Smile somehow evolved into Queen, with May and Taylor joining Freddie, who had by now adopted the rising star in his birth sign, Mercury, as his stage name. John Deacon got the gig after one of the bandʼs girlfriends became friendly with his. By 1970 Queen were gigging, and in 1971 they supported Yes at Imperial College (admission: 50p). Accepting the offer of a drink from an assistant's outstretched hand, Freddie takes the cup and then launches into warming up his vocal chords. Many of Mercury’s friends have said that he had come to terms with his impending death from AIDS complications and wasn’t worried about dying —but he was concerned about what happened to him afterward. “He didn’t want anyone trying to dig him up as has happened with some famous people,” longtime companion Mary Austin told The Daily Mail. “Fans can be deeply obsessive.” After Austin was given Mercury’s ashes, she waited two years to remove them from his home (which he left to her in his will). She has never disclosed what she did with his ashes, and says she never will.

They lived together in a series of Kensington flats for the next six years. But by 1975 things were beginning to change in Mercury’s life. Queen had become a major phenomenon and were touring the world – and he was struggling with questions about his identity and sexuality. And then came the recognition that he was gay. Nonetheless, Freddie long continued to take Mary Austin to family functions as his guest. He successfully compartmentalised his life; he played different roles to family, band and friends. This was, of course, his right. But before his final, long relationship with Jim Hutton he was, by his own admission, promiscuous through the late 70s and early 80s. By 1985, he was living alone, although Jim Hutton was soon to move into Freddieʼs Kensington home, Garden Lodge. Freddie Mercury performs a duet with Samantha Fox during a party in London in 1986. / Dave Hogan/Getty Images Freddie had met Roger through a mutual friend, Tim Staffell. Staffell and Taylor had a band, Smile, with Brian May. Freddie liked Smile, and he was impressed by Mayʼs major claim to fame: his previous band, 1984, had supported Jimi Hendrix at a gig at Londonʼs Imperial College.They met through friends. She was an 18-year-old sales assistant at Biba, the fashionable Kensington boutique. He was 23, an art school graduate – Freddie Bulsara then – running a clothes and textile stall in Kensington Market, about to reinvent himself as the lead singer for a group called Smile that would later become known as Queen.

Austin and Mercury met in 1969. They lived together for six years until Mercury told her he thought he was bisexual. No, Austin told him, ‘I think you’re gay.’ It was the end of their romantic relationship, but not their friendship. Mercury was a fastidious and knowledgeable collector. The bookshelves in Garden Lodge were lined with books on every aspect of the arts and crafts, along with auction room catalogues and magazines. He would make private visits to auction houses, but preferred not to bid himself. Instead he would send Austin or his personal assistant Peter Freestone to bid on his behalf, a blank signed cheque in hand. Queen in concert, from left to right: Freddie Mercury, John Deacon, and Brian May. / Express Newspapers/Hulton Archive/Getty Images There is nothing that has gone that she misses. ‘I can still see everything in my mind’s eye. Going through the house I replace the blank wall with the Tissot. Over the years everything has become so familiar. Through the objects I can still see and feel and remember happy times. The ghosts that were here before are gone. It took a while for them to go, but then all the nice memories fall into place.’ When Austin inherited the house in 1991 there was no thought that she would ever do anything but preserve it as it was.

What’s Up With Freddie Mercury’s Teeth?

Freddie Mercury, the legendary frontman of Queen, made a significant impact on the fashion world with his unique and extravagant style. His choice of sunglasses played a crucial role in defining his signature look. Aviator sunglasses, popular during the 1970s, added a touch of mystery to his image. Cat- eye sunglasses challenged gender norms and showcased his individuality. Mirror sunglasses reflected his rebellious persona. Wraparound sunglasses combined practicality with a sporty aesthetic. Freddie Mercury also experimented with other styles, pushing fashion boundaries. His sunglasses became iconic symbols of his charisma and continue to inspire fashion enthusiasts today. The Influence of Freddie Mercury’s Sunglasses Although he’d seen poverty in India, for most of his adult life Freddie was extremely rich. He was open about the degree to which money drove his career. “How do we keep going, dear?” heʼd say. “Money, of course… I cope very well, actually. I spend. Spend, spend, spend. Well, whatʼs money for? Iʼm not one of those whoʼll get money and stuff it in a mattress and count it every night. I know several people who do a show and rush home to count the pennies. Iʼm not like that. Freddie Mercury’s style evolution serves as a testament to his ability to constantly reinvent himself and push the boundaries of fashion. His fearless approach to style not only influenced the music industry but also left an indelible mark on popular culture as a whole. Today, his unique fashion choices continue to inspire musicians, fashion designers, and fans worldwide. The Sunglasses That Defined Freddie Mercury Credit: https://wp.com

Freddieʼs hero was Jimi Hendrix. It was hard to see much of him in Zanzibar or Bombay, but in London he could – and did – watch Hendrix play on nine consecutive nights. He could also shop at Biba, buy hippy gear at Kensington Market, and be on hand for the counter-cultural revolution. For more than 30 years, she says, the house has been ‘the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth. Staggering in its size and range, it casts a new and fascinating light on Mercury not simply as a collector but as a connoisseur of the arts, reflecting his various passions for 19th-century portraiture and French and Italian furniture, Japanese art, ceramics and textiles, art deco and nouveau objects, for Erté and Goya, Picasso and Miró, Fabergé, Tiffany and Daum. Ms Rocos says she attended the famous LGBTQ+ bar with Princess Diana, Freddie Mercury and comedian Kenny Everett. She wrote that after drinking together at Kenny Everett’s house in London, the four wanted to go out to a bar.Freddie Mercury performing on stage in front of the 120,000 strong crowd at Knebworth Park August 9, 1986. How do you explain that this individual human being deserved my total and utter appreciation, and love? And that love did alter, it had its journey. It just so happens that you canʼt cram everything on one album. Itʼs a progression. After the third album, we thought: Now weʼve established ourselves, and we can do certain thingsʼ. Like, vocally, we can outdo any band. We just thought that we would go out, not restrict ourselves with any barriers, and just do exactly what we want to do. It just so happened that I had this operatic thing and I thought: Why donʼt we do it?ʼ