| Whisperer 06.05.2004 07:04 |
I know that Freddie had AIDS and was in bad condition and blah, blah, blah. Still, a one hour fan club concert in 1988 or 1989 or something like that wouldn't have been too much to ask for. I really wonder why Freddie didn't want to perform one more time, before it all would end. |
| Robin 06.05.2004 07:24 |
By 1988-89 it was very obvious something was wrong with him. I'm sure he didn't want people to see him that way and he probably did not have the energy to give 100% to the audience. We all know it was all or nothing with Freddie! |
| Nuno 06.05.2004 08:00 |
Yeah - if you look back to the video's for I want it all, Breathru ,etc,etc It was obviuos he looked ill then, and that is after everything they coud do in video editing to make him look better I'm sure if there was a small remote change of a gig round the Mircale - they would have done it And again looking back - this is the first time Queen never toured after releasing an album - that says it all to me |
| Togg 06.05.2004 08:07 |
Seems pretty bloody obvious to me, the magic tour was the biggest they had ever done, with the biggest stage and biggest crowds, so if your going to bow out why go out with something small like a pub gig for the fan club. Surely it's better to have your final concert at Knebworth than the Kings Arms! |
| jeff payne 1680 06.05.2004 08:24 |
Kings arms would have been good though it's my local |
| Sicmot 06.05.2004 09:52 |
Actually.. there was a consert after -86.. alongisde the Time musical.. "Freddie liked the stage-production of "Time" so much that he actually appeared live in the musical on April 14th 1988 at the Dominion Theatre in London West End.It was a charity-gala (called "Give To For AIDS") and he appeared together with Cliff Richard and Laurence Olivier. All funds that were raised went into the Terence Higgins Trust.Freddie performed four songs: "Born To Rock'n'Roll", "In My Defence", "Time" and "It's In Everyone Of Us". It was his first and only solo-live- performance EVERY (the two with Montserrat Caballe were mimed). One of the first people who heard the completed "Time" - album was Sir Laurence Olivier (as Dave Clark played it to him). When "In My Defence" was over,he said: "What a performance! THIS is a real actor" |
| Brian_Mays_Wig 06.05.2004 11:34 |
Wow, what a great consert! |
| Maz 06.05.2004 12:04 |
" I know that Freddie had AIDS and was in bad condition and blah, blah, blah. Still, a one hour fan club concert in 1988 or 1989 or something like that wouldn't have been too much to ask for." Funniest post ever. I wish more dying artists would be considerate of their fans' wishes. Producing new material such as Barcelona, The Miracle, Innuendo, and MIH while trying to remain healthy or even improve was obviously not enough for some. |
| D.Blythe 06.05.2004 12:05 |
I can understand why there was no concert (consert? wtf?) appearance after '86. Even if Freddie had not fallen ill, he probably wanted a break or at least a chance to do something different tour-wise after the bombastic Magic tour. My question is; why no North American dates on the Magic tour? Surely it was Queen's chance to win over an American audience after the "I Want To Break Free" cross-dressing thing. If "The Works" was Queen's first album for Capitol in the states, Capitol could not have been happy that Queen did not tour to support their second album under the deal. I do not like to think that Queen gave up on America, but why the extensive European tour at venues where they had already proven themselves? I agree with the earlier post; you do not want to go out with a small fan club or small venue concert after Knebworth, but if it is your biggest tour, your last tour, why not play America or Japan for that matter. Was there supposed to be another leg on the tour? |
| jeff payne 1680 06.05.2004 13:38 |
Also after the Knebworth concert Freddie said to Brian never again which was unusal according to Brian as on past tours Freddie was the one who wanted to go on for more shows, so perhaps Freddie was starting to feel the effects of the terrible illness which took him from us 5 years later, we can only guess |
| thanks freddie 06.05.2004 14:26 |
Because he was ill, he couldn't do a big tour like the magic tour. It was to tence for him, and it took a lot of his fisical strengh and that was a big problem. His illness was so demanding that putting on a show for one and a half hour was to much. Thats the reason he didn't want to go on a big tour. He also wanted to record as much as possible before we would die, wich he did. Michel |
