My friends and I always thought that it was in Munich that he may have partied a bit too much. I was not aware of any slow down at that time. too hard
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:17	Hey JomaDuckSoup, I really appreciate your very kind comments. Thank you so much.
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:23	Hi PrimeJiveUSA, In that video, I feel I look way too ..uhmmmm...plump We were mislead in that documentary. We had no idea that many of the questions would be so salacious. If I had a chance to do it again, I would have NEVER have given away those private details. They assured us that those questions and answers would be edited out. They lied!
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:30	Hey Rainbow61, Thanks again for the education. I had never heard of "Coronation Street" That was a great song. Freddie told me that Brian was the only one uncomfortable with the production...and no wonder...he doesn't make a very pretty woman- LOL.
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:32	Welcome Double-U, Thanks for the great information and nice words.
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:36	Well, Villiers, Another thanks goes to you for information I had no knowledge of.
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:40	Welcome Cyborg, I am glad that Adreme13 was able to answer your question because I did not know the answer. I would always trust information handed down by Phoebe. He has absolutely no reason to misrepresent Freddie
thundergod 30.08.2017 05:44	"Uh-oh...I think I may have stepped over the line with Thor commenting on his current appearance. LOL...he may think I'm a stalker! " PrimeJive, sorry but I do not understand what you mean. You wrote your comment before I even mentioned that I thought I looked heavy in the "Freddie's Loves" piece. ??????
c.jory 30.08.2017 08:48	Reluctant to make this thread about the whole AIDS timeline because it's morbid, but it's been discussed on here in depth a few times and people have deduced Freddie would have picked up the virus between 1979 - 1982. But it must be noted that he was dating Tony Bastin between 1979-80. Tony died from AIDS in 1986. This is likely to mean Tony had the virus when he was with Freddie and consequently unknowingly infected him. It would make sense that Freddie realised something was up by late 1986, as it fits well with the HIV to AIDS development period. Again, sorry to bring the AIDS thing into it, hope it's not to upsetting for Thor to think of his friends' deaths.
Rainbow61 30.08.2017 11:44	@ captainjory. Welcome. You will find that this is a pretty friendly group of people who are just interested in any new information they can get about someone they love, admire, and miss. Everyone seems pretty respectful and we are most grateful for Thor's continued participation! The AIDS timeline does fascinate many Freddie fans. It seems pretty much impossible to figure out who infected Freddie or in turn whom he might have infected. In terms of who infected him, narrowing the choices to only the people that Freddie dated precludes the possibility that it wasn't some "non-boyfriend" he spent a night with, as by his own admission."I was very promiscuous". It's heartbreaking that there were so many men doing something they had no idea could be dangerous until for many, the damage was already done and they were infected.
c.jory 30.08.2017 12:16	I think that's the saddest thing, that they did this without knowing and for a long time, they looked and felt healthy, unaware they were being destroyed on the inside. I know Freddie didn't slow down when he should have, which wasn't his best life choice, but the reality is he probably had the virus before it was even known about, and most of the gay community probably wouldn't have been alarmed by the small New York Times column that first mentioned the 'Rare Cancer Seen in 41 Homosexuals' in 1981. It's horrifying. I know it's impossible to narrow it down (Like the Somebody to Love book accusing Gaetan and John Murphy) but we know at least one person he was definitely in a relationship with had it. I wasn't pointing the blame solely on Tony, honest!
Cyborg 30.08.2017 16:12	Thanks to Adreme13 and Thor for answering my question about Freddie and Princess Diana. Here's what Peter Freestone had to say about the matter: freddiemercury.com/en/ask-phoebe/blog-25
Invisible Woman 30.08.2017 17:52	I apologize for interrupting but I have to say this. Is it so important who infected Freddie?That person probably didn't do it with that intention.Maybe Freddie even gave it to other people without knowing that he had HIV.It's life, sometimes it happens that is inevitable and no one is guilty.Sometimes we don't think about the consequences until something bad happens to us. I think it's more important what person Freddie was, what his music was, and not that damned illness. I don't mind that you ask many questions about this disease, I just say what I think.
YAWN 30.08.2017 18:34	Nobody is saying it's important to know who infected him. There is no way of knowing who did for certain, anyway. They're just discussing the timeline. If you look at the facts of who he dated that had it (not even including the people he wasn't dating that may have given it to him), it's more likely that Freddie got it around 1980. Freddie definitely gave it to other people without meaning to or knowing. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. They didn't know. Nobody did it with intention. But the original discussion was simply about the timeline in which he likely contracted it. In which case, captianjory is correct. Like it or not, the illness was something he had to deal with. All books on him and documentaries discuss it because it's important. It's important because it was a disease that carried so much misinformation and fear for years. It's important because Freddie not only had it, but he handled it with great bravery and heart. It's a part of his story, so yes, it's worth discussing in a respectful manner in my opinion. As a member of the LGBT community myself, I can tell you Freddie is a huge inspiration to us- not just because of his wonderful career, but because he was faced with that disease and handled it better than most ever could or did. He's one of our heroes for that, and many other reasons. His story connected with many of us. It made some see how important knowing your status is. A book has recently claimed to know exactly who infected him (turns out he never even slept with the gentleman they blamed it on) and the day he was infected. Misinformation like that is why I believe it's fair to discuss the timeline. Its because the timeline has been discussed before that we even knew the book blamed the wrong person and more than likely got the year wrong as well. If for nothing else, then to avoid blaming the wrong people.
thundergod 30.08.2017 19:27	Hello to captainjory, Villiers, Rainbow61, InvisibleWoman and cyborg, Thank you all for your lively discussion of a very sensitive and sad issue. By reading your comments, I feel the disease was treated respectfully and Freddie was treated fairly by all of you.Trying to pinpoint who exactly passed the virus to him seems pointless. Those were different times and as far as health was concerned; scary times. I would doubt if Freddie was infected in 1980 but how would I or anybody else really know. As Rainbow61 implied just because we are aware of Tony's name, he should not automatically be blamed. Both of them could have been infected by a different person at two different times.
YAWN 30.08.2017 20:04	Speaking of the LGBT community- As I live near Houston TX, we've been stuck in our homes thanks to hurricane Harvey for the last few days. During that time, I've had little else to do but text with friends and I've sent all the guys and girls from Montrose a link to this thread. They've enjoyed reading it, and wanted to extend an invitation to drinks and good conversation on us if you ever find yourself here in Houston. There are some great people and lots of fun at places like Michael's Outpost and the Gauva Lamp. The community has really grown out here and it's found a nice balance of fun and relaxation. So if you're ever in the lone star state, consider dropping us a line!
thundergod 30.08.2017 20:25	Will do Villiers...sounds like fun. I can only handle Houston however, in the late fall or early spring. I've been spoiled in San Diego with nearly perfect weather all year long. My sweat glands have enjoyed resting and shrinking these last 32 years- LOL. Thank you so much for the invitation. Good luck with the floods, I keep seeing the horrors going on there on cable news.
Rainbow61 30.08.2017 21:26	@Villers What a nightmare in Houston. Glad you seem to be doing okay. I have so much admiration for Freddie for having the inner strength to continue making music during those final years, especially when the music sessions seemed to take a lot out of him physically. He did not seem to want or expect any sympathy/pity for his fate, but in those quieter moments when he was alone, it must have been overwhelming...and yet he persevered. Look at the all the wonderful music he left us with post-diagnosis because of that inner strength (although I find "These Are the Days Of Our Lives" almost too hard to watch) Thor...Garden Lodge sounded like an absolutely beautiful home filled with elegant and beautiful things. Is there anything in particular that you remember about the place or something that Freddie seemed especially proud of?
adreme13 30.08.2017 23:27	Villiers wrote: Nobody is saying it's important to know who infected him. There is no way of knowing who did for certain, anyway. They're just discussing the timeline. If you look at the facts of who he dated that had it (not even including the people he wasn't dating that may have given it to him), it's more likely that Freddie got it around 1980. Freddie definitely gave it to other people without meaning to or knowing. It wasn't his fault. It wasn't anyone's fault. They didn't know. Nobody did it with intention. But the original discussion was simply about the timeline in which he likely contracted it. In which case, captianjory is correct. Like it or not, the illness was something he had to deal with. All books on him and documentaries discuss it because it's important. It's important because it was a disease that carried so much misinformation and fear for years. It's important because Freddie not only had it, but he handled it with great bravery and heart. It's a part of his story, so yes, it's worth discussing in a respectful manner in my opinion. As a member of the LGBT community myself, I can tell you Freddie is a huge inspiration to us- not just because of his wonderful career, but because he was faced with that disease and handled it better than most ever could or did. He's one of our heroes for that, and many other reasons. His story connected with many of us. It made some see how important knowing your status is. A book has recently claimed to know exactly who infected him (turns out he never even slept with the gentleman they blamed it on) and the day he was infected. Misinformation like that is why I believe it's fair to discuss the timeline. Its because the timeline has been discussed before that we even knew the book blamed the wrong person and more than likely got the year wrong as well. If for nothing else, then to avoid blaming the wrong people. I agree and couldn't say it better myself, Villers. I think it's human nature to try to make some sort of sense of it all, and try to guess when he was infected, even though we will never know for certain. And yes, unfortunately and sadly, AIDS was a part of Freddie's life.
adreme13 30.08.2017 23:46	Thor, now I remember another question I had, actually 2 or 3 in the same category. Whenever you were around Freddie before he went on stage, was he nervous beforehand? Did he ever mention what he liked or disliked about performing, and did he ever tell stories about an embarrassing moment while on stage? Thank you!
Shvili 31.08.2017 00:57	Hi Thor, Did you know Joe Fanelli? What came of him? To me it's odd that he would uproot from US, move to London and live/work at Freddie's house after their relationship was over. What was gong on there? Was he somehow disadvantaged in US and Freddie felt the need to take care of him? is that it?
kokax 31.08.2017 04:11	Hi Villiers, you wrote : "but because he was faced with that disease and handled it better than most ever could or did. He's one of our heroes for that,..." How did he handle his disease " better" than "most" others ? In fact, who are " most others" to you ? Celebrities like Rudolf Nureyev, Anthony Perkins or Rock Hudson ? Did he handle it " better" than these " most others" ? : link link ...or maybe " better" than these guys in far flunk Africa ? link
YAWN 31.08.2017 04:52	@Kokax You seem to have taken my response to heart, buddy- and the wrong way. I worked at an LGBTQ youth center for years. I saw many people with HIV who shut down and refused to face reality and keep up with their doctors. THOSE are the people I was referring to. The people I counseled for a number of years. If you are involved in the counseling of those effected by the disease, you are made aware of the many different ways people face it. Some accept it, and carry on the best they can. Some refuse any help and stop all medication as soon as they find out they're HIV positive. Some refuse any further testing and ignore it. Obviously ignoring the diagnosis and not protecting themselves after being aware of their status is not considered to be "handling it well". And no, I'm not referring to those who cannot afford medication. I'm talking about those who make the choice to ignore it and pretend it isn't happening. Nowhere did I say those people you posted didn't handle it well. Nor did I say Freddie was the ONLY one who handled it with bravery. To answer your question- I said Freddie handled it well because he did seek medical advice and did what he could to keep those around him safe and he also carried on knowing he didn't have much time- and focused his energy on working, a healthy outlet. As I said, many others just shut down and did not protect themselves or others after a diagnosis. Please dont take my response as snippy or rude (because it's not intended to be) but counseling those who have the disease was literally my job for number of years. As was trying to convince LGBTQ youth to get tested. I'm not a person who would belittle anyone's struggle with HIV. By the way, what makes you think those people you so kindly posted links about aren't also considered brave by us? You quoted me as saying "Freddie was ONE of our heroes for this", so I'm sure you picked up that Freddie wasn't the only person we consider to be brave and heroic in the face of the disease. It's possible I misinterpreted your comment. And if so, I apologize- but I got a 'not so cool' vibe from it.
thundergod 31.08.2017 05:16	Gosh darn kokax, I have to agree with Villiers. You were comparing Freddie to other stars. Villiers was definitely comparing Freddie to non-stars and I agree with him. Not that you are necessarily wrong kokax, but were you perhaps in an adversarial mood?
thundergod 31.08.2017 05:22	It's all good...I have no interest in fights, at least not here.
YAWN 31.08.2017 05:32	Yeah, like I posted earlier- it's possible I misinterpreted his response but Thor, you seem to have gotten the same vibe from it that I did lol. No no, fights and pettiness were left in high school for me. This thread is far too interesting to hold it down with all that. I hope he doesn't take my response as a slap.
Invisible Woman 31.08.2017 08:20	I wanted to say that this makes me a little annoying - when Freddie is mentioned in the media,he is immediately associated with AIDS. Other famous people have died of this disease, but when they are talked about them in the media, AIDS is not in the foreground. Love is a beautiful thing, so I asked questions about Freddie and Jim.Perhaps my questions were bothered somebody, I don't know, I just thought it was better to talk about some nice things,about love, friendship,art, music, parties, cats, etc. I didn't mean to go into some discussion. So I apologize to everyone.
YAWN 31.08.2017 08:34	@Invisible Woman Freddie isn't the only celeb that had ties to it. It's been many years since Liberace passed on, and he was one of the greatest pianists of the world- he also had it and it's brought up when people discuss him as well. Rock Hudson too. It doesn't take anything away from their legacy or talent. It's something they faced and it will always be a part of their story. Yes, love is great and I'm very glad Freddie seemed to have found it in Jim- but as in everyone's life, Freddie dealt with issues. Ups and downs. I personally feel it's ok to discuss them (as they are valid)- as long as it's done in a respectful way. Of course, we don't need to know every tiny detail, either. I think this thread is great because it's found a nice balance of interesting stories covering all aspects of Freddie's Life (the good and the bad) without crossing the line of spilling gossip or disrespecting his memory. Your questions have been fine, and I've enjoyed reading Thors responses to them. I knew a a couple who were close to Jim (he seems to be a topic you're interested in) and they adored him. Said he was a really sweet guy and had plenty to say about Freddie. They said they could see how much he really missed him. I'd like to think they're reunited now.
Invisible Woman 31.08.2017 11:55	@Villiers Yes, that topic really interests me, I think that their story is a beautiful love story. I was not much interested in the private lives of band members.I was more interested in music and then I watched some of the documentaries and videos on You Tube, read some books and articles on the internet so private lives of Queen members started to interest me. When I read "Mercury and Me" I really liked it and somehow I feel that what is written in that book is true.While I was reading some of the parts I was crying. I know that many people have negative comments about Jim and his book, they say that he was just a "golddigger", that he didn't love Freddie.Some still claim that they were not even in love. To me it's totally nonsense. I think they really loved each other. I also think that it's time to stop myself commenting on this thread, the members of QueenZone are interested in what Thor has to say and not what I say.So from now on I'm just reading, not commenting.
thundergod 31.08.2017 17:43	No, no Invisible Woman...please stay in the discussions. As I have said before, you Super-Fans know a lot more about Freddie and Queen than I could ever hope to know. Your input is so valuable...please continue.
thundergod 31.08.2017 17:51	Adreme16, I never spent time with Freddie immediately BEFORE a concert, only after. He never seemed nervous at all and seemed to go to his "job" like any of us do. He knew everything that his audience wanted and felt very comfortable on stage giving it to us.
RBoulain 31.08.2017 23:01	Hi again Thor! This would be my second question on this thread, I hope you don't mind. I was just curious to know, did Freddie have any kind of funny/curious/weird habits that would call your attention? I mean we all have our own kind of customs and things we may like more or less in our day to day, and he seemed such an energetic person I thought he must had vivid reactions to things and his own way to do them aswell. Thanks in advance!
smilefairyqueen 01.09.2017 01:28	I asked that question already RBoulain. He said the only habits he had were getting into fight with his boyfriends.
Rainbow61 01.09.2017 02:36	Thor, With the demands on Freddie's time with traveling, performing, being in the studio, press conferences etc, you would think he would want some time to himself to decompress. It seems like his private life was always just as busy as his professional life...going out to clubs, hosting parties, arranging meals with friends etc. For all I know, that may have been his way of relaxing, but I find it interesting that he never wanted to or needed to be alone. That he constantly surrounded himself with people and activity makes we wonder if he was uncomfortable being by himself for any length of time? I may be reading too much into this, as we are all different. It's just that his lifestyle seemed exhausting to me. Just wondering what you thought?
c.jory 01.09.2017 08:25	In reply to the question above: With my background in psychology, I always wondered if Freddie had ADHD. He was just as hyper at college it seems, so drug use can't be blamed. Someone told me they asked Peter Freestone (at a convention) whether Freddie could have had undiagnosed ADHD, and he apparently said 'if he was alive today, he might be diagnosed with that, yes.' I don't know how true that is, but it certainly makes sense. Reading Peter's book, I feel almost exhausted reading about Freddie's antics. Furthermore, from what I've read by other people (not including shady biographies), he seemed quite impulsive and rapidly changed moods. Peter and David Minns corroborate this in their books, Mary said he was 'mentally all over the place' in a 1977 interview and his first girlfriend Rosemary said he would be singing one minute, angry the next, then horny, then crying (usually over his need for men!) Was this ever your experience Thor? Did you ever see rapid mood changes like they describe, or did he keep a lid on it for friends?
Dr Magus 01.09.2017 08:58	How long was Freddie's schlong?
Invisible Woman 01.09.2017 11:10	Thanks,Thor I know I'm boring sometimes.lol Here's one question: Did Freddie have a piano or some other musical instrument in the apartment in New York?
Rainbow61 01.09.2017 11:21	@ Dr Magus CRASS!
PrimeJiveUSA 01.09.2017 13:10	@Invisible Woman In regards to Jim Hutton and his Mercury and Me book, I think it's an enthralling read. I believe Jim truly loved Freddie and the part of the book that really rang true in that respect is near the end when he is talking about everyone coming back to Garden Lodge after the funeral. He says that the cackling laughter and drinking seemed cruel and disrespectful to Freddie. That truly does sound like someone who's had his heart ripped out of him. When we are in that frame of mind our senses(and sensitivity) are heightened and everything can take on a nightmarish tone. That passage in the book really struck me as genuine.
RBoulain 01.09.2017 13:40	Oh alright, I read that answer but I meant something like maybe unusual things about himself or things like that. I read his answer but not your question. Thanks for the tip :) smilefairyqueen wrote: I asked that question already RBoulain. He said the only habits he had were getting into fight with his boyfriends.
thundergod 01.09.2017 17:45	Rainbow61, That is very true. Freddie craved real human attention. He was never alone. Aside from being on stage he always surrounded himself with friends. As much as possible, he kept former boyfriends as employees such as Joe Franelli who became his London chef. This is probably why I went from a one night stand to a good friend. He loved people who were real, not phony with their gold-digging intentions.
thundergod 01.09.2017 17:52	Hello captainjory, Truthfully, I never witnessed mood changes. He definitely was hyperactive, but aren't most creative geniuses? I could always count on Freddie to treat me with nothing but care and friendliness....In short, he was a TRUE friend which I have already described as my most important quality in Freddie.
thundergod 01.09.2017 17:57	Hey Invisible Woman, I've already said this... Freddie had a baby grand piano in his New York apartment. Sorry if you missed that. So nice to hear from you.
thundergod 01.09.2017 18:06	Hi RBoulain, Yes, smilefairyqueen is correct. The only things I thought were unusual were the fights Freddie had with some boyfriends. The weird thing to me was that he seemed rejuvenated after a "good" fight. At the time, I dismissed it as a creative quirk of Freddie's.
SmokyQuartz 01.09.2017 19:56	captainjory I loved that book written by Rosemary, it gives a real insight into the young student Freddie. I got the impression of someone very gifted and intelligent and these people can appear hyperactive, but they are just bored easily because they are finding a lot of stuff too 'easy' for them and not challenging enough. I saw another trait in Freddie from my reading, he went into stuff in real depth when he was interested in it, and I got the impression from Rosemary's book that Freddie was preoccupied, hence seeming to drift off. Preoccupied with two things, his emerging sexuality (and concern/guilt over it) and his gift for music and wish to express and develop it. And it broke my heart when she described how he cried during a film and had to stay at the cinema to watch the whole thing again because he found it so sad.
Invisible Woman 01.09.2017 21:04	@Thor I'm sorry I asked a question that was already there but so many questions and answers were here... Somehow I missed it even though I read the answers regularly.
Rainbow61 01.09.2017 21:28	Thor, Thanks for your insight. I always wondered if part of the reason for Freddie's need to have people constantly around him had anything to do with his early life experience of being sent away to boarding school? I remember being completely shocked when I found out that he was only about 8 years old at the time. I can't imagine how scary that must have been. It's been pretty well documented just how emotionally damaging boarding school has been to many, the excellent education notwithstanding. Sorry...I don't mean to be an armchair psychologist. (I couldn't even do a one night sleepover at a Girl Scout camp when I was 8 years old. My mother had to come and pick me up!)
RBoulain 01.09.2017 21:57	Thank you both :) thundergod wrote: Hi RBoulain, Yes, smilefairyqueen is correct. The only things I thought were unusual were the fights Freddie had with some boyfriends. The weird thing to me was that he seemed rejuvenated after a "good" fight. At the time, I dismissed it as a creative quirk of Freddie's.
conundrumme 02.09.2017 02:33	Regarding Freddie being shipping off to boarding school, I was shocked he was 8 when he set off to Mumbai and the journey there from Zanzibar was a month-long! Interestingly his Mom Jer said Freddie was excited at going but we won't know his true state-of-mind - that reassuring front he put on to put his parents at ease. Imagine a month-long journey to a school, a place of uncertainty so far away from home at that age. It makes sense that Freddie would want to be in control in every aspects of his life when he became an adult, and shedding off the "Bulsara" person to become Freddie Mercury. He was in control - from his image to his music(even using synths in place of orchestra for the Barcelona album), his family, friends and ultimately his illness. In his own words, him being shipped off to boarding school was indeed "an upheaval of an upbringing." PS: I never went to camp either despite opportunities thrown in my way.
kokax 03.09.2017 08:00	Hi Thor , hi Villiers, Sorry, to hijack your thread Thor. I hope it’s ok to explain briefly where my “adversarial” mood came from as indeed I was initially outraged. My reaction was provoked by the sentence “ he handled it better than most others” without seeing any explanation. I am very, very glad that Villiers cleared that up as indeed I thought OMG, someone really places FM fight with AIDS above everyone else. Where I live ( China), HIV is even nowadays strongly stigmatized. Homosexuality btw was taken from the list of mental diseases only in 2001 and decriminalized in 1997 ( before it was considered “hooliganism”). Thank you Villiers for explaining your comment to which I ‘d like add my summarized memories which came back to my mind when I was under the impression you were going to belittle “ most others”. Through my profession I had humbling experiences by spending time with and documenting lives of HIV positive patients in villages & provincial towns , underground gay communites, a hospital and a red light district (I spent time as well with counselors from UNAids and the RedCross Australia and 2 local medics ). One of those patients that will stay forever in my mind was a young boy , Song Pengfei, and his family who were chased from their village ,being thrown apples and mice at when his status was leaked in public; I met him and his family right after they found refuge in a shoddy building on the outskirts of Beijing that was on the verge of collapsing. Some other patients during my time in the HIV communites/ diasporas had lost their jobs and family connections , some had to move to different towns out of fear of being “discovered”, only very very few were lucky enough to get treatment in the few hospitals that treated HIV positive people. That time , 7 years after Freddie Mercury died, HIV/AIDS patients lived in an atmosphere of national ignorance and terror. The AIDS ward in the place I got access to was a hidden side building, rooms with filthy floors , iron beds and not much else. ….Due to national pride and ignorance those who very courageously dared to raise attention to their suffering , as a result were controlled and bullied by local authorities and neighbours. Song Pengfei, who I mention earlier on, was one who did not put up with such treatment. His reply to people who tried to belittle him was :” Everyone is equal, incl. AIDS patients”. What united HIV/AIDS patients here and to great extent still does was/is fear of being bullied and ignored . It takes heroic courage and confidence to live with such a situation without giving up. --- -- I hope this short summary helps to explain my reaction. Without Villiers further explanation I’d left this form. Who knows ? Maybe one of the more fortunate things that’s been done with Freddie Mercury’s memory is the foundation of the Mercury Phoenix Trust that reaches out to the worldwide HIV/AIDS community where everyone struggles to the best of her/his abilities . Have a nice weekend !
Rainbow61 03.09.2017 20:58	@kokax and Villiers, Enjoyed reading both of your thoughtful posts about HIV/AIDS. I respect the important work each of you has done. Thank you for sharing your stories. With the immense financial resources available to him, Freddie’s fight against this terrible disease was undoubtedly made easier by his access to the best doctors and medicines available. I would say that put him in a very small subset of all the HIV/AIDS sufferers. It's probably why he survived as long as he did after his AIDS diagnosis. That was certainly not the experience of most people and like kokax said, it takes "heroic courage" to not give up in the face of either outright hostility or indifference. However, Freddie was not immune to the bigotry, ignorance, and fear that surrounded this disease, especially in the 80’s. His fame also brought him unique problems. We all know about the unrelenting media speculation and the shameful photos that callous newspaper editors disrespectfully published while he was sick. (Topic for another time…those people are contemptible) By all accounts Freddie pushed through an extreme amount of discomfort to continue recording, especially in the last couple years of his life. Not only do I admire him for being able to do that, but I have a profound appreciation for the music he left us with from that period, which unfortunately was often forged in pain. Probably in those final weeks, days, and hours as Freddie’s tired body was rapidly declining and his resources could not protect him from his cruel fate, he shared a commonality with those who did not have his financial advantages. The heart wrenching emotional reality of death does not discriminate between rich and poor. Part of Freddie's enduring legacy is not only his supreme musical talent, but that he was so beloved that people to this day gladly support the organization set up in his name to fight the disease that took his life.
thundergod 04.09.2017 01:25	kokax, Villiers and Rainbow61, Excellent discussion! Kokax, I apologize for suggesting that you might have been in a bad mood to start that conversation. I think you, Villiers and Rainbow61 all showed grace in your handling of this topic. I was amazed at the selflessness highlighted in the thoughts written by kokax and Villiers and the compassion that Rainbow61 always relates to us. Thank you. I appreciate your comments on this thread. Great job!
thundergod 04.09.2017 01:41	Hey conundrumme and Rainbow61, I know so little about Freddie's reflections on his early life and upbringing. With me, he always wanted to stay in the present. His reluctance to talk about it COULD indicate certain unpleasant memories, but I do not know and this is just conjecture on my part.
Silken 04.09.2017 14:07	Hello Thor, Thank you for sharing these wonderful stories with us!
Invisible Woman 04.09.2017 18:12	@Thor, How do you like song Bijou? I love this song very much. I was read some comments somewhere about song, some say that this song is dedicated to a cat.I don't think so. I think,Bijou is so emotional, that it's actually dedicated to Jim.It doesn't mean that I am right,of course. Maybe it's not dedicated to anyone. What do you think about it?
PrimeJiveUSA 04.09.2017 21:27	@Thor What did Garden Lodge smell like? Did it have that "old house smell"? Was there lots of cigarette smoke hanging around?
Rainbow61 05.09.2017 02:47	@Thor Another Garden Lodge question. It seems like Freddie delighted in filling Garden Lodge with the things he loved to collect and that no expense was spared to make his home beautiful and refined. What was your first impression of the place? Did Freddie give you the grand tour? Was there a particular room, work of art, etc. that Freddie seemed really excited to show you. Did it have a homey feel?
thundergod 05.09.2017 02:54	Hey Silken, Thank you so much for your kind thought. I enjoy sharing the memories that I have.
thundergod 05.09.2017 03:10	Hi Invisible Woman, I like the sentiment of "Bijou" but I find the long instrumental part a bit eerie. The words do make me feel they were written about Jim Hutton but like you, I do not know for sure. Now, "These are the Day of our Lives" is my favorite song on "Innuendo" and it always chokes me up a bit.
thundergod 05.09.2017 03:13	Hello PrimeJiveUSA, No, there was no old house smell at all. When Freddie did smoke in the earlier '80s, he went outside of Garden Lodge as I remember.
thundergod 05.09.2017 03:22	Hey Rainbow61, Yes, thanks to Phoebe, the homey feeling was everywhere. Valuable items were not displayed to impress but were discretely placed because Freddie was not the show-off type. He loved his Japanese art but did not force it in your face. He especially loved his garden and Coy Pond which Jim kept in great shape for him. He also had a beautiful gazebo which would have made any Bride full of envy.
thundergod 05.09.2017 03:27	No sorry, I was incorrect. it was a trellis not a gazebo
PrimeJiveUSA 05.09.2017 03:59	@Thor Thank you for the response. Was there a "grand entrance/foyer" to the home where special/important guests were greeted but was not used much by the daily occupants?
thundergod 05.09.2017 04:05	PrimeJiveUSA, No grand entrance. We were always "buzzed in" at the famous green gate and then entered the front door which was not all that opulent, but you could tell it was made of a a very good grade of wood. Sorry but I do not know if it was mahogany or not.
kokax 05.09.2017 04:26	Hi Thor & Rainbow 61, thank you very much for your comments ! @Rainbow61, thanks for your eloquent analysis ! "We all know about the unrelenting media speculation and the shameful photos that callous newspaper editors disrespectfully published while he was sick. (Topic for another time…those people are contemptible) " Brilliant idea for another thread ! To discuss these stories ( without publishing links here), as well as tabloid media's lack of integrity & responsibility ( gee...I am naive, old fashioned :) could help to explain what kind of personal terror he was facing at the time. ( at least one papparazzis' mega career was launched as a result and FM's name came up also in the Rupert Murdoch phone -hacking scandal....one has to dig around a bit in cyberspace though to find those background articles) @Thor, there was the despictable tabloid media on the one hand . One the other hand, - dare I say this ?- there seem/seemed to be fanatics who must explore everything. According to Peter Freestone, Freddie kept a special drawer for letters from fanatics and - correct me if I am wrong- in one case also alerted the police. What would be your take on modern age fanatics who feel entitled to drive Mary Austin into a state to have her address removed from google maps ( which maybe is psychological comfort to her ? ) or sniff around on graveyards along with tabloid media among some years ago? ---- Do you think, with contemporary technology- from mobile phone cameras to drones and the internet- your friend would still live in that house if he was alive ? Sorry, it's a clumsy question... sometimes am just wondering ..... This said, your classy answers are really admirable !
thundergod 05.09.2017 05:21	Hey kokax, I watched some recent wonderful programs dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the passing of Princess Diana. The paparazzi was horrible back then and so were the manufactured scandalous trash that the tabloids put out. It has only gotten worse over 20 years. Nowadays it is the desperate pursuit of nude photographs that no doubt catch a very hefty fee. Yes, I can imagine that if Freddie lived in the Garden Lodge now, he would not be able to enjoy the garden, and would have to fight off camera laden drone attacks! I can't really comment on any mean spirited fanatics. Freddie did not talk about them and spared us any words they might have written.
LOTV 05.09.2017 11:22	Bonjour Thor, I've been on holiday so thus fell behind. Very grand of you to continue to spend the time sharing memories. Seems some on here are obsessed with who he slept with, beats me why but there you go. I can understand the illness time line interest, to my disgust found myself a little interested in that a while back, especially having read Somebody To Love (which it it's defense does not claim to be the definitive word but rather conjecture based on research on the disease). What is without dispute that is that it's very sad and frustrating as a fan that he wasn't a million years away from much better treatment. I do always find his quotes such as "I'll never make old bones" somewhat eerie as although they are easy rock star comments to make it does seem he had a sense of how self destructive his behaviour was. I also note some on here love to phrase a question to you so that you confirm their idealistic view on him, I guess all great people have many sycophants. You paint a balanced picture of the man and acknowledge his irresponsible attitude and the fact that lets'face it he did nothing for AIDS awareness when alive. As I have written before I accept that was his choice and understand it. To go back to the music if I may be so bold, I asked a question which was lost in the more serious stuff, did you ever go and see any rock bands with Fred? His diverse music taste is well documented but he was in a rock band and he liked it loud so he must have appreciated rock n roll too. Did you ever go and see New York Dolls or anyone like that? I believe he was mates with Rob Halford around your time? Aside from all the gay scene D.I.S.C.O stuff was he still listening to The Beatles and Zepelin at all, or maybe even any rock n roll bands of the time? Cheap Trick's singer recently said that Freddie hand picked them for the support on one tour.
conundrumme 05.09.2017 12:21	thundergod wrote: Hey kokax, I watched some recent wonderful programs dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the passing of Princess Diana. The paparazzi was horrible back then and so were the manufactured scandalous trash that the tabloids put out. It has only gotten worse over 20 years. Nowadays it is the desperate pursuit of nude photographs that no doubt catch a very hefty fee. Yes, I can imagine that if Freddie lived in the Garden Lodge now, he would not be able to enjoy the garden, and would have to fight off camera laden drone attacks! I can't really comment on any mean spirited fanatics. Freddie did not talk about them and spared us any words they might have written. Hey Thor, it seems like he's not one to dwell on whatever unpleasantness thrown his way, be it his illness, the relentlessness press, betrayals etc. Even if it affects him, he's not one to show it and "burden" the people around him like vent his frustrations or whine to anyone. He simply wanted to keep the atmosphere light and everyone around to have a fun time.
LOTV 05.09.2017 12:40	Thor my old Mucker, I just visited Garden Lodge and said a Happy Birthday from you. It's a shame that Mary has taken the tribute wall down but it's her house I suppose.
thundergod 05.09.2017 16:14	Welcome back LOTV, Thank you for sharing your views. I am so sorry that I missed your original question. Throughout the time that I was friends with Freddie, we never once went to a concert. '80-'83 was a huge working time for Freddie and Queen. I was lucky enough to attend about 8 to 9 Queen concerts. With so much band work, I would assume he liked being away from the music scene. I never heard him mention any interest in the New York Dolls but that doesn't mean he did not like their music. The subject just never came up. By the way LOTV, what is an "old Mucker"? I have never heard that name before. I'm hoping that it is a term of ultimate endearment...LOL
thundergod 05.09.2017 16:38	Hi conundrumme, Yes, you are absolutely correct. It was my experience that Freddie always was interested in creating an up-beat, keep them laughing type atmosphere. It was so obvious that he got pleasure when everyone was in a light-hearted mood. In New York, he occasionally confided in me about his relationships but oddly enough, it was always on the phone and never in person. He knew I was not a musical person so he never needed to discuss any problems with the band or the people who managed his tours. I'm sure he had others in the Queen organization that he could vent problems to..
Arnaldo "Ogre-" Silveira 05.09.2017 16:38	Hi, Thor. Thank you once again for the continuing flow of good stories. I am always coming back to see more. I would bet many other Queenzoners are also quietly checking back from time to time. Cheers, Ogre-
thundergod 05.09.2017 16:42	Hey Ogre, I'm glad you enjoy this...thanks for the positive feedback
thundergod 05.09.2017 17:11	HAPPY BIRTHDAY FREDDIE!
Costa86 05.09.2017 20:22	^Having a few pints of Kilkenny in Freddie's memory, like I do every year. Well, it's Guinness usually, but my local had a discount going on Kilkenny. As long as it's Irish, it doesn't matter.
thundergod 05.09.2017 21:18	Good for you Costa86, I usually save my Guinness for St. Patrick's Day, but why NOT on Freddie's birthday as well. Cheers! my friend.
RBoulain 05.09.2017 22:36	Now that you mention it Thor, Happy Birthday, Mr. Mercury!! It's been a pretty touching day. Almost every city here in Spain had their own party as a tribute for him and charity events collecting money for AIDS researching.But of course it was worldwide!! Someone living at Montreux told me, not because it's his birthday, but there is not a single day, someone doesn't bring fresh flowers to the statue. It's always crowded with people. After all this years, this doesn't happen with so many other people! I celebrated Freddie's life today with his music nonstop and had a couple of vodkas in his memory, as we both drink usually the same.
Saint Jiub 05.09.2017 23:18	Thank you Thor for being a breath of fresh air for this website. There seems to be more new and old people posting of Queenzone lately.
YAWN 05.09.2017 23:18	Even with most of the clubs in Montrose still being closed thanks to the hurricane, the LGBT community out here is celebrating his life tonight- as it does every year. A handful of bars are open and serving your choice of a vodka or tequila shot with yellow food coloring called "The Killer Queen Shot" for tonight only! I'm finally off work, so I'll be grabbing one myself. Happy birthday to the legend.
thundergod 05.09.2017 23:55	Hey RBoulain, Villiers and Panchgani, It seems the whole world is celebrating this day. I would love a vodka ":Killer Queen" shot. Villiers. I admire this group of QueenZone participants. and all your good thoughts about Freddie. I believe he would just love it! Thank you all.
SmokyQuartz 06.09.2017 00:32	Happy Birthday Freddie! :-)
Rainbow61 06.09.2017 02:17	Happy Birthday, Freddie! It would have been great to participate in one of those tribute events today! Unfortunately, I live nowhere near any of those celebration venues, but I did wear my "Freddie For A Day" tee shirt to the office (even though my supervisor was up for a visit and I never dress that casually for work). I explained why I was wearing it. No problems! This evening I listened to some of my Freddie favorites that are not on Queen's greatest hits CD's including Lily of the Valley, Mustapha, March of the Black Queen, and You Take My Breath Away (the live version from the Hyde Park concert is one of the most achingly beautiful songs I have ever heard).
thundergod 06.09.2017 02:47	Rainbow61, Thanks for helping celebrate this special day! I think it is wonderful that you broke the dress code today... you go girl!
LOTV 06.09.2017 09:17	thundergod wrote: Welcome back LOTV, Thank you for sharing your views. I am so sorry that I missed your original question. Throughout the time that I was friends with Freddie, we never once went to a concert. '80-'83 was a huge working time for Freddie and Queen. I was lucky enough to attend about 8 to 9 Queen concerts. With so much band work, I would assume he liked being away from the music scene. I never heard him mention any interest in the New York Dolls but that doesn't mean he did not like their music. The subject just never came up. By the way LOTV, what is an "old Mucker"? I have never heard that name before. I'm hoping that it is a term of ultimate endearment...LOL link I actually didn't know it was of Irish origin, I thought it came from London cabbies.
LOTV 06.09.2017 09:24	Thor, just as a matter of interest - when you were interviewed on Freddie's Loves or whatever it was called, did they tell you what it was about and / or the title of the show? You've had your good nature exploited there old boy, you know what verminous cunts the gutter media are in this country. Don't think I've seen that piece of shit, and I lap up everything on Queen (shite or not) Btw when I was outside Garden Lodge yesterday a cab pulled up and a couple got out out with the cabby from South America. They'd flown over especially to see the house on his birthday. A little more than just a musical prostitute I'd say My Dear.
LOTV 06.09.2017 10:28	Further to the above , actually you don't come across badly I don't think. It's a trashy program but it's quite playful. Not to be taken too seriously and certainly not to be offended by. Phoebe says he slept with both men and women in it. Really, I think we are beyond giving a shit either way aren't we? On a musical note I still think it's astonishing he got his way with Body Language, that really should have been saved for his solo album. The video is so blatant.
St Pepper 06.09.2017 11:25	LOTV wrote: Seems some on here are obsessed with who he slept with, beats me why but there you go. I also note some on here love to phrase a question to you so that you confirm their idealistic view on him, I guess all great people have many sycophants. Phoebe says he slept with both men and women in it. Really, I think we are beyond giving a shit either way aren't we? Moans about fans talking about who he slept with and wording questions to conform their idiealistic view on him- continues to talk about who he slept with and makes sure to mention Peter saying Freddie slept with both genders Surely you see how hypocritical that looks. Peter said he slept with both women and women because before Mary, there were other women. You do understand that most gay men sleep with women before coming to terms with being gay, right? After Mary, there were none. Im sure you've seen The Untold Story documentary where Peter says Freddie was "gay" and not bisexual. Also, Peter was interviewed last year for a Spanish fan club and asked if Freddie identified as gay or bi. To which he said "He had a physical relationship with his girlfriend Mary but after 75, it was just men. Freddie identified as gay but he didn't want it to be the center of every news article". I don't know why it sems to bum you out that the man wasn't into chicks but such is life. Ive been watching this thread for ages just enjoying the comments until I saw yours. Lame.
LOTV 06.09.2017 12:35	St Pepper wrote: LOTV wrote: Seems some on here are obsessed with who he slept with, beats me why but there you go. I also note some on here love to phrase a question to you so that you confirm their idealistic view on him, I guess all great people have many sycophants. Phoebe says he slept with both men and women in it. Really, I think we are beyond giving a shit either way aren't we? Moans about fans talking about who he slept with and wording questions to conform their idiealistic view on him- continues to talk about who he slept with and makes sure to mention Peter saying Freddie slept with both genders Surely you see how hypocritical that looks. Peter said he slept with both women and women because before Mary, there were other women. You do understand that most gay men sleep with women before coming to terms with being gay, right? After Mary, there were none. Im sure you've seen The Untold Story documentary where Peter says Freddie was "gay" and not bisexual. Also, Peter was interviewed last year for a Spanish fan club and asked if Freddie identified as gay or bi. To which he said "He had a physical relationship with his girlfriend Mary but after 75, it was just men. Freddie identified as gay but he didn't want it to be the center of every news article". I don't know why it sems to bum you out that the man wasn't into chicks but such is life. Ive been watching this thread for ages just enjoying the comments until I saw yours. Lame. What are you on about you fucking idiot? Don't you damn me as homophobic just because you're too thick to understand my posts. Fuck off back to the paranoid little hole you came from. Don't insult me again.
St Pepper 06.09.2017 12:50	LOTV wrote: St Pepper wrote: LOTV wrote: Seems some on here are obsessed with who he slept with, beats me why but there you go. I also note some on here love to phrase a question to you so that you confirm their idealistic view on him, I guess all great people have many sycophants. Phoebe says he slept with both men and women in it. Really, I think we are beyond giving a shit either way aren't we? Moans about fans talking about who he slept with and wording questions to conform their idiealistic view on him- continues to talk about who he slept with and makes sure to mention Peter saying Freddie slept with both genders Surely you see how hypocritical that looks. Peter said he slept with both women and women because before Mary, there were other women. You do understand that most gay men sleep with women before coming to terms with being gay, right? After Mary, there were none. Im sure you've seen The Untold Story documentary where Peter says Freddie was "gay" and not bisexual. Also, Peter was interviewed last year for a Spanish fan club and asked if Freddie identified as gay or bi. To which he said "He had a physical relationship with his girlfriend Mary but after 75, it was just men. Freddie identified as gay but he didn't want it to be the center of every news article". I don't know why it sems to bum you out that the man wasn't into chicks but such is life. Ive been watching this thread for ages just enjoying the comments until I saw yours. Lame. What are you on about you fucking idiot? Don't you damn me as homophobic just because you're too thick to understand my posts. Fuck off back to the paranoid little hole you came from. Don't insult me again. Ouch my feelings. The homophobe got triggered and didn't like being called out for being a hypocrite. Big shock, he lashes out in an immature way. You know you just proved my point, don't you? Keep getting triggered and ruining this otherwise pleasant thread. I'm sure everyone here appreciates it.
