Freddie Mercury’s death changed everything for the members of the famous Queen band, leaving his mates to painfully carry on due to the large vacuum he left behind. Freddie died at 45 from bronchial pneumonia after a prolonged battle with HIV/AIDS. It has been 33 years since his passing, but his legacy is still being discussed by his colleagues and fans to this day.
According to guitarist Brian May, Freddie never showed weakness despite the inevitability of his death. While discussing with AXS TV, he recalled never seeing Freddie cry, and did not try to garner any well-deserved pity but remained an inspiration until his last breath.
Freddie Mercury never gave up even when he was sick
Despite his ailing health, Freddie would still get on the road and unfailingly join his bandmates to record during studio sessions, urging them to keep creating. May admitted that Freddie’s absence has been the reason for the band’s complacency, as he was their biggest inspiration to continue working hard.
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Their last album, Made In Heaven, held more sentimental value for Queen, as it contained tracks and snippets Freddie had them work on to create something special. His final known performance of “These Are the Days of Our Lives” was unforgettably emotional, as he still performed wholeheartedly despite being visibly weak.
Queen without Freddie
Sony is reportedly looking to buy Queen’s catalog for $1.27 billion, which would be the most expensive music sale ever if the deal goes through. Rather than grieving continuously and leaving the band in limbo, vocalist Adam Lambert’s ideas have helped Queen thrive, as he encourages new ideas and styles to keep Freddie’s songs alive.
Interestingly, Freddie hid his diagnosis for a long time, over a decade, until the day before his passing, when he publicly admitted to being ill. He only kept the news within his close circle, which included members of the Queen, until he sensed he was not going to be around for much longer.