The interview I read (used to be up at queen-interviews.com - now defunct I believe) was with Freddie's sister. She said it was a day she would never forget, it was in late 1990 (she actually said the date) and that they were sitting on the bed and Freddie pointed at marks on his ankles, and explained what was happening.
Bleeeah. If you don't trust his sister, who can you trust?
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I think that already in 1988 touring was out of question for the band.
Mary Austin has been quoted as saying several times that Freddie told her in 1984, and swore she never told a sole.
I mean, c'mon people, by 1981, in the USA...while Ronald Reagan refused to acknowledge that AIDS exists... the Health commission had already posted facts of AIDS, how it was contracted, and who is at risk.
According to Hutton, Freddie once told him right when their relationship was getting serious "Jim, you know I have been with thousands of men, but I will be faithful to you."
In 1982, we had commercials running about how if you have had unprotected sex with more than 10 partners, you are at risk for the fatal disease AIDS. "If you are homosexual, you risk increases dramatically".
So if you are Freddie, its oh..1983/1984.... you've had sex with, oh, give or take 2,000-3,000 total gay men in various cities and countries all over the world.... do you wait 3 or 4 years to get tested, or does a bell go off in your head that says "Hmmm... I may be a high risk for this?"
I think its highly unlikely that Fred waited until 1987 to get tested....thats a full 6 years after AIDS had been officially recognized and brought to the worlds attention.
Meanwhile, by 1985, Freddie had settled down already with his life partner (Jim Hutton was standing just off stage at Live Aid)..... kind of weird for someone, who according to assistance, just 2 or 3 years earlier would sometimes have sex with up to 6 different men a night...maybe there is a reason why he slowed it down??
What we all can see is that there is a difference in Freddie's personality that occurs around 1986.
What I mean is... his actions, his smile, his look, his words at 1985's LIVE AID are truly vintage Freddie... its like the Freddie of Milton Keys 1982, or Houston '1977.
At 1986's Wembley, and Magic tour... his whole personality seems to shift a little, Freddie's head & face looks slightly swollen at Wembley... (his body changed alot in the year between the Liva Aid apperance, and the Wembley DVD)... Fred was super lean, and muscle bound at Live Aid... his head is swollen, and has gained probably 10-15 pounds a year later at Wembley.
At Wembley, on the Friday night show, before Crazy Little thing called Love... He announces "this is for all you crazy faggots out there."
My honest opinion of "When Fred knew timeline" differs from all known sources.
Do I think he knew he was HIV positive at Live Aid: No
Do I think he knew by Live at Wembley: Yes
By the way, in 1991, the average HIV positive/Aid patient lived with the disease for an average of 13 years... that being the case, that puts Freddie contracting HIV in 1978. (Which, of course, HIV has been around since the 1960's science has proven)
Maybe Fred didn't contract until later??
But passing away in 1991, its almost for certain he was a HIV carrier by the 1982 Hot Space tour, and certainly would have been positive by The Works tour.
Despite my personal opinion on the timeline, I don't feel its out of the question that he knew in 1984 as Mary says he did... and what does she have to gain by saying that?
I mean, c'mon people, by 1981, in the USA...while Ronald Reagan refused to acknowledge that AIDS exists... the Health commission had already posted facts of AIDS, how it was contracted, and who is at risk.
According to Hutton, Freddie once told him right when their relationship was getting serious "Jim, you know I have been with thousands of men, but I will be faithful to you."
In 1982, we had commercials running about how if you have had unprotected sex with more than 10 partners, you are at risk for the fatal disease AIDS. "If you are homosexual, you risk increases dramatically".
So if you are Freddie, its oh..1983/1984.... you've had sex with, oh, give or take 2,000-3,000 total gay men in various cities and countries all over the world.... do you wait 3 or 4 years to get tested, or does a bell go off in your head that says "Hmmm... I may be a high risk for this?"
I think its highly unlikely that Fred waited until 1987 to get tested....thats a full 6 years after AIDS had been officially recognized and brought to the worlds attention.
