Freddie Forever Article: 1992

One year on – the world still weeps at Garden Lodge gates

Freddie Forever, a one-page tribute in Bravo magazine, December 9, 1992.

On the first anniversary of Freddie Mercury’s death (November 24, 1992), fans from across the globe gathered at 1 Logan Place, London. Flowers, candles, tears, and a thousand voices singing “We Are the Champions”. Mary Austin joined them; a wax figure was unveiled at Rock Circus; one pregnant fan even legally changed her name to Freddie Mercury. No grave – just the house, the wall, and the love that never died.

More Queen heartbeats added weekly.

His fans showed their love on the anniversary of his death

FREDDIE FOREVER

This is how millions of fans around the world knew and loved him: Freddie Mercury in action

At the Rock Circus in London's Piccadilly Circus, a girl laid flowers before the newly unveiled wax figure of Freddie

Freddie's confidante Mary Austin with her husband

This badge (1.) was given out on the anniversary of Freddie's death - this is what it looked like at the entrance to Freddie's house

Henneberg-Zimmer, a computer expert from Hanover, brought 30 Queen and Freddie Mercury CDs from home. To honor the deceased, he placed them against the 3.5-meter-high wall surrounding the 4-million-euro estate. Amanda Lewis, a 23-year-old pregnant woman, even changed her name and is now Freddie by first name and Mercury by last name. She says: "This name change cost 150 pounds. I would have paid even more, because Freddie was the greatest to me!" Her boyfriend also wants to be called Freddie in the future. The couple's baby will be named Mercury

Despite the typical damp, cold, and rainy weather for London, die-hard fans waited for hours outside his house, singing their favorite songs, such as "We Are the Champions" and "The Show Must Go On." Almost all of them wore a red ribbon from AIDS Charity, the largest English AIDS relief organization. Such a ribbon is given to anyone who has donated to the organization. To mark the anniversary of his death, AIDS Charity had issued a special anniversary badge.

Mary Austin (36), who had been Freddie's girlfriend for seven years and inherited his house, was so moved that she came out in the afternoon to sing with the weeping fans. At the same time, a wax figure of the star was unveiled at London's Rock Circus

The house in the chic Kensington district has become a place of pilgrimage for millions of fans since Freddie's death, because there is no grave. The singer's remains were cremated, and the urn is kept by his parents at their home on the island of Zanzibar.

Mourning, tears, and deeply affected faces: "We will never forget him!" Even a year after his death, Freddie Mercury still has many friends. On November 24, Queen fans from all over the world gathered in London to mourn together in front of Freddie Mercury's house. For on that day, it was exactly one year since the Queen singer died at the age of only 45 from complications of AIDS. Hundreds laid bouquets of flowers in front of the green entrance gate of the house at 1 Logan Place.