QUEEN HISTORY – 21 September 1981
Queen are in New Orleans preparing for a forthcoming tour of South America.
Queen in New Orleans, 1981
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STUDIO PHOTOSHOOTS > 80s > Photoshoot 003
3 & 4 February 1984 – Queen headlined the Sanremo Music Festival. It was the band’s very first performance in Italy 
They were out promoting their album ‘The Works’ and mimed ‘Radio Ga Ga’
In an Italian newspaper article Freddie Mercury said “The Police and Barry Manilow both pulled out of San Remo when they heard we were top of the bill and they would have to support us. But Boy George turned up. He later remarks that Boy George possesses a great talent. He thinks he’s very brave – referring to his camp image – and sees definite similarities between George and himself during Queen’s early days.
They wanted to sing and play live, but the organization of the Festival forced them to do a mimed exhibition, like all the other artists and like every other tv show at that time (except for the US tv programme Saturday Night Live). Freddie, in protest, performed for almost the entire duration of the song keeping the microphone away from his mouth.
Freddie Mercury during the press conference
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PUBLIC APPEARANCES > press conference Italy 1984
FREDDIE AND MISTER ITAMI 
Mr. Itami was Freddie’s personal bodyguard in Japan for years.
Mr. Itami recalls how generous Freddie was, always buying him things whenever they went shopping together, and how shy Freddie was in the early years when they first met.
He and Freddie remained close until 1986.
“In Japan we needed protection because you couldn’t go down into the lobby of the hotel – it was infested by really nice people waiting for autographs. We each had a personal bodyguard, and mine was called Itami. He was the head of the Tokyo bodyguard patrol and his entire job was to pamper and cosset me throughout the tour and make sure no harm came to my person. He was very sweet and gave me a lovely Japanese lantern, which I treasure.” (Freddie Mercury, 1975)
“When we were reunited at the Plaza Hotel in Osaka on May 15, Queen’s last night, Freddie decided he wasn’t going out today. I happened to see Roger in the hall who said ‘I’m going to go out for a bit’. So, I decided to join him. We went into town, had a few beers, then came back to the hotel.
Then one of the staff comes to me and says ‘Itami-San! Freddie was looking for you, apparently he wanted to go out.’ I was like ‘this is bad!’.
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1 August 1986, Queen performed at Mini Estadi in Barcelona, Spain
“Magic Tour”
This is the first of three shows in Spain
After ‘Another One Bites The Dust’: “Many people are saying that Queen are gonna break up. Do you understand what I’m saying? Many people are saying that Queen is gonna be kaputt. This is not true, okay? We will always be together as long as you give us such a lovely welcome.”
During his solo spot, Brian tries out a harmonizer pedal (he used one during ‘Get Down Make Love’ in previous years). He later stated how exciting that moment was for him. What he plays are a few licks that would end up being on a track recorded during The Miracle era called ‘Chinese Torture.’ He would do this on each remaining night of the tour.
The band plow through the middle section of ‘Now I’m Here’ with vigour. Building off that they lengthen the song before the breakdown like they had done on previous tours. Roger Taylor plays a ripping drum solo, and Freddie’s cue into the final fanfare is priceless – “shoot it out, motherfucker!”
Brian says a few words to the audience in Spanish before ‘Love Of My Life,’ and in a response of gratitude, the audience start chanting his name in unison. Freddie responds, with mock jealousy, “I don’t like it! Too much adulation!”
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4 February 1984, Queen performed once again at the Sanremo Music Festival in Italy
They mimed their hit ‘Radio Ga Ga’
“Blondie, a German friend of ours from Munich, had shown up in his official capacity as representative for Puma sportswear. He had custom-made a tight red singlet vest with a leaping white puma on the front for Fred, and was delighted when he wore it on stage in front of a TV audience of millions.
In those days, there was little sponsorship or hard endorsements. Queen would be given loads of sportswear from Puma, Nike and Adidas and would maybe wear it – or maybe not. No contracts were signed or heavy lawyers involved. It was very relaxed and low key – just the occasional promo photo. It was a different era.”
Peter Hince
Freddie proudly wearing his Puma singlet
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LIVE > 80s > he Sanremo Music Festival in Italy
“Many people are saying that Queen are gonna break up. Do you understand what I’m saying? Many people are saying that Queen is gonna be kaputt. This is not true, okay? We will always be together as long as you give us such a lovely welcome.”
1 August 1986, Barcelona, Spain
Magic Tour
Photo credit to Ferran Sendra
