How Freddie Mercury distanced himself as he battled AIDS: He didn't want us to see him 'shrink and die'
Queen producer Reinhold Mack, who worked with the band from 1980's 'The Game' through 1987's 'A Kind of Magic,' recalls that the singer distanced himself as he was facing his private health crisis.
This, despite the fact that Mercury was so close with Mack and his family that he was the godfather of the producer's son John Frederick — to whom he dedicated 'Made in Heaven' on his debut solo album, 'Mr. Bad Guy,' released 40 years ago on April 29, 1985.
5 Queen producer Reinhold Mack remembers Freddie Mercury as 'a really, really good table tennis player.'
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5 Producer Reinhold Mack started with Queen on 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love,' the band's first US No. 1 single.
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'From being at his house lots of times .. it gradually reduced to telephone calls,' Mack told The Post. 'He had such a big heart, he didn't want us to see him deteriorate … just basically shrink and die.'
And even over the phone, Mercury protected him from the sad truth.
'You feel kind of totally stupid because you knew that he wasn't doing well,' said Mack. 'And he said, 'No, no, I'm doing fine.' I mean, he knew that we knew, so it was a little awkward.'
Mack and his family had forged a special bond with the 'Bohemian Rhapsody' singer.
'I would say we were his substitute family, because, you know, he was with us in our house,' said Mack. 'He played table tennis — was actually a really, really good table tennis player. And he played soccer with the kids and swimming and all that. And he took us out, like at least twice a week, to any fancy restaurant he could find — you know, the entire family.'
5 Producer Reinhold Mack began working with Queen on 1980's 'The Game' album.
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Mack hit the ground running with Mercury and Queen on 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love,' which became the British band's first No. 1 hit in the US in 1980.
'We had a couple of beers, went back to the studio, and he said he had an idea,' recalled Mack. 'He took a guitar and played the beginning of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love.' And that's how that whole thing started.'
That hit streak continued in 1980 with 'Another One Bites the Dust,' another chart-topper.
5 Freddie Mercury rocked London's Wembley Stadium with Queen at Live Aid 40 years ago in 1985.
Redferns
5 Freddie Mercury dedicated 'Made in Heaven' on his debut solo album, 'Mr. Bad Guy,' to producer Reinhold Mack's son John Frederick.
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'Nobody really felt it working except John Deacon,' said Mack of the Queen bassist who wrote the song. 'l helped him out, making a drum loop and putting all these weird sounds on there. And when Freddie heard it, he said, 'Oh yeah, this is really great You know, this is right down in the club scene — and I like that.' '
With its disco-rock vibe taking Queen in more of a dance direction, 'Another One Bites the Dust' would inspire Mercury's solo turn on 'Mr. Bad Guy,' which Mack also produced.
But had Mercury lived instead of his life being cut short at 45, Mack isn't so sure he would still be rocking us in his his 70s.
'You know, he mentioned that he wouldn't really do it when he was huffing and puffing onstage … running around in flimsy shirts and stuff,' he said, 'because, you know, getting old is always a chore. So I don't know how long he would have lasted.'
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