I have yet another question (sorry) but it's to clear something up. I've read in some books that Freddie had a relationship with John Murphy (I believe Paul Prenter stated this when he sold his story on Freddie) but I am sure Peter Freestone said the opposite.
Were they lovers at one point or just friends? I always assumed Freddie had platonic friendships with the New York Daughters.
I ask this because, a certain badly researched biography tries to lay the blame on John Murphy for sleeping with "Patient Zero" Gaetan Dugas and subsequently infecting Freddie(!) as if you could actually pinpoint the particular person! Sorry if this is a bit morbid, but it has been bothering me ever since reading the book. I just think it's wrong they pinned the blame on specific people and named them too.
Thread
Posts in chronological order
Oh Villiers,
What nonsence. John Murphy was in my group and enjoyed a platonic relationship with Freddie. I was the only
one of the group who started as a one night stand and then became a good platonic friend as well. John Murphy
met a guy who had done some gay porn, fell in love, and moved to Texas..We all missed him and then found out
that the boyfriend passed away followed rather quickly by John's death.The boyfriend was not patient zero, but who
knows what was in his history. My friends believe that it was a person named Winfried (or Winnie) from Munich
that probably passed the disease onto Freddie. For God's sake, please Charlatans, leave poor departed John out
of this. This news kind of angers me. John was a great, caring, fun friend who treated his friends like gold. May
he rest in peace.
What nonsence. John Murphy was in my group and enjoyed a platonic relationship with Freddie. I was the only
one of the group who started as a one night stand and then became a good platonic friend as well. John Murphy
met a guy who had done some gay porn, fell in love, and moved to Texas..We all missed him and then found out
that the boyfriend passed away followed rather quickly by John's death.The boyfriend was not patient zero, but who
knows what was in his history. My friends believe that it was a person named Winfried (or Winnie) from Munich
that probably passed the disease onto Freddie. For God's sake, please Charlatans, leave poor departed John out
of this. This news kind of angers me. John was a great, caring, fun friend who treated his friends like gold. May
he rest in peace.
LOTV and Rainbow61,
Wow, your discussion is so well written and thought provoking. Thanks for posting it.
I was disappointed to hear that the upcoming movie will have a PG rating. Could the
motive be to include a brand new young audience to appreciate Queen music or an
attempt to whitewash Freddie's lifestyle because they never really understood it nor
really WANTED to understand it and perhaps are a little bitter that the results of his
demise had on them and their band. But, this is going further with conjecture than
I am entitled to go. I'm glad that two super-fans are sharing their thoughts here.
Wow, your discussion is so well written and thought provoking. Thanks for posting it.
I was disappointed to hear that the upcoming movie will have a PG rating. Could the
motive be to include a brand new young audience to appreciate Queen music or an
attempt to whitewash Freddie's lifestyle because they never really understood it nor
really WANTED to understand it and perhaps are a little bitter that the results of his
demise had on them and their band. But, this is going further with conjecture than
I am entitled to go. I'm glad that two super-fans are sharing their thoughts here.
Thanks for your answer Thor - I had a feeling it wasn't true and it's good to have it confirmed and debunked. It read it today in the Somebody to Love biography and it smacked of BS.
That's the problem us fans have with Freddie biographies - there isn't a single one that isn't full of false statements, chapters about sexual relationships that never happened - usually with women(!) in Lesley Ann Jones', and insane leaps of logic about how he contracted his illness (not helped by things Paul Prenter said to the press)...but I guess that's what brought you here in the first place, to clear up rumours regarding yourself and Freddie.
I don't even have any hope for the biopic anymore, in case the screenwriter is relying on aforementioned biographies.
That's the problem us fans have with Freddie biographies - there isn't a single one that isn't full of false statements, chapters about sexual relationships that never happened - usually with women(!) in Lesley Ann Jones', and insane leaps of logic about how he contracted his illness (not helped by things Paul Prenter said to the press)...but I guess that's what brought you here in the first place, to clear up rumours regarding yourself and Freddie.
I don't even have any hope for the biopic anymore, in case the screenwriter is relying on aforementioned biographies.
^ I'm hoping the film is completely bombastic and inspiring. But I can't really imagine Singer's "vision" of it, considering he's done nothing like that. I would've expected voice overs i.e. RAY (Jamie Foxx vehicle). But who knows.
