#The Concert for Life - The Freddie Mercury Tribute

[faithbabes-gm-fastlove]

April 20, 1992 : George Michael backstage during The Concert for Life - The Freddie Mercury Tribute on April 20, 1992 at Wembley Stadium in London, England

[fruitcage]

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

Queen - The Show Must Go On 1991

Innuendo is the fourteenth studio album by the British rockband Queen, released on 4 February 1991. It was the band's last album to be released in lead singer Freddie Mercury's lifetime. It reached the number 1 spot on the UK album charts for two weeks, and also peaked at number 1 in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, staying at the top for three weeks, four weeks, six weeks, and eight weeks, respectively. It was the first Queen album to go Gold in the US upon its release since The Works in 1984.

The album was recorded between March 1989 and November 1990. In the spring of 1987, Mercury had been diagnosed with AIDS, although he kept his illness a secret from the public and denied numerous media reports that he was seriously ill. The band and producers were aiming for a November or December release date in order to catch the crucial Christmas market, but Mercury's declining health meant that the release of the album did not take place until February. Nine months after the album was released, Mercury died of AIDS-derived bronchopneumonia.

"The Show Must Go On" was written by Brian May, based on a chord sequence he had been working on. May decided to use the sequence, and both he and Mercury decided the theme of the lyrics and wrote the first verse together. From then on May finished the lyrics, completed the vocal melody and wrote the bridge, inspired by Pachelbel's Canon. The song chronicles the effort of Mercury continuing to perform despite approaching the end of his life. When the band recorded the song in 1990, Mercury's condition had deteriorated to the point that May had concerns as to whether he was physically capable of singing it. May recalls; "I said, 'Fred, I don't know if this is going to be possible to sing.' And he went, 'I'll fucking do it, darling' — vodka down — and went in and killed it, completely lacerated that vocal".

The song was initially not released as a single as part of promotion for the Innuendo album, but was released in October 1991 as the band launched their Greatest Hits II album. The video for the song featured a compilation of clips from all their videos since 1982. Due to Mercury's critical health at the time of its production, a fresh appearance by the band in a video was not possible.

"The Show Must Go On" was released as a single in the UK on 14 October 1991, just six weeks before Mercury died. Following his death on 24 November 1991, the song re-entered the British charts and spent as many weeks in the top 75 (five) as it did upon its original release, initially reaching a peak of 16. In 1992, the song was released as a double A-side with "Bohemian Rhapsody" in the US and reached number 2 in the US.

It was first played live on 20 April 1992, during The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, performed by the three remaining members of Queen, with Elton John singing lead vocals and Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi playing rhythm guitar. A different live version featuring Elton John on vocals later appeared on Queen's Greatest Hits III album.

Since its release, the song has appeared on television and film, including Moulin Rouge!.

"The Show Must Go On" received a total of 85,2% yes votes! Previous Queen polls: #29 "Mustapha"

[rushingheadlong]

We will always remember you, Freddie ❤️

🌻 Donate to the Mercury Phoenix Trust 🌻

(Gif sources below)

Colored Freddie gifs are from his 1985 interview in Munich with David Wigg, clip taken from the Queen + Adam Lambert documentary The Show Must Go On

Black and White gifs are as follows (L-R, Top-Down):

Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert

Flowers left at Garden Lodge, clip taken from The Show Must Go On documentary

Queen + Bejart: Ballet for Life behind-the-scenes, clip taken from the Queen Official youtube channel

No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young) music video

Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux, clip taken from the Mercury Phoenix Trust youtube channel

Peter "Phoebe" Freestone speaking in Montreux, clip taken from the Mercury Phoenix Trust youtube channel

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) trailer

Wall of messages from fans at The Queen Studio Experience, clip taken from the Suisse Virtual Tours youtube channel

Love of My Life performed at Madison Square Garden in October 2023, clip taken from the Andrew Harts youtube channel

[torchflies]

OK brain rot got me. I can fully see ice there like "do it for freddy do it for freddy" when asked to do the tribute show, he dyes his hair black and put on the makeup as a small attempt to retain anonymity, he has long debates about weather or not he should wear his old style of slutty outfits cuase he's no longer the starved thin rock star he's the properly proportioned fighter pilot and thus some of his tattoos have been mildly warped by the muscle and fat. All of this is completly unfounded as everyone everywhere thinks this returned older kiaro is hot as fuck, becuase he looks healthy, becuase he's put on weight and most importantly at a time like that becuase he lived, the fact that he lived and looks healthy is so fucking hot (on top of him having awsome stage presence and the rest).

