| Freddie Mercury |
Article Index for Freddie |
Website Links For Freddie |
Information AboutFreddie Mercury |
|
EARLY LIFE Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in religion of Zoroastrianism . His family had emigrated to Zanzibar in order for Bomi to continue his job as a middle-ranking cashier at the British Colonial Office . Mercury also had one sister, Kashmira. He was educated at St. Peter's Boarding School in Panchgani (Satara) near Bombay (now Mumbai ) in India , where he gave his first onstage performances in a five-member school band called The Hectics. It was also at St. Peter's where he was given the name Freddie. He completed his education in India at St. Mary's High School in Mazagon , Mumbai and was 17 when he and his family fled to England as a result of a 1964 revolution in Zanzibar. In England, he pursued a Diploma in Art and Graphic Design at Ealing Art College , following in the footsteps of Pete Townshend . He later used these skills in order to design the famous Queen crest. SINGER AND PERFORMER Freddie Mercury possessed a distinctive and versatile voice. Although his speaking voice naturally fell in the that he maintained over a three octave range as well as his forceful, powerful delivery. However, due in part to the fact that he suffered from Vocal Nodules (for which he declined surgery), he would often lower the highest notes during many concerts. With his vocal versatility Freddie Mercury was one of the most technically accomplished singers to work in the pop idiom. In a list of the greatest of the past 25 years, having been beaten by Mariah Carey for the top spot. Freddie Mercury's performance at television programme in the UK called "The World's Greatest Gigs". Of all the artists present at the Live Aid concert, Queen was widely regarded as having stolen the show, largely as a result of Mercury's incredible talent and charisma. One of Mercury's trademarks throughout the years involved the use of a microphone and stand minus the bottom section. In his early years of singing he made the decision to pick up his microphone, still attached to the stand. At one particular event, the bottom fell off by accident and, from that point on, he decided to use a bottomless microphone stand. When asked why, he replied, "Everyone has to have a gimmick, dear." SONGWRITING Mercury composed ten of the songs on the original "Queen's Greatest Hits" album, including many of the band's most creative pieces, such as " Bohemian Rhapsody ", " Killer Queen ", " We Are The Champions ", " Crazy Little Thing Called Love " and " Somebody To Love ". He ultimately wrote or co-wrote nine international #1 hits {Link without Title} . Although all four members of the band Queen were songwriters, producer Gary Langhan, who worked in the studio with Queen on many of their early albums, notes in the book ''Freddie Mercury: The Real Life'' that "Freddie was always intensely supportive of other people's songwriting and would give as much attention to one of the other's as he would to his own. It was so unlike other bands I've worked with where there is an acknowledged songwriter and anyone else who writes one really has to hassle to get it anywhere". Perhaps the most distinctive characteristic of Mercury's songwriting was the number of long (typically five and a half minutes or longer) songs he wrote that utilized several different styles of music. Examples include My Fairy King , Liar , The Millionaire Waltz, The March Of The Black Queen , Innuendo and, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY See Also: Bohemian Rhapsody Although similarly sophisticated songs can be found on earlier Queen albums such as '' remembers being shocked when, after hearing the ballad section of the song, he was told, "''Now dear, this is where the opera section comes in''" {Link without Title} . When the band wanted to release the song as a single in 1975, it had been suggested that, at 5 minutes and 55 seconds, it was far too long and would thus never be a hit. But Mercury gave a copy of the single to friend and London DJ, Kenny Everett , informing him that it was for him personally, and that he must never broadcast it on the radio. Ultimately, Everett ended up playing the song on the air, up to fourteen times in the same day (later claiming "my finger slipped"). It generated a huge fan response; eventually, every major radio station played the song in full and it became one of the biggest hits of all time in the UK, remaining at the #1 position for nine weeks. Although a great deal of speculation has arisen over the song's lyrics, Mercury always insisted that the song did not have any specific meaning. The song soared to number 1 again in 1991 and 1992, after Mercury's death; it is the only song to be the #1 single in four different calendar years. SOLO ALBUMS Freddie Mercury also released two solo albums: '' Mr Bad Guy '' (1985) and, with Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballé , '' Barcelona '' (1988). While the latter collaboration came as a surprise to critics, the album was nonetheless widely acclaimed, if not commercially successful. Another one of his solo hits was a 1987 cover of the song " The Great Pretender " (1987). After his death, "Living On My Own", remixed by No More Brothers, also reached the #1 spot on the UK charts. The song was originally from the Mr. Bad Guy album. PERSONAL LIFE Although he had a very close girlfriend named Mary Austin, Freddie Mercury was also fairly open about his scene where at one point Mercury began another casual relationship with the Austrian actress Barbara Valentin . Mercury was well known for his extravagance. As a penniless student, friends recall the aspiring musician as having exclaimed at one point, "''I'm not just going to be a star, I'm going to be a legend!''" When asked how he would live without fame or money, he replied, "''I'll always walk around like a Persian popinjay and no one's going to stop me.''" On the other hand, he was also known for his kindness and generosity, showering friends and casual lovers with expensive gifts, apparently including cars and jewelry. While he was charming and outgoing at his own parties, he often appeared to be shy at other events. DEATH According to the book ''Mercury and Me'' by lover Jim Hutton, Mercury was diagnosed with AIDS in the spring of 1987. Despite the fact that he claimed to have tested negative for HIV in a 1987 interview, the British press nonetheless stalked the singer during the final years of his life. Although rumours about his health were rampant, he continued to deny that he had AIDS. From the 1991 video " These Are The Days Of Our Lives ," which represents Mercury's last appearance on film, it is clear that he was suffering from severe wasting. On November 22 , 1991 Mercury called Queen's manager Jim Beach over to his Kensington home to discuss a public statement. Only those closest to him knew how close to the end he really was. On November 23 , the announcement was made that Mercury had AIDS . The next day he died at home in the presence of close friends at the age of 45. .]] Although he had not attended religious services in years, Mercury's funeral was conducted by a Zoroastrian priest. He was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery and the whereabouts of his ashes are unknown, although some believe them to have been dispersed into Lake Geneva . The remaining members of Queen founded The Mercury Phoenix Trust and organized The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert . He left £500,000 to his chef and £500,000 to his partner, Jim Hutton. Mary Austin inherited the estate and now lives there with her family. The £12 million left in his will was much less money than he was thought to have earned. LEGACY Recent polls
The world's first Indian rock star Because Freddie Mercury was of full Indian Parsi descent and did not move to the UK until he was 17, he was arguably the world's first great Indian rock star. He was also arguably the first British Asian person to gain wide international popularity Valuable Mercury memorabilia Over the years, rare Freddie Mercury solo albums have greatly increased in value {Link without Title} . For instance, a Japanese single of the song "Guide Me Home" from the ''Barcelona'' album is now worth as much as £1,000 ($1,800). Another valuable item is a 1973 cover of the 1969 Beach Boys song, ''I Can Hear Music'' recorded under the Stage Name Larry Lurex. Widely Bootleg ged, the original record is now a valuable collectible, fetching up to £400 ($700). TRIVIA
"I havent felt the excitement of listening to as well as creating music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond words about these things. For example, when we're backstage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins, it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddy Mercury who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd, which is something I totally admire and envy." JAPANESE LEGACY Because Queen was very popular in Japan, various tributes to Mercury can be found in Japanese anime and popular music: " DVD s of Elvis Presley / BBC sessions of Led Zeppelin / Singing along with F. Mercury / Wishing he was still performing..." BIOGRAPHIES DISCOGRAPHY Solo Queen EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|