LOTV 06.09.2017 13:02	St Pepper wrote: LOTV wrote: St Pepper wrote: LOTV wrote: Seems some on here are obsessed with who he slept with, beats me why but there you go. I also note some on here love to phrase a question to you so that you confirm their idealistic view on him, I guess all great people have many sycophants. Phoebe says he slept with both men and women in it. Really, I think we are beyond giving a shit either way aren't we? Moans about fans talking about who he slept with and wording questions to conform their idiealistic view on him- continues to talk about who he slept with and makes sure to mention Peter saying Freddie slept with both genders Surely you see how hypocritical that looks. Peter said he slept with both women and women because before Mary, there were other women. You do understand that most gay men sleep with women before coming to terms with being gay, right? After Mary, there were none. Im sure you've seen The Untold Story documentary where Peter says Freddie was "gay" and not bisexual. Also, Peter was interviewed last year for a Spanish fan club and asked if Freddie identified as gay or bi. To which he said "He had a physical relationship with his girlfriend Mary but after 75, it was just men. Freddie identified as gay but he didn't want it to be the center of every news article". I don't know why it sems to bum you out that the man wasn't into chicks but such is life. Ive been watching this thread for ages just enjoying the comments until I saw yours. Lame. What are you on about you fucking idiot? Don't you damn me as homophobic just because you're too thick to understand my posts. Fuck off back to the paranoid little hole you came from. Don't insult me again. Ouch my feelings. The homophobe got triggered and didn't like being called out for being a hypocrite. Big shock, he lashes out in an immature way. You know you just proved my point, don't you? Keep getting triggered and ruining this otherwise pleasant thread. I'm sure everyone here appreciates it. I'm stepping away from this, you're obviously too thick and insecure. Sorry everyone.
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 13:11	@LOTV Come on brother... Do you really need to be that aggressive? I wasn't even going to make an account to post here. I was enjoying reading this post too until things went south. Try to understand that your comments came across a certain way that didn't look very good. Although I wouldn't have said anything I too thought you meant Freddie wasn't gay and people were wrong for mentioning it or whatever. After all you did ask about the doc that focused on his sexuality quite a bit and then seemed annoyed that peoppe asked about his sexual identity. If you didn't mean it that way then its as simple as saying so. Responding back with anger only makes things worse. I say everyone just drop it so Thor can get back to the questions. Now that I'm here.. Thor did Freddie ever express any interest in expanding his career to acting or other means of entrepreneurship? (Maybe a clothing line or cologne brand?)
St Pepper 06.09.2017 13:20	LOTV wrote: I'm stepping away from this, you're obviously too thick and insecure. Sorry everyone. And he's still here with the insults. Well apparently I'm the one who was thick and insecure. Funny seeing as it wasn't me who made a hypocritical post and then got extremely defensive when confronted about it. I believe that was you friend. But hey if you want to leave instead of being mature and explaining yourself or sorting it out that's fine. So long and farewell.
LOTV 06.09.2017 13:36	The Squirrelly One wrote: @LOTV Come on brother... Do you really need to be that aggressive? I wasn't even going to make an account to post here. I was enjoying reading this post too until things went south. Try to understand that your comments came across a certain way that didn't look very good. Although I wouldn't have said anything I too thought you meant Freddie wasn't gay and people were wrong for mentioning it or whatever. After all you did ask about the doc that focused on his sexuality quite a bit and then seemed annoyed that peoppe asked about his sexual identity. If you didn't mean it that way then its as simple as saying so. Responding back with anger only makes things worse. I say everyone just drop it so Thor can get back to the questions. Now that I'm here.. Thor did Freddie ever express any interest in expanding his career to acting or other means of entrepreneurship? (Maybe a clothing line or cologne brand?) Why on earth would I think that Fred wasn't gay? Have you actually read my other posts and learned my opinion on the matter? I commented on the doc in response to Thor mentioning he was on it and felt he was tucked up a bit, whereas I feel he came across fine. My comments were based on people wanting to know the individuals who he slept with and even to whom may have infected him. This poster got an aggressive response because he was insulting based on no evidence. You do understand Freddie is my rock n roll idle right and that Queen have and always will be my fave band? I'm a borderline obsessive.
LOTV 06.09.2017 13:37	St Pepper wrote: LOTV wrote: I'm stepping away from this, you're obviously too thick and insecure. Sorry everyone. And he's still here with the insults. Well apparently I'm the one who was thick and insecure. Funny seeing as it wasn't me who made a hypocritical post and then got extremely defensive when confronted about it. I believe that was you friend. But hey if you want to leave instead of being mature and explaining yourself or sorting it out that's fine. So long and farewell. I'm not going anywhere, sorry. I'm not engaging with you further on the matter. To clarify. Now fuck off.
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 13:41	@LOTV The poster responded based on what you wrote. I read all your comments and thought the same thing man. There's no need to get aggressive. I dont think you understand how your comments came across. If 2 people got the same notion from your comment then its fair to think perhaps your comment did in fact come across in a bad way. Please stop telling people to fuck off. Its seriously not cool. This person has not used that kind of language. Why should you? You're only lowering yourself man.
St Pepper 06.09.2017 13:45	LOTV wrote: St Pepper wrote: LOTV wrote: I'm stepping away from this, you're obviously too thick and insecure. Sorry everyone. And he's still here with the insults. Well apparently I'm the one who was thick and insecure. Funny seeing as it wasn't me who made a hypocritical post and then got extremely defensive when confronted about it. I believe that was you friend. But hey if you want to leave instead of being mature and explaining yourself or sorting it out that's fine. So long and farewell. I'm not going anywhere, sorry. I'm not engaging with you further on the matter. To clarify. Now fuck off. You keep saying you're not engaging in anything with me but you keep tossing "fuck off" and insults around like a child. Are you not capable of expressing yourself without behaving like a preteen? I gave you examples as to why I took your comment to be hypocritical. So there goes half your last comment argument right there. Stop making yourself look immature. You're digging a hole and its only getting deeper.
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 13:52	@St Pepper Just stop responding to him. You guys are taking away from the thread now. I understand where you're coming from but if he wants to keep going then let him talk to himself or you guys private message to sort it all out. Its not fair to the rest of the people in this thread to clog it up this way. Ive said what I have to say on it and I think you two did too. Dont worry about insults. The previous posts speak to the kind of character the poster is..
thundergod 06.09.2017 13:59	WELL, WASN'T ALL THAT A VERY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY TREAT FOR FREDDIE
YAWN 06.09.2017 14:04	Lololol yikes.
thundergod 06.09.2017 14:11	Hello The Squirrelly One, To answer your question, Freddie never talked about expanding into acting or any business pursuits, but my impression was that he left all that to the Queen Organization which Mary was a big part of. Unlike what is going on now, he didn't seem interested in commercializing Queen or himself.
thundergod 06.09.2017 14:16	Continuing on that last sentence,..any further than writing, performing and creating music.
LOTV 06.09.2017 14:22	thundergod wrote: Hello The Squirrelly One, To answer your question, Freddie never talked about expanding into acting or any business pursuits, but my impression was that he left all that to the Queen Organization which Mary was a big part of. Unlike what is going on now, he didn't seem interested in commercializing Queen or himself. I think it's fare to say that Queen and he always had an eye on sales though, don't you? The dichotomy of Queen: a diverse yet commercially aware band. Both odd yet radio friendly. I think it's a shame if what MC said was quoted correctly that he wouldn't sing in Baritone because his fans didn't expect it of him. Thor, as a total aside, have you seen the first picture of Remi Malek as Fred?
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 14:26	@Thor Thanks. I understand he was involved in ballet in the 70s and did a little theater in the late 80's. He did seem like someone who was up to try anything in his career. I think he would have been great at just about anything he ever wanted to branch out on.
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 14:34	@LOTV I think you're right. I know there was an interview that I had seen where Freddie was asked about his thoughts on Michael Jackson teaming up with Pepsi and the idea of commercialism and rock n roll together. The interviewer seemed to feel it cheapened the music a bit but Freddie said he thought it was great. He was very clear about his thoughts on money within the band. Freddie said his view of it was basically 'Its a job. We're here to make money and make good music so why not'. Which I think is a very smart way to go about it.
thundergod 06.09.2017 14:35	LOTV, I do not think Freddie had his eye on sales, other than the sales of his records. He was happy to leave the business side of Queen to the Organization. Surely though he had final approval and kept things tasteful. He never seemed to want money over classiness.
LOTV 06.09.2017 14:41	thundergod wrote: LOTV, I do not think Freddie had his eye on sales, other than the sales of his records. He was happy to leave the business side of Queen to the Organization. Surely though he had final approval and kept things tasteful. He never seemed to want money over classiness. That's what I meant my man, sorry to be vague. Hopefully he didn't have his eye on the BHS sales with his wealth! Although some snaps of him at home don't show him as the best of dressers when dossing ;-) He rocked a mean Fred Perry in-between gigs on tour though.
thundergod 06.09.2017 14:42	The Squirrelly One, I don't know. If Freddie wasn't able to create music well with Michael Jackson, I doubt Pepsi could have been a positive influence. Did Michael himself ever continue the relationship with Pepsi after the scalp burning mishap?
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 14:54	@Thor Yes I believe he did. I saw Jackson on the Bad tour and Pepsi was all over the stadium lol. I believe that was after the acccident. I'm not sure how long he kept up with it after that though.
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 14:57	@Thor Speaking of Jackson. I believe Freddie visited him while in LA. That was around the time you were in the picture right? Did he ever mention Jackson to you? Ive seen Mr.Freestone talk about the interaction between them during the recording session they had and it made me laugh quite a bit. It seems Michael was always an odd duck.
thundergod 06.09.2017 15:02	HaHa Squirrelly One, That topic was addressed on page 4 or 5. You'll need to go back. Yes, I was there, Jackson's behavior was discussed...and yes MJ was an Odd Duck...LOL
The Squirrelly One 06.09.2017 15:09	Oh my apologies. I must have missed that one. I'll go back and read it. Im not sure what to make of him to be honest! I did enjoy his music and performances but his story seemed very strange and I never knew what to believe. I guess Jacko will always be a mystery!
smilefairyqueen 06.09.2017 16:31	Sorry about the people acting shitty on this forum Thor. Did you ever hang out with the road crew or other employees of Queen when you were spending time backstage? I know you mentioned hanging out with the New York daughters backstage, so I was just curious.
dudeofqueen 06.09.2017 16:50	Thor, re: >Unlike what is going on now, he didn't seem interested in commercializing Queen or himself. Interesting that you say this given that it appears to be QPL's (Jim's) intention to do the absolute opposite no that he's gone. I would imagine, though, that a man with such great intellect as Freddie would certainly have an opinion on what is being done to his and the band's legacy now.....
thundergod 06.09.2017 16:57	Hey smilefairyqueen, No, the only people other than Freddie that we spent time with was Peter Freestone and to a much smaller degree, with Joe Fanelli, but the latter only during London visits.
thundergod 06.09.2017 17:14	Hi dudeofqueen, What may have happened after Freddie passed, I am not aware of. I feel that Brian and Roger are trying their hardest to keep things going beyond 1991, which I have mixed feelings about but mostly...good for them! My prediction is that Queen, John Deacon and of course Freddie will reemerge as the Ultimate Kings (ok...Queens) of Rock and Roll Bands after the upcoming movie. I just hope they do the whole story fairly. For a few years now more and more Queen music is being heard with certain commercials in the US, and not just Bohemian Rhapsody. "The Voice" contestants always seem to make a splash when they sing a good Queen song....I love Jordan Smith's version of "Somebody to Love" from about 2 years back.
thundergod 06.09.2017 17:57	All, I think I forgot to answers somebody's question about the video called "Freddie's Loves" so here goes now: Lee Nolan and myself were approached by an English TV network to participate in a Freddie project...it had NO working or final name. We assumed that we were going to be flown out to London so we showed interest. When we questioned them about the content of this "documentary" and just said it would be a tribute to Freddie As it turned out,the meeting was going to be in LA, not London. They said they would put us up at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Well, that sounded kind of classy so we agreed. At first as we were interviewed the questions seemed quite reasonable. But once we felt comfortable, the questions changed to rather personal ones. Between takes, they gave us champagne...we were impressed. I am not saying they "drugged" us to answer their questions, but in retrospect, these two amateurs, Lee and I, did not think we could refuse to answer their questions. After "all" they went through to make this production, we even answered seedy questions. We left and discussed what just happened. Well, we thought, since this was a TRIBUTE to Freddie, they would edit that stuff out. We were duped!!
thundergod 06.09.2017 17:57	All, I think I forgot to answers somebody's question about the video called "Freddie's Loves" so here goes now: Lee Nolan and myself were approached by an English TV network to participate in a Freddie project...it had NO working or final name. We assumed that we were going to be flown out to London so we showed interest. When we questioned them about the content of this "documentary" and just said it would be a tribute to Freddie As it turned out,the meeting was going to be in LA, not London. They said they would put us up at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Well, that sounded kind of classy so we agreed. At first as we were interviewed the questions seemed quite reasonable. But once we felt comfortable, the questions changed to rather personal ones. Between takes, they gave us champagne...we were impressed. I am not saying they "drugged" us to answer their questions, but in retrospect, these two amateurs, Lee and I, did not think we could refuse to answer their questions. After "all" they went through to make this production, we even answered seedy questions. We left and discussed what just happened. Well, we thought, since this was a TRIBUTE to Freddie, they would edit that stuff out. We were duped!!
thundergod 06.09.2017 17:58	Sorry for the double reply
Rainbow61 06.09.2017 20:32	Thor...Thanks for the honesty with the background info regarding that documentary. Interesting account for sure. Apart from concert singing, did you ever hear Freddie sing in other settings? Would he be the type to burst out in song when he heard a great tune on the car radio or when out in a club? Would there be music in the background when you visited him at his apartment in NYC or Garden Lodge? We know he liked Prince, Liza Minelli, Aretha Franklin...just was curious if you heard him play their music or any other kind of music for that matter? Thanks for sticking with us in all our craziness!!!
thundergod 06.09.2017 23:04	Your welcome Rainbow61, To tell you the truth, we did not listen to music in New York or London. With all the conversation going on we didn't turn it on. However, every time in the Towne Car in NY, we always had the radio on (remember this was the early '80s. In my car, I think I still had an 8-track...LOL If a song came up that Freddie liked he got all excited like a teenager, had the driver turn up the volume, and insisted that everyone listen. I think I already mentioned that he loved the songs "Africa" and "Roseanna" and he would always say..."Oh just listen to this part" "the Saran-get-ti". or "take it all the way"...oh brilliant, dahling! he would say a few times over.
little foetus 06.09.2017 23:43	thundergod wrote: I was lucky enough to attend about 8 to 9 Queen concerts. Thanks for taking so much time to answer our questions! Do you remember which shows you attended? Do you have any anecdotes, stories about these shows?
SmokyQuartz 07.09.2017 00:28	thundergod wrote: I think I already mentioned that he loved the songs "Africa" and "Roseanna" and he would always say..."Oh just listen to this part" "the Saran-get-ti". or "take it all the way"...oh brilliant, dahling! he would say a few times over. Thanks for this little gem Thor! :-) I'm imagining Freddie must have liked them, not just because they're great songs, but because of the harmonies. I can almost imagine Queen singing them. By the way Thor, you came across ok on the Freddie's Loves documentary.
PrimeJiveUSA 07.09.2017 04:35	@Thor What's your favorite Queen album?
Grantcdn1 07.09.2017 05:12	Thanks Thor so much for all the insight... Interesting that you say Freddie did not seem much into commercialization. In the beginning they seemed to make music for art's sake and later seemed focussed more on writing hits... did you notice a change with him after the enormously successful "The Game" album and maybe the disappointment with sales of Hot Space and perhaps a desire to write more commercially successful material in The Works? Also as you have talked about substances...any indication he took any to relieve tension or give him energy during shows? When you see footage he always seems to have such incredible energy even before he hit the stage? Just curious and will understand if you prefer not to answer
Grantcdn1 07.09.2017 05:12	Thanks Thor so much for all the insight... Interesting that you say Freddie did not seem much into commercialization. In the beginning they seemed to make music for art's sake and later seemed focussed more on writing hits... did you notice a change with him after the enormously successful "The Game" album and maybe the disappointment with sales of Hot Space and perhaps a desire to write more commercially successful material in The Works? Also as you have talked about substances...any indication he took any to relieve tension or give him energy during shows? When you see footage he always seems to have such incredible energy even before he hit the stage? Just curious and will understand if you prefer not to answer
thundergod 07.09.2017 06:42	OK Everyone, I don't mean to be rude, but many of you need to take the time to read the whole thread. Many of the answers can be found in the conversations from early June to now. I don't have the energy to answer questions already asked. I'm trying to do the best I can. Thank you friends from QueenZone... I have really grown to like the people that come here. New questions welcome!
LOTV 07.09.2017 12:56	thundergod wrote: All, I think I forgot to answers somebody's question about the video called "Freddie's Loves" so here goes now: Lee Nolan and myself were approached by an English TV network to participate in a Freddie project...it had NO working or final name. We assumed that we were going to be flown out to London so we showed interest. When we questioned them about the content of this "documentary" and just said it would be a tribute to Freddie As it turned out,the meeting was going to be in LA, not London. They said they would put us up at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. Well, that sounded kind of classy so we agreed. At first as we were interviewed the questions seemed quite reasonable. But once we felt comfortable, the questions changed to rather personal ones. Between takes, they gave us champagne...we were impressed. I am not saying they "drugged" us to answer their questions, but in retrospect, these two amateurs, Lee and I, did not think we could refuse to answer their questions. After "all" they went through to make this production, we even answered seedy questions. We left and discussed what just happened. Well, we thought, since this was a TRIBUTE to Freddie, they would edit that stuff out. We were duped!! I wouldn't worry about it dude, as I wrote earlier I think you came across fine.
LOTV 07.09.2017 13:14	thundergod wrote: Your welcome Rainbow61, To tell you the truth, we did not listen to music in New York or London. With all the conversation going on we didn't turn it on. However, every time in the Towne Car in NY, we always had the radio on (remember this was the early '80s. In my car, I think I still had an 8-track...LOL If a song came up that Freddie liked he got all excited like a teenager, had the driver turn up the volume, and insisted that everyone listen. I think I already mentioned that he loved the songs "Africa" and "Roseanna" and he would always say..."Oh just listen to this part" "the Saran-get-ti". or "take it all the way"...oh brilliant, dahling! he would say a few times over. Well there's no accounting for taste my dear.
thundergod 07.09.2017 15:28	LOTV, So I guess what YOU are really saying is "there's no accounting for deviations from MY taste" Oh Brother!
Invisible Woman 07.09.2017 18:42	thundergod wrote: OK Everyone, I don't mean to be rude, but many of you need to take the time to read the whole thread. Many of the answers can be found in the conversations from early June to now. I don't have the energy to answer questions already asked. I'm trying to do the best I can. Thank you friends from QueenZone... I have really grown to like the people that come here. New questions welcome! Now everyone will be frightened and no one will dare to ask a question. I'm joking.:)
thundergod 07.09.2017 19:04	Hey Invisible Woman, I agree, "new questions welcome!" will certainly discourage any further questions from QueenZoners.. I'm joking right along with you :) wink!
adreme13 07.09.2017 20:18	Thor, did you ever see Freddie interact with his cats? I am wondering if he sweet talked them like most people do. Do you have any cat stories? Thanks!
thundergod 07.09.2017 20:46	Hey Andreme, The last time I visited Freddie in June 1991, I arrived at the Garden Lodge and went immediately to Freddie's bedroom upstairs. There was Freddie with 3 cats in his bed including Delilah. It was apparent that these precious felines were providing comfort to Freddie in his last 5 months. That scene was quite sweet and touching. I'll never forget it.
Rainbow61 08.09.2017 03:01	Thor, Can't tell you how much I love those stories you share. Listening to those Toto songs in the Towne Car...so much fun to picture Freddie's boyish enthusiasm! And the cats on his bed during your last visit...very moving. A while back you said about Freddie "He loved people who were real, not phony with their gold-digging intentions." ... I guess attracting gold-diggers was an occupational hazard of being a world famous rock star. He obviously found some true companions with his NYC friends. In general, would you say that Freddie was a fairly good judge of people? Could he spot a phony easily or were there people he interacted with that you thought were not good for him but he didn't seem to notice? I have always wondered how those with fame and money know for sure that someone truly likes them apart from their celebrity? Seems like that could potentially create feelings of insecurity or hyper-vigilance.
thundergod 08.09.2017 03:24	Hello Rainbow61, Your responses are always a breath of fresh air. Thank you. To answer your question, whenever my group got together with Freddie's previous, earlier group of friends, for example Peter Stryker, we did not know what to make of them. They definitely competed with us for Freddie's attention. I really don't know enough to make a judgement about their behavior. As long as they were Freddie's friends we backed off when necessary There was one guy, whose name I forget, would go on and on about his work for Yoko Ono. Many of the stories were hilarious and I truly loved them but he seemed to be most comfortable when he was dominating the conversation. We got the feeling that we were commoners and he was Royalty.
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 03:30	@Thor How did Peter Straker interact with you? Was he aloof?
thundergod 08.09.2017 03:36	Hey PrimeJive USA,, A little judgmental because we were average people with no airs about us. He had airs.
Rainbow61 08.09.2017 06:04	Thor, Thank you! I bet Freddie got a kick out of having his 2 groups of friends come together...a gathering of those he was closest to who just happen to live on different continents! It's interesting how our various friends can meet very different needs in our life. I wonder in part if that's how it was for Freddie with his NYC Friends and his British friends? Sometimes commoner = not pretentious! :)
smilefairyqueen 08.09.2017 06:59	I find it funny that you mentioned your interaction with Peter Straker. I noticed in interviews with him that ask about Freddie, he always has to center the conversation around himself or his career, instead of just talking about Freddie. He does seem quite cocky and loves attention, but apparently he and Freddie were quite close.
LOTV 08.09.2017 11:22	thundergod wrote: LOTV, So I guess what YOU are really saying is "there's no accounting for deviations from MY taste" Oh Brother! Just surprised Fred like Toto is all. Africa is tolerable but Roseanna wouldn't make it off the cutting room floor as a Queen number ;-) But, yeah my taste in music is perfect as you mention it old boy. My fave song is obvious and I don't much care for Radio Ga Ga.
LOTV 08.09.2017 11:30	@Thor Here's a question for you, very much on the theme of character: Bri and Rog go to great lengths in telling us how much Fred would like Adam, and let's face it who the fuck are we to disagree? As a matter of interest, do you agree? There are many who think Adam is a fake, for example the same contrived little speech about Freddie every night on tour, doesn't massively strike as coming from the heart more as a thought out action. And as you say Freddie disliked fakes... FTR I am slightly playing Devil's Advocate for the sake of discussion as personally I like Adam, although as he says himself he's no....blah blah blah Cheers
thundergod 08.09.2017 16:38	To whom it may concern, Basically, the IMPRESSION you leave here is out of your control. You do however have complete control of what you say and how you say it.
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 19:28	I still think it's cool as check that we're talking in real time to a friend of Freddie's! A friend I have read about and seen pictures of for years. This is one of reasons the internet is so great.
Rainbow61 08.09.2017 19:44	@PrimeJiveUSA So true!!! First time I've ever done something like this....I don't even have a Facebook page, don't do Instagram or any of those other modern ways of communicating, but this was too fantastic not to be a part of! (Well, I did learn how to text a few years ago, so I am not a complete dinosaur) @ Thor, Do you recall Freddie's reaction to John Lennon's death? That happened in December of 1980. While in NYC, did Freddie ever feel the need to have a body guard when he wasn't performing or did Peter Freestone in his many diverse roles more or less look out for Freddie and that was good enough? I never had the impression that Freddie was too concerned about protection as he was always in a group, and as you stated before, liked blending in rather than standing out in a crowd.
thundergod 08.09.2017 20:54	Hello PrimeJiveUSA, Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. Much appreciated.
thundergod 08.09.2017 20:54	Hello PrimeJiveUSA, Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. Much appreciated.
thundergod 08.09.2017 20:58	I hate those double prints!
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 21:05	Hey...I got thanked twice by a friend of Freddie's is the way I see it!
thundergod 08.09.2017 21:07	Hey Rainbow61, I met Freddie in Autumn of 1980. Other than the original meeting in New York and the next day in Philadelphia, we were not in touch for about 3 or 4 months. So, I missed Freddie's reaction to John Lennon's death. He never expressed a fear of being attacked and, yes, Peter Freestone among everything else was Freddie's bodyguard and hence his almost freak-out when Freddie wanted to ride back to his hotel in MY car. I have explained earlier that I had a tail-gating limousine following my every move! LOL
SmokyQuartz 08.09.2017 21:31	Hi Thor You mentioned going to Freddie's home in your lunch break from work. And him visiting you in your apartment. Can you paint a picture of what that was like? I'm kind of curious about the ordinary, domestic Freddie, lol. Did he make tea/coffee for you, or was there always someone else to do it? Was he tidy? What did you think of his apartment in terms of style, etc. Was he aware of time pressure re having to get back to work, etc. That sort of thing :-) Hope that's not too many questions, lol. Don't want to burn you out!
thundergod 08.09.2017 21:57	Hey SmokyQuartz, Don't worry, I can handle 2 questions at a time...LOL. I worked from 7pm to 7am at the Cancer Center. Except for emergencies (which happened all the time), 12 to 1am was a great time to get away. I always looked forward to my Freddie visits when he was available. I would take my break about 12 midnight (the quiet time). Lee got off work at 11 pm. Joe and John would be there depending on their airline schedule. Freddie loved this routine. Phoebe took care of all the coffee and snacks. The apartment was immaculate but you would not see him with his "I Want to Break Free" vacuum. Phoebe took care of all that. (bless his heart). We would chat and laugh and plan for upcoming adventures whether in NY or at a tour destination. I'd go back to work in a great mood and energized.
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 22:04	@Thor I know you said there wasn't smoking in Garden Lodge. Was there smoking in the NYC condo?
thundergod 08.09.2017 22:07	PJUSA, Freddie was not a chain smoker, but when he did smoke he went on his gorgeous balcony with that great view of what he called "my 7 bridges"
SmokyQuartz 08.09.2017 22:48	thundergod wrote: Hey SmokyQuartz, Don't worry, I can handle 2 questions at a time...LOL. I worked from 7pm to 7am at the Cancer Center. Except for emergencies (which happened all the time), 12 to 1am was a great time to get away. I always looked forward to my Freddie visits when he was available. I would take my break about 12 midnight (the quiet time). Lee got off work at 11 pm. Joe and John would be there depending on their airline schedule. Freddie loved this routine. Phoebe took care of all the coffee and snacks. The apartment was immaculate but you would not see him with his "I Want to Break Free" vacuum. Phoebe took care of all that. (bless his heart). We would chat and laugh and plan for upcoming adventures whether in NY or at a tour destination. I'd go back to work in a great mood and energized. LOL, I was just thinking of the sheer amount of questions you've had since you joined. Thanks for the picture, sounds like a great routine and I'd go back to work energised I'm sure! Phoebe once said Freddie couldn't make a cup of tea....I doubt that but it'll have to remain a mystery, lol.
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 22:51	That's really cool. Back then, when smoking was so much more socially acceptable, most smokers would smoke inside their homes. Sounds like he didn't want that nastiness hanging around and permeating everything.
Rainbow61 08.09.2017 22:52	@ Thor, Were the rest of you non-smokers and Freddie was just being respectful of that? If others smoked, did they also step out on the balcony?
thundergod 08.09.2017 22:59	Hi Rainbow61, John Murphy smoked, Lee, myself and Joe did not. I assumed Freddie just didn't want his apartment to smell like cigarettes...but who knows? The house always smelled great as far as I can remember.
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 23:59	Back then you got accustomed to cigarette smoke everywhere...even in hospitals!
PrimeJiveUSA 08.09.2017 23:59	Back then you got accustomed to cigarette smoke everywhere...even in hospitals!
thundergod 09.09.2017 00:06	PJUSA, You are right. I think at that time smoke damage to valuable possessions was considered more important than health. Sad but true.
Jimmy Dean 09.09.2017 04:08	Hi there, Thor - i'm not as well versed as a lot of these queenzoners but i've learned a lot having been reading and posting on and off since Richard had this site going. And to be honest prior to learning there was 33 pages of posting about a guy named Thor, I actually never heard of you. After reading a good chunk of them - that has definitely changed. I'm born and raised in Montreal - and was only born 2 years after their last show here in '82. I am, however interested in any anecdotes you can cough up - over and above what you mentioned in earlier postings (the fire, Brian's parents). Did you only visit while Freddie was around for that one show? or were there other occurrences? What did Freddie think of the city - and what do you think of it (or did if you haven't visited since then)? I figure there must have been a vibrant gay scene here since at least the early 80s - anything interesting to talk about from that perspective? Mainly interested in anything you know related to Freddie vs. Montreal.
chewy123 10.09.2017 05:50	Hey Thor, just got to the thread here---im from san diego too dog!!!! (not anymore though....) ...i'm really happy to learn from you, that Freddie liked TOTO IV ( "Roseanna", "Africa" etc)- some ppl here aren't getting it but it really makes perfect sense- really glad to have you confirm that. Do you have any other little recollections like that of other music Freddie liked or didnt like, from the time. Espically like any of his "peer" bands, what they were doing in 1980-- Yes/"Drama", Genesis "Duke"etc, Pink Floyd "The Wall", etc
matt z 10.09.2017 07:22	I was once a musical semi ingrate...and didn't like TOTO (it was well before me) but mostly it was from having heard AFRICA (the band still doesn't have much clue what it was about; just ad libs and African references. But Rosanna is another story....how can ya dislike it? Their early albums are pretty damn good. Steve Lukather is quite open about discussing his career and is a hell of a guy. Even showed ME gratitude for having ASKED to have HIM sign MY guitar (a LUKE I'd bought second hand) he's a damn decent valley dude. Anyways! THOR...i know I'd kinda thrown out that "man child" bit about Michael Jackson in the first responses here. ....but I would be almost certain that Freddie and the band held him in high regard. He was already huge then, but had not YET "taken over the world": hell, the internet nearly "froze" with activity when he died. Numerous sites and search engines thought they were being bombarded with code viruses and hackers when that occurred. An incredible occurrence....so. YOU as a primary source of information, are of course valuable for shedding some light on things from an impartial viewpoint. Did you ever get any ill feelings about Michael and his behavior? I've always believed he was sincere in his efforts and concerns about humanity, children's health, well being, illness, joy etc. ...but he's likely to go down in history as simply a myth. Was there any concern that Michael was who he was later portrayed by the media to be? I've been on the fence my whole life wondering if he was just simply repressed by religion and beatings and a motherly sensitivity, OR that he was a closeted homosexual... neither really ever gaining ground on the other. I know it's really one question, and sorry for the lengthiness...it IS really a pressing concern for fans of the man's work. Is there anything u could shed on him, or was the experience all a matter of very professional matters?
adreme13 10.09.2017 19:15	Hello again Thor, Did Freddie ever talk about embarrassing moments he had on stage (if so, details! details! Lol) and did he ever say if he was sick of singing a certain song over and over? Thank you, kind Sir. :-)
Rainbow61 10.09.2017 21:00	Hope all QueenZone participants who live in Florida are safe tonight!
LucasDiego 11.09.2017 01:50	Hi thundergod, really nice to see you here. My question is: are you excited to watch the Freddie biography? What kind of movie you want to have?
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 04:25	I have a feeling that if this film is a big hit like Walk The Line, Thor will be highly sought out by media outlets here in America.
LOTV 11.09.2017 09:41	LOTV wrote: @Thor Here's a question for you, very much on the theme of character: Bri and Rog go to great lengths in telling us how much Fred would like Adam, and let's face it who the fuck are we to disagree? As a matter of interest, do you agree? There are many who think Adam is a fake, for example the same contrived little speech about Freddie every night on tour, doesn't massively strike as coming from the heart more as a thought out action. And as you say Freddie disliked fakes... FTR I am slightly playing Devil's Advocate for the sake of discussion as personally I like Adam, although as he says himself he's no....blah blah blah Cheers @Thor, any thoughts on this or rather not comment? Cheers
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 16:31	I think the thunderbird has taken a bit of a breather like Queen did between A Kind of Magic and The Miracle. Totally understandable.
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 16:32	Thunder God...not thunderbird.
smilefairyqueen 11.09.2017 19:29	You guys keep asking him shit questions and are harassing him about everything. Start asking good questions about Freddie or else leave the thread.
YAWN 11.09.2017 20:50	Hey smilefairyqueen Thor seems pretty capable of expressing his thoughts and opinions. If he felt harassed, I'm sure he would have said it. Nobody here has harassed him. He has a life outside of this thread. His not replying in a day or 2 doesn't signal him feeling harassed. How about instead of demanding that people ask better questions or leave, you drop the attitude and stay in your lane.
The Squirrelly One 11.09.2017 21:00	@smilefairyqueen I haven't seen anyone ask him a stupid question in quite some time. Someone asked about Freddie's privates and his armpit hair pages back and that was the only stupid topic brought up. Thor shut it down on his own so I don't think he needs you to get up in arms about what other people are asking him. Whats up with these random immature people on this thread? I agree with Villers. Dont be so nasty smilefairyqueen.
The Squirrelly One 11.09.2017 21:15	@Thor Getting back to Freddie.. I know you met Jim Hutton but weren't close to him. I met Jim a few times in the 90's at Queen conventions and as I knew his niece Cammy. I got to speak with him about Freddie and those around him. At the time I was not familiar with the NY Daughters but I do remember Jim saying that Freddie would often speak about his good friends in New York and I can only assume he was referring to you guys. Jim at that point was still pretty sentimental when discussing Freddie and I do recall him getting a little emotional (not crying but definitely touched by the thought) when he talked about how pleased he was to know Freddie had good friends he felt he could trust in the world. I just thought you would like to know Mr. Hutton seemed to be someone who really appreciated your friendship with his husband. Also I noticed a few pages back that someone questioned if Freddie really did call Jim his husband... I can assure you he did. Jim still had tons of letters and little notes from Freddie that he kept over the years. Some were addressed to "My Husband" and signed by Freddie as "Hubby" that I was able to see. His niece does still have some.
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 22:15	I think Thor is just taking a little breather. Let's give him some space.
The Squirrelly One 11.09.2017 22:34	@primejiveusa I agree. I hope he doesn't mind me tossing that last bit in about Jim if he's actually swamped. I think he is probably just busy though.
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 22:49	@The Squirrelly One This may be the point where Thor thinks it's wise to depart. There's a lot of stuff going on here and he was very generous with his time coming onto this thread. Thor is a VERY important witness to the Freddie story and he may have realized that with the upcoming movie. Either way...we love you Thor and thank you so much for the way you reached out to us!
Rainbow61 11.09.2017 22:50	@ The Squirrelly One, Touching remembrance. Thank you.
The Squirrelly One 11.09.2017 22:57	My pleasure rainbow61. Jim always came off a very genuine guy and someone who I feel lucky to have known.
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 23:01	If this is indeed the point where Thor has left this forum I want to tell him THANK YOU! This has been my most amazing experience as a lifelong Queen Fan. Couldn't believe it when it was happening and will always cherish it!
The Squirrelly One 11.09.2017 23:11	You did already primejive lol. But i understand you're happy about the thread. He may be retired now but that doesnt mean he does not have other things in his life that take up his time. He's being really generous about answering our questions and seems to be very encouraging for us to continue asking them. If it was the end of his responses here I think have told have told us. No need to panic or wave goodbye just yet :)
PrimeJiveUSA 11.09.2017 23:23	My gut tells me this is the end. We'll see, I guess.
matt z 12.09.2017 00:21	^ Nah. Prob not. Just an eager bunch of posters. I'm sure the fella has an active life of his own. Interesting stuff, generous guy to offer his time.
Invisible Woman 12.09.2017 07:45	@The Squirrelly One It was fine and interesting to read it, thank you.
Invisible Woman 12.09.2017 07:49	I don't think Thor would leave from here without explaining why he will no longer answer questions. He is probably busy and no time, but I think he will return.
LOTV 12.09.2017 09:03	Hey Thor... If we could only reach you, if we could make you smile, if we could only reach, that would really be a breakthrough...... Seriously though, thanks for your time. Hopefully 'see' you soon. And on the subject of breaking through, what an under rated and cracking pop song that is. Oh yeah.
LOTV 12.09.2017 09:04	Villiers wrote: Hey smilefairyqueen Thor seems pretty capable of expressing his thoughts and opinions. If he felt harassed, I'm sure he would have said it. Nobody here has harassed him. He has a life outside of this thread. His not replying in a day or 2 doesn't signal him feeling harassed. How about instead of demanding that people ask better questions or leave, you drop the attitude and stay in your lane. Spot on. Do we need self appointed arbiters of taste? I think not.
smilefairyqueen 12.09.2017 13:26	I apologize for my post. It was pretty rude of me to say. Many of you have been asking great questions.
thundergod 12.09.2017 17:11	I have not left....I am not offended....helping a friend move....been very busy, that's all. I will try to answer all questions very soon...I still like it here very much.
thundergod 12.09.2017 17:40	PROMISE TO ALL, If I ever decide to leave this thread, you will ALL be notified. I don't see that happening though as I feel you have become my new friends as well. I don't mind spending time here, Any fan of Freddie's is a friend of mine. He gave me so much and sharing it with you is my pleasure.Even if you've typed a little harsh at times, no one is beyond forgiveness.
Rainbow61 12.09.2017 21:59	@ Thor, Reassuring words! While I didn't think you would just leave without saying something, I did consider that you might be taking a well-deserved break. You might have noticed that this thread you started back in July now has an extremely dedicated following judging by the number of posts. I daresay this is the most popular thread and it just keeps growing. You have certainly tapped into something powerful with your honest reflections and have drawn together a wide range of people who always delight me with their questions and conversations. Thank you so much.
PrimeJiveUSA 13.09.2017 00:22	"@ Thor, Reassuring words! While I didn't think you would just leave without saying something, I did consider that you might be taking a well-deserved break. You might have noticed that this thread you started back in July now has an extremely dedicated following judging by the number of posts. I daresay this is the most popular thread and it just keeps growing. You have certainly tapped into something powerful with your honest reflections and have drawn together a wide range of people who always delight me with their questions and conversations. Thank you so much. " Rainbow61...wow...well stated! Hey Thor...would love for you to just ruminate without prodding from "questions" when the spirit moves you.
thundergod 14.09.2017 07:07	Hey Jimmie Dean, My first time to Montreal was in 1967 for "Expo '67", As I was especially attracted to World's Fairs since '64, '65 when it was in New York, I loved it. I had convinced my family to make Montreal a vacation destination in '67. After that, I had not been back to Montreal since Freddie brought me there. The time crunch made it impractical to sight see. But of course, we went out with Freddie to a club, which name I do not remember.I met a very attractive man named Charles who was a Canadian/Maltese working for Air Canada. We kept a long distance relationship for about 6 months. Back to Freddie, what I've said so far is unfortunately all I can remember. It was a quick in and out.
thundergod 14.09.2017 07:25	Hi chewy123, Unfortunately, Freddie did not share his feelings about other bands, at least to me. We did occasionally discuss opera, but it was limited to only the 10-11 operas that I was familiar with. If I were more musically inclined, I'm sure we would have talked about other bands.
thundergod 14.09.2017 07:38	Hello matt z, I have no idea of what Brian, Roger and John thought about MJ. What I do know is that Freddie was disappointed in not being able to finish this collaboration. He certainly admired MJ, but I was left with the impression that things didn't work out, with one reason being MJ's misinterpretation of Freddie's "Get Well" card which I have already discussed. By the way, my favorite Michael Jackson song was the sweet and mellow "Human Nature" which I listened to about 100 times on a trip to Florida with my friends (not with Freddie unfortunately).
thundergod 14.09.2017 07:49	Hey Adreme, Freddie did not complain about singing any song over and over, and why would he? The very successful Queen Over America and Queen America '82 tours had Freddie at two more high point in his musical career. Sorry, but no embarrassing moments on stage were ever mentioned to me.
thundergod 14.09.2017 07:55	Hello LOTV, As I have never seen and heard Adam Lambert and Queen in concert, I really don't know. I have no idea at what Freddie would have said about Adam. No one was imitating his style when I knew Freddie that I know of.
thundergod 14.09.2017 07:58	Hi LucasDiego, Please check earlier posts. I have commented on this topic at length. Thank you for joining us here!
thundergod 14.09.2017 08:06	Hello smilefariequeen, There are no shit questions here. Those that are rude or too intrusive are mostly dealt with with silence, However, they are given a chance or two to present themselves more pleasantly. No one comes here because they crave nastiness.
thundergod 14.09.2017 08:10	Hey Rainbow61, Thanks again for your very kind input. Great!
LOTV 14.09.2017 09:20	thundergod wrote: Hello LOTV, As I have never seen and heard Adam Lambert and Queen in concert, I really don't know. I have no idea at what Freddie would have said about Adam. No one was imitating his style when I knew Freddie that I know of. Bonjour, Thanks, fair enough. We shall just have to take Brian's word for it. I saw an audience with Straker this week, have to say I'd rather attend an event hosted by yourself based on the evidence I have seen. Freddie clearly saw something in Straker I can't. Phoebe always comes across as a very nice, genuine chap. So too Mike Moran, although I sense in Mike Moran a feeling that Freddie was above Queen, even wasted to an extent.
kokax 14.09.2017 13:54	Hello Thor ! me again .... can I ask : what did it "feel" like to discuss music with Freddie ? Was it intimidating ? Were you guys all on an equal level ? Was he ever dismissive or inadvertently treated you more like a fan ? Did he get any inspiration from you ? Where you ever surprised about his reactions when you maybe offered your opinion/ insights ? Was it more like small talk before you hit the bars etc or something that kept all of you busy for a while ? Just wondering what it must have been like........
LOTV 14.09.2017 14:59	kokax wrote: Hello Thor ! me again .... can I ask : what did it "feel" like to discuss music with Freddie ? Was it intimidating ? Were you guys all on an equal level ? Was he ever dismissive or inadvertently treated you more like a fan ? Did he get any inspiration from you ? Where you ever surprised about his reactions when you maybe offered your opinion/ insights ? Was it more like small talk before you hit the bars etc or something that kept all of you busy for a while ? Just wondering what it must have been like........ Um, dude, Thor has said he didn't really discuss music with Sir Fred of Mercury.
kokax 14.09.2017 15:45	I was refering to the cab ride ( "Roseanna", "Africa") MJ moments etc. Thanks for anticipating the answer LOTV ! :)
thundergod 14.09.2017 21:53	Hello LOTV, What I recall of Peter Straker, the handful of times that I met him, is that he had pretentious airs about him which I really didn't like. My group got the feeling from him that we were American commoners and HE was British Royalty because he knew Freddie. Not my cup of tea. His attitude reminded me of an incident in Atlanta I had during the annual "Hotlanta" celebration at a very gorgeous Marriott Suites Hotel, Into the pool area strutted a loud queen. After about 5 minutes he was overheard by ALL, bitching,.."I don't like this Marriott Suites place....take me to the Ritz" and abruptly stormed out of the pool area.
thundergod 14.09.2017 21:59	Oh, oh kokax, MJ and Toto were discussed at length. Just go back a few pages. I don't think I could offer anymore factual input to those conversations. No big deal my friend, Ask another one any time.
