TFA PROJECT
TITANIC - FREDDIE - AIDS
The TFA Project is a unique educational program that tells the true story of Freddie Mercury – the phenomenal rock legend who, despite his greatness, succumbed to an invisible enemy: the HIV virus. The project includes the personal testimony of Peter Freestone, Freddie Mercury’s longtime assistant and close friend. Peter speaks openly, without censorship and with deep humanity, sharing moments he lived through with Freddie – from his infection to his final days. This authentic perspective shows AIDS as it truly is and reminds us that there is still no cure for it. Within the project, Freddie Mercury’s story is placed in a symbolic parallel with the Titanic – a ship once believed to be unsinkable until it was destroyed by a seemingly minor flaw. Likewise, Freddie, a symbol of strength, courage, and musical immortality, ultimately fell to a virus that escaped human control. The founder of the project is Czech singer Milan Devinne, who, through musical storytelling and educational lectures, connects Freddie Mercury’s tragic fate with a universal message about human fragility, courage, and responsibility.
TFA Project - TITANIC FREDDIE AIDS
The TFA Project was first presented in 2013.
Since then, Milan Devinne, together with Peter Freestone, has delivered it as a multimedia lecture combining personal testimony, video, music, and discussion. The program is regularly held at primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic, but it has also been presented in the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and at universities in Mexico, where it received an honorary university recognition for its contribution to the fight against AIDS.
The main partner of the project is Music Club Doupě Petra Chmely, which provides operational and production support as well as managerial know-how. The project’s scientific aspect is overseen by MUDr. Dan Veselý in cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health.
The significance of the project was further recognized by Dr. Julio Montaner, a world-renowned expert and co-creator of highly effective antiretroviral HIV/AIDS therapy.
The project has also been supported long-term by the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a foundation established by the members of Queen, which is globally engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
An important partner and guarantor of the organization Up2Life in the Czech Republic is Za sklem o.s., which helps people on the autism spectrum. The collaboration of these two organizations stems from a shared goal – to promote awareness and education in areas that can have a life-changing impact on young people.
How the Lecture Unfolds
-
Introduction – Milan Devinne presents the purpose and mission of the project.
-
Opening Video – a personal message from Sir Brian Harold May CBE, PhD (Queen) to the younger generation.
-
Introduction of Peter Freestone – longtime personal assistant to Freddie Mercury.
-
Freddie Mercury’s Personal Story – key moments from the last four years of his life, told without embellishment.
-
Closing Video – a symbolic parallel between the Titanic’s disaster and the AIDS epidemic, highlighting invisible threats.
-
Motivation for Students – Milan speaks about music and dreams, Peter shares insights about life in the global show business.
-
Discussion – an open space for students’ questions.
How the Lecture Unfolds
-
Introduction – Milan Devinne presents the purpose and mission of the project.
-
Opening Video – a personal message from Sir Brian Harold May CBE, PhD (Queen) to the younger generation.
-
Introduction of Peter Freestone – longtime personal assistant to Freddie Mercury.
-
Freddie Mercury’s Personal Story – key moments from the last four years of his life, told without embellishment.
-
Closing Video – a symbolic parallel between the Titanic’s disaster and the AIDS epidemic, highlighting invisible threats.
-
Motivation for Students – Milan speaks about music and dreams, Peter shares insights about life in the global show business.
-
Discussion – an open space for students’ questions.
Project Goal
The goal of the TFA Project is to reach as many young people and members of the general public as possible, to provide accurate and up-to-date information about AIDS, and to raise awareness about prevention.
Since 2013, approximately 16,000 students from primary and secondary schools have become familiar with the project.
Starting in January 2026, the program is undergoing a complete modernization to better meet the needs of the current generation and to reflect the latest knowledge in HIV/AIDS prevention.
Aktuální situace HIV v České republice
The TFA Project was first presented in 2013.
Since then, Milan Devinne, together with Peter Freestone, has delivered it as a multimedia lecture combining personal testimony, video, music, and discussion. The program is regularly held at primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic, but it has also been presented in the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and at universities in Mexico, where it received an honorary university recognition for its contribution to the fight against AIDS.
