Freddie Mercury, who died of an AIDS-related illness in 1991, would’ve been proud of his band mates as they sang to tens of thousands Ukrainian fans at a charity concert to raise money for AIDS awareness in the country. The concert was held in the central square of Kharkov on Friday, September 12, 2008, and it was a huge success. The concert also helped promote the band’s new album ‘Cosmos Rock’ and launched a tour that includes Russia, France, Germany, and Great Britain. The bands current lead singer, Paul Rodgers, stated, “We’ve been asked to come here and we are very happy to do what we can to raise the awareness of AIDS and also to kick off a new tour. Awareness is the first step towards defeating the problem.”
The band knows firsthand what it is like to lose a close friend to AIDS. In addition to playing some great music and all of the hits the band is known for, the concert’s promoters distributed literature and condoms to the cities concert goers and citizens of the city prior to the concert’s start. Younger members of the community weren’t the only ones to enjoy the music. Many middle-aged Ukrainians also turned out for the event to enjoy music they grew up listening to. This was the first time Queen has ever played in Ukraine. You can find more information on the concert at msnmusic.com
Queens in 1975 with band mate Freddie Mercury (center) whom they lost to Aids in 1991.
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