My favourite singer.
Freddie
Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on
Thursday September 5th 1946 on the small spice island of Zanzibar.
His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, were both Persian. His father, Bomi, was a
civil servant, working as a High Court cashier for the British Government. In
1954, at the age of 8, Freddie was shipped to the St. Peter’s English boarding
school in Panchgani, about fifty millions outside Bombay. It was there his
friends began to call him Freddie, a name the family also adopted. He was also
music mad and played records on the family’s old record player, stacking the
singles to play constantly.
In
1958, five friends at St. Peter’s – Freddie Bulsara, Derrick Branche, Bruce
Murray, Farang Irani and Victory Rana – formed the school’s rock’n roll band,
the Hectics, where Freddie the piano player. They would play at school parties,
at annual festivals and school dances, but little else is known about them.
In
April 1970 Tim Staffell decided to leave Smile, and Freddie joined them as lead
singer. Freddie decided to change the name of the name to Queen; he also
changed his last name to Mercury.
October
8th was the last time Freddie Mercury performed to stage. At the
time, he was terribly ill with AIDS, although he didn’t want people to know
about it. He announced that fact the day before he died. Being ill he continued
to compose and record songs and even took part in making videos. In my opinion,
I’m Going Slightly Mad video is his masterpiece.
On
November 24th, 1991 Freddie died peacefully at his home in London of
AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia.
April
20th, 1992 a tribute concert in Freddie’s memory was held at Wembley
Stadium, and many famous rock stars took part in it. But the best tribute to
Freddie was the album Made in Heaven, released on November 6th, 1995
by the three remaining members of Queen. We can hear the last songs that
Freddie composed and recorded.