The press try to interview him afterwards and he only says "I'm doing it for freddy not you" then dissappears removes all his piercing and makeup gets changed and blends into the crowd seemlesly once more

I’m so happy you have brain rot!!!!!

Oh, Ice definitely doesn't want to do the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at first. He tries to talk his way out of it multiple times. But he ends up going because he owes it to Freddie and the rest of Queen. In fact, most of the rock legends all know each other, they run in similar circles and they all know that Kairo Jett ran off to have a normal life. They respect that 100%. But when one of their own dies, well, that's different.

Also, Ice’s rockstar singing voice is based on Adam Lambert’s and hearing him sing The Show Must Go On destroyed me, so that's what Ice sings at the concert. The song that Queen put together and recorded while Freddie knew he was dying.

Yes!!! You touched on his body issues perfectly! Ice can barely stand to look at old interviews of himself because he looks so bad. But he feels unsure of himself as a healthy grown man who has layers of muscle and fat on his body. But everyone loves it.

Yes, yes, yes — I'm doing it for Freddie, not you.

The only time I can see Ice coming out of retirement is maybe a few voice acting gigs for movies or putting out a new album in a completely different music genre. Those rockstar days are over. 🥁🤘

Also, linked under the cut is Adam Lambert singing The Show Must Go On and please cry with me.

[riaaanna]

Montreux Part 3: Queen Studio Experience - 2 Sept 2023

I had the opportunity to visit Queen Studio Experience in Montreux for the occasion of Freddie's birthday celebration! This day (2nd Sept) was the main agenda of my entire visit to Montreux. The morning was for my dissertation lol but the afternoon was for the Studio Experience and the evening was for the official Freddie Mercury Birthday party! So here was my afternoon.

Queen Studio Experience is in the Casino Barriere Montreux, which I didn't take a picture of from outside so here's one from Google on the left (📸 Martin Tanev). It's located where Mountain Studios used to be and has been converted into a Queen museum/exhibition since 2013. It was curated by Greg Brooks after the success of the Stormtrooper in Stilettos exhibition in 2011. You can read more about its history here.

This is the display at the entrance before the door! There are two lion statues in Freddie's outfits, a Flash Gordon pinball machine (I didn't actually try it so I don't know if it works!), and one of the replicas of Freddie's harlequin catsuit that he wore on tour from '77-78.

There are actually many costume replicas that take turns taking displays inside the QSE, some of the previous ones over the years can be seen here (with pictures of other displays in QSE over the years). In fact there was a new Brian costume replica put up a few weeks after this event, and I was even back in Montreux (yes I went twice 😭) just two days before that was put up so I missed it...

There was also this coin dispenser by the entrance where you can buy a commemorative coin of Queen Studio Experience! I had exactly the right amount of cash at that time so I got myself one!

Entering the door to the exhibition, there is a small room of fan arts, poems, prints, handwritings, and a lot of fan tribute items from fans all over the world. The walls are full of them and it's touching to see the outpouring love for Freddie and Queen from so many people over the years who have come to visit the place!

When I came to visit it was quite crowded which made it difficult to take a proper overall photo of the entire place. (Not that I did that the second time round I went there either, sadly...) It took some time to get clear shots of these costume replicas on display in the middle of the room.

Inside there are four cabinets of costume replicas. The first one is Freddie's famous yellow jacket for the Magic Tour. It's also supposed to be accompanied by his Shure Unisphere microphone, but it's been taken out as a photo prop with the fee for each photo going to the MPT.

The second is Brian's Zandra Rhodes top that he wore during the '74-75 tour. There's a cute little Knucklebonz Rock Iconz statue (from the Queen II collection) of Brian on the bottom left of the cabinet. A small detail that I've just noticed is the top doesn't use a zipper in the back but instead there are fourteen buttons to hold the thing together.

