Here is a question.
Some of you may find it odd, but I have asked my wife, and friends this (who all know I am a huge Queen fan) and their answer have all been yes.
The question?
Do you feel that Freddie's sexual orientation made Queen even more popular?
If so, why?
If not, why?
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i don't think that it made them more popular but in the eyes of people who aren't fans (my dad for example) just a bunch of fadgets it angers me entierly and doesn't make much sense judging by the fact that john roger and brian all have a wife and kids
Do you feel that Freddie's sexual orientation made Queen even more popular?
Maybe with the gay community. Also his style, which is, hmmm not so common amongn straight guys, but yet is copied so much by straight guys, kinda weird as I met some guys who were not gay, but thought acting gay is cool, lol. Of course I have used the line "I'm gay" to actually get laid by a girl, you know all girls wanna change a gay man =-)
Maybe with the gay community. Also his style, which is, hmmm not so common amongn straight guys, but yet is copied so much by straight guys, kinda weird as I met some guys who were not gay, but thought acting gay is cool, lol. Of course I have used the line "I'm gay" to actually get laid by a girl, you know all girls wanna change a gay man =-)
In these days of metrosexuality it might have made a difference but in the 80's to come out was considered career suicide. We all know Freddie never actually 'came out' but was common knowledge that he was gay except the fat girl from Washington, Bristol, Prague with Freddie patches all over their faded gut-bursting denim jackets who refused he was gay and fantasised about Freddie sweeping them off their feet. You know who you are. Check out Magic Years there's some right heffers in there.
Nope, it probably made Queen less popular because people would be scared to admit that they like them for fear of mockery. "Oooooooooooooh so and so likes a gay band (Nudge,nudge, wink, wink)". You get the picture. And of course the fact that people who weren't fans thought that the other three were gay so they looked like a gay band.
Here are my thoughts:
I think it depends on you you ask.
I, for one, that while I am 100% hetero, I knew as a child that Freddie was gay...
He just didn't act like most other men.
But for me, that was a plus.... because he was an interesting performer...
He didn't just stand there in a T-Shirt & Jeans (Lynyrd Skynrd) .... He actually performed...
He was obviously light in the loafers, but who cares? He was cool....and you couldn't deny his vocal talent.
Next, Anyone that thought the rest of the band were gay....weren't paying too much attention, however, I think this is a issue where it really proves that Freddie was the groups main leader....and one hell of a salesman too.
The other members (all straight) had to have taken issue with Freddie wanting to name the band Queen...but in the end, Freddie the salesman was able to show the others his vision...and they called the band Queen.
*Calling yourself Queen in 1971, would be like calling yourself "The Flaming Bologna Pony Smokers" in 2005.
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Next issue:
MY MAN FREDDIE, MY FAVORITE SINGER EVER...WAS GAY.
What is up with all this denial.... he was gay..
Who cares?
He was cool as hell.
I get tired of hearing...."oh no, he was bisexual"
Let me use an example, and Leppar, I will use you, as I know you are cool, and can take a joke.
If Leppar and I go to a Def Leppard concert...and back stage, Joe Elliot says "Boys, I have a room full of beautiful women for you".
If Leppar, my friend, walks into the room, and has sex with 1 of the girls..... then leaves the room and has sex with 9 guys in a all male on male orgy.
I'm not going to think...."Man, my buddy Leppar, he's bisexual"
Hello?? If that were the case...then Leppar is GAY.
Same way with Freddie... because of who he was, he may have had sex with a few women....but don't kidd yourself... Freddie was a homosexual, he much preferred men....and according to Mary Austin, Freddie had sex with her, and maybe 3 or 4 other women in his life....
When asked if she knew how many men...she said the Freddie used to say "I stopped counting at 1,000 darling"...
I think that qualifies for homosexual?
Anyone disagree?
I think it depends on you you ask.
I, for one, that while I am 100% hetero, I knew as a child that Freddie was gay...
He just didn't act like most other men.
But for me, that was a plus.... because he was an interesting performer...
He didn't just stand there in a T-Shirt & Jeans (Lynyrd Skynrd) .... He actually performed...
