Freddie Mercury: 10 Things You Didn’t Know Queen Singer Did
From sneaking Lady Di into a gay club to concealing his final resting place, read lesser-known tales of vocal legend’s life
“Lover of life, singer of songs.” The simple epitaph, penned by Queen bandmate Brian May, goes a long way in describing the complex figure known across the globe as Freddie Mercury. “To me that summed it up, because he lived life to the fullest,” remembered May in a BBC documentary. “He was a generous man, a kind man, an impatient man, sometimes. But utterly dedicated to what he felt was important, which was making music.”
Born Farrokh Bulsara in the British protectorate of Zanzibar, Freddie’s oversized talent was matched only by his flamboyance and exuberance. These qualities merged to create masterpieces of the group’s songbook, and some of the greatest live performances on record. In life, his four-octave voice – since studied by scientists in an attempt to unlock the secrets of its intricacies and awesomeness – raised the bar for what a rock singer could be. In death, he gave voice to the millions suffering from AIDS.
In honor of the 25th anniversary of his passing, here are some lesser-known elements of Mercury’s incredible legacy.