Rainbow61 14.09.2017 23:03	Hi Thor.... So if the Bohemian Rhapsody film delves into Freddie's life in NYC, who do you want to play you in the movie! :)
Saint Jiub 15.09.2017 00:44	Hi Thor - Has Freddie ever mentioned absolutely anything about working on Queen albums? Solo albums? I hope this is not a repeat question ...
thundergod 15.09.2017 00:50	Hey Rainbow61, I probably can assure you that I might possibly be mentioned because of my name, but there will be no portrayal of me or my group. I don't believe that Brian and Roger ever knew how close we were with Freddie in the early '80s. With the (disappointing) PG rating I am sure that Freddie as a gay man will be minimized and his relationship with Mary and perhaps even with that Barbara woman in Munich will be glorified.
thundergod 15.09.2017 01:00	Hey Panchgani, Yes, I did go over the musical discussions, but this is new: Freddie was very proud of his contributions to movies namely "Flash Gordon", "The Highlander" and the "Hotel New Hampshire" and though we didn't go into critical discourse of these movies, he enjoyed telling us about them on the phone and during our visits to Garden Lodge. There is a somewhat amusing story about his words about his solo album single "I Was Born to Love You" but I can't remember what page it might be on.
The Squirrelly One 15.09.2017 01:12	I doubt Barbara will be mentioned. Brian and Roger know she wasnt his lover. I have had a brief conversation with Brian about Barbara before. Mary will be a big part of it though. She was very important to Freddie
Sheer Brass Neck 15.09.2017 01:19	Hello again Thor, and once again, I think that your sharing of your stories without giving away every moment or the crap a very small number of people is commendable on you as a person, and really nice to see Freddie Mercury the man come to light instead of the performer. He seemed to be supreme as both. Asked earlier in the Billy Squier question I had before (and thanks for the answer), was a question which you didn't answer, but just addressed in your most recent post, and that was whether the PG rating would whitewash the whole gay world that Freddie revelled in, and would you be disappointed if it were sanitized. I think your answer tells the story, and that's why I am not really looking forward to the film, think it'll be a no warts type of biopic and that seems to be far from Freddie's life and the band's fractious relationships. Thanks again for the anecdotes, well told and you're very thoughtful in your replies, take care!
matt z 15.09.2017 01:47	The Squirrelly One wrote: I doubt Barbara will be mentioned. Brian and Roger know she wasnt his lover. I have had a brief conversation with Brian about Barbara before. Mary will be a big part of it though. She was very important to Freddie I'm still keeping my hopes up for Jon Lovitz being cast as Barbara Valentin. He'd be absolutely perfect
The Squirrelly One 15.09.2017 01:58	@Matt Z HA! Absolutely right.
thundergod 15.09.2017 02:18	Hi The Squirrelly One, I agree, Mary is so important in Freddie's life. OK, I may just put a blemish on her Sainthood. About two weeks after Freddie's death, I visited the Garden Lodge to visit Phoebe as I had a long scheduled trip to London with a different friend, as a gateway to our trip to Germany, Switzerland and Italy . After years of all of them living together, Mary had given Phoebe a "termination of services" letter to vacate the Garden Lodge after one more week. It struck me as not a proper separation to just rush him on. She did not come down to greet me as she had done every time before. I guess she was eager to break ties to old Freddie friends and begin her new life as a wealthy woman. Don't get me wrong, perhaps she had her reasons that I don't understand, but I now consider her just as a person who used to be nice to me.
thundergod 15.09.2017 02:19	Hey Sheer Brass Neck, Thanks as always for your continued encouragement.
thundergod 15.09.2017 02:21	Hello matt z, Your thoughts are hilarious and priceless. Thank you brother!
YAWN 15.09.2017 02:30	Thor, that matches what Jim and Peter Freestone said in their books. Peter talks about Mary and how she disappointed him after Freddie's death in his second book. Jim Hutton tends to get a ton of crap from fans about his book because he spoke about how Mary wasnt exactly kind when Freddie was dying and after he passed. But it matches Peter's account as well. And now yours. I'm sure Mary did mean a great deal to Freddie, but nobody is a total saint. People automatically scream "lies! " when someone dares mentioning Mary not being polite and sweet every moment of everyday. I'm sorry to hear to she did that to another person Freddie cared about. Thanks for that. Matt Z, dude you're hilarious! Lol too true
The Squirrelly One 15.09.2017 02:35	@Thor I believe it. It sounds very much like what happened to Jim Hutton who told me a few times about how hurt he was at the way she handled things. Peter Freestone also had a similar story in his book called The Afterlife. She was very important to Freddie but I agree she did not seem to be the most kind person toward the end.
thundergod 15.09.2017 02:37	Thanks Villiers, As I don't have all of these books read, I depend on the verification I get from you Super-fans. Thanks so much.my friend. Please continue with your great knowledge and wisdom.
thundergod 15.09.2017 02:41	The above comment goes out to you too The Squirrelly One! Thank you.
Jimmy Dean 15.09.2017 02:49	thundergod wrote: Hey Jimmie Dean, My first time to Montreal was in 1967 for "Expo '67", As I was especially attracted to World's Fairs since '64, '65 when it was in New York, I loved it. I had convinced my family to make Montreal a vacation destination in '67. After that, I had not been back to Montreal since Freddie brought me there. The time crunch made it impractical to sight see. But of course, we went out with Freddie to a club, which name I do not remember.I met a very attractive man named Charles who was a Canadian/Maltese working for Air Canada. We kept a long distance relationship for about 6 months. Back to Freddie, what I've said so far is unfortunately all I can remember. It was a quick in and out. Thanks for your response :-) You should come back to visit our city. Lots more going on - however probably best to wait until after April... should be getting cold here real soon.
thundergod 15.09.2017 03:04	Great Jimmy Dean, I hope to get there again...wonderful city.By the way, your capital Ottawa makes Washington DC look like a slum. Everyone always talks of how friendly Canadians are and I agree wholeheartedly. Trudeau vs.Trump...OMG NO COMPARISON with your leader. He is a leader while Trump is an asshole...surely the BEST asshole ever in history LOL
YAWN 15.09.2017 03:10	Thor, agreed 110% lol. I risked getting kicked out of my firm for getting arrested at an anti Trump rally right before the election. No charges were pressed against us (it was the group next to us that were getting rowdy) but it was an experience I'd happily go through a hundred times over! Hes not my president!
thundergod 15.09.2017 03:12	YOU GO VILLIERS!
Jimmy Dean 15.09.2017 04:06	deleted - double post
Jimmy Dean 15.09.2017 04:07	thundergod wrote: Great Jimmy Dean, I hope to get there again...wonderful city.By the way, your capital Ottawa makes Washington DC look like a slum. Everyone always talks of how friendly Canadians are and I agree wholeheartedly. Trudeau vs.Trump...OMG NO COMPARISON with your leader. He is a leader while Trump is an asshole...surely the BEST asshole ever in history LOL i believe Trump called washington a sewer - but yes i agree - i've seen both... However, keep in mind Ottawa's a tiny city with very little to do. come to think of it - why did you go to Ottawa? Back to Trump... It's interesting that he's working with democrats. You have to give him one thing - he's making politics interesting again (pun intended). There hasn't been anything this exciting since Clinton's second term. Russia, Scaramucci's 10 days of excellence, and bipartisanship in under a year. Obama will probably go down as one of the top 5 presidents after Trump is done with his term (or by the time he's impeached). It was remarkable what he was able to achieve in his 8 years under the circumstances he was under... you guys finally got healthcare... that was uuuge. Trudeau needs to work on his politics - he hasn't been handling himself too well. I like him - but he's got to work on being more transparent.
Jimmy Dean 15.09.2017 04:08	*deleted* triple post!
thundergod 15.09.2017 04:21	Ha Ha Jimmy Dean, I met his mother Margaret Trudeau at Studio 54 in New York the night that Donna Summer performed there, I think Donna was there by surprise...before she was "born again" and lost all of her gay following. Margaret seemed very high. Maybe there were some problems in Justin's upbringing but I really have no idea...maybe she was a great mother. Perhaps Justin could just not "Tie his mother down"...LOL
Jimmy Dean 15.09.2017 04:54	wow. what other famous people have you met? sorry if that's been covered in this thread - i didn't have time to go through all these pages. i haven't read much into that - but there's a whole story + memoir written by her about all that... bipolar disorder i think was the culprit actually.
raucousmonster 15.09.2017 07:48	Jimmy Dean you should try and find time to go through all these pages. There's Thor gold on every page! :)
c.jory 15.09.2017 09:12	Thor, you didn't burst the Saint Mary bubble - as people have said, she did that herself, turning on everyone before Freddie had gone cold. She even objected to the band receiving his quarter of the royalties (for the last 4 Queen albums) in his will, and according to Freddie's mother she stopped speaking to the Bulsaras too...whilst simultaneously claiming everyone abandoned HER because she wasn't generous like Freddie (!). It seems they tried to make an effort with her only to have the doors repeatedly slammed in their faces, with people like ex manager John Reid claiming she said "yes but I won in the end, didn't I!" when he tried to console her. It's thanks to her that many fans have a certain hostility towards his gay friends, (her comments have resulted in some fans' latent homophobia rearing its ugly head). She said in an interview most of them were there for the 'free gifts, concert tickets and the booze' and people believe her. Phoebe's made it clear though that you New York friends were not using him, but because Mary was his trusted friend, people tend to believe her words over Peter Freestone's and now have the impression he was sucked dry by a bunch of gay layabouts! I think it's a bit rich coming from a woman who was on his payroll since 1977, just for being his friend.
c.jory 15.09.2017 09:18	Also can I just say, I dread the Barbara thing coming up in the film. She has no relevance to his life and career whatsoever and made some crazy and implausible claims about him. Now I do believe she WAS leeching off his fame, which contributed to their [temporary] falling out and lack of closeness in his final year. Some people are desperate for her to have a role though, because they want Freddie to be bisexual to fuel their own fantasies. Some people can't seem to grasp that gay men can have close friendships with women.
YAWN 15.09.2017 10:20	I also find it hilarious that people believe the Barbara crap (not just because her stories never added up and there's tons of proof to shut her down) but they believe her when she claimed Freddie tried to murder her in her sleep. Yes, thats right- Barbara claimed that she was sleeping next to Freddie (where was his boyfriend Winnie?) and Freddie got up and strangled her. According to Barbara, Freddie was an attempted murderer and didnt stop trying to cut off her air flow until her personal assistant (that nobody ever saw even once) came in the room and pulled him off her. She also claimed he slammed her head into a sink because he was jealous that he had to share her with other men. Funny, as nobody ever saw any of this and Peter says it plain never happened. Oh, and let's not forget the trance she claimed Freddie got into. According to Barbara, she and she alone was the one who saved him during a mental episode he had (again, that nobody ever saw or heard about) when he fell into a trance and started slamming his head against a metal heater in his bedroom until his head was pouring blood. Peter saw him daily (even in Munich) and never saw any trace of that being true. No scars on his head, no mention of any episode. No attempted murder and no assault on her. Barbara also claimed that Freddie knew he had AIDS well before he got tested in 87 and so he willingly gave it to Jim Hutton. That brings her claims against Freddie to be: 1 count of attempted murder by strangulation, 1 count of physical assault, and multiple counts of manslaughter and fraud by intentional transmission of HIV. Freddie was no saint but come on. Ridiculous, right? But fans buy it because she also claims to have been the only other woman he slept with after Mary and they would prefer to believe Freddie wasnt gay. Thats how far people will go to keep their fantasies about him intact. Peter has stated in his second book that he does not believe they ever had physical relations. Freddie told those around him (Jim Hutton and Crystal Taylor to name a few) that he never had sex with her but because Lesley Ann Jones put it in her book about him, its believed- or should I say... it gives people an excuse to claim he wasnt gay. Barbara was a beard and friend. I use that word loosely... "friend", that is. People also seem to ignore the fact that Peter explained why Freddie "left" Barbara for a few years: she had been lying to the press about their relationship and Freddie found out. Freddie was also made aware of the reporters who happened to show up at all clubs and restaurants they visited together- they all just so happened to be friends of Barbara's. As his beard, she got plenty of photos taken of him holding her hand while his boyfriend Winnie had to walk behind them. That made for great tabloids, and Freddie felt used. Barbara "forgot" to mention that, and instead told Lesley Ann Jones that Freddie left her because he didnt want to infect her with HIV. In the same breath, she claimed he had no issues infecting Jim. Now you understand why the Barbara topic gets so heated lol. Queen fans will believe he was a killer, if it means he wasnt gay. Sorry for the rant, but I had to!
love2spin 15.09.2017 15:23	Not an expert (by any means) but seem to remember reading something to the effect that "vacant possession" had to be established prior to Mary's legally inheriting Garden Lodge. This was offered as the reason for requiring Peter, Joe and Jim to leave the house by February. Can't remember where I read it, not sure if it was valid.
c.jory 15.09.2017 15:36	love2spin wrote: Not an expert (by any means) but seem to remember reading something to the effect that "vacant possession" had to be established prior to Mary's legally inheriting Garden Lodge. This was offered as the reason for requiring Peter, Joe and Jim to leave the house by February. Can't remember where I read it, not sure if it was valid. I think that is correct and Jim and Joe were in the process of making new housing arrangements. However she had asked Peter to stay on and neglected to tell him until the last minute that he also had to leave. He had to scramble some accommodation at short notice and as a result, left some belongings there, which she illegally kept. Also the three guys were made to live in the mews next door by December, and not allowed in the main house after 6pm, which was not part of the legal agreement. Mary hadn't even moved in yet and she got security to watch over them. It's not all her fault, because the house had to go through probate, but her actions were cold, calculated and selfish and she should have been more honest with Peter. And given his stuff back.
c.jory 15.09.2017 15:59	Villiers wrote: I also find it hilarious that people believe the Barbara crap (not just because her stories never added up and there's tons of proof to shut her down) but they believe her when she claimed Freddie tried to murder her in her sleep. Yes, thats right- Barbara claimed that she was sleeping next to Freddie (where was his boyfriend Winnie?) and Freddie got up and strangled her. According to Barbara, Freddie was an attempted murderer and didnt stop trying to cut off her air flow until her personal assistant (that nobody ever saw even once) came in the room and pulled him off her. She also claimed he slammed her head into a sink because he was jealous that he had to share her with other men. Funny, as nobody ever saw any of this and Peter says it plain never happened. Oh, and let's not forget the trance she claimed Freddie got into. According to Barbara, she and she alone was the one who saved him during a mental episode he had (again, that nobody ever saw or heard about) when he fell into a trance and started slamming his head against a metal heater in his bedroom until his head was pouring blood. Peter saw him daily (even in Munich) and never saw any trace of that being true. No scars on his head, no mention of any episode. No attempted murder and no assault on her. Barbara also claimed that Freddie knew he had AIDS well before he got tested in 87 and so he willingly gave it to Jim Hutton. That brings her claims against Freddie to be: 1 count of attempted murder by strangulation, 1 count of physical assault, and multiple counts of manslaughter and fraud by intentional transmission of HIV. Freddie was no saint but come on. Ridiculous, right? But fans buy it because she also claims to have been the only other woman he slept with after Mary and they would prefer to believe Freddie wasnt gay. Thats how far people will go to keep their fantasies about him intact. Peter has stated in his second book that he does not believe they ever had physical relations. Freddie told those around him (Jim Hutton and Crystal Taylor to name a few) that he never had sex with her but because Lesley Ann Jones put it in her book about him, its believed- or should I say... it gives people an excuse to claim he wasnt gay. Barbara was a beard and friend. I use that word loosely... "friend", that is. People also seem to ignore the fact that Peter explained why Freddie "left" Barbara for a few years: she had been lying to the press about their relationship and Freddie found out. Freddie was also made aware of the reporters who happened to show up at all clubs and restaurants they visited together- they all just so happened to be friends of Barbara's. As his beard, she got plenty of photos taken of him holding her hand while his boyfriend Winnie had to walk behind them. That made for great tabloids, and Freddie felt used. Barbara "forgot" to mention that, and instead told Lesley Ann Jones that Freddie left her because he didnt want to infect her with HIV. In the same breath, she claimed he had no issues infecting Jim. Now you understand why the Barbara topic gets so heated lol. Queen fans will believe he was a killer, if it means he wasnt gay. Sorry for the rant, but I had to! The Barbara stuff is insane and too many people are scared to raise the issue because a huge fight kicks off every time! None of her story can be corroborated with anyone else who knew Freddie well. But try telling them that and they will scream "gay conspiracy made up by his gay friends who wanted him to be the same as them!" Freddie told his friends who he was in relationships with. Peter Freestone mentions them all in his books. He was there through all of them, so why would Freddie not tell him he was sleeping with Barbara? There is no motive for a cover-up operation. Even though Phoebe has repeatedly said Freddie did not live with Barbara, (despite paying for half a property with her), people keep spreading this lie, making out they had this three year affair. Even though Freddie's solo album thanks his boyfriend Winnie for 'board and lodging'! One of the worst things Barbara said has to be "[homosexuality] was a role he chose to play!" HA HA! Rosemary Pearson wrote a book about how hard Freddie was struggling with his true sexuality from '68-'71, then obviously Mary also went through a difficult breakup with him in '76 in which she states he became "finally at one with himself" after two years of acting strange. It was a long, difficult journey, so the idea that Freddie - right in the middle of a period of homosexual promiscuity - should suddenly flip and go back to women is utterly implausible. And Barbara's claims he wanted to marry her are laughable at best. If he was going to marry a woman, it would have been Mary.
love2spin 15.09.2017 17:16	As to the security guards, I also remember reading that Joe left Garden Lodge early one morning to go and work out, locking the gate but not turning on alarm. Phoebe was expected to arrive within 30 minutes, no one thought leaving the alarm off for such a short period of time was such a a major concern. Mary arrived in the interim to find the house "unalarmed" notified Jim Beach. The security guards were in place within a few hours.
Invisible Woman 15.09.2017 18:06	I see a discussion about Mary and Barbara. As a woman, I will tell you this: A woman who for years does what Mary did, is doing it for interests (whatever it is) or because of obsession. And the worst is the combination of the first and the second. I don't see her as a "saint" but as a smart business woman.She herself agreed to appear with Freddie at public events where they would be photographed.It probably suited her. Also, this story about her as his greatest love and the only friend is posted through the press and journalists. Freddie gave her half of his wealth but doesn't mean that it was because she was "love of his life". Maybe he had to do it because of some earlier promise, who knows. He was a smart man and, of course, he had to know that she didn't like Jim.And he must have known that Jim wasn't with him for the money, Freddie knew that Jim loved him,that there is no money worthy of that love. After all, he didn't return to London for her, he did it for Jim. Maybe he thought he found the best solution for Jim,Joe and Peter to stay in the house, but I think he knew that she would find a way to get them out of the house ,he knew that Jim and Joe wouldn't stay in Garden Lodge for a long time, so he bought a house for Joe and paid for building a house for Jim. I think it's not fair that in Freddie's biopic Mary is a central figure (if the movie really is done that way) and that Jim role will be minor or he isn't in the movie. And Barbara,I think she just wanted to draw attention to herself. Of course, I didn't know any of them, this is just my opinion and some of my conclusions.
YAWN 15.09.2017 19:29	@invisible woman, I agree entirely. Even Peter Freestone mentioned the creation of a Freddie myth in his second book and how the press and the Queen publicity machine kind of made their story more...how can I put this...more of a 'boy-meets-girl but oops he's secretly gay, but she still loved him anyway' story, because it makes Freddie somehow more palatable. It makes his complex relationships easier to understand and goes some way to explaining why she just sort of hung there with no real purpose. I don't want the biopic to feature her as important as, while I acknowledge she was important to Freddie, she's very boring! Obviously I've never met her so probably shouldn't be judging but not a single one of Freddie's friends paints an interesting picture of her; she just seemed to exist and was nothing more than 'polite' and 'shy', then following his death, cold and grasping. Maybe she was dull and that nothingness was peaceful and grounding for Freddie?! That their relationship was more based on them serving a purpose for each other more than deep love, and that her inheritance was a massive reward for her undying loyalty? Plus according to her, he proposed to her and didn't go through with it, because he met David Minns a month later...he probably felt terribly guilty. OK I will stop now, because I don't want to make Thor's thread about these women!
thundergod 15.09.2017 21:13	Fascinating discussion everyone, You all have verified my reaction to Mary. Polite and shy until the moment she got rich. 'Polite' perhaps because she may have been worried about losing some favor with Freddie if she wasn't....'Shy', because she had absolutely no interest in what any of his gay friends had to say. I have the feeling now, that she knew a fortune was coming her way even if Freddie hadn't gotten sick.and was quite content in her role and would wait until this happened. I have NO idea if she was cold and calculating, but I have mentioned recently that others judge you by the way you present yourself and what you do and what you say, in this case what you didn't do or say. One of my favorite quotes comes from an unlikely source but has made an impression on my life. The Wizard of Oz tells the Tin Man...."and remember my sentimental friend, a heart is not judged by how much you love but by how much you are loved by others." This fits Freddie well, but I am not sure if it fits Mary.
Rainbow61 15.09.2017 21:40	Hmmm....not sure where to begin, so I will just comment on some lines that "jump" out at me. @ captainjory "It's thanks to her that many fans have a certain hostility towards his gay friends, (her comments have resulted in some fans' latent homophobia rearing its ugly head). She said in an interview most of them were there for the 'free gifts, concert tickets and the booze' and people believe her. Phoebe's made it clear though that you New York friends were not using him, but because Mary was his trusted friend, people tend to believe her words over Peter Freestone's and now have the impression he was sucked dry by a bunch of gay layabouts!" I guess it is possible that some people are hostile to Freddie's gay friends because of Mary's words. However, it seems beyond implausible that Freddie did not have some gold diggers in his life. There is certainly nothing wrong with enjoying the gifts of a generous person, but real relationships involve a degree of reciprocity. I don't mean repaying Freddie with gifts, but there can be a reciprocity of friendship, loyalty, caring like he received from his NYC friends. It is not the gay part that people object to, just the idea that his generosity might have been one-sided. "Latent homophobia"...Call me naive, but I find it hard to believe that any true fan of Freddie's is deep down a homophobe. Villiers...a while back you recommended a book, "This is the Real Life" by David Evans and David Minns. I ordered it online and am about half way through. I'm really enjoying the anecdotes. One observation from the book that really stuck with me was from David Minns, who if people recall, was Freddie's first boyfriend. "This generosity of Freddie's has become legendary although the recipients of it were often perplexed exactly as to why they had been singled out. He didn't need an occasion to give someone a present; any excuse would do. To look back, it seems sad that in return he received so little from the many beneficiaries of his bounty" My gut feeling is that David was not talking about reciprocity of gifts. @ invisible woman, Villiers Maybe your observations about Mary are correct, but we would need to believe that Freddie was so lacking in judgement that he couldn't see what a calculating person Mary was. A while back (July 11th) Thor had this to say about Mary: "Freddie loved Mary above anyone else, man or woman. It was obvious every time I saw them together. Even if Freddie was upset about something and might vent about it among his male friends, when Mary was suddenly present, his whole demeanor would change. I think she represented the calm in every storm of his life and he cherished her for that. I know he always thought that she sacrificed her own happiness for his. I believe that even with the love of a son and his father, she put off marriage out of respect for Freddie until after his passing." I don't know Mary...I don't know people who know Mary, but Thor's words paint a picture of someone, who despite what others think about her now, was completely devoted and loved Freddie, and he loved her right back. An unconventional love, maybe, but that doesn't make it any less real. It is possible Thor was just being polite, but his observations do not describe a woman who was "obsessive" or "self-interested". Could she have been more graceful in the way things were handled after Freddie's death, probably. I always felt bad that Peter Freestone never had a chance to remove some of the things that represented cherished memories with Freddie. Should Mary be an important part in the Queen movie....most definitely! Finally... Are there really that many people who want to imagine that Freddie was bisexual because it either makes him more palatable or fuels some kind of fantasy? Why let the imagination stop halfway? Why not imagine that deep down he was really heterosexual and that he just took a wrong turn down homosexual lane and never got back on the right track? Poor misguided Freddie! Anyway, thanks to everyone for this discussion. It was interesting reading, even if I don't always share the same viewpoint.
Rainbow61 15.09.2017 21:42	@ Thor...I posted my last reply before reading your last post. Hmmmm........
YAWN 15.09.2017 21:56	Rainbow61, there is absolutely homophobia in the Queen and Freddie fandom. VERY much so. Ive seen people straight up say that Adam Lambert is disgusting because hes "too gay". Freddie fans call him a faggot all the time. They also say freddie was bisexual and not gay because he was "better than that". I see comments like that literally every single day on facebook and Instagram. All from Freddie fans. Its usually women. They gay erase Freddie daily because they want to believe he would be interested in them. And yes, its proven by the fact that these women are sexually attracted to him (they make that very clear) and they go to extreme lengths to trash talk his gay friends and even make up stories about freddie being with women after Mary (when it never happened). Ive had women tell me that Freddie HID being being bisexual and PRETENDED to be gay to "impress his gay friends because they all hated bisexuals. Freddie wasnt one of them. He was better than that." I see at least 5 photos posted online a week of freddie standing near a female with women screaming in the comments "WHO IS SHE? AND THEY SAY HE DIDNT LIKE WOMEN! HE WAS BI ERASED BY HIS GAY FRIENDS!" The photos are always easily explained by peter or Jacky smith (freddie with fan or freddie with mack's wife) and they claim that peter and Jacky are bi erasing him. " It is not the gay part that people object to, just the idea that his generosity might have been one-sided." No, my friend... Its definitely the gay part that they react to. Why? Because Barbara literally accused freddie of murder and attempted murder BUT SHES BELIEVED AND SUPPORTED bc she also claimed to have had sex with him and they WANT to believe he was bisexual. Meanwhile, Paul Printer sells his story and hes hated forever (rightfully so but why wasnt Barbara when she LIED and used Freddie's name for her own benefit AND accused him of assault and murder) They've claimed that Freddie said gays are "beneath" him. Which wasnt true. Sorry, but homophobia and gay erasing happens WAY too often in his female fan group. As I mentioned 2 posts back, they're even willing to believe Barbara's claims that Freddie was an attempted murderer as long as he slept with her because it means he wasnt gay. Thats how far they're willing to go. PS glad you like the book I suggested. You'll also notice David Minns said the same in the book. "It amazes me that Freddie would be around so many who didnt support gays when he himself was one. "
c.jory 15.09.2017 22:09	When Thor said Freddie's whole demeanor changed when Mary was within earshot I took it to mean Freddie went quieter as if he didn't want her to see a certain side of him or that he kind of filtered himself when she was around. (though Thor's welcome to correct me obvs) I assumed this because I believed it to support something Phoebe said: RE: visiting Elton's for Christmas 1991: "There, we could be more relaxed. We could be ourselves in the company of our friends and peers, people who understood our situation and who knew Freddie as he REALLY had been. It was good to be able to talk about him without having to be politely oblique about his behaviour – about him - which I always felt I should be in Mary’s company. To her, Freddie would always be her lover, her untouchable, uncriticisable rock god." Also to your question about the bisexuality debate and homophobia among the Queen community: YES! Not on Queenzone but there are many corners of the fandom where people do DESPERATELY want him to be bisexual, and they really do get quite vicious and verbally abusive over the matter. Rows rage on for days, with talk of him 'faking a gay persona to impress gay friends'. You might have been jesting about the 'wanting him to be heterosexual' thing, but yes, there are some fans who act like they wish he was. For example in Queen Facebook groups, every time a photo of Freddie and a random woman pops up, everyone is desperate to find out if she was a lover of his, with many people insisting they can read lust in his eyes. When the answer is inevitably no, they display disappointment, followed by spite when people say he was gay. The admin then has to shut the thread because it gets so heated. Photos of him with boyfriends are either completely ignored, or are targeted with screams of 'gold digger', particularly if it's photos with Jim Hutton. There is also a whole movement on Tumblr and many other sites that aggressively try to force the "Freddie Was Bisexual and anyone who disagrees deserves [insert punishment]" I'm not joking. It's vicious to the point people are afraid to call Freddie gay on there. Finally, I do think Freddie could be a bad judge of character. He thought Barbara was great until she realised she was going to the press about him and most of the Queen camp would agree Paul Prenter was a 'subversive' influence. Everyone's capable of letting shitty people into their lives I guess. Even Freddie.
Rainbow61 15.09.2017 22:18	@ Villiers Thank you for your great response. I certainly realize homophobia exists, but I didn't realize the extent to which the situations you described have happened. But then I don't have a Facebook page (although I can access my husband's) and am not on Instagram. Yes, I would imagine that gay erasing would mostly be done by women. The trash-talking women you describe, who think that Freddie might have been attracted to them, are the fans that I put in the category of "bat-shit crazy". Seems so bizarre! Freddie is no less attractive because he was gay. Still think he was gorgeous! Wouldn't have wanted to date him.
Rainbow61 15.09.2017 22:43	@ captainjory Well, I am certainly learning a lot today. All I can say is wow. Stunned that people actually get into vicious and heated arguments over Freddie's sexuality and that there are sites where this topic is specifically debated. People are nuts! But I thank you and Villiers for taking the time to elaborate. You both have the same point of view and it was fascinating to read. Yes, I would think that Freddie would be different around Mary as his relationship with her probably satisfied an emotional need that might not have been satisfied with others. Completely agree about the Paul Prenter thing. I always looked at Barbara as more of a fun and outrageous liaison into the Munich club scene. Seems like Freddie enjoyed her company; never had the impression she was more than a pal.
thundergod 15.09.2017 23:30	OK, I worked in a gay bar from 1974 until 1983. I have met hundreds of thousands of gay people and I have observed how most of us have some similar behaviors. From 1981 until 1983 Freddie and my group of friends acted like typical gay men when we went out...Scoping out attractive men and commenting on them. The same way that unmarried men and women react in this type of atmosphere (well, perhaps some married ones as well). Freddie NEVER tried to hide to his friends that he was TOTALLY gay. In his industry, he had to hide it to some extent although as I have said before, he certainly gave clues. This is the same man who came up with the name QUEEN for his band. This is the man who dressed very sexually, ambiguously "glam" up until 1980. This is the man who threw an Easter bonnet party and had us all create Easter hats. This is the man who used the term darling (or Dahling) more than he used proper names, and renamed his friends with old actresses names. These things are doubtful for a straight or bi man. Many gays don't even act like this. Of course it was all done in fun but these things were not, to my knowledge, done by bisexuals. I've never seen Freddie look twice at a woman but I have seen him look 3 or 4 times at an attractive man and say, "Thor, Thor...Oh just look at him...just Gorgeous. I'd love some of THAT" We were genuine friends of Freddie and he would never hide that he was really bi. FREDDIE WAS A GAY MAN through and through...everyone...please get used to it. Rainbow61 I think I was more polite and politically correct about my ORIGINAL thoughts about Mary. I was new here and I was not interested in making enemies. Because of many of you informing me just recently about Mary, I did, at this point feel comfortable about sharing my suspicions. BUT Freddie was observed over and over showing non-sexual affection for her. I never heard one remark against Mary She was like a lifelong friend he could always count on. What she did to Peter Freestone was ice cold in my opinion. He did not deserve that.
c.jory 15.09.2017 23:48	Thor your last post was great ^ I'm not a gay man myself, but because I'm writing something about a gay man in the 70s, I've done a lot of research and I have been trying to explain to people about Freddie's behaviour patterns being the same as many contemporaneous gay males for AGES. I've talked to them about the whole glam rock era, I've discussed all the stereotypically gay things Freddie enjoyed, listing all the things you mention. Only to be shot down and told stereotypes are dangerous and that he wasn't even camp. I've been blocked on social media for calling him camp, even though there were times, particularly in the 70s when he was pretty effeminate. So it's really important to hear your point of view on this, as a gay contemporary who ACTUALLY KNEW FREDDIE. Certain fans need to see this! PS ONLY A GAY MAN WOULD MAKE THIS RECORD. "see you later sailor boy!" "you naughty thing you - ooh!" I couldn't stop laughing when I first heard this. link
thundergod 16.09.2017 00:07	Thank you captainjory, You are writing something about gay men in the 70's? GREAT, let me know when it is available to read. Thank you in advance.
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 00:21	I don't know, the devil's advocate is in me the whole time on the Mary issue. Freddie didn't love her for nothing. While I've appreciated Villiers' posts, I'm not in agreement that being a quiet person equals being boring. It just means that only a few people are privy to the depth of a quiet person's personality. Didn't Freddie say 'she has the depth and quality to talk to me about very serious things,' and also to 'put up with me.' I was terribly sorry to hear about what happened with Peter but he has since visited her, he saw a very old Delilah at the time. He talks about it peacefully saying that she did want to keep him on as an employee but then there was some last minute reason why she couldn't and perhaps it was the thing about probate, not sure on that. I'll leave my thoughts on a number of points for another day but one thing is standing out in my mind here. She was both grieving and pregnant. I'm not saying that's an excuse for bad behaviour, but a lot of what's been said is from books (though Thor I respect your opinions as you were there and knew her). It would be interesting to know if she had given birth before those decisions that were upsetting to Jim, Phoebe and Joe. Hormones go crazy just after birth and mixed with grief, it might explain her backing off. She'd just lost Freddie. Her whole life. When she met him as a young woman she'd just lost her mother. I sometimes wonder if they both provided each other with stability, she lost her mother, his was absent for most of his childhood and adolescence. Also hormones just before birth tend to make people want to organise and sort everything out, ready for the birth. It might have influenced her decisions. She was handed a huge responsibility and on the subject of the house being left unalarmed, not good practice. No offence meant towards Joe, I wasn't there, and he was ill, but if I was responsible for the house of someone I loved, grief would make me fiercely protective over it. Mary's thoroughness and practicality might have been seen by Freddie as an asset behind the scenes. Anyway, i'll come back to it another day. I have an open mind for all opinions, but keep coming back to the fact that Freddie loved her. He loved something about her. The fact that she doesn't talk to fans, etc, might be making things look worse than they were intended. Lastly, although I'm a woman, I've no interest in whether Freddie was gay, bi, or straight. I believe from what people say that he was gay. I'm fine with that. As Rainbow61 says, those women who need him to be straight, or at least bisexual, are bat shit crazy, lol. So my thoughts about Mary are not to do with that, rather it's trying to understand WHY she did the things she's reported to have done. Is there another explanation and we're just getting one side.
YAWN 16.09.2017 00:22	Thor MF'in Arnold! LOL you have no idea how much your last reply means. Thank you so much. Its been an ongoing battle online for years and as someone who is also always mislabeled and shunned, I hate to see another member of the LGBT community erased. The gay community is SO proud of him. Freddie was a gay icon. Everyone tries to give me a hard time when I point it out, and I've even been told that he wasnt gay and that I dont know what bisexuality is! (Me! A bisexual person!) Lol. Ive been telling people he wasnt our tribe for years! Lol He was a wonderfully talented man who happened to be GAY. That should not ever be erased or brushed under the rug. It should be celebrated and acknowledged! It should be accurately represented in all documentaries and biographies that focus on his life outside of his work. You've settled a major argument just now. I can't thank you enough. Please, please, please do drop me a line if you're ever in Houston TX. That drink in Montrose just got bumped up to unlimited rounds! Lol!
RBoulain 16.09.2017 00:43	Hi again Thor, I sent you a personal message to your inbox with an image you'd may like to check out :) Also I am enjoying your replies really much, I like it better when you are just yourself without trying to be so careful and just express your feelings and thoughts, thank you.
thundergod 16.09.2017 00:48	Hey SmokyQuartz, I appreciate your thoughts. Keep in mind that I am giving my thoughts as well. On many subjects about Freddie and Queen I have admitted that I do not know for sure about many topics but if someone's behavior gives me an impression, right or wrong, this is the place to talk about it. What you said does give me another way to think about things. One theory I think I can probably discount is pregnancy being the problem. I was there one or two times during her first pregnancy. BUT, if you tell me that every pregnancy is different and every moment is different, I will reconsider this thought.
YAWN 16.09.2017 00:53	SmokyQuartz, well, thats not exactly what I meant. I dont know that Mary was boring because she was quiet. I meant that seeing as so many people have painted her a reserved person who did not join in on the fun with his friends very often, that she came off as boring. She certainly seemed that way to that way to me (granted, I'm going off books and Ive never met her). Does it mean its true and a fact? Nah. Just a theory of mine. As for her treatment of Jim, Peter, Joe, the band and Freddie's family after his passing... Still just an opinion of mine, but I've known many pregnant women over the years (some who were carrying while their loved ones have died) and they never acted coldly to those around them. They usually reached out to those around them for emotional support. I kind of doubt her hormones can be credited for that behavior. And for her staying out of contact with everyone for years AFTER she had the kids. I'm sure they didnt help, but Ehh... Grief manifests in different ways for different people, but thats a bit of a stretch IMO. Oh, and yes peter and jim both visited mary after freddie died. Once. They also both tried very hard to look after her and keep in contact with her after he died (as did Freddies mom and sister) but she did not seem interested. Peter mentioned during that last visit he made to her that she refused to let him have a briefcase that belonged to him as well. He didnt seem too thrilled about their last exchange as he explained in his second book. When he talks about it now at conventions and gatherings, I believe he has let the years bring the frustration and disappointment to a cool temp. He doesn't seem the type to hold a grudge.
thundergod 16.09.2017 01:19	RBoulain, First reply was blank, check again please
thundergod 16.09.2017 01:27	My thoughts also,but better stated Villiers, thank you man.
RBoulain 16.09.2017 01:48	Got you, Thor :)
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 04:11	Just how rich IS Mary in 2017? When I google her net worth it comes up $1 million dollars. I would have thought it would be more as Garden Lodge alone is worth 7-8 million, and doesn't she receive Freddie's royalties in perpetuity? Anyone?
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 09:20	Thanks Thor and Villiers To be honest, as I said, I don't have an opinion either way on Mary. I'm listening carefully to you Thor because you were there, and you knew her, I've listened also to Phoebe, Jim in his book, and Villiers you may well have met some of the people directly involved with Mary at conventions, so I'm listening to you too. I'm reserving judgement because a lot of the criticisms I see thrown at Mary on the net are by people who have an interest in seeing her the way they want, Villiers a bit like what you said about those crazy women, only it's a different kind of crazy. It's people making up a whole story about her on a few snippets of information (that could be interpreted in a number of different ways). Those people who have not met her have no gut instincts on her or valuable impression, that comes from a face to face meeting (though I take Thor's point that you can form an impression by what's not done, as well as what is, and I think those impressions are valuable and a big part of the Freddie story, but I'm worried that some of the anti Mary sentiment out there, that's based on people's own personal projections only, not real information of what was going on, will skew the picture) I'm equally suspicious of those who think Mary is wonderful and have all the projections of the perfect heterosexual relationship, because it serves their own fantasies. Re the pregnancy thing, Thor, I didn't intend for it to play a big role. I personally don't know if every pregnancy is different, I don't have kids. I think it is listed as a major life stressor, along with grief, and I was really just throwing it in as another factor that was impinging on her at that time. Not just pregnancy but after the birth there is the risk of post natal depression. It's an incredibly fragile time (and that's in women without a famous friend, a huge legacy left to them, the paparazzi focussed on them, and loss of a significant other, not to mention what other relationship issues she may have been dealing with). Losing someone who was possibly a soul mate, a previous partner, someone who was essentially part of your own life, who you grew up with, I don't think it can be underestimated. There is nothing left to hold onto. And I say the same for poor Jim on this score too.
Invisible Woman 16.09.2017 10:11	People are changing over time. Maybe Mary was hoping that she would be with Freddie again one day.Perhaps she thought Freddie would not achieve emotional and physical closeness and love with some man. And then Jim appeared. Freddie and Jim obviously had a deep and sincere love relationship which has been getting deeper and stronger over the years.They were partners, they could talk about everything, to be with each other in good and bad.I think that was perfectly clear to her that she no longer has the chance to be with him whatever she did. Even when he got sick, even when Freddie and Jim could no longer be lovers in the full sense of the word, he chose to stay with Jim. Why? It's strange to me that many people still claim that he loved her and not loved Jim.Why then did she and he have not been together, what prevented them if they were most important to each other and were in love?I think that was clear who was his true love and whose support he needed most in difficult days. I can understand that Mary was jealous, we are all human beings.But I can't understand that she has behaved so towards them even though Jim,Joe and Peter have been with him for years. The fact is that she has gained most of the wealth but as I said before, love and money are not the same. And here's Freddie's own words about his relationship with Jim from interview 1987 : "I'm really very happy with my relationship at the moment, and I couldn't really ask for better. I finally found a...niche that I was looking for all my life. And no fucker in this universe is going to upset it". I don't understand his fans who still don't accept that Freddie was gay. I don't see what the problem is with this, why they love the picture about him created with the help of journalists, but not the truth. It was just my opinion. All right, I stop.Sorry.
c.jory 16.09.2017 11:17	I hate making this thread about Mary, so I will stop after this comment, I promise. I agree with all Invisible Woman said above. I believe she was threatened by Jim - remember Jim's claims of her cold behaviour when Jim and Freddie nearly broke up. Jim felt a frosty atmosphere from her, then she coldly delivered the message to Jim that he would no longer be allowed the use of his own car if he moved out! The next day, Freddie came to him, not actually wanting him to leave and it makes me wonder if she had something to do with it. Nearly everything I've read about her, save being loyal to Freddie points to her not being very nice at all. Even her own interviews sound ungrateful; she has beef with the band, his parents and his friends. The father of her children, Piers decided to opt out of her life in late 1991 and you have to wonder why. If the pregnant mother of my child was about to inherit millions, I'd stick around, both for my kids and the money (lol) but the fact Piers didn't suggests something is wrong with Mary. The fact he went to live with a friend of Phoebe's and stayed in contact with him rather than Mary speaks volumes. (Source: Peter's book) She admitted Piers couldn't cope with her obsession with Freddie and she had to be alone in her grief. Fair enough. Totally understandable. But by his first death anniversary, she had managed to find herself a new and wealthy husband despite having a tiny baby that same year. How did she manage to go out on the pull when so full of grief and having two very young children? Nick also left her in 2003. Yes I am being a cynical bitch, but Mary is money focused and she has the nerve to call all his gay friends gold diggers. That's why many fans cannot abide her. I think she is a hard-faced woman who puts on a sweet saintly exterior in which she make it seem like she sacrificed her own happiness for his. I mentioned something else in another thread about her conflicts with the neighbours in the street too: link I haven't met her, but I've seen her in the flesh. A neighbour opposite said hello to her and was met with an icy nod, they probably think she's the Ice Queen of Logan Place haha. That's it: I'm all Mary'd out!
