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Freddie Mercury birth anniversary: 10 rare facts about The Queen lead vocalist

Lead vocalist of rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury is most known for writing songs like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Killer Queen' and 'Somebody To Love'. Here are 10 rare facts about the singer.
Lead vocalist of rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury is most known for writing songs like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Killer Queen' and 'Somebody To Love'. Here are 10 rare facts about the singer. (Photo | Twitter/QueenWillRock)
Lead vocalist of rock band Queen, Freddie Mercury is most known for writing songs like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', 'Killer Queen' and 'Somebody To Love'. Here are 10 rare facts about the singer. (Photo | Twitter/QueenWillRock)
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Freddie Mercury snuck Lady Diana into a gay bar - While Freddie Mercury had amassed a huge fan following during the 80's, there was another celebrity haunted by papparazzi- Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer. Actress Cleo Rocos, in her memoir recall that Mercury took Diana to visit Royal Vauxhall Tavern - an iconic gay bar in London. Diana who was hell bent on blowing off some steam was dressed up in drag - an army jacket, aviator glasses and a leather cap to blend in with the crowd. Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett and Rocos, along with Diana spent 20 minutes in the bar and left.
Freddie Mercury snuck Lady Diana into a gay bar - While Freddie Mercury had amassed a huge fan following during the 80's, there was another celebrity haunted by papparazzi- Princess of Wales, Diana Spencer. Actress Cleo Rocos, in her memoir recall that Mercury took Diana to visit Royal Vauxhall Tavern - an iconic gay bar in London. Diana who was hell bent on blowing off some steam was dressed up in drag - an army jacket, aviator glasses and a leather cap to blend in with the crowd. Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett and Rocos, along with Diana spent 20 minutes in the bar and left.
Freddie Mercury was born of Parsi descent in Zanzibar as Farrokh Bulsara. The name Freddie stuck while he was at the boarding school for boys St. Peter's, near Mumbai. While at school, he had also formed a band called 'The Hectics'. By the time Queen was formed, in 1970, he had legally changed his name to Freddie Mercury.
Freddie Mercury was born of Parsi descent in Zanzibar as Farrokh Bulsara. The name Freddie stuck while he was at the boarding school for boys St. Peter's, near Mumbai. While at school, he had also formed a band called 'The Hectics'. By the time Queen was formed, in 1970, he had legally changed his name to Freddie Mercury.
Mercury designed the Queen emblem or Queen Crest himself. The crest represents the zodiac signs of the band members- two Leo lions for John Deacon and Roger Taylor, a Cancer crab for Brian May and two fairies to represent Freddie's Virgo sign. While the Q and crown represents the band name, a phoenix protects the whole thing.
Mercury designed the Queen emblem or Queen Crest himself. The crest represents the zodiac signs of the band members- two Leo lions for John Deacon and Roger Taylor, a Cancer crab for Brian May and two fairies to represent Freddie's Virgo sign. While the Q and crown represents the band name, a phoenix protects the whole thing.
Freddie Mercury had a recorded range of three, almost four, octaves. When he spoke his voice was more of a baritone, but majority of his singing fell in the tenor range.
Freddie Mercury had a recorded range of three, almost four, octaves. When he spoke his voice was more of a baritone, but majority of his singing fell in the tenor range.
He performed with the Royal Ballet Company - Freddie was invited to join the Royal Ballet for a charity gala performance in August 1979 and after a lot of persuasion he finally agreed. He had to go through intense rehearsals to prepare for the gala and he would make his grand debut on October 7th 1979 at London's Coliseum Theatre. He sang 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' during the performance.
He performed with the Royal Ballet Company - Freddie was invited to join the Royal Ballet for a charity gala performance in August 1979 and after a lot of persuasion he finally agreed. He had to go through intense rehearsals to prepare for the gala and he would make his grand debut on October 7th 1979 at London's Coliseum Theatre. He sang 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' during the performance.
Freddie Mercury recorded demos with Michael Jackson - Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson were two eccentric artists whose collaboration failed owing much to their idiosyncrasies. According to reports, Mercury was taken aback when Jackson brought a Llama to the recording studio. On the other hand, Jackson caught Mercury snorting cocaine with a hundred dollar bill during a session. Mercury had travelled to California in 1983 to record three demos. The two were more or less diplomatic in public about why the partnership failed. (Photo | Neal Preston/Corbis)
Freddie Mercury recorded demos with Michael Jackson - Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson were two eccentric artists whose collaboration failed owing much to their idiosyncrasies. According to reports, Mercury was taken aback when Jackson brought a Llama to the recording studio. On the other hand, Jackson caught Mercury snorting cocaine with a hundred dollar bill during a session. Mercury had travelled to California in 1983 to record three demos. The two were more or less diplomatic in public about why the partnership failed. (Photo | Neal Preston/Corbis)
He loved his cats - Freddie Mercury, at one point owned 10 cats and reportedly used to call home to 'talk' to his cats. He had a special place in his heart for his cat Delilah and had famously immortalised her in the song 'Delilalah'. (Photo | Associated Press)
He loved his cats - Freddie Mercury, at one point owned 10 cats and reportedly used to call home to 'talk' to his cats. He had a special place in his heart for his cat Delilah and had famously immortalised her in the song 'Delilalah'. (Photo | Associated Press)
The Half mic - One of the trademarks of Freddie Mercury's performances was his half mic or bottomless mic. It all happened, when performing on a show, his mic stand snapped in half and instead of replacing it, Mercury went on. From then , he continued to use the 'half mic' in his shows.
The Half mic - One of the trademarks of Freddie Mercury's performances was his half mic or bottomless mic. It all happened, when performing on a show, his mic stand snapped in half and instead of replacing it, Mercury went on. From then , he continued to use the 'half mic' in his shows.
Mercury wrote the famous 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' while sitting in a bathtub Queen was in Munich on June 1979 to work on the album titled 'The Game' and Mercury had just checked in to the Bayerischer Hof Hotel. He was in the toilet when a melody came to him and he is reported to have written the song in 10 minutes - sitting in a bathtub with a towel wrapped around his body. The song immediately became number one across the globe upon its release. (Photo | Neal Preston)
Mercury wrote the famous 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' while sitting in a bathtub Queen was in Munich on June 1979 to work on the album titled 'The Game' and Mercury had just checked in to the Bayerischer Hof Hotel. He was in the toilet when a melody came to him and he is reported to have written the song in 10 minutes - sitting in a bathtub with a towel wrapped around his body. The song immediately became number one across the globe upon its release. (Photo | Neal Preston)
His final birthing place is a mystery - During 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS adn died on November 24th, 1991 due to AIDS related bronchial pneumonia. His body was cremated at Kensal Green cemetery in West London. Adhering to Mercury's last wish, his 70's girlfriend, Mary Austen took his ashes and buried it in an undisclosed location. During 2013, a plaque with the words ' In Loving Memory of Farrokh Bulsara, 5 Sept. 1946 – 24 Nov. 1991,' was discovered at Kensal Green but has since been removed.
His final birthing place is a mystery - During 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS adn died on November 24th, 1991 due to AIDS related bronchial pneumonia. His body was cremated at Kensal Green cemetery in West London. Adhering to Mercury's last wish, his 70's girlfriend, Mary Austen took his ashes and buried it in an undisclosed location. During 2013, a plaque with the words ' In Loving Memory of Farrokh Bulsara, 5 Sept. 1946 – 24 Nov. 1991,' was discovered at Kensal Green but has since been removed.

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