As it began ' or any other books

Amidds! So glad for your Somebody to Love book perspective. Thank you!!! It was one of my first, I was drawn in to the details of Freddie’s younger years and Zanzibar descriptions. Partly because I tend to skip around anyway, partly because as I got to the “later years” it seemed a lot was taken from other things I’d read, and partly because of the online feedback, I stopped reading it. I absolutely love your re-read campaign! You have inspired me to go back to that one.... after I finish AIB and IHOW, that is. Haha.

Re: the Jim Beach conversation, very interesting!!!!. I agree, from a business perspective, all I’ve seen and read, does show him as very trusted, good decision maker, etc. The interesting thing is that David Minns and Jim Hutton both expressed hurtful feelings accounting specific experiences. Jim H said in his book that he didn’t think Jim understood his and Freddie’s relationship. I know we are fascinated fact checkers and I love these discussions. It always dawns on me that they are real people and the complexities of relationships and business dealings, so I tend to try to reserve too many opinions. Haha but can’t help but feel for people too. Make any sense at all? :)).

You know, on the Jim Beach discussion I have mixed feelings about him. I feel like there are a few things that seem odd about what he has said and done. But ultimately, Freddie trusted him enough to carry out his wishes. We’ll never know what Freddie asked him to do specifically, and whether Beach is just doing what he was asked or if he is taking his own license on things. Also, Queen has had him on board for so long now I can’t imagine he’s not a good guy worthy of their trust. And yet....his job is to make them all money, and that can skew one’s views and actions. So who knows?!

Thereyouhaveit, I agree about Jim beach I think he has been neutered.What the movie portrayed was shameful hopefully Thor and Lee's book will give us a fresh look at another side of Freddie we didnt get to see.All I'm gonna say .

Finally back from Florida and caught up on work! Had to laugh JB as I re-read Hutton's book and Freestone's What He Left Behind on the plane and then saw what you said about Jim Beach. What a coincidence! I agree with what you all have said...mixed feelings. Minns had mentioned Beach breaking up with him on Freddie's behalf and, after Freddie's death, telling him about South America "sex expolits". NOT lawyer behavior. In What He Left Behind, Phoebe again talks about the boys all getting kicked out of Garden Lodge and defends Mary saying that the reason they had to leave was so they didn't have some sort of renter's rights. Beach had sat them all down the day after Freddie's death and didn't explain that to them at the reading of the will? Left it to Mary who apparently found it too difficult to discuss and didn't tell them until much later. When you add Hutton's statement that he didn't feel as if Beach understood their relationship, it makes you wonder who he was really working for. This is all just conjecture and researching on my part, I don't mean to insult the man. Like you JB, these are real people....

Jim Beach has acted in Queen's (and Freddie's) best financial and legal interests, as any good attorney does. It's been a successful financial strategy for Queen--and for Beach. I suspect his actions haven't always been in accordance with "good guy" behavior, but it's what he was and is paid for. In that sense, he's a good attorney for his clients.

I've always thought the story about Beach delivering the break up news from Freddie to Minns a bit odd and beneath behavior of grown-up people, but Freddie wasn't at his most mature phase at that point, so who knows? Maybe Beach needed to get Freddie back on track--you know, to create more songs so Queen could make more money and Freddie didn't like confrontation. Or, maybe the story isn't true at all.

Hi all

I thought this might be a good addition to our reading discussion:

http://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/freddie-mercury-solo-singles/

It’s dated Nov 19. And titled FEATURESFreddie Mercury Singles: 13 Songs That Defined The Singer’s Solo Career. It has text and video.

Amidds! Welcome back!! Missed you, although I’ve been a bit scarce lately. Hope you had a great time in FL!! How cool
And perfect that you got so much reading time in on the plane!! Anyone ask what you were reading?
That’s so cool that you read what I mentioned at almost same time. :/)

It’s interesting TUHI because, I believe it was David and/or Jim who said Freddie did enlist others to break tough news. Like Mary asking Jim to leave GL, essentially breaking up with him, when he and a Freddie were arguing.