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 11:24	Agree Captainjory, this thread shouldn't stay about Mary. As an afterthought, I think I might have sounded sensitive only to Mary's grief, and I apologise for that. I think EVERYONE'S grief was important. Everyone loved Freddie, all in different ways and he them.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 14:49	I've been enthralled with this Mary conversation. I find it fascinating!
thundergod 16.09.2017 15:35	Amusing FREDDIE nugget- The time we flew to London in the Concorde, about 1986 or 87. Freddie was anxious to meet Brandon, my boyfriend of 2 years at that time (later a total of 7 years). Brandon was a little nervous about meeting him. Well, 30 minutes into the first meeting he pulled Brandon off to the side and said, "I've never seen Thor like this before...come tell Mother EVERYTHING!" He was won over with Freddie's warmth within 45 minutes of meeting him and really enjoyed his private conversation with Freddie. Brandon later said.."he was so nice to me and completely down to earth, not what I expected at all."
Rainbow61 16.09.2017 16:56	Hi Everyone, People don't usually have much to do with an ex-partner's current lover, let along interact with them on an almost a daily basis. (I guarantee that would not have happened if Freddie was straight and Jim was a woman) The situation with Mary and Jim was fairly unique, the old rules don't apply...so they would have had to figure things out as they went along. Now complicate the situation by having the "sun" in their universe be a world famous wealthy rock star who is dying from a disease that they can't talk about. Nothing easy about that for anyone. Most of Jim's years with Freddie were spent with Freddie being sick, so by necessity, it impacted the dynamic between Mary and Jim. During that time they more or less had to act with a common purpose. Who knows what Mary's role would have been if Freddie had been healthy and pursued a long term relationship with Jim? @ Invisible Woman, I listened to the interview you mentioned where Freddie talks about finding a "niche". My first reaction to hearing that statement was that Freddie found someone that he liked and was very comfortable with, but his words didn't strike me as those of someone who was deeply in love. It sounded kind of clinical. But then I can be completely wrong. I do think it is possible, and maybe likely, that Mary hoped that things might be different some day. I watched an interview with Peter Freestone...I forget what the specific question was, but his response was that he is living with the past, but that Mary was living in the past. Very telling observation on his part. If true, it made me feel sad for her. I don't think Mary came across bad in any taped interviews....the Daily Mail interview...well, the print media is not always know for accurately conveying tone or meaning. I will reserve judgement on that one. I guess we all have points of view that are influenced by our individual experiences and personalities. It's interesting to try and recognize any biases we might bring to the table. This is a small point on my part, but I'm sure it plays a role in how I see Mary. Although I cannot relate to her life, I can relate to her personality. Having always been on the quiet and shy side...someone who likes to remain in the background especially when in a large group of people or with people I do not know well, I completely understand that part of her. Unfortunately, that personality trait can also come across as being unfriendly or at best, reserved, when it is really a matter of tying to avoid being uncomfortable. I'm certainly not saying that every decision Mary has made or thing she has said is due to being shy, but it does influence how I see her. Just trying to be honest.
Rainbow61 16.09.2017 17:04	@ Thor, Of all the aspects of Freddie's personality that could be explored for this upcoming movie, I hope they shine a light on the fact that he was a warm, caring, and down to earth person. I bet that is what most people who are not Freddie fans do not realize about him. Thanks for that golden nugget. Those are the kinds of stories I love to hear!
c.jory 16.09.2017 17:13	thundergod wrote: Amusing FREDDIE nugget- The time we flew to London in the Concorde, about 1986 or 87. Freddie was anxious to meet Brandon, my boyfriend of 2 years at that time (later a total of 7 years). Brandon was a little nervous about meeting him. Well, 30 minutes into the first meeting he pulled Brandon off to the side and said, "I've never seen Thor like this before...come tell Mother EVERYTHING!" He was won over with Freddie's warmth within 45 minutes of meeting him and really enjoyed his private conversation with Freddie. Brandon later said.."he was so nice to me and completely down to earth, not what I expected at all." I love hearing that he could be down to earth! That he referred to himself as mother really makes me laugh; it's so camp and kind of cute. Further to what we were talking about Re: gay men, most gay men I know have attempted relationships with a female at some point. Obviously we know Freddie did this, twice. Has that been your general experience with the gay men you know/knew? Have you? Also another random and slightly pointless question: what did you think when Freddie shaved his moustache off? Did you like the new look? lol
noorie 16.09.2017 17:18	Can it not be possible that Freddie shared a fantastic relationship with 2 people? A sexual one with Jim, and a non-sexual, best friend, someone to rely on kind of relationship with Mary? Both very important in his life? Why should it have to be one or the other? I have a very good friend (we are both straight women in our 30s). We've been there for each other through so much. She is someone I trust over almost everybody else. Yet, sex with her - eewwww! And she feels exactly the same way. So could not Mary be the one person in Freddie's life who was always there for him (no matter how horrid she may be to others, Freddie loved her (non-sexually) for what she was in HIS life - as he has mentioned in many interviews that he did not need any friends because he had Mary. The most important thing about their relationship (non-sexual. I keep repeating that so nobody thinks I am even remotely saying that Freddie was not gay.) is that Freddie trusted her with what was most important to him. Himself! He entrusted Mary with his ashes. The only remains of himself. And made her promise not to tell anybody else where their final resting place would be. That speaks of the degree of love (non sexual) and trust that Freddie felt for Mary. So, let's trust Freddie's judgement of Mary (he knew he was dying and had ample time to change his will as well as his wishes about his remains) and not keep making our own. Let's just understand that Jim and Mary both played different and important part in Freddie's lives. My 2 cents.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 17:23	Lots of salient points, Rainbow. I still think the most striking observation Thor has made was of Peter Straker. The whole "British royalty" looking down on the " American commoners" brilliantly conveyed it. That's a communication bullseye that let's us know exactly the vibe he gave off. Similarly, Jim Hutton's first impression of Paul Prenter and his eye movements always stuck with me.
RBoulain 16.09.2017 17:24	This just made my day. What a kind-hearted and warm man, such a delight to have around! thundergod wrote: Amusing FREDDIE nugget- The time we flew to London in the Concorde, about 1986 or 87. Freddie was anxious to meet Brandon, my boyfriend of 2 years at that time (later a total of 7 years). Brandon was a little nervous about meeting him. Well, 30 minutes into the first meeting he pulled Brandon off to the side and said, "I've never seen Thor like this before...come tell Mother EVERYTHING!" He was won over with Freddie's warmth within 45 minutes of meeting him and really enjoyed his private conversation with Freddie. Brandon later said.."he was so nice to me and completely down to earth, not what I expected at all."
YAWN 16.09.2017 17:26	Noorie: Yes of course he could. This comments exchange isn't about Mary versus Jim at all though; it was about our opinions of Mary being confirmed by Thor and the underlying homophobia in the fandom.
c.jory 16.09.2017 17:30	PrimeJiveUSA wrote: Lots of salient points, Rainbow. I still think the most striking observation Thor has made was of Peter Straker. The whole "British royalty" looking down on the " American commoners" brilliantly conveyed it. That's a communication bullseye that let's us know exactly the vibe he gave off. Similarly, Jim Hutton's first impression of Paul Prenter and his eye movements always stuck with me. I've also had that impression of Straker lol just from his interviews about Freddie; he always makes it about shows he was doing and not Freddie's story. And Prenter. Something about the eyes! I'm a British person, but Freddie's American friends seem more fun and less uppity!
thundergod 16.09.2017 17:40	WOW...I love reading everyone's comments. You QueenZoners have really sparked treasured memories and have given me so much information that I did not know. The discussions have become very lively and important. I love it! Thank you all!
Saint Jiub 16.09.2017 17:40	captainjory wrote: thundergod wrote: Amusing FREDDIE nugget- The time we flew to London in the Concorde, about 1986 or 87. Freddie was anxious to meet Brandon, my boyfriend of 2 years at that time (later a total of 7 years). Brandon was a little nervous about meeting him. Well, 30 minutes into the first meeting he pulled Brandon off to the side and said, "I've never seen Thor like this before...come tell Mother EVERYTHING!" He was won over with Freddie's warmth within 45 minutes of meeting him and really enjoyed his private conversation with Freddie. Brandon later said.."he was so nice to me and completely down to earth, not what I expected at all." I love hearing that he could be down to earth! That he referred to himself as mother really makes me laugh; it's so camp and kind of cute. Further to what we were talking about Re: gay men, most gay men I know have attempted relationships with a female at some point. Obviously we know Freddie did this, twice. Has that been your general experience with the gay men you know/knew? Have you? Also another random and slightly pointless question: what did you think when Freddie shaved his moustache off? Did you like the new look? lol I agree that the "Mother" Freddie story is very cute. Thor - In contrast to the NY Duaghters close-knit family, do you think that Freddie had similar "family" of friends in Munich? Freddie seems to have been lonely in the 1982-1984 time period, and it appears that Queen was undergoing some tumultuous times as well. Barbara might have been a platonic soulmate for a while, but ultimately suddenly Freddie abandoned Munich for the Garden lodge. I am not sure what my question is, but I was wondering if you could comment on the 1982-1984 time period as it relates to the band and Freddie's general state of mind. ... Captainjory - Who was the 2nd attempted female relationship?
Saint Jiub 16.09.2017 17:41	oops
c.jory 16.09.2017 17:44	Panchgani wrote: captainjory wrote: thundergod wrote: Amusing FREDDIE nugget- The time we flew to London in the Concorde, about 1986 or 87. Freddie was anxious to meet Brandon, my boyfriend of 2 years at that time (later a total of 7 years). Brandon was a little nervous about meeting him. Well, 30 minutes into the first meeting he pulled Brandon off to the side and said, "I've never seen Thor like this before...come tell Mother EVERYTHING!" He was won over with Freddie's warmth within 45 minutes of meeting him and really enjoyed his private conversation with Freddie. Brandon later said.."he was so nice to me and completely down to earth, not what I expected at all." I love hearing that he could be down to earth! That he referred to himself as mother really makes me laugh; it's so camp and kind of cute. Further to what we were talking about Re: gay men, most gay men I know have attempted relationships with a female at some point. Obviously we know Freddie did this, twice. Has that been your general experience with the gay men you know/knew? Have you? Also another random and slightly pointless question: what did you think when Freddie shaved his moustache off? Did you like the new look? lol I agree that the "Mother" Freddie story is very cute. Thor - In contrast to the NY Duaghters close-knit family, do you think that Freddie had similar "family" of friends in Munich? Freddie seems to have been lonely in the 1982-1984 time period, and it appears that Queen was undergoing some tumultuous times as well. Barbara might have been a platonic soulmate for a while, but ultimately suddenly Freddie abandoned Munich for the Garden lodge. I am not sure what my question is, but I was wondering if you could comment on the 1982-1984 time period as it relates to the band and Freddie's general state of mind. ... Captainjory - Who was the 2nd attempted female relationship? It was Rosemary Pearson AKA Rose Rose, before Mary
thundergod 16.09.2017 17:46	Hey Panchgani, Freddie was still in New York in 1982 and we saw each other a lot. He left in 1983 and the Munich period comes up as a big blank to me. To emphasize this blank period, I did not even know there was a Barbara Valentin at all. We reunited during the Garden Lodge era.
YAWN 16.09.2017 17:55	Rainbow61, not sure how you got "clinical" from Freddie saying he found the relationship in Jim that hes always wanted lol, but heres something that should make Freddies feelings for Jim clear. A little note Freddie left for him which states plainly "you make me a very happy man. Yes, happy as I have never been in my life". Id say thats love, wouldn't you? This item was sold by Huttons estate after Jim died by the same auction house that sold Michael Jackson's estate. Its really from freddie (yes, even despite the grammar mistake). Just thought I'd share.
thundergod 16.09.2017 18:09	Villiers, What a gem. Thanks for sharing this.
YAWN 16.09.2017 18:11	My pleasure, Thor
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 18:17	LOL Thor! Love that golden nugget! Thank you for sharing it!
Invisible Woman 16.09.2017 18:39	In that interview, he clearly said: "I'm very happy with my relationship" and later he mentioned "I've got a very understanding relationship" and "very good relationship". Of course, no one knows what is in the head of another person and what this person thinks. This is not fair to me: some can tell about Jim the worst words but always justifying Mary and give her the best compliments. The idea that Freddie was with Jim only for sex, without love, and that love was for Mary is also not fair to me. Many relationships break up when one of the partners gets ill, but Jim stayed with Freddie all the time and for me it's proof that he was a great and wonderful man. There are also opinions that Freddie was with Jim because of illness. Why would it be so? If he didn't love Jim, he could have pushed him, break up, even don't tell him about disease? Why would AIDS be the reason for the relationship? Of course,Mary and Jim had different roles in his life, but one is friendly and another love relationship. But ok.,everyone has their own opinion and mine is this. I will not bother on this topic anymore.
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 18:43	Villiers, I just saw your link to the note. I didn't look at first as I thought it was a link back to the interview that was being discussed. That is lovely to see, thanks for sharing it.
Rainbow61 16.09.2017 18:57	@Villiers Sorry "clinical" was not the right word. I guess that made it sound cold, and Freddie never seemed cold. I just meant that referring to a relationship as a niche lacked the exuberance I would have expected from someone who was referring to a new, true love. Freddie also mentioned finding solace and not having to try so hard anymore...wanting a genuine tranquil after the storm. I got the impression he was happy with Jim because Jim was a refuge from the craziness in his life. I'm not sure that is love, but it does sound warm and comfortable and exactly what he needed at the time. This was all from a taped interview with David Wigg in Ibiza on his birthday in 1987. It was a fascinating interview. Freddie was so honest, reflective, and funny at times. It's the same interview where he mentioned he'll be long gone before 70. The overall tone was one in which Freddie seemed a bit somber and weary from life. But this would have been after the AIDS diagnosis, so that would be understandable. link By the way, thanks for sharing that note he gave to Jim. That was precious.
YAWN 16.09.2017 20:28	Well, yeah I think that does mean love. Considering Freddie said he loved Jim, maybe we should take it to mean...he loved Jim? But on to other topics now- I'm sure Thor didnt mean for this thread to turn into a Jim Hutton or Mary Austin festival lol. And you're welcome. I dont own the note myself but I would have loved to have. Its a great item.
thundergod 16.09.2017 20:36	Villiers, I just said I love all the thoughts and theories. I DO mean this thread for anything by anyone that stays non-offensive and out of the gutter. This is not just MY thread, it belongs to fans, which happens to include me. PLEASE talk about whatever you want related to the entire group, the history and the band members surrounding Freddie. ,
YAWN 16.09.2017 20:45	Thanks, Thor. I was afraid we were taking the focus too far off you. Is Lee still in contact with Peter? Or with anyone you guys met through Freddie? I'm sure you guys are something that brings a smile to Peters face. All those fun times must be a warm memory for him now
YAWN 16.09.2017 20:49	Also wondering if you have anything freddie signed? Any Christmas or birthday cards?
thundergod 16.09.2017 20:55	Hey Villiers, Very interesting and intuitive question. As a matter of fact, I just found out about a month ago that Lee IS still in touch with Peter. How did you know? I now have Peter's address and I hope to reconnect with him soon. I would rather text, but not even Lee has his personal phone number. That is uncanny if you just came up with this thought, or did you read it somewhere. Since Lee has just left LA for Palm Springs and by chance lives 1 block away from Brandon (who is still a lifelong friend) and actually is going to spend every summer in San Diego at the condo we bought together in 1991. When we were young and good looking we used to joke about probably winding up back together as OLD FOOLS...well it comes true next June.
YAWN 16.09.2017 21:11	Lol sounds like a blast. Can you imagine living it up in Palm Springs with friends in your more mature years (you ain't old!) like The Golden Girls lol. Btw I sent you a private message to answer your question
Rainbow61 16.09.2017 21:15	@ Villiers I was only referring to that 1987 interview I referenced where I didn't hear Freddie say he had found love. Of course, just because he does not proclaim it doesn't mean he wasn't in love with Jim. He also said in the same interview "I have lived a full life and if I am dead tomorrow, I don't give a damn." Love has a way of infusing you with new life and possibilities. It makes you look forward to tomorrow....It makes you seen the world in color. I did not get that sense from Freddie in that interview, but I truly hope I am wrong. I do believe Jim was a great comfort to Freddie, a rock, and there is certainly love in that. Thor, So....I know you had your own place in The Village, but did Freddie ever let you or other friends crash at his apartment when he was away on tour? "Here's the key to my place...have fun while I am gone"!
YAWN 16.09.2017 21:28	Yikes, Rainbow "He also said in the same interview "I have lived a full life and if I am dead tomorrow, I don't give a damn." Love has a way of infusing you with new life and possibilities. It makes you look forward to tomorrow....It makes you seen the world in color. I did not get that sense from Freddie in that interview, but I truly hope I am wrong" When Freddie said he wouldn't care if he lived to 70 or not "if I die tomorrow, I dont give a damn", (Wigg interview 87) he was already aware that he was dying. It had nothing to do with Jim or his love making him want to live. He knew he wasnt going to live. Poor guy was just trying to keep a brave face on and handle it with grace. Jim talked about he and freddie breaking down crying together over everything. Freddie told him he knew what was going to happen to him, and he was very emotional. Id say thats a man who did find something in life to live for (and among other things, Jims love could very well be one of the reasons). And seeing as Freddie never spoke about his lovers to reporters, but he did tell David Wigg that with Jim he found the niche hed always been looking for and "no fucker in this universe is going to upset it", I think its safe to assume he did find love in Jim.
thundergod 16.09.2017 21:33	HaHaRainbow61, No that would have been unnecessary, We all had our own apartments. We had no interest in staying there if Freddie was not present. I wish I owned that place...it was a phenomenal. apartment!...LOL
Rainbow61 16.09.2017 21:40	@ Villiers Point taken....Thanks for your perspective. I do think Freddie handled his situation with grace. I truly admire him for that.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 21:49	" Love has a way of infusing you with new life and possibilities. It makes you look forward to tomorrow....It makes you seen the world in color." It certainly does...especially when you are young. From what I have read, that type of blinding "love" was something experienced time and again but it always ended in heartbreak and failure. "Love" and what that means can change when you get older. I'm a middle-aged)48) straight man and I know what I cherish in a relationship today is different than what I did in my 20's or 30's. I really am heartened by Thor's account of his relationship with Freddie, Freddie's continued strong friendship with former lovers(Joe) and Thor's revelation about Brandon and how they are still lifelong friends. It is it more common in the gay community for this "strong friendship after love has died" because I have to admit that it's slightly foreign to me an my life experience. I hope I'm not flamed or put on blast for this question by anybody because I am genuinely curious.
YAWN 16.09.2017 21:54	Rainbow, very true. He faced it with bravery and grace. Very inspiring.
Shvili 16.09.2017 22:01	The guy liked music sex and drugs. in other words Rock and Roll. He wrote major hits and fucked around along the way. the end
thundergod 16.09.2017 22:12	Hey PrimeJiveUSA, I'm sure this happens in the straight world as well, but I don't know for sure. Besides Brandon, before I ever met him, I had a 2 year relationship with Joe Scardilli, one of the 4 new NY friends of Freddie. When we first broke up, I was heartbroken, and probably stewed for about a year. But after that, all the things I enjoyed about him as a boyfriend were still there. Our love died (his love first) but I moved on and we became good friends. The same with Brandon after 7 years together and a little time away, we also became good friends and left all the nastiness behind. I do not know, but perhaps women can not leave things behind. I believe they may be much more unforgiving if they are ever cheated on. That seems to be a clear break-up thing with no chance for reconciliation. OK...time for the ladies here to add their thoughts on this subject. I may be completely wrong about this...please enlighten me.
The Squirrelly One 16.09.2017 22:17	@Shvili You must be fun at parties lol. Nope. There was much more to the man than his writing hits and fucking. He had relationships and love. Friends and much more. This thread is great because we can discuss all that.
thundergod 16.09.2017 22:22	Oh Shvili, A person can not be judged by what he "likes." I've tried to make this point several times. He was SO much more than "music, sex, and drugs" He was a very genuine human being with empathy for others outside of family and spouses, generosity and genius. Please reconsider. I don't know if the same could be said for Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger or Eric Clapton to name a few, but if you can show evidence of this in other rock stars...please set me straight (no pun intended...lol)
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 22:40	thundergod wrote: OK...time for the ladies here to add their thoughts on this subject. I may be completely wrong about this...please enlighten me. I am friends, best friends, with my ex-partner. We haven't been in a relationship with each other for 15 years, and will never be again. Neither of us are 'traditional' people though in the sense that neither of us were ever looking for marriage and children. We embraced alternative lifestyles. So perhaps we were immune to the idea that you don't stay in contact with your ex. His main return to my life was when he heard I was bereaved. He'd lost many people himself and he just turned up on my doorstep and took over. But we are much happier as friends and will never be anything more than that now.
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 22:44	Thor, on the subject of Freddie's apartment which you loved...did Freddie ever comment on your own apartment, or make suggestions about it, when he visited? I'm imagining the artist in him would have been at work in all environments and not just in his palatial homes, lol (and I'm sure your apartment was lovely!)
thundergod 16.09.2017 22:48	Thank you so much SmokyQuartz for your input on this subject. I say...Good for the two of you!...very refreshing to hear. Maybe you can give some pointers to our friend PrimeJive USA, it seems he's not finding his way to friendship with ex's like we have.
thundergod 16.09.2017 22:56	And to the second point Smoky, Freddie loved my apartment for what it was worth. I've already described how unusual it was to have a large patio on the first floor and a courtyard in a New York apartment. He loved anything close to a garden which explains his love of the Garden Lodge's garden and all the improvements that Jim made to it. He did not expect me to have an apartment like his but he felt comfortable in my place as he was is his own. He did not say "uuhhww take me to the Ritz" like I have stated in a prior post by someone who had neither fame nor fortune...LOL
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 23:02	thundergod wrote: Hey PrimeJiveUSA, I'm sure this happens in the straight world as well, but I don't know for sure. Besides Brandon, before I ever met him, I had a 2 year relationship with Joe Scardilli, one of the 4 new NY friends of Freddie. When we first broke up, I was heartbroken, and probably stewed for about a year. But after that, all the things I enjoyed about him as a boyfriend were still there. Our love died (his love first) but I moved on and we became good friends. The same with Brandon after 7 years together and a little time away, we also became good friends and left all the nastiness behind. I do not know, but perhaps women can not leave things behind. I believe they may be much more unforgiving if they are ever cheated on. That seems to be a clear break-up thing with no chance for reconciliation. OK...time for the ladies here to add their thoughts on this subject. I may be completely wrong about this...please enlighten me. Thank you for this frank response, Thor. I still have to pinch myself that I am conversing with a "friend of Freddie's" about stuff like this! LOL..I have idolized this man and band since 1978! Yeah...in my experience, women that were former girlfriends/wives don't gel well in a "group friend setting" with "new girlfriends/wives". But that's just my experience. I've burned through a few marriages in my life but I am actually a pretty traditional/conservative person. I do notice the younger generation is much more comfortable with what you describe, so maybe things are changing
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:09	Hey PrimeJiveUSA, If you ever want to vent to me about things in your life, please feel free to private reply to me. You have become my new straight friend among others here and if there is anything I can help you with by listening and offering what I can, it would be my pleasure. I will repeat...any fan of Freddie's is a friend of mine.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 23:15	thundergod wrote: Maybe you can give some pointers to our friend PrimeJive USA, it seems he's not finding his way to friendship with ex's like we have. No that's okay, Thor. I don't desire those old "reconnections". ;)
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:17	And that's ok too PJUSA
YAWN 16.09.2017 23:18	Ha! I wish I could get on that level with my ex husband. It was a nasty divorce, which was a shame because we were best friends when we married. Id love to reconnect with him as friends these days but it just isn't in the cards (at least for now). Time may change that, who knows.
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 23:20	thundergod wrote: Hey PrimeJiveUSA, If you ever want to vent to me about things in your life, please feel free to private reply to me. You have become my new straight friend among others here and if there is anything I can help you with by listening and offering what I can, it would be my pleasure. I will repeat...any fan of Freddie's is a friend of mine. Whoah!!!! Thanks, Thor. You don't mind if I show this to friends of mine that know how Queen-obsessed I am? Seriously, this thread is just too cool! Thank you AGAIN for coming here. I'm in a happy relationship at the moment, but once it goes south...you're on "speed-dial_(old-school reference).
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:23	Cool Villiers, When the time is right it could happen. To me the key has always been getting OVER the nastiness, even if I was the one who had to swallow my pride! Hang in there buddy!
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:26	HaHa PJUSA, Thank God. At least I can rest assured that you are happy now. Glad to hear it. To you too...Hang in there my friend!
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:27	Of course you can share this PJUSA
PrimeJiveUSA 16.09.2017 23:32	Not to take this on a "nasty" detour, but I have noticed that you are very anti-Trump/Republican(to say the least). I wonder if there were ever any political discussions that you had with Freddie or overheard what his political leanings were. Now, I know that the time that you were friends with Freddie is a LIFETIME ago when it comes to politics but I do remember in Phoebe's first book that he said that Freddie never voted but he got the feeling that Freddie was conservative politically. I'm pretty sure it's probably the economic side of conservatism that Freddie aligned with but...any thoughts or observations?
The Squirrelly One 16.09.2017 23:37	@Thor I hope you dont mind but I sent you a message privately about a gentleman you mentioned earlier from North America Thanks!
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:52	OK PrimeJive, I have never trusted Republicans and mostly trust Democrats. In my opinion Republicans are for the very rich and the very stupid that think THEIR needs will even be considered. Although Republicans laud Ronald Regan, his "trickle down" economic plan only helped the very rich. The word AIDS was somehow never mentioned. My group felt that most Republicans thought "hmmm...AIDS affects homosexuals, IV drug users and Haitians...well, that's kinda GOOD, no? And then there is Trump... The religious right, suddenly doesn't care about 3 marriages, grabbing women by the pussy and that he never goes to church. This exposed them as the hypocrites that they are. Perhaps Mary Magdalene was grabbed by Jesus in the same manner... I think not. Sheeeeww..sorry, but I have strong feelings about this...lol Back to Freddie, other than what a "fool in presidential clothing" Regan was. British politics I cannot remember ever being discussed with Freddie, even though the Iron Lady was friends with Regan. I really can't answer your question but thank you for letting me rant on!
SmokyQuartz 16.09.2017 23:55	PrimeJiveUSA, I'm inclined to agree with you on the friendship after relationship thing, it doesn't happen very often and I too would rather not in many cases. :-)
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:55	Oops ..it is Reagan not Regan...but who cares anyway..lol
thundergod 16.09.2017 23:59	The Squirelly One, So far I have not received your private message. Sorry, maybe try again.
YAWN 17.09.2017 00:02	Thor, ^^^THIS! Exactly my point. My father is a lawyer as well and told me to keep my mouth shut about my feelings on Trump as to not rock the boat in my firm. You can imagine how thrilled he was to hear that I was arrested at the rally lol. "Sir... Your daughter is in holding. Will you take the call? " I can still hear his lectures in my sleep lol. I just think we elected a joke. Makes our country look like a joke too. If the man can't handle twitter arguments, how can he run a country? Sorry, I hear his name and I slide right into a rant. I'll stop now, I promise! Lol
The Squirrelly One 17.09.2017 00:09	@Thor Just resent it. I hope it reaches you this time. It wasnt anything of real importance but I was curious. Thanks
PrimeJiveUSA 17.09.2017 00:12	thundergod wrote: Back to Freddie, other than what a "fool in presidential clothing" Regan was. You heard Freddie say this?
thundergod 17.09.2017 00:20	PJUSA, No, just a paraphrase of what we thought.
SmokyQuartz 17.09.2017 00:27	thundergod wrote: Thank you so much SmokyQuartz for your input on this subject. I say...Good for the two of you!...very refreshing to hear. Maybe you can give some pointers to our friend PrimeJive USA, it seems he's not finding his way to friendship with ex's like we have.
SmokyQuartz 17.09.2017 00:29	Oh, what did I do above, lol! Here's the reply: thanks, I think it's just a case of I truly did not want to get back with him, and he was never one for commitment, so it worked. If I hadn't have lost my dad suddenly, he wouldn't have reconnected with me. So it was a lot about circumstance. I think it doesn't work where people can't let go of old stuff or where they still want to get back together. There are some people I'd definitely not want to reconnect with, lol.
PrimeJiveUSA 17.09.2017 00:38	thundergod wrote: I really can't answer your question but thank you for letting me rant on! Thank you, Thor! I can't get enough of this stuff!
PrimeJiveUSA 17.09.2017 00:49	I know Peter has taken a lot of heat from certain quarters for suggesting Freddie was politically conservative but people have to understand the context of the times(80's/90's). Top tax rates before Thatcher were obscenely confiscatory(90%). There was no real discussion of things like "gay marriage".
Fireplace 17.09.2017 01:56	Thor, thank you for all the information you so graciously share with us. I for one find it very refreshing to hear about your personal views and feelings, and it's a testament to Freddie's personality that he inspired such loyalty in his circle of friends. From what I've read Freddie couldn't imagine himself getting old even before he was diagnosed, but if by some miracle he had survived do you have any ideas on how his personality would have developed?
raucousmonster 17.09.2017 08:04	Aside from everything else I'm loving watching some online friendships grow here on this thread. Thor your genuine, considerate and loving nature is coming over so strongly here - as a man, not just as Freddie's friend and it's so warming to read all of the posts on here. It's very affirming in some way. In a total tangent, as an Irish man I've always gotten a kick out of the fact that Freddie finally found the companionship and love he needed in one of my fellow countrymen. Silly I know but I like the idea that Jim was a straight shooting, no nonsense kind of guy and that may have been part of what Freddie was after and that's why the relationship worked. Did Freddie ever discuss his ideal partner with you or what he thought he would need for a real relationship to work? And did he blame himself when relationships broke down? I ask this because he talked a lot about how other people let him down badly and hurt him but in layer years he seemed to acknowledge that HE needed to change and not be so demanding. Thanks Thor!
Rainbow61 17.09.2017 13:35	To respond to earlier posts... Politics is a morass, civil discourse has almost ceased to exist, and anger and mistrust seem to rule the day. Unfortunately both political sides have contributed to this current state of affairs. As for where I stand...there are 1142 days until the next Presidential election and it can't go by fast enough!
Rainbow61 17.09.2017 14:29	And yes, I admit to my fair share of rants about the current administration. "Anguished" best describes how I felt after the election. So on a Queen related note...When I heard DT use "We Are the Champions" at the convention, I practically levitated from my seat and yelled at him through the TV. It wasn't a pretty sight!
thundergod 17.09.2017 19:01	Hi SmokyQuartz, Thank you for your insight on relationships with ex's.
thundergod 17.09.2017 19:04	Thanks for your thoughts and support of this thread PrimeJiveUSA. Much appreciated brother.
thundergod 17.09.2017 19:33	Welcome Fireplace, Nice to meet you here and thanks for the kind words. Your question is interesting, but after day to day contact with Freddie in the early '80s, I only had limited (but precious) contact with him after 1983. Since I know only a little about Freddie's adventures and personal growth from '84 until his passing, it would be impossible to answer your question adequately. I can say this however, every-time we visited Freddie after our New York experience together, we were greeted with the same warmth,friendliness, generosity and just over-all classless humanity that we enjoyed so fully in early '80 through '83. Even when he was very, very sick, personality wise he was the same beloved friend. No pity was expected or wanted by Freddie...just some comforting human interaction. among friends and STILL he wanted to make sure WE enjoyed our visit however he could. I believe in an earlier reply, I told everyone that he gave Lee and myself 1,000 pounds each during this last visit, which was completely unexpected by us..
thundergod 17.09.2017 19:52	Well hey raucousmonster, It seems that the ferocity that your name implies, has a SOFT side...LOL Thank you for your kind thoughts. Well, FYI, I have my annual travel plans to spend St. Patrick's Day in New York next March which I have done about 8 times since I left New York! I LOVE the atmosphere surrounding this celebration and the Irish-Americans, and many Irish national visitors are so warm and friendly. And I must say, the eye-candy of all the brutally handsome Irish Policemen, Firemen, and Military men that come to New York just for this celebration is awesome and does warm the "cockles of me heart" LOFL ! And now...I get a new Irish friend...thank you man.
thundergod 17.09.2017 19:59	HaHa Rainbow61, When I saw Trump ascend to the front stage through a smoke screen with laser lights and heard "We are the Champions" , I wanted to PUKE! and I also yelled at the TV...LOL I can't imagine that he had permission from Queen to use this classic...so I assumed he stole it like everything else in his miserable world of selfishness.
adreme13 17.09.2017 20:36	Can we please keep the conversation politically neutral? This thread was enjoyable for awhile. Back to Freddie, I made a panel in his name for the AIDS memorial quilt in 1992. As a fan of Freddie's for a long time before he passed, I wanted to honor him. Has anybody else been able to go visit the Quilt when it came to your area? It's very moving.
Rainbow61 17.09.2017 20:38	Thor, Now, if someone want to play "Another One Bites the Dust" after his next policy/legislation failure, I will be more than okay with that!
Rainbow61 17.09.2017 20:50	@ adreme13, I saw a piece of the Quilt in the late 90's when a section of it came to our college. You are correct, it was a very moving experience. Each piece lovingly fashioned for someone who is dearly missed. You could feel the somberness as people respectfully walked around and read those squares and listened to the list of names being read off. Thank you for doing that for Freddie!
adreme13 17.09.2017 20:55	Rainbow61 wrote: @ adreme13, I saw a piece of the Quilt in the late 90's when a section of it came to our college. You are correct, it was a very moving experience. Each piece lovingly fashioned for someone who is dearly missed. You could feel the somberness as people respectfully walked around and read those squares and listened to the list of names being read off. Thank you for doing that for Freddie! Thanks rainbow61, that was my first attempt at sewing, but I managed to make it look pretty decent. :-) I have seen the quilt several times and have sobbed my eyes out. Every panel I saw was a personal story.
The Squirrelly One 17.09.2017 20:56	@adreme13 Pretty sure Thor can discuss whatever he likes. He doesn't like Trump and for good reason! @Thor I had the misfortune of meeting him once [I was an autograph collector throughout the 1990s] and he was at the same event that Michael Jackson was at. I was there for Michael's signature [which I got] and as I reached out to shake MICHAEL'S hand, he cut me off and grabbed my hand to shake it. He assumed I was there for him because "everyone's a fan". He actually said that. "Everyone's a Trump fan. What do you want me to sign?" Ha!
thundergod 17.09.2017 20:57	Sorry adreme13, I would say that if you consider all 42 pages, about 95% is apolitical. That's not too bad. Please skip my next response to Rainbow61.
adreme13 17.09.2017 21:01	The Squirrelly One wrote: @adreme13 Pretty sure Thor can discuss whatever he likes. He doesn't like Trump and for good reason! @Thor I had the misfortune of meeting him once [I was an autograph collector throughout the 1990s] and he was at the same event that Michael Jackson was at. I was there for Michael's signature [which I got] and as I reached out to shake MICHAEL'S hand, he cut me off and grabbed my hand to shake it. He assumed I was there for him because "everyone's a fan". He actually said that. "Everyone's a Trump fan. What do you want me to sign?" Ha! Oh Squirlly grow up. Lol
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:01	Hey Rainbow61, Yes, I wouldn't mind if they use that song either. LOL Thanks for your response but I guess I need to change my apolitical percentage from 95% to 94% with this reply.
adreme13 17.09.2017 21:07	thundergod wrote: Sorry adreme13, I would say that if you consider all 42 pages, about 95% is apolitical. That's not too bad. Please skip my next response to Rainbow61. Yes it has been, it's been very enjoyable reading the fun stories. There are people here of all sorts of beliefs and life stories. My hubby served our country for 30 years in the military, and was injured in action. We love all American citizens, including our Presidents over the years.
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:08	I also was awed by the quilt when I saw it laid out in Washington D.C. during the LBGT "March on Washington" along the sides of the reflecting pool between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. I saw the quilts of some people I knew . It moved me as much as the Vietnam Memorial. Both are memorials to people lost too soon. I did not see Adreme's quilt, but I wish I had and thank you Adreme.
The Squirrelly One 17.09.2017 21:10	@adreme13 The man is a jackass and always has been. I think hes the one that needs to do the growing up lol
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:17	OK,ok ... I guess we've made our points...no need to sink down to 93% apolitical, BUT if it does, I'm ok with that too.
St Pepper 17.09.2017 21:18	The Squirrelly One wrote: @adreme13 The man is a jackass and always has been. I think hes the one that needs to do the growing up lol Agreed. Also just for the record I think its fair to not want to discuss politics but to ask that the entire thread not mention it... Including Thor... Is childish and pretty rude. If someone doesn't wish to discuss it then simply skip over those comments. Did you get Dump's sig then?
The Squirrelly One 17.09.2017 21:21	@Thor No no you're fine Thor. Nobody should be telling you what you can and can't post on your own thread. BTW thanks for responding to my PM yesterday. Will you be reading Mr.Freestone's book?
The Squirrelly One 17.09.2017 21:23	@st pepper No. I told him "No thanks. I'm here for Mr.Jackson". That Jackson signature was in my game room for years!
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:24	Hey The Sqirrelly One, I certainly want to read it. I think I already read the New York thoughts of Peter in his book but now I realize the rest of the book should be read as well. Thanks
adreme13 17.09.2017 21:27	St Pepper wrote: The Squirrelly One wrote: @adreme13 The man is a jackass and always has been. I think hes the one that needs to do the growing up lol Agreed. Also just for the record I think its fair to not want to discuss politics but to ask that the entire thread not mention it... Including Thor... Is childish and pretty rude. If someone doesn't wish to discuss it then simply skip over those comments. Did you get Dump's sig then? Lol.
St Pepper 17.09.2017 21:34	adreme13 wrote: St Pepper wrote: The Squirrelly One wrote: @adreme13 The man is a jackass and always has been. I think hes the one that needs to do the growing up lol Agreed. Also just for the record I think its fair to not want to discuss politics but to ask that the entire thread not mention it... Including Thor... Is childish and pretty rude. If someone doesn't wish to discuss it then simply skip over those comments. Did you get Dump's sig then? Lol. Oh I see we're dealing with a real classy lady here. Keep being immature and wasting Thor's space here. Im sure everyone loves that. Perhaps take a page from your own book and "grow up lol"
The Squirrelly One 17.09.2017 21:36	@Thor It is a great one. Its the book I always suggest to those who are looking to find a genuine Freddie book. Peter includes all the good and the bad. Feels very genuine.
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:41	Sgt. Pepper, Adreme, I think, has just accepted the little bit of politics that we throw in here. No one is immature here ( well maybe Dr. Magus) but this is a forum of ideas and I accept all ideas and I have said before ..".ideas that are not nasty or in the gutter." Adreme made a quilt to honor Freddie. With THAT in mind, she is certainly welcome here.
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:46	Thanks Squirelly, It just moved up to the top of my reading list for this winter, after the holidays. I always admired Peter and his endless loyalty and love for Freddy. I feel a little ashamed now that I only looked at the parts that included me. And I will be the first to admit that THAT was selfish of me.
St Pepper 17.09.2017 21:48	thundergod wrote: Sgt. Pepper, Adreme, I think, has just accepted the little bit of politics that we throw in here. No one is immature here ( well maybe Dr. Magus) but this is a forum of ideas and I accept all ideas and I have said before ..".ideas that are not nasty or in the gutter." Adreme made a quilt to honor Freddie. With THAT in mind, she is certainly welcome here. Fair enough. Let's just say that if someone has an issue with something being discussed here that they simply ignore it. You should be able to talk about anything Thor. You're good people.
thundergod 17.09.2017 21:49	I appreciate your support Pepper. Thank you.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 01:41	Hmm... Interesting post but I have to be "that guy"... many of the things posted here match what we know about Freddie but much of it contradicts what is in 2 well known books. {They werent written by people who knew him so I dont take them seriously but many fans do} One topic being that Freddie was gay. I always assumed he was and all those who knew him say he was but every site online says he was a "known bisexual". Are they calling him that because he was with Mary? Mary said that he told her he thought he was bisexual but from what I understand he didnt sleep with any other women. Leads me to believe he was just gay and couldn't cough up the words. Mary also said that he tried another time to come out to her and according to Mary he tried very hard to say it out loud but couldn't admit it. She said "Are you trying to tell me you're gay?" And apparently he just smiled. Like "yes! You've got it! I dont have to say it." I'm wondering why so many websites say he was bisexual? This thread proves he was indeed gay IF this is indeed Thor Arnold. So back to me being "that guy"... Is there any way we can get a picture of you now, Thor? We all know your face so it would end any speculation. Ive mentioned this thread to a few Queen fans who are not happy to hear that Freddie was gay and they've taken to saying "thats not really Thor". Yes i have to agree, most Queen fans do not like their hero being gay. A very stupid way of thinking imo. Apparently all the things you've spoken about have been listed in other books or could have been made up, according to them. Nothing so far proves to a pretty large group of people that this is really Thor Arnold.
thundergod 18.09.2017 03:12	OMG, What? This was the original question on page 1. OK Dustin Zimmerman, you have exposed me my real name is Derwood Gravelsnach from Kentucky. He secretly married my sister Bertha May. He was actually straight, but like all of us, he wanted to make the choice to be gay because it was the easier route. So THERE...you have it. Why would I want a stupid name like Thor anyway!
YAWN 18.09.2017 03:30	Dustin, they call him bisexual on those sites because of Lesley-Ann Jones' book. A woman who doesn't even have a photo with Freddie. Someone who has been proven to be a liar by multiple people who knew freddie, and the lies in her book were "called out" by many of those who knew him. She known for waiting until celebrities die to write books on them and claim to have been close friends with them. She got caught lying about being at a ton of Queen events and made herself looks pretty stupid. However, because she called her book the "definitive biography", people just assume its genuine. Heres a little insight from Mike Moran (who worked with Freddie and is still good friends with Chris 'Crystal' Taylor) He posted this on his Facebook. : An actual conversation between Lesley Ann Jones and Mike Moran LAJ: "I'm writing a book on David Bowie. I know you worked with him. Do you have any stories I can use for the book? " MM: "No. I didnt know him. " LAJ: "You worked with him. You must have some stories." MM: "I worked with him, but I wasnt a friend of his. I dont have any stories. It was just work." LAJ: "Just make some up." Thats an actual conversation she had with Mike. She didnt know Freddie as a friend, so she made stuff up. Shes the only reason anyone thinks freddie wasnt gay. She worked VERY hard to gay erase him in her book. She was the one that printed the Barbara stuff we know was a lie. She was also the one that completely glazed over David Minns (Freddie's first official boyfriend and the man he felt strongly enough to have "that" conversation with Mary for). She simply said "he had a brief fling with a record company worker". His name was David and he was the first man Freddie exchanged "I love you's" with as an adult. It was a three year relationship (a far cry from a brief fling). She definitely had an agenda. Shes hated by many people who knew Freddie personally lol. You can thank her for that awful channel 5 docudrama with John Blunt. The one Brian, Roger and Freddie's family tried so hard to stop. That alone speaks volumes to me.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 03:36	Thor Why the hostility? I also agree that he was gay. I'm saying it pisses 80% of his fan base off to know he was so they're claiming you arent who you say you are. So to prove it I asked for a photo. Ive read all your comments. No I don't see why anyone wouod pretend to be Thor but nothing you've posted here proves that you are Thor. I dont think you know how crazy most of the fan base is. So a picture would end it all. May we have one? I understand you're 62 now but we all know your face. It wouldn't be hard for those who want to challenge anything here to drop it when they see that.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 03:41	Villiers no shock there. Lesley Ann Jones is the fucking worst. You dont have to tell me.
thundergod 18.09.2017 04:06	Dustin, No one gave me proof that Barrack Obama was born in this country. not even his so called "birth certificate" proved anything. No one gave me proof that aliens didn't really land in New Mexico. No one gave me proof that OJ really murdered his wife, while the real killer is still out there.. You are welcome to come to San Diego and take my photo, I am not providing it for you or your friends that is, unless they are hot That's all from me. Now I have to figure out how to grab that million bucks for a book based on what other's have stated about Freddie. Later dude! (to be said with hostility)
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 04:11	Really? So disappointed to see you acting this way. You came off as such a cool guy before this. You're acting like I'm the one thats calling you a liar. Kind of fucked up. Also you said you were going to ask Lee for some photos to post here. So you have no problem with sharing those but you have an issue with this? All I asked for was a pic to prove you are Thor because other people are calling bullshit on this thread. One photo would shut them up. I don't understand why you would have an issue with it. I'm not asking for your social security number or personal email. Whats the issue?
