Freddie Mercury, Rio de Janeiro, 1985 Photo Credit: Richard Young
Freddie Mercury is back in the headlines this month with a new and revealing book, Somebody to Love: The Life, Death & Legacy of Freddie Mercury. This examination of the singer’s complex emotional life will be published November 22 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the legendary rock star’s death. He would have been seventy this year had he not died due to complications from AIDS, well before HIV was so easily treated.
Published by Weldon Owen, the book shines light on the rock (and gay) icon’s public flamboyance while illuminating his personal quest for meaningful relationships. Authors Mark Langhorne and Matt Richards take a “fresh look at both Mercury’s and Queen’s rise then fall then rise again in musical history.” Richards was fortunate to see Queen live at Wembley Stadium in 1986 on the Magic tour, their final tour with the original Queen line-up, a concert that he says will live with him forever.
Somebody to Love includes an interview with John Reid, who served as both Elton John and then Queen’s manager in 1975. Reid was gay himself and immediately suspected Freddie was on his team, but those around Mercury insisted he wasn’t and in a relationship with Mary Austin.
When Reid took Mercury out to dinner in Fulham Road to introduce himself as the band’s new manager he told Freddie that he was gay himself and hoped this wouldn’t affect the band’s attitude to him.
“So am I, Dear, we’ll get on swimmingly,” Freddie responded.
The book also shares details about when Freddie tested HIV positive, and how he covered up his illness by lying to his closest friends–including Peter Starker and Paul Gambaccini.
Queerty obtained an exclusive sampling of rare or never-seen photographs shared by those closest to this totally unique and talented performer.
Freddie Mercury Backstage, Queen ‘Breakthru’ Video Shoot, Nene Valley, 1989, Courtesy Richard Young
Peter Straker & Freddie at Mixing desk, Wessex Studio, Courtesy Wendy Allison
Mary & Freddie in Peter Straker’s Dressing Room, Courtesy Wendy Allison
Freddie Mercury Backstage, Barcelona, 1988, Photo Credit: Richard Young
Freddie & Mary Austin, Photo Courtesy of Wendy Allison
Freddie & Roy Thomas-Baker at Sarm East Studio, Photo Courtesy of Wendy Allison
Somebody to Love: The Life, Death & Legacy of Freddie Mercury is now available
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RIGay
Looking forward to reading the book!
o.codone
What a fabulous performer. Watch the youtube vids of Freddie at Wembly during Live Aid. The entire stadium was mesmerized. Gotta grab that book fast.
GameBoy
Freddie Mercury is KING, always slayed the stage…
jimmypalmieri
A genius lost way too soon.
Arconcyyon
Our the he age 70 year´s ! that is super mega older Sir´s Mr´s Rock in Rool Love by Love .
Sorry more about family family the he has her pop star no not arvory flowers herdeirus no the rei pop star music rockinroll no . sucess very the very translleiton book países linguagen .
strix1
Amazing singer/song writer/performer – Truly legendary. Would love to interview him today, even if just for an hour.
wainiac
I saw Queen and Billy Squire in Minneapolis in around 1981.
I am still grieving this loss. period.
Glad Lady Gaga is inspired by his work. Little known fact: Queen was the most highly educated band at their peak.
I think the band is still as popular and cutting edge as when Freddie was the lead man, and what a man of greatness.
we love you Freddie!
CurlyMop
Who cares. He was a coward and overrated.
ray_weeks
shame on you curlymop how little you do know about that man and what and why he did what he did in regards to his illness
Freddie was a truly brilliant performer who owned the stage and those watching them play……..
my first concert….. NATO….Philly… and to this day IMO no one…no once comes close to their brilliance and legacy…..
each year i work on a NA Convention called Breakthru where fans get together from all over the world to celebrate the music and the man and raise money for charity…..join us
http://www.queenbreakthru.rocks
Karlis
@wainiac: You’re right. Brian May got a doctoral degree in astrophysics even while the band was at the height of its fame. Amazing.
Brian
Queen were so talented under Freddie and had substantial US success with number 1 hit singles like Another One Bites The Dust and Crazy Little Thing Called Love. This was in the early 80’s and followed their epic 70’s breakout success with classics like We Are The Champions and Bohemian Rhapsody.
A friend of mind in Australia said he saw Freddie sipping on a quiet drink at the Laird Hotel in Melbourne way back in the 80’s. Music was so much better then. It had class and style, and none of this computer-generated loop crap we hear today from no-talent DJ’s pretending to be hip.
Sluggo2007
@Brian: No-talent DJs? How about the no-talent performers doing the material?
GayEGO
Mmmmmmmm……such a hot looking guy!
ErikO
very nice. I’m glad they put pictures of Mary Austin there as Freddie was bisexual.
Billy Budd
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Billy Budd
He was sexually insatiable, used to hire boys after his shows (including the one at Rock in Rio in 1985) and took massive amounts of you know what. But he was INCREDIBLY talented and a genius.
Billy Budd
I read the best book about him and I can tell you guys that he was troubled.
Billy Budd
Freddie took coca cola up his nose during a meal at Michael Jacksons house. They broke up the friendship.
Billy Budd
It is becoming increasingly difficult to post at queerty. They are blocking even the most innocent words.
esemple
@CurlyMop: CurlyMop. They will say the same when you die.
Jack Meoff
@Brian: Wow! Brian you have a friend?
CurlyMop
@esemple: Unlikely. I doubt I’ll ever be in the Hollywood spotlight. Who was also a overrated singer and a closeted coward who died of aids. Bye.
dre_brown
@CurlyMop: Overrated singer? Closeted coward? You’re kinda’ dumb, aren’t you?
CurlyMop
@dre_brown: He died closeted and gave most of his wealth to his ex girlfriend instead of his lover. Yes to the closeted and to the coward part. Overrated is just my opinion.
belinda_dewitt
@CurlyMop: Blasting news: Your opinion is irrelevant to the rest of the world.