Freddie Mercury sponge cake with the notes from Mercury's song "Barcelona". The bill, which included 232 broken glasses, was presented to Queen's manager, Jim Beach. In October 1986, the British press reported that Mercury had his blood tested for HIV/AIDS at a Harley Street clinic. A reporter for "The Sun", Hugh Whittow, questioned Mercury about the story at Heathrow Airport as he was returning from a trip to Japan. Mercury denied he had the disease. According to his partner Jim Hutton, Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in late April 1987. Around that time, Mercury claimed in an interview to have tested negative
Freddy Votel Freddy Votel Freddy Votel is an American drummer and best known as a member of the noise rock group Cows and as a founding member of T.V.B.C. Freddy Votel grew up in Saint Paul before moving to Minneapolis and becoming involved in the music scene there. He began performing with guitarist and vocalist Paul Metzger in 1983. Together with Pat Dzieweczynski they formed the post-punk band T.V.B.C. in 1985. The trio recorded two albums for Treehouse Records, the first "Ex Cathedra" in 1987 and the second titled "The Blues" the following year. The group disbanded in 1993. In 1995 Votel