Mercury and Me Paperback – February 4, 2019

I never met Freddie Mercury so I don't know what he felt or was feeling before he died. By saying this I was able to go into this book with an open mind. I've read so many ugly things written about Jim Hutton by Freddie's fans. Some hate him for writing this book, others hate him for daring to say that Freddie loved him more than his "soul mate" Mary Austin. Fans have accused Jim of everything -- lying, being greedy, being vindictive and spiteful, and even a section of fans who firmly believe Jim gave Freddie HIV. I've also heard that some of these fans sent Jim death threats before he died of cancer in 2010. I was very surprised by the amount of vitriol this man receives even six years after his death, when in interviews I've seen I've never heard any of Freddie's friends say anything bad about Jim. In fact, several of Freddie's friends agree that Freddie's relationship with Jim was THE relationship he'd been looking for.But I like I said, I sat down to read this book with an open mind. Three quarters of the way through I felt like I'd been gutted. Jim doesn't pull any punches; frequently throughout the book he mentions how much he loved Freddie but he's also very honest about Freddie's faults. It was very shocking to me. Perhaps like the majority of fans I had this ideal image of the type of person Freddie Mercury was. I needed to stop reading the book and take a break. When I came back I started over from the beginning. Now that I knew what to expect from the book reading wasn't so bad anymore. I managed to finish it all the way through, and by the end I was in tears.In the last two days I've read the book four times. Each time I find something I'd missed previously, and it became more enjoyable for me to read. I have not become disillusioned by Freddie by reading this book. In fact, he's seems more human than godlike to me as he'd seemed like previously, and that just makes me a bigger fan of his. Nor did I get the feeling that Jim had written an exploitative tell-all to make a quick buck. Freddie was a human being after all, and like all humans beings he wasn't perfect. But I didn't need Jim's written words to tell me that they had a loving relationship despite their problems. I've heard many interviews where Freddie himself talks very lovingly about his relationship with Jim (though he doesn't refer to Jim by name in these interviews) so I know that they both loved each other. There were a lot of times that I could feel the tears behind the words here, and it felt like this had been a memoir written by a grieving man. Not someone who acted like Paul Prenter and exploited Freddie.I realize people feel like Jim betrayed Freddie by writing this, but for those people who think way I have an honest question: What do you know? Did Freddie tell you that nobody was allowed to talk about him after he died? Were you there nursing him through an absolutely horrific illness? Were you a part of his life in any way whatsoever? I'm going to guess no, so I firmly believe that people who feel that Jim and Peter and others of Freddie's friends who wrote books about Freddie act like these people are leeches and users don't know what they're talking about. You don't know what Freddie wanted. You didn't know him the way these people did, so how dare you stand in judgment of them?As for the whole mess with Freddie's will...I realize there are two sides to every story. I do not deny that Freddie loved Mary until he died. I mean it's pretty well-documented that he loved her. But just because he loved her doesn't mean he did not love Jim. And just because Freddie left half of his estate to Mary doesn't mean he didn't trust Jim. I mean, if he DIDN'T love or trust Jim then Freddie's friends would certainly mentioned that little tidbit in interviews! But the only person who could truly answer that question is Freddie himself, and unfortunately he's not here to set the record straight.I gave this book four stars because the writing scheme felt very awkward. I felt like I was reading a jumbled diary at times. Jim also spent a lot of time describing Freddie's shopping trips, which didn't really interest me. However I enjoyed this intimate look into the final years of Freddie Mercury's life. Fans either love Jim for his relationship with Freddie, or hate him for his relationship with Freddie. This isn't a rosy love story; their relationship had a lot of ups and downs but I believe Jim made Freddie happy. And for anyone who doubts me, here's Freddie's own words about his relationship with Jim: "I'm really very happy with my relationship at the moment, and I couldn't really ask for better. I finally found a...niche that I was looking for all my life. And no f***er in this universe is going to upset it".

Just to much of my dear Freddie's personal life put on display. He was a private man in many ways. Many people took advantage.