The Squirrelly One 18.09.2017 04:19	@Dustin Zimmerman I get where you're coming from. Perhaps Thor took your original comment as a jab to him and his word. Thor to be fair I am a member of the International Queen Fan Club on facebook and I have seen 2 people who knew Freddie who were totally torn apart until they showed pictures. I can attest that it does happen and perhaps thats really what Dustin was just trying to save you from. One woman was filmed at a famous concert in the early 80s and spoke up in the fan club. She was called a lair and insulted until she proved it was really her. She was even interviewed by Jacky Smith later. Poor lady was very kind and got treated very badly. Maybe thats what he was trying to avoid here.
thundergod 18.09.2017 04:26	Hey Squirrely, For you I would not mind. Could you give me a private message please?
The Squirrelly One 18.09.2017 04:30	@Thor Very kind of you, I just sent you one
Jimmy Dean 18.09.2017 04:48	why would anyone "impersonate" someone with the level of detail and care Thor has presented himself with. you can tell he's actively enjoying everyone's questions and giving as detailed answers as he possibly can. what would an impersonator gain through all of this? generally - you'd expect to make fun of others. If Thor were exposed as a phony - there is nothing here to benefit from. He's not trying to pull anyone into any of his stories. In fact, none of his stories involve a large prank or a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. They are merely stories that directly or indirectly touch upon Freddie Mercury. And he's not the driver here. Everyone asks questions - and he gives us his best form of an answer. And if you read the answers across the board - there are no plot holes. His very first post set the tone - he basically introduced himself and waited for our response. He didn't promise or sell anything. We don't need a picture for proof. but anyone who requires one, probably needs some time with a shrink. please consider it. good mental health is key to a happy life.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 04:56	That they do. I feel like I need to stress this again because I dont want people getting the idea that I am the one who doesn't believe him. I AM NOT SOMEONE WHO BELIEVES THIS ISNT THOR. Like someone else said, anytime these things happen, fans start freaking out the moment the individual says something they dont like. In this case it was that Freddie was gay. Obviously the guy was gay. However as others have pointed out, there is a huge chunk of the fan base that hates the idea of him being gay. I was in a queen related facebook group earlier today that literally banned me because I quoted Thor in it and they claimed it wasnt him. I asked for a photo only because I know it will happen again. Especially now that those people know this this thread exists. I in no way meant it as an insult to Thor.
The Squirrelly One 18.09.2017 05:08	Right! So for anyone who may find this thread and question whether or not this is truly Thor Arnold, this should end the debate. He reached out to me and shared this group of photos of himself taken after Freddie passed away. I can confirm that I have also seen a photo of him he took today (which I won't be posting here unless he tells me to). So yes, it IS Thor.
thundergod 18.09.2017 05:09	Squirrelly has a picture of my favorite photos after Freddie. The current one is not for release yet
The Squirrelly One 18.09.2017 05:10	@Thor Thanks again for trusting me with that, my friend. Ive just posted it on the thread.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 05:17	Right on right on. Thats Thor all right. Nobody can say it isn't. Thor man I really hope you dont think I'm am asshole. Wasnt my intention. I explained it in the comments above.
thundergod 18.09.2017 05:19	Welcome to the thread Dustin (but tell me, are your doubting straight friends cute?)...LOL
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 05:21	Ha. Not a chance! They're all older women with a Freddie obsession and tacky clothes lol
thundergod 18.09.2017 05:25	Well Dustin, I'm an old gay man...maybe one of them would like to be my "Mary"
YAWN 18.09.2017 05:26	Oh snap, Look at Thor all buff! You were a real muscle man. No wonder Freddie was into you, boy! You know you had no business looking that spicy at Disney World lolol. All joking aside, I think its awesome you're willing to share that with us. Very cool of you!
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 05:28	thundergod wrote: Well Dustin, I'm an old gay man...maybe one of them would like to be my "Mary" LMAO I love it!
thundergod 18.09.2017 05:29	Villiers, I guess I had to let them feel the scar in my side and the nailing scars in my hands...Just kidding
YAWN 18.09.2017 05:32	Looks like you have a tattoo on your arm. Are you big into tattoos/ do have many? Freddie apparently wasnt interested in getting any on himself but according to Peter, he was interested in looking at them (in great detail) on fine men lol. My dad just got his first one at 67 years old! For his sister. Very sweet but he acted like a baby the whole time lolol
thundergod 18.09.2017 05:40	Hey Villiers, Ha Ha, As a matter of fact I had the firebird tatoo recolored and in an attempt to modernize, I added a red tribal pattern under it..I was in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida last March (I did not go to NY for once) and it happened to be Spring Break. All of my friend Brandon's family lives in Florida and they treat me like one of the family even though I haven't seen them in 15 years.Yes...I got drunk and had the old tat rejuvenated. It was kinda fun..
flo90 18.09.2017 05:42	Thor, Thank you for everything you have shared with us, for taking the time answer so many questions, for keeping it real. I have enjoyed reading every page of this thread and sharing it with my husband. I have been a Queen fan for two decades but he finally came around...lol.. So great when those you love get the magic of someone who has touched your life so deeply. I will always love Freddie even though I never met him. WOW, you are gorgeous!
thundergod 18.09.2017 05:49	Hey flo90, Well thank you but no so gorgeous nowadays. I am 62 years old. I still have all my hair, but I stopped going to the gym at age 56 after 40 years. I said "enough is enough" I was not getting the same buzz I used to. And therefore I am a little heavier than I ever wanted to be. Oh well.
The Squirrelly One 18.09.2017 05:54	@Thor Oh come on now. He sent me a photo he took of himself today and I can assure you, he still looks great. I stopped working out after child #2 (hes 4 now) and I still can't find the time to get to the gym but I can tell you, it sounds like you did a hell of a lot better than I ever did. 40 years. The longest I ever stayed with it was 7 years.
YAWN 18.09.2017 05:57	Better than me too. My thighs went to hell as soon as I started school. I graduated a few months ago and still can't drag myself to the gym. 40 years is still... 40 years more than I've done lol
The Squirrelly One 18.09.2017 06:00	@ Villiers LOL
flo90 18.09.2017 06:12	@ Thor Men are like wine, they get better with age... 62 is the new 42 @The Squirrelly One ... it is an unwritten law that after having 2 children you are exempt from ever working out again...lol, I stopped after baby #1
Rainbow61 18.09.2017 06:32	Thor, Thanks for the great pics....you look like a young Tab Hunter! Flo, Welcome! I too share some of these Queenzone conversations with my husband. He just know how much I love Freddie and I appreciate that. He knows when he starts the car after I have used it he is going to hear Queen music blaring. Sadly, I never saw Queen when Freddie was alive, so when I saw that Queen + Adam Lambert were touring this summer, I jumped at what I believed would be my last chance to see them. (well half of the group). We attended 2 concerts in a week! One was an hour from our house, the other about 6 hours! My husband likes Queen, but only went to the shows because of me.
flo90 18.09.2017 07:09	Rainbow61, Similar to me, I never saw them when Freddie was alive. We saw Queen and AL @ Hollywood Bowl this year, also thought it would be our last chance to see them live.
Rainbow61 18.09.2017 07:56	Flo90, My concerts were in Montreal and at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut. One of the moments I looked forward to the most was when Freddie appeared on the large screen. He still knows how to work a crowd.
Invisible Woman 18.09.2017 08:20	Last 4 or 5 pages ... Everything was fine in this thread until politics began to be talked about.I don't think that's good. I'm not from USA and I don't care to read about this man(Trump), especially not on forum about Queen! There is a subforum in the forum "personall" and I think it serves to talk about things that have nothing to do with the Queen. And the discussion that Thor is not Thor... Each of us has an opinion on everything that is written about this topic,as in all of the books and articles we read about Freddie, all of the documentaries we've watched. I think the discussion about whether he really is is unnecessary. I don't like the fact that the thread has turned into a discussion about politics and some personal things of members, but ok. if most of the members who are active in this thread want it to be so... I apologize if my words were offended someone, but I said what I felt.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 09:00	Both of those topics you took issues with were already closed and done. Bringing them up just to say you didnt like it was a bit unnecessary. For the 1 millionth time, I've explained why the topic of confirming it was Thor was even brought up. It looks like Thor gets it now too. Nothing was said to him to insult him or waste his time. What would have wasted his time was having those assholes in the group I was banned from for believing this was Thor come on here and get after him. They didnt believe it was him and gave me shit for saying it was and quoting him. So yeah I asked him for a picture. Saved him from more drama from a less than polite group of idiots that already took offense to this thread. The politics stuff has already been covered too. If you have an issue with him talking about Trump or anything else, just dont read the comments. He can post what he wants here and thats something I agree with 100%. He doesn't need to move his thoughts to any other thread.
The Fairy King 18.09.2017 10:00	Dustin Zimmerman...if that isn't a fake name.... On a serious note: You need to tone down a bit though "newbie". Nine posts and already demanding stuff? This level of jackassery is only accepted from people with 300+ posts. Yes, i am THAT guy.
c.jory 18.09.2017 10:11	thundergod wrote: OMG, What? This was the original question on page 1. OK Dustin Zimmerman, you have exposed me my real name is Derwood Gravelsnach from Kentucky. He secretly married my sister Bertha May. He was actually straight, but like all of us, he wanted to make the choice to be gay because it was the easier route. So THERE...you have it. Why would I want a stupid name like Thor anyway! "Derwood Gravelsnach from Kentucky" made me laugh so hard.
c.jory 18.09.2017 10:17	Honestly though I AM surprised the Freddie Was Bi Brigade haven't trolled this thread demanding proof though. There is a whole ARMY of these hysterical women on YouTube who claim Freddie kept his girlfriends secret from his gay friends because "women were heartbreakers" (!!!!) A couple of other people who claimed to know Freddie are on there, and attempt to shut their incoherent ranting down. One is a guy called Philip Calvert who claimed to be part of Freddie's gay crowd (in Britain & Germany). Did you ever meet him on your visits to the UK, Thor? Also, did you know Vince "The Barman" Gioielli from LA? Freddie apparently liked him a lot but Vince couldn't leave his life behind to tour with him.
Invisible Woman 18.09.2017 10:37	@Dustin Zimmerman I wasn't online when discussion you started .Does that mean I can't say what I mean about it? If I don't want to miss an answer to the question about Freddie I have to read everything. I didn't suggest moving it to another topic, I just said that there is a subforum for personal matters. I think I was the first one to mention the photo on page 2 because I thought it would be nice to see a photo of Freddie and Thor that has not been published anywhere and I don't remember anyone asking Thor for any evidence. I had some more questions for Thor, but after all, it does not matter,maybe some other time. It was nice to participate in the conversation about Freddie with Thor and the other members. I will try to avoid things which no interests me when I reading this thread.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 11:24	The Fairy King wrote: Dustin Zimmerman...if that isn't a fake name.... On a serious note: You need to tone down a bit though "newbie". Nine posts and already demanding stuff? This level of jackassery is only accepted from people with 300+ posts. Yes, i am THAT guy. Oh buddy. Fuck off. I'm not the one. I don't give two shits about how many posts you have or anyone else has. The irony of you making that post to me while talking about "jackassery" is too good. Oh yeah baby, I'm super intimidated by your millions of previous posts under "My Fairy Queen" which MUST be your birth name seeing as you are so concerned about what my name may be. Only a "jackass" would take issue with my username without using his or her real name to bitch and moan.
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 11:29	Invisible Woman wrote: I think I was the first one to mention the photo on page 2 because I thought it would be nice to see a photo of Freddie and Thor that has not been published anywhere and I don't remember anyone asking Thor for any evidence. . Nobody said anyone here asked for evidence. I stated pretty clearly in my previous posts that the issuesnwas on facebook. Also there's a difference between stating your opinion on something and bringing dead topics up that have already been settled a few times. The topics were done. Thor addressed the politics thing and I explained the photo thing. Multiple times. There's only so many times I can go over it.
thomasquinn 32989 18.09.2017 11:39	The Fairy King wrote: Dustin Zimmerman...if that isn't a fake name.... On a serious note: You need to tone down a bit though "newbie". Nine posts and already demanding stuff? This level of jackassery is only accepted from people with 300+ posts. Yes, i am THAT guy. Only 300? Going soft in your old age? ;-)
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 11:47	Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut until I have racked up a few billion posts. Only chumps pop an attitude with under 3,000 posts lol. So glad I had Fairy Queen to set me straight <3
YAWN 18.09.2017 12:07	WELL THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY! I know Dustin from facebook so I can vouch for him (if that even means anything) in that he likely did ask for the photo because of the reason he stated (which is valid and I dont think he meant it in any kind of negative way against Thor) . However I also know Dustin is not someone who often backs away from arguments or disagreements online (sorry Dustin, i dont anything bad by that), so for the sake of this thread and all of us in it, maybe let's all just try to chill? Writing anyone back with anger will just get things rowdy and I think no matter what our views are, we can all agree that this thread is too rad to screw it up with fights and back and forth 'nastiness', right? So let's just try to move forward :) Please don't stone me lol
Rainbow61 18.09.2017 12:11	Thor, In an earlier post, you told someone that Freddie was very proud of his performance at "Live Aid". Do have any specific recollections of what he said about that show? Did you or any of his friends watch it either? What were your thoughts?
Dustin Zimmerman 18.09.2017 12:20	Villiers wrote: However I also know Dustin is not someone who often backs away from arguments or disagreements online (sorry Dustin, i dont anything bad by that), so for the sake of this thread and all of us in it, maybe let's all just try to chill? Writing anyone back with anger will just get things rowdy and I think no matter what our views are, we can all agree that this thread is too rad to screw it up with fights and back and forth 'nastiness', right? So let's just try to move forward :) Please don't stone me lol Nobody is gonna stone you lol. I dont take offense to it either because its true lol. I'm not mad at you. Sorry the post got ugly Thor. My bad. I'll go back to watching instead of posting.
LOTV 18.09.2017 12:22	thundergod wrote: Hello LOTV, What I recall of Peter Straker, the handful of times that I met him, is that he had pretentious airs about him which I really didn't like. My group got the feeling from him that we were American commoners and HE was British Royalty because he knew Freddie. Not my cup of tea. His attitude reminded me of an incident in Atlanta I had during the annual "Hotlanta" celebration at a very gorgeous Marriott Suites Hotel, Into the pool area strutted a loud queen. After about 5 minutes he was overheard by ALL, bitching,.."I don't like this Marriott Suites place....take me to the Ritz" and abruptly stormed out of the pool area. I'm gunna go with you on this one my man. He's still bitter about not being invited to perform as well.
PrimeJiveUSA 18.09.2017 13:00	That Marriott Suites story is so funny...I guess he surveyed the clientele in the pool and wasn't impressed. On Peter Straker: There's a Garden Lodge video on YouTube where he and others are all partying in the kitchen. Barbara Valentin is also there holding a quiet and strange looking conversation with Phoebe. Interesting stuff...and yes...Straker seems to be "holding court" almost like it was HIS house they all were in
Invisible Woman 18.09.2017 13:06	Of course I agree that it should stop with this fight. I'm just thinking of what Dustin told me. Does this mean that I can't say anything about what was said for several hours before I read it? Ok.let it be so. It's best that I really become invisible.LOL
chrisdpenrose 18.09.2017 13:48	Hi All - I never post, and dont have much to say - but enjoying dipping into this thread every couple of days. Thank you v much Thor!
LOTV 18.09.2017 13:49	I must confess I didn't realise that Mary was such a fascination with fellow Queen fans. I've barely given her much thought, seemed like a normal bird to me who may or may not have turned into a bit of a cow after Fred's passing. To me I've always thought that Freddie's relationship with her was quite straight forward: They met and were attracted to each other. For Fred the physical attraction was temporary (sexuality need not always be set in stone and linear 100% of the time) as he started to come to terms with he wasn't sexually attracted to her and was in fact gay. She got over it because she knew he was never going to change. From what we know of Freddie he didn't suffer fools and fakes gladly so I don't think he'd have stayed so close to her if she was all deception and self serving. The justification to being bi over gay that I used to get told was that for periods in his life he was such a hedonist he slept with anybody, regardless of gender, who he was attracted to. Probably fueled by his typically mischievous quote "Oh I'll sleep with anybody my dahling, I don't care". It does seem now that more information has become available that this is a gross exaggeration and that he wasn't interested in women. Roger himself said instead of girls turning up it was boys. The consistent line from those who knew him and were in his life (including our host) is that they never saw him with a woman casually. I think it's fair to say he was "as gay as a daffodil, my dear". Thanks for the info on Barbara everyone. Again, to me she's always been a bit of a footnote. I always saw her as some mad eccentric cow who was a bit of a hoot for Fred to hang around with in Munich. Maybe he did or didn't get particularly off his tits and try fucking her, I never much cared. I didn't realise she was such a vindictive lying bitch. To make the claim he knowingly affected Jim Hutton is truly horrible and totally inconsistent with the picture painted of him as a human being. I think the most critical we can agree to be on that score was that like many others at the time (but not Thor) he was irresponsible when a little but not a lot was known about HIV and AIDS. Didn't Jim Hutton say the moment Freddie knew he wanted to cease all sexual activity but Jim said it was OK to continue safely? I think we have quite a clear and consistent picture of Fred from sources over the years, much of it echoed by Thor in this thread. Even that ghastly old Ham Straker talks of Fred's generosity and loyalty. I just wish we knew a little more about him as the musician, the frighteningly creative force he was. I do love his attitude to the Hot Space backlash "it's only a load of sounds for fuck's sake, it doesn't really matter". He really did seem to think of his music as disposable as he said he did, not lacking creatively but on to the next thing. Something Thor says he was like as an individual and perhaps reflected in his attitude throughout his illness, no moping and no talking about it. I think he knew he would burn brightly but not for long so he was bloody well going to burn as bright as possible.
LOTV 18.09.2017 13:55	And didn't he burn brightly. But then that's what happens with a star even after they've died they continue to shine for years. I quite enjoy the fact that actually he's seen as cool now where as this most certainly wasn't always the case. I think he would have been truly saddened and touched that Kurt Cobain referenced him in his suicide note.
Double-U 18.09.2017 14:03	Hey folks, the following links will lead you to some german pages of papers who published some information about Freddie's time in Munich last year because of his 70th birthday. Peter Ambacher claims himself to be the last surviver of the community that was hanging arround with Freddie in Munich in the 80's. His nikname, Mrs. Piggy, was mentioned before in this thread. Mrs. Piggy also said, that Mrs. Valentin was some kind of groupie try to get some light from the Mercury sun to get more spot light for herself. One anecdote says that Freddie left trought the back door very often when Barbara Valentin entered the club or restaurant link link As I said it's in german language untortunately but some pictures are showing places in Munich connected with Freddie's day and nights in this town. Kind regards, W.
YAWN 18.09.2017 14:23	Double-U, he ran out the back when she showed up? That's hilarious, thanks for sharing! Poor Freddie got used by so many but she was one of the worst. Gay erasing him for her own personal gain. Not to mention the attempted murder allegations she made on him. SAD!
PrimeJiveUSA 18.09.2017 14:30	LOTV wrote: I quite enjoy the fact that actually he's seen as cool now where as this most certainly wasn't always the case. Isn't that the truth?!? Many of us long-term American fans can remember the time from The Works all the way to Innuendo where Queen couldn't get arrested. I'm VERY glad that Queen have become "cool" in America again...it's looooooong overdue.
PrimeJiveUSA 18.09.2017 14:34	@Thor Great pictures! Is the Mickey/Minnie picture from Disneyland or Disney World? Are you a fan of either place?
Fireplace 18.09.2017 14:59	Personally I don't give a toss whether he's Thor, Beelzebub, Scaramouche or Galileo. His comments have been modest, insightful, at times humorous and always devoid of any sensationalism. An imposter wouldn't answer half the questions with "I can't really say" or something to that effect. Which is more than can be said of 90% of QZ and most of the people who felt they knew Freddie and published books about him. Thor has gone out of his way to be polite and welcoming to everyone in this thread and in my book he'd be most welcome even if he'd only ever exchanged a single Christmas card with Freddie.
The Fairy King 18.09.2017 15:10	Dustin Zimmerman wrote: The Fairy King wrote: Dustin Zimmerman...if that isn't a fake name.... On a serious note: You need to tone down a bit though "newbie". Nine posts and already demanding stuff? This level of jackassery is only accepted from people with 300+ posts. Yes, i am THAT guy. Oh buddy. Fuck off. I'm not the one. I don't give two shits about how many posts you have or anyone else has. The irony of you making that post to me while talking about "jackassery" is too good. Oh yeah baby, I'm super intimidated by your millions of previous posts under "My Fairy Queen" which MUST be your birth name seeing as you are so concerned about what my name may be. Only a "jackass" would take issue with my username without using his or her real name to bitch and moan. Jesus. Grow a sense of humor buddy. :')
The Fairy King 18.09.2017 15:11	thomasquinn 32989 wrote: The Fairy King wrote: Dustin Zimmerman...if that isn't a fake name.... On a serious note: You need to tone down a bit though "newbie". Nine posts and already demanding stuff? This level of jackassery is only accepted from people with 300+ posts. Yes, i am THAT guy. Only 300? Going soft in your old age? ;-) Hehe ;)
c.jory 18.09.2017 16:12	Double-U wrote: Hey folks, the following links will lead you to some german pages of papers who published some information about Freddie's time in Munich last year because of his 70th birthday. Peter Ambacher claims himself to be the last surviver of the community that was hanging arround with Freddie in Munich in the 80's. His nikname, Mrs. Piggy, was mentioned before in this thread. Mrs. Piggy also said, that Mrs. Valentin was some kind of groupie try to get some light from the Mercury sun to get more spot light for herself. One anecdote says that Freddie left trought the back door very often when Barbara Valentin entered the club or restaurant link link As I said it's in german language untortunately but some pictures are showing places in Munich connected with Freddie's day and nights in this town. Kind regards, W. Haha! Day made with the second link! Another witness who says the Barbara/Freddie relationship was bollocks. Because Queen recorded some of Hot Space at Musicland Studios, people assume he met Barbara in 1982 and claim they were living together from 1982-1985, despite Phoebe saying he never moved in. The evidence against Barbara's lie continues to stack up. Excuse me while I go and drink homophobic fangirl tears!
thundergod 18.09.2017 17:37	Wow...two full pages in only 10 hours. I will answer questions and make any comments in reverse order. captainjory, Are you sure about the dates you have written? Unless I have 1982 amnesia, I remember enjoying the entire year with Freddie and going to many of the Queen America '82 concerts.
thundergod 18.09.2017 17:39	Dustin...Fairy King, Please try to play nice in this sandbox. LOL
thundergod 18.09.2017 17:42	Hey Fireplace, Thank you so much for your support. Very nice to read your reply!
thundergod 18.09.2017 17:50	Hey PJUSA, That is from Disney World which I WAY prefer over Disneyland. I absolutely love the "World Showcase" part of EPCOT and have had many a good time at the English Pub and Restaurant. A great place to see the fireworks from and I always meet some very nice Britains. I am, after all, a hopeless Anglophile if you haven't yet guessed. I once asked the "old dear" who was entertaining at the piano to sing "The White Cliffs of Dover" I LOVE that song!
The Fairy King 18.09.2017 18:01	thundergod wrote: Dustin...Fairy King, Please try to play nice in this sandbox. LOL I got disciplined by Thor! Score! :D
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:01	Yes, PJUSA I am also excited about the re-surge of Queen music. If you have ever attended "LOVE" the Cirque du Soleil tribute to the Beatles, I can just imagine that a "Killer Queen" performance would be be right up their alley and make a fortune. I have not yet seen the Michael Jackson tribute.
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:09	Hey Double-U, Thanks a million for those German articles. I had Google translate it into English. I got the gist of it, but obviously Google has some work to do on their translation service.
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:11	Hey LOTV, I did not know that Kurt Cobain mentioned Freddie in his suicide note. Something else to Google! Thanks for the info.
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:15	Welcome chrisdpenrose, Thanks so much for your support of this site. I know I would sure like to read any comments or questions that you, personally, might have. If that's not your thing...just drop us a line once and again.
thomasquinn 32989 18.09.2017 18:20	Just remember: the last guy who got 'disciplined' by Thor was tied up in a cave using his sons' guts, with poison dripping on his face until the end of the world. Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll shut up now.
c.jory 18.09.2017 18:37	thundergod wrote: Wow...two full pages in only 10 hours. I will answer questions and make any comments in reverse order. captainjory, Are you sure about the dates you have written? Unless I have 1982 amnesia, I remember enjoying the entire year with Freddie and going to many of the Queen America '82 concerts. Yeah that was my point! (Sorry if I wasn't clear!) The whole timeline people have for Freddie and Barbara is wrong, he did record in Germany in early 1982, but as you know only too well, he was living in New York, plus touring - not with her in Germany. This is what I mean about how mental some fans are! They've re-written his life to allow for a fictional female relationship!
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:39	NO Invisible Woman, don't just disappear, We'll all support you, read what you have to say and hopefully reply with Grace Under Disagreement. I don't think you will get anymore rude replies. Please stay with us, state your point and forgive others that have not engaged in civil disagreement.
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:48	You better NOT shut up thomasquinn...or I'll be after YOU too...LOL
thundergod 18.09.2017 18:51	Thanks captainjory for the explanation....I thought I might be "Going Out of my Head"
The Fairy King 18.09.2017 19:31	thomasquinn 32989 wrote: Just remember: the last guy who got 'disciplined' by Thor was tied up in a cave using his sons' guts, with poison dripping on his face until the end of the world. Sorry, couldn't resist. I'll shut up now. Nah its ok. It was funny and relevant. :D
Rainbow61 18.09.2017 21:09	@ Thor, "I had Google translate it into English. I got the gist of it, but obviously Google has some work to do on their translation service." I did the same thing. Chuckled when I got to this line toward the end..."The innkeeper cooked Mercury with his food: pork knuckles." Ouch!
thundergod 18.09.2017 21:28	HaHa Rainbow, Poor Freddie, cooked with pork knuckles...Hilarious
LOTV 19.09.2017 11:37	Thor, for your convenience mate: To Boddah Speaking from the tongue of an experienced simpleton who obviously would rather be an emasculated, infantile complain-ee. This note should be pretty easy to understand. All the warnings from the punk rock 101 courses over the years, since my first introduction to the, shall we say, ethics involved with independence and the embracement of your community has proven to be very true. I haven't felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guity beyond words about these things. For example when we're back stage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins., it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddie Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the the love and adoration from the crowd which is something I totally admire and envy. The fact is, I can't fool you, any one of you. It simply isn't fair to you or me. The worst crime I can think of would be to rip people off by faking it and pretending as if I'm having 100% fun. Sometimes I feel as if I should have a punch-in time clock before I walk out on stage. I've tried everything within my power to appreciate it (and I do,God, believe me I do, but it's not enough). I appreciate the fact that I and we have affected and entertained a lot of people. It must be one of those narcissists who only appreciate things when they're gone. I'm too sensitive. I need to be slightly numb in order to regain the enthusiasms I once had as a child. On our last 3 tours, I've had a much better appreciation for all the people I've known personally, and as fans of our music, but I still can't get over the frustration, the guilt and empathy I have for everyone. There's good in all of us and I think I simply love people too much, so much that it makes me feel too fucking sad. The sad little, sensitive, unappreciative, Pisces, Jesus man. Why don't you just enjoy it? I don't know! I have a goddess of a wife who sweats ambition and empathy and a daughter who reminds me too much of what i used to be, full of love and joy, kissing every person she meets because everyone is good and will do her no harm. And that terrifies me to the point to where I can barely function. I can't stand the thought of Frances becoming the miserable, self-destructive, death rocker that I've become. I have it good, very good, and I'm grateful, but since the age of seven, I've become hateful towards all humans in general. Only because it seems so easy for people to get along that have empathy. Only because I love and feel sorry for people too much I guess. Thank you all from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach for your letters and concern during the past years. I'm too much of an erratic, moody baby! I don't have the passion anymore, and so remember, it's better to burn out than to fade away. Peace, love, empathy. Kurt Cobain Frances and Courtney, I'll be at your alter. Please keep going Courtney, for Frances. For her life, which will be so much happier without me. I LOVE YOU, I LOVE YOU!
LOTV 19.09.2017 11:49	Kurt Cobain cherished NOTW, it was his favourite rock album. He adored Freddie, he could associate with the 'otherness' of him.
PrimeJiveUSA 19.09.2017 15:23	NOTW is cited by other stars, too. Slash and Trent Reznor spring to mind. A great album.
thundergod 19.09.2017 17:04	LOTV, Thank you for showing me this. I've never read anyone's suicide note before. It makes you just want to hug him and tell him that inner demons CAN be released with some time and work. That it is worth attempting to push through all those real/imagined storm clouds to reach even just a small sunny, somewhat peaceful place. But, I am sure that Kurt was an infinitely complicated talent whose psyche I could never truly appreciate or even begin to understand. I do miss him and his music.
thundergod 19.09.2017 17:09	Sorry all, my NURSE just came through
matt z 19.09.2017 17:33	^Hah. Inner Nurse came out, off the clock. Well, that's opening another can of worms. Kurt's alleged suicide note. There are some of a mind that the last lines were not written by him. (I'm no forensic cryptographer, but there are SOME similarities and many differences) ...some question the very ability of a man with that much junk in his system being able to even shoot himself. Another "theory" is that he was already in talks to get a divorce from Courtney (with lawyers etc) and that as someone who stood to benefit far more from widowhood than ex wife status, Courtney had sought someone out to have him "put away" (low brow musician El Duce came out "confessing" she'd offered him 50K to do the job. The implication being that this "suicide note" doesn't mention anything about suicide until the last two sentences. This theory posits that the letter was likely a letter being written and rewritten to send to the editors of rolling stone etc to pretty much announce his retirement from music. (he'd been scheduling studio time to cover some LEADBELLY songs on the down low). The only fault with THAT reasoning is the questionable line "it's better to burn out than to fade away",which COULD imply suicidal reasoning (*but by the same token could just indicate he was burnt out and leaving on top would be better than dragging things out But that's all for another day and it's very dismal and flogging a dead horse (user) Many of his musical peers just believe he liked killed himself. I guess it lends itself to the mythology
matt z 19.09.2017 17:35	Photo of original note (*geez this is getting grim)
thundergod 19.09.2017 18:16	Thank You matt z, Your information is so valuable. I like your ability to not be preachy on your personal view and go through much of the various theories without pinpointing ONE as absolute truth. I am always a bit skeptical of "conspiracy theories" but it is good to be educated on their existence. Thank you again my friend. P.S. I am surprised you did not offer your view of the question on page 45 that YOU covered back on page 1...talk about flogging a dead horse. LOL But, if the picture helped anyone, it was no sweat on my part (after a little scrutiny of the proof-needer.
matt z 19.09.2017 19:38	Yeah. I read it. I think your sincerity and lack of bullshittitude (creating ridiculous and exaggerated stories) was enough credibility. Doesn't bother me. There's plenty of stuff you've said that no one would have any privilege to. Also plenty of conscious debating that aren't indicative of someone fabricating lies. I wanted to chime in on the whole bit about some women wanting to make Freddie a hetero through revisionism but eh....people have been trying to appropriate heroes, politicians, inventors, explorers, artists, writers etc into their own camps for centuries. Even the gay community will come out and say X and Y were gay. Why? Because what they did was so important. Etc. Happened with Malcolm X even. A biographer came out suggesting Malcolm was one of the call boys he'd described in third person while growing up as a hood in Detroit/Boston, doing favors for money and driving for a madam. Of course it enraged his family and children (But it does sound somewhat credible if tied into his legal help that came later) ..who knows. I've heard the same about Shakespeare....Arabs saying it was a man Shah Espere or something like that. And look at all the people (countries) that have tried to claim that asshole pirate/marauder Columbus. Happened to Chaplin at the peak of his appeal, he was labeled a Jew by Germany. People attempt to appropriate everybody. Hopefully they're not completely nuts and are just fantasy fans with nothing better to do. Oh, great thread though. It's always interesting. When things are dull and tedious it's good to come back for a read
Martin Packer 19.09.2017 19:43	So, someone - maybe the one who transcribed Kurt's note, maybe someone else - corrected the spelling of "Freddie" from "Freddy". Not sure if Kurt's original misspelling is significant or not.
thundergod 19.09.2017 20:41	Welcome Martin Packer, Thanks for your thought on the subject.
thundergod 19.09.2017 20:45	matt z, More interesting stuff presented. Thanks again.
YAWN 19.09.2017 20:46
thundergod 19.09.2017 20:48	Oops Villiers
YAWN 19.09.2017 20:49	Heres a little flashback for you, Thor. I'm sure you've seen it online or even in this thread (I know someone posted a pic on one of the earlier pages but it wouldn't download for me). Looks like a fun bunch. Peter had it in his book but I dont recall the names of everyone else in the photo. Got any memory of this night? sorry about the blank post earlier. idk what went wrong but its driving me me nuts lol. it keeps happening
thundergod 19.09.2017 21:14	HaHa Villiers, Yes, someone else sent this pic to me last week. OK, In the "Hat" picture, the back four from left to right: Joe Scardilli - Lee Nolan - Peter Freestone - Me the front three: John Murphy - Some guy named Freddie Mercury (who knows?) - Paul Prenter In the Jacuzzi pic: Me - John Murphy - that annoying Freddie dude (who keeps getting into the picture) - not sure who this is but could very well be Bill, his bf from New Jersey (aka the Hotel Room Wrecker prior to the SNL performance)
YAWN 19.09.2017 21:32
YAWN 19.09.2017 21:33	UGGGGH it did it again. These blank posts are starting to work my nerves lolol Fantastic, thank you Really cool to see pics from a time when Freddie (and no doubt Peter Freestone) had so much fun. Peter really glows when he talks about that time in his life. There was a video of him talking about the NY and CA years at a convention a while back on YouTube and it was really nice to see. I'm still cracking up at freddie picking on him (jokingly) about his weight lol. This one was credited as 1981, and he looked fit here! I'm sure Freddie just liked picking on him in a little brother sort of way
thundergod 19.09.2017 21:41	Hey Villiers, That's a GREAT picture of our Phoebe. Thank you. Tip: once you tap "reply", even if you think it may not have gone through, do not tap it again until about 30-45 seconds. Chances are it did go through but was just buffering. I learned this lesson the hard way..LOL
thundergod 19.09.2017 21:59	Testing pic/avatar
thundergod 19.09.2017 22:00	No go
YAWN 19.09.2017 22:04	Thanks for the tip! I did hit the reply button more than once. Thats what did it lol. Try uploading an avatar through a desktop (if you're on your phone or tablet). You might have better luck. This site seems a little finicky on a mobile layout
PrimeJiveUSA 19.09.2017 23:29	thundergod wrote: Hey PJUSA, That is from Disney World which I WAY prefer over Disneyland. I absolutely love the "World Showcase" part of EPCOT and have had many a good time at the English Pub and Restaurant. A great place to see the fireworks from and I always meet some very nice Britains. I am, after all, a hopeless Anglophile if you haven't yet guessed. I once asked the "old dear" who was entertaining at the piano to sing "The White Cliffs of Dover" I LOVE that song! I'm as big a Disney fan as it gets, Thor! Do you stay on property when you are at Walt Disney World? What are your favorite rides there? What other World Showcase pavilions other than the UK do you like?
thundergod 20.09.2017 03:10	PJUSA, I've stayed at the Dolphin Hotel, New Orleans Hotel, Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and even the Pop Century Resort, and the Boardwalk Hotel where I rented the luxury suite when I sponsored a complete family reunion in 2015 (ha ha, I was still working then !!) I LOVE the entire World Showcase and have eaten at the Morocco, German, Mexican (my favorite due to the atmosphere), French and Canadian restaurants. Hey PJ, I own the original EPCOT theme songs vinyl record. I don't know anyone who has that. LOL I miss "Pleasure Island" where there was the first "gay night" at one of the discos...yes, you could probably say I like Disney World.
thundergod 20.09.2017 03:40	FLASH..."Don't Stop Me Now" featured with Sara and Hero. on America's Got Talent. Simon Cowell LOVED it! (best dancing and performing dog show with lots of drama and skill.
thundergod 20.09.2017 04:18	Oh..that is not a quote from Simon...but he absolutely loved it.
LOTV 20.09.2017 09:36	matt z wrote: ^Hah. Inner Nurse came out, off the clock. Well, that's opening another can of worms. Kurt's alleged suicide note. There are some of a mind that the last lines were not written by him. (I'm no forensic cryptographer, but there are SOME similarities and many differences) ...some question the very ability of a man with that much junk in his system being able to even shoot himself. Another "theory" is that he was already in talks to get a divorce from Courtney (with lawyers etc) and that as someone who stood to benefit far more from widowhood than ex wife status, Courtney had sought someone out to have him "put away" (low brow musician El Duce came out "confessing" she'd offered him 50K to do the job. The implication being that this "suicide note" doesn't mention anything about suicide until the last two sentences. This theory posits that the letter was likely a letter being written and rewritten to send to the editors of rolling stone etc to pretty much announce his retirement from music. (he'd been scheduling studio time to cover some LEADBELLY songs on the down low). The only fault with THAT reasoning is the questionable line "it's better to burn out than to fade away",which COULD imply suicidal reasoning (*but by the same token could just indicate he was burnt out and leaving on top would be better than dragging things out But that's all for another day and it's very dismal and flogging a dead horse (user) Many of his musical peers just believe he liked killed himself. I guess it lends itself to the mythology Conspiracy theories aside, the context in which I posted it was to show how Fred was one of his musical idols. Despite the sound being very different it shows how Queen and Freddie were an inspiration, being blatantly flaunted by Dave Grohl now of course. Fred very much appealed to those who felt a little different and outsiders. An example of why in many ways Queen are such a unique band. Both massively commercial yet at the same time very different, odd even.
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 13:51	thundergod wrote: PJUSA, I've stayed at the Dolphin Hotel, New Orleans Hotel, Polynesian Village Resort, Contemporary Resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge, and even the Pop Century Resort, and the Boardwalk Hotel where I rented the luxury suite when I sponsored a complete family reunion in 2015 (ha ha, I was still working then !!) I LOVE the entire World Showcase and have eaten at the Morocco, German, Mexican (my favorite due to the atmosphere), French and Canadian restaurants. Hey PJ, I own the original EPCOT theme songs vinyl record. I don't know anyone who has that. LOL I miss "Pleasure Island" where there was the first "gay night" at one of the discos...yes, you could probably say I like Disney World. That's awesome, Thor! We stayed concierge level at the Boardwalk and the people staying in that suite let us in to take a look around and it was fabulous! That was in 2009. I have stayed at: Beach Club(2015) Polynesian(2013) Boardwalk(2009) Ft Wilderness Cabins(2007) Caribbean Beach(2004) Coronado Springs(2002) Disney Institute Villas(1998) Caribbean Beach(1997) All-Star Music(1996) The last three vacations have been Deluxe Resorts and now I'm spoiled for anything else there. Would love to stay at the Contemporary and Animal Kingdom Lodge next. We walked the grounds of the Animal Kingdom Lodge during our last visit and ate at Boma's and fell in love with the place! P.S. That's extremely cool that you have that original EPCOT vinyl! I actually got to go to EPCOT Center in late October 1982 when I was 13...it had only been open for a couple of weeks and I was over the moon...it was to modern! We had to blitz through it in a day though as my dad had a business convention in Orlando and he brought the fam because it was Disney. Spent another day in the Magic Kingdom, of course. Back then, that's all there was!
thundergod 20.09.2017 14:42	Wow PJUSA, Nice list of hotel stays. Word of advice for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Take the least expensive room. I paid a lot extra for a room facing the Savanna where supposedly you could see animals right from your balcony. Well, you could see animals, but they were about 1/2 mile away and NEVER got any closer to the hotel. Trivia Question for you PJUSA: What does the EPCOT name stand for?
thundergod 20.09.2017 14:48	Thank you QueenZoners who may have no interest in Disney for bearing with this last exchange. Back to FREDDIE and QUEEN.......
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 15:02	thundergod wrote: Wow PJUSA, Nice list of hotel stays. Word of advice for the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Take the least expensive room. I paid a lot extra for a room facing the Savanna where supposedly you could see animals right from your balcony. Well, you could see animals, but they were about 1/2 mile away and NEVER got any closer to the hotel. Trivia Question for you PJUSA: What does the EPCOT name stand for? Welll..cast members say it's "Every Person Comes Out Tired". ;)
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 15:05	thundergod wrote: Thank you QueenZoners who may have no interest in Disney for bearing with this last exchange. Back to FREDDIE and QUEEN....... Hey...all of Queen were Disney fans and visited both Disneyland AND Walt Disney World. John Lennon signed the final paperwork dissolving the Beatles while staying at the Polynesian with Yoko, too!
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 15:16	@Thor Here's a Freddie-related question. As a nurse, did you ever tell any of your patients about your friendship with Freddie? If this was already covered, my apologies.
thundergod 20.09.2017 17:03	Hey PJUSA, Don't forget, this was the early '80s working in a predominantly female workplace. Although I would never deny being gay, it was a topic that really was never brought up. I have almost always come across as straight to the untrained eye. A few asked me if I had a girlfriend and I said, "not currently". I told the truth, because there were many years between Joe and Brandon anyway and it WAS true that I did not have a girlfriend. My cancer kids had more important things on their minds. No one needed to know my personal business at that time anyway. Freddie's friendship was personal. Besides, I never brought his name up to neither straight NOR gay friends as I am not comfortable with name dropping or name droppers. Here is a memorable example: I was in a bar in West Hollywood, saw a guy I thought I liked and it went like this..."Hi, how are you doing, my name is Thor" to which he responded without grabbing my out-stretched hand, "I just came from a party with Tom Cruise, I didn't know he was gay." I made an instant about-turn. This event solidified my feelings about name droppers...LOL
thundergod 20.09.2017 17:07	By the way, PJUSA, I will assume you did not know what EPCOT stood for as you did not answer my question to you. Environmental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow..hence, EPCOT
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 17:25	No, I knew what it stood for. In fact, that's what Walt called the whole Walt Disney World project in the '60's after he bought the land.