I hope it's bombastic and inspiring - or a completely tacky and ludicrous bomb that's "so bad it's good" (like casting a muscle bound Austrian for Brian). Like somewhere between BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and SHOWGIRLS
I don't think many on this site thought it'd ever get made. Eh.....we shall see!
That said. Going back to general questions.
Mr. Thunderbolt... did Freddie have a particular fondness for any treat for an occasional "sweet tooth"?
Also. ..do you know if Freddie continued to "pound the ivories" into 90'-91-?
Much had been made of the fact that he virtually cut them out of the 80's live shows and sometimes delegated the studio work to others as well (with Mike Moran's work being obviously for his greater strengths as a classical player on BARCELONA)
I know it was a fragile time, I'm just a bit curious if he continued to play.
Many thanks again, Thor.
I hope it's bombastic and inspiring - or a completely tacky and ludicrous bomb that's "so bad it's good" (like casting a muscle bound Austrian for Brian). Like somewhere between BEYOND THE VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and SHOWGIRLS
I don't think many on this site thought it'd ever get made. Eh.....we shall see!
That said. Going back to general questions.
Mr. Thunderbolt... did Freddie have a particular fondness for any treat for an occasional "sweet tooth"?
Also. ..do you know if Freddie continued to "pound the ivories" into 90'-91-?
Much had been made of the fact that he virtually cut them out of the 80's live shows and sometimes delegated the studio work to others as well (with Mike Moran's work being obviously for his greater strengths as a classical player on BARCELONA)
I know it was a fragile time, I'm just a bit curious if he continued to play.
Many thanks again, Thor.
I wasn't aware the movie had any kind of rating yet. They would have to leave out a lot of stuff to make it PG, that's for sure. I see it possibly being a PG-13 movie, but I'm just guessing.
LOTV...I also wonder what the source material will be that is accurate and not tabloid like? Matt Z: Bombastic and inspiring movie. I certainly hope so!
I might be descending into a rabbit's hole with this comment but....I wonder if somehow our own personal backgrounds play a role in what we want to see from this movie? What would be whitewashing to some might be "modesty or "privacy" to others. I am really excited about this movie...would be fantastic if they can pull it off. But I wonder if I were a gay male (I'm a happily married straight woman), would I feel differently about what I want this film to include? If I had lived through that horrific nightmare of AIDS during the 80's and had personally known people who died, maybe I would want my lifestyle to be front and center. I believe that giving that part of Freddie's life short shrift would be tantamount to saying that his lifestyle was shameful and therefore should be glossed over. I would be very disappointed and upset if they did that.
My only hesitation in Bryan Singer focusing too much on the "Freddie is gay" aspect is that it might overshadow the total person he was. I get annoyed when people refer to him as a gay singer...as if being gay is wrong so let's point it out. He was a singer who was gay. Would you call someone a "straight" singer?
Thor, a big thank you for your continuing narrative on Freddie's life. Your comments are beautiful pieces of the Freddie Mercury mosaic!
LOTV...I also wonder what the source material will be that is accurate and not tabloid like? Matt Z: Bombastic and inspiring movie. I certainly hope so!
I might be descending into a rabbit's hole with this comment but....I wonder if somehow our own personal backgrounds play a role in what we want to see from this movie? What would be whitewashing to some might be "modesty or "privacy" to others. I am really excited about this movie...would be fantastic if they can pull it off. But I wonder if I were a gay male (I'm a happily married straight woman), would I feel differently about what I want this film to include? If I had lived through that horrific nightmare of AIDS during the 80's and had personally known people who died, maybe I would want my lifestyle to be front and center. I believe that giving that part of Freddie's life short shrift would be tantamount to saying that his lifestyle was shameful and therefore should be glossed over. I would be very disappointed and upset if they did that.
My only hesitation in Bryan Singer focusing too much on the "Freddie is gay" aspect is that it might overshadow the total person he was. I get annoyed when people refer to him as a gay singer...as if being gay is wrong so let's point it out. He was a singer who was gay. Would you call someone a "straight" singer?
Thor, a big thank you for your continuing narrative on Freddie's life. Your comments are beautiful pieces of the Freddie Mercury mosaic!
