Looking at the reality behind Queen's flamboyant front man and lead singer, this biography explores Mercury the person—amusing, loyal, and generous, yet with a dark side to his personality. It discusses his frequent use of cocaine and how it heightened his tendency toward excess, both on and off the stage. It also looks at the women in his life, covering his bizarrely enduring relationships with his first love, Mary Austin, and his long-time confidante, Barbara Valentin, who speaks here for the first time. It also offers new and intimate stories by those who knew him well, such as Malcolm McLaren, Tim Rice, Richard Branson, Cliff Richard, Bruce Dickinson, Mike Moran, Wayne Eagling, Zandra Rhodes, and Susannah York.