The third is Freddie's black and white catsuit which he wore around '77, one of the most notable occasion being the shoot of We Are the Champions music video. Complete with matching black and white ballet shoes!

Last and absolutely The Most, is Freddie's massive lobster(? prawn?) costume for the It's A Hard Life music video, which was designed by Natasha Korniloff. I'm not sure if the big feathers are part of it. I also noticed the yellowish leaves on the back of the legs. I don't remember if they were supposed to be there? But it was a nice detail.

Inside another display case is what a typical Queen studio setup looked like when they were there. Here are closer shots of each of them along with what was written for them:

Roger Taylor’s Ludwig chrome drum kit often played in concert including Live Aid.

John Deacon’s ‘Music Man Stingray’ Bass Guitar has featured in a number of concerts.

This Brian May ‘Guild’ replica of his ‘Red Special’ electric guitar has been used in concert.

Brian’s Vox AC30 guitar amplifier.

Shure SM85 vocal microphone used during Freddie’s last studio recordings.

Yamaha DX-7 Synthesizer played on many Queen songs, including “Who Wants to Live Forever”.

"Handwritten lyrics by Brian and Roger. The band often played the game scrabble during recording sessions." The handwritten papers are clearly from Jazz session - on the left looks like a running order of the songs in the album and their durations, and on the right seems to be a lyrics draft for "Fun It". I adore the little doodles and squiggles on the paper, some of which are unmistakably Freddie's, and you can find similar ones on some items that were auctioned at Sotheby's.

There were a lot of display cases for each album, most of which are albums that were recorded there in Mountain Studios. There's not enough space to attach close-up pictures of everything but it was so fascinating to see all the different tidbits when I was there.

There was a display case that showed photos of the inside of Freddie's apartment in Montreux which I quite liked. I have to admit I never looked it up before and only saw it for the first time during my Boat Tour with Phoebe, I even struggled to find which one it was from the boat cause I stupidly didn't google what it looked like before 💀. It was new information to me that the stuff from there were also auctioned at Sotheby's so I guess it's all empty now.

But outside the casino on the side of the building there is a Queen Tribute Wall, which is just a big wall dedicated as a giant guestbook for fans to leave their own handwritten marks. On the second photo above, on the far corner on the left (I didn't properly take a picture of) there's a door, which actually used to be the original entrance door to Mountain Studios when it was still active. Again great to see marks from people from all over the world!

It was only a quick tour of QSE before the main sessions which I'll have separate posts for! But before that the next one after this will be a Lyrics special, because QSE was a goldmine of handwritten memorabilia and I adore each and every one of them. Thank you for reading!

[definitionsfading]

some stream of consciousness updates on the simmering Axl Rose hyperfixation as it develops (lmfao)

was not aware of some of the racist/homophobic language in GNR's early discography and it quite literally shocked me to hear, considering Slash (lead guitarist) is biracial, but from what I've been able to tell they've long since deviated from that particular song and some contemporary album pressings don't include it anymore. I guess back in 1986 the world was a different place and they were a hard rock band with a hardcore image but still, zoinks lmao. oof. no like that

Axl seems to have struggled with mental illness most of his life and there's this super intriguing situation that I don't think is well-known outside hardcore GNR fans, where the former nanny of his ex-girlfriend basically became a ""mother figure"" to him in the 90s when he was at a low point....and so this Brazilian woman named Beta and her adult kids are basically Axl's found family now? he never had any children, never remarried, and just lives with these people and his cats. super fascinating, I'm still trying to understand the extent of their relationship, because Beta is also apparently his acting band/tour manager....!? I wonder if something nefarious is going on there in the background but they do genuinely "seem" like a family. weird.

the guy truly loves his cats and I feel like this fact is a green flag despite all the other historical shit, but I could always be wrong lol

cannot believe the way tumblr and pinterest have babygirl-ified him in modern times. like LITERALLY going off with the yassification edits and adding lipstick and eyeliner and nose contour to photos of the man from 1991.........if tween me in 2005 had witnessed this I'd probably be a different person today. y'all are fucking wild but okay I guess

