Sweet Queen song Roger Taylor wrote after he found out Freddie Mercury was dying | Music | Entertainment

Back in the late 1980s, Freddie Mercury was diagnosed HIV positive and it soon became apparent to the star, who would tragically lose his battle with AIDS at just 45, that he couldn’t tour anymore.

Supported by his bandmates Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon, Queen spent the next few years recording new material in the studio.

One highlight of this period was Roger’s These Are the Days of Our Lives, which featured on the band’s 1991 album Innuendo and is the subject of this week’s Queen The Greatest Live.

Speaking previously with Absolute Radio about the track reflective of Queen’s 30 year career, the drummer said: “I was sitting at home in a rather reflective mood and I did know that Freddie was ill, and I think it came out of that slightly melancholic mood.

“I guess I was trying to put an optimistic slant on it in a way – those were the days then. And these are the days of our lives – today is more important than yesterday.”

Famously These Are The Days Of Our Lives’ 1991 music video featured Freddie’s final appearance in front of a camera before his death that November.

Director Rudi Dolezal told People: “He must have had terrible pain, but you don’t see that, you just see a man and his destiny. He didn’t want any special treatment. He was so brave.”