Freddie celebrated his thirty-seventh birthday

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5 September 1983 – Freddie celebrates at his rented home at 649 Stone Canyon Road, Los Angeles, California

Freddie celebrated his thirty-seventh birthday in Los Angeles. Joe Fanelli cooked the food for his party and Joe duly arrived from London. The occasion marked the rapprochement between Freddie and Joe who had been working independently as a chef in several London restaurants including September’s in Fulham Road since the break up of their relationship.

Some of the hundred or so guests included Vince the barman (Freddie’s beau at the time), Rod Stewart, Elton John, and Queen’s former manager John Reid and Jeff Beck. Freddie was never into ‘Star’ parties. For his personal parties, there was no current ‘A’ list. He always, always kept to his friends.

The house was smothered with Stargazer lilies, those huge trumpet-like pink blooms with red-striped inner petals whose pollen always falls and always indelibly stains anything and anyone touching it. But for all that bother, the aroma is heavenly. No entertainment had been planned. This was a basic eat and drink and be-merry party.

The food Joe prepared included Freddie’s favourites. Prawn Creole, Coronation Chicken —that British Empire staple favourite — Potato Salad, Rice Salad and a huge array of cold cuts. The party was a welcome high-point partway through the recording schedule of ‘The Works,’ and all the band and their wives came.

Peter Freestone