Freddie atleast looked quite well and ok through the whole 1987-88 period. And he was actually, since he was doing Barcelona and Miracle albums then, where he is on wonderful voice, maybe the best in his career.
He had energy to give interviews but he just didnt, because they wanted to avaid some questions. There is a great 1 hour radio interview from May 1989 where the whole band is.
During 1989 his condition seemed to detoriate. Just compare his outlooks from I Want it All video until Scandal video. They were done in 6month interval and on "Scandal" he is starting to look a bir frail already. During that time they were already recording song for Innuendo.
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Yes he could have done all the shows lounging on a sofa!
Marcos Napier wrote:
I think he also looks very frail in the IWIA video already. I remember reading about the release of Miracle in some local paper, about a month before or so (remember, no internet then...) and there was a picture of them from probably 88, and also some mention of troubles during the recording due to "an undisclosed illness" of Freddie. And looking at the pic, you could really tell what it was. Only terminal cancer would make him look like that, and if it was cancer, he probably would have told about it.
When I saw them in Rock In Rio, my first impression was that Freddie was "fat" (he had a noticeable belly), but then the belly went away for Live Aid. That could have been a very early sign, I guess.
I had one neighbour that lived in my building that died of AIDS in the mid-90's, his health went downhill in like 6 months the most. I didn't meet him that often but once I saw him coming back at lunch time, and he was carrying a suitcase that seemed to weigh a ton. He was already looking pale and thinner, and half of his hair had gone, and I had seen him the last time about 2 months earlier at some concert. A month later, he was dead. Imagine having this horrible disease and having to physically work for 2 hours, plus travelling day in day out... impossible. Even if he did occasional concerts, it would be too much of a risk.
A Queen sppecial prerecorded concert with a small intimate audience wouldve been nice to celebrate innuendo. It being taped wouldve been a good way to hide the illness too. I dont know why Disney didnt put that together for the rereleases and innuendo to promote
Marcos Napier wrote:
I think he also looks very frail in the IWIA video already. I remember reading about the release of Miracle in some local paper, about a month before or so (remember, no internet then...) and there was a picture of them from probably 88, and also some mention of troubles during the recording due to "an undisclosed illness" of Freddie. And looking at the pic, you could really tell what it was. Only terminal cancer would make him look like that, and if it was cancer, he probably would have told about it.
When I saw them in Rock In Rio, my first impression was that Freddie was "fat" (he had a noticeable belly), but then the belly went away for Live Aid. That could have been a very early sign, I guess.
I had one neighbour that lived in my building that died of AIDS in the mid-90's, his health went downhill in like 6 months the most. I didn't meet him that often but once I saw him coming back at lunch time, and he was carrying a suitcase that seemed to weigh a ton. He was already looking pale and thinner, and half of his hair had gone, and I had seen him the last time about 2 months earlier at some concert. A month later, he was dead. Imagine having this horrible disease and having to physically work for 2 hours, plus travelling day in day out... impossible. Even if he did occasional concerts, it would be too much of a risk.
A Queen sppecial prerecorded concert with a small intimate audience wouldve been nice to celebrate innuendo. It being taped wouldve been a good way to hide the illness too. I dont know why Disney didnt put that together for the rereleases and innuendo to promote
i just had a thought pop in. when brian says freddie downed vodka did he really mean snorted cocaine to get those bursts of energy....things that make you go hmmmmmm? Did Brian get Hep from shooting up drugs with a needle?
There's a huge difference between darting around for a minute in front of the camera then having a break until the next shot - and going on a tour where you have to keep it up for a couple of hours.
I don't think Freddie would've been well enough at all.
I don't think Freddie would've been well enough at all.
I saw a comment on this thread saying Freddie looked better in the Headlong video than in Slightly Mad. I can't agree with that. Seeing Headlong was the first real shocker for me - far more than Scandal and The Miracle - Freddie had got incredibly skinny, fragile and weak looking by Headlong, and the camera never stayed on him long before changing shots (obviously very short bursts of energy) - whereas in Slightly Mad he's covered in make up with a wig, and bright lightning, so it's harder to tell. I thought it was a good look he pulled off in that video too. It's a good Queen vid.