As it began ' or any other books

MHZ I'm about half way through but in no hurry. I have so much time to read now, but for some reason I can't focus for long.

I’m about halfway through it now too, Katyd. What are your thoughts on it? What strikes me from his book is just how moody and diva-like he describes Freddie. So many people have said Freddie wasn’t that way very much, and that Freddie was the ultimate professional and shy. But the moods and fits Hince describes seems much harder to deal with. I get that he says Freddie was professional in always coming through and giving the best performance that he could, but more in general he saw Freddie as a diva. I suppose everyone saw a different side of Freddie at different times, and maybe this behavior was strictly during concerts.

What is also interesting is how little he mentions Roger Taylor. He talks a lot about John and Brian, but almost nothing (at least so far) about interaction with Roger. I wonder why that is?

MHZ, this is not your first time to read the book is it? The first time I read it I wasn't even sure Hince liked Freddie. I think now that he's almost affectionate in describing the diva behavior. I can almost visualize him shaking his head ruefully as he tells about some of Freddie's antics. I think Freddie must have been very difficult before and during a performance because he expected perfection from everyone around him, including himself. I wonder if those around Freddie simply accepted the behavior as part of his preparation and more or less ignored as much of it as they could. . I suspect he would have liked Hince very much since he stood up to the behavior and wasn't a yes man. The one story that does disturb me is the physical violence following the failure of the pyrotechnics during one show. Have you reached that section yet? I'm thinking the chapter might have been called Days of Doom. I want to say a bit more about that incident but I don't want it to be a spoiler if you are reading the book for the first time. Next time I post I'll have the book with me so I can reference a page.

I'll have to pay more attention to mentions of Roger. It makes sense that he would talk about John since he was roadie to both Freddie and John but you've given me something to look for that intrigues me.

Mhz, I think that's it exactly everyone saw different sides of Freddie and maybe that's the way he liked it so nobody really knew him.I laugh to myself he was a typical Indian man they are loners very shy in nature until you piss them off and then wow you better watch out they can act out.I think this is what hince may be referring too when he talks about fits and him being a diva just in simple terms what everyone strives for perfection.We cant forget Freddie was an artist and when an artist sees a smudge in their work it can drive them mad.

Mhz, Have you ever been to an art museum with paintings imagine one painting there hanging and how many times that artist destroyed that painting till he captured it's TRUE purpose.A picture is supposed to tell a story by looking at it .It captures a subject or subjects in motion in the paintings as if you could actually see the events happening.I dont want to embarrass anyone but I had a friend that traveled to Newyork to look at some rather umm graffic nude Male art in motion I guess that would be a good way to put it.This artist captured these sex scenes beautifully as if the viewer was actually there and it was happening before their eyes.Now that's art.Each scene in each position was beautifully displayed with the viewers curiosity in mind it definately made you leave wondering what and how the hell lol.Thats kind of my point with writing i guess it's a art to perfection.

I have read the book before, but I didn’t recall how Hince came off when he described Freddie’s behavior, so it kind of shocked me again. The thing about Hince is that he is incredibly sarcastic...and I think he enjoys his own sarcasm as much or more than anyone else! So he loves putting in all these dramatic descriptions and his own sarcastic response to them. He is obviously a clever guy, and I’m sure he really liked and admired Freddie. But it’s hard to know whether he overdramatizing Freddie’s actions just for the humorous effect or not. I feel like there is a lot of that going on though.

I haven’t gotten to that chapter on the bit of violence yet, that chapter is actually where I stopped yesterday. I’ll read it today and then maybe we can discuss.

I do get the perfectionism of artists Chevy, and I think that Freddie wanted everything to be “perfect” every time. So I can see how it would affect him and how he could get emotional about performances and getting them right. I’d just like to know if Hince makes it a little more over the top in his descriptions. And maybe even over the top isn’t the right way to put it, I almost feel like Hince really over-emphasizes the (for lack of a better word) “gayness” of how Freddie acted. That’s kind of how it comes off to me...are any of you getting that feeling?

Mhz, Yes I do get that feeling about hince to a certain extent on stage Freddie was so different from off stage Freddie.I do think Hince over dramatized Freddie s mannerisms to the extreme for his readers purposes.However, have you seen the garden lodge tapes ?The first time I seen those it was like looking at another person.I literally thought he was acting like that for a minute.As I began to watch I saw this beautiful man and kind soul unfold and there he was it was amazing.That guy was Freddie with all those little extras that made him exactly who he was meant to be.Im getting off subject but maybe he let his roadies and crew see part of this side of him too before the macho man strutted on stage and became Freddie Mercury.

