Love hearing all the stories of how you folks became attracted to Queen music and Freddie.
And the reactions from your relatives. How wonderful that Gran at 90 still calls Freddie "that
nice boy" and what a hoot. very interesting reading...thank you.
Shout out to dudley-fufkin and bradbobly....Welcome and thanks for your thoughts.
Thread
Posts in chronological order
Offering an explanation to why so many people want to talk about his sexuality:
Firstly, I have grown up knowing Freddie as a gay man and it hasn't bothered me. I'd never given it a second thought (apart from being told he died of a "gay disease" as a child).
However, it's become a matter of debate because his biographer Lesley Ann Jones lied and claimed he was sleeping with women after Mary, as well as a whole chapter about his sex life with Barbara Valentin. She deliberately omitted boyfriends from Freddie's story.
Because people are always looking for representation in the media, a movement has come forward that constantly screams about Freddie's "erased bisexuality" and how his "sexual relationship with saint Mary was real and valid". So it's thanks to his biographer and that awful John Blunt docu-drama with all the bisexual threesome scenes that this debate rages on. If they had just said he was gay (like everyone else who actually knew him), people wouldn't even be going on about it. They'd have got over it long ago.
It's not really what I'd want to focus on in a conversation about Freddie but I end up debating with people, because I am sick of being told "did you know THE GAY THING IS A CONSPIRACY? HE LIKED WOMEN ALL ALONG!" and "Did you know he secretly liked fat women with huge tits?!" every time he comes up as a topic.
It's a massive disservice to Freddie to erase a whole interesting aspect of his life in which he struggled with that part of himself. It indicates that people just cannot deal with him being gay, that homophobia is still an issue among fans and that's why it matters.
Firstly, I have grown up knowing Freddie as a gay man and it hasn't bothered me. I'd never given it a second thought (apart from being told he died of a "gay disease" as a child).
However, it's become a matter of debate because his biographer Lesley Ann Jones lied and claimed he was sleeping with women after Mary, as well as a whole chapter about his sex life with Barbara Valentin. She deliberately omitted boyfriends from Freddie's story.
Because people are always looking for representation in the media, a movement has come forward that constantly screams about Freddie's "erased bisexuality" and how his "sexual relationship with saint Mary was real and valid". So it's thanks to his biographer and that awful John Blunt docu-drama with all the bisexual threesome scenes that this debate rages on. If they had just said he was gay (like everyone else who actually knew him), people wouldn't even be going on about it. They'd have got over it long ago.
It's not really what I'd want to focus on in a conversation about Freddie but I end up debating with people, because I am sick of being told "did you know THE GAY THING IS A CONSPIRACY? HE LIKED WOMEN ALL ALONG!" and "Did you know he secretly liked fat women with huge tits?!" every time he comes up as a topic.
It's a massive disservice to Freddie to erase a whole interesting aspect of his life in which he struggled with that part of himself. It indicates that people just cannot deal with him being gay, that homophobia is still an issue among fans and that's why it matters.
@Thor
Regarding Freddie's race and ethnicity. He is of Persian descent but when you first met him, did you try to figure out what his race was?
Back in the 70's he wore heavy powder and makeup that made him very pale and Caucasian-looking. Even his BODY appeared very pale in many pics.
Beginning with The Game and after he seemed to have largely ditched that seemed to proudly display his "color".
Anyways, do you know if he wore BODY makeup along with facial makeup onstage?
Regarding Freddie's race and ethnicity. He is of Persian descent but when you first met him, did you try to figure out what his race was?
Back in the 70's he wore heavy powder and makeup that made him very pale and Caucasian-looking. Even his BODY appeared very pale in many pics.
Beginning with The Game and after he seemed to have largely ditched that seemed to proudly display his "color".
Anyways, do you know if he wore BODY makeup along with facial makeup onstage?
Also @Thor. I know your one night stand thing with Freddie didn't exactly go to plan (lol at your scene in Freddie's Loves) but what attracted you to him in the first place? Was it his pretty eyes? lol
Well stated captainjory,
Personally, I would never pick up the American Rags, which I think may have been calmer
than the famed English Rags. If I saw an uncomplimentary photo of Freddie or worse,
of a sick Freddie on the cover, I moved on and wrote it off as complete TRASH.
Personally, I would never pick up the American Rags, which I think may have been calmer
than the famed English Rags. If I saw an uncomplimentary photo of Freddie or worse,
of a sick Freddie on the cover, I moved on and wrote it off as complete TRASH.
