Russia's Hell House of Wax

Take a gasp-inducing look at Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury's unknown last image: in a wheelchair, close to death from AIDS due to drug use. Hey... if you don't like it, move to Russia! Illegal drug use in Russia really took off after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991; particularly injectable drugs like heroin and, amongst children and teens, the use of chemical inhalants. The numbers of cases appear to be tapering off somewhat in these last few years, perhaps partially due to a touring anti-drug wax figure exhibition traveling the country since 2002. Called "On The Brink," (click for gallery) the odd series of grisly/surreal dioramas was created by the country's Federal Drug Control Service, and has had a steady schedule at schools and town halls. As with most anti-drug propaganda, the point is to show by example the horrid consequences. Typical frozen scenarios focus on a drug user's last moments; cold, alone, unhappy and looking too old for what age they are supposed to be. Besides the mise-en-scènes, visitors are shown a dozen jars of formalin containing damaged internal organs of drug addicts, and a the preserved fetus of a deformed baby born to a drug-using mother. The organizers even provide liquid ammonia, to resuscitate anyone who faints from revulsion at the sight of disfigured wax faces jones-ing for 'ludes. Georgii, a 20 year-old man recently told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty news after leaving the exhibit; "I am in a kind of trance, especially after the video we had to watch. I can't find words, I can't think straight. This hasn't happened to me for a long time, I just can't find the words."
- (thanks to Jim for the tip)

Comments

[Andrew Tonkin]

Thanks for that comment, cxmmc. I've always wanted to create a post with EVERY WORD HYPERLINKED and you have achieved that dream. Fly high, beautiful Asian bird!

[Martha]

See, this is why I love (sadly, that's not sarcastic) Russia: A country currently being utterly crippled by AIDS (and doing next to nothing about it) is using Freddie Mercury's death as anti-drug warning. Awesome.

[MonsterMan]

There was a wax museum on Clifton Hill in Niagara Falls that used to have a really disturbing wax figure of 'Freddie Mercury with AIDS' too. I saw it around summer 2000. It wasn't as far gone as this one, but it sure put me off.

[rcih]

"Give you the big amount gold for free!The activity starts now!Experience it

together now!"
game

[angry freddie mercury fan]

WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE COMING UP WITH SHIT LIKE THIS???!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOU'LL NEVER HAVE AS MUCH TALENT AS FREDDIE DID SO WEHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE PUTTING SHIT LIKE THIS ON YOUR WEBSITE...
YOU HAVE NO RESPECT FOR THIS GREAT ARTIST WITH PUTTING SHIT LIKE THAT ON YOUR WEBSITE.

[Claudia]

WHO EVER PUT THIS INFORMATION UP ABOUT FREDDIE MERCURY IS COMPLETELY WRONG. FREDDIE MERCURY DIED OF PNEUMONIA COMPLICATIONS BROUGHT ON BY AIDS!! HE GOT AIDS BY SEXUAL CONTACT, NOT DRUG USE!!IF YOU PUT UP INFORMATION, MAKE SURE IT'S CORRECT!!!!!!!

[gustof]

a russia named nikolai killed him right?

[mikhail]

do you sicko's think this is right who ever put this up wants shooting freddie mercury was an extremly brave man who loved his audience and was blessed with amazing talent i swear i hope who ever posted this sees this comment you are a sick twisted person it wasnt drugs that did this to him it was sexually contracted (which is by the way none of your buisness) and eventually brought on pneumonia get your facts right get a life and stop producing sick pictures of a rock god.

[regal]

... this so freaking bs like either the wax has sunk in or some thing but he he didn't look nowhere near that when he died! freddie was on tv announcing that he had AIDS and stuff... the next day sadly he passed away... who cares about how he died and remember him forever, eternal, with in our souls. we all have that Freddie mercury spirit in us! i bet everybody in the world would like at least 2 of his songs and remember it before they die and reminisce how his songs are all scenes from our lives... please people listen to more of his music.it will really be an adventure listening and learning about this great great man.rest in peace faroukh bulsara (aka Freddie Mercury.) I'll miss you for ever and when i die, i be with you heaven or hell! i swear i love you Freddie! please come back to life! dude... i think that about him everyday like i just found his art only a few months a go and its really changed me... he was the best guy in the world no one can sing as good as he did! and no one ever will again... truly unique.

