AS ONE of the mos iconic singers the world has ever known, Freddie Mercury’s legacy long lives on after his death.
The superstar’s life was cut tragically early, when he passed away aged just 45-years-old.
Freddie Mercury’s legacy long lives on after his sad deathGetty
When did Freddie Mercury die?
After many years of touring the world and producing hit after hit, Freddie Mercury was sadly diagnosed with Aids.
According to his partner Jim Hutton, he received the devastating news shortly after Easter 1987.
However, he kept this as a private matter and denied the diagnosis as rumours continued.
The Queen singer’s sexuality was often a topic of discussion as he’d had both female and male partners, with friends commenting he was openly gay, but he remained silent on the matter.
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Sadly on November 23, 1991, a statement was made on Freddie’s behalf which confirmed he was ill, which said: “Following enormous conjecture in the press, I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV positive and have AIDS.
“I felt it correct to keep this information private in order to protect the privacy of those around me.
“However, the time has now come for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth, and I hope everyone will join with me, my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease.”
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Just over 24 hours after revealing the news, the music legend died at the age of 45 on November 24, 1991.
His cause of death was recorded as bronchial pneumonia resulting from Aids.
In 2017, Queen guitarist Brian May revealed the devastating physical effect Aids had on his late bandmate Freddie – admitting it even cost the star his foot.
Speaking to Times Magazine, he said of his friend’s illness: “The problem was actually his foot – and, tragically there was very little left of it.”
Brian added: “Once, he showed it to us at dinner. And he said: ‘Oh Brian, I’m sorry I’ve upset you by showing you that’. And I said, ‘I’m not upset, Freddie, except to realise that you have to put up with so much terrible pain’.”
He went on to reveal his sadness as Freddie passed away just months before a potentially life-saving “cocktail of drugs” was discovered.
Prescriptions of AZT have gone on to help manage the condition, giving sufferers much longer to live.
“He missed it by just a few months,” Brian said. “If it had been just a bit later he would still be with us, I’m sure. But you can’t go there because therein lies madness”.
What was Freddie Mercury’s last performance?
The band stopped touring after Freddie was diagnosed with having Aids in 1987.
This made their concert at Knebworth on August 9, 1986, the last time the four original members of Queen performed on stage together.
The band arrived to the show by helicopter, with Freddie famously dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and aviator sunglasses, before making their way on stage.
Queen’s keyboard player Spike Edney told Rolling Stone that the helicopter journey was such a highlight for the band that it caused them to miss the backstage after party.
“The end of tour party was a huge fairground filled with topless models.
“[Queen] was so pleased and loved the helicopter ride in so much, that as soon as the gig was over, they took the helicopter ride out.”
Meanwhile, Freddie made his final public appearance when he joined the rest of Queen on stage to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
Was Freddie Mercury engaged to Mary Austin?
Freddie and Mary Austin dated for several years before he proposed in 1973.
The singer even dedicated the Queen hit Love Of My Life to her.
The pair eventually split up after she helped him to accept that he was gay, but they remained best friends until he died.
After they called off their engagement, Mary moved into a nearby flat and the pair remained incredibly close with her working for his management company.
Opening up about their relationship, Freddie once said: “All my lovers asked me why they couldn’t replace Mary, but it’s simply impossible.
“The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage.
“We believe in each other. That’s enough for me. I couldn’t fall in love with a man the same way as I have with Mary.”
When Freddie died, he left Mary half of his £75million estate.
She continues to live in the his mansion in Knightsbridge, London, that she inherited in the singer’s will.
Mary lives as a quiet life there, where fans still make regular pilgrimages.
The interior of the lavishly decorated 28-room home remains unchanged since Freddie’s days.
Mary did the interior design for him, choosing the Louis XV furniture he adored so much.
After her relationship with Freddie, Mary had two children with her first husband, Piers Cameron.
They were married from 1990 to 1993, and during their time welcomed Richard and Jamie – with Freddie being their godfather.
After this ,Mary married husband number two, Nicholas Holford, from 1998 to 2000.
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