Amidds did you also re-read What David wrote about him making the connection for them to get soundtrack work, but never feeling he got the credit. I have wondered about that too. That was part of my curiosity about him not being mentioned in AIB, not from
Relationship standpoint, but business. Although I do really understand keeping the line.

Hmmm, TUHI, I see your point with Beach doing what he was told and I believe you are right with doing what he needed to do to keep Freddie on track but, JB is correct, lots of confirmation that he had others intervene in break-ups. I wasn’t trying to bash Beach, just pointing out similarities in my reading. Whether it’s all true or not, we may never know and if its true, he got his direction from someone, right? I think what I found most interesting is it really brought Phoebe to Mary’s defense which you don’t see to much of actually.

JB, worked very hard in Florida even though I knew better, too old to be helping move people :( No one asked me what I was reading but I did sit next to a very loquacious woman on my return trip and I really just wanted to tell her that she was disturbing my Freddie time lol! It was nice to have a big block of time to re-read and connect some dots! Funny that you mention the connection on the soundtrack work because that also struck me this time as well! Were you sitting close reading over my shoulder?!?!? Haha. Your link looks super interesting-will put that next on my list!

Amidds, you're spot on about FM enlisting the help of others when some, uh, dirty break up work was needed.

I think Freddie Mercury was a genius and by all accounts a sweet, good guy, but that avoiding of responsibility when he was pissed or disappointed at someone baffles me. I guess I just can't see how he could allow others (you're right about that) to break up with someone (Minns) he spent three years with. I guess I can understand that he was still young (29, 30?), but when in '90, when he and Jim had the falling out and he, or his appointee, send Joe to tell Jim to move. Honestly, I just find that so weird.

TUHI, I have seen many references where people described FM as not liking conflict and avoiding it as much as possible. Well, except when he would fight with boyfriends as a type of inspiration for his music, lol. I can’t help but wonder if it wasn’t part that and part being hard for him to let go as he also had a tendency to try to keep his exes around him like Joe and Mary. He did tell Minns at one point that he had enough love for him and Joe at the same time and Minns rejected that notion. Yea, I find it weird too.

Hi fellow researchers :-)). AIZb is back to the library. I’ll be reviewing any notes. Will be keeping my eye out if anyone hears of a re-release. :-))

So now time to get back to IHOW, then joking in Amidds re-read campaign.

I’ll pose a question:
What is something that you have read or learned or have known about Freddie/Queen that stands out to you or maybe even changes your perspective.

Hope everyone is having a nice day!!!

JB, first of all, my re-reading campaign is NOT a joke, how dare you :). 2nd, are you trying to take over Fredfie's job lol?

Good question but very broad so I'll answer this way: have always loved Queen and thought FM has the Best. Voice. Ever. I have never been the type to research famous people or care what they were up to but read anything that came up readily about this band over the years. What got me hooked was watching BoRhap. I'm sure you all know that I don't like the way they portrayed him (sorry!). The movie lead me to do research to see if I my memory/interpretation of FM was way off. It wasn't and I love knowing so much more about FM, Queen and their music!!

Amidds!! Hahahaaaa! I guess I am, but I specialize in typo’s. Fredfie is way advanced. :-)))) I’m pretty sure I was going for “joining”. Well- these are the skills we need for our “only available after Freddie conversation” proofreading business right. Hahaha.

Great answer!!!!!!!

That's OK JB, we'll be all set for business when Fredfie finds us a location and gets that advertising going!!

btw, just have to mention that I thought my dream on going to Montreux was blown out of the water as flight prices were $1000+!!! Well, we decided to fly in/out of Paris for less than 1/2 the price and will be able to take the train to/from Montreux. So, the two of us that are left, lol, are now booked! Plus we get extra time in Paris! I am so relieved and excited!!

Ohhhh Amidds!!! Great problem solving. Train trip sounds incredible. Should be beautiful. Even better.
$1,000 for flight. Ouch. I’m really excited for you too!!