Freddie Mercury died 25 years ago today: 7 amazing facts about the Queen singer
FREDDIE MERCURY died 25 years ago today. From his obsession with cats and religious views to bloody fights with his lover, here’s 7 crazy facts about the Queen singer.
Blue Plaque unveiled for Freddie Mercury's family home
He is remembered as one of the most celebrated performers of a generation, having given the world some of the best loved songs of the 20th century.
But Freddie’s life was cut short 25 years ago today when on November 24, 1991 he died after a battle with Bronchopneumonia brought on by AIDS.
In what would have been his 70th year, the star has been remembered with an English Heritage blue plaque on the home where he grew up.
His fellow Queen bandmate, guitarist Brian May, attended the ceremony and has also announced that an asteroid will be named after the late singer.
Freddie passed away 25 years ago today
He was voted 59th in the BBC’s poll of the 100 greatest Britons of all time, but did you know he was born abroad?
Freddie’s real name was Farrokh Bulsara, having been born to Indian parents in Zanzibar, East Africa.
He changed his name to Freddie before they moved to England and used Mercury as a surname when Queen was formed.
Scroll down for seven other amazing facts about the incredible singer.
Freddie would have been 70-years-old on Monday 5th September
His bloody fights
The Queen singer used to have huge spats with boyfriend Bill Reid.
One time Reid bit Freddie’s hand so hard it bleed and left teeth marks.
In another incident the two spent a day shouting at each other, meaning Mercury almost couldn’t perform on Saturday Night Live the next day.
Freddie went through a number of different hairstyles
His religion
Freddie was raised in his parent’s religion of Zoroastrianism.
One of the world’s oldest religions, it ascribed to the teachings of Iranian Prophet Zoroaster.
The religious figure exalted a deity of wisdom called Ahura Mazda, the Wise Lord, who was viewed as a Supreme Being.
Freddie’s funeral was performed by a Zoroastrian priest.
His piano fear
Mercury didn’t think his piano playing was very good.
He would worry when performing Bohemian Rhapsody live because he was scared he’d make mistakes.
To avoid embarrassment he decided to use the piano less in later albums and danced during concerts instead.
Freddie had a long-term relationship with Mary Austin in the 1970s, who he left his millions to.
His artistic talent
Freddie designed the Queen Crest, having a degree in art and graphic design.
The emblem includes the zodiac signs of the band’s members.
Two Leo lions for John Deacon and Roger Taylor, a Cancer crab for Brian May and two Virgo fairies for Freddie.
Queen is one of the biggest rock bands in the world
His cats
The Queen singer was completely infatuated with his pet cats, even having portraits painted of them.
During tours he would regularly call home to talk to each of them in turn.
His former girlfriend Mary Austin used to hold the felines up to phone so he could speak to them.
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody (A Night At The Odeon - Hammersmith 1975)
His inspiration
Mercury’s aides had to carry pen and paper with them at all times just in case Freddie suddenly had a creative moment.
Lyrics for Life Is Real were written during a flight.
He once composed a song in a bath, having a piano brought in to the bathroom to compose.
Freddie often came up with lyrics in the most eccentric ways
His plane superstition
Freddie once boarded a flight from Tokyo to New York, but when he discovered the plane’s model was a DC10, which had had problems in the past, he panicked.
He shouted: “DC death more like!”
The singer then left the plane and waited 14 hours for the next flight, taking the only available seat in economy, instead of First Class.