Was Freddie ill as early as 1984?

brENsKi wrote:

Freddie Jupiter wrote:Sweating is a very non-specific symptom. .

unless you're Prince Andrew - in which case it's a non-symptom. :-)

Hahahahaha!! :)

Having seen Milton Keynes again it's clear that Freddie is sweating freely, albeit not to the extent of 1986 shows. As it's mid 1982 it's not very likely that he had contracted AIDS yet, so my guess is that it's more a case of a lifestlye of smoking, drinking and cocaine as well as advancing age is showing.

If you look at shows from the 70s Freddie (as well as the rest of the band) hardly sweat at all.

I suppose it's unlikely then by 1984 he was displaying any malaise because of AIDS. But my most accounts Freddie knew he had AIDS by 1986 and knew the Magic Tour would be his last. At Wembley he says "we're going to stay together until we f*cking well die*" which I can't interpret any other way other than an acknowledgement of his limited time left.

Those lighting rigs just got bigger and hotter, and The Works lighting rig was a fierce monster, even Brian commented on it saying
it was awful to work under.

Except for a few gigs, he didn't look very fit during the Works tour. Not like he did during the Hot Space tour.
The Magic tour was even worse. He looked tired and had lesser energy. It’s not only the four years age difference.

You have to keep the venue in mind when it comes to sweating...an indoor concert would have a smaller stage and a controlled climate. That means less area to run around and less humidity and heat...thus less potential for sweat. I could be wrong, but in the example you cite Montreal, which is indoors, vs. Wembley and much of the Magic tour being outdoors, where the stage is huge, it is probably warm and humid, and Freddie must project farther. That equals far more sweating.

"So is it possible that by 1984 he had the first stages of AIDS?"


It wouldn't hurt to get yourself a bit more educated about HIV/ Aids before starting these nonsense speculation threads !

It's likely that he was HIV positive by 1984, and who knows, he may have been getting ill. Nobody knows but him and his doctor, and they're both dead.

The sweating was most definitely because those stage lights are HOT. He was moving, quite vigorously, under stage lights, while singing. You try it and you'll see it's not that easy. Also, doing that stuff when you're in your late 30s (Works and Magic tour) are not the same as doing it in your late 20s (A night at the Opera tour....) or even early 30s but he definitely sweat a fair amount on the NOTW tour as well.

I think you're probably putting two and two together and seeing what isn't there.

The only thing I will add is that of course the other members of Queen AND Peter Hince and some others noted that Freddie found the Magic Tour more difficult and demanding than the previous tours, and they have suspected it was *possibly* down to him already not being well. Since he was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS in early 1987 obviously he wasn't very well during the tour but you know, he made it all work

He had some throat infections which by the time was the first symptoms of HIV positive. But all these are speculations, he had gained weight, he was smoking, drinking, partying etc which were factors for his voice and stamina. Also back in 1984 he injured his leg and he said in an interview that may this affect his more elaborate theatrical moves.
Probably he was positive by 1982 - 1984, without knowing it, whatever affected his stamina and health was contributed to other factors.

I think i read somewhere that stated Freddie contracted the Aids virus in 1981 in Brasil or Argentina.
This could possibly be true as it was a good ten years before Freddie died in 1991.

I think the best points that have been made here are 1) he was older and 2) he was "partying" (drinking, smoking, drugs) so any speculation is useless.

Cello0 wrote:

Looking back at Queen at Wembley '86 (and even Live Aid) there is something I noticed. At the time I didn't think anything of it but learning later on about how Freddie was diagnosed with AIDS around about '86 it takes on a significance.

Freddie perspired heavily during the Magic Tour.. Even as early as the second song the sweat is almost pouring off his forehead. Compare that to Montreal in '81. Hardly a drop of sweat even until the end of the show. It seems to me that the early stages of AIDS were causing a visible strain on his body by 1986.

But then looking back at The Works Tour in 1984 he's also sweating quite a bit. So is it possible that by 1984 he had the first stages of AIDS?

Yes, he was ill in 1984, and in fact, much earlier. For instance, in February of 1967 Freddie had a pretty bad cold. The sweating's a different matter, though. Just before many of the 1984 shows, Freddie took Big C, making him sweat. Incidentally, Big C was later tested and found HIV-positive, though it is impossible to tell whether he got it from Freddie.

Now, back to the original question, Freddie had a pretty severe case of indigestion in early 1985 so yes, he was ill. Since (SPOILER ALERT) Freddie was also the letterbox, this was discovered in a rather unfortunate manner by mailman Jim Hutton. I have it on very good authority that this was going to be the climactic scene in the movie, but it was cut at the last minute. I have not seen the film, but I'm absolutely sure that it is terrible and doesn't make the least bit of sense without this crucial scene. According to my source, Brian insisted on having it cut out because, and I quote, "Queen fans aren't a bunch of sick perverts who enjoy watching that kind of scatological smut", which just goes to show how completely out of touch with his fan-base Brian has become.

So yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus and he's doing fine, because Freddie definitely wasn't HIV-positive at the time of the 22-12-1977 show.

I'm glad to see that deeper, tasteful, more serious questions still have a place on QZ, and that I could help clear matters up a little.

So therefore Brian was homophobic as far as the anal sex scene goes calling it smut! Brian is really out of touch these days but for a man ranting at camera men and demanding a gym change the music to his demands Brian is above himself and on a slippery slope!

QE2. wrote:So therefore Brian was homophobic as far as the anal sex scene goes calling it smut! Brian is really out of touch these days but for a man ranting at camera men and demanding a gym change the music to his demands Brian is above himself and on a slippery slope!

the definition of "smut/smutty" is something an individual might consider to be pornographic. our sexual preferences and peccadilloes are what make us all different. if we were the same then everything would be vanilla. the fact that some are more prudish or liberal than others doesn't make anyone homophobic. it makes us different - that is all.

it's not homophobia Gerry. being anti a specific sex act is not homophobic. anal sex is something that isn't the exclusive property of homosexual sex. Brian's abhorrence for the act may stem from the act itself and not the orientation of those engaging in it - or even his upbringing.

Speaking of anal, there's a LOT of assholes on this website, so much so that I've decided that it's a bit of a waste of time coming here again. Oh well there's 48 hours I won't get back again