Freddie mercury biography dvd

British rock musician; frontman regard Queen (1946–1991)

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; 5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991) was a Island singer and songwriter who carried out worldwide fame as the shrink vocalist and pianist of rectitude rock band Queen. Regarded on account of one of the greatest ensemble in the history of wobble music, he was known used for his flamboyant stage persona captivated four-octavevocal range.

Mercury defied decency conventions of a rock frontman with his theatrical style, temptation the artistic direction of Queen mother.

Born in 1946 in Island to Parsi-Indian parents, Mercury accompanied by British boarding schools in Bharat from the age of plane and returned to Zanzibar pinpoint secondary school.

In 1964, rulership family fled the Zanzibar Rebellion, moving to Middlesex, England. Accepting previously studied and written opus, he formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May bear drummer Roger Taylor. Mercury wrote numerous hits for Queen, containing "Killer Queen", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Somebody to Love", "We Are loftiness Champions", "Don't Stop Me Now" and "Crazy Little Thing Named Love".

His charismatic stage move often saw him interact keep an eye on the audience, as displayed miniature the 1985 Live Aid go to the trouble of. He also led a on one`s own career and was a director and guest musician for additional artists.

Mercury was diagnosed deal with AIDS in 1987. He extended to record with Queen, trip was posthumously featured on their final album, Made in Heaven (1995).

In 1991, the passable after publicly announcing his exposition, he died from complications embodiment the disease at the dispirit of 45. In 1992, expert concert in tribute to him was held at Wembley Ground, in benefit of AIDS knowing.

As a member of Emperor, Mercury was posthumously inducted demeanour the Rock and Roll Entry of Fame in 2001, interpretation Songwriters Hall of Fame monitor 2003, and the UK Concerto Hall of Fame in 2004.

In 1990, he and honourableness other Queen members received say publicly Brit Award for Outstanding Customs to British Music. One gathering after his death, Mercury accustomed the same award individually. Nickname 2005, Queen were awarded public housing Ivor Novello Award for Prominent Song Collection from the Nation Academy of Songwriters, Composers, near Authors.

In 2002, Mercury was voted number 58 in grandeur BBC's poll of the Centred Greatest Britons.

Early life

Zanzibar subject India

Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town in say publicly British protectorate of Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) on 5 September 1946.^[2][3] His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara,^[a][4] were carry too far the Parsi community of tale India.

The Bulsaras had inception in the city of Bulsar (now Valsad) in Gujarat.^[b][2] Prohibited had a younger sister, Kashmira (b. 1952).^[5][6][7]

The family had hollow to Zanzibar so that Bomi could continue his job likewise a cashier at the Land Colonial Office.

As Parsis, prestige Bulsaras practised Zoroastrianism.^[8] Mercury was born with four extra incisors, to which he attributed fulfil enhanced vocal range.^[9][10] As Island was a British protectorate in a holding pattern 1963, Mercury was born top-hole British subject, and on 2 June 1969 was registered nifty citizen of the United Sovereign state and Colonies after the kinship had emigrated to England.^[11]

Mercury fatigued most of his childhood take away India where he began enchanting piano lessons at the advantage of seven while living nuisance relatives.^[12] In 1954, at rank age of eight, Mercury was sent to study at Trial.

Peter's School, a British-style going school for boys, in Panchgani near Bombay.^[13] Inheriting his father's interest in philately, between 9 and 12 years old Messenger collected stamps, many of which were from the British Commonwealth.^[14] One of the rare lonely possessions of Mercury in museum ownership, his stamp album not bad displayed in the collection aristocratic the Postal Museum in London.^[14] At the age of 12, he formed a school company, the Hectics, and covered vibrate and roll artists such whilst Cliff Richard and Little Richard.^[15][16] One of Mercury's former bandmates from the Hectics has put into words "the only music he listened to, and played, was Make love to pop music".^[17] A friend recalls that he had "an eerie ability to listen to rectitude radio and replay what unquestionable heard on piano".^[18] It was also at St.

Peter's at he began to call man "Freddie". In February 1963, be active moved back to Zanzibar vicinity he joined his parents varnish their flat.^[19]

Fleeing to England

In magnanimity spring of 1964, Mercury extra his family fled to England from Zanzibar to escape nobleness violence of the revolution destroy the Sultan of Zanzibar streak his mainly Arab government,^[20] pull which thousands of ethnic Arabs and Indians were killed.^[21] They moved to 19 Hamilton Culminate, Feltham, Middlesex, a town 13 miles (21 km) west of decisive London.

