On November 24th, 1991, Queen's lead vocalist, Freddie Mercury, passed away from Bronchopneumonia, a subtype of pneumonia, due to AIDS complications. The singer with the four-octave vocal range brought songs to the world, such as "We Are The Champions," "Don't Stop Me Now," and "Bohemian Rhapsody." Queen had 4 top 10 hits, two number one hits, and sold over 90 million albums worldwide.
Mercury had a charismatic and larger-than-life stage presence, and he loved wild parties. However, reportedly, Mercury was a shy and private person. Mercury was so secretive during the days that he was sick that not many articles exist detailing his final moments. However, accounts from his late and longtime partner Jim Hutton and ex Mary Austin help us understand how he spent his last days. Elton Jon even has a story about spending time with Mercury during his final days. Let's examine what was going on in Mercury's world before he passed.
10 Queen Released Their Fourteenth Studio Album
"Innuendo" is the name of Queen's fourteenth studio album. It was the last album that the group released in Mercury's lifetime. The album came out on February 4th, 1991, but the group recorded it from March 1989-November 1990. "Innuendo" was the first album that the group released by Hollywood Records in the United States. In the UK, where the group is from, the album went to #1. "Innuendo" also served as the first album from the group that went gold in the US.
9 Mercury's Last Public Appearance Was In 1990
According to Express, Mercury's last public appearance was at the 1990 Brit Awards at the Dominion Theatre on February 18th, 1990. By this time, his groupmates did know about his diagnosis, but the public did not know. However, the public did speculate about Mercury's appearance because he was gaunt. His last music video appearance was in the 1991 music video for "These Are The Days Of Our Lives." People also questioned if Mercury was ill because he didn't go on tour to promote the "Innuendo" album.
8 Mercury Spent Time In Switzerland With His Lover
Around two weeks before his death, Mercury went on vacation with Hutton. In 1985, Mercury met Hutton at a nightclub called Heaven. Hutton was an apprentice at a hairdresser in the Savoy Hotel when he met Mercury. The two spent the last years of Mercury's life together, even though Austin did not approve of him so much that she kicked him out of the house after Mercury passed. When the couple returned from Switzerland around November 10th, 1991, Mercury experienced much pain and agony.
7 Mercury Ensured That He Took Care Of His Closest Friend
Unlike many celebrities, Mercury did have a Last testament. While Mercury rarely interviewed, he made it clear that Austin was the person he trusted the most. Mercury explained that if things were different, meaning that if he weren't into men, Austin would have been his wife, and everything would have gone to her anyway. Mercury left Freddie left Hutton, his ex-boyfriend Joe Fanelli, and Freeston £500,000 each. His earnings from Queen went to his parents and sister while everything else went to Austin.
6 Mercury Also Spent His Last Days With His Assistant
Peter "Phoebe" Freestone was Mercury's close friend and personal assistant for twelve years. According to Smooth Radio, Freestone has described how funny and lively Mercury was and that after he passed, the house merely felt like "brick and mortar." Freestone shared that Mercury suspected that he could have had AIDS because of friends dying from the disease. However, he put it in the back of his mind because he didn't believe it could happen to him.
5 Mercury Stopped Taking His Medication
What Mercury was going through was already painful enough. In addition, he stopped taking his medication. Instead, Mercury took painkillers to hasten his death being in so much pain. Mercury even began to lose his sight. He also stopped eating food nearly altogether. Mercury had fruit and juices in his very final days, and that was all. Hutton expressed that Mercury knew it was his time to go, and he was at peace with that. He made arrangements and talked to his loved ones.
4 He Spent Time Looking At Artwork
On November 20th, Mercury spent time downstairs at his Garden Lodge home in Kensington. He bought the house for £500,000 in cash, equating to $695,102.50 in US dollars and $870,612.41 in the Canadian dollar. Mercury was downstairs to see his artwork for the final time. He spent time in his Japanese room marveling at Lalique and Galle vase and speaking on how he acquired Japanese prints.
3 Elton John Watched Mercury Buy More Art Even as His Health Declined
The "Benny And The Jets" singer recalled how he found Mercury bedbound and still ordering Japanese art. He described how he saw medication all around him as well as auction catalogs. It astonished Elton John how much life Mercury still had life in him, given his unfortunate circumstances. Elton John expressed that Mercury was not fearful or sad.
2 On November 23rd, 2021, An Announcement Revealing His Illness Finally Happened.
In his last days, it seems that Mercury didn't want to spend time talking about AIDS awareness. Mercury decided to keep this news private to protect his loved ones. Although a doctor diagnosed him in 1987, it wouldn't be until a day before his death that the world would finally understand why he seemed so sickly. Queen's manager Jim Beach helped him prepare a statement.
1 His Final Words Were "Pee Pee."
Mercury said the words "pee pee" because he needed assistance getting to the bathroom. By this time, and weeks prior, Mercury needed help walking around and standing. Shortly afterward, he fell into a coma and passed away at the age of 45. Fans will forever miss Mercury because he is a one-of-a-kind rock legend.