About Freddie Mercury:
September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991
Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on previously British-owned, but now Tanzania-owned, island Zanzibar. Mercury first learned to play the piano at St. Peter's boarding school in India. In 1964, at age 17, the Zanzibar Revolution forced he and his family to England, where he earned a Diploma in Art and Graphic Design at Ealing Art College. He later used his talents to design his band's famous Queen crest.
September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991
Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on previously British-owned, but now Tanzania-owned, island Zanzibar. Mercury first learned to play the piano at St. Peter's boarding school in India. In 1964, at age 17, the Zanzibar Revolution forced he and his family to England, where he earned a Diploma in Art and Graphic Design at Ealing Art College. He later used his talents to design his band's famous Queen crest.
Queen Frontman: Singer, songwriter, pianist and vocalist Freddie Mercury was the famed frontman of the British group Queen- famous for the songs "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," and "We Are the Champions."
Gay Freddie Mercury: Freddie Mercury did maintain a relationship with a woman, Mary Austin, despite his sexuality. Freddie Mercury publicly came out on March 12, 1974 in a New Musical Express interview. He told the music magazine, "I am as gay as a daffodil, my dear!" He lived with his last partner, Jim Hutton, for six years.
Freddie Mercury and AIDS: Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987, but publicly denied it until the day before his death on November, 24, 1991. Mercury died of bronchial pneumonia due to AIDS complications. He was 45 years old.
Freddie Mercury Facts:
- Mercury's vocals ranged four octaves.
- Mercury never had formal vocal training.
- Mercury was ranked 2nd in MTV's 22 greatest singers of the past 25 years.
- Mercury was mentioned in singer Kurt Cobain's suicide note.
- The whereabouts of Freddie Mercury's ashes are unknown.
- Mercury left his estate to long time friend Mary Austin.
- Mercury died on the same day as KISS drummer Eric Carr.
Recent Freddie Mercury News: On August 25, 2006, a group called Zanzibar's Association for Islamic Mobilization and Propagation asked the Zanzibar government's culture ministry to stop a planned beach party to honor the sixtieth birthday of the late Queen frontman. The group claims Mercury's "lifestyle" was flamboyant and offensive to Zanzibar's Muslim population.