I loved this book. I read it pretty much in one sitting, and found it thoroughly engrossing. The writing is extremely simple; it feels like you're talking to Jim directly as he tells you about his life with Freddie rather than reading a professionally-written memoir. (To that effect, I wonder what role Tim Wapshott had in this book's creation? It feels too organic to have been ghostwritten, at least entirely.)Anyway, that may or may not detract from the book for some folks. It's honest--perhaps *too* honest, in a few places--and everything is filtered through Jim's perspective, which means that especially the end might rub some people the wrong way, depending on how positively you want to perceive Mary. It therefore may come across as unfair, the picture he paints of her, but this book is unfiltered: it still bears the marks of grief of a man who's just lost the love of his life--and no doubt Mary was grieving, too. Grief can make people do strange things.And while I can understand that some people would feel that Jim's revealing so much about his life with Freddie is a betrayal--well, then everyone's betrayed him. Everyone's committed the same "sin". I can't think of a single person who was close to him (with the exception of John Deacon?) who hasn't given at least one interview, and most have gone on to give several lengthy ones and / or to write books. For better or for worse, that's so--and for better or for worse, accounts of various events (especially conversations--some of them crucial) don't always match up. Grief can make people do strange things, and grief can mar memories.One thing I particularly appreciate is Jim's not really touching on Freddie's past relationship with Mary. That gets brought up a lot, mostly with speculation, and particularly when people deign it necessary to have sometimes heated debates over whether Freddie was gay or bisexual. That Jim didn't even touch on that issue, I think, speaks volumes about the kind of person he was. There are many different ways to love, and he knew that, for the years they were together, he was Freddie's, and Freddie was his. And that was good enough for them.(That said, Jim refers to Freddie as gay on a couple of occasions, and never as bisexual, so if that, uhm, "triggers you", as the kids say these days, then here's a friendly heads up.)Anyway--I loved this book. Is it simple? Yes. Are there typos? Yes. Does Jim repeat himself? Oh yes. Are there tidbits of information that we probably didn't need to know? Yep. But, as I said, that's what made it so special: it really felt like you were just sitting in a chair opposite, listening to him reminisce.Still if that sort of thing isn't your cup of tea, and / or if you're looking strictly for nothing but irrefutable facts . . . this isn't the memoir for you. If you don't mind those things, I can't recommend this book enough.

I believe 4/5 is fine because it’s not perfect, no book is, but it’s especially a complicated read. It’s no 4th grade book, you have to actually understand what’s happening. I believe there’s a lot of back and fourth within it which makes it a higher level. After watching the queen movie about 7 times it really stained my brain about what happened but after reading this book and I’m working on another, it tells the truth. Some people in the reviews say it’s disrespectful to post such a detailed book about freddy, especially in his last days. I don’t agree. Yes, Freddy mercury was a shy person and would probably hate this book but Jim Hutton and Freddy Mercury spent 6 years together, they were in love. Jim Hutton wrote this book in 1994, 2-3 years after Freddy died, it is obvious he was in grief and he wanted to remember him. I feel like, yes the details on his last days were a lot like a lot, but don’t try to speak over a dead man like you knew him. Jim Hutton knew Freddy and if he really thought it would upset him I’m sure he wouldn’t have written it. Another thing people are upset about is how open Jim was, but also not him trying to make himself look bad, especially with Mary. Jim Hutton obviously did not like Mary in the book, tbh I don’t like her either, and it’s the honest truth. You don’t have to love someone but Jim Hutton wrote it down in the nicest way, wasn’t trying to make himself look bad and also wasn’t trying to make Mary look horrible.In conclusion, the honest truth hurts so if you’re going to be sensitive about truth, I wouldn’t recommend.

What a book! I have always liked Queen's music but never knew anything about the band members, until the Bohemian Rhapsody movie came out this month. Watching the film left me empty. I needed to know more about Freddie. I was absolutely blown away. I tried reading a couple of books about him, but they seemed to be too factual with the music, I wanted to know more about him as a person. This book was 100% what I was looking for. From the first page i was totally drawn in. I cried, laughed, felt anger, heartbreak. If anyone wants to know more about his personal life, his relationship out of the limelight, read it! What an incredible legend Freddie Mercury!!!!

Having been an ardent fan of Queen since the mid 70s I eventually decided to read this book and in all honesty I wish I hadn’t. Yes it gave insight to Freddie’s personal life but I really feel that is where it should have stayed, personal. We know that Freddie was incredibly generous to all those close to him and Jim was certainly no exception but would he really have wanted the more intimate details disclosed? The last couple of chapters were indeed as expected heartbreaking, it was as though you were reliving the death of someone you physically knew and did make quite difficult reading. I had always had a very high regard for Mary Austin but if the contents of this book about her are true and not exaggerated then she did appear to be very selfish and didn’t consider Freddie’s wishes after he passed away.

