Freddie Mercury: Biography of a Rock Legend

Before he was an international rock legend, Queen front man Freddie Mercury was simply Farrokh Bulsara, the son of a government accountant; a boy who would grow up to become one of the most recognized musicians in the world - a rock legend who, after his death, left a legacy that has continued to influence other musicians who credit Freddie with being a major influence on their music. I have researched Freddie Mercury's life for several years and it's no surprise that he also has an influence over me that involves creativity, though not musically.

While in school at St. Peter's English his friends began calling him Freddie and it stuck. Even his family started calling him Freddie. As for his last name, Mercury is the ruling planet of his starsign, Virgo.

In 1964, Freddie and his family were among those who left their homes and country due to political unrest. The Bulsara family migrated to England where they would make their home.

The Bulsara's lived for a short time with relatives until they found a small house in Feltham, Middlesex. Freddie was 17 at the time and decided to go to art school. In September 1964, he enrolled at Isleworth Polytechnic. Having achieved the "A" he needed, he left Isleworth and enrolled in Ealing College of Art in 1966.

The Music Bug Bites Freddie:

In 1967, Freddie was going to "Smile" rehearsals with his friend and fellow Ealing College student Tim Staffell. This is when he met future "Queen" band mates Brian May and Roger Taylor. Having been inspired by the group, Freddie began experimenting with his music and began practicing with Staffell, Nigel Foster, and Chris Smith.

Smith has said of Mercury, "He had a huge voice. Although his piano style was very affected, very Mozart, he had a great touch. From a piano player's point of view, his approach was unique."

Freddie graduated from Ealing in 1969 and moved in with "Smile" drummer, Roger Taylor. He later traveled to Bolton, Lancashire to do a gig with the group "Ibex" and took a few songs with him. Later that year, "Ibex" began having some difficulties that was instigated by Freddie. Evidently, Freddie wanted to name the group "Wreckage" and it wasn't going over well with other group members. He phoned individual members in an attempt to manipulate them into changing the bands name. Thank goodness he saved the best for last, otherwise there is no telling what Queen's name would have been.

The end of "Wreckage" was just the beginning for Mercury. He answered an ad in the "Melody Maker" for a vocalist. He got the job, naturally, and became the lead vocalist for the band "Sour Milk Sea." However, jealousy reared its ugly head because Freddie and band mate Chris Chesney were spending a lot of time together and Chris would eventually move in with Freddie. Jeremy Gallop owned most of the equipment used by "Sour Milk Sea," so when he left he took it with him. Without instruments and equipment, the group disbanded.

Freddie Joins "Smile" as Lead Singer:

In 1970, "Smile" member Tim Staffell left the band. Freddie took over as lead singer and changed the name of the band to "Queen". It was also at this time he changed his surname to Mercury.

In 1971, Freddie designed the "Queen" logo which is made up of the members birth signs: Two fairies symbolizes Freddie's zodiac sign (Virgo), the two lions signify Roger Taylor and John Deacon's zodiac sign (Leo), and the crab is for Brian (Cancer).

Freddie and Queen:

The group's first song was "Seven Seas of Rhye" followed by their hit "Killer Queen." Initially, "Queen" wasn't well received in the United States. That is, until the 1974 release of their album "Sheer Heart Attack" which included the singles "Killer Queen," which gave "Queen" their first top 20 U.S. hit, and "Here I Am."

"Queen" shot to international superstardom and enjoyed great success until Mercury's 1991 death. What made the group so special was their unique sound driven by May's unique style of playing the electric guitar, the combined vocals of all band members, and, of course, Freddie's one-of-a-kind voice that can be pegged a thousand miles away as it runs chills up and down the spine.

Mercury was very flamboyant when he was on stage; in reality, he was quite shy. When he was on stage, Mercury became a god of sorts. One thing is certain and that is that Freddie Mercury oozed masculinity, was charismatic, and women wanted him. Since it's now known Freddie was gay, it would come as no surprise that there were also men out there having the same thoughts as the ladies.

About Bohemian Rhapsody:

The magical part of "Bohemian Rhapsody," written by Mercury, is the way it all came together. After all, there were only four members of Queen, yet the song is quite complex and operatic.

In order to come up with what we all know as "Bohemian Rhapsody," the group spent days working on it. They overdubbed the vocals using a 24-track tape machine, so when they were finished, the end result was around 120 vocal tracks layered together. This song gave Queen their first U.S. Top 10 hit.

According to Songfacts, Brian May said in the February 2008 issue of Q Magazine of "Bohemian Rhapsody" and Freddie Mercury, "This was a great moment, but the biggest thrill for us was actually creating the music in the first place. I remember Freddie coming in with loads of paper from his dad's work, like Post-it notes, and pounding on the piano."

May added that Mercury, "...played the piano like most people play the drums. And this song he had was full of gaps where he explained something operatic would happen here and so on. He'd worked out the harmonies in his head."

Freddie Mercury's Final Days Included a Last Video:

It had long been suspected Mercury was gay and he was living a more secluded life. Mercury denied rumors he was sick, but his appearance didn't lie as he was gaunt looking and had become painfully thin.

The last video Freddie appeared in was for "These Are the Days of Our Lives" shot a few months before his death. The video was shot in black and white in order to minimize showing just how frail Freddie was and out of respect for him. In a colorized version that later surfaced, the full extent of how AIDS had ravaged his body is apparent.

On November 23, 1991, just 25 hours before his death, he announced to the media and his fans that he had AIDS:

"Following the enormous conjecture in the press over the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I have tested HIV positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private in order to protect the privacy of those around me. However, the time has come for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with me in the fight against this terrible disease."

Freddie Mercury died November 24, 1991 at the age of 45 from an AIDS-related illness. Following his funeral, a black Rolls Royce carried his remains to the crematorium where he was cremated. It is unknown who has his remains or if they were scattered someplace special.

Brian May has said he didn't know Mercury was gay. "It was only in the '80s that he started bringing men backstage who had that particular Adonis look. When I shared a room with him on tour in the early days I can assure you it was girls who generally stayed overnight. Fred had lots of girlfriends and many who fell desperately in love with him."

May went on to say that Freddie "...seemed then what these days you would call metrosexual. He was into his hair, his clothes. We all were, but he definitely led the way with regard to preening."

When asked what he misses most about Freddie, May said he misses "his wickedness, that glint in his eye, his sense of humor."

So do we, Brian.

Freddie For A Day:

Every year, the Mercury Phoenix Trust put on "Freddie For A Day," a day when fans have the opportunity to remember Mercury in a fun while raising funds to support the Mercury Phoenix Trust that was set up in his memory in their continued fight against HIV/AIDS worldwide. The event is held on Freddie's birthday but according to Mercury Phoenix Trust, if his birthday should fall on a weekend, FFAD will fall on the Friday immediately before September 5.

Sources:
Personal Experience, Lifelong Queen and Freddie Mercury Fan and Historian
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen Songfacts
Brian News - February 2008
Freddie For A Day - What Is FFAD, The Mercury Phoenix Trust
Celebrities Who Have Died from AIDS, page 2 of 3 - Associated Content, Kenzy England