Thor and Lee,
It must have been fun to catch up with an old, beloved friend! Can't wait to hear any news you guys can share.
Freddie wore so many different stage outfits over the years...is there one outfit in particular that you especially liked? I was just looking at a picture of Freddie in the red latex pants and the blue knee pads and wondering why the knee pads caught his fancy? Maybe he just thought it would be cool to look like a skateboarder? Freddie had such an amazing sense of style that no matter what he wore on stage, your eyes were glued to him...he was always captivating. I could never pick just one that is my favorite, but the outfit he wore for the "I Was Born To Love You" video is right up there!
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Thor and Lee, I can't wait to hear about your call with Phoebe!
About his clothing, I can't resist saying that I LOVE Freddie's silver leotard. I have no idea why. I'm also always fascinated by the shorts. Rainbow, was it in the Minns/Evans book where Diana Mosely talks about making the pants for "I Was Born To Love You"? She said that Freddie felt his legs were too thin to project the image he wanted for that video so he asked her if she could make the pants so that his legs look somewhat bigger. I think she did a fine job. That's one of my favorite videos. I get a kick out of the outtakes for that video where the suspenders fly off and he just stops and grins. It's also cute when he and the female lead can't get the part with the red cloth right. At one point he actually lands so hard he tips the chair over. Many times I prefer the "making of" videos to the final piece.
About his clothing, I can't resist saying that I LOVE Freddie's silver leotard. I have no idea why. I'm also always fascinated by the shorts. Rainbow, was it in the Minns/Evans book where Diana Mosely talks about making the pants for "I Was Born To Love You"? She said that Freddie felt his legs were too thin to project the image he wanted for that video so he asked her if she could make the pants so that his legs look somewhat bigger. I think she did a fine job. That's one of my favorite videos. I get a kick out of the outtakes for that video where the suspenders fly off and he just stops and grins. It's also cute when he and the female lead can't get the part with the red cloth right. At one point he actually lands so hard he tips the chair over. Many times I prefer the "making of" videos to the final piece.
koala wrote:
I LOVE Monty Python and have always wondered about that too. Well, I did a little digging today and found something that actually answers the question! It’s an old 70s article called “What Makes Freddie?” where he says that Python makes him laugh.
OMG, great work, koala, you found proof Freddie was indeed a Monty Python fan! I'm totally geeked. Grazie, gracias, xie xie, thank you for the links.
I can't recall who posted about Jim Hutton's book. I read it last month. I felt gutted by the ending, too, not only about Freddie's death but even by Joe Fanelli's death, too. Also, Jim recounted how if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't have let others walk all over him. Treat him as the mere "gardener" vs. Freddie's legit' BF or "husband." He wasn't accorded the respect, whereas Freddie loved him as an ordinary man.
Lee and/or Thor, we can't wait to hear about your Skype session c Phoebe. Always leave 'em wanting more, right?
Weekly question: What would Freddie typically order @ Ty's in the West Village?
Thor and Lee,
We know Freddie and Michael Jackson worked together and that Michael attended Queen shows. Do you know if Freddie ever went to one of Michael's shows? If so, what was his opinion of it?
We know Freddie and Michael Jackson worked together and that Michael attended Queen shows. Do you know if Freddie ever went to one of Michael's shows? If so, what was his opinion of it?
Katydyd5,
Yes, that story Diana Moseley told was in the David Minns/David Evans book. I remember reading that and being surprised that Freddie thought that about his legs since he never seemed to worry about showing them off in his leotards or shorty shorts.
I also remember Jim saying in his book that he usually didn't date men as slightly built as Freddie was and that Freddie had the skinniest legs he'd ever seen.
Yes, that story Diana Moseley told was in the David Minns/David Evans book. I remember reading that and being surprised that Freddie thought that about his legs since he never seemed to worry about showing them off in his leotards or shorty shorts.
I also remember Jim saying in his book that he usually didn't date men as slightly built as Freddie was and that Freddie had the skinniest legs he'd ever seen.
FreddienotFreddy, I am always surprised when I read that comment from Diana. You are right, we all saw plenty of Freddie's legs! I think Phoebe might have said in his blog that Freddie always wished he could have been a bit taller and a bit more buff. Actually I just looked and I have the quote in one of my files. Here it is:
"Ray wondered if I thought Freddie was attractive.
I’m sure you all know the old saying… beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is beautiful to one person is ugly to another. I was lucky enough to spend 12 years in Freddie’s company, so was able to learn about the person inside the skin. Freddie hated his teeth, he wished he was a few centimetres taller, he would have liked a more defined body, he loathed his double crown, all these things were on the outside. As a friend, Freddie was the warmest, most loving person you could ever wish to meet and I’m sure you could ask anybody who knew him through work or his social life and they would agree with me. I saw the things Freddie listed as his drawbacks, but his personality shone past anything physical, so to answer the question, yes, I think Freddie was beautiful."
The Minns/Evans book is one of my favorites because its a quick read and also because we get to hear from people who are a bit more obscure in Freddie's life. It's not the same ole same ole. I think the book may be harder to find now. I'm pretty sure my copy was used from Amazon. So was my copy of Mercury and Me and it's going to need to be rubber banded if I look at it much more.
"Ray wondered if I thought Freddie was attractive.
I’m sure you all know the old saying… beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What is beautiful to one person is ugly to another. I was lucky enough to spend 12 years in Freddie’s company, so was able to learn about the person inside the skin. Freddie hated his teeth, he wished he was a few centimetres taller, he would have liked a more defined body, he loathed his double crown, all these things were on the outside. As a friend, Freddie was the warmest, most loving person you could ever wish to meet and I’m sure you could ask anybody who knew him through work or his social life and they would agree with me. I saw the things Freddie listed as his drawbacks, but his personality shone past anything physical, so to answer the question, yes, I think Freddie was beautiful."
