Death of a Legend: Freddie Mercury

On the 5th September 1946(1946-09-05) in StoneIn April 1970, he joined with guitarist Brian May and
Town, Zanzibar, a legend was born.drummer Roger Taylor, from the band 'Smile', to form
That legend would go onto become an idol in thea band called Queen. Despite disruption in the band
music industry and eventually dia of AIDs.over the name choice, it eventually settled as 'Queen'.
On the 5th September 1946(1946-09-05) in StoneIt's confirmed to be around this time that he legally
Town, Zanzibar, Farrokh Bulsara was born. As Parsis,changed his name to Freddie Mercury.
the family practiced the Zoroastrian religion, manyHe had many early influences including Jimi Hendrix,
people were ignorant to his actual background. He hadThe Beatles, Elvis Presley and Liza Minnelli. - Freddie
one younger sister, Kashmira. Farrokh went toMercury: "One of my early inspirations came from
St.Peters boarding school for boys in Panchgani whereCabaret. I absolutely adore Liza Minnelli. The way she
he excelled in all classes and several sports, especiallydelivers her songs—the sheer energy."
boxing. He is rumoured to have had a mean left hook.Mercury had a recorded range of Four octaves, talking
He formed a school boy band 'The Hectics', in whichin a baritone voice but generally singing in more of a
he played the Piano, he could even listen to the radiotanor.
and then play it back on his piano. During the 1964Mercury always had a strange style to his song
Zanzibar Revolution, he and his family fled Zanzibarwriting, using may confusing chords in one song, and
and moved to London where he studied art andthen simple chords in the next. In the 'Greatest Hits'
graphic design. It was also at St. Peter's where healbum, he wrote 9/17 songs, "Seven Seas of Rhye",
began to call himself "Freddie"."Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Good
After having had jobs at Heathrow airport andOld-Fashioned Lover Boy", "We Are the Champions",
Kensington market, Freddie decided to join a band"Bicycle Race", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little
called Ibex, which later disbanded, and then a secondThing Called Love" and "Play the Game". Unbelieveable
band called Sour Milk Sea, which also broke up fairlyto many, Mercury actually claimed he struggled to read
early.music.