Freddie Mercury, a name synonymous with rock and roll royalty. But behind the legendary voice and flamboyant stage presence lies a story of love, friendship, and a surprising twist. In an interview with Classic Rock, Queen’s Brian May shared an intriguing tale about how Freddie began dating Mary Austin, a woman May himself had been interested in.
Mary Austin played a pivotal role in Freddie Mercury’s life, but her story with the band began with Brian May. In the early 1970s, Mary worked as the manageress at Biba, a trendy boutique in Kensington High Street. Known for its glamorous vintage-inspired style, the store was a haven for London’s fashion scene—and for a young band named Queen.
Queen’s first-ever professional photo shoot took place at Freddie’s London flat in March 1973. According to Brian, the band borrowed clothing and accessories from Biba, thanks to Mary’s connections. But it wasn’t just her eye for style that caught Brian’s attention—he eventually asked her out.
May said via Rock Celebrities, “That’s taken in Freddie’s flat. He lived there with Mary [Austin, his girlfriend]. It was our first proper photo shoot.”
He continued, “We got everything we could together that we thought would exude this kind of period glamour. It’s mainly from Biba, which was this beautiful store in Kensington High Street, very trendy, very much harking back to the glory days of the 1930s.”
Brian revealed: “Mary was the manageress in Biba, so we got to borrow all this fantastic stuff, because there’s no way we could have afforded it. I actually asked Mary out at a certain point.”
When Freddie learned about Brian’s interest in Mary, he didn’t hesitate. Brian said: “And then Freddie went, ‘Oh, is she with you? I’d like to ask her out.’ I said, ‘I think you should because we’re only friends really.’ And the rest is history.”
In the early 1970s, Mercury dated Austin, whom he met through May. They lived together until the mid-1970s when Mercury revealed his sexuality. He then bought Austin her own place near his new home.
After his death, Mercury left most of his fortune, his mansion in Kensington, and all his belongings to Austin. She kept everything for over 30 years before selling it in recent years.
