I Still Love You Too, Freddie

Queen - Live in Montreal (1981)

It's been 18 years since we lost you, Freddie. I still remember you, and yes, I still love you too.

Queen - These Are The Days Of Our Lives"



Queen - "These Are The Days Of Our Lives" Live Remix

Today's Tune: "Devil And Daughter"By Black Sabbath

English film, television and stage actor Denholm Elliott died on October 6, 1992. Elliott, a twice married bisexual, had two children. One was a daughter who hung herself to death in 2003. Denholm Elliott was diagnosed with HIV in 1987, and died in 1992 of AIDS related tuberculosis.

During his acting career, he starred and appeared in supporting roles in many well known films and TV productions, including 'The Holly And The Ivy' (1952 Film), 'Sweeney II' (1978 Film - Second based on TV series) and Bleak House (1985 TV). Our 'Today's Tune' relates most, at least in name, to Denholm Elliott's 1976 Hammer Film Productions movie 'To The Devil A Daughter'. I offer "Devil And Daughter" by Black Sabbath for your listening pleasure.

Black Sabbath - "Devil And Daughter"

Today's Tune: "Mother Love" By Queen

This 'Today's Tune' is in honor of Freddie Mercury, as he was born on September 5, 1946. Mercury is best known as lead singer for one of Britain's all time greatest bands, Queen. Freddie (Farrokh Bulsara) was born on Zanzibar, an island of Tanzania, of Parsi heritage. He later went to school in India, before he and his family moved to London, England in 1964. There, he became a British citizen, went to college and in 1970, formed the band Queen with guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor and bassist John Deacon. They spent many years as one of the world's top bands. Mercury was diagnosed as having AIDS in the Spring of 1987. Freddie died November 24th, 1991, less than twelve hours after publicly announcing through a prepared statement that he had AIDS.

"Mother Love" is supposed to be the last song ever recorded by Freddie Mercury. You'll notice the last verse being sung by guitarist Brian May. It is said that after having willed himself through recording several other songs, he didn't have the strength to finish the last one. However, it may have just been decided later that it needed a bit more at the end to properly finish the tune.

The song's meaning has been debated, but to me it is quite simple. "Mother Love" is not about love from Freddie's mother. The song refers to his desire to be loved with the same intensity and unyielding quality as a Mother's love of her child, the mother of of all loves. A love without fear of being left behind. There's no deviant meaning here. There is only one line that actually brings up the actual mother - "Mama, please let me back inside". This is about a frustrated, lonely and scared person wanting to hide away from the sometimes overwhelming real world. Most likely, Freddie was thinking of his (much more than) close friend Mary Austin, when he and Brian May wrote this song. He loved her as much as any gay (bisexual?) man could ever love a woman.

I browsed through several videos, and couldn't decide which was best. Therefore, here's two of the fan made YouTube videos I like.

Queen - "Mother Love"



Queen - "Mother Love"

Queen + Paul Rodgers 'Live In Ukraine' Widget

Queen + Paul Rodgers 'Live In Ukraine' 2CD + DVD Package Sets Available In June

The Queen + Paul Rodgers new 'Live In Ukraine' 2CD Album / DVD package sets are scheduled to be released on June 15, 2009. For those of us who could not attend the actual "Life Must Go On" benefit concert or any of the tour dates for 'The Cosmos Rocks' album that followed, this is an important release. The closest we've been to experiencing the newer music live in the USA was the 'Let The Cosmos Rock' one night only movie theatre version of this concert.The following Press Release was issued on April 13th.


Queen + Paul Rodgers Live in Ukraine
Release date: June 15th

Formats / Package Choices:
DVD Amaray Box
2CD Album + DVD Limited Edition
Tin Box 2CD Album + DVD + T-Shirt
Digital Download (Audio only)

When it comes to taking on logic-defying challenges, Queen have never fought shy: think Hyde Park, Latin America, Live Aid. All these years later, Queen are still living adventurously. Here’s the case in point: just weeks ahead of the start of the band’s 2008 Queen + Paul Rodgers’ The Cosmos Rocks tour the band were approached to help Ukraine’s AntiAids Foundation reach out to the youth of the country with the message "Don’t Let Aids Ruin Your Life”.