Sorry matt z,
I really don't know anything about continued piano work. I actually only heard him play the
piano once on his Grand Piano at the Garden Lodge and once on his baby grand at the
New York condominium.
Also, just as Rainbow61 said. It would be insulting to Freddie's memory if his gay life
was fully minimized. Its very fine to minimize salaciousness - but to the youth of today,
being gay is no big deal...thank goodness!
I really don't know anything about continued piano work. I actually only heard him play the
piano once on his Grand Piano at the Garden Lodge and once on his baby grand at the
New York condominium.
Also, just as Rainbow61 said. It would be insulting to Freddie's memory if his gay life
was fully minimized. Its very fine to minimize salaciousness - but to the youth of today,
being gay is no big deal...thank goodness!
Rainbow61,
Great remarks, I hope my answer to matt z shows my support of your statement on the subject.Thank
you so much for your refreshing outlook. By the way Rainbow, when I recently went back to New York
for a family reunion, my two nieces quietly admitted to me that they accidentally ran across this thread.
I was immediately embarrassed of all the mentions of coke and gay bars. To my surprise, both were
very supportive and said they have things in their past of being single girls then and happily married
now that they would like not to mention. I hope they develop a good appreciation for Queen music
other than just "Bohemian Rhapsody." The movie might assist with that.
Great remarks, I hope my answer to matt z shows my support of your statement on the subject.Thank
you so much for your refreshing outlook. By the way Rainbow, when I recently went back to New York
for a family reunion, my two nieces quietly admitted to me that they accidentally ran across this thread.
I was immediately embarrassed of all the mentions of coke and gay bars. To my surprise, both were
very supportive and said they have things in their past of being single girls then and happily married
now that they would like not to mention. I hope they develop a good appreciation for Queen music
other than just "Bohemian Rhapsody." The movie might assist with that.
Thor,
More than a few people smiled in "guilty" agreement with your nieces. Who hasn't done something in the carefree days of youth that one wouldn't want to become public knowledge. So glad they were supportive of their uncle!
As with many people, Bohemian Rhapsody was also my gateway to Queen. I still remember seeing that video for the first time on a Saturday morning while watching Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" in the mid 70's. I was mesmerized by how beautifully strange it all was. I was in my mid-teens and became an instant fan that day!
People do seem far more tolerant now than in the 70's and 80's, thank God, although the suicide rate among gay teens and young adults is alarmingly high. That tells me we still have a ways to go.
That leads me to my next question, which might be hard to answer. If Freddie were a young man today in these more tolerant times, do you think he would he be more open about being gay? He is so often described as being private and rather shy that I wonder if he was naturally like that or did being gay contribute to those personality traits out of necessity for preservation of career and possibly family harmony? Did you notice that shy side of him as well?
More than a few people smiled in "guilty" agreement with your nieces. Who hasn't done something in the carefree days of youth that one wouldn't want to become public knowledge. So glad they were supportive of their uncle!
As with many people, Bohemian Rhapsody was also my gateway to Queen. I still remember seeing that video for the first time on a Saturday morning while watching Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" in the mid 70's. I was mesmerized by how beautifully strange it all was. I was in my mid-teens and became an instant fan that day!
People do seem far more tolerant now than in the 70's and 80's, thank God, although the suicide rate among gay teens and young adults is alarmingly high. That tells me we still have a ways to go.
That leads me to my next question, which might be hard to answer. If Freddie were a young man today in these more tolerant times, do you think he would he be more open about being gay? He is so often described as being private and rather shy that I wonder if he was naturally like that or did being gay contribute to those personality traits out of necessity for preservation of career and possibly family harmony? Did you notice that shy side of him as well?
Just throwing this out there again.
Did Freddie have a favorite "sweet"? Every now and then people eat some candy....never saw him with bubblegum, nor with a lollipop....just cigarettes and Strepsils lozenges (*according to Jim Hutton's book)
Thanks, Thor.
Did Freddie have a favorite "sweet"? Every now and then people eat some candy....never saw him with bubblegum, nor with a lollipop....just cigarettes and Strepsils lozenges (*according to Jim Hutton's book)
Thanks, Thor.
^ Jim Hutton also said he was a big fan of Quality Street and Godiva chocolate. Sorry for cutting in...Again, as a fan with no life, I picked that detail up and never forgot it lol.