He was obviously light in the loafers, but who cares? He was cool....and you couldn't deny his vocal talent.
Next, Anyone that thought the rest of the band were gay....weren't paying too much attention, however, I think this is a issue where it really proves that Freddie was the groups main leader....and one hell of a salesman too.
The other members (all straight) had to have taken issue with Freddie wanting to name the band Queen...but in the end, Freddie the salesman was able to show the others his vision...and they called the band Queen.
*Calling yourself Queen in 1971, would be like calling yourself "The Flaming Bologna Pony Smokers" in 2005.
__________________________________________________
Next issue:
MY MAN FREDDIE, MY FAVORITE SINGER EVER...WAS GAY.
What is up with all this denial.... he was gay..
Who cares?
He was cool as hell.
I get tired of hearing...."oh no, he was bisexual"
Let me use an example, and Leppar, I will use you, as I know you are cool, and can take a joke.
If Leppar and I go to a Def Leppard concert...and back stage, Joe Elliot says "Boys, I have a room full of beautiful women for you".
If Leppar, my friend, walks into the room, and has sex with 1 of the girls..... then leaves the room and has sex with 9 guys in a all male on male orgy.
I'm not going to think...."Man, my buddy Leppar, he's bisexual"
Hello?? If that were the case...then Leppar is GAY.
Same way with Freddie... because of who he was, he may have had sex with a few women....but don't kidd yourself... Freddie was a homosexual, he much preferred men....and according to Mary Austin, Freddie had sex with her, and maybe 3 or 4 other women in his life....
When asked if she knew how many men...she said the Freddie used to say "I stopped counting at 1,000 darling"...
I think that qualifies for homosexual?
Anyone disagree?
Freddie was Gay.
The only people who say he is bi-sexual are the ones who cannot accept the fact that thier rock idol is Gay.
Get over it.
The only people who say he is bi-sexual are the ones who cannot accept the fact that thier rock idol is Gay.
Get over it.
First of all, while most people "knew" or had an idea about Freddie's sexual orientation..especially with his very flambouyant personality,
Freddie NEVER, EVER publicly or OPENLY stated whether he was Gay, Bi, Straight... he always kept people guessing, so whether his sexual orientation affected Queen's popularity is totally a matter of conjecture.
I personally don't care whether an artist is Gay, Bi, Straight,..but many closedminded people who are bigoted, homophobic, intolerant..do and if any artist Publicly and Openly states that they are gay or bi, the public for ignorant, bigoted narrowminded reasons...stops buying their records and concert tickets.
Freddie though he was Outrageously Flamebouyant....and while most people could pretty much figure out his sexual orientation,
--as I stated before...Freddie still Never publicly or openly stated what his sexual orientation was to the public and to the press, and Freddie was very guarded about skirting the issue..probably for any or Both of these reasons below....
1) He felt that his sexual orientation was his own precious, personal, private life to be left alone.(Rightly so!!)!!
2) He was afraid that "Outing" himself might indeed hurt Queen's and his career.
Rob Halford in a NEW Interview about the Judas Priest reunion/New album/Tour, specifically when asked about his outing himself as Gay once he became a solo artist...says that he only publicly felt safe to take the risk to openly state that he is gay, when he left Judas Priest, during his solo career.
Rob Halford, specifically states that had he NEVER left Judas Priest for a solo career, that he would NOT have openly Outed himself as Gay, he says quote ("No, as I love this band too much"). Halford was willing to take the risk while a solo artist, knowing it might hurt his solo career, but he would not have outed himself while with Judas Priest because of the jeobardy it would have placed on the entire band and all of the band member's careers had there have been a public backlash.
So while alot of us were savvy enough to figure out which team Freddie batted for...and then again Freddie may have been unsure too...we have no right to say he was Bi..or Gay..as only he can answer that and he NEVER did, again that was his private business.
Plus, maybe Freddie was unsure himself. Geez, like alot of people he liked the "company" of both men & women, sexually, or romantically, or as friends, and maybe he wasn't 100% sure himself.
