Thanks Villiers for such thoughtful views of Freddie and how he treated his friends. I was
blessed to know him.
Thread
Posts in chronological order
Hey Thor,
I've heard that Freddie had a tendency to get infatuated with people, to the point of having his driver follow a taxi driver which he liked in NYC.
Having lived in NY for most of my adult life, I can say that's a sure way to get your behind kicked even today.
My question is, have you seen any kind of drama involving Freddie along those lines. in General, have you experienced homophobic outbursts in 80's NYC. How was it?
For example, Freddie's apartment in Manhattan is to this day one of the trendiest places in the city; All kinds of important people live there; Some of them very conservative. Did anyone complain about mustached men coming and going all the time? There have been several major fights in that apartment as I've heard and I'm sure you guys were not saints and were partying there to the fullest.
So what gives? were you guys passing yourselves as Rhode Island cops. Those folks tend to have mustaches.
p.s.
in previous posts you've mentioned that you worked at Memorial Sloan. Just Wanted to shout out because that hospital saved a life of my family member for what I'm forever grateful.
I've heard that Freddie had a tendency to get infatuated with people, to the point of having his driver follow a taxi driver which he liked in NYC.
Having lived in NY for most of my adult life, I can say that's a sure way to get your behind kicked even today.
My question is, have you seen any kind of drama involving Freddie along those lines. in General, have you experienced homophobic outbursts in 80's NYC. How was it?
For example, Freddie's apartment in Manhattan is to this day one of the trendiest places in the city; All kinds of important people live there; Some of them very conservative. Did anyone complain about mustached men coming and going all the time? There have been several major fights in that apartment as I've heard and I'm sure you guys were not saints and were partying there to the fullest.
So what gives? were you guys passing yourselves as Rhode Island cops. Those folks tend to have mustaches.
p.s.
in previous posts you've mentioned that you worked at Memorial Sloan. Just Wanted to shout out because that hospital saved a life of my family member for what I'm forever grateful.
Hey Shivili,
Yes I worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital for three years, but I worked
in Pediatric Oncology. After three years I was completely burned out because in
those days with long in-patient stays, you became attached to these kids that you
knew were going to die. I became fully attached to a precocious 11 year old girl named
Stacy. After she passed, her mother Rivelle asked me to visit her in South Africa. I brought
my boyfriend Brandon along and despite the fact that Rivelle had not yet gotten over
the loss of her daughter, we all tried to have a good time. We went to Kruger National
Park and had some memorable encounters with Giraffes, Elephants and Wildebeests.
That taxi driver thing I never witnessed.
The only major drama with Freddie was, as I have mentioned before, his Friday night
hotel wrecking fight with Bill, his New Jersey boyfriend. He was so tired the day of his
Saturday Night Live performance because of this major fight.
Yes I worked at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital for three years, but I worked
in Pediatric Oncology. After three years I was completely burned out because in
those days with long in-patient stays, you became attached to these kids that you
knew were going to die. I became fully attached to a precocious 11 year old girl named
Stacy. After she passed, her mother Rivelle asked me to visit her in South Africa. I brought
my boyfriend Brandon along and despite the fact that Rivelle had not yet gotten over
the loss of her daughter, we all tried to have a good time. We went to Kruger National
Park and had some memorable encounters with Giraffes, Elephants and Wildebeests.
That taxi driver thing I never witnessed.
The only major drama with Freddie was, as I have mentioned before, his Friday night
hotel wrecking fight with Bill, his New Jersey boyfriend. He was so tired the day of his
Saturday Night Live performance because of this major fight.
Hello Thor, thanks for this thread. It's been very interesting.
You mentioned earlier you don't think body language being a good song. I wonder whether you discissued with freddie which queen tracks you like more and what was his reaction when you told him some of his songs you don't like or don't find good?
You mentioned earlier you don't think body language being a good song. I wonder whether you discissued with freddie which queen tracks you like more and what was his reaction when you told him some of his songs you don't like or don't find good?
Hmmm, something happened and my post didn't appear, time to try again. Two questions in two posts for you Thor.
Q1: With talk of the movie in this thread, and seeing your photo poolside with Freddie, are you concerned that the movie will be overly sanitized for mass audiences? For instance, you know the reality of your relationship and that of the New York Daughters in Freddie's life. Knowing that it will be a family friendly movie, the truth of what went on in your get togethers won't be addressed. But sex and partying were obviously a big part of your group. If the picture showing you and Freddie was portrayed in the movie as Freddie lounging poolside with a random heterosexual American football player after he went to an NFL game, you'd know that wasn't the truth. Wondering how you feel and would hope that a very important part of his life is treated.