In a country facing the highest rising rate of infection throughout Europe, it is a message which cannot wait. For Queen + Paul Rodgers - already well prepared for a tour opening with two nights at Moscow’s SCO arena, it would mean some drastic rethinking. The venue on offer was Kharkov, Ukraine’s, historic Freedom Square, a place so big that during World War II it was used to land planes. For the band and crew it meant “Everyone had to run very fast, very suddenly, but then most of the great and worthwhile things in your life are a little dangerous.” Despite the seeming impossibility of it, Queen + Paul Rodgers made it to Freedom Square for the night of September 12, 2008.

Over 350,000 Ukrainians came to see them play and more than 10million homes watched the show live on television. In all, more than 20 million took part in what the band recall as “an unforgettable experience…one of those rare things in life you know you will never forget. A meeting in Music, but also a coming together to fight a common enemy…”

Learn more at:
http://www.antiaids.org/ / http://www.mercuryphoenixtrust.com/

Tracklisting:
One Vision
Tie Your Mother Down
Show Must Go On
Fat Bottomed Girls
Another One Bites The Dust
Hammer To Fall
I Want It All
I Want To Break Free
Seagull
Love Of My Life
‘39
Drum Solo
I’m In Love With My Car
Say It's Not True

--------------------------------------- (proposed CD split point)

Shooting Star
Bad Company
Guitar Solo
Bijou
Last Horizon
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
C-lebrity
Feel Like Making Love
Bohemian Rhapsody
Cosmos Rockin'
All Right Now
We Will Rock You
We Are The Champions
God Save The Queen

December 1st Is World Aids Day

From Wikipedia:


World AIDS Day, observed December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day. Government and health officials also observe the event, often with speeches or forums on the AIDS topics. Since 1995, the President of the United States has made an official proclamation on World AIDS Day. Governments of other nations have followed suit and issued similar announcements.

AIDS has killed more than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007,[1] and an estimated 33 million people worldwide live with HIV as of 2007,[2] making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2 million lives in 2007,[3] of which about 270,000 were children.[4] .....

In Rememberance Of Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury continues to be in my thoughts as this day passes, so below are a few more YouTube videos dedicated to him.

Sampling of "Time" (Freddie Mercury version)
and "Who Wants To Live Forever?" Instr. (Queen).


Freddie Mercury in Garden Lodge (Real?), Death Reports


Freddie's True Love was Mary Austin.
Queen - "Love Of My Life"

Wishing Freddie Peace And Happiness In Eternity

Freddie Mercury Memorial in Montreux, Switzerland.
Photo from Montreux.ch

May Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara) enjoy peace and happiness in his eternity. I think of him often. I hope Heaven is everything he could have imagined and more. Today is the 17th anniversary of his death, so it's a day when he is on my mind and in my heart more than usual. May he bring as much joy to all those in Heaven as he has done and still does for those still on this Earth.

Queen - "Who Wants To Live Forever"

'Let The Cosmos Rock' In USA Theatres Nov. 6th

The European Tour ends November 8th for Queen + Paul Rodgers, after which they'll head to South America for a few concerts. While no dates have been set for the United States yet, you can still see them performing live in America on November 6, 2008. Well, sort of.

On the 6th, Fathom Events is presenting for one night only, 'Let The Cosmos Rock'. This is a movie of the "Life Must Go On" AIDS benefit concert performed at Freedom Square in Kharkov (a.k.a. Kharkiv), Ukraine on September 12, 2008. The movie will be shown in theatres all over the USA at 7:30 PM local time. The set list includes many of the classic hits by Queen and a couple from the new album, 'The Cosmos Rocks'. Also included are some of the best songs by Paul Rodgers and his band Bad Company. This concert took place just before the guys began their concert tour of Europe.

To see a list of the Theatres showing the concert movie, click here.


"Life Must Go On" Ukraine TV Advertisement


'The Cosmos Rocks' USA TV Advertisement

'The Cosmos Rocks' Released In USA And CA 10/28/2008

The first Queen + Paul Rodgers studio album was finally released in the USA and Canada Tuesday, October 28, 2008. 'The Cosmos Rocks' was released in the UK and the rest of the world on September 15, 2008.