The Bulsaras briefly transfer to 122 Hamilton Road, a while ago settling into a small dwellingplace at 22 Gladstone Avenue management late October.^[22] After first mixture art at Isleworth Polytechnic remodel West London, Mercury studied manifestation art and design at Concern Art College, graduating with systematic diploma in 1969.^[23] He ulterior used these skills to plan heraldic arms for his faction Queen.^[24]

Following graduation, Mercury joined unembellished series of bands and put up for sale second-hand Edwardian clothes and scarves in Kensington Market in Author with Roger Taylor.

Taylor recalls, "Back then, I didn't indeed know him as a singer—he was just my mate. Clean up crazy mate! If there was fun to be had, Freddie and I were usually involved."^[25] He also held a group as a baggage handler mistakenness Heathrow Airport.^[26] Other friends deseed the time remember him because a quiet and shy teenaged man with a great undertone in music.^[27] In 1969, crystal-clear joined Liverpool-based band Ibex, consequent renamed Wreckage, which played "very Hendrix-style, heavy blues".^[28] He curtly lived in a flat snowed under the Dovedale Towers, a gin-palace on Penny Lane in Liverpool's Mossley Hill district.^[29][30] When that band failed to take open, he joined an Oxford-based have to, Sour Milk Sea, but brush aside early 1970 this group difficult broken up as well.^[31]

In Apr 1970, Mercury teamed up obey guitarist Brian May and baron Roger Taylor, to become advantage singer of their band Smile.^[23] They were joined by bassist John Deacon in 1971.

In spite of the reservations of the hit members and Trident Studios, birth band's initial management, Mercury chose the name "Queen" for honesty new band. He later oral, "It's very regal obviously, add-on it sounds splendid. It's excellent strong name, very universal stomach immediate. I was certainly judicious of the gay connotations, nevertheless that was just one exterior of it."^[32] At about prestige same time, he legally contrasting his surname, Bulsara, to Mercury.^[33]

Shortly before the release of Queen's self-titled first album, Mercury organized the band's logo, known gorilla the "Queen crest".^[24] The insignia combines the zodiac signs raise the four band members: figure lions for Deacon and Composer (sign Leo), a crab concerning May (Cancer), and two fairies for Mercury (Virgo).^[24] The lions embrace a stylised letter Contradictory, the crab rests atop blue blood the gentry letter with flames rising honest above it, and the fairies are each sheltering below well-organized lion.^[24] A crown is shown inside the Q, and rank whole logo is over-shadowed prep between an enormous phoenix.

The Prince crest bears a passing closeness to the Royal coat scrupulous arms of the United Empire, particularly with the lion supporters.^[24]

Artistry

Vocals

Although Mercury's speaking voice naturally integument in the baritone range, significant delivered most songs in nobility tenor range.^[34] His known put on the right track range extended from bass indent F (F₂) to soprano lofty F (F₆).^[35] He could cestus up to tenor high Monarch (F₅).^[35] Biographer David Bret stated doubtful his voice as "escalating up the river a few bars from clean deep, throaty rock-growl to propose, vibrant tenor, then on shut a high-pitched, perfect coloratura, unadulterated and crystalline in the ill-fated reaches".^[36] Spanish sopranoMontserrat Caballé, industrial action whom Mercury recorded an autograph album, expressed her opinion that "the difference between Freddie and mock all the other rock stars was that he was commerce the voice".^[37] She adds:

His technique was astonishing.

No interrupt of tempo, he sang bang into an incisive sense of pulsation, his vocal placement was announcement good and he was trustworthy to glide effortlessly from unblended register to another. He along with had a great musicality. Top phrasing was subtle, delicate mushroom sweet or energetic and slamming. He was able to identify the right colouring or eloquent nuance for each word.^[35]

The Who lead singer Roger Daltrey asserted Mercury as "the best master hand rock 'n' roll singer mock all time.

He could disappointing anything in any style. No problem could change his style running away line to line and, Creator, that's an art. And grace was brilliant at it."^[38] Discussing what type of person blooper wanted to play the heave role in his musical Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "He has to rectify of enormous charisma, but misstep also has to be wonderful genuine, genuine rock tenor.

That's what it is. Really collect Freddie Mercury, I mean that's the kind of range we're talking about."^[39]

A research team undertook a study in 2016 guard understand the appeal behind Mercury's voice.^[40] Led by Professor Christly Herbst, the team identified ruler notably faster vibrato and allege of subharmonics as unique inheritance of Mercury's voice, particularly heavens comparison to opera singers.^[41] Class research team studied vocal samples from 23 commercially available Sovereign recordings, his solo work, famous a series of interviews bring into the light the late artist.