Axl loved and adored Freddie Mercury and was a big part of Freddie's tribute concert after his death; he also admires Elton John and was part of the induction ceremony when Elton got brought into the rock n' roll hall of fame. Axl was also apparently very reluctant/resistant about using hard drugs despite his fellow band members' rampant substance abuse and never used anything other than weed? I never would have imagined lmao but hardcore if true. the anal retentiveness and control issues speak for themselves

[alienelvisobsession]

The Freddie Mercury Connection

How unlikely that one of the most revered rockstars of all time was born in Zanzibar (an island off the eastern coast of Africa) to Indian immigrants, right? But, after all, how likely was it that Elvis Presley, with his smoldering looks, swiveling hips, and revolutionary musical talent, came out of a dirt-poor family of sharecroppers from Tupelo, Mississippi? I find the parallels between Elvis and Freddie Mercury fascinating, and there are many in my head. Ready Freddie?

Considered two of the best and most recognizable voices in popular music, Elvis and Freddie both had an incredible, almost unparalleled, stage presence, they came from an unlikely milieu unrelated to entertainment, and died in a heartbreaking way in their 40s. I find the way they are remembered and cherished very similar.

But let's start from the beginning! When he was at boarding school in Panchgani, near Bombay, in the late '50s, Freddie Mercury, then known as Farrokh Bulsara, formed his own band, with his schoolmates Bruce, Farang, Derrick, and Victory. They were called "The Hectics". Surprisingly, Freddie didn't sing, Bruce did. Freddie was too shy, so he played piano in the background. "We all wanted to be Elvis," Bruce remembers. The girls from another school screamed, "just like they'd heard girls the world over were beginning to do when faced with current idols". They played lots of Elvis, who was one of the rock 'n roll idols back then, but also Fats Domino and Little Richard, two of Freddie's favorite artists.

That shyness that relegated him to the background in school seems to have gone by the time we meet him again in England in the late '60s, singing with his blues band Ibex. He opened his shows with "Jailhouse Rock", a song he also performed with Queen many times. It allowed him to "indulge in gleeful histrionics, but for some time the rest of the group were unsure about Freddie's stage antics." How wrong they were! See for yourself in this live version from 1982.

In 1979, two years after Elvis' sudden death, Freddie wrote a tribute song to his idol, in the form of a rockabilly pastiche. It's one of Queen's most famous songs to this day: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". He notoriously wrote it in 10 minutes while lounging in the bathroom. “I did that on the guitar, which I can't play for nuts," he said to Melody Maker, "and in one way it was quite a good thing because I was restricted, knowing only a few chords. It's a good discipline because I simply had to write within a small framework,” he continued. “I couldn't work through too many chords and because of that restriction I wrote a good song, I think.”

Everything, from the production to the lyrics is a call back to early rock 'n roll music. His voice on that track sounds so much like Elvis' that some people think it's an Elvis song. He said about it: “My voice does sound a bit like Elvis Presley’s on ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’. That wasn’t something I was trying to do, naturally, it was pure coincidence. It’s all sung rather low, so then you soon come close to Elvis, especially with such a 50s-type song". Freddie even kicks it up a notch in the video by wearing a black leather suit (albeit with kneepads!) and styling his hair like Elvis did.

Aptly for a song with a rockabilly feel, "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" was Queen's first number-one hit in the States. I don't know if it was because she had heard that song, but Lisa Marie Presley, then only a child, said in an interview that she loved Queen's theatrics and that the first concert she attended was Queen in LA in the late '70s. She gave one of her father's scarves to Freddie. Even though he never met Elvis, Freddie cherished the scarf for the rest of his (short) life.

You can find my other Elvis connection posts at this link. I've written about Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Quentin Tarantino, among others.

[liesmyth]

I finally pinpointed why my eye twitches and my entire soul aches when I read Ted Lasso fics that put Wembley Stadium is in Manchester. It’s not because I care overly much about the finer details of London landmarks or the heart of English football or anything like that. It’s because I spent hours of my life obsessively playing that one youtube clip of David Bowie & Annie Lennox performing Under Pressure live at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert and it’s thus ???? unfathomable ??? to me ???? to realise that exist people in this world who didn’t have an 80s rock phase and never even watched Live Aid 1985 @ Wembley. You’re missing OUT

[ultra-francesca-mercury]

sept. 5, 1946

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is born as Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar

