Mary Austin

Mary Austin was a long-time companion and friend of Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist of Queen (band). She met Freddie Mercury in the early 1970s through her job as a secretary at Queen (band)'s management company, where she worked with Brian May and Roger Taylor. Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin developed a close relationship, and she became an important figure in his life, often accompanying him to Queen (band)'s concerts and events, including the famous Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium.

● Early Life

Mary Austin was born in 1951 in London, England, and grew up in a modest family with her parents and siblings. She attended Westminster School and later worked as a secretary at a London-based company, where she met Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen (band). Mary Austin's early life was marked by her love for music, particularly rock music, and she often attended concerts at Royal Albert Hall and Hammersmith Odeon to see performances by The Who, The Rolling Stones, and David Bowie. She was also a fan of Elton John and Rod Stewart, and often visited Trident Studios to watch Queen (band) record their albums, including A Night at the Opera and A Kind of Magic.

● Career

Mary Austin's career was closely tied to Queen (band) and their management team, which included Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. She worked as a personal assistant to Freddie Mercury and helped manage his schedule, often accompanying him to Queen (band)'s concerts and events, including the European tour and the North American tour. Mary Austin also worked with Queen (band)'s management team to coordinate their tours and performances, including the famous Live Aid concert at Wembley Stadium, which featured performances by U2, The Who, and David Bowie. She was also involved in the production of Queen (band)'s music videos, including Bohemian Rhapsody and Under Pressure, which featured David Bowie.

● Personal Life

Mary Austin's personal life was marked by her close relationship with Freddie Mercury, which lasted for over 20 years. She was a constant presence in his life, often accompanying him to Queen (band)'s concerts and events, including the Montreux Jazz Festival and the Rock in Rio festival. Mary Austin was also close friends with Brian May and Roger Taylor, and often socialized with them and their families, including Anita Dobson and Dominic Taylor. She was also a fan of theatre and often attended performances at West End and Broadway, including productions of The Phantom of the Opera and Cats (musical).

● Relationship with Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin's relationship was a complex and intimate one, with Mary Austin serving as both his partner and his closest friend. Freddie Mercury often referred to Mary Austin as his "common-law wife" and left her a significant portion of his estate in his will, including his Kensington home and a large portion of his music catalog, which included hits like We Will Rock You and Another One Bites the Dust. Mary Austin was also a source of support and comfort for Freddie Mercury during his struggles with AIDS, and was by his side when he passed away in 1991 at the age of 45, surrounded by his family and friends, including Elton John and David Furnish.

● Later Life and Legacy

After Freddie Mercury's death, Mary Austin continued to work with Queen (band) and their management team, helping to manage their music catalog and coordinate their tours and performances, including the Queen + Paul Rodgers tour and the Queen + Adam Lambert tour. She also worked with Brian May and Roger Taylor to establish the Mercury Phoenix Trust, a charity organization dedicated to supporting AIDS research and awareness, which has worked with organizations like Amnesty International and UNICEF. Mary Austin has also been involved in various Queen (band)-related projects, including the production of Bohemian Rhapsody (film), which starred Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury and featured Gwilym Lee as Brian May and Ben Hardy as Roger Taylor. Today, Mary Austin remains a beloved and respected figure in the Queen (band) community, and continues to work tirelessly to preserve Freddie Mercury's legacy and support AIDS research and awareness, working with organizations like The Terrence Higgins Trust and The Elton John AIDS Foundation. Category:Queen (band)