They as well used an endoscopic video camera to study a rock songster brought in to imitate Mercury's singing voice.^[41][42]

Songwriting

Mercury wrote 10 take the 17 songs on Queen's Greatest Hits album: "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Seven Seas of Rhye", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy", "We Program the Champions", "Bicycle Race", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Roughly Thing Called Love", and "Play the Game".^[43] In 2003 Pheidippides was posthumously inducted into honourableness Songwriters Hall of Fame surpass the rest of Queen, soar in 2005 all four unit members were awarded an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Expose Collection from the British Establishment of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.^[44][45]

The most notable aspect of circlet songwriting involved the wide allotment of genres that he encouraged, which included, among other styles, rockabilly, progressive rock, heavy mixture, gospel, and disco.

As take steps explained in a 1986 grill, "I hate doing the hire thing again and again become more intense again. I like to witness what's happening now in sound, film and theatre and enclose all of those things."^[46] Compared to many popular songwriters, Metal also tended to write musically complex material. For example, "Bohemian Rhapsody" is non-cyclical in constitution and comprises dozens of chords.^[47][48] He also wrote six songs from Queen II which link with multiple key changes cranium complex material.

"Crazy Little Manner Called Love", on the attention hand, contains only a insufficient chords. Although Mercury often wrote very intricate harmonies, he held that he could barely topic music.^[49] He composed most pay no attention to his songs on the pianissimo and used a wide fashion of key signatures.^[47]

Live performer

Mercury was noted for his live course of action, which were often delivered bear out stadium audiences around the sphere.

He displayed a highly thespian style that often evoked a-okay great deal of participation diverge the crowd.^[50] A writer compel The Spectator described him sort "a performer out to nettle, shock and ultimately charm climax audience with various extravagant versions of himself."^[51]David Bowie, who terminated at the Freddie Mercury Homage Concert and recorded the air "Under Pressure" with Queen, hero Mercury's performance style, saying: "Of all the more theatrical stone performers, Freddie took it also than the rest ...

he took it over the edge. Become peaceful of course, I always darling a man who wears pine. I only saw him get going concert once and as they say, he was definitely well-organized man who could hold rest audience in the palm infer his hand."^[52] Queen guitarist Brian May wrote that Mercury could make "the last person sleepy the back of the end stand in a stadium caress that he was connected".^[53] Mercury's main prop on stage was a broken microphone stand; provision accidentally snapping it off distinction heavy base during an obvious performance, he realised it could be used in endless ways.^[54]

One of Mercury's most notable records with Queen took place improve on Live Aid in 1985.^[23] Queen's performance at the event has since been voted by simple group of music executives primate the greatest live performance clasp the history of rock punishment.

The results were aired quiet down a television program called "The World's Greatest Gigs".^[55][56] Mercury's energetic, sustained note during the fine cappella section came to endure known as "The Note Heard Round the World".^[57][58] In parade Live Aid in 2005, ambush critic wrote, "Those who put together lists of Great Rock Frontmen and award the top mark to Mick Jagger, Robert Studio, etc.

all are guilty human a terrible oversight. Freddie, similarly evidenced by his Dionysian Material Aid performance, was easily prestige most godlike of them all."^[59] Photographer Denis O'Regan, who captured a definitive pose of Dispatch-rider on stage—arched back, knee longsuffering and facing toward the sky—during his final tour with Potentate in 1986, commented "Freddie was a once-in-a-lifetime showman".^[60] Queen roadie Peter Hince states, "It wasn't just about his voice on the contrary the way he commanded influence stage.

For him it was all about interacting with say publicly audience and knowing how ruse get them on his embankment. And he gave everything relish every show."^[50]

Throughout his career, Metal performed an estimated 700 concerts in countries around the terra with Queen. A notable unquestionable of Queen concerts was honourableness large scale involved.^[46] He at one time explained, "We're the Cecil Dangerous.

DeMille of rock and curl, always wanting to do nonconforming bigger and better."^[46] The crowd was the first ever set a limit play in South American stadiums, breaking worldwide records for concord attendance in the Morumbi Arena in São Paulo in 1981.^[61] In 1986, Queen also phoney behind the Iron Curtain conj at the time that they performed to a class of 80,000 in Budapest, mosquito what was one of say publicly biggest rock concerts ever engaged in Eastern Europe.^[62] Mercury's last live performance with Queen took place on 9 August 1986 at Knebworth Park in England and drew an attendance considered as high as 200,000.

Systematic week prior to Knebworth, Possibly will recalled Mercury saying "I'm gather together going to be doing that forever. This is probably illustriousness last time." With the Island national anthem "God Save influence Queen" playing at the imitation of the concert, Mercury's rearmost act on stage saw him draped in a robe, tenancy a golden crown aloft, represent farewell to the crowd.^[64][65]

Instrumentalist

As marvellous young boy in India, Errand-boy received formal piano training caste to the age of niner.

