Was Freddie Well Enough to Perform at the Brits '90?

I was curious as to whether Queen were invited to play at the Brits '90 to celebrate the Outstanding Contribution Award they recieved. Much is made of Freddie's health at that point in time but i was curious as to whether he would have been fit enough to perform a song or short medley at the ceremony.

This would have been 9 months before he shot Headlong looking very spritely and energetic, although obviously in a video shoot he could have rests in between individual shots and didn't need to sing.

I wonder if he would have been capable of performing Bohemian Rhapsody, as it's mostly sitting at the piano.

Sorry if it's a bit of a macabre thread.

I think his disease is a bit unprecitable in that way. On a good day he may didn´t feel to bad and would`ve been able to perform. And on a bad day..he was probably more dead than alive. After a live performance the tabloid would`ve slaughter him for the way he looks....erm...and actually that happend after the Brits 90`.
I could add some speculations why he was more fit during the Headlong Shooting...but what would it be good for ?

Headlong was loads of short clips spliced together. I very much doubt Freddie would've had it in him for a full on performance, even sitting down to sing it.

You've obviously been drinking.

NO he wasnt

I hardly doubt it.
Maybe he could've sing something sitting with Brian like Love of my life, or maybe even at the piano performing a short Killer Queen version. But Bohemian Rhapsody? No, he would've been out of breath after the 2nd verse and wouldn't be able to perform the rock section like he always has done...

[QUOTE] [b]musicland munich wrote:[/b]


I could add some speculations why he was more fit during the Headlong Shooting...but what would it be good for ?[/QUOTE]

I have thought it slightly strange that his health actually looked quite a bit worse at the 90 Brits than in the Headlong video....as stated, careful editing, make up, short bursts etc could account for some of that, but he certainly did seem more sprightly in Headlong.

I'm amazed that Freddie had the strength, and pleased he had the courage, to face the Brits aftershow party, knowing how his first public appearance in a long while would be torn apart because of his appearance. I can only speculate that he saw the party as possibly his last opportunity to catch up with old friends that were there (other artists such as Rod Stewart, old Queen crew like Ratty etc..) and to 'celebrate' what he had acheived with Queen.

Yes, i think you're right. Perhaps a year earlier and i think he would have been strong enough, as it would not have been too long after his mimed Live performances in October 1988. However, obviously his condition had worsened considerably in the space of 17 months. Like somebody said, perhaps a 'Love of my Life'-esque performance would not be too much of a strain but Bohemian Rhapsody probably would have been pushing it and the one good thing about Freddie's demise, is he made sure he never fell short. He never pushed himself to the point where it was embarassing or shocking.

Also, i think depending on what pictures you look at, Freddie looks either okay or very ill. For example, in the first picture i don't think most people would say he's ill at all:

https://queenphotos.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/freddie-29-08-1990-3.jpeg

But then the second picture....Good Lord.

https://queenphotos.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/roger-taylor-freddie-mercury-and-rod-stewart-in-1990.jpg

Post-1988, Freddie wouldn't have been able to do any live performance - at least not at any level approaching the standards which he required of himself. And if he couldn't perform at a certain standard, he wouldn't perform at all.

He certainly would not have been able to pull off a song at the Brits - not Bo Rhap, not Love of My Life, not anything. I think it's a bit telling that he limited what he said when receiving the award to just "Thank you, good night". Brian might well have still been the one to speak even if Freddie were in good health, but somehow I think it was a rather conscious decision to let Brian be the main man that night.

[QUOTE] [b]Costa86 wrote: [/b] Post-1988, Freddie wouldn't have been able to do any live performance - at least not at any level approaching the standards which he required of himself. And if he couldn't perform at a certain standard, he wouldn't perform at all. He certainly would not have been able to pull off a song at the Brits - not Bo Rhap, not Love of My Life, not anything. I think it's a bit telling that he limited what he said when receiving the award to just "Thank you, good night". Brian might well have still been the one to speak even if Freddie were in good health, but somehow I think it was a rather conscious decision to let Brian be the main man that night.[/QUOTE] By the way, in this one Brian already says "I've been delegated by the boys to say a couple of words". Freddie looks better to me in this video though. Perhaps because of the beard. Perhaps because he was smiling. Not sure. .

[QUOTE] [b]Costa86 wrote:[/b]

And if he couldn't perform at a certain standard, he wouldn't perform at all. [/QUOTE]

A few concerts (especially in Japan) disagree with that claim.

How would we know exactly?

[QUOTE] [b]Sebastian wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]Costa86 wrote:[/b]

And if he couldn't perform at a certain standard, he wouldn't perform at all. [/QUOTE]

A few concerts (especially in Japan) disagree with that claim.[/QUOTE]

Yes, but that was a different kettle of fish. Freddie didn't always need his voice to be in tip-top quality to perform. In 1990 his voice was in good shape. But he wasn't in a physical position to deliver a song to a live audience. His overall condition was inadquate.

In Japan he was still Freddie Mercury the flamboyant rockstar - he could still maintain this standard, despite vocal deficiencies, etc. In 1990 at the Brits, he was a shadow of his former stage persona.

[QUOTE] [b]cmsdrums wrote:[/b]


I'm amazed that Freddie had the strength, and pleased he had the courage, to face the Brits aftershow party, knowing how his first public appearance in a long while would be torn apart because of his appearance. I can only speculate that he saw the party as possibly his last opportunity to catch up with old friends that were there (other artists such as Rod Stewart, old Queen crew like Ratty etc..) and to 'celebrate' what he had acheived with Queen.[/QUOTE]


I'm not 100% sure about this but I believe Queen snubbed the Brits Aftershow party and held their own smaller invite only party at another venue. Some may say this was in response to the Brits never acknowledging the bands success through the years. Possibly the most successful act never to win any Brits awards during their active years. The contribution to the music industry being the only one.

As to whether FM could have performed is not clear though unlikely.