Freddie Mercury: 'The one thing' Queen star was DETERMINED to do amid AIDS battle

Freddie Mercury died of complications due to AIDS in 1991, having kept his diagnosis private for years. The following week, Queen stars Brian May and Taylor gave a poignant interview on TV-am in which they opened up on his illness and legacy.

“The one thing he wanted to do was keep on working in the studio,” Taylor said. “He was absolutely determined to keep the group going and to keep working.

“And that actually kept him going for a long time.”

He then went on to discuss how emotionally difficult it had been for the band to record These Are the Days of Our Lives, which was released around the time of Mercury’s death.

“It was hard but we were trying to support him through it. And he was incredibly brave at that time,” Taylor said.

READ MORE: FREDDIE MERCURY’S FINAL DAYS: THIS GAVE HIM PEACE TO ‘LET GO’

Taylor went on to remember what Mercury was like away from the public eye and his famous stage persona, saying he was actually a “very shy, gentle, kind person”.

“He wasn’t the kind of persona that he put over on stage because he was an entertainer,” he 

In a recent exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Queen legend Mercury’s close friend and long-time PA Peter Freestone remembered the last weeks of his life.

Freestone was one of the close circle of friends looking after Mercury at his Kensington home toward the end of his life, taking 12-hour shifts to ensure he was never alone, whether awake or asleep.

DON’T MISS…

Freddie Mercury ‘irreplaceable’: Adam Lambert speaks out on Queen icon [INTERVIEW]

Adam Lambert at risk of PULLING OUT of Queen tour? [EXCLUSIVE]

Adam Lambert: ‘Inappropriate’ gift Queen star was asked to give May [Q&A]

“For the last week he never left his bed and he was never alone,” he said. “We did 12-hour shifts. I would sit on the bed, holding his hand so if he woke up someone was there.

“We chatted, easy conversation about friends or gossip.

“The last time I saw him was on the Friday night, November 22,” he continued.

It was that day that Mercury decided to share his AIDS diagnosis with the public, issuing a statement which confirmed ongoing reports about his illness.