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

Hey there LOTV,
Thank you for your kind words and then, the historical references, which I was not
aware of.

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!

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?

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.

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!

Shvili..I see an attempt to say something...but it did not go over.
This happened to me once too.

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.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/519251032017924794/

@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.

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

[QUOTE] [b]thundergod wrote:[/b]

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..
[/QUOTE]

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

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.

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.

@ 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. :-)

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