[regal]

... this so freaking bs like either the wax has sunk in or some thing but he he didn't look nowhere near that when he died! freddie was on tv announcing that he had AIDS and stuff... the next day sadly he passed away... who cares about how he died and remember him forever, eternal, with in our souls. we all have that Freddie mercury spirit in us! i bet everybody in the world would like at least 2 of his songs and remember it before they die and reminisce how his songs are all scenes from our lives... please people listen to more of his music.it will really be an adventure listening and learning about this great great man.rest in peace faroukh bulsara (aka Freddie Mercury.) I'll miss you for ever and when i die, i be with you heaven or hell! i swear i love you Freddie! please come back to life! dude... i think that about him everyday like i just found his art only a few months a go and its really changed me... he was the best guy in the world no one can sing as good as he did! and no one ever will again... truly unique.

[Brandon]

THIS IS THE MOST TASTELESS BIT OF RUBBISH I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!! Freddie Mercury was beautiful and brilliant and one ofss the greatest performers in the history of the entertainment business. He died tragically and entirely too young. HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO HIM, AS WELL AS TO HIS FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MILLIONS OF FANS WHO LOVED HIM!!! SHAME!!!

[Cv]

Have you ever seen the news??' have you ever read something about Freddie Mercury??? This is the most most stupid thing i've heard about this important songwriter, musisician and incredible singer

Hahahahaha... bad work guy! That's not Freddie, and He didn't die for using drugs. Patetic work... LIAR!!!!!

[romina]

Soy argentina como pueden poner estupideces tan grandes, no pueden ser tan hijos d eputa con un ARTISTA TAN TALENTOSO Y GRANDE COMO EL SEÑORRRRRRRR FREDDIE MERCURY ,THIS IS A FUCKING SHIT, COCKSUCKER. FREDDIE I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oprah]

He died of AIDS.

[Anyonymous]

Ok, What the fuck!?
Freddie didn't do drugs! Well, even if he did once or twice, he certainly didn't die from them! He died from complications of AIDS, dumb ass. Nothing to do with drugs. And he was a good man, too. Its a shame more people don't know about him and how he REALLY died. It was a tragedy. And had nothing to do with drugs!!!

[You have you idea what you're talking about!]

You are a fucking douchebag for putting this up. Freddie's death had absolutely nothing to do with drugs! He did of pneumonia brought on by AID's. Drugs had absolutely nothing to do with it.

[Mel]

Fuck u...FREDDIE never taked drugs or shits like that. He died by pneumonia.
U r an ass-hole! And an ignorant!

[scouse]

thats not freddie and freddie dint even die frm drug use so wats ya beef

[Fred Zeppelin]

That's not a photograph; its a wax dummie !

[Mark]

That stupid wax figure looks nothing, I repeat -- NOTHING! like what Freddie Mercury looked like before he died. He looked very gravely ill, but still retained his handsome features. Get a life you ----hole and quit trying to make a mockery out of a dying man!

[Mark]

Oh and another thing --- you obviously have the resources, materials, time and know how to make lifesize replicas of human figures.
Why waste it with this piece of shit?
Why couldn't you have done a beautiful wax figure of Freddie in his prime? One of Freddie in the 70's would have been sublime.
But do we have anything like that? Noooo.
Instead you waste all your time and resources putting together this piece-of-shit. Yes, I'm irritated.

[Jim]

There is a beautiful statue in Montreux, Russia is extremely anti-gay and homofobic too,
please take this respectless photo away from this site. Freddy was a great singer and entertainer as well. For his fans and family this is a sick, terrible photo, made by some idiot with no sense of creativity at all. Pure rubbish !!!!!!!
We will remember Freddy in a more respectable way in Europe!

[You're disgusting]

This is horrible! If you think it's funny, you are a disrespectful, sick-minded idiot.

[Daniel]

this is nothing of general intrest this has nothing to do with the last days that picture is shit it isn't show wot pain freddie was in it he wasn't confound to a wheelchair at all this is abosult bullshit and as a queen fan it shows how nasty somepeople can be