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 17:25	No, I knew what it stood for. In fact, that's what Walt called the whole Walt Disney World project in the '60's after he bought the land.
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 17:26	Actually...it's "Experimental" not "Environmental". Gotcha!
thundergod 20.09.2017 17:29	YES PJUSA....thanks for the correction...now I feel the fool. Just kidding... thank you buddy
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 21:29	Oh me...I hope I didn't kill this thread with all this Disney talk! @Thor It's really admirable you don' t name drop. You don't ever talk about your Freddie association to new acquaintances even in this present day long after his death?
thundergod 20.09.2017 22:27	No PJUSA, I never mention Freddie unless I am asked. Knowing Freddie does not in any way make me a star or make me more worthwhile. I am me. Freddie was a great friend and fully cherished in my mind. I never try to impress people, unless they are interested in MY achievements in life.
Rainbow61 20.09.2017 22:35	Thor, If you already answered this from a few days ago just tell me and I will scroll back... You mentioned (many pages ago) that Freddie was proud of his Live Aid performance. Is there anything specific you recall him saying about his performance or that day in general? It is one of my all time favorite videos to watch. That was Freddie giving a master class in showmanship like nobody else could do. Just amazing! I couldn't begin to tell you how many times I have watched that performance...but let's just say I feel like I could be a consultant on the movie!
PrimeJiveUSA 20.09.2017 22:52	thundergod wrote: No PJUSA, I never mention Freddie unless I am asked. Knowing Freddie does not in any way make me a star or make me more worthwhile. I am me. Freddie was a great friend and fully cherished in my mind. I never try to impress people, unless they are interested in MY achievements in life. So you're just like Peter Straker, when it comes to Freddie you want us to talk about YOU. Kidding! Man, you seem like such a quality individual that would be a lot of fun to be around. Your friends and family are lucky to have you in their lives.
thundergod 20.09.2017 23:04	Hey Rainbow, Actually I did not attend Live Aid. I was talking about the 'Kind of Magic" performance at Wembley Stadium. He was very proud of that concert. Who wouldn't be with hundreds of thousands of fans raising arms and, on cue clapping to "Radio GaGa".
Rainbow61 20.09.2017 23:44	Thor, Thanks again!
thundergod 21.09.2017 00:03	HELLO ALL, I am getting the feeling that this thread has served it's purpose and I may need to say farewell. It seems that only a small group of people want to participate anymore, despite about 90 downloads of my pictures. I will give it until Sept. 30th and then make my decision. After that, I will be glad to give my email address to anyone who wants to stay in contact, and will ask those who do, for a private message. I love this thread, but if it has to end, so be it. I want to thank all of those who have participated even if just once.
YAWN 21.09.2017 00:30	Please consider just checking the thread every few days instead of leaving. I know many people are observing and enjoying the thread that way. Ive literally spoken to about 10 myself :) I'm sure others will trickle in as the weeks go by. Also, you told me you were gonna let Lee see this thread in December, so please stay! I'm sure I'm not alone when I say id love to see you two both reminiscing
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 00:38	Villiers, good idea.
Saint Jiub 21.09.2017 00:48	I am more comfortable lurking, and maybe others are too? Anyway, after 49 pages of posts, it is difficult to come up with new original questions ...
RBoulain 21.09.2017 01:27	Oh, personally I'm one of those who read this but I'm not participating much in the talking. Still I enjoy it like the first day, I must admit I even check it more than twice a day! Im always curious and wonder what others may ask you. I'd love you to stay here and as said before, maybe checking it from time to time as I'm sure we will continue to write questions for you, I guess people don't want to make you feel as we are interrogating you either :)
SmokyQuartz 21.09.2017 01:30	Thor, I've been reading, but the early part of the week is full on for me, so I've had things in mind to say but not the articulation to say them, lol. Also for some reason with this forum, if you click on a link for a photo, it automatically downloads. I went back for another look to see if one of the people in the pic was Freddie's aggressive boyfriend (hotel wrecker, hand biter) and that meant I downloaded the pic twice! I expect that's happened a lot for others, so it gives the impression of all those downloads but people not speaking, but it's not necessarily that way. By the way, I love your photos, but I didn't want to post just to say that without something else to add... I've been amazed how people have connected on this thread. And a lot of that was facilitated by you. I'm used to talking on forums, without ever thinking about the person behind the post, this thread made me have to think about each of you as people. It's a truly valuable thread. Also, there may be times when I would not post because of not wanting to ask a simple question, or overloading you when there are plenty of posts already. Just some thoughts for you. I'd like to see you stay, two main reasons, it's rare to be able to speak to someone who knew Freddie, but on top of that, you sound like a great person with a lot of integrity. I am now a fan of the Thundergod! :-) I'm also wondering if there are a lot of lurkers out there who are just not confident enough to post up and maybe we could encourage them.. I'm a member of a number of groups on facebook, but my favourite one is where you check in less frequently, but when you do, it's real quality that you post. And the group is really supportive. So just thinking that frequency of posting isn't always best, sometimes its the thought and quality of a post. That said, it's been great watching the thread grow quickly when everyone's online together and chatting. I hope you choose to stay, but either way it's got to be right for you. Very grateful for what you've offered us here. :-)
smilefairyqueen 21.09.2017 01:43	Before you leave the thread, are there any other stories about spending time with Freddie that you want to share? I know it was a long time ago, but I am sure you have some more memories about Freddie that you haven't shared with us yet. Sorry if that sounds like an intrusive question. There must have been some funny or memorable moments from Garden Lodge, backstage, or at his apartment that you remember.
thundergod 21.09.2017 01:57	OK, my friends, I didn't mean my comment to be so dramatic. I think you have reminded me with your kind thoughts that we really should keep going. Forget Sept. 30th. BACK IN BUSINESS!!!..thanks to YOU.
thundergod 21.09.2017 02:02	Hi smilefairyqueen, Since I am staying, I will rack my brain to come up with more. I have mentioned however that often my memory gets triggered with discussions right here.
Sheer Brass Neck 21.09.2017 02:05	If you do leave, Thor, thank you for sharing all the info you have and I hope that when you leave, knowing that homophobia is alive and well and will always likely be, you contributed a ton of stories with about a thousand replies and veyy little negativity about Freddie and you and your friends lifestyle. Given the world we live in today it would be easy for someone to turn this into a bad series of posts, but I think you have a great sense of humanity that shows through, and whether it's true or not, I will believe that you brought a lot of tolerance to some posters who may not have had it before you appeared here.
thundergod 21.09.2017 02:13	Sheer Brass Neck...I am staying!!!
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 02:43	Great to hear, Thor! You've really been an unexpected gift to everyone here these last couple of months!
flo90 21.09.2017 03:12	Thor, Like PrimeJiveUSA said, you are an unexpected gift. I have been coming here for years but never posted anything until you came along. It is a gift to have someone like you here.
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 03:21	flo90 wrote: Thor, Like PrimeJiveUSA said, you are an unexpected gift. I have been coming here for years but never posted anything until you came along. It is a gift to have someone like you here. Wow...that's awesome flo90! That is a great testament to the power of this thread. If Thor were to leave it would be like the lights got really dimmed around here.
flo90 21.09.2017 03:56	PrimeJiveUSA, I completely agree.
thundergod 21.09.2017 04:39	You guys are way too kind...Iove y'all !
Rainbow61 21.09.2017 04:51	Thor, I'd like to echo the sentiments of the people before me. This has been such an incredible experience. I have read many other discussions on QueenZone over the past couple of years, but have never been interested in posting a question or comment until I came across this amazing thread. As I think I mentioned a while back, I don't even have a Facebook page...this posting thing is totally new territory for me. It took me a bit of time to drum up the courage to do this, but I'm so glad I did. Grateful that you decided to stay for the time being. We will gladly accept your continued participation at whatever level works for you and we thank you for sharing bits of your life with us. You are more than just a "Friend of Freddie's" !
thundergod 21.09.2017 05:07	Rainbow...read the post before your comment. Yes, I love you all. You have no idea how wonderful I feel about sharing my friend Freddie with you all. but then again, he is YOUR friend just as much if not more as mine. After all these years, YOU still keep him alive. What a precious gift you fans have presented to me and this community. Thank you.
YAWN 21.09.2017 05:30	Well we never knew him, Thor. We've read books and seen him on stage but you KNEW him. He was definitely more of your friend lol. To us, he is a musical idol and hero. I don't think he considered his fans his friends. He definitely appreciated us but his real friends were something he leaned on in life like he never did with fans. Peter explained it better than I can, but please know- people like you and his inner circle of friends were considered family to him. We keep his music alive as fans who enjoy it and pass it along to our kids. But YOU and your friends were what brought him joy and inspired him to write those songs we love so much.
thundergod 21.09.2017 05:45	I disagree Villiers. If Freddie could communicate with us, I believe he would definitely consider the people who have stayed loyal to him and keep his memory alive for 26 years are worthy of his friendship as well as mine. Hey, even Kurt Cobain said that Freddie loved his audience (and actually, as much as they loved him. I met Freddie by fortunate circumstance. Sorry Villiers, we are in this together and I don't care if this sounds too sappy.
YAWN 21.09.2017 05:54	No, I think it's great. Peter always said Freddie appreciated his fans but didn't get close to any of them or let them get involved in his personal life as friends but he didn't know his fans would keep his music alive all these years later, so it's possible. It's certainly a nice thought :)
thundergod 21.09.2017 06:12	Right On... Freddie forever
SmokyQuartz 21.09.2017 10:05	Yes! Thor is staying! Good News! :-)
SmokyQuartz 21.09.2017 10:46	@Thor Did Freddie ever ask about your work as a Nurse? Or about the work of your friends?
Shvili 21.09.2017 10:53	Some fun photos from Queen signing at Crazy Eddie's music store in NYC in July of 1982. This store was located at 212 East 57th street in Manhattan. The girl in red shorts is stealing the show though. lol link
beemack74 21.09.2017 11:08	Once again Thor, THANK YOU for the wonderful memories of Freddie. Your words are worth their weight in gold!! It's great to know that Freddie had such wonderful, decent friends like yourself in New York. What a contrast to some of the people who leeched off him at home, lousebags like Paul Prenter and raving egomaniacs like Peter Straker. One just has to look at the photos of you all together, Freddie looks so happy and relaxed in them. What fun it must have been during those years.
LOTV 21.09.2017 13:01	thundergod wrote: Hey Rainbow, Actually I did not attend Live Aid. I was talking about the 'Kind of Magic" performance at Wembley Stadium. He was very proud of that concert. Who wouldn't be with hundreds of thousands of fans raising arms and, on cue clapping to "Radio GaGa". Yep, and a defining image to many. Yet looking back now his vocal was far from his best despite the physical performance being outstanding. I believe he was already suffering some side affects of his immune system being compromised by then added to the ludicrous workload and demand on his vocal cords. And yet his scales with the crowd are magnificent, truly magnificent. Yet another example of why he is the greatest front man of all time. I'm sure you've heard it (maybe you were there, Straker claims to be of course) but his very last live vocal (despite Richard stinking up the other side of the duet) is superb, the rest from touring has really paid dividends for his voice. He was most definitely suffering by that point too. I get very emotional when I listen to it. Sorry I digress...
LOTV 21.09.2017 13:07	thundergod wrote: HELLO ALL, I am getting the feeling that this thread has served it's purpose and I may need to say farewell. It seems that only a small group of people want to participate anymore, despite about 90 downloads of my pictures. I will give it until Sept. 30th and then make my decision. After that, I will be glad to give my email address to anyone who wants to stay in contact, and will ask those who do, for a private message. I love this thread, but if it has to end, so be it. I want to thank all of those who have participated even if just once. If this is how you feel then fair enough. Thanks for your time and honesty, a most generous gesture for Queen fans. I am sure you have much better things to do than provide scraps for internet geeks to feed off ;-) Enjoy life.
raucousmonster 21.09.2017 13:56	Hi Thor, think of this forum as being a bit like an iceberg - only way cooler! 90% of the folk loving your participation are hidden from view and the other 10% are doing all the hard work thinking up great questions for you to ponder. So on behalf of the 90% thanks you for reconsidering an early departure! I had a mild panic there when I read that. OK, in the spirit of the 10 percenters here's a question for you to ponder - and I apologise in advance for my lack of imagination.... The video for It's A Hard LIfe is based around the idea of a rich man having everything but feeling life to be a little empty without love. Do you have any thoughts on this video and how it related to Freddie at the time, it was made a year after he left New York. Would you characterise Freddie as a happy person during the New York years as Brian and Roger have suggested his personal life was going through a tough time during the making of Hot Space and afterwards.
Invisible Woman 21.09.2017 14:30	Thor, I'm glad that you stay and if a question is repeated, I don't think it's so terrible, it's important that we talk about Freddie,his music and life. We didn't know him personally, but his music makes us that feel like we really knew him in some way.On this forum members are from all continents I think, and it's nice that we can all share our opinions and impressions here with you. Here are some of my thoughts about his music and love life (and I'll ask you a few questions about it). He was a great artist and artists are very sensitive souls.His song which describes him the most in my opinion is Somebody to Love.That song in my opinion actually means "find someone to love ME". In which his song you recognize him most? I believe that he felt that most of his lover had seen the rock star in him, not the person he really was.It seems to me that many of his lovers and friends were more important than having a celebrity rock star in company, than to get to know him better as a man and that they were disappointed when they realized that he was completely different from the person he was on the scene. Of course you did not spend it with him 24 hours a day, but Freddie and you were close friends.For all that time, during your's friendship in New York, did you notice that he was truly in love with his partners at that time?Was he the one who worked on the relationship or were his partners? Previously in thread, you said that in the company of strangers, he was often invisible and that your friends and you sometimes tried to connect Freddie with someone you thought that was his type of man. So it's a bit confusing to me that Freddie approached Jim and after Jim refused him, when they met again after almost two years, he was again approached Jim. According to Jim,Freddie was the one who initiated relationship and the reconciliation after the big arguments in the first year of their relationship. Song Man Made Paradise it seems to me that the lyrics of the song was inspired by their first encounter. It's possible that I am wrong, but seems that Freddie somehow invited him in his life with this song. As far as we know about him, Freddie could stay in good and friendly relationships with people who were his lovers or had sex whit him. But with Jim it was totaly diferent.I think Freddie realized that he would never be able to see Jim only as a friend if they had to break up his love relationship.This is a clear distinction between friendship and true love.Maybe they really were destined to each other.The fact that Fredie wore the ring which Jim gave to him and wore it for the rest of his life was very touching to me.Many don't believe in the story of the ring, but Peter Freestone has confirmed on his blog several times that this is true. Did you notice that ring on his hand when you went to visit him in the London after 1986? ( he got that ring for his birthday that year) Thanks for you are stay here.:)
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 14:34	Shvili wrote: Some fun photos from Queen signing at Crazy Eddie's music store in NYC in July of 1982. This store was located at 212 East 57th street in Manhattan. The girl in red shorts is stealing the show though. lol link Shivili...those are some great pictures. It's interesting to consider the context of just when these pictures were taken. July 1982 saw Queen touring their first full-bore flop. By July the album had already peaked at #22(lowest for a full studio album since Queen II) and was rapidly falling on the Billboard Top 200. It looks like they were putting on a brave face.
thundergod 21.09.2017 17:32	Thanks to all who continue to support this thread. As this is my first ever, I really needed the 90% and 10% analogy. I erroneously thought that the 90% had gotten bored and left. You corrected this notion I had raucousmonster. Thanks again.
thundergod 21.09.2017 17:51	Hey SmokyQuartz, I believe Freddie was proud of me for being able to handle, working at the bars, school (then working at Sloan Kettering) and friendships and being able to tweek my schedule to provide as much time as possible with him. During those 1 hour breaks, I knew that Freddie was interested in my work but talking about children dying of cancer would have been the ultimate downer. In different settings we discussed my work a little but no particular conversation sticks out in my memory. He would talk about the airline biz with John and Joe. Lee (Kathleen) would always keep us all entertained with his chatting abilities and his antics.
thundergod 21.09.2017 17:57	Thank you shvili, I did not know that the record signing thing even happened in New York. The pictures are very FUN...thanks so much. (and what is that girl in the short short red outfit doing anyway?) ...LOL
thundergod 21.09.2017 18:02	Hello and welcome Beemack74, Your thoughts are very much appreciated. Thank you.
thundergod 21.09.2017 18:04	Hey LOTV, I am not aware of the last vocal duet. Who is Richard? Would you be so kind to throw me a link. Thanks
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 18:08	thundergod wrote: Thank you shvili, I did not know that the record signing thing even happened in New York. The pictures are very FUN...thanks so much. (and what is that girl in the short short red outfit doing anyway?) ...LOL It looks like something with Freddie(of all people)!
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 18:09	She probably assumed he was bi.
thundergod 21.09.2017 18:25	Hi Invisible Woman, I agree that "Find me Somebody to Love" was inspired by Freddie's search for a true love. And of course, "Who Wants to Live Forever", and "These are the Days of Our Lives" imply that Freddie was emotionally prepared for his death. What an intriguing way to relate that bravery through song. No, Invisible, The only time I knew he had found this love was when I met Jim Hutton for the first time. I just remember Jim being very happy to be working in the garden while Freddie entertained us inside. As, I've said unfortunately, I did not get to know Jim. I have learned more from this thread on him than those brief, casual actual meetings. During the Wembley concert, Jim got quite drunk and this was the most animated I had ever seen him but it was difficult to understand what he was saying with his Irish brogue more pronounced than ever. Sorry IW, I know very little of the courtship of Jim and Freddie. I DID see the ring, but if you asked me to describe it, I could not Thank you for your interesting questions!
Cyborg 21.09.2017 18:38	Hi Thor, What is your most prized piece of Freddie/Queen memorabilia?
thundergod 21.09.2017 19:17	Hello again Cyborg, It would have to be my 1980 "Queen Over America" back stage pass given to me the second day after meeting Freddie. Second would be the "Slide Show / Music" compilation, owned completely by Lee Nolan but captures all of us from '81 to '83 I will be seeing him in Palm Springs over Christmas and though he hasn't brought it out in years, This year I'm sure he will. I plan to tell him about this QueenZone thread at that time. As Lee has a photographic memory, I did not tell him yet because knowing Lee, he would correct every date and time and even some stories that I was incorrect about. When he learns about this site, I'm pretty sure he would be willing to start his own. What pictures he would be willing to share, I have no idea as he is VERY protective of them...even with me and I'm in them...LOL
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 19:38	@Thor Jim Hutton wrote in his book that he heard Freddie whispering prayers before going to sleep. Did he ever give any indication to you that he believed in a God or some sort of higher power?
brunogorski 21.09.2017 19:46	Damn, I just passed the last 4 hours reading all those pages I hadn't the time to read during september. Awesome day. Ha!
thundergod 21.09.2017 19:59	Great Question Prime, I can't remember ever hearing religious theories or devotions from Freddie. I don't even know what religion he grew up with because he never talked about it. Now, years later and faced with his illness perhaps he did have a renewed interest in religion. I've noticed in many very sick or terminal patients that they find comfort in reconnecting with God by means of whatever religious training they have had in their early days. Even staunch Atheists get hope from the thought of reconnecting with Universe after death.
thundergod 21.09.2017 20:05	Welcome back brunogorski ! And, may I say, you are looking lovely. However, I have to admit, I ate a pork chop yesterday. So sorry if it was from a relative, but anyway, it WAS delicious...LOL
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 20:08	@Thor Yes, it was later on when he was quite sick. Jim made it sound like it was the only time he caught Freddie doing it and since it was out of character it was worth noting in his book.
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 20:10	thundergod wrote: Welcome back brunogorski ! And, may I say, you are looking lovely. However, I have to admit, I ate a pork chop yesterday. So sorry if it was from a relative, but anyway, it WAS delicious...LOL Ha! That gave me a great laugh!
SmokyQuartz 21.09.2017 20:11	@Thor He grew up in a Zoroastrian faith, I'm sure others can say much more about it than I can though. :-)
c.jory 21.09.2017 20:15	I always wondered if Freddie's upbringing could have confused him in terms of religion. I mean, he was raised Zoroastrian, his school in India was Christian, in a region where it was predominantly Hindu, then in Zanzibar I understand some of the community was Muslim. Being from a small religion could lead to him feeling an outsider...just a thought. But yeah I guess knowing you're close to death, you might think differently to normal.
thundergod 21.09.2017 20:31	Thanks for the insights Smoky and captain. I am going to Google again because I have never even heard of Zoroastrian.
thundergod 21.09.2017 20:39	Wow, the oldest monotheistic religion in history, original ecologists, the theory of humans not being able to conceive of Ahura Mazda...fascinating stuff.
SmokyQuartz 21.09.2017 20:41	It was all over the tabloid newspapers and in the books after he passed away, Thor (here in the UK). Saying how he'd come from such a strict, Zoroastrian family. Otherwise many of us wouldn't have known about it, it's one of the more ancient religions I think. His video in Play The Game, where he walks through fire, has been credited to rituals from that religion. On a different note (doing my bit for the 10% posters today, lol).. Did Freddie ever tell you to go along to the Tate Gallery in London and check out the painting, The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke by Richard Dadd? It fascinates me and apparently it fascinated Freddie in the early days with Queen. (you've since posted, YES it's fascinating, even though I'm not religious)
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 20:44	thundergod wrote: Thanks for the insights Smoky and captain. I am going to Google again because I have never even heard of Zoroastrian. Lol...I hadn't either until his death and I read about it in the obit from Rolling Stone magazine! I actually learned something about Freddie from a rag that did nothing but slag off Queen and ignore them while Freddie was alive!
thundergod 21.09.2017 20:52	HaHa Smoky, Back again to Google. The Fairy Feller's Master Stroke by Richard Dadd is new to me so I guess Freddie never expressed his opinion of this artwork to me. I also never heard of the Tate Gallery nor was encouraged by Freddie to go there. Let me check out what I missed out on. Thanks for the reference.
thundergod 21.09.2017 20:56	Wow, beautiful, but a little concerning with all of those ropes and vines. Wish I knew what the artist was really expressing. Too complex I think for this mind.
Martin Packer 21.09.2017 20:58	@Thor I'm not sure if you're aware of it but "Who Wants to Live Forever"was written by Brian May, and "These are the Days of Our Lives" was written by Roger Taylor. But: 1) I think "written by" suggests more exclusivity of authorship than is real; They all chipped in, probably. 2) Freddie imbued both of these songs with something special. So, I'd be wrong to say Freddie had little to do with either of them.
Shvili 21.09.2017 20:59	thundergod wrote: Thank you shvili, I did not know that the record signing thing even happened in New York. The pictures are very FUN...thanks so much. (and what is that girl in the short short red outfit doing anyway?) ...LOL Hi Thor, Glad you liked the pics. Thought you may have remembered this events, since it was in a same time period you and Freddie were hanging out a lot. As for the girl in red shorts...well; Whatever she is doing like it. No but seriously, looks like she's going in for a kiss with Freddie. I love the fact that Freddie is smoking and drinking in record store. Great Times... 80's lol
thundergod 21.09.2017 21:05	Thanks and Hey Martin Packer, I've said it ad nauseam by now, but it is so incredible how much I am able to learn from you Super-fans. As a fan of history, but limited to World and American history, you are all blowing my mind...and I love it.
SmokyQuartz 21.09.2017 21:10	Re the painting....There's a You Tube link by Toni Valdivia, if you search Fairy Fellers Master Stroke by Queen and then his link (for some reason I can't link it), you'll get the song and the painting together. You're right to be concerned, Thor. Richard Dadd painted this in an asylum here after developing psychosis and killing his own father. What I find fascinating in Freddie's song, is that....Richard Dadd's father was an Apothecary. Richard killed him because he was convinced he was the devil and not his real father. In the song Freddie uses the line 'A good Apothecary man, comes to say hello.' That's my lot for today, lol.
love2spin 21.09.2017 21:21	Thank you, Thor, for sharing your insights and for the time you're devoting to the Forum. I'd love to know more about your visits to Garden Lodge - how did your group spend that time with Freddie? Were there structured "plans" for the day or did you just go with the flow. Could you talk about his beloved gardens and Freddie's home - the Japanese Room has always intrigued me. Thanks again.
thundergod 21.09.2017 21:32	So Smoky, "concerning" is appropriate for this piece. Thanks for the story behind the art. Again, fascinating !
Dustin Zimmerman 21.09.2017 21:51	Jumped back into share a laugh. Jane Seymour recently posted a video on social media about the Fashion Aid experience with Freddie. She was modeling a bride's dress and he, the groom's duds. They strutted the runway as "husband and wife". She joked "So Freddie and I got married that day haha". And I kid you not: 12 women in the comments in a certain facebook group said "See! He WAS BISEXUAL! He MARRIED her and Mary was so jealous that it was left out of the books! Mary is ALWAYS trying to bi erase him! He wasnt a gay! He was a proud bisexual." L O L I couldn't even try to reason with them. They were too thick. I told them it was a fashion show not real life and I got told to go die lol! Still laughing Did Freddie ever talk about Fashion Aid with you? It was in 85 I believe. Sort of an extra branch of Live Aid if I understand it correctly.
thundergod 21.09.2017 21:54	Hello love2spin, There was never structured time other than the time Lee, Brandon and I were given tickets to attend "Time", the musical by Dave Clark. During the day we spent quality time with Freddie. Most noteworthy is the time Freddie decided that we should have dinner outside, with all the "inside furniture" and china carried out of the house so to enjoy the Midsummer's Night (where the sun stays out until about 11pm). It was a bit of Heaven on Earth. Joe F. and Phoebe cooked up a crispy, crusted roast pork which was superior to even many chic upscale restaurants. Freddie was the ultimate "homebody" in those later days. The grass was never greener outside of the Garden Lodge, so why go there. Even before Freddie was sick, he never ventured out with us at night in London, but was happy, at that time, we could walk from his house to the Earl's Court thriving gay scene.
thundergod 21.09.2017 21:58	Good to see you again Dustin, Third strike out. I have never even heard of Fashion Aid, but I will explore your link, thanks dude!
Dustin Zimmerman 21.09.2017 22:08	I'm actually hoping someone here knows about it and could shed some light because I don't know much about it either. There's a video of them walking the runway on YouTube but Ive never looked into it in great detail. From what I gather it was a fashion show to raise money for the same campaign Live Aid was. Boy George was in it too. I keep looking at her dress... The fashion of the time.... Pretty rough lol
thundergod 21.09.2017 22:08	Well Shut me down! Freddie lied to me all those years, he WAS Bi...just look at the adoring look he casts at Jane... But, I was once told if she wants to know, if he loves her so, it's in his kiss. I think I heard this advice from Cher...but it could have been Caitlyn Jenner at a party in Calabasas...LOL
c.jory 21.09.2017 22:16	thundergod wrote: Well Shut me down! Freddie lied to me all those years, he WAS Bi...just look at the adoring look he casts at Jane... But, I was once told if she wants to know, if he loves her so, it's in his kiss. I think I heard this advice from Cher...but it could have been Caitlyn Jenner at a party in Calabasas...LOL Hahaha^ I shit you not, there is a blog on Tumblr where someone repeatedly claims Freddie was lusting for Jane - 'it's in his eyes.' Lol there was a bit at the start of the video where Freddie walked on stage without her and she had to run after him and grab his arm! He was so full of 'bi lust' that he forgot about her for a second
Dustin Zimmerman 21.09.2017 22:16	Lol see youve just given them (what they believe is) ammo! They can't ever tell when people are joking. It's the funniest thing to see them all get so worked up over it too. They saw Jane say they got married and took it as the truth and ran right into the "Mary was just jealous of her and hid the marriage from the biographers so SHE woild be the only one to play the grieving widow. I wonder how many other hundreds of women she forced out of Freddie's life while trying to hide his bisexuality. She should be pushed off a cliff!" Funny you mention the look freddie gave her (which is a joke BTW, to all the ladies of FM:LOLSOG facebook group who are watching-so put down your torches and gay hate posts) because Ive even seen them say that he looks at all women with deep lust in every photo ever taken of him. Half the time he wasn't even looking at the woman in the photo L O L
Dustin Zimmerman 21.09.2017 22:21	Captianjory sounds like you and I are talking about the same thing. Glad I'm not the only one who's been laughing at it lol
Rainbow61 21.09.2017 22:41	Thor, Too funny! Talking about religion....I've always wondered what inspired Freddie to write the song "Jesus" which was on the Queen debut album? A song about Jesus of Nazareth included with "Seven Seas of Rhye", "My Fairy King", and "Keep Yourself Alive" etc. seems like a curious choice. Thoughts anyone?
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 22:47	Rainbow61 wrote: Thor, Too funny! Talking about religion....I've always wondered what inspired Freddie to write the song "Jesus" which was on the Queen debut album? A song about Jesus of Nazareth included with "Seven Seas of Rhye", "My Fairy King", and "Keep Yourself Alive" etc. seems like a curious choice. Thoughts anyone? Don't forget Mad The Swine which has Jesus all over it!
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 22:51	I think it has to do with the Christian education in the Indian boarding school and he was a huge fan of American Black Gospel music.
PrimeJiveUSA 21.09.2017 23:07	Dustin Zimmerman wrote: Captianjory sounds like you and I are talking about the same thing. Glad I'm not the only one who's been laughing at it lol I would guess these same people cite things like "SHE drives me crazy, SHE knows how to Rock n Roll" from Crazy Little Thing Called Love? Also...the smoking hot "chick" getting her butt sprayed with water in the Body Language video apparently sanctioned by Freddie. The "nude Bicycle Race" promo...or the hot babe he cavorts with in the Crazy Little Thing video? I gotta tell 'ya...I'd look a lot more interested than our dear Freddie does when she squats in front of him in that video! ;)
thundergod 21.09.2017 23:17	Now wait PJUSA, Are you even suggesting that our George Michael's might have been fantasizing about his bisexuality in that men's room. I remember a lot of she and girl references in his music. Hmmmm
Dustin Zimmerman 21.09.2017 23:33	Primejive and Thor I'm still laughing at the women on YouTube who claimed that Freddie's gay friends were bi erasing him. Saying Freddie hid his bisexuality from them (yourself included Thor) because all of you hated bisexuals with a passion and he pretended to be gay to impress you all. I read the comments and my friend was on there correcting them saying Peter Freestone also said he was gay and not bi and guess what they said back? "He's lied about so many other things it's just something else he lied about. He uses Freddie's name to make money. He can't be trusted. But Barbara could." Peter Freestone couldn't be trusted by them because he said Freddie was gay and they didn't want to hear that fact. Barbara is trusted even after her lies were called out (with proof). Whatever it takes for these women to believe he wasn't gay, they'll do it! Oh yeah and they claimed "the gays forced him to do things. They were a horrible influence on him and they stole him away from Mary!" Riiiiiiiight. That's a pretty big stretch. Either the entire mass of people who knew freddie personally are lying and it's a giant conspiracy set up by the gay mafia OR he was.... You know... Just gay. They say it was the gay mafia lol
YAWN 21.09.2017 23:43	"Riiiiiiiight. That's a pretty big stretch. Either the entire mass of people who knew freddie personally are lying and it's a giant conspiracy set up by the gay mafia OR he was.... You know... Just gay. They say it was the gay mafia lol" LOL screaming! Oh yes, those awful gays FORCED him to turn women away. A huge rock star wanted DESPERATELY to impress gay men (who all hate bisexuals and beat them up on the street) so he hid his lusts away! Lololol He was FORCED to only sleep with men from 75 to 91. The gay mafia was behind it all! The bastards! Just look at poor Freddie being FORCED to kiss this gay man. Lolololol Somebody save him, he looks MISERABLE here LOL
thundergod 21.09.2017 23:49	Gay Mafia! Then that would be me. OK, just call me Thor DelVecchio de la Santa Maria del Scungilli Arnold (ha,ha when I looked to see if I spelled Italian octopus correctly it asked if I meant "cunnilingus")...not kidding! AND...by the way...Peter Freestone is one of the most honest, loving, endearing persons I have ever met...OK?
YAWN 21.09.2017 23:59	Thor this should bring back some memories from your time in the gay mafia. Lololol link I think I see Peter Straker in the back near the potted plant. insert eye roll
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 00:18	thundergod wrote: Now wait PJUSA, Are you even suggesting that our George Michael's might have been fantasizing about his bisexuality in that men's room. I remember a lot of she and girl references in his music. Hmmmm Haha...well...haha again. Let me say this. George Michael was a SEX SYMBOL to many teenage girls AND their moms. There was an understandable interest in the '80's and early '90's for George to be "hetero". Not as much "homophobia" as it was exploding the "fantasy". Freddie's situation was a little different as the fan base was male "rock fans"...not so much a teen idol "pin-up". Does that make sense? I agree, that all of it is wrong and ridiculous, though, and I'm glad most of the world population doesn't CARE who you sleep with. But such is the natural evolution of societies...
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 00:20	PrimeJiveUSA wrote: thundergod wrote: Now wait PJUSA, Are you even suggesting that our George Michael's might have been fantasizing about his bisexuality in that men's room. I remember a lot of she and girl references in his music. Hmmmm Haha...well...haha again. Let me say this. George Michael was a SEX SYMBOL to many teenage girls AND their moms. There was an understandable interest in the '80's and early '90's for George to be "hetero". Not as much "homophobia" as it was exploding the "fantasy". Freddie's situation was a little different as the fan base was male "rock fans"...not so much a teen idol "pin-up". Does that make sense? I agree, that all of it is wrong and ridiculous, though, and I'm glad most of the world population TODAY doesn't CARE who you sleep with. But such is the natural evolution of societies...
thundergod 22.09.2017 00:24	Villiers, You made my day with that clip...as Freddie would say..."Brilliant"
matt z 22.09.2017 00:25	Thor. Welcome back from your quick retirement. Might wanna add "Ozzy" to your full name (king of fake retirements)...because i officially believe Cher is actually retired for good. Anyways ! Somewhat Freddie related: Will you be doing anything special for next year's (probable) release of the BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY film? I'd suggested in a another thread, drawing straws and each subsequent person in a party dressing up as one of the band (*no duplicate costumes! : first straw gets first pick) each super fan dressing as a band member from a different era/video etc. ...that way...there would be a lot of ridiculous looking people, probably mostly Freddies and Brians, but it'd be a heck of a laugh, particularly if able to score tickets to the premiere. I've got to find Queen fans and start this somewhere. But that was my idea. If it doesn't take off, I'll probably just rock a band t shirt. Also...another real question: Did Freddie listen to his own tunes often at the lodge/apartment? Did he ever watch his own performances on tv/cassette? Some artists notoriously claim they don't listen to their own music once it's done, and don't watch/listen to their own performances
Saint Jiub 22.09.2017 00:29	thundergod wrote: Thank you shvili, I did not know that the record signing thing even happened in New York. The pictures are very FUN...thanks so much. (and what is that girl in the short short red outfit doing anyway?) ...LOL Thor ... She is getting her T-shirt signed, and getting a kiss from Freddie ... What did you think she was doing? LOL OK ... it took me several tries to figure out what she was doing ... as I was distracted ...
thundergod 22.09.2017 00:37	Hey matt z, old bugger, Ozzy here, Only once did Freddie view one of his works at home with us there. Brandon was not familiar with opera at all, so he gladly showed us "Barcelona" and said ..."oh just listen, just listen (he always repeated himself when he was excited) She is singing from her c**t " (Sorry ladies but he did actually say that but not in a derogatory way at all) He used this same phrase for Jennifer Holiday (Effie in Dreamgiirls ) when she appeared in the audience at his Saturday Night Live performance. LOL
thundergod 22.09.2017 00:41	Hey Panchini, Thanks for your heterosity...but I am thinking that you are really bi. Just Kidding... LOL
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 00:42	@Thor Did Freddie ever seem to "blush" at attractive female adulation? Not that he was attracted to them but that he was in someway "flattered" by it because he knew how so many males would LOVE it?
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 00:43	PrimeJiveUSA wrote: @Thor Did Freddie ever seem to "blush" at attractive female adulation? Not that he was attracted to them but that he was in someway "flattered" by it because he knew how so many males would LOVE it and kill for it? It's the reason so many straight males get into rock n roll in the first place.
thundergod 22.09.2017 00:45	PJUSA, We never saw any females except Annie Lebovitz but she was a lesbian and that does't count.
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 00:46	Sorry the last post was the complete edit encapsulated as an "edit". Please read that post.
thundergod 22.09.2017 00:46	Gay/Straight...very segregated in the Reagan '80s in the US
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 00:47	Haha...how many lesbians were in the gay clubs in the early 1980's?
thundergod 22.09.2017 00:55	PJUSA, If you were lesbian in the '80s you went to one bar only (at least in Greenwich Village) called "The Duchess" right across from Marie's Crisis my first bar job. I used to venture over there once in awhile when Marie's needed rolls of quarters to borrow. The workers at the door ere very friendly. but two extra black leather curtains hid the clientele, so I never got a good view of what might have gone on there. Lesbians were ultra-secretive of their life style in those days. They did not YET enjoy the freedom that the drag-queens from Stonewall provided.
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 01:11	I'm going to "come out" and say this. I became an obsessed Queen fan in 1978 at the tender age of nine and quickly became aware of what was "wrong" with Queen by my peers and family. Don't you know "Queen" means "gay" and the black nail polish, leotards, ballet slippers, "girly singing". I think that made Freddie all the MORE intriguing to me. My parents were conservative but open-minded enough to allow me to line my walls with posters of the band. My dad would just look at the posters of Freddie ahem "bulging" in his leotard and ask..."Why don't they call themselves 'KING'". LOL...it was a different time. To their credit, my mom sprung for a membership in the Queen International Fan Club as a Birthday present in 1980. I think they were "concerned" about my sexuality tbh, but by the age of 12 or 13 they knew I was "hetero" and ...I won't go into it...wished maybe I was gay. LOL No one asked for that TMI but it's funny to me. I read those quarterly newsletters with religious awe and Freddie's notes from "fab"(his words) New York...and you were there Thor when he wrote them. I can't tell you how great it is to exchange with you here!
RBoulain 22.09.2017 01:34	@Thor. My God, I can totally picture him saying that lol, it's like whatever I read he has said I can hear it in my mind with his voice and his facial expressions lol. Also thanks for the memory at Garden Lodge on that midsummer night, I could totally picture it, those memories are what I cherish to read the most, just simple things you did together. How was your experience at the musical then? There is no video available from that live collaboration, only audios, but he really sounds great! (of course, I mean...) thundergod wrote: Hey matt z, old bugger, Ozzy here, Only once did Freddie view one of his works at home with us there. Brandon was not familiar with opera at all, so he gladly showed us "Barcelona" and said ..."oh just listen, just listen (he always repeated himself when he was excited) She is singing from her c**t " (Sorry ladies but he did actually say that but not in a derogatory way at all) He used this same phrase for Jennifer Holiday (Effie in Dreamgiirls ) when she appeared in the audience at his Saturday Night Live performance. LOL
YAWN 22.09.2017 01:38	Primejiveusa, that's an interesting post indeed. Thanks for sharing that. When I was 15 and realized I wasn't just going through "a phase", I felt I had to hide it from my family. They never expressed any negative views of the LGBT community but I was so hard wired to believe it was something to hide or be ashamed of that I just stayed quiet. My grandmother caught on by 16 or 17 and we had "the talk" at 19. She was from a very conservative catholic background, so I half expected her to ignore it or deny it. Once she realized it was something that really was a part of me, she was very supportive. She walked with us almost every year at the local Pride Parade and got my parents to come around as well. She was a real firecracker and the greatest person Ive ever known. I know I'm one of the lucky ones, though. Many LGBT people don't have such accepting families. According to David Minns, Freddie's parents called his being gay "that other business" and he felt he needed Mary around at lunch dates with them to keep them calm about it all. Which is understandable considering how conservative they apparently were, but I like to think if he had told them outright that he was gay, they would have came around eventually. He was their son after all, and his mother seemed the type to accept it if given the chace. Everyone got the feeling that he didn't want to disappoint them. Which is sad to think his being gay was something he assumed would... But it speaks volumes about Jim as he was the only boyfriend Freddie brought around them. Granted, he didn't ever introduce him as the boyfriend, but still- Jim was the only lover of his that drove him to his parents home and got to know his family personally (without Mary being there)
RBoulain 22.09.2017 02:04	One can only assume things about how it could have been. I think, based in their religion, homosexuality is a total dishonor and profoundly forbidden so maybe, even if for us it sounds that crazy, the era + being convervative + religion was a very hard thing to deal with when "coming out". Jer seems to me also to be the sweetest woman but in that time, all the things I quoted before were too important in people's minds, I've read many similar stories about that time when the parents totally cut their contact with their children if they thought whatever they were doing was a "dishonor". In an interview Jer and Kashmira's husband did, not a long time ago, when the interviewer told her if she knew Freddie was gay, even then she looked down and said no with her head, with Kashmira's husband talking in her behave as she became upset, saying it was a too delicate subject to talk, still today. I guess Freddie preffered to keep things easy for everybody as you said. Villiers wrote: According to David Minns, Freddie's parents called his being gay "that other business" and he felt he needed Mary around at lunch dates with them to keep them calm about it all. Which is understandable considering how conservative they apparently were, but I like to think if he had told them outright that he was gay, they would have came around eventually. He was their son after all, and his mother seemed the type to accept it if given the chace. Everyone got the feeling that he didn't want to disappoint them. Which is sad to think his being gay was something he assumed would... But it speaks volumes about Jim as he was the only boyfriend Freddie brought around them. Granted, he didn't ever introduce him as the boyfriend, but still- Jim was the only lover of his that drove him to his parents home and got to know his family personally (without Mary being there)
Saint Jiub 22.09.2017 04:37	thundergod wrote: Hey Panchini, Thanks for your heterosity...but I am thinking that you are really bi. Just Kidding... LOL When I was much younger I used to be "tri" (weekly), but as I get older now I am "try" (somewhere between weekly and weakly).
matt z 22.09.2017 06:52	Same here, PRIME JIVE. ..i got a lot of harmless flak for QUEEN pretty much being in my favorite top 5 Not gay. Just enjoyed the richness and diversity of the band and all the inspired sonic landscapes they'd made
SmokyQuartz 22.09.2017 09:44	PrimeJiveUSA and Villiers, interesting posts. I actually loved your posts because it's our 'own' stories of Queen that bring us here. PrimeJive, my dad was similar about Queen. My mum loved Freddie, and at Live Aid (we were watching on tv, I was 15), dad was getting impatient to go out but mum wouldn't go until she saw Freddie. She said no one moved like him, which was true. I'd kind of 'lost' Queen myself, I didn't realise this 'Freddie' (though amazing), was the same Freddie that I'd admired as a small child in Bo Rhap. I thought 'Bo Rhap' Freddie had long gone and I'd never see him again...yet he was on my tv screens and magazines all the time, lol. Anyway, mum got to see Freddie on Live Aid, as did I, and dad's jaw just dropped when he saw the crowd clapping to Radio Gaga. He said it takes a true star to be able to do stuff like that. He was converted that day, though he still made the odd comment about him being gay. (He later came round and grew to really admire Freddie, and had to face his own nephew coming out) This might sound incredibly sad and ignorant of me, but it was only when Freddie passed away (I was 21), and they played Bohemian Rhapsody, that the penny finally dropped. He was the one I'd wondered about all those years. And now he'd gone. I was distraught (would have been anyway because I 'liked' Freddie, but more so because of realising who he was, if that makes sense) The biggest barrier I came up against was people being critical of him for getting AIDS, and therefore not being sympathetic. Gradually all that ignorance has turned around but Freddie didn't get to see it (though he played a big part in creating it I'm sure). But the level of ignorance was shocking, people were saying things like 'you wait, one by one each band member will die from AIDS, they were all at it together!' (Interesting visual, lol, but that's about it) This mentality just cemented my interest in Queen, they were too gifted, too bright. My interest in them developed as I tried to understand the conflict between what I thought and the criticisms of others.
