Freddie Mercury

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  Freddie Mercury is best known as one of the rock world’s most versatile and engaging performers and for his mock operatic masterpiece, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” 

Who Was Freddie Mercury? 

Singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Zanzibar, Tanzania. He studied piano in boarding school in India. The music of Mercury’s band, Queen, reached the top of U.S. and British charts. Mercury died of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia on November 24, 1991, at age 45. 

Musical Education 

As the frontman of Queen, Freddie Mercury was one of the most talented singers of the rock era. He spent time in a boarding school in Bombay india, where he studied piano. It was not long before this charismatic young man joined his first band, the Hectics. 

Moving to London with his family in the 1960s, He befriended a number of musicians around this time, including future bandmates, drummer Roger Taylor and guitarist Brian May. He played with a few bands before joining forces with Taylor and May.  

Freddie Mercury’s Teeth 

Mercury was born with four extra teeth in the back of his mouth, causing his now-famous bucktooth grin. In fact, his nickname growing up was Bucky. Mercury never got his teeth fixed because he was afraid it would ruin his vocals. 

Queen Reigns: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody,’ ‘We Are the Champions‘ 

In 1973, the band released their first self-titled album, but it took two more recordings for Queen’s music to really catch on. Their third record, Sheer Heart Attack featured their first hit, “Killer Queen,” a song about a high-class call girl. The single hit No. 2 on the U.K. charts, and peaked at No. 12 in the U.S. 

With a sound that has been described as a fusion of hard rock and glam rock, Queen had an even bigger hit the following year with their album, A Night at the Opera ,1975. Mercury wrote the song “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a seven-minute rock operetta, for the album. Mercury showed off his impressive four-octave vocal range. The song hit the top of the charts in Britain and became a Top 10 hit in the United States. 

In addition to his talents as a singer and songwriter, Mercury was also a skilled showman. He knew how to entertain audiences and how to connect with them. He liked to wear costumes — often featuring skintight spandex — and strutted around the stage, encouraging fans to join in the fun.  

Queen’s popularity continued to soar through the late 70s and early 80s. “We Are the Champions,” (1978), became a Top 10 hit in the United States and in Britain. It was featured on a single with “We Will Rock You” — both songs have taken on a life of their own as popular anthems played at sporting events.