Brian May has given an in-depth interview to the Sunday Times — which he has since slammed as an “awful amateurish piece of journalistic opportunism” — about his career with Queen, in order to promote his forthcoming photo book.
The feature excerpts portions of his book, including one shocking detail about Mercury’s battle with AIDS.
“The problem,” May writes, “was actually his foot, and tragically there was very little left of it. Once, he showed it to us at dinner. And he said, ‘Oh Brian, I’m sorry I’ve upset you by showing you that.’ And I said, ‘I’m not upset, Freddie, except to realise you have to put up with all this terrible pain.’ ”
May also bemoaned the fact that drug cocktails that expand the lives of those living with HIV appeared on the market mere months after Mercury passed away.
“He missed by just a few months,” May told the paper. “If it had been a bit later he would still have been with us, I’m sure. It’s very … hmmm. You can’t do ‘what if’ can you? You can’t go there because therein lies madness.”
May may not (hmm) like the story, but Queen fans will be thrilled by the amount of interesting information he reveals throughout. It’s well worth a read.