After all, David Bowie "Outed" himself years ago as Bisexual, then in the 1990's he happily married and had a baby with Supermodel Iman, and when Bowie was asked about his "outing" statement years before, he said that people grow through life and evolve and now he is straight and a Happily married man with a baby.
This is all conjecture about Freddie again...as Freddie kept what ever he felt was his own private personal business, to himself and he had every right to do so.
Frankly, I don't care one way or the other.
I just adore Freddie, Queen and their music...and I have my own "opinions" as to the sexual orientation to half the music and entertainment industry, but I still love and buy their work...but that's me.
Alot of people are not so tolerant and openminded.
Freddie's personal life was just that, his personal business and we can't say that his sexual orientation affected Queen's popularity when Freddie NEVER EVER Publicly stated what his sexual orientation was (even if alot of us think we know what it was)...if that had actually happened that would have been another story.
Freddie NEVER, EVER publicly or OPENLY stated whether he was Gay, Bi, Straight... he always kept people guessing, so whether his sexual orientation affected Queen's popularity is totally a matter of conjecture.
I personally don't care whether an artist is Gay, Bi, Straight,..but many closedminded people who are bigoted, homophobic, intolerant..do and if any artist Publicly and Openly states that they are gay or bi, the public for ignorant, bigoted narrowminded reasons...stops buying their records and concert tickets.
Freddie though he was Outrageously Flamebouyant....and while most people could pretty much figure out his sexual orientation,
--as I stated before...Freddie still Never publicly or openly stated what his sexual orientation was to the public and to the press, and Freddie was very guarded about skirting the issue..probably for any or Both of these reasons below....
1) He felt that his sexual orientation was his own precious, personal, private life to be left alone.(Rightly so!!)!!
2) He was afraid that "Outing" himself might indeed hurt Queen's and his career.
Rob Halford in a NEW Interview about the Judas Priest reunion/New album/Tour, specifically when asked about his outing himself as Gay once he became a solo artist...says that he only publicly felt safe to take the risk to openly state that he is gay, when he left Judas Priest, during his solo career.
Rob Halford, specifically states that had he NEVER left Judas Priest for a solo career, that he would NOT have openly Outed himself as Gay, he says quote ("No, as I love this band too much"). Halford was willing to take the risk while a solo artist, knowing it might hurt his solo career, but he would not have outed himself while with Judas Priest because of the jeobardy it would have placed on the entire band and all of the band member's careers had there have been a public backlash.
So while alot of us were savvy enough to figure out which team Freddie batted for...and then again Freddie may have been unsure too...we have no right to say he was Bi..or Gay..as only he can answer that and he NEVER did, again that was his private business.
Plus, maybe Freddie was unsure himself. Geez, like alot of people he liked the "company" of both men & women, sexually, or romantically, or as friends, and maybe he wasn't 100% sure himself.
After all, David Bowie "Outed" himself years ago as Bisexual, then in the 1990's he happily married and had a baby with Supermodel Iman, and when Bowie was asked about his "outing" statement years before, he said that people grow through life and evolve and now he is straight and a Happily married man with a baby.
This is all conjecture about Freddie again...as Freddie kept what ever he felt was his own private personal business, to himself and he had every right to do so.
Frankly, I don't care one way or the other.
I just adore Freddie, Queen and their music...and I have my own "opinions" as to the sexual orientation to half the music and entertainment industry, but I still love and buy their work...but that's me.
Alot of people are not so tolerant and openminded.
Freddie's personal life was just that, his personal business and we can't say that his sexual orientation affected Queen's popularity when Freddie NEVER EVER Publicly stated what his sexual orientation was (even if alot of us think we know what it was)...if that had actually happened that would have been another story.
How he spent his life and last 6 years pretty much prooves his sexual orintation, Pretty much like my brother in law and my cousion, confused in late teens/twentys, finding who you are, and settling in what suits you around the late 20's/early 30's.
The difference between Bowie and Mercury is this:
David Bowie was born a straight man, than do to his fame, and open mindedness, was willing to see what sex with a man was like.....
In essence, David Bowie experimented with a few men because he could....
By all of Bowie's closest friends account...Bowie was always about women, and even the few times he "fooled around with guys"...women were present.