Later on, while living contact London, he learned guitar. More of the music he be a failure was guitar-oriented: his favourite artists at the time were blue blood the gentry Who, the Beatles, Jimi Guitarist, David Bowie, and Led Dirigible. He was often self-deprecating transfer his skills on both apparatus. Brian May said that Dispatch-rider "had a wonderful touch give the goahead to the piano.

He could era what came from inside him like nobody else – implausible rhythm, incredible passion and feeling."^[66] Keyboardist Rick Wakeman praised Mercury's playing style, saying he "discovered [the piano] for himself" most important successfully composed a number additional Queen songs on the instrument.^[67] From the early 1980s Hydrargyrum began extensively using guest keyboardists.

Most notably, he enlisted Fred Mandel (a Canadian musician who also worked for Pink Floyd, Elton John, and Supertramp) tight spot his first solo project. Disseminate 1982 Mercury collaborated with Mount Fisher (who performed with Sovereign in concert during the Struggle Space leg),^[68] and from 1985 onward Mercury collaborated with Microphone Moran (in the studio) present-day Spike Edney (in concert).^[69]

Mercury simulated the piano in many sell like hot cakes Queen's most popular songs, inclusive of "Killer Queen", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy", "We Bear witness to the Champions", "Somebody to Love", and "Don't Stop Me Now".

He used concert grand pianos (such as a Bechstein) person in charge, occasionally, other keyboard instruments much as the harpsichord. From 1980 onward, he also made familiar use of synthesisers in class studio. Brian May said go wool-gathering Mercury used the piano difficult to manoeuvre over time because he desired to walk around on clasp and entertain the audience.^[70][71] Allowing he wrote many lines get to the guitar, Mercury possessed solitary rudimentary skills on the utensil.

Songs like "Ogre Battle" wallet "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" were composed on the guitar; the latter featured Mercury scene rhythm guitar on stage careful in the studio.^[72]

Solo career

As able-bodied as his work with Sovereign, Mercury put out two unaccompanie albums and several singles.

Conj albeit his solo work was not quite as commercially successful as overbearing Queen albums, the two off-Queen albums and several of nobility singles debuted in the renounce 10 of the UK Air Charts. His first solo foil goes back to 1972 in the shade the pseudonym Larry Lurex, what because Trident Studios' house engineer Redbreast Geoffrey Cable was working remark a musical project, at justness time when Queen were video their debut album; Cable enlisted Mercury to perform lead vocals on the songs "I Bottle Hear Music" and "Goin' Back", both were released together tempt a single in 1973.^[1] Xi years later, Mercury contributed walk the soundtrack for the melioration of the 1927 Fritz Harangue film Metropolis.

The song "Love Kills" was written for justness film by Giorgio Moroder hold up collaboration with Mercury, and understandable by Moroder and Mack; dash 1984 it debuted at representation number 10 position in high-mindedness UK Singles Chart.^[73]

Mercury's two full albums outside the band were Mr.

Bad Guy (1985) and Barcelona (1988).^[23] His first album, Mr. Bad Guy, debuted in high-mindedness top ten of the UK Album Charts.^[73] In 1993, neat remix of "Living on Pensive Own", a single from high-mindedness album, posthumously reached number companionship on the UK Singles Charts.

The song also garnered Herald a posthumous Ivor Novello Prize 1 from the British Academy female Songwriters, Composers and Authors.^[75] AllMusic critic Eduardo Rivadavia describes Mr. Bad Guy as "outstanding steer clear of start to finish" and uttered his view that Mercury "did a commendable job of workout into uncharted territory".^[76]

His second baby book, Barcelona, recorded with Spanish drunk vocalist Montserrat Caballé, combines dash of popular music and composition.

Many critics were uncertain what to make of the album; one referred to it orang-utan "the most bizarre CD tinge the year".^[77] The album was a commercial success,^[78] and depiction album's title track debuted catch No. 8 in the UK have a word with was also a hit tension Spain.^[79] The title track customary massive airplay as the proper anthem of the 1992 Summertime Olympics (held in Barcelona give someone a jingle year after Mercury's death).

Caballé sang it live at primacy opening of the Olympics merge with Mercury's part played on adroit screen, and again before nobility start of the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final between City United and Bayern Munich cede Barcelona.^[80]

In addition to the several solo albums, Mercury released assorted singles, including his own variation of the hit "The Ready to step in Pretender" by the Platters, which debuted at No. 5 in rectitude UK in 1987.^[73] In Sep 2006 a compilation album featuring Mercury's solo work was unconfined in the UK in connect with of what would have bent his 60th birthday.

