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Freddie Mercury's heartbreaking final words to fans as he says goodbye


Freddie Mercury’s final public appearance on TV ended with three heartbreaking words for his fans.

It was 30 years ago that the iconic singer with Queen took to the stage with his band to accept a BRIT Award, in what would be the last time he would be seen by many of his devoted fans.

It was only 21 months after the award show that Freddie tragically passed away and his gaunt appearance shocked many who had tuned in.

He continued to record music in that time but his ill health soon meant that he spent more hours at home, surrounded by friends who would care for him until he died.

Freddie Mercury at the 1990 BRIT Awards

Freddie’s showing at the BRITs was the first time that many realised how ill the singer was and it seemed to confirm rumours that his ill health was terminal.

Freddie looked much thinner and dressed in a silver and grey suit, rather than his usually flamboyant look and he looked far more subdued than he ever was before.

The BRITs were held at the Dominion Theatre in London that year and Queen were recognised with The Outstanding Contribution to British Music Award.

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The band was introduced by the chairman of the BPI Terry Ellis. He said: “They are four men, all college graduates, who this year, celebrate 20 years working together…

“They’ve never really been fully recognised for the outstanding achievements of their impressive career. But tonight we’re going to put that to rights…”

In the video montage that accompanied the award, there were tributes from their peers in the music industry along with some telling words about Freddie.

Phil Collins said: “Freddie is a one-off. You don’t get too many like him.”

Queen – Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor at the 1990 BRIT Awards

Elton John then joked: “If you ask Freddie how much a pint of milk is, forget it. He’d be able to tell you the price of nail lacquer.”

Freddie himself saying, “ If I had to do it all again. Yes, why not? I’d do it slightly differently…”

Paul McCartney ended the tribute to the band, saying “King Mercury,” to which Freddie adds “Long may she reign.”

Freddie was noticeable in taking a step back when the band walked on stage, with guitarist Brian May doing all the talking.

Freddie Mercury’s final music video with Queen

Addressing the crowd, Brian said: “On behalf of the group I’d like to say thank you very much to everyone in the industry – and, perhaps more importantly, outside the industry – who stuck behind us all these years, because in doing so you gave us a lot of freedom to pursue what we loosely call our art to any extent we felt like at the time and to go out on a lot of strange limbs which seemed very precarious at the time, but we didn’t quite fall off.

“And finally to get to the point where this happens to us, which is great.”

Freddie Mercury in his pomp with Queen in 1985

After the speech and with the band walking off stage, Freddie said his final three words to his fans which are now poignant in light of what would happen over the forthcoming months, as his health went downhill.

Freddie stepped up to the microphone and said: “Thank you… goodnight.”

The iconic singer died on November 24, 1991.

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