I don't believe that Freddie was born a straight man. I feel he was a born homosexual.... I think he sometimes liked the idea of marriage...
But sometime in his mid 30's realized that he could never really love a woman , and thus... he did have a marriage the last 6-7 years of his life.
It was just an unconventional one, as it was to Jim Hutton.
I don't have a problem with this in the least, and Queen have always been my favorite group.
I think Freddie was a born homosexual, who always was sexually attracted to men, and he was just being himself.
I doubt if anything quote "turned him gay".
He was gay.
It's not really a big deal, and doesn't change the wonderful music.
David Bowie was born a straight man, than do to his fame, and open mindedness, was willing to see what sex with a man was like.....
In essence, David Bowie experimented with a few men because he could....
By all of Bowie's closest friends account...Bowie was always about women, and even the few times he "fooled around with guys"...women were present.
I don't believe that Freddie was born a straight man. I feel he was a born homosexual.... I think he sometimes liked the idea of marriage...
But sometime in his mid 30's realized that he could never really love a woman , and thus... he did have a marriage the last 6-7 years of his life.
It was just an unconventional one, as it was to Jim Hutton.
I don't have a problem with this in the least, and Queen have always been my favorite group.
I think Freddie was a born homosexual, who always was sexually attracted to men, and he was just being himself.
I doubt if anything quote "turned him gay".
He was gay.
It's not really a big deal, and doesn't change the wonderful music.
I think the fact he was gay gave much effects on Queen music and made it more brilliant and more attractive in many ways.
I don't have a problem with this in the least, and Queen have always been my favorite group.
I think Freddie was a born homosexual, who always was sexually attracted to men, and he was just being himself.
I doubt if anything quote "turned him gay".
He was gay.
It's not really a big deal, and doesn't change the wonderful music.
ditto...
Freddie was Gay.
The only people who say he is bi-sexual are the ones who cannot accept the fact that thier rock idol is Gay.
Get over it.
I can accept it, I'm perfectly fine with it, in fact, I think it gave him a helping hand (minus the AIDS part) but I actually thought he was bisexual, seeing as 78% of biographies I read said that. Thanx for clearing up this whole thing! But seriously, don't you think we dwell on this too much?
I don't think we dwell on it too much.
Queen, (Freddie especially) were a very sexually oriented group.... see the video for "Body Langauge & Bicycle Race to confirm this).
Freddie is the frontman, the most famous, and the chief songwriter...
He also happens to be gay.
Gay is much more accepted now, than it was 20 years ago... but in most culture's, its still not the norm.
Sexuality makes up a large part of who we are.
When you combine that with someone like Freddie, who was always saying sexual stuff, and wanting to fuck, and the size of his hose...etc..etc...
with the fact that he was very gay...
Then you really do have a large part of what this group is about.
Now, Freddie sexuality is not the only thing.
Obviously if Brian was coming up with a riff, he's not wondering "Hmmm... this needs to sound as though Freddie is in a bath house getting his salad tossed"..
But the gay thing is in everything Queen does.
Because Fred is so obviously gay.
The other 3 had to be very comfortable with themselves, and very trusting that Freddie knew what he was doing.... I give them mad props for that.
Queen, (Freddie especially) were a very sexually oriented group.... see the video for "Body Langauge & Bicycle Race to confirm this).
Freddie is the frontman, the most famous, and the chief songwriter...
He also happens to be gay.
Gay is much more accepted now, than it was 20 years ago... but in most culture's, its still not the norm.
Sexuality makes up a large part of who we are.
When you combine that with someone like Freddie, who was always saying sexual stuff, and wanting to fuck, and the size of his hose...etc..etc...
with the fact that he was very gay...
Then you really do have a large part of what this group is about.
Now, Freddie sexuality is not the only thing.
Obviously if Brian was coming up with a riff, he's not wondering "Hmmm... this needs to sound as though Freddie is in a bath house getting his salad tossed"..
But the gay thing is in everything Queen does.
Because Fred is so obviously gay.
The other 3 had to be very comfortable with themselves, and very trusting that Freddie knew what he was doing.... I give them mad props for that.