Thank you for answering my question (again)! You are too kind answering everybody's questions. I just have one more, I promise! I always wondered about Phoebe's role in Freddie's friend group. Obviously he was Freddie's personal assistant, but did he go to the bars and clubs with you guys, or did he just stay home? Where was he when all the clubbing/partying was going on? He always seemed like Freddie's baby-sitter more than personal assistant! Only joking.
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Thor, I know our questions must seem unending, and it is really very very kind of you to take the time to reply to everybody. I have one question (2 actually, but since the second involves somebody else who is extremely private, I cannot ask that one), and that is do you know who the song Love of my Life really is about? Everybody says or assumes it is about Mary Austin, but then the lyrics don't make any sense, seeing that Freddie broke her heart. She has always been there for him, and the two have had a beautiful relationship all through. So was Mary's name just a cover-up, and if so, who is the real 'love' the song refers to? Just in case you do know.....?
And once again, thanks loads! Your presence here is really valued!
And once again, thanks loads! Your presence here is really valued!
I also wanted to add that I had (wrongly) suggested you write a book about your times with Freddie; but instead of being commercial about it, you so generously shared your memories of Freddie freely with us here. That is so refreshing in these crass and commercial times. You chose to celebrate your friend rather than make money off him. Here's to you, Thor!!!
Hey smilefairyqueen,
Phoebe was an integral part of Freddie's life, and always kept Freddie on target
when work and tours were going on. Phoebe loved Freddie (platonic) and was
his most loyal and caring friend. My group warmed up to him immediately. It was
incredible and inspiring to see Phoebe sacrificing his own pleasure at every turn
to help make Freddie's life easier. He really is one of a kind. I never heard him
say one mean thing about anyone. Even when Freddie used his uhmmm...larger
size to make certain jokes, Phoebe never showed any change in character.
Truly amazing!
Phoebe was an integral part of Freddie's life, and always kept Freddie on target
when work and tours were going on. Phoebe loved Freddie (platonic) and was
his most loyal and caring friend. My group warmed up to him immediately. It was
incredible and inspiring to see Phoebe sacrificing his own pleasure at every turn
to help make Freddie's life easier. He really is one of a kind. I never heard him
say one mean thing about anyone. Even when Freddie used his uhmmm...larger
size to make certain jokes, Phoebe never showed any change in character.
Truly amazing!
Hello noorie,
Thank you for the kind words and thoughts. Unfortunately, I have no idea who, if anybody, was on Freddie's
mind when he wrote "Love of my Life" It could have been just a tribute to the general idea of love, but I don't
know.
Thank you for the kind words and thoughts. Unfortunately, I have no idea who, if anybody, was on Freddie's
mind when he wrote "Love of my Life" It could have been just a tribute to the general idea of love, but I don't
know.
change that to "general idea of love and love lost"
Noorie, that's something I've always wondered too. The timeline of events in Freddie's life that year points to it not being about her.
For a start, Mary said at that time (1975) he was avoiding her, staying out all night with the excuse of recording and touring. We also know Freddie was seeing David Minns from Summer 1975 (they met in the January). The song was recorded between August and October 1975 at the height of his love affair with David and John Reid claims Freddie actually told confessed it was about him. Furthermore, I don't think Freddie actually came out to Mary until 1976.
As much as he loved Mary, I can't imagine him penning a love song for someone he was avoiding, whilst cheating on her with a dude. However, because he once described her as the love of his life a good decade after the song was written, people put two and two together. Add to that, on documentaries about Freddie, they have LOML tinkling away in the background on Mary-related scenes, so it reinforces the myth.
For a start, Mary said at that time (1975) he was avoiding her, staying out all night with the excuse of recording and touring. We also know Freddie was seeing David Minns from Summer 1975 (they met in the January). The song was recorded between August and October 1975 at the height of his love affair with David and John Reid claims Freddie actually told confessed it was about him. Furthermore, I don't think Freddie actually came out to Mary until 1976.
As much as he loved Mary, I can't imagine him penning a love song for someone he was avoiding, whilst cheating on her with a dude. However, because he once described her as the love of his life a good decade after the song was written, people put two and two together. Add to that, on documentaries about Freddie, they have LOML tinkling away in the background on Mary-related scenes, so it reinforces the myth.
Of course, like Thor just said (and I agree) it could be a general love song - I mean he wrote Somebody to Love when he HAD somebody to love!
Wow Villiers,
You are full of great historical information on Freddie. Thank you for your feedback...
Great job! I knew none of that. YOU know timelines..LOL nice!
You are full of great historical information on Freddie. Thank you for your feedback...
Great job! I knew none of that. YOU know timelines..LOL nice!
I'm not proud of being this sad! I do have a life outside of Freddie, I swear.
Hey Villiers,
No sadness involved. Would it be better to know the Periodic Table by heart. Nah!!
No sadness involved. Would it be better to know the Periodic Table by heart. Nah!!
@Villiers
So did David Minns break Freddie's heart?
Also, does anybody.know when Freddie's most promiscuous era was? The mid-to-late '70's or the early '80's?