Meanwhile, by 1985, Freddie had settled down already with his life partner (Jim Hutton was standing just off stage at Live Aid)..... kind of weird for someone, who according to assistance, just 2 or 3 years earlier would sometimes have sex with up to 6 different men a night...maybe there is a reason why he slowed it down??
What we all can see is that there is a difference in Freddie's personality that occurs around 1986.
What I mean is... his actions, his smile, his look, his words at 1985's LIVE AID are truly vintage Freddie... its like the Freddie of Milton Keys 1982, or Houston '1977.
At 1986's Wembley, and Magic tour... his whole personality seems to shift a little, Freddie's head & face looks slightly swollen at Wembley... (his body changed alot in the year between the Liva Aid apperance, and the Wembley DVD)... Fred was super lean, and muscle bound at Live Aid... his head is swollen, and has gained probably 10-15 pounds a year later at Wembley.
At Wembley, on the Friday night show, before Crazy Little thing called Love... He announces "this is for all you crazy faggots out there."
My honest opinion of "When Fred knew timeline" differs from all known sources.
Do I think he knew he was HIV positive at Live Aid: No
Do I think he knew by Live at Wembley: Yes
By the way, in 1991, the average HIV positive/Aid patient lived with the disease for an average of 13 years... that being the case, that puts Freddie contracting HIV in 1978. (Which, of course, HIV has been around since the 1960's science has proven)
Maybe Fred didn't contract until later??
But passing away in 1991, its almost for certain he was a HIV carrier by the 1982 Hot Space tour, and certainly would have been positive by The Works tour.
Despite my personal opinion on the timeline, I don't feel its out of the question that he knew in 1984 as Mary says he did... and what does she have to gain by saying that?
You people are nuts, theres not many scum bags on the planet low enough to knowingly infect someone with HIV which you people are seeming to imply Freddie did to Jim Hutton. Another logic flaw in Scott_Mecury's thought process is putting today's feeling about HIV/AIDS to the public perception 20 yrs ago. The term AIDS wasnt coined itil 1982 so of course Reagan (an absolutely horrible president still) didn't mention it in 81, because no one could've. TYou have to consider fears, being in denial, that even today stops people from getting tested. It's not a stretch to believe someone in the early and mid 80's would avoid getting tested. There were tons of misconceptions about HIV/AIDS too maybe Freddie Mercury figured non of his partmers "looked like they had AIDS" so that gave him false security. Where did the figure of 2-3,000 men come from? lol, Freddie must've been banging 3 or 4 guys a day then by your accounts.
kdj gay 2 hot ...bullshit whatever...
According to Freestone, there where times when Fred was in the middle of a romp where he was pounding 3 different man asses in a man on man on man on man buffet... while calling out for someone to bring him more man ass.
So actually, some days he did no one... some days he gave and received from 5, 7, 9?? different dudes.
I must laugh when I read this "he was bisexual" shit .... if banging 5 dudes in a one night "all you can spray, cum buffet" doesn't qualify for gay... then what does?
According to Freestone, there where times when Fred was in the middle of a romp where he was pounding 3 different man asses in a man on man on man on man buffet... while calling out for someone to bring him more man ass.
So actually, some days he did no one... some days he gave and received from 5, 7, 9?? different dudes.
I must laugh when I read this "he was bisexual" shit .... if banging 5 dudes in a one night "all you can spray, cum buffet" doesn't qualify for gay... then what does?
Judging from your picture "Fruit side" ... I see why you call yourself that.
In 1997, when you were masturbating to Playgirls, and stumbled across "Radio Ga Ga" on some Chipindale's stripper footage.... I had already wrote articles on Queen in major publications.
Of course, I was a fan 15 years before you...and owned all public released material by 1992.
I LOOOOOVE these teenage rock band historians on this website.
In 1997, when you were masturbating to Playgirls, and stumbled across "Radio Ga Ga" on some Chipindale's stripper footage.... I had already wrote articles on Queen in major publications.
Of course, I was a fan 15 years before you...and owned all public released material by 1992.
I LOOOOOVE these teenage rock band historians on this website.
