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

Correction to incomplete sentence on last responce:

Those who could easily pick up on most of Freddie's clues, did.

Hey SmokyQuartz,
I enjoyed your last statement. Thank you !

Thor, just wow!

2Q from my side:

we dont know much about the indian zanzibar past of Freddie. Could you share as much as you can?

And you told about how difficult it was being gay when you were younger. Did Freddie tell you about his youth? Or about when he started dating men... Apparantly it was after Mary. But i guess he was born gay, so...

This is the FIRST time in my life I've ever posted anything on a forum, but this is so fantastic, I had to jump in. Best Freddie information I've ever read. Thank you Thor for your time. You bring a much needed genuineness that is often lacking in other interviews/comments about Freddie. So my question is multi-part: "What would a typical night out with Freddie be like?" Did he arrange to pick up his friends in his limo and drive to the bars or did you just meet him there? Did you go to multiple places each night? Did you walk from place to place? Did you have your own "spot" in the bars or did you just take whatever tables were available? Did Freddie ever get up and dance? Did people leave Freddie alone, or did they approach him in the bars to chat him up or get autographs? Did everyone take turns paying for drinks or did Freddie cover everyone? Did you guys go out for breakfast in the morning like many people do? Just trying to get a sense of what an average night would be like. Thanks again for your time. Sorry to blast you with so many questions on my first outing!

oops

[QUOTE] [b]Panchgani wrote:[/b]

[QUOTE] [b]Rainbow61 wrote:[/b]

Did he arrange to pick up his friends in his limo and drive to the bars or did you just meet him there? [/QUOTE]

[/QUOTE]

On the subject of limos ...

On page 183 of Peter Freestone's book, Peter mentions Freddie's distaste for "exceedingly common" 25 foot limos, and would only use them when required, such as for transport to and from a Queen gig.

Peter did mention the exception of using a limo for an excusion to Jones Beach on the ocean just outside Manhattan.

...

Thor - Do you have any recollection of Jones Beach that you wish to share?

Rainbow61 - I apologize for hijacking your question, but I had been wanting to ask about Jones Beach for over a week ... and your question provided a perfect "segway" ...

Hi Thor,
as you mention Ryan White and Elton John... would you know if Freddie was friends with any activist or did he support anyone "quietly" ?

speaking of Elton John... earlier on in this thread you mention going with Freddie and some more friends to Cartier . I read Elton John apparently also chose Cartier
for his friends.... was that a trendy thing to do at the time ?

Thor, many thanks for your time on here and thoughtful responses. It's a pleasure and a bit surreal for me to be communicating directly (albeit through the idiotnet ;-0 ) with someone who was a friend of Fred's.

I'm in your camp with regards to Fred keeping his illness quiet as his own personal right but I do struggle to defend it when confronted with vehement counter argument that he could have done more.

As for coming out - fair enough. Everyone knew what he was. The whole coming out thing is a bit prehistoric anyway. Christ, at 17 I didn't feel obliged to declare to the world that actually I find a good pair of tits attractive did I? I think the fact Fred was gay adds to the flamboyance and unique nature - a gay Indian who made his mark in a predominately white straight music genre before becoming the Legend. But, it was only a part of him and no Queen fan or indeed music fan should give a shit who he chose to sleep with, why is it our fucking business? It actually amuses me his sexuality made some straight metallers uncomfortable, especially as he and Queen transcended that genre (thank fuck, have you heard Dickinson butcher Queen with his contrived warble?).

Thanks again Hammer.

One small point I would take up in Queen's defense is after Freddie's death they did then press GO on AIDS awareness starting off with the Trust and the concert etc. Obviously they couldn't go against his wishes when he was alive so perhaps harsh to judge them there. As a band however they do cherish privacy over using the name for a better cause (unless it's badgers). Whatever, it's only rock n roll for fuck sake.

On the point of Fred sharing his illness with the band Brian and Roger have been inconsistent with their responses over the years. In some interviews they will have us believe they had no clue (how could they not?) and only found out near the end where in other interviews we'd be told they knew for a handful of years. Also a hell of a lot of people claim to have known despite us being told it was a very select few.

@Thor

I know you stated you liked I Was Born To Love You. Just curious, did you/do you like Staying Power and Body Language?

Thor, seeing as you knew Freddie during this time (1981) I was wondering if you could tell me the name of this man with Freddie. He was clearly present on tour with him in Venezuela and Japan but no one seems to know his name. He is simply listed as 'a boyfriend' in books.

As an inquisitive fan with no life, I simply must know his name!

Hello all,
I will try to answer your questions in reverse order.

Villiers
I do not recognize that person at all. Was this relationship supposed to be in New York? I guess
it happened in South America which I know nothing of..
However, I do believe that the leather jacket Freddie is wearing in the pics is the one we gave him
for Christmas in 1981. So, thank you for the pics and sorry I can't answer your question.

Hey PrimeJive,
Oh, oh...I hope those two songs are not your favorites because I really did not think
much of either one. Soooo much better work was done earlier and then again later.

Hi again LOTV,
I really enjoy your observations, heartfelt comments and excellent knowledge about
what you write!
I am positive the band knew he was gay. When his four new NY friends met them,
what were they to think? Oh...Freddie has four single straight guys in his company
now- LOL.
Thank you for informing me that Queen actually did make an effort to promote AIDS
awareness. I take back most of my former comment on the subject.

Hello kokax,
I do not remember any activists that Freddie was supportive of in New York. It was early
in the AIDS crisis. Of course he knew Andy Warhol and Liza Minelli etc. but I don't know
of any activists that he was even giving "quiet" support to. At this time, Freddie stayed
quiet about proclaiming his sexuality and also, it was before he contracted the disease.
He certainly was entitled, as anyone is, to make his own associations at this time in his
career.
Freddie loved Cartier. It was relatively close to his NY apartment (Condo actually). The
afternoon before our trip to Chicago we had some time to kill, so Freddie had the idea to
take a little trip to Cartier. He asked the four of us to pick out decorative table clocks. I
have already mentioned the fate of my clock with the unfortunate lost ruby stone in another,
earlier response.
I did not know that Elton John liked the same company - I can't shop there but Freddie
made it a special treat to us. It's a beautiful store on Fifth Ave.