Freddie Mercury may have been the larger-than-life lead singer with Queen but he revealed what really excited him was a simple touch by ‘love of his life’, Mary Austin.
While the singer may have had an extravagant taste, it was sitting on his ‘throne’ with Mary’s latest offering that gave him real pleasure.
During his life, Freddie made a name for himself with his generosity towards his friends and family and once famously exclaimed: “Money may not be able to buy happiness but it can damn well give it!”
Freddie revealed: “A little gift, a gesture, a nuance… means far more than someone buying you Big Ben.”
The acclaimed performer would say that this was how you could tell that someone really cared for you and knew you well.
(Image: Richard Young/REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: Getty Images)
Speaking in an interview that has been used in a new autobiography of the legendary singer, Freddie Mercury: A Life, in his own words, he explained: “The other day Mary gave me a wonderful present that I haven’t seen before.
“It’s something that no-one else would think of and it might be totally useless for you, but it’s from someone who cares and that’s what matters.
“She gave me this little gift that she went out of her way to arrange.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Freddie continued: “It was the newspaper of the day that I was born… It was The Times, September 5th, 1946. And she also got me 1846, which was wonderful.
“She said, ‘This’ll keep you busy, dear. You can read it while you’re on the throne.’ I like to read when I’m having a crap!
“I thought it was a lovely little treat – just a little something. There’s reams and reams of paper and it was wonderful.”
With these touches being the way to his heart, it also heightened Freddie’s displeasure for those that made little effort in their lives.
(Image: Getty Images)
He continued: “It is totally farcical to assume that people who have money don’t need little gestures like that, like everyone else.
“There might be people who pooh-pooh that kind of stuff but they must be very boring types.”
Freddie went on to say that having money would mask what he actually enjoyed in life.
“Some people think you have all this wealth, so ‘What can I possibly get you as a present? You have everything so I can’t buy you anything.’ I think that’s a cop-out.
“There’s tons of things I need. I hate all those excuses. They think they can’t give you something that doesn’t cost much because it’s going to be beneath you, but that’s absolute crap.”
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