Topics like this are ridiculous because no one was there to verify any of this. I could say that Scott Mercury was with 15 midgets a few weeks back, and I've also heard that Fruit Side plowed through a team of goats yesterday. Doesn't make it true. Whether Scott is taking licence with the albeit great descriptions ("all you can spray, cum buffet"), to think that Freddie didn't sleep with thousands of men isn't a stretch. He was rich, famous, talented, and a sexual creature. I read recently about Wilt Chamberlain's boast of 20,000 women, and I totally believe it. Whereas poor guys like us have to work on it, guys like Freddie and Wilt would round up men or women and go party. Whether Fred actually did the deed with 3,000 or 4,000 guys is neither here nor there. He had the means and desires to do it, and probably did. To pretend otherwise is naive.
Just an opinion folks...
I think Mary DID know around 1984 and that Freddie may have known then too. If Freddie didn't know in 84 then he knew by 1986 on the Magic Tour.
I agree with Scott about the complete change in Freddie's physical appearance between Live Aid in 1985..and at Wembley in 1986.
Here's the thing..which I have kept my thoughts to myself about til now. Alot of you say that the MAIN reason Freddie could not have known he had AIDS until 1986 or better yet, 1987, is that If Freddie HAD known earlier...why would he have a relationship with Jim Hutton and knowingly infect him?
As I have said on QZ MANY times, first we can all conjecture, and even hear or read ACTUAL interviews with, Mary Austin, Jim Hutton, Peter Freestone, Brian, Roger, John, Freddie's Family as to what THEY say about when Freddie knew he had AIDS...
...but the ONLY way we could EVER know the FACT of WHEN Freddie knew, is IF Freddie's medical records with the AIDS test date/positive results were ever released..END OF THAT STORY.
Next...let's just say...that Freddie already knew he had AIDS when he met Jim Hutton, (this is the part I have kept to myself til now)..
...Before you all jump on me, again I, and YOU do NOT know when Freddie knew he had AIDS...but a hypothetical situation...of IF Freddie knew he already had AIDS when he met Jim. Why would Freddie take up with Jim and infect him?...
Hypothetical reason...alot of people KNOW they have STD's of ALL kinds, deadly like AIDS, or without cure, like Herpes, or just the plain old clap. DO YOU KNOW how many husbands and wives cheat on their partners..get these diseases...and STILL knowingly infect their OWN spouses? Or people know they have these sexually transmitted diseases, THEN, LATER get in a loving relationship..and sleep with their committed partner, or MARRY them...and knowingly infect them?
This happens every day folks. Wise up and welcome to the real world. Alot of people who get AIDS, and other STD's, don't PLAN on meeting someone they love later on, then are afraid to tell their committed partner, spouse, for fear of losing them, (only they are in DENIAL that they will lose that person far worse, by endangering their health & life by knowingly INFECTING them with a life threatening disease or a regular STD.)
I read about this every day in the news...and I spent the 1990's working for a humongeous Doctors practice, (I was their paralegal, insurance provider relations rep., and biller), but I had access to 100% of the medical records, and the Drs. had to discuss...the results of STD tests, with those infected and tell them they should give us a list of everyone they slept with, or that they had to tell their spouse, partner...
..BUT there is no law forcing someone who is infected to inform their sexual partners/spouses/lovers, past & present or to practice SAFE sex from the time they are diagnosed with AIDS or an STD.
Doctors are at the mercy of Dr./patient confidentiality, and the Dr. can inform the patient to DO the right thing...but the Dr. CANNOT FORCE the infected patient to practice safe sex and not infect others and tell past sexual pertners to get tested.
People..either do the right responsible thing or they don't.
First I do NOT know when Freddie did or didn't know he had AIDS..but again, IF...he knew he had AIDS when he met Jim, well, Freddie could have said to himself...that he was finally in love with a good person, didn't want to lose him, was afraid to tell Jim, was in self denial, was too irresponsible to use a condom to protect Jim, although FYI, condoms break and are not 100% foolproof anyhow..only abstinence is once you have AIDS.
People..even good people, can act irrationally when they are in love...and know that they only have a few years LEFT TO LIVE and enjoy that love. Who knows?