Destined to one day be considered one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time, Freddie Mercury is born into a diverse range of childhood experiences. Raised as Farrokh Bulsara in a family of Parsis (Persian immigrants to India), Mercury grows up practicing the Zoroastrian religion. Most of his childhood is spent in India, where he takes up piano lessons at seven years old. By the age of 12, he starts his first band, the Hectics, while attending St. Peter's School in Panchgani, India. A passionate fan of Western pop music, Mercury dazzles friends with his ability to play back on piano the songs he hears on radio. In order to escape the Zanzibar Revolution, Mercury and his family move to 22 Gladstone Avenue in Feltham, Middlesex, England, in 1964, when Mercury is 17-years-old. Mercury earns a diploma in Art and Graphic Design from Ealing Art College and joins a couple bands before meeting guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Together, they start up Queen. This is also the time when Bulsara starts using the name Mercury, after the Roman messenger to the gods. With Queen, Mercury becomes one of the most iconic figures in UK music history. Queen's song "Bohemian Rhapsody" is in the Guinness World Records British Hit Singles Book as the UK's favorite hit of all time. The band has nine UK #1 albums and six UK #1 singles, not to mention 25 Top 10s and somewhere between 150 and 300 million records sold. Songs such as "Under Pressure," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and "We Are the Champions" continue to get regular airplay long after their initial releases. Mercury's solo albums, including his debut, Mr. Bad Guy (1985), also sell well in the UK (though not as well as Queen's), with one going gold and the other silver. For his efforts, Mercury is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2001), the Songwriters Hall of Fame (2003), and the UK Music Hall of Fame (2004). Mercury is also revered as a representative of the LGBT community. Mercury's death from AIDS complications on November 24, 1991, significantly raises public awareness of the disease. Following his death, the surviving members of Queen hold the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert on April 20, 1992. Held at Wembley Stadium and featuring a lineup of legendary musical acts, the concert is viewed by 1 billion people in 76 countries. Mercury's tragic, brilliant life takes him around the world multiple times and leaves behind a legacy of beloved music and social impact, all starting on this day in 1946 in Zanzibar.

[binkbonkers]

🏳️‍🌈Pride Month Day 5: Freddie Mercury🏳️‍🌈

The next artist is Freddie Mercury, who is best known as the lead vocalist and pianist in the rock band Queen. While Mercury never explicitly said what his sexuality was, many speculated that he was bisexual due to his relationships with both men and women. Journalists also speculated on his sexuality based on his theatric and flamboyant stage presence, both as a part of Queen and during his solo career. Part of this flamboyant style was seen in the music video for the band's song "I Want To Break Free," in which Mercury and the other members of the band crossdressed as housewives. Mercury is also considered one of the best vocalists of all time, like during Queen's iconic Live Aid performance in 1985.

Unfortunately, Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. He continued to record with Queen during this time, but he passed away in 1991 due to complications from the disease. In 1992, a tribute concert was held to honor him and benefited AIDS awareness. The album "Made In Heaven" featured Mercury posthumously in 1995. Mercury was inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Queen in 2001, and his life was turned into a biopic in 2018.

[natromanxoff]

(x)

Freddie’s £10m rhapsody of hope for AIDS victims

World's biggest concert will pay for new hospital

ROCK LEGEND Freddie Mercury left a legacy of hope to thousands of fellow AIDS victims, it was revealed at the star-studded Wembley tribute to the Queen lead singer last night.

Guitarist Roger Taylor said a clinic for HIV and AlDS sufferers called the Freddie Mercury Hospital will be built in Britain from concert proceeds. Mercury died aged 45 last November after losing a long battle against AIDS. A large part of his fortune was donated to AIDS charities. It is expected that the total amount raised from last night's rock spectacular will top £10 million.

"This is something we feel strongly about and we are sure Freddie would approve," Taylor said.

“It's a means of using the tragedy to some good effect in bringing a greater awareness of the fact that AIDS affects all of us.”

Just before the show volunteers handed out red ribbons to fans, symbol of AIDS Awareness.

Hollywood stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Liza Minnelli joined forces with the cream of pop and rock talent including DavidBowie, Elton John, George Michael and metal band Guns'n'Roses.

