Queen Band Funny Facts

Freddie with: Anxiety

I would never say I saw Freddie really anxious, except the first time he met Montserrat Caballe.

From the time he woke up that Tuesday morning he appeared nervous, which as I said, I hadn't seen before. Of course there were some nerves before the biggest shows, S. America, Live Aid, the Wembley shows, but never pacing his hotel suite, chain-smoking cigarettes and constantly doubting that Montserrat would arrive at the hotel for their meeting.

Normally Freddie would always walk calmly in to a meeting ten minutes late, this time he was in the luncheon room at ten minutes to one pm. Montserrat hadn't arrived by five minutes after one o'clock and Freddie had me at the door open a crack to keep an eye on the main entrance.

Within seconds, the crowd in the lobby parted and Montserrat was walking towards the room. The first thing that she did was apologise for the traffic that had kept her, Freddie's nerves changed to excitement, and the evening progressed well.

Peter 'Phobe' Freestone.