So did David Minns break Freddie's heart?
Also, does anybody.know when Freddie's most promiscuous era was? The mid-to-late '70's or the early '80's?
@PrimeJiveUSA
David was Freddie's first serious male relationship (that we know of anyway!) curiously omitted from Lesley Ann Jones' biography - and it ultimately failed because Freddie cheated on him. So LOML can’t be about breaking up with David either (that was 1978). So I’m going to go with the song being just general, not specific to a person.
David was Freddie's first serious male relationship (that we know of anyway!) curiously omitted from Lesley Ann Jones' biography - and it ultimately failed because Freddie cheated on him. So LOML can’t be about breaking up with David either (that was 1978). So I’m going to go with the song being just general, not specific to a person.
Hi Thor,
Thanks for the info about the gym equipment. Yeah, I would be pretty mad if someone sold a present given to me by a dear friend. Your a_ _ hole comment about your nephew made me chuckle aloud...love your candor!
Peter Freestone always struck me as a pretty likable person. Maybe his easygoing personality provided a good counterpoint to Freddie's more frenetic lifestyle.
This is another one of those multi-part questions, but all pertain to the same topic...just take your pick!!!
You mentioned before how great the Wembley "Magic Tour" concert was. Could you give us a bit more detail about that? What was it like to be a special guest of Freddie Mercury at that show? How did you get into the stadium? Were you sitting close to the stage? Were you seated in a group of just Freddie friends or were all the band family and friends seated in one large reserved section? Was there a particular song he sang or part of the show that really sticks out in your mind. Did you visit with Freddie immediately before or after the show? On a more serious note, it seems like many people had some kind of inkling that all might not be well with Freddie during this tour... that he acted differently. Did you also have that impression that something was not right?
I have the DVD of that concert and love it, but wow, to have actually been there! The crowd energy seemed really good. Unfortunately I never saw Queen with Freddie, but I did catch 2 Queen + Adam Lambert shows this summer. First time seeing them. I figured they might not tour again in the states, so I didn't want to miss the opportunity. Was particularly excited to see the image of Freddie on the large screen! However...I was so disappointed that all of the people in the sections around me never stood up during the show. (I was not on the floor) A song would start that would make me clap and jump to my feet, but then I'd turn around and I'd be the only one standing, so I'd reluctantly sit back down as I didn't want to block the people behind me. It was pretty much like that through the whole show. "What is wrong with these people" I thought....sorry I digress.
Thanks for the info about the gym equipment. Yeah, I would be pretty mad if someone sold a present given to me by a dear friend. Your a_ _ hole comment about your nephew made me chuckle aloud...love your candor!
Peter Freestone always struck me as a pretty likable person. Maybe his easygoing personality provided a good counterpoint to Freddie's more frenetic lifestyle.
This is another one of those multi-part questions, but all pertain to the same topic...just take your pick!!!
You mentioned before how great the Wembley "Magic Tour" concert was. Could you give us a bit more detail about that? What was it like to be a special guest of Freddie Mercury at that show? How did you get into the stadium? Were you sitting close to the stage? Were you seated in a group of just Freddie friends or were all the band family and friends seated in one large reserved section? Was there a particular song he sang or part of the show that really sticks out in your mind. Did you visit with Freddie immediately before or after the show? On a more serious note, it seems like many people had some kind of inkling that all might not be well with Freddie during this tour... that he acted differently. Did you also have that impression that something was not right?
I have the DVD of that concert and love it, but wow, to have actually been there! The crowd energy seemed really good. Unfortunately I never saw Queen with Freddie, but I did catch 2 Queen + Adam Lambert shows this summer. First time seeing them. I figured they might not tour again in the states, so I didn't want to miss the opportunity. Was particularly excited to see the image of Freddie on the large screen! However...I was so disappointed that all of the people in the sections around me never stood up during the show. (I was not on the floor) A song would start that would make me clap and jump to my feet, but then I'd turn around and I'd be the only one standing, so I'd reluctantly sit back down as I didn't want to block the people behind me. It was pretty much like that through the whole show. "What is wrong with these people" I thought....sorry I digress.
@Rainbow61
Sounds like a strange crowd. At the Houston and Colorado shows, everyone was on their feet. Nobody would sit down or stop screaming. Kind of got on my nerves, to be honest lol. I know it's a concert, and that's part of the "fun", but I found it hard to hear the actual band half the time. I also got knocked around quite a bit lol. Yes, I know I sound like a stuffy old fart, but it's true.
I can recall a few shows that Ratty and Peter Freestone mentioned that really got Freddie and the boys frustrated. I guess some audiences just don't get wild.
Sounds like a strange crowd. At the Houston and Colorado shows, everyone was on their feet. Nobody would sit down or stop screaming. Kind of got on my nerves, to be honest lol. I know it's a concert, and that's part of the "fun", but I found it hard to hear the actual band half the time. I also got knocked around quite a bit lol. Yes, I know I sound like a stuffy old fart, but it's true.
I can recall a few shows that Ratty and Peter Freestone mentioned that really got Freddie and the boys frustrated. I guess some audiences just don't get wild.