Supermodel Cindy Crawford, the 26-year-wife of actor Richard Gere, spoke of the courage of close friends who died from AIDS.

Global

"The more discussion there is about AIDS the more people can learn and everyone needs to help," she said.

The 72,000 fans at Wembley paid £25 or more a head.

It was also broadcast live and attracted a larger global audience than Live Aid, going out to a billion people.

Some fans fell prey to touts charging up to £250 for tickets.

Even so, hundreds of fans were prepared to fork out.

"I supported Freddie throughout his life and I will support him in death," said Steve Parkin, 22, who travelled from Liverpool with no ticket.

"He was the greatest and I couldn't miss a concert like this."

Jayne Browning from Sheffield said: "I came with £100 and I would be willing to spend all of that."

Protests

Guns'n'Roses were one of the surprise bands in the concert.

Four years ago lead singer Axl Rose wrote a song with the lyrics: "Immigrants and faggots spread disease".

Shows have been dogged by protests from gay rights activists ever since.

But Guns'n'Roses drummer Matt Sorum said the band would be using the concert to explain their behaviour towards gays.

"Axl has a few things to say about accusations about being homophobic," Sorum said.

"He's still getting flak from it."

Just before the show Axl seemed to be suffering stage fright.

He failed to turn up for rehearsals and missed a sound check, preferring to stay in his Mayfair hotel suite.

Liz Taylor presented George Michael with a brooch with red rhinestones set in silver in the shape of the AIDS symbol.

Then, in a speech half way through the concert, she urged the crowd to practise safe sex and use condoms.

"You are the future of our world, you are the best and brightest," she said.

Gay

"You are the shining light that will illuminate a better world tomorrow.

"Protect yourselves. Every time you have sex use a condom. Every single time.

"Straight sex, gay sex, bisexual sex — use a condom whoever you are.

"And if you use drugs, don't share the needle.

"Each day around the world 5,000 people are infected with HIV — the virus that causes AIDS.

"Just last week it was reported in the U.S. that there are 9,000 actual cases of AIDS among teenagers and young adults, with thousands more who probably don't even know they are infected.

"There are 72,000 people in this stadium tonight. Look at yourselves, look at how many you are.

"In two short weeks there will be as many new infections as there are people here tonight. Please don't let it happen to you."

She added: "We are here to celebrate the life of Freddie Mercury, an extraordinary rock star who rushed across our cultural landscape like a comet shooting across the sky.

"We are also here to tell the whole world that he, like others we have lost to AIDS, died before his time.

"The bright light of his talent still exhilarates us, even now that his life has been so cruelly extinguished.

"It needn't have happened. It shouldn't have happened. Please, let's not let it happen again.

"Protect yourself, love yourself, respect yourself, because I will keep telling you until you do.

"I won't give in and I won't giveup, because the world needs you to live."

At the show the stars poured out personal tributes to their dead friend.

Roger Taylor said: "This concert is primarily a celebration of and a tribute to our dear friend and colleague Freddie Mercury."

His Queen co-star Brian May added: "It seems inconceivable that we now have to do without Freddie.

Living

"This proud, vibrant, irreverent and passionately creative man surely cannot have been extinguished in the prime of his life.

"Freddie was denied the privilege of growing old but in 45 years he packed in enough living for a dozen lifetimes.

"A child of strict upbringing he was, when I met him some 25 years ago, an uncertain youth stepping into an unfamiliar world outside.

"But his head was full of great dreams and the certainty that they could be achieved.

"At the age of 20 he already lived the dream, and behaved with a gentle grandeur that demanded respect.

"He looked and acted like a million dollars, though he scarcely had the bus fare home.

"That never changed. Later, when his millions were safely in the bank, someone else always carried his purse.

"Perhaps in changing his name prior to our first record he decided to leave the fragile Frederick Bulsara at home under parental care and become the god Freddie Mercury."

Queen guitarist John Deacon said: "It's hard to imagine being here without Freddie. We will all miss him."

Elton John said: "Until a cure is found I won't rest. I've lost so many friends.

"I'm in my mid 40s and this is the time in life that instead of just planning everything around a career, you can try to do something else."

George Michael said: "Freddie Mercury was a great inspiration to me and I felt a genuine loss when he died.

