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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hi Thor,
Did Freddie smoke weed?

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.

Hey Shvili,
I never saw Freddie asking for or smoking weed.

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.

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.

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.

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"?

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.

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.