The main partner of the project is Music Club Doupě Petra Chmely, which provides operational and production support as well as managerial know-how. The project’s scientific aspect is overseen by MUDr. Dan Veselý in cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health.
The significance of the project was further recognized by Dr. Julio Montaner, a world-renowned expert and co-creator of highly effective antiretroviral HIV/AIDS therapy.
The project has also been supported long-term by the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a foundation established by the members of Queen, which is globally engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
An important partner and guarantor of the organization Up2Life in the Czech Republic is Za sklem o.s., which helps people on the autism spectrum. The collaboration of these two organizations stems from a shared goal – to promote awareness and education in areas that can have a life-changing impact on young people.
The TFA Project was first presented in 2013.
Since then, Milan Devinne, together with Peter Freestone, has delivered it as a multimedia lecture combining personal testimony, video, music, and discussion. The program is regularly held at primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic, but it has also been presented in the United Kingdom, the United States, Switzerland, and at universities in Mexico, where it received an honorary university recognition for its contribution to the fight against AIDS.
The main partner of the project is Music Club Doupě Petra Chmely, which provides operational and production support as well as managerial know-how. The project’s scientific aspect is overseen by MUDr. Dan Veselý in cooperation with the National Institute of Public Health.
The significance of the project was further recognized by Dr. Julio Montaner, a world-renowned expert and co-creator of highly effective antiretroviral HIV/AIDS therapy.
The project has also been supported long-term by the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a foundation established by the members of Queen, which is globally engaged in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
An important partner and guarantor of the organization Up2Life in the Czech Republic is Za sklem o.s., which helps people on the autism spectrum. The collaboration of these two organizations stems from a shared goal – to promote awareness and education in areas that can have a life-changing impact on young people.
MUDr. Dan Veselý
Klinika infekčních nemocí FN Bulovka, Praha
Milan Devinne project author
Milan Devinne je český zpěvák a producent s bohatými zkušenostmi z hudebních scén po celém světě. Za svou kariéru absolvoval tři světová turné – USA (2014), Jihoafrická republika (2015/2016) a Mexiko (2019).
Je zakladatelem projektu Titanic Freddie Aids, za který obdržel ocenění od mexické univerzitní sítě Guanajuato za přínos v boji proti HIV/AIDS. Od ledna 2026 se spolu s Peterem Freestonem vrací s obnovenou verzí tohoto projektu do základních a středních škol, informovat mladistvé o nebezpečí viru HIV. Projekt probíhá pod záštitou nové organizace Up2Life. Projekt má podporu Státního zdravotního ústavu, doktora Julia Montanera, Dana Veselého, společnosti Mercury Phoenix Trust, a úvod přednášek uvádí formou videa kytarista skupiny Queen.
Od roku 2013 do 2024 byl Devinne manažerem a producentem zahraničních aktivit Petera Freestona, osobního asistenta Freddieho Mercuryho. V letech 2020–2022 působil jako externí režisér pro Channel 5 a BBC, kde zajišťoval natáčení z České republiky. Podílel se také na dokumentu Freddie Mercury – The Final Act, oceněném Emmy Award a Rose d’Or.
V roce 2018 se stal jediným českým umělcem, který se objevil ve filmu Bohemian Rhapsody. O pět let později vydal album Another Step In Time, jehož kmotry byli Thierry Amsallem (CEO Montreux Jazz Festival), Peter Freestone a Montreux Celebration Days.
Aktuálně se Devinne věnuje světové koncertní show Mr. Bowie – The Celebration Concert, která vznikla za podpory Bowieho tour manažera Hermjo Kleina.
Pro rok 2026 připravuje její symfonickou nadstavbu David Bowie – Symphony, která vzniká v Itálii pod vedením aranžéra a dirigenta Andrey Bonalda, s projektovým managementem prezidentky severoitalské symfonické asociace Tamry Sacilotto. Na podzim 2026 se tento projekt představí na turné po Německu.