"So this concert will be a strange mixture of honour and sadness.

"Hopefully it will also serve as one more opportunity to fight against AIDS.”

[Photo caption: HELPING: Supermodel Cindy Crawford yesterday. She lost friends to AIDS]

[Photo caption: TALENT: Queen singer Freddie Mercury, dead of AIDS]

[obsessivelollipoplalala]

Okay I'll write in points here because it's long

It started with Freddie saying something like they are gonna stay together until they die and I thought how poignant it is in hindsight.

I loved Brian May's insights the starting was very sweet with him telling us that him and Freddie shared rooms for a decade, that he knows him really well and about how shy he was until firmly saying that he was gay even if people don't want to believe it. There was another person saying the same thing, I forgot her name but I think it's unfortunate that it's really common for people to outright ignore or deny any queer artists' identity just because they don't want to deal with whatever biases they have going.

Roger Taylor was really mad about the media/tabloids attacking Freddie and I get it especially The Sun because it's still trash today. Just vile and immoral for no reason.

Then it went to them saying that the band had a guess of what's going on with Freddie because they saw him disappear for treatments and coming back with scars but not wanting to believe it so they just never brought it and made a whole album before Freddie ultimately told them.

All the pictures with Jim Hutton were really cute I have to say and his sister saying that she was told that he was the gardener but he was around every time she went to her brother's house so she put 2+2 together lol.

The minute Anita Dobson came on screen I was trying to remember where I had seen her then I remembered it was the doctor who clips that were going viral on Twitter. But she seems so sweet and she had really cute story about how she became friends with Freddie and how he introduced her to Jim. She did say that Freddie told her when he couldn't sing anymore he'll die and that's she thinks what happened. She also seemed really sad that she lost contact with Jim I guess they were close.

Also I got more songs from this documentary so I'm really happy about that, I just googled the lyrics.

I didn't know Elton John was really close with Freddie, he seemed so heartbroken in all the videos they played of him.

Also Joe Elliot was there that was a surprise, was he friends with Freddie? I know I have heard Robert Plant talk about Freddie Mercury before. I secretly adore the idea of all these frontman that people like to pit against each other being friends in real life.

I might watch the tribute concert or atleast the George Micheal's part of it, he sounded so good and David Bowie was clapping from the sidelines during the rehearsal ( I get it, he was superb )

I feel like I got insights to the entire band' dynamic so thats nice because we have all heard Bands going like oh we like each other, we are a family but when one of you is gone and how the rest treat their memory is the true test of that.

I'll respond in bullet points lol

Brian was great in the documentary, and is one of Freddie's most consistent defenders, especially in regards to his sexuality. I love when Brian talks about knowing Freddie so well through sharing rooms and talking about his shyness, because you can just feel the fondness there and get the distinct sense that he loved Freddie the human being as opposed to the showman, which can't be said for everyone who knew Freddie

Yeah, The Sun was particularly vile, and the band really hated the press. Brian wrote the song "Scandal" in 1989 for the album, The Miracle, because the press was hounding Freddie (and Brian about his affair and divorce, but that's another story). I can't remember if this documentary mentioned it, but the fact that the press had set up a camera to see into Freddie's bathroom is just so vile

The Miracle is the album that they made before Freddie told them the truth. If you listen to the album, there are a couple songs hinting at what's going on, because as you saw, the band knew something was wrong. Fun fact: one of Brian's favorite songs that Freddie wrote is "The Miracle" because Freddie was able to write about beautiful things while he was sick

Lol yes, Kashmira knowing that Jim was Freddie's partner was funny

Yep, Anita was in Doctor Who! Her most famous role was in EastEnders in the 80s. There's another interview where she talked about an episode of that show being viewed by millions of people, and overnight people knew her face, and Freddie called her up like, "Guess who's in the paper, darling ;)" Anita was a true friend to Freddie and visited him while he was ill with Brian. Yeah, her theory that Freddie stopped fighting when he couldn't sing anymore lines up...Freddie's last song was "Mother Love"; Brian was the one who wrote it, but Freddie had to go home before it was finished because he was feeling unwell. He said he'd be back, but he never returned to the studio...And yeah, that doc revealed that Anita kept in touch with Jim to some extent. I really wonder what that relationship was like

Yes, Elton John was very close to Freddie! He still tears up when he talks about receiving a Christmas gift from Freddie a mere month after he passed...