The Minns/Evans book is one of my favorites because its a quick read and also because we get to hear from people who are a bit more obscure in Freddie's life. It's not the same ole same ole. I think the book may be harder to find now. I'm pretty sure my copy was used from Amazon. So was my copy of Mercury and Me and it's going to need to be rubber banded if I look at it much more.
How did it go with Phoebe and the publisher Thor and Lee?
Hi all,
VERY fun talking to Mr. Freestone. Hearing his voice and particularly his laugh brings back so many memories of good times.
As was discussed earlier, he chose his words diplomatically when discussing his thoughts about the film. We agreed about how much we enjoyed the film,
and what we missed in the film, which as we all know was following a Hollywood formula, as he says, presenting things just the way the creators wanted the production to be, and what they wanted to offer. He DID say one thing that I definitely agree with, and that it was unfortunate that we didn’t get to see Freddie laugh. He had a GREAT laugh, and I can almost hear it if I think about it.
Peter is very busy traveling, and granting interviews, but of course reiterated the fact that he will be writing the foreword for our book.
Other than reminiscing and catching up, there were no earth shattering revelations, and we decided to make sure we keep in touch more.
We will be sending him part of our query and manuscript for his thoughts and blessings, and let him see exactly what we have been working on.
VERY fun talking to Mr. Freestone. Hearing his voice and particularly his laugh brings back so many memories of good times.
As was discussed earlier, he chose his words diplomatically when discussing his thoughts about the film. We agreed about how much we enjoyed the film,
and what we missed in the film, which as we all know was following a Hollywood formula, as he says, presenting things just the way the creators wanted the production to be, and what they wanted to offer. He DID say one thing that I definitely agree with, and that it was unfortunate that we didn’t get to see Freddie laugh. He had a GREAT laugh, and I can almost hear it if I think about it.
Peter is very busy traveling, and granting interviews, but of course reiterated the fact that he will be writing the foreword for our book.
Other than reminiscing and catching up, there were no earth shattering revelations, and we decided to make sure we keep in touch more.
We will be sending him part of our query and manuscript for his thoughts and blessings, and let him see exactly what we have been working on.
Lee,
How nice that you got to catch up with Peter. I think it's a good idea for him to write the foreward. I can't wait to read it all.
Koala, Chris Taylor contributed to the book Freddie Mercury: This is the Real Life. He was Roger's roadie, but became good friends with Freddie over the years. There was no mention of that German "girlfriend" in the story he tells, however.
I'm currently reading Peter Hince's book. His observations of the United States and American culture are HILARIOUS. There are tidbits about the members of the band, but mostly the book is about his experience as a roadie. Thoroughly enjoyable.
How nice that you got to catch up with Peter. I think it's a good idea for him to write the foreward. I can't wait to read it all.
Koala, Chris Taylor contributed to the book Freddie Mercury: This is the Real Life. He was Roger's roadie, but became good friends with Freddie over the years. There was no mention of that German "girlfriend" in the story he tells, however.
I'm currently reading Peter Hince's book. His observations of the United States and American culture are HILARIOUS. There are tidbits about the members of the band, but mostly the book is about his experience as a roadie. Thoroughly enjoyable.
I’m so happy to hear Phoebe is well!
Thanks, Thor! It’s been fun talking to all the lovely people in this thread.
I’m glad Peter is doing well and that you guys got to discuss the film with him. I very much agree about the lack of Freddie laughing and the formulaic nature of the whole thing. Having said that, it seems to have brought a lot of new (especially young) people into the fandom, who are now watching actual interviews/documentaries and getting to know the real Freddie, which is fantastic.
Blenkolove, your story is adorable and a perfect example how the film is creating a new generation of Queen fans.
DCQueenLuvr, thanks for the info. I really need to get my hand on that book. Totally agree about Ratty's book, it's great fun. He's also a really nice guy - I wrote to him after reading the book to ask him something and he replied the very next day and was lovely about it.
I’m glad Peter is doing well and that you guys got to discuss the film with him. I very much agree about the lack of Freddie laughing and the formulaic nature of the whole thing. Having said that, it seems to have brought a lot of new (especially young) people into the fandom, who are now watching actual interviews/documentaries and getting to know the real Freddie, which is fantastic.
Blenkolove, your story is adorable and a perfect example how the film is creating a new generation of Queen fans.
DCQueenLuvr, thanks for the info. I really need to get my hand on that book. Totally agree about Ratty's book, it's great fun. He's also a really nice guy - I wrote to him after reading the book to ask him something and he replied the very next day and was lovely about it.
For those looking for Chros Taylor's thoughts and comments on Barbara, you won't find them in a book and to my knowledge nobody suggested you would. To read what he has to say about it follow him on facebook. He's very vocal about her and Lesleg Ann Jones on there.
For those looking for Chros Taylor's thoughts and comments on Barbara, you won't find them in a book and to my knowledge nobody suggested you would. To read what he has to say about it follow him on facebook. He's very vocal about her and Lesleg Ann Jones on there.
PS excuse the typos in my last post please
I missed the Chris Crystal Taylor question Dustin but I've seen his rants on Barbara too lol. Chris is fantastic about dispelling that awful "Barbara was a lover" rumor. He has posted about it many times on his facebook page and has never held back on correcting people about it. As Dustin said he is very active online but he is also very talkative to us fans at Queen conventions. Don't get Crystal started on Lesley Jones. He'll talk your eat off and rightfully so. Tabliod garbage, that woman.
Glad to hear Phoebe is doing well!
Glad to hear Phoebe is doing well!