Again this is only a hypothetical...that is all.
I think Mary DID know around 1984 and that Freddie may have known then too. If Freddie didn't know in 84 then he knew by 1986 on the Magic Tour.
I agree with Scott about the complete change in Freddie's physical appearance between Live Aid in 1985..and at Wembley in 1986.
Here's the thing..which I have kept my thoughts to myself about til now. Alot of you say that the MAIN reason Freddie could not have known he had AIDS until 1986 or better yet, 1987, is that If Freddie HAD known earlier...why would he have a relationship with Jim Hutton and knowingly infect him?
As I have said on QZ MANY times, first we can all conjecture, and even hear or read ACTUAL interviews with, Mary Austin, Jim Hutton, Peter Freestone, Brian, Roger, John, Freddie's Family as to what THEY say about when Freddie knew he had AIDS...
...but the ONLY way we could EVER know the FACT of WHEN Freddie knew, is IF Freddie's medical records with the AIDS test date/positive results were ever released..END OF THAT STORY.
Next...let's just say...that Freddie already knew he had AIDS when he met Jim Hutton, (this is the part I have kept to myself til now)..
...Before you all jump on me, again I, and YOU do NOT know when Freddie knew he had AIDS...but a hypothetical situation...of IF Freddie knew he already had AIDS when he met Jim. Why would Freddie take up with Jim and infect him?...
Hypothetical reason...alot of people KNOW they have STD's of ALL kinds, deadly like AIDS, or without cure, like Herpes, or just the plain old clap. DO YOU KNOW how many husbands and wives cheat on their partners..get these diseases...and STILL knowingly infect their OWN spouses? Or people know they have these sexually transmitted diseases, THEN, LATER get in a loving relationship..and sleep with their committed partner, or MARRY them...and knowingly infect them?
This happens every day folks. Wise up and welcome to the real world. Alot of people who get AIDS, and other STD's, don't PLAN on meeting someone they love later on, then are afraid to tell their committed partner, spouse, for fear of losing them, (only they are in DENIAL that they will lose that person far worse, by endangering their health & life by knowingly INFECTING them with a life threatening disease or a regular STD.)
I read about this every day in the news...and I spent the 1990's working for a humongeous Doctors practice, (I was their paralegal, insurance provider relations rep., and biller), but I had access to 100% of the medical records, and the Drs. had to discuss...the results of STD tests, with those infected and tell them they should give us a list of everyone they slept with, or that they had to tell their spouse, partner...
..BUT there is no law forcing someone who is infected to inform their sexual partners/spouses/lovers, past & present or to practice SAFE sex from the time they are diagnosed with AIDS or an STD.
Doctors are at the mercy of Dr./patient confidentiality, and the Dr. can inform the patient to DO the right thing...but the Dr. CANNOT FORCE the infected patient to practice safe sex and not infect others and tell past sexual pertners to get tested.
People..either do the right responsible thing or they don't.
First I do NOT know when Freddie did or didn't know he had AIDS..but again, IF...he knew he had AIDS when he met Jim, well, Freddie could have said to himself...that he was finally in love with a good person, didn't want to lose him, was afraid to tell Jim, was in self denial, was too irresponsible to use a condom to protect Jim, although FYI, condoms break and are not 100% foolproof anyhow..only abstinence is once you have AIDS.
People..even good people, can act irrationally when they are in love...and know that they only have a few years LEFT TO LIVE and enjoy that love. Who knows?
Again this is only a hypothetical...that is all.
I believe Mary Austin is a highly credible person so I've changed my mind a lil'. It's possible he could've known in 1984, if he didn't tell his family, why would he tell someone he just met and risk losing them. I don't see why he would wait 2 or 3 yrs to tell, I can only speculate like everyone else. But it's definitely not certain he knew and would feel the urge to get tested in 1984 despite however number of guys he had sex with. That was just the time... I just listened to the works and changed my mind totally, if you listen to machines backwards and splice it witn the last verse of man on the prowl you can clearly hear Freddie say "I have HIV dears, stay away from my man meat"...spooky...