Now we North Americans can get our very own copy and listen to the whole eclectic assortment of music that is included in this much anticipated creation. Until now, we've only rarely even gotten to hear the album's first two singles "Say It's Not True" and "C-lebrity", on US radio stations anyway. Brian May, Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers wrote all the songs and played all the instruments recorded on this album. Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins added background vocals to "C-lebrity".

Not only did Europe get to buy the new album a month and a half before us, but they've already experienced the new music live in concert. The European Tour officially started September 16, 2008, the day after the UK / Rest Of The World album release. The guys also did an AIDS benefit concert in Kharkov (a.k.a. known as Kharkiv), Ukraine on September 12th, after doing a short rehearsal show near London, England for various media on September 3rd. Queen + Paul Rodgers will probably tour the US and Canada at some point, but when and how many shows? I'm guessing the answer will depend on the amount of interest shown here via sales of the new CD, sales of the previous live CD's and DVD's, and the amont of radio airplay that the band gets here. Venue availability will also play a part in where and when.

'The Cosmos Rocks' Interview - Summer 2008


'The Cosmos Rocks' YouTube Sampler - All Tracks

Freddie's Birthday Is September 5th

Farrokh Bulsara, better known as singer, songwriter and musician Freddie Mercury, was born on September 5th, 1946 in Stone Town on Zanzibar, near the coast of mainland Tanzania. He and his family, of Parsi heritage, moved to London, England in 1964 due to the Zanzibar Revolution. Freddie died November 24th, 1991, just one day after publicly announcing that he had AIDS.

I often think of Freddie, and like many of his fans and loved ones, wonder what what would have been if he were still alive. I'm sure he would have created and performed much more amazing music. I get very sad when I think of him being gone. But it's mostly the beauty, energy and truly honest feeling he put into every bit of his music and his life, that often brings a tear to my eyes when I watch his videos and listen to the music.

Memories of Freddie and his music, whether with Queen or any of his solo or collaborative ventures, also puts me in a good mood many times. He still is my favorite singer. He was lead singer for my all time favorite band, Queen. I had a blast at the concerts, along with good friends and family (sisters - Kim and Cherie). It's incredible how this one person, whom I've never actually met, has been with me for some of the saddest and most joyous times of my life.

Thank you Freddie Mercury!

Queen - "The Show Must Go On"

Queen - "Too Much Love Will Kill You"

Queen - "These Are The Days Of Our Lives"

46664 Concert To Honor Mandela At 90

Paul Rodgers, Roger Taylor, Mandelas in 2005

Many of the world's most famous people will be gathering to celebrate Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday during the 46664 Concert at Hyde Park in London, England today. The concert which starts at 1:30 PM EDT will raise money for Mandela charities and raise worldwide awareness of AIDS.

This will be the sixth concert bearing the number 46664 since November 2003. Mandela was numbered 46664 by prison administration because he was the 466th prisoner to arrive at Robbin Island in the year 1964. He was held prisoner until 1990 as punishment for fighting Apartheid.

As Mandela says, "It's in our hands". To make a donation visit 46664.com. To watch the concert live click here. The event will be rebroadcast on July 18, 2008. A video taped two hour version of the concert will be broadcast in the US Monday, June 30th on VH1.

Queen + Paul Rodgers - "Say It's Not True"

Brian May and Zucchero - "Cosi Celeste" 46664 Arctic 2005

05/05/2008 Brian May Interview On 95.5 KLOS FM

The following audio is Brian May being interviewed on 95.5 KLOS FM Radio by Cynthia Fox and Jim Ladd on May 5, 2008. He was in Los Angeles, CA promoting his book - "Bang! The Complete History Of The Universe". The six part audio (mp3 downloads) can be found in the archives of May's web site, along with the complete transcript.

Part 1: Astrophysics PHD, Sir Patrick Moore, Book, Chancellorship

Part 2: Nelson Mandela's 90th Birthday, AIDS, Freddie Mercury

Part 3: Astronomy, "Bang! The Complete History Of The Universe"

Part 4: Al Murray, Queen + Paul Rodgers, "The Cosmos Rocks" (new album)

Part 5: Takes calls from listeners, Talks about book signing

Part 6: "We Will Rock You" musical still playing worldwide, etc.