SmokyQuartz 22.09.2017 09:51	Villiers, I loved reading that bit about your Grandmother, what an amazing woman!
dudley-fufkin 7834 22.09.2017 12:12	It still makes me wonder why everyone still seems to be obsessed with freddie's sexuality, and talk about it on bulletin boards and documentaries etc. Freddie didnt feel the need to discuss such things openly, so why is it ok for everyone else to bring it into the public arena? Imagine if he came back and saw all this stuff written about him, he'd be mortified.
bradbobly 22.09.2017 12:40	I became a Queen fan around 1978 introduced by a good friend to the delights of Jazz. I was hooked straight away and have followed them ever since. Early days at school it was not easy being a Queen fan as whilst secretly most people loved the music they associated the band with overt gayness ( times were different back then ) Not being gay myself it was not something i ever thought about and was blown away by the music and more than anything the sheer power of the band playing live. Who cared what Freddie's sexuality was... boy could he sing and perform. I was fortunate that my parents were open minded and had excellent taste in music from The Who, The Stones, BB King right through to deep southern Jazz and Blues. I remember the first time i showed them clips of Queen live they like me where blown away and encouraged my passion for this great band. They could see the evident talent and musicianship regardless of the overtones. Gradually people came round and 'outed' themselves as Queen fans none of them were gay but could no longer deny the obvious power of this band. I went on to see them live many times up until Knebworth, was lucky enough to have been on video shoots, met the band a couple of times and most importantly met many great friends and have had a wonderful time in the process. Don't normally post but this thread has bought some wonderful memories back
shakespeares sister 22.09.2017 15:26	dudley-fufkin 7834 wrote: It still makes me wonder why everyone still seems to be obsessed with freddie's sexuality, and talk about it on bulletin boards and documentaries etc. Freddie didnt feel the need to discuss such things openly, so why is it ok for everyone else to bring it into the public arena? Imagine if he came back and saw all this stuff written about him, he'd be mortified. Thank you dudley-fufkin 7834 for your words. I totally agree . I'm really fed up with all this guessing about Freddies sexuality, whether he was gay or bi or tri or pansexual or whatsoever... We will never know, because the only person who really, really knows about Freddies sexuality is Freddie Mercury himself! But he is dead, he will not tell us. It's not important anymore, who he had sex with. He enjoyed himself and that's all that matters.
noorie 22.09.2017 15:40	I was introduced to Queen at a very early age by my parents. My parents are both both 60s and 70s rockers, and my dad used to go to every Queen concert he could. Especially in the 70s. And my gran (who is 90 now) loooves Freddie! Still wants to watch video clips of that 'nice boy'! (Although my grandpa used to call him that 'sissy kid', but quite enjoyed his music). Actually reading everything here about Zoroastrians, I am quite surprised. I am a Zoroastrian (all Parsis are), and Freddie is very popular and very beloved to the community. Every single wedding, navjote, or Parsi function has to have tons of Queen music (surprisingly I want to Break Free is THE favourite.), and every Zoroastrian singer tries to sing like Freddie! (On the whole Parsis are very fun-loving and entertaining, and don't mind making complete fools of themselves!) Freddie is the toast of the Parsi community! So I find it very strange that everybody keeps mentioning that being Zoroastrians, Freddie's parents would have been embarrassed by him. I feel it is just that back in the day, being gay was 'bad' all around. Something you chose to do as a deviant. And illegal! No matter what your beliefs or religion. (And by the way, we still feed our dead to the vultures. I thought I'd just mention that ;) I love the way people react to that! )
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 17:23	noorie wrote: I was introduced to Queen at a very early age by my parents. My parents are both both 60s and 70s rockers, and my dad used to go to every Queen concert he could. Especially in the 70s. And my gran (who is 90 now) loooves Freddie! Still wants to watch video clips of that 'nice boy'! (Although my grandpa used to call him that 'sissy kid', but quite enjoyed his music). Actually reading everything here about Zoroastrians, I am quite surprised. I am a Zoroastrian (all Parsis are), and Freddie is very popular and very beloved to the community. Every single wedding, navjote, or Parsi function has to have tons of Queen music (surprisingly I want to Break Free is THE favourite.), and every Zoroastrian singer tries to sing like Freddie! (On the whole Parsis are very fun-loving and entertaining, and don't mind making complete fools of themselves!) Freddie is the toast of the Parsi community! So I find it very strange that everybody keeps mentioning that being Zoroastrians, Freddie's parents would have been embarrassed by him. I feel it is just that back in the day, being gay was 'bad' all around. Something you chose to do as a deviant. And illegal! No matter what your beliefs or religion. (And by the way, we still feed our dead to the vultures. I thought I'd just mention that ;) I love the way people react to that! ) Wow...what a cool and enlightening post, noorie! Your 90 yr old gran calling Freddie "that nice boy" made me laugh!
YAWN 22.09.2017 17:28	shakespeares sister wrote: dudley-fufkin 7834 wrote: It still makes me wonder why everyone still seems to be obsessed with freddie's sexuality, and talk about it on bulletin boards and documentaries etc. Freddie didnt feel the need to discuss such things openly, so why is it ok for everyone else to bring it into the public arena? Imagine if he came back and saw all this stuff written about him, he'd be mortified. Thank you dudley-fufkin 7834 for your words. I totally agree . I'm really fed up with all this guessing about Freddies sexuality, whether he was gay or bi or tri or pansexual or whatsoever... We will never know, because the only person who really, really knows about Freddies sexuality is Freddie Mercury himself! But he is dead, he will not tell us. It's not important anymore, who he had sex with. He enjoyed himself and that's all that matters. There is no "guessing" here. Freddie identified as gay (as said by Peter Freestone, Diana M, Chris Taylor, Jim Hutton) and this thread just confirms it. His sexual identity was brushed under the rug for years because the world was not open-minded but Freddie was open about it to those around him. It's fair to assume that had he lived to 2017, he may have been open to not being closeted to the world. (Remember even at the end, he had Mary at functions to throw off the press from any gay vibes). It just wasnt acceptable in his time. As for discussing it in documentaries, books and here: when someone passes away, they're going to be discussed in great detail. That's the way it is. Wouldnt you rather they be discussed with facts instead of fiction and rumors? The tabloids lied about his sex life, as did a few books. Which is why Peter Freestone wrote his book. To correct that kind of thing. Being gay was part of Freddie. It's not ALL that he was, but it was part of it. So yes, people are going to discuss it. If freddie came back and saw it being discussed, it probably wouldn't be his favorite part of the thread, but I can assure you he'd appreciate it being factual at the very least. Don't forget what he told Peter about anything being made on him after he died "Fine, but it has to show everything. Good and Bad. Warts and all!" I'm not being sassy when I say this, so please dont take it that way but if you truly have a problem with it being discussed, just ignore the comments related to it and ask your own questions on a different topic. Thor has been great, and I'm sure he would be willing to answer any questions you have.
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 17:36	Well said, Villiers. Everyone here has an equal opportunity to ask anything they want to Thor.
thundergod 22.09.2017 17:41	Love hearing all the stories of how you folks became attracted to Queen music and Freddie. And the reactions from your relatives. How wonderful that Gran at 90 still calls Freddie "that nice boy" and what a hoot. very interesting reading...thank you. Shout out to dudley-fufkin and bradbobly....Welcome and thanks for your thoughts.
c.jory 22.09.2017 17:53	Offering an explanation to why so many people want to talk about his sexuality: Firstly, I have grown up knowing Freddie as a gay man and it hasn't bothered me. I'd never given it a second thought (apart from being told he died of a "gay disease" as a child). However, it's become a matter of debate because his biographer Lesley Ann Jones lied and claimed he was sleeping with women after Mary, as well as a whole chapter about his sex life with Barbara Valentin. She deliberately omitted boyfriends from Freddie's story. Because people are always looking for representation in the media, a movement has come forward that constantly screams about Freddie's "erased bisexuality" and how his "sexual relationship with saint Mary was real and valid". So it's thanks to his biographer and that awful John Blunt docu-drama with all the bisexual threesome scenes that this debate rages on. If they had just said he was gay (like everyone else who actually knew him), people wouldn't even be going on about it. They'd have got over it long ago. It's not really what I'd want to focus on in a conversation about Freddie but I end up debating with people, because I am sick of being told "did you know THE GAY THING IS A CONSPIRACY? HE LIKED WOMEN ALL ALONG!" and "Did you know he secretly liked fat women with huge tits?!" every time he comes up as a topic. It's a massive disservice to Freddie to erase a whole interesting aspect of his life in which he struggled with that part of himself. It indicates that people just cannot deal with him being gay, that homophobia is still an issue among fans and that's why it matters.
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 17:58	@Thor Regarding Freddie's race and ethnicity. He is of Persian descent but when you first met him, did you try to figure out what his race was? Back in the 70's he wore heavy powder and makeup that made him very pale and Caucasian-looking. Even his BODY appeared very pale in many pics. Beginning with The Game and after he seemed to have largely ditched that seemed to proudly display his "color". Anyways, do you know if he wore BODY makeup along with facial makeup onstage?
c.jory 22.09.2017 18:01	Also @Thor. I know your one night stand thing with Freddie didn't exactly go to plan (lol at your scene in Freddie's Loves) but what attracted you to him in the first place? Was it his pretty eyes? lol
thundergod 22.09.2017 18:02	Well stated captainjory, Personally, I would never pick up the American Rags, which I think may have been calmer than the famed English Rags. If I saw an uncomplimentary photo of Freddie or worse, of a sick Freddie on the cover, I moved on and wrote it off as complete TRASH.
thundergod 22.09.2017 18:08	OK captainjory, I used to go for shorter, thinner guys with dark hair and of course, a mustache.... so obviously, I was attracted to Brian May...LOL
thundergod 22.09.2017 18:18	Hey PrimeJive, I never saw Freddie in make-up. After each concert, there was about a 15 minute "cool down" period for the band. He probably wore makeup on stage, but would remove it during cool down. The Freddie I knew never had a problem with his skin tone, so I'm sure the "lighter color" was limited to the stage.
Shvili 22.09.2017 18:33	I was introduced to queen by going throug my uncle's album collection and coming across "a night at the opera" around 86-87, when I was a little kid. That was in Georgia, then part of USSR. Interesetingly, although homosexuality was a taboo in iron curtain countries, Freddie's sexually didn't seem to be an issue to pips in Georgia. He was loved and accepted by young and old. I dont know...it may have been his look, macho style. He looked and acted like a men's man...like any other tough dude in our city. Plus he had a mustache and as Peter Griffin says, "That's almost like wearing a wedding ring"; especially where I come from. lol
Dustin Zimmerman 22.09.2017 18:39	Thor idk if you ever met John Reid who was once their manager and stayed friends with Freddie throughout his life but he recalled a story that went on record during The Great Pretender Documentary made about Freddie (an excellent one that did it's research and then some. I highly recommend it.) Anyway the story was short but says alot IMO. John took Freddie out to eat to get to know each other since they would be working together. John was very upfront with Freddie and said "Look, I'll tell you what I told the others. I am gay. If that's a problem-” only to be cut off by Freddie who put his fork down and said "ME TOO!" He was so exited. This was before he came out to Mary so it says alot. I understand why some fans don't want to talk about his sexuality but just the fact that he got that excited to meet another gay man says he was struggling with saying it to those who he thought wouldn't get it. John obviously did and you could tell in Freddie's response how relieved he was. To me that means it's a topic worth talking about. It was a major part of his life. But I actually have a question for you (sorry if you've mentioned this before but I don't remember seeing it). I'm not sure if you were still living in New York or just visiting occasionally by this point, but were you there for 9/11? Peter said Freddie's apartment (or some apartment he stayed at for a while) had a view of the twin towers. My uncle was in New York for business when it happened and he said the city just stopped. "There was chaos then silence", he said. Did you experience that same feeling?
thundergod 22.09.2017 19:47	Hey Dustin, I moved to San Diego in November 1984. When my parents (although divorced) were still healthy, I would go back to New York about twice a year and bring my mother out to the many wonderful National Parks in the western US once a year. When first my mom and then my dad became ill with long-term debilitating diseases, I would go there about four times a year. I happened to be in New York visiting during the famous "OJ Ford Bronco Chase" and when Princess Diana had the accident and died. However at the start of 9/11, I was at work in the Physical Rehabilitation Unit. It was about 6:45 AM California time when I passed by the big TV in the Dining Area and saw the first tower on fire.Of course, at that moment I assumed it to be just a horrible plane crash. I remember seeing an old video of a small plane hitting the Empire State Bldg. When I finished work and got home about 8 AM, I immediately turned on CNN and while the theory in my mind of an unfortunate plane crash was dashed, I was not at all prepared for the collapse of one then two towers. I watched the coverage over and over again in total shock the entire day One shock after another. When I saw the poor souls jumping from the towers to their death, I was thoroughly heartbroken and devastated. The apartment that Freddie owned '82 till '84 had a North and East view. The Trade Towers were South and West of that location. My apartment, in West Greenwich Village was about 100 ft. away from a ground view of the towers, but I was long gone from that location.
c.jory 22.09.2017 20:10	Dustin I am glad you asked that 9/11 question, because I wondered what Thor's experience was too, but didn't know how to drop that into the conversation. It's one thing I always ask Americans about.
Dustin Zimmerman 22.09.2017 20:20	Firstly im sorry to hear about your parents Thor. I hope I didn't drag out any bad memories there. As for 9/11 thanks for answering that. I figured as the saying goes "Once and New Yorker always a New Yorker"... I assumed it hit those who lived there (before or during) even harder than those of us who had no family, friends or memories of the place there. Minus those who lost family and friends of course. Ive lived in California all my life and didn't have any family who lived in New York myself but I had a friend who grew up there and she cried for days about it. She didn't lose anyone in the attacks but she was deeply hurt that her home city was left in so much pain. Freddie absolutely loved New York. I think had he been around to see it he'd feel the same. If ever I was going to guess what Freddie Mercury would have donated to... Rebuilding and helping those effected by it in New York would have been it.
thundergod 22.09.2017 22:07	Dustin, I completely agree with your theory that Freddie would have supported the rescue effort; perhaps by a charity concert in New York City's Madison Square Garden. That would have been something!
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 22:56	@Thor Did you ever see Freddie "pinch pennies" and show signs that he didn't have unlimited funds? I know you said he was generous but did you ever see him choose a cleary cheaper option for something?
thundergod 22.09.2017 23:14	HaHa, Do you mean like clip coupons to find cheaper toilet paper at the Piggly Wiggly or Kroger's....ahhhhh.....let me think....ahhhh...NO!...LOL For household things and food he had Peter and Joe F (in London). I think Mary worked like an accountant/manager of his business profits. Then of course HE chose Cartier for the clock he gave me . He could have chosen Kaye's Jewelers...LOL (for non American's... Kaye's is a discount jewelery outlet here with about half of it's inventory being costume jewelery).
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 23:22	Man, he really trusted Mary if she oversaw his profits. Yikes...she didn't have to answer to anyone.
thundergod 22.09.2017 23:37	PJUSA, I am waiting to hear the real story from one of YOU. I said "I THINK" so I am in the clear..haha I am not interested in fabricating stories especially when it comes to Mary.
PrimeJiveUSA 22.09.2017 23:52	thundergod wrote: HaHa, Do you mean like clip coupons to find cheaper toilet paper at the Piggly Wiggly or Kroger's....ahhhhh.....let me think....ahhhh...NO!...LOL For household things and food he had Peter and Joe F (in London). I think Mary worked like an accountant/manager of his business profits. Then of course HE chose Cartier for the clock he gave me . He could have chosen Kaye's Jewelers...LOL (for non American's... Kaye's is a discount jewelery outlet here with about half of it's inventory being costume jewelery). Man I almost fell out of my chair laughing at this response! My girlfriend is looking at me like I'm nuts! Clipping coupons...Kaye's Jewelers!!!!! Thanks for the laugh, Thor. My chest is hurting from laughing so hard.
thundergod 22.09.2017 23:59	PJUSA...wink!
Rainbow61 23.09.2017 04:09	Noorie, I was so happy to hear that "Freddie is the toast of the Parsi community!" Before your comments, I had the impression that somehow Freddie's conduct was embarrassing to your community and therefore his accomplishments were not celebrated. Thank you for clearing things up. I bet he would be so proud!
Rainbow61 23.09.2017 04:22	My first Queen album was "Live Killers". I was probably 18 at the time I got it. Except for the BoRhap video, I had never seen any pictures of the band before. This album had a collage of pictures and I was particularly drawn to the one with Freddie wearing the black biker pants, jacket and cap. "Wow" I thought, "He is gorgeous". I remember my boyfriend at the time, who was with me as I looked at the album, saying something to the effect of "You know he is gay". I didn't really believe him (not sure why) and wondered how he could possibly tell he was gay just from some pictures. He pointed to the one of Freddie wearing the silver jumpsuit and said "Look at him". Never having seen the band before I didn't even realize that was also a picture of Freddie. I seem to recall that at first glance I had thought it was a picture of a woman. I didn't quite know what to make of that outfit. Very puzzling. It was hard to believe it was the same person. But overall, it didn't really matter to me. Anyway...fast forward 37 years. I still have the album. I recently dug it out and saw that on the front cover under the title I had written in pen "THE BEST!!!" and on the back of the album under the title I had written "THE GREATEST!!!" Such a teenage girl thing to do. I appreciate Freddie's audacity at having worn that silver jumpsuit...and that picture of Freddie in the black biker outfit is still one of my favorites (and I still think he looks gorgeous)
thundergod 23.09.2017 04:32	Hey Shvili, I missed reacting to your earlier post. What a lovely tribute to Georgia and Georgian people. I've never been there but with this insight into your country, I'll bet I would love it. Hey, maybe after a visit to Georgia, "Geor, Geor, Geor, Geor, Geor, Geor, Geor, Geor Georgia [will always be] on my mind. LOL...sorry Beatles.
thundergod 23.09.2017 04:41	Hey Justin, I don't think I ever met John Reid, but the name sounds familiar, so possibly I did. Sorry, early dementia on my part...LOL (a joke only)...I know how devastating dementia can be. After Parkinson's for 8 years, my mother went through dementia for the last two years of her life. She didn't recognize me for her last year. Oooh, I think I gave too much information...sorry for the pity story.
thundergod 23.09.2017 04:43	Great story Rainbow...I enjoyed reading it. Thanks so much!
thundergod 23.09.2017 04:49	Hey noorie, Is "Parsi" the same as "Farsi" which I thought was the language of Iran (Persia)? Maybe the "P" is pronounced "F. Could you let me know? Thanks in advance.
Rainbow61 23.09.2017 05:00	Thor, A touching story...not a pity story at all. Thanks for sharing.
thundergod 23.09.2017 05:01	ALL, I realize that I forget to address responses and questions sometimes. Please do not hesitate to repeat the question or reply that you might want to get a response on. I really don't mind if any one of you ask a question that was asked before. If I say "I covered that", please don't think that I am scolding you. Now that we are at page 56, if I tell a story for a second time....You certainly can tell me so too...in a friendly way...LOL
thundergod 23.09.2017 05:06	Thanks Rainbow...your heart is too big...maybe you should consider a reduction...just kidding, stay exactly the way you are...please. It's a pleasure to read your words. Thank you girl!
c.jory 23.09.2017 07:52	thundergod wrote: PJUSA, I am waiting to hear the real story from one of YOU. I said "I THINK" so I am in the clear..haha I am not interested in fabricating stories especially when it comes to Mary. I think this is correct yeah. She was a secretary to his household accounts. Maybe he had experience of bookkeeping with her retail job and that's why he trusted her. Risky considering she had no qualifications let alone accounting experience, but I guess she got the job done. He did have an overall accountant though. cough still think she's cold and not keen on her cough
Invisible Woman 23.09.2017 07:54	I know that I was the one who said that it's better to talk about other things than about illness. And now I'll ask the question about it. As we know, Freddie decided to stop taking medication for AIDS. I wonder why he did it that.In your opinion, why did he do it? Did he ever hint that he could do it? If this question was already there I apologize and you just skip it.
thundergod 23.09.2017 08:00	Hmmm, This is the first time that there was no reply option at the bottom of the last message. Maybe this will work
thundergod 23.09.2017 08:01	Yes it did and the reply box is back
thundergod 23.09.2017 08:14	Hey Invisible Woman, If Freddie stopped taking his meds, he sure did not fill me in on this during the several trips to the Garden Lodge. I do know however in June of 1991 that I gave him some of his meds...but maybe these were not AIDS meds. I don't remember the names of them at all. All I can think of is current AIDS meds which certainly were not available to him in the early '90s. He may have been on some sort of immune boosting med but I don't really know. Back then the few meds given for this had SO many horrible side effects...perhaps he wanted a more peaceful journey to that inevitable ending. .I 'think' that if I had something like aggressive pancreatic cancer, I would not want all that chemo and radiation to extend my life by a few weeks or maybe months. Then again, when you are actually faced with death, as many of my patient's have over the years, A survival instinct will take over and loved ones will want you to fight...just in case.
Invisible Woman 23.09.2017 10:25	According to Peter Freestone and Jim Hutton, it was two weeks before his death and he was taking only painkillers after that. Thor,I suppose that Freddie's body was exhausted but if he continued to take medication for AIDS, would something change? Would he have lived longer, maybe he had some new medication and therapies? You worked as a nurse so I ask for your opinion about it. Thanks.
Shvili 23.09.2017 14:22	Thor, Thank you for the kind words. Greatly appreciated.
noorie 23.09.2017 16:43	@Thor. Actually, the country known as 'Iran' today was originally the centre of the ancient Persian empire, and its ethnic name was Pars (anglicised to Persia). With the Islamic invasion, many of the Parsis or Persians fled in ships to different parts of the world, mainly to the Indian sub-continent - basically to escape conversion to Islam, and save their way of life. The Arab conquerors could not pronounce the letter 'P'. There is no such letter in their alphabet even today. So they change the 'p' sound to a 'b' or an 'f'. Hence, they called the country Fars, and the people Farsi. BUT, the people and language referred to as 'Farsi' today are completely different from the Parsis. The Parsis are less than about 40000 in number today, scattered all over the world (my family was in England and now in Canada), and will soon disappear altogether. We still follow (well, at least in name), the ancient Zoroastrian religion, basically summed up as 'good thoughts, good words, good deeds', and we are a bit (make that very) eccentric and believe in thoroughly enjoying life, as that in itself is considered showing gratitude to God for all His bounty. Honestly, if you knew a few Parsis, you'd realise how Freddie was totally a Parsi, not religion-wise but in everything else! If you are invited to a Parsi wedding, you will see all the oldies (I mean 75 and above) dancing just as energetically as everyone else. Never ask a Parsi to sing - you will not be able to shut him up then. Okay, enough about Parsis; this is your thread about Freddie. @ Rainbow 61. All the Parsis are really proud of 'aapro Freddie' (OUR Freddie). I really don't know where most of these journalists and writers get their stuff. Mainly conjecture, I guess.
noorie 23.09.2017 16:48	Sorry, QueenZone is just not working properly for me. I have no 'edit', 'reply with quotes' or any other tab except 'reply'. Thor, what I have enjoyed most about this thread is that not only have you given us precious nuggets of info about Freddie that show the different sides to him, but you have also brought the QZers together in a good way. Thank you!
c.jory 23.09.2017 17:13	noorie wrote: @Thor. Actually, the country known as 'Iran' today was originally the centre of the ancient Persian empire, and its ethnic name was Pars (anglicised to Persia). With the Islamic invasion, many of the Parsis or Persians fled in ships to different parts of the world, mainly to the Indian sub-continent - basically to escape conversion to Islam, and save their way of life. The Arab conquerors could not pronounce the letter 'P'. There is no such letter in their alphabet even today. So they change the 'p' sound to a 'b' or an 'f'. Hence, they called the country Fars, and the people Farsi. BUT, the people and language referred to as 'Farsi' today are completely different from the Parsis. The Parsis are less than about 40000 in number today, scattered all over the world (my family was in England and now in Canada), and will soon disappear altogether. We still follow (well, at least in name), the ancient Zoroastrian religion, basically summed up as 'good thoughts, good words, good deeds', and we are a bit (make that very) eccentric and believe in thoroughly enjoying life, as that in itself is considered showing gratitude to God for all His bounty. Honestly, if you knew a few Parsis, you'd realise how Freddie was totally a Parsi, not religion-wise but in everything else! If you are invited to a Parsi wedding, you will see all the oldies (I mean 75 and above) dancing just as energetically as everyone else. Never ask a Parsi to sing - you will not be able to shut him up then. Okay, enough about Parsis; this is your thread about Freddie. @ Rainbow 61. All the Parsis are really proud of 'aapro Freddie' (OUR Freddie). I really don't know where most of these journalists and writers get their stuff. Mainly conjecture, I guess. I've often heard Parsis described as eccentric. What do people mean; what sort of antics do you guys get up to?
thundergod 23.09.2017 17:19	Hey noorie, Thank you...right back at YOU. The answer to my question about Parsi was fantastic. Having grown up in New York, with so many glorious ethnicities, I have always been fascinated by people's cultural heritage and how it is celebrated and held dear to them. My experience with Parsi has yet to be explored..and you, noorie are my start. Actually, my various experience with Farsi-Americans did not leave a very good impression in the workplace (hospital). Care was mostly micro-managed by the multiple members of the family. Appreciation was mostly absent but "service" was expected much like a "landowner" over "the help." It often was insisted that doctors be called in the middle of the night for things like a one degree temperature rise. You can just imagine how the nurses were greeted by doctors at 3AM for such nonsense. However, since patients are never wrong, the nurses had to bear the rage of a groggy doctor. Now, this is only my observation of people with sick loved ones. I would love for somebody here to correct my impression by describing how Farsi's are outside of this setting. I am so open to that correction. I hope no offense is taken if I have an aberrant perception...I am waiting to learn what I may have missed or jumped to conclusions about. Thanks in advance.
noorie 23.09.2017 17:35	Thor, Farsis are a different ethnicity, culture , and religion, so I am afraid I cannot help you with understanding them. Parsis on the other hand... I have a zillion stories, but I am not going to hi-jack this thread! It is too good a thread for that. @captainjory.. It is not about what we do, but how we do it, and how we think!!! One crazy story here, and then really this is Thor's thread about Freddie. It was the early 60s in Mumbai. Queen Elizabeth was due to arrive in Mumbai. (Weirdly, Parsis are very into British royalty, don't know why, and you will often see King Somebody and Queen Somebody interspersed with family portraits!! Too funny!) My gran was a young woman then, and knew this old Parsi lady. The lady prepared an entire English tea on an antique table with beautiful China, and placed it on the pavement right next to where the Queen's car was supposed to pass!! She was going to invite Queen Elizabeth to have a cup of tea with her!!! (Also back then there were not too many security issues, so nobody hauled her and her table away.) The eccentric thing is not just this; it is that a lot of other Parsis thought it was a very good idea, and asked if they could contribute to the eats, and join in!!!! Eccentric enough for you? Okay, I'm done.
noorie 23.09.2017 17:37	Don't get me wrong. In spite of (or maybe because of) all the craziness, I am very happy to be a Parsi. and just love all my dear lunatics. PS: A lot of Parsis will address others (of any sex) as 'darling' and 'dear'. Something Freddie is always supposed to have done. It is not a gay or straight thing. It is a Parsi thing.
thundergod 23.09.2017 17:50	noorie, That story is hilarious and I urge you to throw us a gem whenever you feel like. I'm sure that many of the QZers will get a well deserved chuckle over your story. I know PrimeJiveUSA will. He has made it known that he loves to laugh on this thread and so do I. So, no more apologies please. Your stories and point of view is very much valued here. Please keep them coming. Once again, this is everyone's thread, not just mine.
c.jory 23.09.2017 17:51	noorie wrote: Thor, Farsis are a different ethnicity, culture , and religion, so I am afraid I cannot help you with understanding them. Parsis on the other hand... I have a zillion stories, but I am not going to hi-jack this thread! It is too good a thread for that. @captainjory.. It is not about what we do, but how we do it, and how we think!!! One crazy story here, and then really this is Thor's thread about Freddie. It was the early 60s in Mumbai. Queen Elizabeth was due to arrive in Mumbai. (Weirdly, Parsis are very into British royalty, don't know why, and you will often see King Somebody and Queen Somebody interspersed with family portraits!! Too funny!) My gran was a young woman then, and knew this old Parsi lady. The lady prepared an entire English tea on an antique table with beautiful China, and placed it on the pavement right next to where the Queen's car was supposed to pass!! She was going to invite Queen Elizabeth to have a cup of tea with her!!! (Also back then there were not too many security issues, so nobody hauled her and her table away.) The eccentric thing is not just this; it is that a lot of other Parsis thought it was a very good idea, and asked if they could contribute to the eats, and join in!!!! Eccentric enough for you? Okay, I'm done. Haha that was a great story! I get the impression from Phoebe that Freddie was really into royalty too, and got teary when Charlies and Diana got married. Which is kind of odd. Us British people have mixed and strong feelings about the royal family. I just assumed Freddie was a fan due to being foreign! That's interesting about the "darlings" and "dears" thing. Though that definitely is a stereotypically gay thing to do!
noorie 23.09.2017 17:51	You are too kind, really! But we are all here for Freddie.
thundergod 23.09.2017 17:57	AND...the loyal FANS of FREDDIE. I mean, who knew that it is common to address even males as dears and darlings. I do now..and that makes me very happy. Since Freddie did not offer information about his culture ... this little insight is so informative and endearing.
YAWN 23.09.2017 18:12	Well, it's a southern thing too. My grandparnets both called men darlin and honey. Dear, too. My grandma used to call handsome men "a tall glass of sun tea"! I think every culture has something similar. But I do believe it was different with Freddie. Peter said when his mother was around, Freddie changed the way he spoke. He dropped the "dahling" and "dears" bit. Which leads me to believe Freddie did do it as a more gay thing. Also, in The Untold Story all his school friends from St Peters said they found it odd that he called men "dear" and "darling"
FlashElephant 23.09.2017 18:36	Hello Mr. Arnold. You are doing it the right way by talking with the fans here and not like Freestone with his storytellers type diners. Very insightful stuff here, though we know you could really tell some stories that will never be told. That reminds me how funny those so called Facebook-fans are who actually argue about Freddie's sexuality. He wasn't gay. He was really, really gay. New York in the early 80's was a pretty frightening place. Even Freddie himself sings in Under Pressure's Rah Mix: "New York is dangerous". All the stories about New York and the bars just make you wonder how could Freddie even walk the next day? There were rooms where men were hanging from some kind of ropes, while others were taking turns and well, I guess everyone knows what they were doing. Mr. Arnold, did you ever go past one of those rooms and see poor Freddie having his fun and thinking "well, tomorrow is going to be a rough day for him"? The ladies in those Facebook-groups should see some footage of Freddie and the dark rooms. Maybe they would finally believe that, no Barbara propably wasn't his cup of tea. Still, the stories about his sexual drive are pretty hard to believe. It sounds like he had sex night and day all the time. Even backstage during encores etc. Well, I guess he lived his life to the max.
c.jory 23.09.2017 18:43	LMAO ^ certain fans will straight up tell you he was never promiscuous, even though he said it himself on tape.
thundergod 23.09.2017 18:53	hey Villiers, Thanks for your dose of lil' old Southern charm. A lovely mint julep on the shady porch sounds about right now.
YAWN 23.09.2017 19:00	@Thor Sounds damn good, I do declare. I swear my grandma sounded just like Blanche Devereaux lol. Just as sassy too.
thundergod 23.09.2017 19:07	Welcome FlashElephant, Yes, the gay community was very promiscuous in the '70s and '80s. Many of us did not get to enjoy first loves, proms, going under the bleachers, etc. in High School, like our straight counterparts. When you go from starvation to feast, from ridiculed to appreciated, from unrelenting anxiety to peace of mind, from scared to safe... the field was ripe for excess. P.S. I have great respect and love for Peter, please refer to him as Mr. Freestone just as you did for Mr. Arnold. This is not a scolding, just a sensitivity of mine.
thundergod 23.09.2017 19:14	Villiers.. Blanche Devereaux ("Golden Girls") AND Blanche Du'Bois from "Streetcar Named Desire". Both charming southern girls and both depending on the kindness of strangers...LOL
YAWN 23.09.2017 19:26	@Thor true! That's exactly what Dorothy said about Blanche (yes, I watch the show way too often) Blanche (talking about her daughter getting in-vitro to have a child): You're paying for it?! A Devereaux has NEVA had to pay! Dorothy: Yes, she's always relied on the kindness of strangers. LOL
Rainbow61 24.09.2017 01:20	Noorie, I'm guessing the most people on this thread are not familiar with Parsi culture. I know I'm not. The info and stories you have shared with us are quite fascinating. All comments are welcome, especially when you can correct misconceptions about yours and Freddie's ethnic heritage. It's a window into Freddie's background that we were completely unfamiliar with, and I thank you for that. In fact, I think the willingness of others to share a bit about themselves gives this thread a kind of warmth that is very inviting. Thor, I share your interest in learning about other cultures, but I grew up in a mostly white, Catholic community and did not have the exposure to different cultures that you had. I'm sure that we, the Queenzone people, represent an amazing array of religions, ethnicities, ages groups, countries, etc. It's amazing how one great singer can draw so many people together!
thundergod 24.09.2017 01:40	Well stated Rainbow, I agree 100%. These clues into Freddie's background ARE part of why we are here. What a great thread this has turned out to be... thanks again to you and to all of Freddie's long-term fans. Also, a big welcome to any newer, younger fans, we, in Freddie's name, are honored to have you here.
RBoulain 24.09.2017 02:11	Thor, my question got stuck some pages ago so I'll ask again if you don't mind :) You said you attended the premiere for the Time musical, am I correct? Did you also attend when Freddie acted on it, back in 1988 in the charity gala? It's listed as his last live performance and I'm curious as online you can only find audios from that day, not visual footage. In the audios he sounds, of course, awesome. I was wondering if you were there that day and what did you think about the whole thing :)
Shvili 24.09.2017 17:57	Thor, As you mentioned before, among other reasons Freddie was happy in NYC was the fact that he remained incognito. So what was an average day of hanging out with him in NYC and I don't mean clubbing. Did you always eat at restaurants or would you grab a slice of pizza like an average New Yorker? What stores did he shop at for everyday items and cloths? Did you go to movies? P.S I recently watched a documentary on Netflix titled "Who the F..k is that guy". Although not directly related to Freddie, it has to do with rock music and club scene (including gay) of 80's NYC. Many of the clubs you have mentioned are mentioned in the film. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. lol All the fans of music and NYC will find it entertaining. Here's the trailer link
PrimeJiveUSA 24.09.2017 18:08	Was it that Freddie just wasn't that big of a star in America? At the time I'm sure Mick Jagged or David Bowie would have been mobbed wherever they went.
PrimeJiveUSA 24.09.2017 18:09	Was it that Freddie just wasn't that big of a star in America? At the time I'm sure Mick Jagged or David Bowie would have been mobbed wherever they went.
PrimeJiveUSA 24.09.2017 18:14	And yes I know Thor addressed this earlier by saying everyone knew who Queen were but not the individual band members but still...he must have even been less of a star than I previously thought in America if he could go anywhere in NYC virtually undetected.
SmokyQuartz 24.09.2017 18:17	PrimeJiveUSA wrote: Was it that Freddie just wasn't that big of a star in America? At the time I'm sure Mick Jagged or David Bowie would have been mobbed wherever they went. I always thought it was because he'd not long changed his 'look,' and before that had been a long haired, glam rock Freddie...
SmokyQuartz 24.09.2017 18:17	PrimeJiveUSA wrote: Was it that Freddie just wasn't that big of a star in America? At the time I'm sure Mick Jagged or David Bowie would have been mobbed wherever they went. I always thought it was because he'd not long changed his 'look,' and before that had been a long haired, glam rock Freddie...
SmokyQuartz 24.09.2017 18:19	Sorry for the double post, I got a message saying it hadn't posted, lol
c.jory 24.09.2017 19:35	I thought it was cos he hid in mainly gay places with fellow clones so didn't stand out! And clubs are dark inside.
PrimeJiveUSA 25.09.2017 01:31	@Thor When you met Freddie in 1980 they were at the height of his career. Three years later, in L.A. recording The Works, they were a band in a serious career crisis. My question is, considering the stress of a career spiraling downward, was there ANY change in Freddie from when you first met in New York?
PrimeJiveUSA 25.09.2017 02:16	Also @Thor...I know you said you've never cared for Body Language but 1) do you recall ever hearing it on the radio yourself 2)being played in the presence of Freddie on the radio or in a club 3)remember Freddie ever talking about the song?
thundergod 25.09.2017 03:11	Hey Prime Jive, Oh my God, NO. Queen music was starting to take off in the US. It was a time when videos were still not that popular. We heard Queen on the radio but many had no idea who Freddie was. I don't exactly know why, but maybe it was that mustache and short hair that made him unrecognizable. I've mentioned before that "Another One Bites the Dust" was playing in that Philadelphia club we went to, where they refused (at first) to let Freddie in because he didn't have ID. The doorman (Mark) at Studio 54 would have recognized him immediately, but that was his job, to know who was famous and who was not. Whereas, gay co-owner Steve Rubel's job was to recognize who was hot and who was not...LOL.
thundergod 25.09.2017 03:16	Oh Captainjory, Freddie never hid and most parts of bars were well lit. Backrooms were dark but I NEVER saw Freddie go into one and neither did I, If I can't see someones face, I have no interest in the other things that might go on there..
PrimeJiveUSA 25.09.2017 03:20	Did you think Freddie was a good dancer?
thundergod 25.09.2017 03:20	Hey RBoulain, No, I did not even know that Freddie performed in one of the "TIME" shows. I was of the impression that the show did not even last very long. I may be wrong about this though.
RBoulain 25.09.2017 03:28	@Thor, Ok thank you! Then I will leave you here a link where you can listen to it if you want. He performed there in 1988 for a charity gala, with Cliff Richard. There are many other audios on Youtube of Freddie from that night, no videos tho. I guess it was a special ocassion as it was for helping others and he wanted to get involved. Link: link
thundergod 25.09.2017 03:32	Hello Shvili, Unfortunately, I mostly did not get to hang out with Freddie during the day. I slept..LOL. I worked at the hospital 7PM until 7:30AM. Although that technically gave me four days off per week, I manipulated my schedule so I had time to go to various Queen concerts in different citys. Plus, I worked every other Friday, Saturday, Sunday evenings in the bar. It was difficult to do, but somehow I managed. I depended on friendly co-workers to cover my shifts as needed.
thundergod 25.09.2017 03:42	HaHa PJUSA, Yes I heard body language on the radio, but to this day, I still poke fun at it. When Lee or Brandon are talking to much, I say "Don't talk, don't talk, don't talk"...LOL I don't think any of us thought Freddie's career was "spiraling downward." If Freddie thought that, he never told me about it. Freddie was NOT a good dancer!...LOL
YAWN 25.09.2017 03:54	Thor it's funny you say that because my friend and I were watching this little gif the other day where he was dancing on stage and we were cracking up at how bad it was lol. Don't get me wrong, he was adorable as usual- but it wasnt what I would call good dancing. I so wish I could show it to you but I have no idea how to upload a gif here.
PrimeJiveUSA 25.09.2017 03:58	@Villiers How would you best describe Freddie's dancing "style" in the video/gif?
YAWN 25.09.2017 04:08	Lol uh... Gay clubbin after 9 beers... In the dark... with very little self awareness LOL Not like I can talk, though. I was the only person in my middle school's history to fail dance class. Lol
YAWN 25.09.2017 04:11	He did this shimmy with his waist... He was like a little washing machine LOL it was adorable but maybe not the coolest move haha Did you dance with him, Thor? Ive read that he could really tear up the dance floor if the mood took him lol
YAWN 25.09.2017 10:51	I think @captainjory meant Freddie was inconspicuous with his 'stache, not literally hiding, amirite? anyway here are the GIFs of his moves! link link ...Slinky.
PrimeJiveUSA 25.09.2017 11:21	Thank you for sharing the videos, Villeirs!
Kismet 25.09.2017 11:38	Thor you say you only ever saw freddie with annie leibowicz but there are theories he shared many hotels with Barbra Valentine. Did he ever laugh at her with you, people claim he called her a whale behind her back but would he ever be that rude? i know you said he said women 'sang from their c**t' but was he that rude? or just trying to make you gay friends laugh to impress? i watched the garden lodge tapes and his camp friends seemed to laugh and be obnoxious all the time. did you witness anyone laughing at Freddie when you stayed, cos that's the impressioni get. everyone is laughing and the only respectful serious one is mary austin.
SmokyQuartz 25.09.2017 16:26	lol re the GIFs, Villiers! :-) @Thor If this overlaps with other questions, don't worry, but what did Freddie inspire in you? I remember you saying that you'd go back to work rejuvenated after your hour with him. Was that because you all laughed a lot, his positivity or something else? Also if Freddie were asked about each of his daughters, how would he have described each one of you? Lol. Do you have any funny stories with all of you? (maybe after too much revelry - I don't mean that badly). I'm assuming you heard Phoebe's account of his first night looking after Freddie (and the round bed). Baptism of fire for Phoebe I think.
thundergod 25.09.2017 17:52	Well Smoky, I don't know of anyone as fortunate as myself to spend 11 1/2 hours doing very serious, emotionally draining work and then be treated to 1 hour of laughter with good friends. I was truly blessed in this respect. It was such a great respite for me when it happened. (Of course it did not happen every night but boy, I wish it had). Joe S...the handsome one (my X) Lee N...the story and laugh man (example: Lee went into the bathroom in Freddies apt. and emerged with a Carmen Miranda style self made FRUIT HAT with battery powered lights inside of each fruit...Freddie laughed the entire hour and made "Kathleen" wear it the entire hour....lit. John M...the quiet one with an Irish heritage and the ability to drink large quantities w/o a change in his personality. Me...the leader of the group that became good friends of the LEADER of the band!
thundergod 25.09.2017 17:55	Hey Villiers, So you figured it out anyway. Thanks so much for these charming vids.
thundergod 25.09.2017 18:06	Hello RBoulain, I will follow your link after lunch. This is Brandon's last day in San Diego and I am taking him out.He reunites with Lee, tomorrow at his condo in Palm Springs, lives there for 9 months and does not move back until June 2018 for 3 summer months. I will visit once every month or two. Palm Springs in the Winter is unbelievably spectacular with perfect weather.
thundergod 25.09.2017 20:49	Welcome Plasma Pen, HaHa, I'll be glad to answer this question while you catch up on reading the entire thread. I never spent time with Freddie in Germany. I had no idea who Barbara was (or as I have been learning, THOUGHT she was). Perhaps you don't get the humor in Freddie's c**t reference. He LOVED the voices of theses women (Montserrat and Jennifer H.) He was making a "funny" remark about how deep in their bodies that their voices could possibly have come from to have that range and ability to hold notes. He meant ABSOLUTELY no harm by the comment. He would NEVER use this reference outside of his circle of friends. For example, if he called me "faggot" in a joking way my community was perfectly fine with that...BUT if anybody outside of the community used this word at me, they had better watch out... I do know how to fight!