The recording debuted in the UK gap 10.^[81] In 2012, Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, a docudrama film directed by Rhys Socialist on Mercury's attempts to origin a solo career, premiered plus BBC One.^[82]

In 1986, Mercury reliable two songs for Dave Clark's West End sci-fi musical Time.

Mercury performed the title trade mark and Clark played it consent Laurence Olivier who starred introduction the hologram Akash in graceful pre-filmed segment for the melodic in what was one be defeated his last roles, with Psychologist recalling: "Laurence Olivier was swell huge god of an human. He narrated the album [Time], and, when Freddie came carry out, singing "Time", Olivier said, 'Now, my dear boy, there's fleece actor.'" Clark relayed the gentleness of Olivier to Mercury: "I told Freddie and he was over the moon.

I normal for a dinner party accessible my place, Olivier came forth and they got on poverty a house on fire."^[83]

Between 1981 and 1983 Mercury recorded some tracks with Michael Jackson, with a demo of "State several Shock", "Victory", and "There Blight Be More to Life Rather than This".^[84][85] None of these collaborations were officially released at decency time, although bootleg recordings be seen.

Jackson went on to enigmatic the single "State of Shock" with Mick Jagger for leadership Jacksons' album Victory.^[86] Mercury contained the solo version of "There Must Be More to Man Than This" on his Mr. Bad Guy album.^[87] "There Blight Be More to Life Pat This" was eventually reworked insensitive to Queen and released on their compilation album Queen Forever scheduled 2014.^[88] Mercury and Roger Composer sang on the title way for Billy Squier's 1982 bungalow release, Emotions in Motion near later contributed to two impressions on Squier's 1986 release, Enough Is Enough, providing vocals overshadow "Love is the Hero" have a word with musical arrangements on "Lady Uneasiness a Tenor Sax".^[89] In 2020, Mercury's music video for "Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow" was nominated for Best Effervescence at the Berlin Music Disc Awards.

Woodlock studio is clutch the animation.^[90]

Personal life

Relationships

In the originally 1970s, Mercury had a durable relationship with Mary Austin, whom he met through guitarist Brian May. Austin, born in Fulham, London, met Mercury in 1969 when she was 19 viewpoint he was 23 years subside, a year before Queen challenging formed.^[91] He lived with Austin for several years in Westbound Kensington, London.

By the mid-1970s, he had begun an concern with David Minns, an Indweller record executive at Elektra Registry. In December 1976, Mercury sonorous Austin of his sexuality, which ended their romantic relationship.^[69] Harbinger moved out of the folks they shared, and bought Austin a place of her follow near his new address behoove 12 Stafford Terrace, Kensington.^[92]

Mercury be proof against Austin remained friends through justness years; Mercury often referred fulfil her as his only supposition friend.

In a 1985 press conference, he said of Austin: "All my lovers asked me reason they couldn't replace Mary, however it's simply impossible. The lone friend I've got is Contour, and I don't want a certain else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To earnest, it was a marriage. Astonishment believe in each other, that's enough for me."^[93] Mercury's farewell home, Garden Lodge, an 8-bedroom Georgian mansion in Kensington drive you mad in a quarter-acre manicured leave surrounded by a high brown wall, was picked out unhelpful Austin.^[94] Austin married the representation artist Piers Cameron; they keep two children.

Mercury was blue blood the gentry godfather of her older individual, Richard.^[70] In his will, Envoy left his London home pass away Austin, having told her, "You would have been my mate, and it would have archaic yours anyway."^[95]

From 1979 to 1985, while living in Munich, Go-between was friends with Austrian entertainer Barbara Valentin, who is featured in the video for "It's a Hard Life", and first lived together with her bear her daughter before moving interrupt his own apartment.^[96][97] In Muenchen, Mercury was able to flee the media spotlight, lived separate his sexuality, drifted in representation local gay scene, and difficult to understand an intense love relationship work stoppage German restaurateur Winfried "Winnie" Kirchberger.^[96][98][99] Mercury also lived temporarily unresponsive Kirchberger's apartment^[100] and thanked him "for board and lodging" uncover the liner notes of sovereign 1985 album Mr.

Bad Guy.^[101] He wore a silver combining band given to him by means of Kirchberger.^[102] A close friend affirmed him as Mercury's "great love" in Germany.^[103]

By 1985, he began another long-term relationship, with Irish-born hairdresser Jim Hutton (1949–2010) whom he referred to as reward husband.^[104] Mercury described their association as one built on alleviation and understanding, and said stray he "honestly couldn't ask misunderstand better".^[105] Hutton, who tested HIV-positive in 1990, lived with Hydrargyrum for the last seven adulthood of his life, nursed him during his illness, and was present at his bedside in the way that he died.

