by Cosmicwhodini

Created on: May 31, 2008

I saw a tiny article it was no more than about 10 lines in the middle of a newspaper which read something like: An Aids specialist has visited Freddie Mercury today." This was months before anyone had any inkling he had Aids. I was surprised to see the article almost hidden away from our view. When it came to light he had Aids I was not surprised, in fact it made it slightly easier for me to come to terms with the fact he was about to die.

I never saw Queen live and I wish I had, but I was at school at the time and my mother was not a big pop fan so asking her A) for the money for a ticket and B) Driving me into another country (From South Africa to Bophutaswana - Sun City) was not a non-starter.

I can imagine Freddie coming onto stage in a golden horse drawn carriage, or perhaps popping up from under the stage. I then think the concert itself would've been full of explosions and many dress changes. Sigh....however it really was I wish I had just had one night of it.

I have always been drawn to flamboyant showie off types of people if I may use this terminology, so Freddie was a very special performer to me. I loved his eccentricity and almost in your face "I don't care what you think" attitude as to the way he dressed and acted.

I can't recall if I read this or heard it, but in private he was anything but loud and verbose. This is how a lot of show types are. They take on one persona for the stage and they are quiet and shy as themselves.

It is strange how some famous people have a fear of "coming out" as George Michael was. Some people like Boy George were openly gay from the start. I also heard Boy George and George Michael were friends, but when they both became famous George Michael did not want to have anything to do with him. We all knew what Freddie was but who cared? I certainly didn't he was far too good a performer for me to care about that.

I think he had a gift of drawing people in. All I can say is thank goodness for the video footage we have from his concerts. I have seen a few live musicians in my time, but only one other has entertained me on this level. It was clear he loved being on stage even though he might sing the same song 100's of times. I recall seeing Chris De Burgh back in is hey day. He said to us that this was something like his 97 concert of that part of the tour!

His Band Queen knew of his illness long before any of us. It has been said that they went to I think it was Switzerland to record as much music as possible. Freddie was reported in saying that they should write until they drop. By this time his illness was quite advanced so he had his good days and bad days.

It is dreadfully sad when someone is taken from us long before their time. It is all about the what ifs. What would've James Dean Given us? Would Marilyn Monroe become a recluse or made movies until she dropped? Or most recently what about Heath Ledger? At least with Freddie he had already made a tremendous amount of albums for us to enjoy either with Queen or as a solo artist.

His had a very distinct voice, if you heard a Queen song for the first time you knew it was Queen. He had a great voice, one that could touch you and hold you for 3 or so minutes. It has been around 20 years since he died and I wonder if his music will still be played in another 20 or 40. One thing is certain I will still be playing his music then. People like him don't appear very often and he gave it his all.

Wherever you are Freddie hope you are entertaining your fans just like you did us!

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