28 years on Sunday

It's that time of year again, 28 years on Sunday since Freddie left us. In some ways it feels like just yesterday and in other ways it feels like an eternity ago. He's just as famous now as he's ever been, and I've no doubt he'd be really proud of the legendary status he has achieved in the years since his death. Freddie used to admire the greats of his past, the actors and actresses, the singers, the composers, and he'd be proud that he's now listed among them. Given the choice we'd rather have him here, but we didn't get that choice.

Whatever we all think about what Brian and Roger are up to, or what we think about John's decision to stay out of things, or Adam Lambert's voice, or the Bohemian Rhapsody film or the latest cruddy compilation or autotuned live LP, let's take a bit of time this weekend to remember with gratitude the man and musician that was and is Freddie Mercury.

On November 25th I've no doubt we can all go back to tearing each other's and Brian May's hair out.

Freddie lives forever. Always missed.

I still remember exactly where I was when I heard it on the radio. Can't believe it was 28 years ago. I was 21 then. *sigh*

That's when I became a Queen fan. I was a little boy. My local radio station played Queen's music, so frequently for a week. Not just the hits, but everything! I didn't know who or what Queen were, I didn't know about Freddie Mercury, but I loved the sounds I was hearing. I didn't even know it was about Freddie's death until years later. I wasn't into any music until that point in my life. It still took years to get a Queen album. I heard about Freddie's sexuality, and at that age, I didn't dare ask for a Queen album, but my Mom bought me Greatest Hits I & II for Christmas one year, and I was so hooked. Before that, I was relying on the radio and old Queen fan sites to listen to the whole spectrum of Queen's music, which were mostly downloads of rarities. So I never got to hear the late 80's / early 90's Queen much until I got the Greatest Hits I & II album.

/\ Great read mister cosmicc !

Ditto.

I wasn't even born when Freddie died and yet I miss him...weird.
I think he feels so alive and vibrant on screen and in his music that i feel a sense of loss when I think he isn't around any more.

Seems like yesterday- was in Guildford at the time and went up to Garden Lodge on the day he died.

My first memories about Queen/Freddie are from the early nineties, after Freddie had died.
I remember Living on my own being a hit in 1993 and absolutely adoring that voice.
I also remember the top 100 on 31/12 a couple of years after Freddie's death with Bohemian Rhapsody being number 1 and my very young self being mesmerized by that voice (again).
Around the same time (mid nineties) I read in a newspaper article about a man who died after admitting 1 day earlier that he had aids. I was intriguied by this story but being only about 8 or 9 years old it took me many more years to figure out this person was the one with the voice that I admired so much!!
In pre internet days getting info wasn't that easy :-)

I was 8 when he died. Had just become a fan when the Innuendo album was released.

I remember.. went back to work after new year...

I was a young child in my last year of primary school.

Funny, I got mistaken for 28 years old the other day hahahaha

Wow, I feel old.

Was 9 when he died.

28 years? Jesus Christ, how can it be that long ago?

I feel old as hell.

Long live Fred.