OK captainjory,
I used to go for shorter, thinner guys with dark hair and of course, a mustache....
so obviously, I was attracted to Brian May...LOL
I used to go for shorter, thinner guys with dark hair and of course, a mustache....
so obviously, I was attracted to Brian May...LOL
Hey PrimeJive,
I never saw Freddie in make-up. After each concert, there was about a 15 minute "cool down" period
for the band. He probably wore makeup on stage, but would remove it during cool down. The Freddie
I knew never had a problem with his skin tone, so I'm sure the "lighter color" was limited to the stage.
I never saw Freddie in make-up. After each concert, there was about a 15 minute "cool down" period
for the band. He probably wore makeup on stage, but would remove it during cool down. The Freddie
I knew never had a problem with his skin tone, so I'm sure the "lighter color" was limited to the stage.
I was introduced to queen by going throug my uncle's album collection and coming across "a night at the opera" around 86-87, when I was a little kid.
That was in Georgia, then part of USSR. Interesetingly, although homosexuality was a taboo in iron curtain countries, Freddie's sexually didn't seem to be an issue to pips in Georgia. He was loved and accepted by young and old. I dont know...it may have been his look, macho style. He looked and acted like a men's man...like any other tough dude in our city. Plus he had a mustache and as Peter Griffin says, "That's almost like wearing a wedding ring"; especially where I come from. lol
That was in Georgia, then part of USSR. Interesetingly, although homosexuality was a taboo in iron curtain countries, Freddie's sexually didn't seem to be an issue to pips in Georgia. He was loved and accepted by young and old. I dont know...it may have been his look, macho style. He looked and acted like a men's man...like any other tough dude in our city. Plus he had a mustache and as Peter Griffin says, "That's almost like wearing a wedding ring"; especially where I come from. lol
Thor idk if you ever met John Reid who was once their manager and stayed friends with Freddie throughout his life but he recalled a story that went on record during The Great Pretender Documentary made about Freddie (an excellent one that did it's research and then some. I highly recommend it.)
Anyway the story was short but says alot IMO. John took Freddie out to eat to get to know each other since they would be working together. John was very upfront with Freddie and said "Look, I'll tell you what I told the others. I am gay. If that's a problem-” only to be cut off by Freddie who put his fork down and said "ME TOO!"
He was so exited. This was before he came out to Mary so it says alot. I understand why some fans don't want to talk about his sexuality but just the fact that he got that excited to meet another gay man says he was struggling with saying it to those who he thought wouldn't get it. John obviously did and you could tell in Freddie's response how relieved he was. To me that means it's a topic worth talking about. It was a major part of his life.
But I actually have a question for you (sorry if you've mentioned this before but I don't remember seeing it). I'm not sure if you were still living in New York or just visiting occasionally by this point, but were you there for 9/11? Peter said Freddie's apartment (or some apartment he stayed at for a while) had a view of the twin towers. My uncle was in New York for business when it happened and he said the city just stopped. "There was chaos then silence", he said. Did you experience that same feeling?
Anyway the story was short but says alot IMO. John took Freddie out to eat to get to know each other since they would be working together. John was very upfront with Freddie and said "Look, I'll tell you what I told the others. I am gay. If that's a problem-” only to be cut off by Freddie who put his fork down and said "ME TOO!"
He was so exited. This was before he came out to Mary so it says alot. I understand why some fans don't want to talk about his sexuality but just the fact that he got that excited to meet another gay man says he was struggling with saying it to those who he thought wouldn't get it. John obviously did and you could tell in Freddie's response how relieved he was. To me that means it's a topic worth talking about. It was a major part of his life.
But I actually have a question for you (sorry if you've mentioned this before but I don't remember seeing it). I'm not sure if you were still living in New York or just visiting occasionally by this point, but were you there for 9/11? Peter said Freddie's apartment (or some apartment he stayed at for a while) had a view of the twin towers. My uncle was in New York for business when it happened and he said the city just stopped. "There was chaos then silence", he said. Did you experience that same feeling?
Hey Dustin,
I moved to San Diego in November 1984. When my parents (although divorced) were still healthy, I would go back to
New York about twice a year and bring my mother out to the many wonderful National Parks in the western US once
a year. When first my mom and then my dad became ill with long-term debilitating diseases, I would go there about
four times a year. I happened to be in New York visiting during the famous "OJ Ford Bronco Chase" and when Princess
Diana had the accident and died. However at the start of 9/11, I was at work in the Physical Rehabilitation Unit. It was
about 6:45 AM California time when I passed by the big TV in the Dining Area and saw the first tower on fire.Of course,
at that moment I assumed it to be just a horrible plane crash. I remember seeing an old video of a small plane hitting
the Empire State Bldg. When I finished work and got home about 8 AM, I immediately turned on CNN and while the
theory in my mind of an unfortunate plane crash was dashed, I was not at all prepared for the collapse of one then two
towers. I watched the coverage over and over again in total shock the entire day One shock after another. When I saw
the poor souls jumping from the towers to their death, I was thoroughly heartbroken and devastated.