| Whisperer 06.05.2004 15:02 |
The New and Improved Zeni wrote: " I know that Freddie had AIDS and was in bad condition and blah, blah, blah. Still, a one hour fan club concert in 1988 or 1989 or something like that wouldn't have been too much to ask for." Funniest post ever. I wish more dying artists would be considerate of their fans' wishes. Producing new material such as Barcelona, The Miracle, Innuendo, and MIH while trying to remain healthy or even improve was obviously not enough for some.Well, if I were a dying artist, I would certainly be interested in a "farewell gig" while I'm still able to do it (1988). Just some acoustic stuff or something like that. |
| Robin 06.05.2004 15:52 |
Perhaps The Magic tour was his farewell gig. We just didn't know it. I for one would not like to see Freddie just sitting on a piano bench or sitting on a stool singing for a whole show......that was not Queen. Oh, and until you're dying I don't think you can say what you will feel up to doing. Sometimes getting up is major event. |
| Penis - Vagina 06.05.2004 17:09 |
Yeah, just pretend he actually died in 1986 and then all of the material after that will be like.. man, he's singing from beyond! How cool!!! But then I guess some would want a concert from beyond too. You just can't win! |
| Whisperer 06.05.2004 17:24 |
Please don't forget that instead of "just dying", Freddie recorded stuff right until the end. This is the reason why I ask my question. He didn't want to stop. That point about the 1986 tour being his farewell tour was very good. Maybe he knew or felt that he was sick already then... |
| Adam Baboolal 06.05.2004 18:28 |
"Please don't forget that instead of "just dying", Freddie recorded stuff right until the end. This is the reason why I ask my question. He didn't want to stop." Sorry, I don't see your point. I think recording at your own pace and performing a concert are, oh...quite different! Freddie had been quoted as saying that he wasn't keen on doing concerts into his late years. He thought it would be funny seeing himself running about on stage in his late forties. Who has the quote written down? lol Peace, Adam. |
| suckerpunch 06.05.2004 20:12 |
Ive just registered here... so im a newbie...... im 28 & been a queen since i was 4 so its a long time. I cant honestly believe there are people questioning why there were no tours after 86 even one off shows. Freddie new after Knebworth that was it, after all he had to be coaxed into doing the Magic Tour in the first place. He said so himself in a fan club magazine which he wrote in late 86 after his holiday in Japan. The reasons for the tour not going to the USA they hadnt toured since 82 there & were too busy in Europe selling out stadiums to notice. I guess no one knew it was the last tour but hadnt Freddie got ill, Queen may have gone their seperate ways, but its well document on the wembley gig & knebworth about Queen splitting up & Freddie say the oppostie so he knew, what he maybe facing & wanted to go out at the top. Freddie said in an interview just before the magic tour "there will come a time when i wont be able to run around stage anymore, but music will always be a part of me" end of story. Freddie could have retired & disappeared to Montreux & lived the rest of his life there, but he busied himself in solo stuff & the final Queen albums. I for one wouldnt swap that for a one off gig & in 1987 or 88 when he may be been just able to do it. |
| dragonzflame 06.05.2004 21:46 |
If they'd done that last small gig then people would have been wondering why there weren't any more after that. Hell, they did over 600 concerts, be happy with that ! :-) |
| Maz 06.05.2004 22:35 |
"Well, if I were a dying artist, I would certainly be interested in a "farewell gig" while I'm still able to do it (1988)" Obviously, your priorities are different than most people. |
| The Mir@cle 07.05.2004 03:24 |
A tour cost a lot of time and energy. Maybe it was more important to Freddie to finish The Miracle and Innuendo album and some other stuff. He had to make decisions. |
| Oberon 07.05.2004 10:59 |