Na české scéně vystupuje Milan Devinne také v projektu 4 Rockeři, kde účinkuje po boku Jiřího Zonygy, Leony Šenkové, Moniky Sommerové a dalších.
Peter Freestone coauthor
Peter Freestone worked full-time in the wardrobe of the Royal Ballet (Royal Opera House) in 1977, and two years later, he was introduced to Freddie Mercury in that very wardrobe. After Freddie’s performance with the Royal Ballet, Peter approached him and praised the combination of his voice, Queen’s music, and the ballet choreography.
"Freddie thanked me very politely and then asked what my role was there. I replied that I was looking after the costumes. We exchanged only a few words and said goodbye. Two weeks later, Freddie Mercury’s then-manager, Paul Prenter, called my supervisor to ask if I would be interested in joining Queen on tour and taking care of their belongings. I immediately accepted the offer, and that’s how our collaboration began.
After two years, thanks to our close friendship, I moved from being Queen’s assistant to Freddie Mercury’s personal assistant. I spent every day with Freddie for twelve years, fulfilling a wide range of roles – I was his chef, waiter, valet, secretary, and even a child minder – the child being Freddie himself! I shopped for him, including groceries and art, traveled the world with him, celebrated his successes, and supported him in difficult times. I witnessed champagne flowing in abundance, but I also saw him at his lowest. When needed, I also acted as his bodyguard. In the final months of his life, I was one of his caregivers – holding his hand on his deathbed and undoubtedly one of his closest friends.
I am one of the few people who had the privilege of witnessing the birth of most of his work – from the initial idea to the final execution. Composing music is more than just writing lyrics and putting notes on a page. It involves understanding music, having musical intuition, and a sense of detail as well as the big picture. Freddie was always full of inspiration in this regard. My work for Freddie Mercury only ended three months after his death. It took me several years to return to life again. You can imagine the pain of losing your best friend.
In 1995, I decided to write a book describing what Freddie was truly like. The book was published in 1998 under the title Freddie Mercury – A Personal Memoir by the Man Who Knew Him Best.
Today, Peter focuses on three main projects: Titanic Freddie Aids (TFA Project). In 2025, he will embark on his final farewell tour for his 70th birthday with his concert talk show. He continues to serve as patron of the Freddie Celebration Days birthday festival in Montreux, Switzerland – the only place where he will publicly engage from 2026 onwards. From the same year, he will also return to schools with the newly renewed version of the Titanic Freddie Aids project, under the leadership of Milan Devinne and the organization Up2Life.
GALERIE
PARTNEŘI
.png)
HLAVNÍ PARTNER PROJEKTU
PODPORA PROJEKTU
ODBORNÁ ZÁŠTITA
GARANT PROJEKTU
REFERENCE
IDNES.CZ
Freddie jako Titanic. Zpěvákův tajemník přednáší o nebezpečí AIDS
REPORTÁŽ TELEVIZE V1
Jedinečná přednáška o nemoci aids východočeského zpěváka Milana Devinne a bývalého osobního manažera Freddie Mercuryho pana Petera Freestonea.
Jeho posláním je varovat před zákeřnou nemocí AIDS. Tajemník Freddieho Mercuryho besedoval s mosteckými žáky
MOSTECKÉ LISTY
Nadaci Mercury Phoenix Trust založil Brian May, Roger Taylor spolu s manažerem kapely Queen, Jimem Beachem na počest legendárního zpěváka FREDDIE MERCURYHO, který zemřel v roce 1991 na následky nemoci AIDS. V posledních 21 letech Trust poskytla více než 15 milionů dolarů ve svém jménu a financoval přes 700 projektů v globální bitvě proti HIV / AIDS. Potřebujeme vaši podporu, abychom udrželi současnou úroveň dárců a udrželi financování zoufale potřebných iniciativ v oblasti HIV / AIDS na celém světě. Společně nám pomůžeme využívat Freddieho pamatáku, jeho charisma a snahu o vymýcení této nemoci.