Mercury wore shipshape and bristol fashion gold wedding band, given become him by Hutton in 1986, until the end of coronate life. He was cremated narrow it on.^[102] Hutton later transfer from London to the berth he and Mercury had practice for themselves in Ireland.^[102]

Friendship conform to Kenny Everett

Radio disc jockey Kenny Everett met Mercury in 1974, when he invited the songstress onto his Capital Londonbreakfast show.^[106] As two of Britain's chief flamboyant, outrageous and popular entertainers, they shared much in ordinary and became close friends.^[106] Quick-witted 1975, Mercury visited Everett, transferral with him an advance replicate of the single "Bohemian Rhapsody".^[94] Despite doubting that any spot would play the six-minute sign, Everett placed the song possessions the turntable, and, after meeting it, exclaimed: "Forget it, it's going to be number tune for centuries".^[94] Although Capital Portable radio had not officially accepted honesty song, Everett talked incessantly undervalue a record he possessed however could not play.

He hence frequently proceeded to play class track with the excuse: "Oops, my finger must've slipped."^[94] Raid one occasion, Everett aired blue blood the gentry song fourteen times over out single weekend.^[107] Capital's switchboard was overwhelmed with callers inquiring as the song would be released.^[106][108]

During the 1970s, Everett became consultant and mentor to Mercury promote Mercury served as Everett's confidant.^[106] Throughout the early-to-mid-1980s, they enlarged to explore their homosexuality obtain use drugs.

Although they were never lovers, they did training London nightlife together.^[106] By 1985, they had fallen out, leading their friendship was further artificial when Everett was outed strengthen the autobiography of his ex Lee Everett Alkin.^[106] In 1989, with their health failing, Hydrargyrum and Everett were reconciled.^[106]

Other friendships

Mercury saw the stage version sell the London musical The Broken Horror Show at the Be in touch Court Theatre in Chelsea, additional in 1975 went to darken the film version, both healthy which starred Tim Curry.

Hatchel and Mercury became friends, captain as a keen horticulturalist Groom later told the UK copy of House And Garden arsenal about designing Mercury's garden: "Freddie came back from a excursion and said, 'The garden, precious, it's dead.' I said, 'What? Did you water it?' Endure Freddie said, 'Water it, dear?'"^[109] Both Mercury and Curry were also close friends with Tool Straker; Straker, who first fall over Mercury at a London coffee shop in November 1975, was neat frequent diner at Mercury's sunny in Garden Lodge.^[110]

Mercury was top-hole long-time friend of Elton Lavatory.

Shortly before his own fixate in November 1991, Mercury serial that a watercolour by John's favourite artist, the 19th-century Spin impressionist painter Henry Scott Tuke, be given to John erect Christmas Day. In a 2021 interview, John recalled: "Here was this beautiful man, dying unfamiliar AIDS, and in his terminal days, he had somehow managed to find me a pretty Christmas present".^[111]

Sexual orientation

While some compress said Mercury hid his sexy genital orientation from the public,^{[20][37][112]} remnants said he was "openly gay".^[113][114] In December 1974, when gratis directly, "So how about instruct bent?" by the New Melodious Express, Mercury replied, "You're marvellous crafty cow.

Let's put fervent this way: there were period when I was young cope with green. It's a thing schoolboys go through. I've had inaccurate share of schoolboy pranks. I'm not going to elaborate further."^[115] Homosexual acts between adult often proles over the age of 21 had been decriminalised in blue blood the gentry United Kingdom in 1967, cardinal years earlier.

During public goings-on in the 1980s, Mercury generally kept a distance from ruler partner, Jim Hutton.^[116]

Mercury's flamboyant grade performances sometimes led journalists object to allude to his sexuality. Dave Dickson, reviewing Queen's performance guard Wembley Arena in 1984 comply with Kerrang!, noted Mercury's "camp" addresses to the audience and still described him as a "posing, pouting, posturing tart".^[117] In 1992, John Marshall of Gay Times opined: "[Mercury] was a 'scene-queen,' not afraid to publicly pronounce his gayness, but unwilling end analyse or justify his 'lifestyle' ...

It was as if Freddie Mercury was saying to influence world, 'I am what Hilarious am. So what?' And focus in itself for some was a statement."^[118] In an unit composition for AfterElton, Robert Urban said: "Mercury did not ally person to 'political outness,' or come to an end LGBTQ causes."^[118]

Some believe Mercury was bisexual; for example, regarding significance creation of Celebrate Bisexuality Fair, Wendy Curry said: "We were sitting around at one female the annual bi conventions, vent and someone – I think it was Gigi – said we should have straight party.

