Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania). He spent much of his childhood in India before moving to England in his teens.
Before pursuing a career in music, Freddie was passionate about art. He even attended the Ealing Art College in London, where he studied graphic design, which later influenced his work, including the iconic Queen logo.
Despite his larger-than-life stage presence, Freddie was notoriously private about his personal life. He kept his relationships and sexuality largely out of the public eye, even as he became a global star.
Freddie Mercury had an extraordinary vocal range, spanning nearly four octaves. His ability to move between different vocal styles—from operatic to rock—set him apart as one of the most versatile singers in history.
While Queen is often seen as a collaborative effort, Freddie wrote some of the band’s most famous songs, including "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Somebody to Love," and "Don't Stop Me Now."
Freddie had a deep affection for cats, and at one point, he had over ten cats living with him. He often spoke to them as though they were people, and even dedicated a song, "Delilah," to one of his beloved cats.
Freddie was a major force behind "Bohemian Rhapsody," a groundbreaking rock opera-style song that blended various genres and broke all traditional song structures.