The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, April 92...

Just got through watching my shiny new double-video set of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. I was going to get the DVD, but that only had the second half of the concert and I wanted to see it all. And thusly, I have some thoughts. Not really thought out much, so just go with it, OK?

( Some Thoughts. OK, quite a few thoughts )

There was one moment though when I was watching, where something just hit me and I have to tell you about it. All those people weren't just there for Freddie, not really. They were there- performer and fan, for every single person who was/is infected with HIV or AIDS. They were there because in 1991 people still thought it was only a gay disease, or a drug addict disease. I hope I'm preaching to the choir right now, but it isn't. It is truly a blot on humanity's landscape. We don't hear so much about it anymore, despite it reaching epidemic proportions in parts of Africa and despite a generation of girls and boys in Britain apparently being quite blasé about sexually transmitted diseases.

72,000 people didn't just go to Wembley for Freddie. They went for him and Kenny Everett. They went for Rock Hudson and for the millions of faceless sufferers who have to face the fact that they are going to die and they have no choice about it. Dying from AIDS related illness is rarely without pain and suffering and it wasn't for Freddie- just watch the 'Those Were The Days' video if you require proof. With that, I will end, because I'm not an expert on AIDS and I am one of the fortunate few who has not been personally touched by AIDS. I have been able to watch from a distance and I've only lost musical and comedic heroes like Freddie and Kenny to it. But that is more than enough for me. Just had to say that.

The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, April 92...

Just got through watching my shiny new double-video set of the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert. I was going to get the DVD, but that only had the second half of the concert and I wanted to see it all. And thusly, I have some thoughts. Not really thought out much, so just go with it, OK?

( Some Thoughts. OK, quite a few thoughts )

There was one moment though when I was watching, where something just hit me and I have to tell you about it. All those people weren't just there for Freddie, not really. They were there- performer and fan, for every single person who was/is infected with HIV or AIDS. They were there because in 1991 people still thought it was only a gay disease, or a drug addict disease. I hope I'm preaching to the choir right now, but it isn't. It is truly a blot on humanity's landscape. We don't hear so much about it anymore, despite it reaching epidemic proportions in parts of Africa and despite a generation of girls and boys in Britain apparently being quite blasé about sexually transmitted diseases.

72,000 people didn't just go to Wembley for Freddie. They went for him and Kenny Everett. They went for Rock Hudson and for the millions of faceless sufferers who have to face the fact that they are going to die and they have no choice about it. Dying from AIDS related illness is rarely without pain and suffering and it wasn't for Freddie- just watch the 'Those Were The Days' video if you require proof. With that, I will end, because I'm not an expert on AIDS and I am one of the fortunate few who has not been personally touched by AIDS. I have been able to watch from a distance and I've only lost musical and comedic heroes like Freddie and Kenny to it. But that is more than enough for me. Just had to say that.