I seem to remember Brian saying once that he "overheard" Freddie saying that this [the Magic] tour may the last one, and that gave Brian a little shock. I think Fred knew that the Magic Tour would be his last because he knew he wouldn't be able to perform properly due to his condition. They didn't tour USA because their sales had dropped and the expectation was that they'd have to "work" the USA rather than be able to sell out stadiums etc as they could in Europe. Can't remember where this quote comes from, but I definitely remember it from some where. Finally, I agree with whoever on this thread said that Fred wouldn't want to do a half-arsed show. The Time musical and Barcelona performances were a very different show than a Queen show, and I don't think he wanted to go out with the rest of the boys and not be able to do them the justice they deserved. And of course, again, he wanted to concentrate on the recording as already mentioned. I don't believe that Queen would have split if Fred wasn't ill. At the Wembley concert Fred said they'd stay together until they died. Prophetic? I think he knew about his illness. If he hadn't been ill, I think they would've had a break but would have toured again. I don't think they would have split up. They've all said that the four together were better than any individual. It's all speculation, but everything was ruined by Fred's illness I think. I'm not having a go at Fred, but I believe that if he hadn't got ill, they'd still be recording and touring together and giving the Stones a run for their money as the biggest rock band still going. Think about it, when you look at the money the Stones make touring, and read the Sunday Times rich list, how much would Queen make if they were all here today and touring? Not that I think they're particularly hung up on the money, but they'd do well even today I believe. |
| goinback 07.05.2004 11:30 |
I remember when "A Kind Of Magic" came out here in the US, I certainly didn't expect it or any of the singles to reach the Top 40. I think the record company gave up on its commercial success from the beginning too. "One Vision" had alrady failed before the album was released. Too bad, because they probably could have marketed the album successfully with the Highlander film if they tried. Does anyone know why Queen changed from Elektra to Capitol, and were they happy with either company? |
| Maz 07.05.2004 12:08 |
I think Capitol offered more money. There's a quote somewhere by Brian that they were not too happy with Capitol by the time AKOM came out. Capitol did promote The Works fairly well, but since Queen never toured the US to help, it did not sell well here. I think their relationship went south after that. |
| goinback 10.05.2004 03:22 |
Yeah I wonder why there wasn't a US tour planned to support Works before Works was even released.... |
| D.Blythe 10.05.2004 11:55 |
I will admit that I do not have all of the information, but I do not think that Freddie knew about his illness until 1987, after the Magic tour. I think that Freddie may have been growing tired of the large, bombastic concerts and tours and that is why he said "no more", but I really do not think it was due to AIDS. If Queen were going to break up in '86 or '87, they would not have come back together simply because Freddie had gotten ill. The basic problems that had them heading for a break up would still be there and they would not have made two albums together, much less two great ones. Saying that Freddie said what he did at Wembley about "staying together" and "no more" is 20/20 hindsight and rationalizations. |
| mr bad guy 5656 10.05.2004 15:17 |
'There've been a lot of rumours lately...about a certain band called Queen. The rumous are that ehm...the rumours are that they are going to split up. What do you think? (crowd: no!) They're talking from here (points at his -godgiven- ass)! (crowd: yes!)..A bit later Fred says Queen is going to stay together until one of them drops. Prophetic words? Unfortunately yes. Though if Fred hadn't fallen ill, we wouldn't have known 'The Miracle', 'Innuendo' (they don't make that kind of albums anymore)and 'Made in Heaven', their emotional goodbye. Maybe other great material would have been recorded. Maybe Queen would have splitted. No one can tell. I think Fred felt his body would be weakening very soon. People who are diagnosed cancer also say they did feel strange or a bit ill months, even years, before they were diagnosed. AIDS is an immunity 'thing', so it's not unthinkable Fred wouldn't have felt a thing in the months before the official diagnose (I think he knew about aids somewhere in april '87, while Knebworth was August '86)(I was born May 19th 1986). Knowing there could have been something wrong, Fred probably looked totally different at the Magic Tour as at the other ones. (e.g. the 'no-split til we drop' intermezzo's and Fred's strange behaviour after the Knebworth Venue, his swansong.)