Mercury and Me

With its new introduction by Jim Hutton's co-writer Tim Wapshott, only the Kindle edition of 'Mercury and Me' (2013) is the updated story of rock's oddest couple. This is the Kindle edition in slightly larger format paperback, with b&w photographs. The relationship between Freddie Mercury and Jim Hutton evolved over several months in 1984 and 1985. Even when they first slept together Hutton had no idea who Mercury was, and when the star told him his name it meant nothing to him. Hutton worked as a barber at the Savoy Hotel and retained his job and suburban lodgings long after first meeting the rock legend. Hutton finally moved in with Mercury and later also worked as his gardener. Hutton was never fully assimilated into Mercury's jet-setting lifestyle, nor did he want to be, but from 1985 until Mercury's death in 1991 he was closer to him than anyone. He knew all Mercury's closest chums including the other members of Queen, Elton John, David Bowie and Montserrat Caballé. Ever present at the countless Sunday lunch gatherings and opulent parties, in stark contrast Hutton also nursed Mercury through his terminal illness, often held him through the night in his final weeks, and was with him as he died. No one can tell the story of the last few years of Mercury's private life - the ecstasies and the agonies - more accurately or honestly than Jim Hutton.