Portrait
Freddie Mercury
Born
5 September 1946Zanzibar (today Tanzania)
Died
24 November 1991London, England · aged 45
Singer and songwriterUnited Kingdom80th birthday35th anniversary of death

Freddie Mercury

Queen’s singer brought theatrical force to rock while protecting much of his private life.

Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar in 1946. Born Farrokh Bulsara to a Parsi family, he went to school in India before moving with his family to Britain in 1964. He studied graphic design and joined Brian May and Roger Taylor in forming Queen in 1970.

His songs included “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Somebody to Love” and “We Are the Champions”. A powerful, flexible voice and a gift for theatrical performance helped make the band internationally successful. At Live Aid in 1985, Mercury turned a short Wembley set into one of the group’s most celebrated appearances.

His relationship with Mary Austin remained important long after they stopped being a couple. He later had relationships with men, including Jim Hutton, his partner during his final years. Although his stage persona invited attention, he guarded the details of his personal life.

On 23 November 1991 Mercury issued a statement confirming that he had AIDS. He died at home in London the next day, aged 45. The loss brought renewed public attention to the epidemic and led to fundraising and campaigning in his memory.

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