Freddie Mercury: An Intimate Memoir by the Man Who Knew Him Best - Peter Freestone

Freddie Mercury: An Intimate Memoir by the Man Who Knew Him Best

By Peter Freestone

  • Release Date: 2010-10-14
  • Genre: Music
4 Score: 4 (From 174 Ratings)

Description

An intimate memoir of the flamboyant Queen singer by the man who knew him best.

Peter Freestone was Freddie Mercury’s Personal Assistant for the last 12 years of his life. He lived with Mercury in London, Munich and New York, and he was with him when he died.

In this book, the most intimate account of Mercury’s life ever written, he reveals the truth behind the scandalous rumours, the outrageous lifestyle and Mercury’s relationships with men, women and the other members of Queen.

From the famous names – including Elton John, Kenny Everett, Elizabeth Taylor and Rod Stewart – to the shadowy army of lovers, fixers and hangers-on, Peter Freestone saw them all play their part in the tragi-comedy that was Freddie Mercury’s life.

Freestone lived with Mercury in Europe and America for over a decade. From the East 50s apartment in New York to Kensington Lodge, the house in London where Mercury died – not to mention innumerable international hotel rooms and apartments in between – Freestone was always on hand to serve and protect the man he had first met in the Biba department store in the early 1970s. Then Queen was a largely unknown band. Soon it would be the most glitzy of glam rock bands. Freestone saw the fame arrive and with it the generosity, the excess, and the celebrity friends who came and went.

“I was chief cook and bottle washer, waiter, butler, valet, secretary, amanuensis, cleaner, baby-sitter… and agony aunt,” he writes. “I shopped for him both at supermarkets and art markets, I travelled the world with him, I was with him at the highs and came through the lows with him. I saw the creative juices flow and I also saw the frustration when life wasn’t going well. I acted as his bodyguard when needed and in the end, of course, I was one of his nurses.”

Freestone’s bet-selling account of a talented and extravagant star’s life and death is compelling, entertaining and ultimately, very touching.

Illustrated with many photos from personal and Freestone’s own archives.

Press Reviews:

“An entertaining and thought provoking read” – PRS for Music Sales

“This collection of Freddie’s own words is the closest thing there is to an autobiography of a man with no regrets. The foreword is written by his mother” – reFRESH magazine, Leading Gay mag in the UK

Reviews

  • Freddie and Peter

    5
    By marycovo
    Excellent written story!
  • Truthful yet classy with a well written feeling of closure.

    5
    By Skhaley
    I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book despite knowing the heartbreaking conclusion. Things I enjoyed, as a reader, include the format in which the book is written. This made it easier to follow the content and the emotion attached to each event. I like how there is a description included at the beginning of the book, about who the people are, that are mentioned throughout the book. At the end of the book there is also a similar description of the people but as a follow up to how each person was doing at the time the book was written. Thank you Phoebe (Peter) for sharing all of your experiences as I know it had to have been both therapeutic and enjoyable yet heartbreaking to relive your time with Freddie. Caring for someone for so long all the way to the end of their life can be both a blessing and a curse but you did it all with love being in your heart and it definitely shows. Lots of love and hugs are being sent your way!
  • Also consider

    3
    By Evestigio
    The one by his last lover is pretty good.
  • Beautiful tribute.

    5
    By AnneBrunell
    A long time fan. Saw Queen in 1978 at age 15 (had to lie to my parents!). Still a great fan at age in my 50’s. The Band never lost fans in the 1980s and has more fans now than ever before in the States!
  • Freddie

    5
    By Hdnme
    Loved this book!

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