SmokyQuartz 25.09.2017 20:53	thundergod wrote: Well Smoky, I don't know of anyone as fortunate as myself to spend 11 1/2 hours doing very serious, emotionally draining work and then be treated to 1 hour of laughter with good friends. I was truly blessed in this respect. It was such a great respite for me when it happened. (Of course it did not happen every night but boy, I wish it had). Joe S...the handsome one (my X) Lee N...the story and laugh man (example: Lee went into the bathroom in Freddies apt. and emerged with a Carmen Miranda style self made FRUIT HAT with battery powered lights inside of each fruit...Freddie laughed the entire hour and made "Kathleen" wear it the entire hour....lit. John M...the quiet one with an Irish heritage and the ability to drink large quantities w/o a change in his personality. Me...the leader of the group that became good friends of the LEADER of the band! Very true re friends during work time, on the rare occasion I've had friends visit for lunch while at work, the rest of the day/shift has sailed by afterwards. I forgot because it doesn't usually happen, my friends all being quite a distance away these days. It's lovely to get a description of your group back then. Now I can imagine them all. Love the fruit hat story, LOL! Just wondered whether Freddie called Lee 'Kathleen' because he was 'Lee N' - leen, so Kathleen...Perhaps that's already been covered though, lol
RBoulain 25.09.2017 20:58	Sounds like fun Thor! Have the best of the times of all you ?. I have a couple of friends living in Palm Springs and indeed they say the same about the weather, I hope you can visit often! Here where I live is rather unpleasant on winter. thundergod wrote: Hello RBoulain, I will follow your link after lunch. This is Brandon's last day in San Diego and I am taking him out.He reunites with Lee, tomorrow at his condo in Palm Springs, lives there for 9 months and does not move back until June 2018 for 3 summer months. I will visit once every month or two. Palm Springs in the Winter is unbelievably spectacular with perfect weather.
thundergod 25.09.2017 21:01	Hey Villiers, Yes I did dance with Freddie, but only once at the "Saint", the most popular club in New York City at that time. It was like pulling Marie Antoinette to the guillotine but I managed this ONE TIME The greatest thing about "free-style" disco dancing was that you were never judged on your dancing ability, and just had fun. Freddie got into it and had a great time with an unusual amount of full open mouthed smiling ..not just the usual grin.
thundergod 25.09.2017 21:13	Hey SmokyQuartz, Lee Nolan was "Kathleen" named by Freddie, because he loved to give "B" actress nicknames to his friends, based on our last names. Kathleen Nolan was a 60's "B" actress only slightly famous from her role in a US comedy program called "The Farmer's Daughter." To this day, Lee loves this nickname and it was used just as much as Phoebe's nickname, whenever we got together. Mine did not stick (P.P. Arnold ????) but Lee, (especially in that fruit hat) was a definite Kathleen. Freddie was so proud that he came up with this lasting nickname.
Rainbow61 25.09.2017 21:13	Thor, When this thread was shorter, I used to skim back over other questions and answers to avoid duplicating anything that had already been asked. Now at 59 pages into this, I have pretty much given up on doing that and am just trying to rely on memory...that might not always work! So I offer you a general mea culpa for repeating myself (or others) which I hope will be good for the duration of this thread. LOL Question: Did you ever hear Freddie express any concerns during those times he experienced problems with his voice due to nodules.? Did he have a regular specialist for that issue...maybe someone in NYC or back in London? Did you have any advice for him or know doctors that you could refer him to that he would trust?
SmokyQuartz 25.09.2017 21:23	thundergod wrote: Hey SmokyQuartz, Lee Nolan was "Kathleen" named by Freddie, because he loved to give "B" actress nicknames to his friends, based on our last names. Kathleen Nolan was a 60's "B" actress only slightly famous from her role in a US comedy program called "The Farmer's Daughter." To this day, Lee loves this nickname and it was used just as much as Phoebe's nickname, whenever we got together. Mine did not stick (P.P. Arnold ????) but Lee, (especially in that fruit hat) was a definite Kathleen. Freddie was so proud that he came up with this lasting nickname. Silly me, of course! I knew the others were based on surnames, but somehow thought Kathleen hadn't been explained. No idea why, lol. Phoebe's name has definitely stuck, I don't even think of it as a girl's name anymore. I love the idea of 'Kathleen' having stuck too, LOL! And yes, your name is far too interesting already to have any alterations.
Rainbow61 25.09.2017 21:26	Thor, Oh my gosh, the dancing story was so funny. I can just picture Freddie out on the floor. I wish there were pictures of that. It is surprising he felt so uncomfortable dancing since he moved so well on stage and in videos. I guess one skill does not necessarily translate to the other. RBoulain, Yeah, winters are long and cold where I live. (But as a child, one of the great joys in life was getting a "snow day" from school.)
RBoulain 25.09.2017 23:33	Bad thing here in Spain, and specially where I live, you get the ugliest winters ever because as we are sorrounded by beaches we don't have any snow and the cold is so sticky, really ugly, for me Christmas and winter comes in mind as a time for snow and pretty lights which is pretty much what I see in the photos of my US friends :) Where do you live, Rainbow? Sorry I must have missed it! Rainbow61 wrote: RBoulain, Yeah, winters are long and cold where I live. (But as a child, one of the great joys in life was getting a "snow day" from school.)
Rainbow61 25.09.2017 23:55	New York State. The cold weather is not always welcome, but it is truly lovely when it snows. Nothing more beautiful than freshly flocked evergreen trees.
PrimeJiveUSA 26.09.2017 00:07	@Thor Did you ever see Freddie "slow dance" and did he whisper sweet, delicate things into his partner's ears?
RBoulain 26.09.2017 00:11	Oh Rainbow you pictured it so well, that's my dream place to visit! ;) Rainbow61 wrote: New York State. The cold weather is not always welcome, but it is truly lovely when it snows. Nothing more beautiful than freshly flocked evergreen trees.
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:28	I'm back... PJUSA, I never did see Freddie slow dance..and sweet things were ALWAYS said by Freddie as well as very clever biting sarcasm, All of that was always done in fun...NEVER mean spirited.
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:39	HaHa RBoulain, I felt exactly the same about snow days off from school. It meant that the whole day was available for sledding, building igloos (my favorite) and snowmen or snow women without the snow balls of course...LOL. AND the best was NO NEW HOMEWORK...glorious day!
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:40	Oops I mean Rainbow
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:43	Question to all, Has anyone else had trouble maintaining the "Email me when someone replies to this thread" feature? It keeps getting wiped away no matter how many times I check the box. Any ideas?
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:45	And where did that extra thundergod come from at the bottom???
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:53	testing 1 2 3
thundergod 26.09.2017 02:55	Extra "thundergod" removed but still unable to get the email notification which I depend on to get timely responses back to you. Help!
RBoulain 26.09.2017 02:59	Hi Thor. It happened to me too, twice. The 3rd time I clicked it, it seems so stick since some hours ago. I keep getting many different errors/bugs from the site so Im sure its not you and you cant really do much. However if anyone knows a definitive solution Im all ears.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 03:00	The extra thundergod appeared as a signature so maybe you tried to get one before? Or just another bug.
thundergod 26.09.2017 03:17	Thanks RBoulain...together we have four ears!!...lol
thundergod 26.09.2017 03:29	Rainbow Dahling, Have I still not impressed on you that I don't mind a repeated question. So, please no more apologies, but please just ask away!
thundergod 26.09.2017 03:35	Rainbow...from page 56... Posted: 23 Sep 17, 05:01 Edit this post Reply to this post Reply with Quote ALL, I realize that I forget to address responses and questions sometimes. Please do not hesitate to repeat the question or reply that you might want to get a response on. I really don't mind if any one of you ask a question that was asked before. If I say "I covered that", please don't think that I am scolding you. Now that we are at page 56, if I tell a story for a second time....You certainly can tell me so too...in a friendly way...LOL
YAWN 26.09.2017 04:18	Thor, if you could say anything to Freddie right now, what would it be? That is, if you were given a chance to sit down with him one more time and speak to him for a few hours, what message would you like him to take away from it? I think about this all the time when I think about my lived ones who are gone. Ive been lucky enough to have had a handful of dreams with them (where I know I was really speaking to them) and every time I wake up, I always think "I forgot something. I should've said---" I am someone who believes in the afterlife (Ive seen too much proof). I believe those who are no longer with us can and do hear some messages from those they loved and were close to. Anyway, just curious as to what message it might be. Catching him up on what friends have been up to perhaps, or just reminiscing. Is there anything you'd like him to know? I hope it's not too personal a question. If it is, feel free to skip it.
matt z 26.09.2017 05:18	^ I too would like to hear that side of things. Thing is, it's not really Freddie related. U know. ...like have you ever seen an ethereal persona in the room when someone has passed. Has anybody coded and come back telling u the odd story....ever experienced any interactions with the departed? ....stuff like that. I know it's likely very personal. They're just interests of mine. I feel as if I USED TO KNOW what happened, but have been mired by personal loss that has clouded perspective with frustrations. (If that makes any sense) I wouldn't wanna cheat and rewrite it as "have you ever seen mr Mercury in spirit form or in dreams" Such things are likely complex, considering how infinitesimally small we may likely appear to another thing in the universe. Anyways. Yeah. That stuff... I could imagine that a reflective thoughtful nurse would have some insights and experiences with the matter.
YAWN 26.09.2017 05:52	I agree. As a nurse, I'm sure he's at least wondered about it all before. Even those who believe in it all don't usually 'see' a spirit or anything, so I wouldnt be too shocked if Thor hadn't. But I once knew a girl in college who was an atheist and had a wonderfully brilliant mind for science. She didn't believe in any of it (to the point of getting annoyed when anyone even brought it up) and she herself had an experience she couldnt explain. I just remember her in tears, shaking like a leaf and saying she couldnt come to class. Of course, being a biology student- she spent days looking things up to find a scientific reason behind it and came across something that Neil Degrasse Tyson said about the afterlife. I don't have the exact quote, but bare with me.. "We are made up of molecules that need energy to grow and to live. To sustain life, we need energy. When we stop using energy, we die. But the thing is, energy never breaks down. We get it from food, that gets it from soil, that gets it from particals and bacteria, that gets that energy from the sun, and so on and on and on. The energy doesn't just disappear when we stop living because it never stops. It just changes. From a scientific stand point, you can argue that the energy left when we die is broken down to the soil to start the process again. But again, it doesn't just disappear. Some believe that energy that makes us who we are just changes and goes to another place when we die. If our spirit works the way our bodies do, then yes theoretically speaking, the energy (spirit) would just change form and continue on. Because at the end of the day, energy never disappears. You can't break it down forever." NDT doesn't personally believe in the afterlife, he says as hes a man of science and "scientists need physical, visual or mathematical evidence to believe in all things" but it gave my friend peace of mind. I still don't know exactly what she experienced. She refused to talk about it, but she believes (in "something") now lol By the way, I really hope this isn't coming across as morbid.
thundergod 26.09.2017 07:48	matt z and Villiers, Wow, such an interesting topic and I do have thoughts on the subject. I also believe that after we pass our "soul" reverts to it's basic substance which actually, IS energy. I have believed this for a long time, way before I even knew who Neil Degrasse Tyson was. With all the different forms of energy in the Universe i.e. Dark matter, radiation, tiny particles beyond just protons, neutrons and electrons, magnetism, gravity, quantum theory, etc., why wouldn't we blend into this energy when we die. Religion believes in the soul and staying in some sort of human form because it is simple to understand. Since the beginning of mankind there was always a fear of the unknown and the unexplainable such as the afterlife. Without that, life would be pointless. Mankind did not have science yet, so it needed an explanation and a belief system basically to put up with the hardships and constant loss of the relatives they held near and dear. Now, I was NOT a believer in contact from the beyond until what I am about to tell you happened. So, I think I have told you that every year, I would bring my mother west for a national park and scenic vacation. She always loved that and cried every time she had to go back home without me. Three years ago I have been doing the same for my sister and going to many of the same spots I went with my mother. So, October 2014 I took her to LA and we stayed at a wonderful hotel with and outdoor restaurant on the balcony. After one dinner with a gorgeous red/orange lighting the clouds for sunset, we continued to watch the sky. The moon was almost full and the sky became completely clear. A little bright red spot was close to the moon. It turned out to be Venus. My sister said, "this is a sign from Mom," I did not believe her. The next year, also in October, on our last day at the Grand Canyon, it was pouring down rain. When we took one last look at the canyon, suddenly and I mean suddenly 3/4 of the rain clouds disappeared and a full rainbow fell over the entire canyon. Again, my sister said this is a sign. Now, I have been to the Grand Canyon about 7 times at all different times of the year and I had never seen such a rapid change of weather (in 10 minutes) and had NEVER seen a rainbow over the canyon. I was not won over yet until last October 2016. I met my sister in Santa Fe, New Mexico a town that my mother had fallen in love with. Very historic and beautiful. We were going around the downtown area and I saw a little Christmas shop. My sister wanted to move on but I said, let's just stop here for a minute. On the bookcase with a clear, prominent front of the bookcase view, was a book called "Strubble Peter". My sister and I were completely shocked. Neither of us had seen that book in 50 years. My mother was German and used to read from the book when we were children. I have been to bookstores all over the world including Germany, but had never seen nor thought of that book again until this moment...and there it was in a prominent front row position where we could NOT have missed it. My sister is coming to San Diego on Oct. 10th and we are going to stay locally. Can't wait to see what Mom has in store for us this time. Sorry this story was so long..thanks for bearing with me on this.
thundergod 26.09.2017 07:53	Still having trouble with e-mail notifications....anyone?
YAWN 26.09.2017 08:54	Are you using your phone to click the option or a desktop? Id suggest trying it on a desktop if you havent already. This site doesnt handle mobile adaptation very well. Very sweet story Thor thank you for sharing. I'm sure she will have another sign for you and your sister. I also believe that means the soul is at rest. I was once pretty heavy into learning about spirit (not nessessarily religion, but more of the energy that we talked about) and many people believe that once they leave signs or any form of communication, it's confirmation that they are in a place of freedom and bliss. But I'm still curious as to what you might like to say to Freddie if you got the chance today? Is there anything you feel was left unsaid (obviously pretty personal, so don't feel like you have to answer it)- actually might be why you didnt answer that one to begin with lol and if so, I'm sorry lol
shakespeares sister 26.09.2017 11:31	Dear Thor, it really made me smile when I read about the" Strubble Peter". My mother used to read the book to me, too, when I was a child. So your mother was German. Which part of Germany did she come from? Do you speak a little German? Still have relatives in Germany?
smilefairyqueen 26.09.2017 12:15	You mentioned that Freddie would come to you and ask for relationship advice. What sort of things did you guys talk about in those conversations? If it's too personal you don't have to share it.
LOTV 26.09.2017 13:52	thundergod wrote: Hey LOTV, I am not aware of the last vocal duet. Who is Richard? Would you be so kind to throw me a link. Thanks link See if this works fella. I wasn't even aware this happened until not so long ago. I'd always heard rumours of a secret fn club gig in 88, which turned out to be bollocks. Richard be Cliff Richard.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 14:36	Thats the musical I was talking about some pages ago, 'Time', it happened April 13, 1988, and Freddie got involved because it was a charity event. He sang only four songs: Born To Rock 'n' Roll, In My Defence, It's In Every One Of Us (with Cliff Richard) and Time. I brought it up in case anybody knew any video sources and there's only photos and audios. He really sounds great! LOTV wrote: thundergod wrote: Hey LOTV, I am not aware of the last vocal duet. Who is Richard? Would you be so kind to throw me a link. Thanks link See if this works fella. I wasn't even aware this happened until not so long ago. I'd always heard rumours of a secret fn club gig in 88, which turned out to be bollocks. Richard be Cliff Richard.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 14:38	Lol, now we are closer to look like a Picasso! thundergod wrote: Thanks RBoulain...together we have four ears!!...lol
LOTV 26.09.2017 14:39	Just a thought Thor: We know musically Freddie was very much a perfectionist and would work long hours getting it just right, yet at the same time he liked to describe his music as disposable. It's a curious mix, I guess his attitude was to do the best with his talent and after that the end product was what it was. Was he protective over his music? I ask because I'd like t know what you think he'd think of what others have done with his music, and in particular what he would think of Adam Lambert fronting Queen.
Day dop 26.09.2017 14:49	I get quite sick of hearing "Freddie would've loved it" from people (regarding Lambert) as if they're speaking for him.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 14:51	EXACTLY my thoughts. And I so doubt it, I wont even start lol Day dop wrote: I get quite sick of hearing "Freddie would've loved it" from people (regarding Lambert) as if they're speaking for him.
TRS-Romania 26.09.2017 15:26	New York Daughters @gardenlodge. Waving Thor!
noorie 26.09.2017 16:01	Thor, loved the story about your mother.. I have noticed that one of the bravest thing to do is admit to believing in something not 'proved' by science. matt z had started a topic (very interestingly) about 'after death', and there was a very lively discussion. If you're interested: link
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 16:39	What makes you think he wouldnt like Adam? Freddie by his own admission liked Boy George and George Michael and Adam is very reminiscent of both. Brian and Roger say Freddie would have liked him. That's not the fans making that claim. Those 2 guys knew Freddie and his musical tastes for years. I'm inclined to believe them when they say Freddie likely would have liked him. Im sorry but I've had the pleasure of speaking with both men on multiple occasions and neither of them strike me as liars or opportunists. Nor does Peter Freestone who has also agreed with them in the past on Lambert. As has Kashmira and apparently Jer Bulsara before she passed on.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 16:49	Thats the never ending topic. They say Freddie would have loved him to defend themselves, in my opinion. I don't think you can ever compare Boy George and George Michael to Adam, I mean not in any possible world. There is also a video of Brian where he says Freddie would feel envy of Adam hiting higher notes live and how the show they have is not less than the one they did with Freddie. Very low, in my opinion too. This whole Adam thing is the endless debate so I wont say much more but 'knowing' Freddie and his values, he would have NOT liked Adam at all, in my opinion.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:01	Freddie himself said he was jealous of George Michael's voice and Peter Straker's for being able to hit higher notes so it's not impossible for Brian to thought the same about Adam. Also Adam is actually compared to George Michael quite often. Once by George himself (who liked him very much) and another time by Elton John who also loves his voice. Why would Kashmira, Elton, George Michael and countless others say Freddie would have liked him if they don't benefit from the band touring with Adam? That doesn't make any sense. I would like to go on record as saying that although Ive met Adam with Brian while obtaining autographs and I do think he is a kind young man, I personally don't think his voice fits the catalog and I don't consider myself an Adam Lambert fan. So this isn't a "glambert" ranting here. It's someone who doesn't understand how people can question those who actually knew Freddie and his tastes.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:06	Values? What values did Freddie have that would make him dislike Adam? Adam is gay man who by all accounts seems kind and humble. He works hard and looks to genuinely care for Brian and Roger. I don't see anything about Lambert that would have gone against Freddie's values. I'd like to know what is, RB
noorie 26.09.2017 17:10	^^^^ I can't say what Freddie would have thought about Adam, but Brian and Roger are only trying to promote their show. You really cannot expect them to say 'Adam is not up to par' or 'This show is certainly not as good as the ones we did with Freddie', so in this matter, you really cannot expect an honest opinion from them. Adam's popularity and love for Queen's music makes him a good fit for them, so.... (Personally I don't think AL comes even close to Freddie or George Michael or Boy George, but that is just me.)
Dustin Zimmerman 26.09.2017 17:12	Adam Lambert is compared to George Michael literally everyday. What on earth are you talking about? That's almost what he's known for the most. I have met Adam just once but I can tell you that good guy charm of his is not an act. He really is a humble dude who is really thrilled to be in the position he's in because he's a fan of the band. I'm also curious about the "values Freddie had" that would cause him to dislike Adam. I don't see Freddie having an issue with a fellow gay singer who liked his work and tries to honor it.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 17:12	Uhm, whatever Freddie said himself, I'll believe it, and Adam being a gay man has nothing to do with anything, but HUMBLE? Give me a break lol. As I said, a never ending debate and Im really tired of it and reading people saying "he would have liked him", I dont agree and thats my opinion. Everybody have their own, some just agreeing with what others say and others thinking by themselves as I do. I dont need to explain myself any further, I just disagree ;)
noorie 26.09.2017 17:12	Sorry, I was replying to RBoulain, but The Squirelly One beat me to it. :) I think AL is a very nice person and very decent in every way, I just don't like his singing style - at least not with Queen.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:15	Right. But again you're insinuating that Brian and Roger are liars which... I won't lie to you.. I really don't like. Queen and it's members have always been perfectionists. They also aren't bankrupt. Why would 2 perfectionists who aren't in need of fast cash claim Adam is good if they don't believe it and go on tour with him? Also why would so many other people who knew freddie say the same as them when they don't profit from a Queen+Adam tour? That makes no sense.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:16	Me too, Noorie
Dustin Zimmerman 26.09.2017 17:18	Yes, "humble". Ive met the guy. How many time have you met him where you can say for a fact that he isn't humble? Seems like someone who just doesnt like Adam and can't be mature about it in my opinion. Even Squirrelly doesn't think he's a good fit for Queen but agrees he's humble. You still didn't answer the values question.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:21	I've only MET Adam, not sat behind a computer screen and judged his personality without exchanging words with him so perhaps you have a better grasp of him than I, RB. He may not be the perfect singer for Queen but he sure as hell is humble and kind. He's a sweet guy. Like it or not.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 17:23	Not liars, its a personal matter of taste, they can think so but I don't agree. For what Ive seen, I dont think Adam is a humble guy, and I dont like his singing in Queen either, that's what Im giving my opinion for, which even if you don't agree, you should also respect. This thing about not liking Adam and people going asking you things and trying to 'convince' you is very old. I shold be able to just say I don't agree or like Adam for Queen. Cheers.
YAWN 26.09.2017 17:26	Me. Readin' these comments.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:32	Lol it's one thing to have an opinion (which musically, I agree with) but it's another entirely to attempt to claim he isn't what he seems to be when you have literally no proof and no reasoning behind it. That's not giving an opinion, that's being childish. You want people to respect your opinion but you won't do the same for others (Brian and Roger). You'd rather cover your ears and continue to pretend you know the guy is a jerk or something. Whatever you need to do to sleep at night I guess.
noorie 26.09.2017 17:33	^^^ Love that! Perfect response Villiers! :)
Dustin Zimmerman 26.09.2017 17:35	Ayyye well said Villers
RBoulain 26.09.2017 17:36	Well, it is impossible for you to think that I say he is not humble PERSONALLY, Ive never met the guy, but yeah when you are a public person people will have an impression of you and an opinion, and they can think many various things, sat behind a computer or dancing the conga. And MY impression that I get from him, is that, Im sorry it upsets you so much lol. As an artist, he doesnt look humble to me and I dont like him for Queen,, again,I should be able to say that. Just like every time Ive read in this forum (not in this thread) people supporting Adam I didnt care. Thats up to the individual! Xxx
RBoulain 26.09.2017 17:42	Oh but I respect, Ive never ever said anything to them but I dont necessarily need to agree on everything, I can have a personal opinion. The liar refference was said by you. And saying someone is childish because they think different, is childish itself. When you critize someone for thinking otherwise, is not respecting their opinion, I hadnt talked to anyone directly till you replied to me. I said I dont think Freddie would have liked Adam and I still think so, all the rest was created by you. I wont engage in this anymore lol, I should be able to think what I like without being 'interrogued', thats childish, thats MY taste. Cheers The Squirrelly One wrote: Lol it's one thing to have an opinion (which musically, I agree with) but it's another entirely to attempt to claim he isn't what he seems to be when you have literally no proof and no reasoning behind it. That's not giving an opinion, that's being childish. You want people to respect your opinion but you won't do the same for others (Brian and Roger). You'd rather cover your ears and continue to pretend you know the guy is a jerk or something. Whatever you need to do to sleep at night I guess.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 17:43	You're either still missing the point or you're purposely ignoring it (thats whats annoying). Either way, you have a right to an opinion on his vocal range and musical talent but not on his inner workings and personality as you've never met him and have absolutely nothing to support your opinion there. Sorry but that's just childish. Had he kicked a puppy or peed on the homeless, then go for it. Otherwise, stick to what you can form an opinion on. And yes, you did call Brian and Roger liars if you believe they don't believe then when they say they think Freddie would like him. THATS childish. Now back to Thor. I think enough time was wasted on this
thundergod 26.09.2017 17:43	Nice discussion folks...interesting opinions. I've only seen Adam Lambert on videos so cannot comment on any personality traits that he may or may not have. All I CAN say is thank God Brian and Roger didn't pick Miss Peter Straker for lead singer...lol.
Invisible Woman 26.09.2017 17:54	No one can say with certainty what he would like.Maybe he would like it and maybe he wouldn't. Roger and Brian chose Adam and of course they would talk all the best about him. That's logical. I also don't understand why Adam fans have a need to prove that he is good,great,excellent etc.You like him and that's the most important thing about it.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 18:01	Again, brian and roger have always been perfectionists. If they didn't truly believe he was good, they wouldnt say it. Much less work with him. I felt I needed to say something about his personality here because someone started talking about how they figured that Freddie wouldn't like Adam because of values. So obviously I listed Adams values and Freddies. Or traits, more like. It's not an Adam campaign. It's proving a point.
RBoulain 26.09.2017 18:02	Of course its not a rule, I mean, opinions are just that, so personal. Still, I wouldnt "judge anybody without meeting him" behind a computer calling them childish just for not thinking alike. Let it be known, if I ever, in the future, give my opinion here about Gloria Estefan, (for example) it will be MY impression as an artist, I never met Gloria Estefan lol. But I agree on that, back to Thor!
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 18:02	And again: let's move on. Enough time has been wasted on it.
The Squirrelly One 26.09.2017 18:04	Man are you 3? You've totally turned me off of this thread with your childish crap. Grow up and thanks for ruining this experience for me.
thundergod 26.09.2017 18:06	Hi Villiers, If I could say anything to Freddie it would probably be that Brandon and I have managed to stay in each other's lives for 32 years so far and 25 of those years are being spent as just special friends. I think he would like to know that as he did a similar thing with Joe Fanelli. Freddie didn't know Brandon as he knew Joe S., John M., Lee N. and myself. However, Brandon was left with a warm, appreciative feeling for Freddie through my stories and actually spending quality time with him 3 times at the Garden Lodge. He mourned the death of Freddie as much as anyone. Thankfully he had at least, some experience with that Freddie touch.
thundergod 26.09.2017 18:18	Also Villiers, On our last visit to Freddie, five months before his death. he asked Lee to bring two items, namely the (set to music) Slide Show I've mentioned before AND the lighted Fruit Hat. We had a wonderful time going over the old stories and the sometimes unflattering pictures. Freddie would say.."Oooooh, just look at the state of me" and break out into a laugh. Kathleen did his Fruit Hat thing and as Freddie was laughing, Lee would look at him very seriously and say "What? What? as if he thought he appeared normal. A very nice send off to Freddie. Ah, with alls these memories back in my head ,....."Freddie I miss you SO MUCH!"
thundergod 26.09.2017 18:22	Hey LOTV, I am staying away from the Adam Lambert controversy. I am conflicted between what the living Freddie might have thought and what the spirit of Freddie does think.
thundergod 26.09.2017 18:26	Villiers, Thank you for trying to help with my e-mail thing. To answer your question, I only use my laptop computer and never my cell phone. I have big arthritic fingers that hate hitting the correct letter...LOL
YAWN 26.09.2017 18:35	Awww Thor thanks for sharing that! Seriously I know you've been told this a trillion times already but you and your friends brought him so much happiness, I can't thank you enough for making my hero's life so full of laughter and light.
YAWN 26.09.2017 18:37	Thor, me again: I have a question about Joe F. I know after he and Freddie split up, Freddie invited him back into his life, but what was the nature of their relationship? I have heard they were more than friends again in the mid-80s but have no idea whether this is true or not. What was he like as a person?
thundergod 26.09.2017 18:44	Hello again Shakespeare's Sister, For those who do not know and I assume most of you, "Strubble Peter" pronounced [Sch-stroo-bell Pey-ter] in German, is a wonderful collection of short stories not unlike some of Aesop's Fables. The point of each story is to teach children valuable life lessons. For example...you must not make fun of people that look different from you. The wizard-like storyteller catches a group of children making fun of the only black child in the group. Disgusted with this behavior, he takes each child and dips them into a big vat of black ink to teach them this lesson. Obviously, this book was definitely NOT written in the USA in the1950's. We couldn't have handled it back then. But I took the message seriously as well as many others in the book.
thundergod 26.09.2017 18:49	HaHa smilefairyqueen, Of course he would ask me my opinion of anyone he "fancied." I had to keep an open mind because Freddie liked the more stout people and I, the thinner ones. Freddie called his type "barrels" and if they became his boyfriend he would refer to him as "My Barrel"..LOL.
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:05	LOTV, Thanks for that link. What a beautiful song that I have never heard before. I met Cliff Richard at Freddie's house but I thought his last name was "Richards" so when you said Richard, I was thrown off. I did not recognize Mr. Richard when he first arrived at the Garden Lodge one day, but Brandon knew him immediately because his favorite female artist is Olivia Newton John and they sang "Suddenly" together. He seemed very friendly and sincere, so no doubt, a friend of Freddie's. P.S. Sorry to equate the "Elvis of the UK", Cliff Richard with "Mary Richards", the main character in the old "Mary Tyler Moore Show"...LOL
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:13	LOTV, I never heard Freddie call his music disposable in person. But if he said it himself in interviews I guess it was true. Why, I have no idea. Now, what he did say a few times WAS disposable was his look from the 70's. You may remember me quoting Freddie, commenting on this by saying "Ooooh, I looked horrible dahling...BUT IT WORKED. lol
Dustin Zimmerman 26.09.2017 19:15	HA! Thor my old babysitter used to call men "barrels" and when I asked her why she said it was because she liked to wrap her legs around them and straddle them like barrels! NOT a very appropriate conversation for a babysitter to have with a child but she was about 19 at the time and was as wild as they come. Took me years after that put it together and figure out what "straddle" meant. Im going to go ahead and assume Freddie called them that for the same reason L O L By the way that sitter was gorgeous and was my first crush at age 8. Very much a fat bottomed girls situation in my home at the time L O L
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:21	Welcome TRS-Romania, That is a fun clip that I did not know existed until sponsoring this thread. We all kind of looked silly then, but Freddie and Lee Nolan looked good. Lee wins the award for the least changed old fool of our, now small, group...lol
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:23	Thanks noorie, I will look for that link when I have more time. Words from our very own "Bard" should be very interesting. lol
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:31	OMG Villiers, So FUNNY and CLEVER...I am still laughing...thank you.
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:46	Villier's...I mean the MJ thing. Now to answer your question. when I met Joe Fanelli he was working as a chef at the Garden Lodge. He seemed to me like a well educated, serious, no-nonsense type of guy BUT with a GREAT sense of humor when he was not working so hard in the kitchen making wonderful meals with special touches for Freddie and his guests. He went to the clubs with us (Freddie did not go) just once and was such a fun and lively person. So sad that he died too soon.
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:49	Hey Dustin...what an amusing story, you horny little boy! LOL
thundergod 26.09.2017 19:59	HELP... SOS... All QueenZoners The lack of e-mail notification is driving me CRAZIER than the Fine Young Cannibles were driven! I have to keep searching for my name on QueenZone and get past all those stupid ads for "Find out Thor Arnold's criminal history" and "Learn all of Thor Arnold's personal history" All I have to say, as Freddie's favorite line from one of his favorite old movies (The Women) goes is "PARDON me while I UNSWALLOW" haha.
YAWN 26.09.2017 20:03	thundergod wrote:[ as Freddie's favorite line from one of his favorite old movies (The Women) goes is "PARDON me while I UNSWALLOW" haha. I SCREAMED! hahaaaaa! Have you tried it through a different web browser?
thundergod 26.09.2017 20:04	Hey, I think I am caught up. Please let me know if I missed a question. By the way, I am staying far away from the Adam Lambert discussion so, just read my last thought on that subject, which I wrote prior to the argument.
YAWN 26.09.2017 20:08	Also Adblock (browser extension) is your friend. If you're on PC that is
thundergod 26.09.2017 20:21	Villiers...Just added Ad Block...thanks for the tip!
thundergod 26.09.2017 20:22	Also, I just sent an e-mail to the support center of this site. Hoping for help soon,
thundergod 26.09.2017 20:51	By the way, did anyone have a reaction to my response about Freddie's use of the c word. Someone thought it meant that Freddie was demeaning to women. I hope you all read my explanation of Freddie's use of this word and it's context.
Rainbow61 26.09.2017 20:55	Thor and Villiers, Thanks for sharing your stories and thoughts on life after death. A fascinating topic for certain. It seems like for most people, what we believe tends to evolve as we try to gain some perspective on painful events in our own lives. Maybe it was that way for Freddie too? Noorie, I know you mentioned that Freddie was Parsi in all ways except in terms of religion. But I am curious about what Parsis believe in terms of the afterlife. As Thor mentioned, he has seen people who reconnect to the religion/God as they face death. (Well I am paraphrasing...I can't find the original post) Believing in God or some higher power can be a source of comfort to some...It's possible it was that way for Freddie. No, I am not saying he became a believer, but the teachings of his youth might have crossed his thoughts as he faced his own mortality, so I was wondering what those teachings might have been. Thanks.
Darthritis1 26.09.2017 20:56	Hello again Thor. I asked you a question a few weeks back then somehow managed to get locked out of my account so couldn't post. This board doesn't like me as I've already had to abandon one account, meaning that there are 2 Darthritis's on here. You are the the best thing to happen to this site in forever. It's wonderful and extremely heartwarming reading all your lovely anecdotes and I've laughed out loud at many (sorry but your comment about Dave Clark's face made me howl) Lovely bloke and selfless in his care for Freddie but he does look increasingly terrifying. Verrrrrrrrry interesting hearing your impressions of the people around him. That's put me off Peter Straker, hearing that he was up his own arse (as we'd say in the UK). Did you know that Freddie never shared his AIDS diagnosis with him and refused to see him at all in the last year of his life as they'd had a falling out? Mary, I think that she never really moved forward emotionally from Freddie. I believe she stayed in her role as longtime supportive best friend because she knew that was the only way she'd be able to hold onto him. From her interviews it seems like Freddie's social circle was also hers and that she didn't really have any friends of her own and she didn't retain them after Freddie died. Sounds sad to me. It's great that you've confirmed that Peter Freestone is as warm and lovely as he always comes across as and that you had some good times with poor Joe Fanelli before he too died. Your arthritic fingers must be so overworked with all these questions coming at you thick and fast haha. I feel your pain, because you'll realise from my username that I have arthritis too - rheumatoid - for nearly 5 years. I take a cocktail of drugs but overall it's pretty well controlled. The boyfriend nicknamed me Darthritis lol. Which type do you have? Now I'm back on, I'm struggling to think of questions that haven't been answered already. I do have to say that the crowd Freddie hung around with in Munich don't seem to have cared about him like his 'daughters' clearly did - and still do. In an interview, Queen's sometime producer, Reinhold Mack said that Freddie once had a mini emotional breakdown in the studio, threw everyone out then broke down in tears saying that he felt his life was out of control. He'd woken up alone in a dumpster with no idea how he'd got there. That was quite upsetting to listen to and my first thought was "where the hell were his friends?" This of course was in Munich. Did Freddie ever express any worries regarding his lifestyle? I do remember you saying that you were all concerned for him during the Munich years. Were you aware of UK law in the 1980s regarding homosexuality? It had been 'decriminalised' but: it was illegal for gay men to pass their numbers to each other in order to meet up for an encounter later!!! Oh and if 2 men had sex, it had to be in a private building with no other people present. So if Freddie and Jim went to their bedroom, while Peter and Joe were in the kitchen - they were breaking the law. Ridiculous. Thank you so much for your thoughtful and considerate replies. It's so amazing and wonderful that you're here talking to us and giving us your time. Not surprising Freddie valued you as his friend. X
YAWN 26.09.2017 21:06	thundergod wrote: By the way, did anyone have a reaction to my response about Freddie's use of the c word. Someone thought it meant that Freddie was demeaning to women. I hope you all read my explanation of Freddie's use of this word and it's context. It comes down to people not understanding his sense of humor. Chris Taylor asked Freddie once if he was having sex with Barbara and he said "No! She's a whale!" No, he wasnt into women but he also wasn't saying it to genuinely hurt anyone. It was a campy way to say "no". Barbara also said he used to call her a cow lol
SmokyQuartz 26.09.2017 21:07	thundergod wrote: HELP... SOS... All QueenZoners The lack of e-mail notification is driving me CRAZIER than the Fine Young Cannibles were driven! I have to keep searching for my name on QueenZone and get past all those stupid ads for "Find out Thor Arnold's criminal history" and "Learn all of Thor Arnold's personal history" All I have to say, as Freddie's favorite line from one of his favorite old movies (The Women) goes is "PARDON me while I UNSWALLOW" haha. What on earth is happening at your end then Thor, LOL! I'm on a laptop too, I just type in link and it brings me straight here... Don't know if that helps at all, but I like things simple, lol. I just tried doing something else to see if it's what you might be doing and I got an ad 'Buy or Rent Thor!' LOL!!
c.jory 26.09.2017 21:25	thundergod wrote: By the way, did anyone have a reaction to my response about Freddie's use of the c word. Someone thought it meant that Freddie was demeaning to women. I hope you all read my explanation of Freddie's use of this word and it's context. Damn, this person took it so wrong! I thought it was really funny. Love Freddie's sense of humour and how he wasn't afraid to use vulgar language haha
thundergod 26.09.2017 21:28	Yes, yes Villiers, But I was commenting on what he HARMLESSLY meant by using that word (c**t) in reference to Montserrat Caballe and Jennifer Holliday. As I said, he meant it in a gay kinda way that he was astounded and dumbfounded by the depths of their vocal abilities. IT WAS A COMPLIMENT presented to his GAY male listeners only. No one thought it was degrading at all. Well, except the person who took exception to this comment and misconstrued his intention. I have nothing to say about Barbara, as I did not know she existed except when I read that Lesley Ann Jones book after originally skipping the Barbara Valentin section. And saw it in all it's nonsensical , self centered attempt to change history. He occasionally called Phoebe a cow as Brandon occasionally calls me. All meant in jest and never taken seriously. If he sees me eating too much, being an animal scientist, he may say "haven't you filled all FIVE of your stomachs yet, you COW." and we laugh it off despite the fact that I am a 62 years old heavier than I used to be.
c.jory 26.09.2017 21:35	thundergod wrote: I have nothing to say about Barbara, as I did not know she existed except when I read that Lesley Ann Jones book after originally skipping the Barbara Valentin section. And saw it in all it's nonsensical , self centered attempt to change history. THIS ^ It's good to hear this from someone who actually knew Freddie regardless of the fact you never met her. The first time I read it, the book had been about him coming to terms with his sexuality, accepting himself. Then suddenly he gets 'turned' by her and wanted to marry her. I didn't know him, but it seemed so out of character for the man I'd been reading about!
thundergod 26.09.2017 21:35	Understood Smoky, But when I go there my thread does not appear and I have to use search. I just installed Adblocker and it took the entire page down so I had to ask to stop blocking these particular ads because it is my only access. If I go to settings and say "yes" to email notifications, it STILL does not work.
thundergod 26.09.2017 21:40	Thanks CaptainJory, I think the best approach is to forget... diese alte Kuh (look it up)..LOL
YAWN 26.09.2017 21:41	Indeed! Im only guessing but considering the phrasing they used, I have a feeling I may know who that person was that took it the wrong way. If its who I think it is, then they used it to try to "prove" that Barbara and Freddie were lovers, and it's their only argument. they're a huge Barbara fan. Their argument was "Peter Freestone is lying, Jim Hutton was lying, and Chris Taylor was lying: my proof is that Chris said Freddie called her a whale he would have never insulted her like that. So obviously... they were lovers and you can't trust what those people say." Yes, that was their actual argument. Theyve brought it up via facebook, YouTube and twitter. They've even taken to exchanging letters with someone who never met freddie but knew Barbara and this person asked "did freddie ever call her a whale?" As if this friend of Barbaras would know that lol. They wrote back "No! Never! He was too kind!" Im rolling my eyes just thinking about it. Of course I don't know that this is the same person who commented here and I'm not saying it is, but that it sure does remind me of them and it doesn't shock me that they may have taken what you said the wrong way. We knew what you meant, though. Ok ok, I swear I'm done talking about Barbara now. I'm sure youre bored to tears with that lame topic by now.
c.jory 26.09.2017 21:42	thundergod wrote: Thanks CaptainJory, I think the best approach is to forget... diese alte Kuh (look it up)..LOL hahaha I only know the most basic of German...but I know that that means!
smilefairyqueen 26.09.2017 21:54	Thank you for answering my question Thor! I do find it a little rude he called Phoebe a cow, but then again I am a pretty sensitive person and a big softie. It probably didn't bother him, but a comment like that would upset me. I have heard that a lot of scandalous things would happen backstage at Queen concerts. Did you witness any of this? Also, I have seen some Queen footage where he got close to the audience and some women in the crowd would try to grab at him, smack his butt, etc. I always wondered what he thought of that. He probably enjoyed it! He seemed to always be wiggling his ass on stage. LOL.
Dustin Zimmerman 26.09.2017 22:03	Pretty sure he would have preferred them to be men haha. Or better yet a bunch of Burt Reynolds look a likes! Apparently that was his favorite pinup. I sure as hell wouldve liked them women on my ass though ;)
c.jory 26.09.2017 22:04	Nothing wrong with showing the guys what they could have ;-D link
noorie 26.09.2017 22:08	@Rainbow61... Sorry, my reply with quote function is gone, as is the editing function and everything else. The Zarthusti (Zoroastrian) religion including the prayers is in an ancient language nobody today really understands perfectly (except some German scholars who are more knowledgeable about Zoroastrianism than we are!). This is because when the shiploads of escaping Parsis arrived in India, the ruler there granted them sanctuary on a few conditions. They could never convert anyone (so we are dying out), could never use their own language, or their own style of dressing, and the men had to serve in the king's army in times of war. So we lost the language, and very honestly, I can only give you a rough idea of the afterlife according to Zarathustra (the prophet, Zoroaster is the anglicised name). It is pretty much the usual stuff - paradise and comfort if you've been good. Fire and brimstone if you

QueenZone discussion #1480243

clarification of Thor Arnold's role in Freddie's life