Mercury’s partner dies
The Irish partner of the late Freddie Mercury died on New Year’s Day and was laid to rest yesterday, the Irish Independent reports.
Jim Hutton, who also worked as a hairdresser for the Queen singer, died after a battle with cancer, just three days short of his 61st birthday.
He lived with Mercury for the last six years of the singer’s life and was present at his bedside when he died at his London home on November 24, 1991. Mercury died from broncho-pneumonia induced by AIDS after publicly acknowledging he had the disease the day before his death.
Mercury left his partner £500,000 as well as a plot of land at Rutland Terrace, Carlow where Hutton built a house. The bulk of Mercury’s estate went to Mary Austin, his former girlfriend of six years.
Hutton tested positive for HIV in 1990 but he didn’t tell Mercury for nearly a year afterwards.
Hutton was buried in his hometown of Carlow, Ireland.
Freddie Mercury was the best rock singer who ever lived!
RIP MY LOVE !
So sad. RIP Jim. <3
Freddie Mercury was the greatest rock singer and greatest frontman who ever lived. RIP Freddie.
Not Jim Hutton nor any of Freddie Mercury’s other, earlier gay lovers could understand that they could never replace Mary Austin in Freddie’s heart. Freddie was unusual in that he had fond sex with men but considered Mary his much beloved wife, whom no one could supplant. She was his first love, breaking up with him when he said he was bisexual, but remained his lifelong friend. Freddie Mercury was a complex man who was dearly loved.