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

There was a brief article in a Queen Fan Club Magazine in 89/early 90 where it was suggested that they had thought about filming a one off live performance of the Miracle album.

I think it also mentioned an 'alternative' Miracle LP being released as well - which IIRC was going to bring all of the extended mixes together.

What about the barcelona concerts did they not require insurance ?

[QUOTE] [b]Biggest Band On The Planet wrote:[/b]

What about the barcelona concerts did they not require insurance ?[/QUOTE]

Probably not, they performed only few songs and it wasn't a tour. And they mimed as well. But weren't they supposed to sing live but didn't for some reason?

[QUOTE] [b]Biggus Dickus wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]Biggest Band On The Planet wrote:[/b]

What about the barcelona concerts did they not require insurance ?[/QUOTE]

Probably not, they performed only few songs and it wasn't a tour. And they mimed as well. But weren't they supposed to sing live but didn't for some reason?[/QUOTE]

Yes, it`s true. The story is quite well explained in Jim Hutton`s book. Freddie`s voice was in bad shape at one Event, so they decided to mime the gig.
I think it was the one were he met Juan Carlos backstage...but I`am not sure about that detail.

It's interesting about insurance. I'm also amazed actually, that Freddie was well enough to make those public appearances for Barcelona in '87 and '88, and sing live for the Time musical. He was obviously lucky in some sense that his strength held out, and that he had an amazing strength of will to do that.

If they'd planned a few small gigs for the Miracle it was probably going to cost far less than a tour, particularly if these gigs were in smaller venues, so the cash involved wouldn't necessarily merit an insurance policy considering how wealthy they were by that time. The Magic Tour, had it been cancelled without insurance, could have sunk them but of course the story went the right way. Yeah I know it depends how much notice is given etc etc....

My guess is that by the time the Miracle came out, with Freddie undergoing various gruelling treatments, that there was no way he would be able to commit to any gigs, and if he couldn't give it his all, then he wouldn't want to appear and either give second best, or have people speculate further about his health.

I would think that by 1990, it would have been too much for Freddie to perform a set live. Given that already by that time he was suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma (pictures from as early as 1986/1987 show this, sadly), he must have been in constant pain, and moving around a stage with this condition would have probably been very painful for him.


For the Barcelona concerts, weren't there other people on the bill as well? So had Freddie pulled out, the concerts wouldn't necessarily have stopped would they? Or am I wrong about this? Was it just Freddie and Montserrat?

Woody - regarding that fan club magazine article, that's the kind of article that we'd really like to be able to read here, so if anybody has a copy of it or can quote from it, can they let us know? It's possible that in 1988/1989 Freddie still felt well enough to do a live video performance (that could be edited and filmed over several days), and it's possible that Jim Beach or someone had said something to the fan club about this video being made. It's also possible that the video in question is, or ended up being, the Rare Live video. I want it all kind of looks like a live shoot, even though it's not, so there are all sorts of things that could have been said, or misquoted. The fan club has been known to talk a little B.S. in the past it must be said, but generally they were good at getting information from the horse's mouth.

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

[QUOTE] [b]Biggus Dickus wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]Biggest Band On The Planet wrote:[/b]

What about the barcelona concerts did they not require insurance ?[/QUOTE]

Probably not, they performed only few songs and it wasn't a tour. And they mimed as well. But weren't they supposed to sing live but didn't for some reason?[/QUOTE]

Yes, it`s true. The story is quite well explained in Jim Hutton`s book. Freddie`s voice was in bad shape at one Event, so they decided to mime the gig.
I think it was the one were he met Juan Carlos backstage...but I`am not sure about that detail.
[/QUOTE]

That's really interesting, I never knew Fred was going to sing live for one of the performances.

I always thought it was such a pity that they didn't do at least one of them live.

I do remember reading something similar, that they were going to perform them live but Freddie had a vocal problem on the night. I read that he later defended the decision by saying that the songs were very complicated to sing and would require too much rehearsal. That's probably true to some degree, for him, who was used to changing things mid performance, but probably not true for Montserrat, whose way of working is to look at a score and memorise it note for note. I suspect that nerves were probably part of it, I mean, they are actually very difficult songs to sing, and if his voice for whatever reason - be it his nodules or his AIDS or something else completely - wasn't on top form, then it would be better for everyone if he mimed.

Actually he probably could have done it live if he'd put his mind to it. I'm quite certain he would have been able to (in terms of ability and talent) but I totally get the fear factor.

[QUOTE] [b]Supersonic_Man89 wrote:[/b]

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.[/QUOTE]
and you don't think a video can be made to look a certain way?

