TV documentary about a legend - Freddie Mercury's last years - movie on Arte
From the large stage, Freddie Mercury withdrew from Queen at the peak of their success. A megaconcert on the "Magic Tour" before an estimated 120,000 spectators in Knebworth Park was his last performance with the group, which celebrated worldwide success with songs like "We Will Rock You", "Another One Bites The Dust", and "Radio Ga Ga". On the 24th of November 1991, the legendary singer died in London due to complications from AIDS.
The documentary "Freddie Mercury: The Last Act", which airs on Arte at 11:05 pm on Sunday (7th July), sheds light on Mercury's last years and the "Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness", which took place in his honor at Wembley Stadium after his death.
Freddie Mercury's Fate Resembled That of Many Men
Additionally, the British BBC-produced film, originally released in 2021 on the 30th anniversary of Mercury's death, reveals the stories of other homosexual men in the 1970s and 1980s. It poignantly depicts how AIDS affected their lives and the societal impact Freddie Mercury had by publicly announcing his illness a day before his death.
Former companions and friends like journalist David Wigg, Mercury's personal assistant Peter Freestone, and his sister Kashmira Bulsara share insights into the singer's private life, including his long-term relationship with Jim Hutton. Mercury had never made his homosexuality public. "People just ignored it," recalls Queen-guitarist Brian May.
Some Anecdotes Seem Absurd Today
The music video for "I Want To Break Free" caused trouble in the US due to Queen members performing in women's clothing. It was intended as a parody of the British soap opera "Coronation Street", which was unknown in America. Even at MTV, people reacted confusedly. "They thought: We can't let our audience see this," says May. "We can laugh about it now."
Freddie Mercury's Retirement from the Stage Concerned Bandmates
In the mid-1980s, rumors about Mercury's health began to surface in the British press. His bandmates also had uneasy feelings. "He insisted he didn't want to perform live anymore," recalls Queen drummer Roger Taylor. "We knew something wasn't right." Mercury only revealed his diagnosis to them years later.
After retiring from the stage, Mercury recorded two complete albums with Queen - "The Miracle" (1989) and "Innuendo" (1991) with the telling single "The Show Must Go On". At the time, Mercury sensed that his time was running out. He used his dwindling strength to record more songs, the last of which were heard in May 1991. They were included on the posthumously released album "Made In Heaven", which came out in 1995.
Freddie Mercury's death no longer came as a surprise. "Despite everything, it was still a shock," says May. To make matters worse, the band members had to read unpleasant headlines about their friend in the weeks that followed. "They said: 'He deserved it. He probably slept with everyone. It had to come to this'"", May remembers. Together, he and Taylor took action against the stigmatization of AIDS patients and the discrimination of gay and lesbian people.
Tribute Concert as Spectacular Farewell
With the spectacular "Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness," the band aimed to raise awareness for AIDS. In April 1992, the remaining Queen musicians performed with countless stars, including George Michael, Liza Minnelli, Annie Lennox, and David Bowie, or bands such as Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, and Metallica. Elton John and Axl Rose's joint performance of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and George Michael's "Somebody To Love" are legendary.
Some of the musicians recall in the 90-minute doc that this was a unique day, on which Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon bid farewell to their frontman before the eyes of the entire world. It was more than just a concert, as all involved agree. "Freddie Mercury: The Last Act" provides an exciting and moving look back - a must-see documentation.
- Despite the success of Queen during the 1980s with hits like "We Will Rock You" and "Radio Ga Ga," the media often overlooked the AIDS crisis affecting many men, including Freddie Mercury.
- On July 7, 2022, at 11:05 pm, BBC will air the TV documentary "Freddie Mercury: The Last Act" shedding light on Mercury's private life, his relationships, and the impact of AIDS during the 1980s.
- In the 1980s, when bands like Queen rocked stages across Great Britain, the media's outlook on homosexuality and AIDS was less accepting than today.
- On a Sunday in the 1980s, Freddie Mercury performed with Queen at Wembley Stadium, marking a significant moment in British music history.
- The TV documentary "Freddie Mercury: The Last Act" reveals how Freddie Mercury's death in 1991 influenced music, society, and the public perception of AIDS in the UK.
- Nearly 50 years after the emergence of Queen, the media continues to remember and celebrate Freddie Mercury's impact on music and society as a man living with AIDS.
- Freddie Mercury's legacy transcended the limitations of British society during the 1970s and 1980s, using his platform as a musician to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and fight discrimination.
- From songs like "I Want To Break Free" to his private life, Queen's Freddie Mercury challenged societal norms during the 1980s, pushing for acceptance and equal rights.
- As AIDS affected men, like Freddie Mercury, in the 1980s, the UK media's TV outlook remained insensitive and closed-minded, but Mercury's impact would forever change that perspective.
- In the mid-1980s, rock concerts like Queen's at Wembley Stadium united Great Britain's music lovers, while Mercury used the spotlight to advocate for an end to AIDS stigma and discrimination.
