Blog 23

I don’t think the garden knows what’s hit it this year. Last weekend we were hitting 10C degrees, this one just gone, record spring temperature here in CZ of -19C! Mind you they are also telling us that Easter will be beautiful and warming up!

Craig wanted to know if Freddie still liked South Africa after the controversy.
I don’t think the controversy had a huge amount to do with Freddie liking or not liking SA. I do know he felt very disappointed with himself because of the cancellation of the shows due to his ill health. The fact that his vocal nodules picked that time to flare up making him sit in his hotel suite for days on end made him fed up. There was not a lot he could do under the circumstances, so he was very bored, to the extent he had Winnie create a barbecue on the terrace of his room, to which all were invited.

Anna asked if Freddie spoke more than one language.
Many people have asked this and I believe I have covered it before. Freddie spoke English very well, and was rightfully proud of his command of the language. As to whether he spoke Gujarati, the language his parents spoke alongside English at home, I don’t know. He never spoke it in my hearing. As for other languages, German, French, Spanish or even Hungarian, when you hear him saying things on the stage, they are phrases he had learnt phonetically before the show, or phrases that are in common use in the English language… c’est la vie…. for example.

Sebastian wanted to know what Freddie’s reaction was if he produced bad vocals during a show.
Not a very happy one. Mainly because he knew he had let the fans down. There were times that mirrors were destroyed, hair brushes, make up and even some costumes thrown around the room. No-one was allowed into the room for about ½ an hour after the show, except me and at the time Paul Prenter, so that each of the band members could release their pent up emotions without having to care who heard them. It was the time that each of them could shout at each other for perceived mistakes, but usually everything was quiet and happy again after 30-40 minutes.

Aaron asked what Freddie’s mood was like during the last few days.
I think quiet is the best word to describe that time. I don’t think anyone could describe exactly what Freddie was feeling as it was him who was waiting for the end. Unless you are in this situation it would be impossible to know. There was not any laughter like in the old days obviously, but I never felt he was scared of what was to come. There was perhaps a feeling of inevitability, but even then none of us, Freddie included knew exactly how much time Freddie had left. As you all know, people were with him 24 hours a day for the last week, and we all had the same experience, Freddie would chat a little sometimes, but was quiet for the most part.

Helen asked how life went on after Freddie left us.
Empty is the best word to describe it. The whole reason for getting up in the morning was no longer there. I went through a time when I really didn’t want to get out of bed. Why should I, there was nothing left in my life. It was then that I created a plan for life; always have a dream, always have something you want to do or to see, that way you have a reason to get up every day!

Tedd wanted to know which Freddie’s favourite part of London was.
That is easy. He achieved one of his dreams in 1975 when he bough the flat in Stafford Terrace, KENSINGTON. He lived with Mary in a rented flat in Holland Road and had previously shared a flat in West Kensington, but from the time he arrived in England owning somewhere in Kensington was his aim.

Rachel asked if Freddie wrote any songs while he was drunk or high.
Freddie wrote many songs in this state. He would have something come into his brain and he could then spend hours into the early mornings working on it. He would then come back the next afternoon and ask for it to be played back. He often would sit with his head in his hands, laughing, asking why everyone let him carry on with this rubbish. I’m sure many of us have been able to solve the world’s problems during a night of excess, only to discover how wrong we were in the cold light of day.

Anthony wanted to know if I thought anyone can replace Freddie.
I don’t think I am alone in saying no, Freddie is irreplaceable. Both Brian and Roger have said this, but I am all for others carrying the flag of Queen’s music. None of us want the music to die because Freddie isn’t around to sing it anymore. All music is open to interpretation; otherwise it would cease to exist. Think how much poorer the world of music would be if it was stopped after a performer retired. There will never be another Freddie, but long live the music.

For Maii who asked for the names of Freddie’s pets.
The ones that I know of are all cats. There are in chronological order; Tom, Jerry, Oscar, Tiffany, Delilah, Goliath, Miko, Dorothy, Romeo and Lily. As far as I am aware, none are alive now as so many years have passed. I did see Delilah a few years ago and she was very weak then.

Robert wanted to know what Freddie thought of Bono and U2.
Freddie thought they were a good band and liked some of the songs, but also thought Bono had lost his way being involved with so many political projects. There is a fine line between using what influence you have over millions of fans for the good, and over doing it. Freddie knew what influence he had but didn’t involve himself publicly in many projects. He felt it was right that each of us should make up our own minds about things after we have been given relevant information. We are all individuals and should not be like sheep following the thoughts or influence of others.

Please do not get despondent if your questions have not been answered. They come in faster than I am able to reply! I just pick up questions randomly, maybe one from each page to try to get a bit of variety. Have a great week all, and be back soon!