Having recently watched the celebrated biographical film of Freddie Mercury; Bohemian Rhapsody at the cinema, I had to compare the blockbuster movie perspective with another, and so I chose; Mercury and Me by Jim Hutton. Hutton, being Freddie Mercury's partner during the last few years of his life gives an intimate account of Freddie and his lifestyle. It lacks the glamour of the movie, but does give a more realistic insight into Freddie Mercury.The Freddie of the blockbuster film is flamboyant, charismatic and charming, and of course talented. But that is a Hollywood perspective. Hutton's biography paints a picture of a Freddie who had far too much money, wasted a lot of it on hard drugs, and spent excessive amounts like water, on items he didn't need, nor would ever use. just because he could! Even in his last few months Freddie spent wildly on items, including real estate in Switzerland.He also had real estate in Germany, where he spent a lot of time, avoiding tax obligations to the British government. This is surely a betrayal of the country; Great Britain, which gave Freddie the freedom and opportunities to follow his dreams, whilst giving his family refuge when they fled Zanzibar; their home at the time.Yet, according to this biography, nobody was going to be critical of Freddie as he was surrounded by flunkies and yes men and women. In the end some of these hangers on, attended Freddie's funeral wake at his main home; Garden Lodge in London, opened a bottle of Champaign and roared with laughter.As for Jim Hutton, he seems to have been a very nice, genuine, yet naive man. He omitted to have possessions Freddie said he would leave to Jim in verbal communication, written into a will. Perhaps this is because Jim really was the only person who genuinely loved Freddie Mercury for who he was; not for his superstar status or money.The book is written as if Jim Hutton is talking, so it is not as structured as it might have been, if written by a professional. Yet, the style makes it more intimate and readable.In all a book to compare with the film; Bohemian Rhapsody, but the reader might need to read a few biographies on Freddie Mercury before settling on a broader view of the singer and the man.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5I can't count the amount of car journeys I had growing up when my father was playing Queen. My father is a massive Queen fan and admirer of Freddie Mercury (he even sprouts a Freddie Mercury style moustache). Sadly, I am the only other Queen fan obsessive in the Walker household and so when I saw Jim Hutton's autobiography I leapt at the chance to read it and it was a highly enjoyable read. Jim Hutton, who sadly passed away, was Freddie Mercury's self-professed 'husband'. The story starts with a Hutton newly single meeting (and being pursued by) Freddie and his relationship with Freddie until Freddie's death.One of the main things I enjoyed was the fact it is very readable. The danger with autobiographies is that they can either contain too much (pointless) information and read like a textbook or they can be monotonous with "I did this.. Then I did this... Then I..." Hutton's work strikes a great balance between the two. Although a 'professional'* writer has helped, it feels very authentic as Hutton's story and I don't think it detracts in anyway from the book. My only criticism is that some parts read like a shopping list with "he bought... this which was really expensive and... and he bought so and so... " but I think that is just personal preference. *(does anyone know what they are doing?)For those curious, I'll let you know what it covers. This autobiography gives more insight into Freddie, his personality and his antics than it does the band. There are very few behind the scenes glances into 'Queen', mainly because Hutton didn't spend a great deal of time with the band when it was being Queen. This probably isn't the best read if you just want all the inside details on Queen. I was surprised to learn that Freddie was not closer with the other bandmates but, I suppose, after spending so much time in the studios and on tour together a little time apart is refreshing. Having said that about the band, Hutton does cover Freddie's relationship with Monserrat Cabelle or Montsy as she was known by Freddie. I was hoping that it would address the factoid that Freddie refused to continue working with Michael Jackson because Jackson insisted on bringing animals into the studio but all Hutton suggests was that Freddie found MJ difficult to work with. (Perhaps someone can confirm or discredit this?)I found reading about Freddie's final months and days very difficult to read. I am glad I stayed up through the night reading (and crying) until the last page because I doubt I could have found the strength to face reading the rest of the book. It is not a case of 'oh he died' peacefully and unexpectedly one day in his sleep. Hutton is very honest that Freddie's descent was protracted, painful and unglamorous.On the other hand, this autobiography has many laugh out loud moments. There are a lot of anecdotes too which I now share with my parents that they seem to enjoy, more than my others anyway. Two of my favourites ones are that Freddie's pin up was Burt Reynolds and that Freddie bought Butler and Wilson jewellery; by sheer coincidence I have a few pieces and so now when I wear them I think of Freddie. I have more anecdotes but why spoil the book?I usually read other reviews before I write my own. This mainly is to see if others shared 'my' opinion or if I missed anything and I have to say I was surprised to read about the whole Mary vs Jim controversy over Freddie's will and whether Hutton was 'cashing in'. For those who don't know, Mary Austin was Freddie's fiancé until Freddie confided he was gay. I'm not going to spend long on these controversies because, frankly, I'm not a historian - I don't have access to any additional facts other than my humble Sherlockian skills of abduction. I remember when my own grandmother died from cancer, and although I was ten, I remember relatives saying things they shouldn't have. I think that grief warps our emotions (and in turn our perception and reactions) and I don't think either of them are, or were, overtly reliable. Also, there is a noticeable absence of John Deacon in the post-Freddie "Queen" line up so a few Hutton criticisms could equally be levelled at May and Taylor. It all ends there as far as I'm concerned, no good is going to come of raking up that particular patch of time.Overall, it was a really great book, a real roller-coster ride and is a must read for any obsessive Freddie/Queen fan. If you can buy the book, I would recommend getting a physical copy as the Kindle pictures are obviously in black and white

Some bits interesting but too eager to keep telling how many kisses and cuddles they had. Also spoilt by the last chapters which are filled with what I imagine to be jealousy of Mary. Not necessary - and doesn’t quite ring true - seems a bit of sour grapes which serves nobody. Not nice.