Behind closed doors, the members of Queen were aware that their charismatic bandmate, Freddie Mercury, was battling a serious illness. However, the public remained largely unaware at the time.
Speculation about Freddie’s health had circulated for years, particularly in tabloid newspapers like The Sun, which alleged that he had undergone HIV/AIDS testing as early as 1986.
Fans grew increasingly concerned when Queen chose not to tour in support of their 1989 album, The Miracle. However, even within the band, there was uncertainty. Brian May later admitted that for years, they were unaware of the full extent of Freddie’s condition.
“For a long time, we didn’t actually know what was wrong,” May recalled. “It was an unspoken rule that we didn’t ask, because Freddie didn’t want to talk about it. He simply told us he wasn’t up for touring, and that was that. Only in the last year or so did things become clearer, though we still didn’t have absolute confirmation.”
By February 1990, when Queen accepted the Outstanding Contribution to British Music award at the BRITs, Freddie’s declining health was more apparent. Appearing noticeably thinner and unusually reserved, he let Brian May speak on the band’s behalf. May thanked the industry for their recognition, while a tribute video featured stars like David Bowie and Phil Collins.
Freddie only leaned in briefly to the microphone, offering a simple, poignant farewell: “Thank you … goodnight.”
That moment marked his final public appearance. For the remainder of his life, he maintained his privacy. It wasn’t until November 22, 1991, that he publicly confirmed his AIDS diagnosis in an official statement. Just over 24 hours later, he was gone.
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