Hey Sweet,
We only spent time with Joe Fanelli in London. He did not come over to New York when Freddie moved in but stayed back in London. Naturally, we spent hours and hours of time with Phoebe but only a few with Joe. He did take us out once or twice to the clubs in Earl's Court - in walking distance from the Garden Lodge. My impression of him was that he was a dedicated and loving employee of Freddie's and a very ingratiating member of the "family".
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Hi, I've just read in the latest book I've read about Freddie, Somebody to love, that he used to paint during the last few years of the 80s so I was wondering is it true (as the book has some facts wrong like stating Freddie was in romantic relationship with Barbara)?
Have you guys ever saw Freddie paint/draw (maybe just for fun, doodle sth) or any of his art work? Did he have artworks by famous artists in his NY apartment?
Sorry if this has been asked before - it's hard to remember everything that has been said on this and other thread.
And of course, thank you for sharing precious pieces of Freddie's life with us - hope the book gets to be published!
Have you guys ever saw Freddie paint/draw (maybe just for fun, doodle sth) or any of his art work? Did he have artworks by famous artists in his NY apartment?
Sorry if this has been asked before - it's hard to remember everything that has been said on this and other thread.
And of course, thank you for sharing precious pieces of Freddie's life with us - hope the book gets to be published!
Welcome, space cow,
I never witnessed Freddie actually painting artwork, but I know he did having been in Art School. I don't remember any fine paintings in his New York apartment but he did in the Garden Lodge. Lee might remember much better than I as he has a better eye for artwork than I do. The painting (or more exactly, the first printing) I distinctly remember was the one featuring his beloved cat Delilah which Disney had presented him with. Other paintings in the house looked impressive, but I could not tell you the artist or the name of the painting, unfortunately. I think in the previous thread, a QZ fan presented a link to a wonderful painting that was supposed to be at the Garden Lodge but I did not remember seeing it there.
I never witnessed Freddie actually painting artwork, but I know he did having been in Art School. I don't remember any fine paintings in his New York apartment but he did in the Garden Lodge. Lee might remember much better than I as he has a better eye for artwork than I do. The painting (or more exactly, the first printing) I distinctly remember was the one featuring his beloved cat Delilah which Disney had presented him with. Other paintings in the house looked impressive, but I could not tell you the artist or the name of the painting, unfortunately. I think in the previous thread, a QZ fan presented a link to a wonderful painting that was supposed to be at the Garden Lodge but I did not remember seeing it there.
Rainbow,
I think Lee is done for today but I am sure he would like to answer your question.
I think Lee is done for today but I am sure he would like to answer your question.
Thor, I'd like to get back to that Channel 5 docudrama Who Wants To Live Forever and your thoughts about it. You already said that there were details that weren't accurate, but it did also get some things right? You mentioned that Freddie liked to wear often the same clothes? So, it's not totally impossible that he used his live aid jeans for a couple of years after the gig? And what about the great acting by Mr.Blunt in that documentary? Did you think he was as good as many say he was?
Thor,
Thanks...no hurry.
We know how much Freddie loved flowers...he had that lovely garden that Jim took care of. I've also read that Freddie would carefully arrange flowers in Garden Lodge when guests came over. Do you remember seeing fresh flowers in his NYC apartment or do you recall being somewhere with Freddie, maybe passing a park, where he commented on the flowers?
Thanks...no hurry.
We know how much Freddie loved flowers...he had that lovely garden that Jim took care of. I've also read that Freddie would carefully arrange flowers in Garden Lodge when guests came over. Do you remember seeing fresh flowers in his NYC apartment or do you recall being somewhere with Freddie, maybe passing a park, where he commented on the flowers?
Mr. Michael,
Your answer is on pg. 91.
Your answer is on pg. 91.
Absolutely Rainbow,
Freddie always had beautiful flowers in New York and in London. I never asked him, but I would bet that Phoebe went out to get the flowers and arranged them perfectly!
He knew Freddie's taste better than anyone.
Freddie always had beautiful flowers in New York and in London. I never asked him, but I would bet that Phoebe went out to get the flowers and arranged them perfectly!
He knew Freddie's taste better than anyone.
Thor you only talk about John Murphy and his scene in the docu. His part was very small and I'm talking about the whole thing. At least it didn't try to paint Freddie as some closeted heterosexual who just wanted to be with Mary and all the gays destroyed him. That's what the movie Bohemian Rhapsody did.
Did you still dance in the 80's to Voyage-Souvenirs, or was that more in the late 70's?
Did you still dance in the 80's to Voyage-Souvenirs, or was that more in the late 70's?