Queen + Paul Rodgers 2008 European Tour Press Release

In case you haven't heard yet, Queen + Paul Rodgers are to release their first studio album together. According to today's BBC News article, they plan to call it The Cosmos Rocks, and release the album on September 1, 2008. Here's the official Tour Press Release posted yesterday, March 19, 2008. It includes the currently scheduled European Tour dates. It also has some historical information for people who might be a little behind the rest of us serious fans. With the tour being announced before the album is even out yet, you can tell these guys are anxious to hit the boards again.


Queen + Paul Rodgers Rock The Cosmos 2008 Concert Tour

Well, at least UK, Northern Eurasia, Central, Southern and Eastern Europe

With highly anticipated return to Latin America expected to follow


Tour heralds in first new Queen studio album in 13 Years

With a new album in the pipeline - the first new studio album to carry the Queen name since the Freddie Mercury sessions – Queen is heading back on the road for a four-month tour, once again in the company of musician/singer/songwriter Paul Rodgers who joined the band for the highly successful 2005/2006 world tour, the European leg of which ended with the band’s spectacular London Hyde Park open air concert before going on to play the US and Japan. In all, the band’s tour was attended by more than a million people.

Together Brian May, Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers have recorded their first album’s worth of material, jointly written and produced. With the title yet to be disclosed, the album is being readied for release September 1, two weeks ahead of the start of the tour.

The Queen + Paul Rodgers 28-date arena tour will take in 14 countries in just seven weeks, and take the band to Northern Eurasia, Central and Southern Europe, and the UK, and is expected to wind up at the end of the year with the band’s highly anticipated return to South America, the setting of some of its most historic tours in the early 80’s.

Queen’s historic Latin America dates set new world records for the numbers of the audiences it attracted. At the 1985 Rock in Rio concert the band played to an unheard of audience of 300,000 and was watched on television by nearly 200 million people throughout the South American continent.

The 2008 tour kicks off mid-September in Russia with two dates at Moscow’s SCO Olympic Arena, moves on into Poland for a massive free concert at the historic Gdansk Shipyard, and then follows a path through Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands before arriving in the UK early October for 6 dates including London’s 02 Arena on October 13.

The UK dates see the band additionally play Nottingham, Glasgow, Cardiff and Birmingham with a final UK date at Liverpool Arena on October 18 before continuing on to Spain, Hungary, Serbia, Czech Republic and Austria for seven further dates.

Tracks on the new Queen + Paul Rodgers album are all newly written by May, Taylor and Rodgers during the late 2007/ early 2008 recording sessions. ‘Say It’s Not True’, previously released at the end of last year by Queen + Paul Rodgers as a special World Aids Day download for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV AIDS charity will be included, plus a ‘first’ for a Queen album – a cover version.

One of these tracks, C-lebrity, will receive a sneak preview when the band make a by-demand return to the UK’s ITV Al Murray’s Happy Hour for the final show on April 4.

Queen’s last studio album release was “Made In Heaven” released in November 1995 containing the last recordings with Freddie. The album became the band’s biggest selling studio album, with world sales in excess of 20 million.

Queen’s “Greatest Hits 1” album has achieved the distinction of being the UK’s biggest selling album of all time, having sold a staggering 5,407,587 copies in Britain alone (source: VH1/The Official UK Charts Company. November 2006).

Paul Rodgers is and has been one of the most sought after and recognizable vocalists in rock music. Celebrating his 40th anniversary as a recording artist, Rodgers is known for his work as a founding member of bands Free, Bad Company, The Firm and as a Grammy nominated solo artist. He has written, produced and recorded some of radios biggest hits including “All Right Now,” “Feel Like Making Love,” and “Radioactive.” Rodgers’ latest CD/DVD release, “Live in Glasgow,” charted internationally and was recently certified Gold.

Between them, Queen and Paul Rodgers have released more than 50 albums during their long careers and sold in excess of a staggering 300 million records.

Tickets for all UK dates will go on sale at venue box offices and usual ticket agents from Saturday April 5.

.

Official UK tour hotline: 08700 11 26 26

.

http://www.ticketzone.co.uk/

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Pre-registration is available from Wednesday April 2 at:

http://www.queenonline.com/

http://www.queenpluspaulrodgers.com/

http://www.paulrodgers.com/

.

UK ticket prices: £49.40, £39.50 (check venues).

