Short Biography

Combining theatrics and an outrageously flamboyant stage persona with his fine natural-born talent (he possessed one of the greatest voices in all of music and penned some of pop`s most enduring and instantly recognizable compositions), one of rock`s greatest all-time entertainers/showmen was unquestionably Queen vocalist Freddie Mercury. Born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Zanzibar to Persian parents (his father worked as a high court cashier for the British government), young Farrokh soon adopted the name Freddie by fellow classmates while attending an English boarding school. Freddie soon discovered his love for art and music, both subjects that he explored voraciously (he began taking piano lessons around this time), putting his newly found piano talent to use as he played in rock & roll bands with friends. Due to political upheaval in Zanzibar, Freddie and his family fled Zanzibar for England in 1964.
Back in England, Freddie enrolled in the Ealing College of Art and fell under the spell of guitar wizard Jimi Hendrix. It was while attending Ealing that Freddie befriended a fellow aspiring musician, bassist Tim Staffel, who was a member of a local band called Smile. Freddie soon began attending Smile`s rehearsals and struck up a friendship with the group`s other members, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Inspired by his new friends, he began playing in bands himself (such as Ibex, Wreckage, and Sour Milk Sea, among others), but instead of just playing piano as he did back in Zanzibar, he began singing. To pay the bills, Freddie opened up a stall on Piccadilly Circus with Taylor, selling clothing geared toward fellow rock musicians. By 1970, Freddie had become frustrated that his music career had yet to blossom, and when he heard that Staffel had left Smile, Freddie promptly took his place, finally uniting musically with May and Taylor.
Inspired by the heavy rock of Led Zeppelin/Hendrix as well as the vocal harmonies of the Beatles and the over-the-top look of the burgeoning glam rock movement (David Bowie and T. Rex), the new group decided to mix up all these influences in one big melting pot, resulting in the formation of Queen. Sensing that it was only natural that a soon-to-be rock star should have an equally grand name, Bulsara soon became Freddie Mercury. The new band honed their sound throughout the early `70s (ultimately signing with EMI in England and Elektra in the U.S.), and after going through a succession of bassists, finally found a permanent member, John Deacon, just prior to the recording of their first album. But just before the release of Queen`s self-titled debut in 1973, Freddie issued the solo single "I Can Hear Music"/"Going Back" (with his Queen bandmates backing him) under the pseudonym Larry Lurex. The single sank from view shortly after release, while Queen`s debut fared little better. It was during an early Queen show that Freddie`s mic stand accidentally snapped in half, and instead of replacing it, Mercury carried on with the damaged stand, which ultimately became an on-stage trademark for the singer. Dressed in outrageous Zandra Rhodes-designed threads, dolled up in makeup/eyeliner, and wearing black nail polish on his right hand, Freddie instantly stood out from the rest of the then-current rock pack. Although there was speculation about his sexuality throughout his

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

John Deacon [Associate] (bassist of Queen)

Roger Meddows Taylor [Associate] (Queen drummer)

Brian May [Associate] (guitarrist from Queen)

Pets

Dalileh Cat

Adeleh Cat

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