I can't remember with the Joe Elliott thing tbh. I think he knew Freddie? I also feel like I'm remembering that he called up Brian after Freddie passed to check in on him, so maybe he was on friendly terms with the band, yeah

The doc does show how close the band was towards the end and how protective Brian and Roger are of Freddie's memory at the very least, yeah. It's really a great doc and I'm glad you watched it and got something out of it

[sobalvarro1]

Freddie Mercury, Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, Live Aid, British rock band, lead vocalist, songwriter, pianist, flamboyant stage presence, iconic mustache, Zanzibar, Parsi, Farrokh Bulsara, rock and roll hall of fame, greatest singers of all time, We Will Rock You, Somebody to Love, I Want to Break Free, Don't Stop Me Now, The Show Must Go On, A Kind of Magic, Under Pressure, Killer Queen, Another One Bites the Dust, Love of My Life, Innuendo, Mercury Phoenix Trust, AIDS activism, posthumous releases,Barcelona, Montserrat Caballe, The Great Pretender, solo career, Mr. Bad Guy, Made in Heaven, Queen + Paul Rodgers, Queen Forever, biopic, The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, The Freddie Mercury Album, The Platinum Collection, Lover of Life, Singer of Songs, The Very Best of Freddie Mercury Solo, The Solo Collection

[appetite4savage]

Wasted Time (Vivian Campbell)

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Request: Vivian’s girlfriend comforts him after his departure from Dio

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Vivian’s POV, 1986

“Four years of my life out the window just like that.” I groan, putting my head in my hands.

“They’re going to realize they made a mistake one day. Everything will work out.” My girlfriend, Y/N, tries to console me.

“How could they fire me just because I think I deserve to make a little more money than the people who mop the floors?” At this point, I can’t help but let the tears escape from me. Even though the band itself made me miserable, being on stage with Dio was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.

When you join an incredible band like Dio at only 20 years old, you feel like you’re untouchable. Until you aren’t. Ronnie and I just could not come to an agreement about the pay he promised us that we so rightfully deserve.

“I’m sure it’s more of Wendy’s fault than it is his. Although if he had the balls to stand up to her, we probably wouldn’t be here. It isn’t your fault.” She continues, wrapping an arm around my waist and holding me closer. “I promise, everything will be fine. You’re still an amazing guitar player and have such a bright future ahead of you.”

“I hope you’re right. I never want to feel like this again.”

I’ve already received a couple offers to join some other bands but none of them feel right for me. I’m proud of the skills I’ve accumulated over the years and feel I should be able to showcase my abilities in the best way possible.

“Mark my words, babe. In the next ten years you will find your home. They will treat you like the amazing man you are.”

I lean over to kiss her. “Thank you, I love you.”

“I love you.”

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Vivian’s POV, 1992

“Are you ready, Viv?” Phil’s voice calls out to me.

“I’m, uh, a bit nervous.”

Today I’m performing with Def Leppard at the Freddie Mercury tribute concert. There’s a lot more people here than at our first gig in Dublin that only had around 600 people.

He pats me on the back. “You’ve got this, mate.”

“Thank you, just hope I don’t royally fuck this up.”

Finally, Y/N arrives. She’s the only person who can calm my nerves.

She runs into my arms, squealing with joy.

“I can’t believe this! I told you you’d find your home. I’m so proud of you.” She kisses me gently and observes the size of the crowd outside.

“My heart feels like it’s going to leap out of my chest. What if I make a fool of myself?” My nerves start to kick in even more.

“You’re incredible. It will go smoothly.” Her hand cups my cheek.

“Vivian! It’s time!”

This very well could be the beginning of something great.

[brightlotusmoon]

Taylor Hawkins Tribute Concert at Wembley: an inside look by NME

"Saving heartbreak for last, May sat at the end of the runway with an acoustic guitar for a searing rendition of ‘Love Of My Life’, echoing the Freddie Mercury tribute concert that was held in this venue exactly 30 years ago, which was the last time anything of this magnitude was held in honour of one man. But what a man."