What became of Freddie's cats when he died?
He loved those cats, I'd hate to think they went to a shelter.
He loved those cats, I'd hate to think they went to a shelter.
Mr. Michael,
John Murphy being involved in anything AIDS related with Freddie is fiction by people who say that John Murphy was patient zero Trust me, I would have known if John suddenly left his domestic flights on American Airlines and took a trip to Africa where either he was bitten by a monkey or ate monkey meat. At that time Joe and John were senior enough to get the nonstop flights from New York to the West coast and back they did not want international flights.
John Murphy being involved in anything AIDS related with Freddie is fiction by people who say that John Murphy was patient zero Trust me, I would have known if John suddenly left his domestic flights on American Airlines and took a trip to Africa where either he was bitten by a monkey or ate monkey meat. At that time Joe and John were senior enough to get the nonstop flights from New York to the West coast and back they did not want international flights.
ForFreddie,
I don't know what became of the cats but I'm sure Freddie made a plan for them so they would continue to be well cared for.
I don't know what became of the cats but I'm sure Freddie made a plan for them so they would continue to be well cared for.
Regarding the cats...From Peter's second book: "
When it came to packing, Mary told Jim and Joe that they could take whatever gifts they had bought Freddie for she considered these NOT a part of the great collection that she had inherited. Her idea of Freddie’s collection was specifically items that Freddie had selected and bought for himself, the house and for the purchases such as the famous diamond feather which she herself had benefited from, items he had been buying at auction from catalogues with the express intention that she be the one to have them.
But back to the cold, hard reality. Eventually, it must have alarmed Mary greatly to understand that a large number of items which she had imagined had fallen into the category of ‘Freddie’s Collection’ had in fact been personal gifts which we as house-sharers had given each other over the years. As she witnessed cherished domestic items as well as objets d’art being packed up and disappearing from the places she had become accustomed to seeing them, Mary changed her ruling and told Jim and Joe that they were entitled to take with them only one item which they had given Freddie. It can only be imagined what this instruction did to the atmosphere. It was the beginning of a shabby end"
So to summarize, the vast majority of things within the house (including the cats) stayed with Mary. She had originally told Jim and Joe that they could take whatever they had purchased freddie as gifts over the years from the house, and changed her mind once she realized how many items in the house had been gifts to freddie from the boys of Garden Lodge. One being Lily the cat. Jim bought her for Freddie as a gift. In his book, Jim mentions asking Mary if he could have little Lily and the answer was no. So all stayed but Oscar, who preferred a neighbor.
When it came to packing, Mary told Jim and Joe that they could take whatever gifts they had bought Freddie for she considered these NOT a part of the great collection that she had inherited. Her idea of Freddie’s collection was specifically items that Freddie had selected and bought for himself, the house and for the purchases such as the famous diamond feather which she herself had benefited from, items he had been buying at auction from catalogues with the express intention that she be the one to have them.
But back to the cold, hard reality. Eventually, it must have alarmed Mary greatly to understand that a large number of items which she had imagined had fallen into the category of ‘Freddie’s Collection’ had in fact been personal gifts which we as house-sharers had given each other over the years. As she witnessed cherished domestic items as well as objets d’art being packed up and disappearing from the places she had become accustomed to seeing them, Mary changed her ruling and told Jim and Joe that they were entitled to take with them only one item which they had given Freddie. It can only be imagined what this instruction did to the atmosphere. It was the beginning of a shabby end"
So to summarize, the vast majority of things within the house (including the cats) stayed with Mary. She had originally told Jim and Joe that they could take whatever they had purchased freddie as gifts over the years from the house, and changed her mind once she realized how many items in the house had been gifts to freddie from the boys of Garden Lodge. One being Lily the cat. Jim bought her for Freddie as a gift. In his book, Jim mentions asking Mary if he could have little Lily and the answer was no. So all stayed but Oscar, who preferred a neighbor.
Just forget about the John Murphy scene (altough the acting is great).The docu is not about that one scene. And who's even talking about patient zero or eating some monkey burgers in Africa? They don't come up in there. In Bohemian Rhapsody Freddie pinches Jim Hutton's arse while he's working as a waiter and finds him after searching phone books. I mean it's pretty near fiction as well.
The Murphy scene has nothing to do how well Freddie is portrayed in the docu.
The Murphy scene has nothing to do how well Freddie is portrayed in the docu.
Pretty sure Thor has said in the past that the acting for Freddie in that John Blunt thing was bad. He has been asked about it a number of times. Can't say I blame him. A Freddie cover band singer isn't necessarily going to be a fantastic actor.