A Phil McIntyre Entertainment Tour.

.

The Cosmos Rocks over Europe at:

.

EUROPE LEG 1:

Tuesday 16 September Moscow SCO Olympic Arena RUSSIA

Wednesday 17 September Moscow SCO Olympic Arena RUSSIA

Saturday 20 September Gdansk Shipyard POLAND

Sunday 21 September Berlin Velodrom GERMANY

Tuesday 23 September Antwerp Sportspaleis BELGIUM

Wednesday 24 September Paris Bercy FRANCE

Friday 26 September Rome Palalottomatica ITALY

Sunday 28 September Verona Arena ITALY

Monday 29 September Zurich Hallenstadion SWITZERLAND

Wednesday 1 October Munich Olympiahalle GERMANY

Thursday 2 October Mannheim SAP Arena GERMANY

Saturday 4 October Hannover TUI Arena GERMANY

Sunday 5 October Hamburg Color Line Arena GERMANY

Tuesday 7 October Rotterdam Ahoy NETHERLANDS

.

UK:

Friday 10 October Nottingham Arena

Saturday 11 October Glasgow SE&CC

Monday 13 October London 02

Tuesday 14 October Cardiff Arena

Thursday 16 October Birmingham NIA

Saturday 18 October Liverpool Arena

.

EUROPE LEG 2:

Wednesday 22 October Barcelona Palau Sant Jordi SPAIN

Friday 24 October Murcia Estadio Municipal SPAIN

Saturday 25 October Madrid Palacio de Deportes SPAIN

Tuesday 28 October Budapest Sportarena, HUNGARY

Wednesday 29 October Belgrade Arena SERBIA

Friday 31 October Prague 02 Arena CZECH REPUBLIC

Saturday 1 November Vienna Stadthalle AUSTRIA

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2005-2006 World Tour Photos, Album Graphic - Queen + Paul Rodgers

Queen + Paul Rodgers' "Say It's Not True" (46664) Video

Well, here's the 46664 version of Queen + Paul Rodger's"Say It's Not True" video via You Tube.

A higher quality version can be viewed for free from the 46664 web site directly. That is, if you want to have a higher quality cry. Alternatively, you could just download the mp3 audio. Or, you can check out the tearless(?) version offered up by Raffles306 below.

"Say It's Not True"

Per QueenOnline.com ...

"Say It's Not True" - FREE

Queen and Paul Rodgers Announce Newly Recorded Free Download For Nelson Mandela’s 46664 On World Aids Day. Click HERE to download "Say It’s Not True".

It has not been that closely a guarded secret that rock legends Queen and Paul Rodgers have been in the recording studio for their first sessions together following their successful world tour of 2005/2006. Indeed, both singer/songwriter and founding member of Free/Bad Company Paul Rodgers and Brian May have been quoted on their websites as being “quietly excited” about the music that has been produced from this creative union.

Spurred on by their commitments as Ambassadors to Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV AIDS global campaign, on which the spotlight will fall December 1 with a World Aids Day awareness and fundraising concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Paul Rodgers are rushing to finish a track specially written for 46664 by Roger Taylor and have it available as a free download in time for this coming Saturday’s AIDS HIV benefit concert.

The track, Taylor’s “Say It’s Not True” (see lyrics below), originally came to light for the launch of the 46664 campaign back in November 2003. Taylor wrote the song as a gift to Mandela and performed it live for him for the first time with Brian May and Dave Stewart at the inaugural 46664 concert in Cape Town that month. The song carries the message that HIV AIDS is something that can affect any one of us no matter our sexual or racial status. ...


... “By making the song available for free”, says Taylor, “we hope to help Nelson Mandela with his campaign to get across the message that no-one is safe from infection. We have to be aware, we have to protect ourselves and those we love. The song follows the line of Mr. Mandela’s personal message: it’s in our own hands to bring a stop to this.”


The rest of the anouncement includes song lyrics. “Say It’s Not True”, performed by Queen + Paul Rodgers, written by Roger Taylor, is available to download exclusively on:

http://www.queenonline.com/,
http://www.46664.com/,
http://www.46664global.com/,
http://www.paulrodgers.com/,

and

http://www.queenpluspaulrodgers.com/

as of Friday November 30th.