Freddie Mercury, one of the greatest icons of world music, left an eternal legacy with his powerful voice, unmistakable stage presence, and unique personality. Born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Tanzania, Freddie became the leader of the band Queen, responsible for some of the greatest hits in rock history, such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “We Are the Champions,” and “Somebody to Love.”

His life was marked by fascinating contradictions, from his humble beginnings to his rise to global stardom. Known for the boldness of his performances and his ability to combine different musical styles, Freddie won over fans from all generations. In addition to his artistic genius, his personal life also generated mystery and admiration, and his battle with AIDS, which led to his death in 1991, became a turning point for reflection on prejudice and resilience.

In this text, we will explore some curiosities that marked his journey.

1 – HIS UNIQUE VOICE WAS STUDIED BY SPECIALISTS

Freddie Mercury’s voice is remarkable and unforgettable, but what makes it so special was the subject of a study conducted in 2015 by four specialists: Christian T. Herbst, Stellan Hertegard, Daniel Zangger-Borch, and Per-Åke Lindestad.

Using Mercury’s musical recordings and the collaboration of rock singer Daniel Zangger-Borch, who was tasked with mimicking Freddie’s voice, the researchers were able to identify what made his voice unique: his vibrato.

It was discovered that Mercury’s voice frequency reached 117.3 Hz, a common value in baritone voices. Additionally, in an analysis of 240 sustained notes from 21 a cappella recordings, Freddie’s vibrato reached an impressive average of 7.04 Hz.

The study also revealed that he used subharmonics, a rare vocal technique where the ventricular folds vibrate along with the vocal folds, a feature that few singers or speakers possess.

2 – GRADUATED IN GRAPHIC DESIGN

Freddie Mercury graduated in Graphic Design from Ealing Art College in London. After graduation, he worked with his girlfriend at the time, Mary Austin, in a clothing store at the famous Kensington Market.

Mercury’s academic background and experience had a significant influence on the creation of the Queen band’s logo, known as the Queen Crest, which he designed himself. The elements in the logo have well-defined symbolic meanings. The concept combines the zodiac signs of all the band members: the two lions of John Deacon and Roger Taylor, the Cancer crab (Brian May’s zodiac sign), and the Virgo symbol representing Freddie Mercury. The letter “Q” and the crown represent the band’s name, while the phoenix, a symbol of immortality and resurrection, surrounds all the elements.

Moreover, the style of the logo refers to a royal crest, which can be interpreted as an act of patriotism.

3 – FREDDIE MERCURY ALMOST RECORDED AN ALBUM WITH MICHAEL JACKSON

In the 1980s, Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson were about to record an album together, but something unusual prevented the project: a llama. The relationship between the two had already been strained due to their strong and different personalities, and the situation worsened when Michael Jackson insisted on bringing his pet llama to the studio, which greatly irritated Mercury.

According to Queen’s manager, Jim ‘Miami’ Beach, when Mercury saw the animal in the studio, he called in a panic saying: “Get me out of here immediately, I’m recording with a llama!”

The album was never released, but three demos were made public: “There Must Be More to Life Than This,” “Victory,” and “State of Shock.”

4 – HE WAS VERY CLOSE FRIENDS WITH PRINCESS DIANA

Freddie Mercury and Princess Diana had a very close friendship, but their fame made it almost impossible for them to go out together. Besides the harassment from fans and journalists, Diana had to follow the strict orders of the British Royal Family.

To bypass these difficulties, Mercury came up with the idea of dressing the princess in men’s clothing and taking her to The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a popular LGBT bar in South London. Lady Di agreed and disguised herself with a military coat, sunglasses, and a hat, while Freddie went to the bar without any disguise, attracting all the attention.

Diana managed to go unnoticed, but the story became public through Cleo Rocos in the biography “Bananas Forever.”

5 – NAMED AFTER AN ASTEROID

In 1991, the year of Freddie Mercury’s death, an asteroid, 17473, was discovered orbiting space. While it may be a coincidence, in 2016, this asteroid was officially named by the International Astronomical Union in honor of the singer.

The asteroid, called Freddiemercury 17473, was announced by Queen’s guitarist Brian May, who, in addition to being a musician, holds a doctorate in astrophysics. Besides the asteroid, a species of plant was also named after Freddie Mercury in his honor.

6 – THE EARLY DEATH OF AN ICON

Freddie Mercury’s death, on November 24, 1991, at the age of 45, marked the end of an era in music. The legendary Queen frontman died due to complications related to AIDS, a disease he had been diagnosed with but kept secret until the final moments of his life.

Mercury became one of the first public icons to suffer from the disease, and his death caused worldwide mourning, becoming a milestone in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In the last days of his life, he isolated himself, not revealing his condition, preferring to spend his final moments with close friends and family.

His death brought discussions about HIV awareness and prevention to the forefront, and his life inspired the creation of foundations and campaigns aimed at combating the disease.

7 – WHERE ARE FREDDIE MERCURY’S ASHES?

Freddie Mercury was cremated at Kensal Green Cemetery in London in 1991. However, the exact location where his ashes were scattered remains unknown. It is known that only Mary Austin, the members of Queen, Jim Hutton (Mercury’s last companion), and his family know where they are.

Many fans have tried to discover the location and believe that it is at the same cemetery where the cremation took place. A few years ago, a plaque was found in the cemetery with the name “Farrokh Bulsara” (Mercury’s real name), matching his birth and death dates.

The inscription “To always be near you, with all my love” with the initial “M” is believed to have referred to Mary Austin, but nothing has been officially confirmed.

Freddie Mercury was undoubtedly one of the most iconic and enigmatic figures in world music. His life, marked by extraordinary talents and unique traits, goes beyond his unmistakable voice and stage presence.

Freddie was not just a great singer, but also a deeply complex and creative man, whose influence transcends generations and continues to inspire millions around the world. His legacy endures, as the legend he will always be.