MHZ, Hince does have an arrogance about him too that I dont care for.Im having to wing it somebody has my book.It seems to me so many of these writers paint a pretty picture of themselves and paint Freddie sometimes as a fit throwing toddler at times.So I dont read or take to heart what to many of them say they change their story over the years.I would and will read Thor and Lee's book because their story hasn't changed they didnt paint themselves in Neverland or in a perfect world or change their story.They admitted they all had times when they partied and were human.They never once put Freddie down so I say their book is worth checking out for sure.Rudi I dont know I dont care too much about the German years.

Mhz, one more thing I think hince is the one that made the sarcastic remark about Freddie's gay friends too.You may ask Katydyd on that one she might remember more.I think he was kind of an ass.

MHZ, I've never been able to figure out how to quote a previous poster, but I want to give it another try. Forgive me if we end up with a blank post.

[QUOTE] [b]MyHumanZoo wrote:[/b]

I have read the book before, but I didn’t recall how Hince came off when he described Freddie’s behavior, so it kind of shocked me again. The thing about Hince is that he is incredibly sarcastic...and I think he enjoys his own sarcasm as much or more than anyone else! So he loves putting in all these dramatic descriptions and his own sarcastic response to them. He is obviously a clever guy, and I’m sure he really liked and admired Freddie. But it’s hard to know whether he overdramatizing Freddie’s actions just for the humorous effect or not. I feel like there is a lot of that going on though.

I do get the perfectionism of artists Chevy, and I think that Freddie wanted everything to be “perfect” every time. So I can see how it would affect him and how he could get emotional about performances and getting them right. I’d just like to know if Hince makes it a little more over the top in his descriptions. And maybe even over the top isn’t the right way to put it, I almost feel like Hince really over-emphasizes the (for lack of a better word) “gayness” of how Freddie acted. That’s kind of how it comes off to me...are any of you getting that feeling?[/QUOTE]

I actually think this is going to work!!

I do think Hince has an odd sense of humor, very droll and lots of sarcasm. I also think he really appreciates himself, but that's not all bad. It just makes it a bit harder for me to know if he's exaggerating for humor or effect, or if things happened exactly as he described. I think this is my third time through the book and I find a lot of what he says pretty funny this time. The description of trying to get a set list out of Freddie before a concert made me laugh. I'd love to have seen Freddie's face when Ratty got tired of things and just told him they could play a few Rolling Stones songs if he wouldn't give him a list.

However, I wanted to reply to your question about the over-emphasis on Freddie's sexuality. Or rather tell you that I need to think on that a bit longer. At first I wondered if that was due to the date the book was published, but it came out in 2011, so I don't think that has anything to do with it. At that point it was no longer unique to be gay Maybe it's more a reflection of the times Ratty ( I can't call him Peter. It doesn't fit) is describing. It's almost as if he's showing us how accepting he and the others were of Freddie and his choices, while at the same time maintaining an us/them sort of aura. Not sure...…………………….

One of the things that does annoy me in this book is that Ratty tells some stories that seem to be untrue to one degree or another. I think I am way ahead of you in the book so maybe I should hold off, but I'll go with one example. On page 190 Ratty is describing the famous Scrabble games. He describes Freddie as being astounded when the word "lacquers" was played because it was such a high point word. Then he says he was the one who came up with that word. Uh...……..not according to Brian and Roger in an interview. They are so explicit with details that I tend to believe their version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uw4ztyeOzNQ

[QUOTE] [b]Katydyd5 wrote:[/b]

MHZ, I've never been able to figure out how to quote a previous poster, but I want to give it another try. Forgive me if we end up with a blank post.[/QUOTE]

See attached photo. Mouse over a bit to the right of the time of the post you're quoting - there are spots for edit, reply, and quote, but the icons haven't shown up for years because this forum is so poorly designed/maintained.

Thanks Wizard! I've always been able to edit, but for some reason just couldn't figure out the quote feature. I've got it now!

Yes Ratty is a bit of a people pleaser and a story teller.You made a good and valid point katy.I too believe Roger and Brian version of the scrabble game it was their pass time on their long drives on those touring travels.It became a very passionate competion between the four of them.