AIDS kills Freddie's 2 lovers. Star's dead lovers

 

The Sun - Monday, May 4, 1987

 

AIDS KILLS FREDDIE'S 2 LOVERS

By Richard Ellis

 

[Photo] With Lover № 1 .. gay Freddie hugs Tony Bastin

[Photo] With Lover № 2 ... idol Mercury larks about in women's hats with airline steward John Murphy

 

Two male lovers of rock superstar Freddie Mercury have died of AIDS, The Sun can reveal today.

The men, who had flings with Queen's gay lead singer in the early 1980s, fell victim to the killer virus late last year.

Now 40-year-old Mercury, who has slept with hundreds of homosexuals, is terrified that he may develop the dreaded disease.

His personal manager for nine years, Paul Prenter, disclosed that the flamboyant idol has been "in a state of shock" since learning of the two deaths.

Prenter, 36, said LOVER № 1 was Brighton gay Tony Bastin, 35.

He had a two-year affair with Mercury that ended in 1982.

He lived with "Flash Freddie" at the star's luxury flat in London.

And even after the pair split up, they continued to see each other occasionally.

Bastin, who worked for the DHL courier firm, died in Brighton just before Christmas.

Prenter said LOVER № 2 was American airline steward John Murphy, 37.

He slept with Mercury just once, in 1980. But afterwards he

 

STAR'S DEAD LOVERS

[Continued from Page One]

 

[Photo] Prenter .. Queen's Mr. Fixit

 

joined a set of close friends who Mercury called the "New York Girls".

Ex-soldier Murphy developed AIDS, which destroys the body's immune system, six months before he died of respiratory failure and meningitis.

At the time of his death, on November 11 last year, he was also suffering from anaemia and dementia.

Soon afterwards Murphy's last lover, a man called James Wysetharpe (?), was also killed by AIDS.

They lived together in an apartment block in Los Angeles.

Last night the manager of the block, George Falbo, said he knew Murphy was "wasting away", but the airline steward said he had lung cancer.

Mr. Falbo added: "James went soon after John.

"It was as he would have wished. They lived for each other."

Prenter first worked with Mercury in 1977.

He was a schoolboy friend of Elton John's manager John Reid, who at that time was also looking after Queen.

Prenter was offered a job with Reid's organisation.

And when Reid split with the supergroup, he stayed on as their Mr. Fixit.

He once played host to Mercury when the singer was stuck for a bedroom where he could sleep with Bastin.

Prenter told the star he could only offer his tiny second bedroom.

But Mercury replied: "My dear, I've been in much worse places than this."

Last night, Mercury's personal assistant and chef Joe Fanelli said: "I am afraid I cannot comment on any of this."