(There was this huge end-of-the-tour-party thrown, but Fred just went home feeling no need to party, which was quite strange as 'Freddie Mercury' was a synomym for 'Party'.) Anyway, we will never know exactly what really was going on. Freddie is dead. But his legacy is enormous. He's a God to millions of people (and a Godess to other millions). His early death just gave myth a chance to grow. He did it the way the biggest do: starting furiously, growing through the years, win over the whole world, making wonderful material, having a life that's double full, get caught by this horrible disease, making his final goodbye-set (masterpieces, all three of them)(though Innuendo's my favourite) and then, waving off in style (Nov 23th 1991) saying he's dying. Queen's second career began. An after-career. A never ending salute to Freddie, Brian, John and Roger. After all these years, no real huge artists come up anymore...we start to realise how wonderful it used to be, how exceptionnal, how superb. Freddie, if you're up there... to me, you're more than the best. Not just this planet, you're a whole galaxy on your own. And galaxy's are forever (or at least they exist a while). You gave (and still give) millions of people hope and joy when they need it. And that, my dearest, is a noble thing! Au revoir mon copain, tu restes dans nos coeurs! *Mercutio*, Gent (Belgium) |
| Sicmot 10.05.2004 15:46 |
M.BG, U made a lot of good assumptions.. What Ive been wondering is that.. what if he's destiny would have to share the same part than Rock Hudson did.. I mean if he would have been an actor instead.. and lets say every Queen and his solo albums would have been one movie with the same success the queen and his solo albums had and sold.. How would we remember him?.. Died from the same ilness the same year after having some successfull perhaps even oscar winning roles.. So then we would be watching his movies.. I guess drama movies mostly.. hard to imagine him doing much of action roles.. He proved to have all the skills to perform in ballet and on stage.. so why not in the big picture.. |
| Zander05 10.05.2004 17:21 |
Freddie was well aware of his AIDS status before the Magic Tour. He only did it after Crystal Taylor got him drunk and coaxed him into it. And if you're fortunate enough to own Greatest Video Hits 2, Brian says on the commentary like in the video of I Want It All, it was hard to give all that energy. Plus, in 1987 when Freddie was doing Barcelona, Phoebe Freestone said that album took a lot out of him. Those who wished they could have had one more tour need to realize that AIDS really takes energy out of a person. I'm sure maybe there were times where Freddie felt he could tour more (he had considered a Miracle tour for a little bit)... but it wasn't possible. You can feel just fine one minute and then like crap the next. Also, remember there wasn't a lot of medication so it had to be really bad for him. Maybe if his body was up to it, they would have toured once more. But then, the hectic schedules might have really brought Freddie down. As somebody posted before, 'it was all or nothing' and I totally agree. Would you want to go to a concert and walk out pissed off just because Freddie didn't move as much? |
| April Lady 11.05.2004 11:15 |
Adam Baboolal wrote: "Please don't forget that instead of "just dying", Freddie recorded stuff right until the end. This is the reason why I ask my question. He didn't want to stop." Sorry, I don't see your point. I think recording at your own pace and performing a concert are, oh...quite different! Freddie had been quoted as saying that he wasn't keen on doing concerts into his late years. He thought it would be funny seeing himself running about on stage in his late forties. Who has the quote written down? lol Peace, Adam.I think the quote you mean is the one he gave during an interview on BBC Radio 1 one afternoon when Miracle (the album) was released. I can't remember it verbatim, but "can you imagine a man in his 40s prancing round the stage in a leotard?" is pretty damn close. |