Q1: With talk of the movie in this thread, and seeing your photo poolside with Freddie, are you concerned that the movie will be overly sanitized for mass audiences? For instance, you know the reality of your relationship and that of the New York Daughters in Freddie's life. Knowing that it will be a family friendly movie, the truth of what went on in your get togethers won't be addressed. But sex and partying were obviously a big part of your group. If the picture showing you and Freddie was portrayed in the movie as Freddie lounging poolside with a random heterosexual American football player after he went to an NFL game, you'd know that wasn't the truth. Wondering how you feel and would hope that a very important part of his life is treated.
Thor...MUCH respect to you for that career path. While it must have been gratifying to help the most vulnerable in such difficult circumstances, I can only imagine how every death would tear your heart out. If there is a purpose behind such tragedies, I have yet to discover it. That Stacey's mother asked you to visit her after her daughter passed tells me everything about the level of compassion and care you provided!
After those three years did you continue with nursing, but in a different capacity, or did you choose another profession altogether? If you changed careers, what did you do next?
After those three years did you continue with nursing, but in a different capacity, or did you choose another profession altogether? If you changed careers, what did you do next?
Q2: To what extent was Billy Squier involved in Freddie's NewYork days? Obviously musically they worked together on occasion, and I think that 1982 when Freddie sang on Emotions in Motion was a time frame when he was in NYC a great deal. I might and probably am reading too much into it but I've often wondered if Billy's song Everybody wants you was inspired or about Freddie. Very much about someone making the NYC scene, and the line "throw your affections anyway the wind blows" not only references Bohemian Rhapsody, but is sung in a very similar style. Also "everybody knows you, everybody snows you" could be construed as a cocaine reference and Freddie's enjoyment of coke was well known within his circle of friends. Or I might be far off track! Enjoy your comments immensely and appreciate the way you reveal lots of amazing anecdotes while respecting Freddie's and others privacy.
SBN...wow...I never considered that before about Everybody Wants You. They also shared thr same lroducer(Mack).
Good question!
Good question!
Thor,
As I said I have no more questions.I just want to say that I like the way you talk about Freddie and how you describe him.
When reading some biographies or watching documentary, many people talk about him as a rock star or an eccentric person obsessed with sex.But you describe him as a human being.
In his book Jim Hatton also described Freddie as a man,not rock star.
It's clear that your posts and his book are about the same person.
Many people have negative comments about Jim's book without reading any part, but I really like it.
I know you said that you didn't read "Mercury and Me", but if you ever read it, I'd like to share your opinion about it.
That's all from me, I hope I did not bother you with my comments and questions. Thank you very much, all the best.
As I said I have no more questions.I just want to say that I like the way you talk about Freddie and how you describe him.
When reading some biographies or watching documentary, many people talk about him as a rock star or an eccentric person obsessed with sex.But you describe him as a human being.
In his book Jim Hatton also described Freddie as a man,not rock star.
It's clear that your posts and his book are about the same person.
Many people have negative comments about Jim's book without reading any part, but I really like it.
I know you said that you didn't read "Mercury and Me", but if you ever read it, I'd like to share your opinion about it.
That's all from me, I hope I did not bother you with my comments and questions. Thank you very much, all the best.
A related question to the one Sheer Brass Neck asked is: Did you ever see the play "Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God"? It had limited run in NYC for a couple months in 97-98. Billy Squier wrote a song entitled "I Have Watched You Fly." for the second run of the play. Touching lyrics...you can tell he cared about Freddie a great deal.
Thor,
Very touching story about Stacy.
Considering how emotionally and physically exhausted I have felt after visiting someone in hospital, I can only imagine the kind of strength,dedication and professionalism its takes for folks to work there;Especially when one is given the responsibility to care for children.
Very touching story about Stacy.
Considering how emotionally and physically exhausted I have felt after visiting someone in hospital, I can only imagine the kind of strength,dedication and professionalism its takes for folks to work there;Especially when one is given the responsibility to care for children.
Prime Jive USA, thank you. Blind squirrel finding the occasional acorn ;) but if Billy Squier were to set the record straight we may find the truth.
Rainbow61, was going to ask that to Thor when he replied but glad you did. I think that is the definitive Freddie tribute song, Billy Squier wrote it the night after Freddie passed and I think it is splendid.
Rainbow61, was going to ask that to Thor when he replied but glad you did. I think that is the definitive Freddie tribute song, Billy Squier wrote it the night after Freddie passed and I think it is splendid.
Double post
thundergod wrote:
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.
It was in early 1980.
thundergod wrote:
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.
Both touching and hilarious - thanks for posting all these gems.