The apartment that Freddie owned '82 till '84 had a North and East view. The Trade Towers were South and West of
that location. My apartment, in West Greenwich Village was about 100 ft. away from a ground view of the towers, but I
was long gone from that location.
I moved to San Diego in November 1984. When my parents (although divorced) were still healthy, I would go back to
New York about twice a year and bring my mother out to the many wonderful National Parks in the western US once
a year. When first my mom and then my dad became ill with long-term debilitating diseases, I would go there about
four times a year. I happened to be in New York visiting during the famous "OJ Ford Bronco Chase" and when Princess
Diana had the accident and died. However at the start of 9/11, I was at work in the Physical Rehabilitation Unit. It was
about 6:45 AM California time when I passed by the big TV in the Dining Area and saw the first tower on fire.Of course,
at that moment I assumed it to be just a horrible plane crash. I remember seeing an old video of a small plane hitting
the Empire State Bldg. When I finished work and got home about 8 AM, I immediately turned on CNN and while the
theory in my mind of an unfortunate plane crash was dashed, I was not at all prepared for the collapse of one then two
towers. I watched the coverage over and over again in total shock the entire day One shock after another. When I saw
the poor souls jumping from the towers to their death, I was thoroughly heartbroken and devastated.
The apartment that Freddie owned '82 till '84 had a North and East view. The Trade Towers were South and West of
that location. My apartment, in West Greenwich Village was about 100 ft. away from a ground view of the towers, but I
was long gone from that location.
Dustin I am glad you asked that 9/11 question, because I wondered what Thor's experience was too, but didn't know how to drop that into the conversation. It's one thing I always ask Americans about.
Firstly im sorry to hear about your parents Thor. I hope I didn't drag out any bad memories there.
As for 9/11 thanks for answering that. I figured as the saying goes "Once and New Yorker always a New Yorker"... I assumed it hit those who lived there (before or during) even harder than those of us who had no family, friends or memories of the place there. Minus those who lost family and friends of course.
Ive lived in California all my life and didn't have any family who lived in New York myself but I had a friend who grew up there and she cried for days about it. She didn't lose anyone in the attacks but she was deeply hurt that her home city was left in so much pain.
Freddie absolutely loved New York. I think had he been around to see it he'd feel the same. If ever I was going to guess what Freddie Mercury would have donated to... Rebuilding and helping those effected by it in New York would have been it.
As for 9/11 thanks for answering that. I figured as the saying goes "Once and New Yorker always a New Yorker"... I assumed it hit those who lived there (before or during) even harder than those of us who had no family, friends or memories of the place there. Minus those who lost family and friends of course.
Ive lived in California all my life and didn't have any family who lived in New York myself but I had a friend who grew up there and she cried for days about it. She didn't lose anyone in the attacks but she was deeply hurt that her home city was left in so much pain.
Freddie absolutely loved New York. I think had he been around to see it he'd feel the same. If ever I was going to guess what Freddie Mercury would have donated to... Rebuilding and helping those effected by it in New York would have been it.
Dustin, I completely agree with your theory that Freddie would have supported the
rescue effort; perhaps by a charity concert in New York City's Madison Square Garden.
That would have been something!
rescue effort; perhaps by a charity concert in New York City's Madison Square Garden.
That would have been something!
@Thor
Did you ever see Freddie "pinch pennies" and show signs that he didn't have unlimited funds? I know you said he was generous but did you ever see him choose a cleary cheaper option for something?
Did you ever see Freddie "pinch pennies" and show signs that he didn't have unlimited funds? I know you said he was generous but did you ever see him choose a cleary cheaper option for something?
HaHa,
Do you mean like clip coupons to find cheaper toilet paper at the Piggly Wiggly
or Kroger's....ahhhhh.....let me think....ahhhh...NO!...LOL
For household things and food he had Peter and Joe F (in London). I think Mary
worked like an accountant/manager of his business profits.
Then of course HE chose Cartier for the clock he gave me . He could have chosen
Kaye's Jewelers...LOL (for non American's... Kaye's is a discount jewelery outlet
here with about half of it's inventory being costume jewelery).
Do you mean like clip coupons to find cheaper toilet paper at the Piggly Wiggly
or Kroger's....ahhhhh.....let me think....ahhhh...NO!...LOL
For household things and food he had Peter and Joe F (in London). I think Mary
worked like an accountant/manager of his business profits.
Then of course HE chose Cartier for the clock he gave me . He could have chosen
Kaye's Jewelers...LOL (for non American's... Kaye's is a discount jewelery outlet
here with about half of it's inventory being costume jewelery).