Freddie Mercury

I flipped on the tube in time to catch the last 30 minutes of a documentary on Freddie Mercury.  It showed the last video he ever recorded, and I don't remember ever having seen it before.  He was very thin and I imagine he was in pain.  I prefer to remember the vibrant, flamboyant man on stage with the remarkable vocals.

His death came as a shock to many only because it came so quickly after he publically announed he had AIDS (less than 24 hours).  There had been rumors for years but he cherished his privacy.  After he died he was criticized by the AIDS community, they said he should have come out sooner it could have brought awareness and funds.  I disagree.  He deserves to keep his health his own business.  Besides, after hid death there was a HUGE tribute concert to Freddie that raised millions of pounds/dollars for AIDS Awareness.


I don't think celebrities owe the media anything.  I respect his right to keep quiet and protect his family from being hounded to death by reporters. 

My frien, Starr, over at "Here Comes A Storm in the Form of a Girl" is raising funds for her annual trek in an AIDS walk.  I didn't even tell her I was going to link to her, but since I can't donate much this year I thought I'd point it out to you in case you wanted to opportunity to sponsor Starr as she walks for an important cause!!!

To donate visit her site or go HERE .

Top Five Rock Voices

Who are your ten favorite "voices" in music any genre?



Who do you think are the top five most talented voices in rock music (if its different than above).




I need to think about this, but so far I have:


Favorites:
1) David Bowie
2) Jeff Buckley
3) Jonny Lang
4) Greg Lake
5) Annie Lennox
6) Gregg Allman
8) Robert Plant
9) Jim Morrison
10) Bono

Best:
1) Robert Plant
2) Roger Daltrey
3) Freddie Mercury
4) Paul Rodgers
5) David Lee Roth

Honorable Mention: Ann Wilson (wish there were more females on my list, but I have to remain honest)

Only Three Missing!

Here's the link to the original post with the photo

1. Roger Daltrey (me)
2. Ian Anderson (Music Obsessive)
3. Pete Townsend (Art)
4. Mick Jagger
5. Jimi Hendrix (Malcolm)
6. Duane Allman (me)
7. Roger Waters (Elena)
8. Janis Joplin (Elena)
9. George Harrison (Elena)
10. Robert Plant (Jeff)
11. Bob Dylan (Art)
12. Freddie Mercury (Eric)
13. Neil Young (Art)
14.Angus Young (Eric)
15. Ray Davies (Elena)
16. Lou Reed (Malcolm)
17. Paul McCartney (Malcolm))
18, Eric Clapton (Art)
19. Jimmy Page (Music Obsessive)
20. John Lennon (Art)
21. David Bowie (me)
22. Jim Morrison (has to be! hint from Chopstore)
23. Paul Simon (Malcolm)
24. Keith Richards (me)
25. Van Morrison (hint from Chopstore)
26. Jerry Garcia (Rock Brigade)

27.

28. Stevie Nicks (several of us)

(Check Update!) Can You Identify These Rock n Roll Sillouettes?

This is a pretty cool T-Shirt which you can purchase here if you'd like, it comes without the numbers those were added so we can GUESS who's who on this shirt.
Now, who's gonna help me figure out who these people are.


UPDATE! Ok, we have the official answer keeper letting us know where we are wrong, so lets try and fill in the blanks, I know we (as in all of you who are way better at this than me) can figure this out!. Here is what we have so far:

1. Roger Daltrey (me)
2. Ian Anderson (Music Obsessive)
3. Pete Townsend (Art)
4. Mick Jagger
5. Jimi Hendrix (Malcolm)
6. Duane Allman (me)
7. Roger Waters
8. Janis Joplin (Elena)
9. George Harrison (Elena)
10. Robert Plant (Jeff)
11. Bob Dylan (Art)
12. Freddie Mercury (Eric)
13. Neil Young (Art)
14.Angus Young (Eric)
15. Ray Davies
16. Lou Reed (Malcolm)
17. Paul McCartney (Malcolm))
18, Eric Clapton (Art)
19. Jimmy Page (Music Obsessive)
20. John Lennon (Art)
21. David Bowie (me)
22. Jim Morrison (Hint from Chopper)
23. Paul Simon (Malcolm)
24. Keith Richards (me)
25. Van Morrison (hint from Chopper)
26. Jerry Garcia (Rock Brigade)
27.
28. Stevie Nicks (several of us)

The Perfect Answer to the Question "why do I feel so bad about Danny dying?"

I've mourned several of my favorite musicians over the years. It was understandable to feel that way about Stevie Ray, Michael, John, Marvin, Freddy and George - because I listened to them and admired them and they brought me a lot of great music. But I was surprised at how sad I felt hearing the news of Danny Federici's death, and the sadness is lingering. My "brother in Bruce", Pete, addressed this very thing today in his very poignant post:

Missing Danny

The New Queen

You've probably heard that Paul Rodgers is taking on the role of the new frontman for Queen. They are in the studio right now and should be releasing something in 2008.


What are your thoughts on this? Not just on Paul replacing Freddy, but anytime a valuable member of a band that has died, is replaced? I think of INXS going on the reality show to replace Michael Hutchence and I feel ill. No one can ever replace him. In my mind INXS ceases existing that day. Same with The Doors and Led Zeppelin.

Other bands seem to move on fine after replacing someone who's passed away - The Who for example has lost two its members but still consider themselves "The Who".

Sacha Baron Cohen as Freddie Mercury

It's official, he will play the role! I think its a great choice, I just hope Freddie's is portrayed well and he gets the honor and respect he deserves when the film comes out!

Do you know what you were doing....

15 years ago today? Perhaps like my blog friend Becky (The PopEye), and I, you were watching

this

The 80's Nut Newsletter

I am going to start a few new things this year. I know most of you stay up to date on all this related to music, but one source of info I ALWAYS find something "new" on is Martin's "The 80's Nut Newsletter". Of course you can subcribe to it yourself and get all the scoop, but I will put some highlights that interest me here each week starting right NOW:

Queen guitarist Brian May recently confirmed on his Web site that a
film about Freddie Mercury is in the early stages. Rumors claim that
Johnny Depp is in the running for the part. Depp was supposedly in

"in the running" to play the lead in an upcoming Ozzy Osbourne biopic.

Daryl Hall and John Oates' rendition of "It Came Upon A Midnight
Clear" has taken the #1 spot on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
(personal note about me and Daryl - did you know he used to be my boyfriend back in the 80's???? No? Well, you're not alone, he never knew either but I sure did love him :)


David Bowie recently told New York magazine, "I'm fed up with the
industry and I've been fed up for quite some time. I'm taking a year
off -- no touring, no albums."

Aretha Franklin has been recording a new studio album with many
featured guests. Aretha: A Woman Falling Out Of Love will be released
in the first quarter of 2007 via her Aretha's Records label. Franklin
co-produced and co-wrote many of the tracks.

Bono will be given an honorary knighthood early next year the British
ambassador to Ireland, David Reddaway. Because he is an Irish citizen
and not British, he will not be entitled to use the title "Sir." The
singer was given a similar honor in France in 2003, Legion D'Honneur.

The Flaming Lips will be performing live on the Oklahoma Centennial
Birthday Float at this year's Rose Parade on Jan. 1st.

Queen

I don't have a site that links to Queen.

There are so many I couldn't choose the one I liked the best.

From what I understand, Freddie Mercury had a heart of gold. It was sad that he passed through this life so quickly, but he left so much great music behind.