One more fact, the HIV antibody test wasnt commercially available 'til 1985. It's highly unlikely that Freddie found out he had full blown AIDS in 1984 and lived 'til 1991 without immediately changing his lifestyle (i.e. smoking, etc), because theres no way he would've found out he was HIV positive in 1984 since a test wasnt available. I dont know if he had the clout to or go to the effort *remember teh way aids was viewed back then) to pull superstar strings to test a trial version of the test.
But doctors and the even the USA Center for Disease Control knew about full blown AIDS by as I remmeber about 1982 or 1983.
I even worked in an office with a man who KNEW hew was HIV AIDS poitive in 1982.
I even worked in an office with a man who KNEW hew was HIV AIDS poitive in 1982.
I think the best way to tell then was Karposi's Sarchoma, but the blood test wasnt available 'til 1985. Now I'm a fair and balanced guy, and I havent looked closely at the Hammer to Fall performance on live aid, I think someone said Freddie had a bruise or something on his arm, so who knows maybe he knew. I'm just saying the blood test wasnt available 'til 1985
I think the best way to tell then was Karposi's Sarchoma, but the blood test wasnt available 'til 1985. Now I'm a fair and balanced guy, and I havent looked closely at the Hammer to Fall performance on live aid, I think someone said Freddie had a bruise or something on his arm, so who knows maybe he knew. I'm just saying the blood test wasnt available 'til 1985
Im pretty sure..had he had Karposis Sarchoma during Live Aid, there's no way he could have endured thru Magic tour the next year. to have that cancer means your CD4 levels are below that 200-300 particles in m3 of blood, which means your general condition arent that good and you cant deal all the exessive physical draining touring demands. No matter what medications if any he might have used then. And just take a look how good and lively he still looked during the Golden Rose Festival @ montreux in 86. He wasnt just as high spirited and energetic as in 84 but, there's a lot of other factories affecting to it.
I don't think the band knew until after the Magic tour. If they thought it was going to be their las tour I would imagine they would have added even more dates after Knebworth.
I have to agree with Scott that Freddis appearance did change from Live Aid to The Wembley shows.
I think the band knew in 1989 as I have an interview discussing the Miracle album and I am sure that it was mentioned they would not be touring in the foreseeable future. This could have been a method to avoid any further questions.
I have to agree with Scott that Freddis appearance did change from Live Aid to The Wembley shows.
I think the band knew in 1989 as I have an interview discussing the Miracle album and I am sure that it was mentioned they would not be touring in the foreseeable future. This could have been a method to avoid any further questions.
I think in Jim's book he said Fred infected him.
I mean, wouldn't you obsessed Queen fans let Freddie infect you? I know I would think about it if it meant that I could hang out with him and party. We could play his favorite game of Scrabble and drink his favorite drink of Vodka and tonic. Stolyncha or sum shit like dat. We could put coke on our penis to make it numb and go all night and have a man train and think about Arlean.
It looks like Fred lost the "edge" during the Works tour. After watching Sydney 85, Tokyo 85 and Vienna 84, he either stopped doing the cocaine or just didn't have the energy anymore to give us what he use to. He knew during the Magic tour. Did you guys notice he sang differently on that tour?
The look in his eyes looked scared.
He used more power and force to hit the high notes. I was surprised at the falsetto on In the Lap of the Gods, the song they use to use to close their early shows.
I mean, wouldn't you obsessed Queen fans let Freddie infect you? I know I would think about it if it meant that I could hang out with him and party. We could play his favorite game of Scrabble and drink his favorite drink of Vodka and tonic. Stolyncha or sum shit like dat. We could put coke on our penis to make it numb and go all night and have a man train and think about Arlean.
It looks like Fred lost the "edge" during the Works tour. After watching Sydney 85, Tokyo 85 and Vienna 84, he either stopped doing the cocaine or just didn't have the energy anymore to give us what he use to. He knew during the Magic tour. Did you guys notice he sang differently on that tour?
The look in his eyes looked scared.
He used more power and force to hit the high notes. I was surprised at the falsetto on In the Lap of the Gods, the song they use to use to close their early shows.