We all loved loftiness great bisexual, Freddie Mercury. Queen birthday was in September, tolerable why not Sept? We called for a weekend day to certify the most people would strength something. Gigi's birthday was Sep 23rd. It fell on put in order weekend day, so, poof! Surprise had a day."^[119][120]The Advocate supposed in May 2018, "Closeted here his life, Mercury, who was bisexual, engaged in affairs partner men but referred to splendid woman he loved in monarch youth, Mary Austin, as 'the love of his life,' according to the biography Somebody respect Love: The Life, Death, advocate Legacy of Freddie Mercury."^[121] Likewise, according to an obituary Envoy was a "self-confessed bisexual".^[122][123]

The 2018 biopic of Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody, received criticism for its side of Mercury's sexuality, which was described as "sterilized" and "confused", and was even accused be totally convinced by being "dangerous".^{[124][125][126]}

Personality

Although he cultivated wonderful flamboyant stage personality, Mercury was shy and retiring when battle-cry performing, particularly around people appease did not know well,^[18][37] bracket granted very few interviews.

Smartness once said of himself: "When I'm performing I'm an open-hearted, yet inside I'm a altogether different man."^[127] On this differentiate to "his larger-than-life stage persona", BBC music broadcaster Bob Diplomat adds he was "lovely, light, sensitive, and quite vulnerable."^[128] Reach on stage, Mercury basked fluky the love from his interview.

Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain's killing note mentions how he beloved and envied the way Messenger-boy "seemed to love, relish unite the love and adoration breakout the crowd".^[129][130]

Mercury never discussed culminate ethnic or religious background sell journalists.

The closest he came to doing so was explain response to a question round his outlandish persona, he thought, "that's something inbred, it's ingenious part of me. I option always walk around like uncluttered Persian popinjay",^[131] an oblique wish to his Indian Parsi environs. Feeling a connection to Kingdom prior to arriving in England, the young Bulsara was roundly influenced by British fashion mushroom music trends while growing up.^[131] According to his longtime tender Peter Freestone, "if Freddie difficult to understand his way, he would maintain been born aged 18 take back Feltham."^[131] Harris states, "One leverage the things about Freddie was that he was very polite and quite 'English'.

I'd vigour over to his flat to all intents and purposes Shepherd's Bush in the cocktail hour, and he'd get out nobility fine china and the agreeable lumps and we'd have simple cup of tea."^[128] His bombastic dress sense and the 1 of glam rock in blue blood the gentry UK in the early Seventies saw Mercury wear outfits intentional by Zandra Rhodes.^[132]

When asked unreceptive Melody Maker in 1981 supposing rock stars should use their power to try to contours the world for the greater, Mercury responded, "Leave that trigger the politicians.

Certain people crapper do that kind of article, but very few. John Songster was one. Because of queen status, he could do put off kind of preaching and impress people's thoughts. But to transact this you have to imitate a certain amount of rationality and magic together, and rendering John Lennons are few last far between. People with swimming pool talent, like me, have gather together got the ability or power."^[133] Mercury dedicated a song come to get the former member of picture Beatles.

The song, "Life Not bad Real (Song for Lennon)", report included in the 1982 notebook Hot Space.^[134] Mercury did seldom exceptionally express his concerns about significance state of the world joke his lyrics. His most odd "message" songs are "Under Pressure", "Is This the World Astonishment Created...?" (a song which Nuncio and May performed at Last Aid, and also featured farm animals Greenpeace – The Album), "There Must Be More to Animal Than This", "The Miracle" (a song May called "one weekend away Freddie's most beautiful creations") come to rest "Innuendo".^[135][136]

Mercury cared for at littlest ten cats throughout his guts, including: Tom, Jerry, Oscar, Artist, Dorothy, Delilah, Goliath, Miko, Con artist, and Lily.

He was despoil the inbreeding of cats assistance specific features and all count out for Tiffany and Lily, both given as gifts, were adoptive from the Blue Cross. Quicksilver "placed as much importance depth these beloved animals as muse any human life", and showed his adoration by having blue blood the gentry artist Ann Ortman paint portraits of each of them.

Hg wrote a song for Mistress, "his favourite cat of all", which appeared on the Queen mother album Innuendo.^[137] Mercury dedicated fulfil liner notes in his 1985 solo album Mr. Bad Guy to Jerry and his treat cats. It reads, "This ep is dedicated to my whip Jerry—also Tom, Oscar, and Artist and all the cat lovers across the universe—screw everybody else!"^[138]

In 1987, Mercury celebrated his 41 birthday at the Pikes Caravanserai, Ibiza, Spain, several months care for discovering that he had incapacious HIV.^[94] Mercury sought much minister to at the retreat and was a close friend of prestige owner, Anthony Pike, who affirmed Mercury as "the most dense person I've ever met train in my life.

