Biography
Early Years:
 Freddie
Mercury was born Farookh Bulsara to Persian parents Bomi & Jer
Bulsara on September 5th, 1946. He was born on the island
of Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania, in
East
Africa.
Freddie's
family
moved
to
India
in 1947. As a young child, Freddie attended an English
boarding school in Panchgani, a city located just outside
of Bombay.
There, he learned to play the piano and developed a
keen interest in music. In 1963, they moved to England.
Freddie had a youger sister Kashmira. He graduated from
Isleworth Polytechnic school in 1964 with three 'O'
levels and one 'A' level in Art. Freddie decided to pursue
an
Arts
degree
at the Ealing College of Art. Five years later, he received
his degree in Graphic Art & Design and joined a
band in 1969 called IBEX. Ten days later, he debuted
with the band in his first public performance. Their
music was heavily influenced by the heros of the time,
like Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. In the following
year, they changed the band's name to Wreckage and replaced
their drummer. Eventually, the band slowed down and fell
apart.
Lead Singer:
Freddie joined Sour
Milk Sea as the lead singer. Other members
included Chris Chesney, bass player Paul Milan,
Jeremy 'Rubber' Gallop on rhythm
guitar and Rob Tyrell on drums. They did a few rehearsals,
and then a few shows in Oxford. From
this Freddie and Chris became
close friends. Finally in April
of 1970 Tim Staffell left the band Smile,
and Freddie joined them as lead singer. He changed the
name of the band to Queen, and also changed his last
name to Mercury. In 1971 John Deacon joined the band
and Queen were complete. Freddie designed the band's
logo
and wrote the first Queen song that entered the British
charts (Seven Seas Of Rhye). He also wrote the
first big hit (Killer Queen) and the most famous Queen
song
that
was
on the
top of charts for 9 weeks (Bohemian Rhapsody).
Freddie had amazing range and performed
with the Royal Ballet. At the end of 1982 Queen all agreed
they announced a band break. During this time, Freddie
worked and performed solo. He collaborated with
Georgio
Moroder,
to produce the song Love
Kills. In 1983 Freddie attended a performance of Verdi's
Un Ballo In Maschera at the Royal Opera House. He fell
in love with it. In April of 1985, Freddie released his
first solo album Mr. Bad Guy with CBS
Records.
At Live Aid, on July 13, 1985 Freddie
peformed one of his best performances ever with his band
Queen in front
of
72,000 people. Live Aid was also broadcast to over one
billion people worldwide. Freddie stole the
show and became one of the most legendary performers
in history. Among his next achievements were releases
including the song The Great Pretender and Barcelona.
Freddie Mercury became ill with AIDS
and did not let the public know. October 8th marked the
last time he performed live.
He announced
his illness the day before he died. On November 24th,
1991 Freddie died peacefully at his home in London of
AIDS-related
bronchial pneumonia. Freddie was loved by millions of fans
all over the world. He was a handsome and
tall man of 5 ft 9. He loved animals and pets. He also
appreciated
all sorts of
music,
including
opera
and ballet. His idols were Marilyn Monroe and Aretha
Franklin, among others. He loved to enjoy life and
relax
with a glass of chilled Champagne or
iced Vodka. He adored good food and and Indian cusine
was one of his favourite.
Queen's Greatest Hit album was recently
legalized in Iran. This CD is one of the first to be
allowed to to be sold in stores, after recordings from
Julio Iglesias and the Gypsy Kings were allowed. Freddie
Mercury's music has such diverse reach and power that
even traditional Iranian music listeners love the sounds
by this legendary singer and performer.
Image Gallery:
Discography:
Freddie Mercury:
Barcelona
1988 Polydor CD 837 277-2
The Freddie Mercury Album 1992 Parlophone CD CDPCSDX
The Man From Manhattan 1995 Voice Print/Vital CD BUD
002CD
Mr Bad Guy 1985 CBS CD 86312
The Great Pretender Hollywood Records
Queen:
Queen 1973 EMI (remaster)
Queen II 1974 EMI (remaster)
Sheer Heart Attack 1974 EMI (remaster)
A Night at the Opera 1975 EMI (remaster)
A Day at the Races 1976 EMI (remaster)
News of the World 1977 EMI (remaster)
Jazz 1978 EMI (remaster)
Live Killers 1979 EMI (remaster)
The Game 1980 EMI (remaster)
Queen At The Beeb 1989 Band of Joy
Flash Gordon 1980 EMI (remaster)
Greatest Hits 1981 UK & US '92 releases
Hot Space 1982 EMI (remaster)
The Works 1984 EMI (remaster) & Hollywood Records
(remaster)
A Kind of Magic 1986 EMI
A Night At The Opera 1988 Parlophone
Live Magic 1986 EMI
The Miracle 1989 Hollywood Records (remaster)
At The Beeb 1989 Band of Joy
At The BBC Hollywood Records
Innuendo 1991 EMI
Photo Session 1992 CD SET UFO
Greatest Hits II 1991 EMI
Classic Queen 1992 Hollywood Records
The 12" Collection 1992 EMI
The Interview Collection 1994 Backtabak
Queen Live At Wembley ' 1992 EMI
Made in Heaven 1995 EMI
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