@Thor, you mentioned John going to Texas. I asked this question last week but it doesn't show on the thread (blank post)- In Peter's book he said the NY Daughters had ties to Texas and tried to get Freddie into visiting there. He doesn't mention Freddie going there very often to just visit, but I was wondering when you guys did go, where In Texas did you visit? Or was it only John who spent time there? Peter made it seem as if you guys all enjoyed the state at some point.
@Thor, you mentioned John going to Texas. I asked this question last week but it doesn't show on the thread (blank post)- In Peter's book he said the NY Daughters had ties to Texas and tried to get Freddie into visiting there. He doesn't mention Freddie going there very often to just visit, but I was wondering when you guys did go, where In Texas did you visit? Or was it only John who spent time there? Peter made it seem as if you guys all enjoyed the state at some point.
Hi Villiers,
OK, let me tell you the Texas story. The five friends were thinking of taking a quick Holiday to have some fun.
We all decided on Houston, Texas for some reason that I do not exactly remember. John did not have a connection in
Texas yet, but as American Airlines is well represented in Texas, Joe and John could fly there for free. Freddie
paid for myself and Lee. We had a rip roaring time in Houston and I even met somebody very nice. After we all
returned home, I kept in touch with my new Houston friend. Several weeks later, I was feeling blue for some
reason. Freddie, in his generosity, was concerned and offered to fly my Houston friend to New York for the
weekend. Well, that weekend (in '82) was the time of a major snowstorm in New York. Traffic was paralyzed,
many subways were stopped. Freddie invited all of us to come to his condominium including my Houston
friend Paul while it was still snowing. Freddie laid out some lines and said, "Now, Dahlings, it is snowing inside
as well."
Needless to say, we had a great time and later, all went out in the snow to have some Winter fun.
OK, let me tell you the Texas story. The five friends were thinking of taking a quick Holiday to have some fun.
We all decided on Houston, Texas for some reason that I do not exactly remember. John did not have a connection in
Texas yet, but as American Airlines is well represented in Texas, Joe and John could fly there for free. Freddie
paid for myself and Lee. We had a rip roaring time in Houston and I even met somebody very nice. After we all
returned home, I kept in touch with my new Houston friend. Several weeks later, I was feeling blue for some
reason. Freddie, in his generosity, was concerned and offered to fly my Houston friend to New York for the
weekend. Well, that weekend (in '82) was the time of a major snowstorm in New York. Traffic was paralyzed,
many subways were stopped. Freddie invited all of us to come to his condominium including my Houston
friend Paul while it was still snowing. Freddie laid out some lines and said, "Now, Dahlings, it is snowing inside
as well."
Needless to say, we had a great time and later, all went out in the snow to have some Winter fun.
Hey matt z,
It looks like Villiers has answered your question. I remember the Godiva chocolates, but
would not have said that I observed a "sweet tooth" in Freddie.
It looks like Villiers has answered your question. I remember the Godiva chocolates, but
would not have said that I observed a "sweet tooth" in Freddie.
All,
I keep forgetting to include Peter Freestone in our group of friends.
He played a very important role and we all loved him for that, plus
the fact that he has an incredibly nice and warm personality.
I keep forgetting to include Peter Freestone in our group of friends.
He played a very important role and we all loved him for that, plus
the fact that he has an incredibly nice and warm personality.
Hey Thor, thanks for that. Houston back in the early 80s- man, I'd always figured the only fun Houston offered in the 70s and 80s was NASA and maybe the museum district. Houston seemed pretty boring to me growing up lol (I had family there and visited quite a bit). These days, I myself frequent Montrose near Houston. Nice to hear you guys had a good time here as well.
Loved that he had your Houston friend flown in for you. Sounds like Freddie was indeed very generous. You know, the only consistent theme we see in biographies and stories about Freddie seems to be that he cared for his friends deeply. They seemed to be one of the true great joys of his life.
You should know your friendship was likely something that kept him going when things got rough.
Loved that he had your Houston friend flown in for you. Sounds like Freddie was indeed very generous. You know, the only consistent theme we see in biographies and stories about Freddie seems to be that he cared for his friends deeply. They seemed to be one of the true great joys of his life.
You should know your friendship was likely something that kept him going when things got rough.