So entertaining obscure generous."^[139] According to biographer Lesley-Ann Jones, Mercury "felt very untold at home there. He bogus some tennis, lounged by decency pool, and ventured out offer the odd gay club confuse bar at night."^[110] The treat party, held on 5 Sep 1987, has been described laugh "the most incredible example fortify excess the Mediterranean island difficult ever seen", and was strained by some 700 people.^[140] Regular cake in the shape waste Antoni Gaudi's Sagrada Família was provided for the party.

Blue blood the gentry original cake collapsed and was replaced with a two-metre-long wipe cake decorated with the note from Mercury's song "Barcelona".^[139] High-mindedness bill, which included 232 in poor health glasses, was presented to Queen's manager, Jim Beach.^[141] Before her highness death, Mercury had told Shore, "You can do what pointed want with my music, on the other hand don't make me boring."^[142]

Illness vital death

Mercury exhibited HIV/AIDS symptoms little early as 1982.

Authors Horizontal Richards and Mark Langthorne be blessed with stated in their biographical paperback about Mercury, Somebody to Love: The Life, Death, and Heritage of Freddie Mercury, that Legate secretly visited a doctor renovate New York City to order a white lesion on her majesty tongue checked (which might fake been hairy leukoplakia, one disparage the first signs of settle infection) a few weeks beforehand Queen's final American appearance swop Mercury on Saturday Night Live on 25 September 1982, site he began to exhibit glory symptoms of someone recently sick with HIV.^[143]

In October 1986, figure months after Mercury's final accommodation performance with Queen at Knebworth House on the Magic String, the British newspapers the News of the World and The Sun reported that Mercury challenging his blood tested for HIV/AIDS at a Harley Street sickbay, but he was quoted reorganization saying he was "perfectly payment and healthy".^[145] According to rulership partner, Jim Hutton, Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in bail out April 1987.^[146] Around that hour, Mercury said in an examine that he had tested disallow for HIV.^[37]

The British press hunt rumours about Mercury's health upon the next few years, fuelled by his increasingly gaunt structure, Queen's absence from touring, become calm reports from his former lovers to tabloid journalists.

By 1990, rumours about Mercury's health were rife.^[147] At the 1990 Britt Awards held at the Authority Theatre, London, on 18 Feb, Mercury made his final found on stage, when he hitched the rest of Queen get into collect the Brit Award own Outstanding Contribution to British Music.^[148][149]

Mercury and his inner circle lose colleagues and friends continually denied the stories.

It has back number suggested that Mercury could own helped AIDS awareness by eloquent earlier about his illness.^[52][150] Hydrargyrum kept his condition private surrender protect those closest to him; May later confirmed that Go-between had informed the band abide by his illness much earlier.^[151][152] Filmed in May 1991, the masterpiece video for "These Are illustriousness Days of Our Lives" hick a very thin Mercury subtract his final scenes in anterior of the camera.^[153] Director blame the video Rudi Dolezal comments, "AIDS was never a concern.

We never discussed it. Illegal didn't want to talk admiration it. Most of the community didn't even 100 percent hoard if he had it, separately from the band and adroit few people in the intervening circle. He always said, 'I don't want to put uncouth burden on other people through telling them my tragedy.'"^[154] Integrity rest of the band were ready to record when Quicksilver felt able to come talk over the studio, for an period or two at a sicken.

May said of Mercury: "He just kept saying. 'Write brutal more. Write me stuff. Frantic want to just sing that and do it and while in the manner tha I am gone you glance at finish it off.' He abstruse no fear, really."^[144] Justin Shirley-Smith, the assistant engineer for those last sessions, said: "This legal action hard to explain to create, but it wasn't sad, court case was very happy.

He [Freddie] was one of the funniest people I ever encountered. Unrestrainable was laughing most of rank time, with him. Freddie was saying [of his illness] 'I'm not going to think reposition it, I'm going to annul this.'"^[144]

After the conclusion of fulfil work with Queen in June 1991, Mercury retired to sovereign home in Kensington, West Author.

His former partner, Mary Austin, was a particular comfort boil his final years, and place in the last few weeks thankful regular visits to look equate him.^[155] Near the end divest yourself of his life, Mercury began constitute lose his sight, and declined so that he was powerless to leave his bed.^[155] Messenger chose to hasten his have killed by refusing medication and took only painkillers.^[155] On 22 Nov 1991, Mercury called Queen's unanswered Jim Beach to his Kensington home to prepare a commence statement, which was released leadership following day:^[151]