[QUOTE] [b]miraclesteinway wrote:[/b]

It's interesting about insurance. I'm also amazed actually, that Freddie was well enough to make those public appearances for Barcelona in '87 and '88, and sing live for the Time musical. He was obviously lucky in some sense that his strength held out, and that he had an amazing strength of will to do that.

If they'd planned a few small gigs for the Miracle it was probably going to cost far less than a tour, particularly if these gigs were in smaller venues, so the cash involved wouldn't necessarily merit an insurance policy considering how wealthy they were by that time. The Magic Tour, had it been cancelled without insurance, could have sunk them but of course the story went the right way. Yeah I know it depends how much notice is given etc etc....

My guess is that by the time the Miracle came out, with Freddie undergoing various gruelling treatments, that there was no way he would be able to commit to any gigs, and if he couldn't give it his all, then he wouldn't want to appear and either give second best, or have people speculate further about his health.

I would think that by 1990, it would have been too much for Freddie to perform a set live. Given that already by that time he was suffering from Kaposi's sarcoma (pictures from as early as 1986/1987 show this, sadly), he must have been in constant pain, and moving around a stage with this condition would have probably been very painful for him.


For the Barcelona concerts, weren't there other people on the bill as well? So had Freddie pulled out, the concerts wouldn't necessarily have stopped would they? Or am I wrong about this? Was it just Freddie and Montserrat?

Woody - regarding that fan club magazine article, that's the kind of article that we'd really like to be able to read here, so if anybody has a copy of it or can quote from it, can they let us know? It's possible that in 1988/1989 Freddie still felt well enough to do a live video performance (that could be edited and filmed over several days), and it's possible that Jim Beach or someone had said something to the fan club about this video being made. It's also possible that the video in question is, or ended up being, the Rare Live video. I want it all kind of looks like a live shoot, even though it's not, so there are all sorts of things that could have been said, or misquoted. The fan club has been known to talk a little B.S. in the past it must be said, but generally they were good at getting information from the horse's mouth.
[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE] [b]miraclesteinway wrote:[/b]
If they'd planned a few small gigs for the Miracle it was probably going to cost far less than a tour, particularly if these gigs were in smaller venues, so the cash involved wouldn't necessarily merit an insurance policy considering how wealthy they were by that time. The Magic Tour, had it been cancelled without insurance, could have sunk them but of course the story went the right way. Yeah I know it depends how much notice is given etc etc....
[/QUOTE]

A little bit off-topic, but they made zero money from The Magic Tour. There was no sponsorship at the time so they broke even.

[QUOTE]

[b]RafaelS wrote: [/b] [QUOTE] [b]miraclesteinway wrote:[/b]
If they'd planned a few small gigs for the Miracle it was probably going to cost far less than a tour, particularly if these gigs were in smaller venues, so the cash involved wouldn't necessarily merit an insurance policy considering how wealthy they were by that time. The Magic Tour, had it been cancelled without insurance, could have sunk them but of course the story went the right way. Yeah I know it depends how much notice is given etc etc.... [/QUOTE]

A little bit off-topic, but they made zero money from The Magic Tour. There was no sponsorship at the time so they broke even. [/QUOTE]

Of course they could be lying, but Brian and Roger stated in interview(s) that it was actually their first tour from which they made some money.

I've always thought that the 1988 fan club party where both Brian and Roger performed (please correct me if I'm wrong) was a perfect (lost) opportunity for Freddie to perform one last time, surrounded by loyal fans.

I have not posted here for some time; this thread underlines why.

Constantly macabre.

[QUOTE] [b]Chief Mouse wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE]

[b]RafaelS wrote: [/b] [QUOTE] [b]miraclesteinway wrote:[/b]
If they'd planned a few small gigs for the Miracle it was probably going to cost far less than a tour, particularly if these gigs were in smaller venues, so the cash involved wouldn't necessarily merit an insurance policy considering how wealthy they were by that time. The Magic Tour, had it been cancelled without insurance, could have sunk them but of course the story went the right way. Yeah I know it depends how much notice is given etc etc.... [/QUOTE]

A little bit off-topic, but they made zero money from The Magic Tour. There was no sponsorship at the time so they broke even. [/QUOTE]

Of course they could be lying, but Brian and Roger stated in interview(s) that it was actually their first tour from which they made some money.[/QUOTE]

It's true, you're right, I remember Brian saying that "in those times there was still no sponsorship" and it was the first time they made money. Sorry my bad.

[QUOTE] [b]ok.computer wrote:[/b]

I have not posted here for some time; this thread underlines why.

Constantly macabre. [/QUOTE]

Actually not true...the AIDS trolls have left the forum for a while or lowered their activity.
I suggest you to post in a different topic, honestly where is the problem ?
If that`s not cool for you then there is Queenonline...the regime over there is looking for people who willingly purchase the "Hot Sauce" or other stupid merchandise.