Ten little-known facts about Freddie Mercury. His real name is not Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury was an outstanding personality in the rock and roll universe. The performer is still included in the TOP 100 of the most famous Britons, and his songs are heard all over the world. One of them, "Seven Seas of Rhye", competes with the composition "Hotel California" for the title of the most popular song of all time. Fans continue to watch at the mansion of their idol in London, in the Kensington area, in the hope of a miracle. It is still hard to believe that the owner of a strong and unusually attractive voice will no longer create new albums and will not hold tours.

His biography is so extraordinary that Mercury did not need to invent beautiful legend, like many other pop stars. He only had to tell true facts from life, and they shook the imagination of journalists and admirers of his talent. Having learned more about his biography, it becomes clear why his work is so multifaceted, because it has absorbed the traditions of the cultures of the East and West.

The future king of rock and roll was born on September 5, 1946 on the island of Zanzibar, located off the coast of Tanzania. His parents, Bomi and Jer Balsara, were fire worshipers and professed the Zoroastrian faith. Once upon a time small people Parsi fled Iran due to persecution and received permission from the Indian Maharaja to live on his lands.

Balsar's relatives also lived in India, but his father's family moved to African continent because of his work. A few years later, Bomi and Jer had a second child, a Kashmiri girl, and they briefly came to India to visit relatives to decide on the education of their first child.

Freddie Mercury's real name is Farrukh Balsara. As a child, he spent much time with a pious father, who initiated him into the foundations of the ancient religion.

The boy grew impressionable, with a rich imagination. Stories about the gods and their assistants were remembered by him for the rest of his life. The parents certainly wanted to give their son an excellent education and were forced to send him to the English boarding school of St. Peter near Bombay.

At first, the home child was hard to bear the separation from his family, but then he began to master his favorite subjects: drawing and music. The teacher contributed to Farrukh's admission to music school and he became in it best student and learned to play the piano.

After graduation, the teenager's father saw good prospects to provide for his family in England, and moved her to the town of Feltham, a few kilometers from London. They couldn't stay in Tanzania anyway. There was brewing political conflict threatening to turn into a civil war.

The capital of Great Britain in the 60s was a Mecca for musicians and informals of all stripes. Farrukh, whom friends at St. Peter's school renamed Freddie, could not remain indifferent to the opportunities that opened up. He wanted to continue his education in an art college, and in free time play music.

The father was shocked by his son's passion. He paid for his education English language, history and mathematics in order to participate in joint business. According to Balsar Sr., selling spices in a shop or renting a currency exchange office could become a worthy occupation. Mercury broke up with his parents with a scandal and over the following years kept in touch with them through friends.

In 1966 he entered the Ealing College of Art and painted extensively. He sold his work in a small shop in Kensington Market. Still, the idea of ​​​​his father helped him to hold out for some time and earn a living in London.

During training fine arts and design, he met the musicians of the Ibex group. He learned the entire repertoire to perform with them. The rest of the musicians liked his voice and plasticity, and they accepted the newcomer to the team.

Mercury's idols different time Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar, Gian Lennon, Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix. An analysis of the latter's work formed the basis of graduation thesis Freddie at Ealing College.

Performances in musical group gone for young man something new. While still at school in India, he created an ensemble with friends that played at all local parties, but in London he decided to become a professional musician.

Wanting to stand out and express his own style, Mercury chose bright and provocative stage costumes. Bollywood influenced not only his appearance, but also the manner of performance. This made him stand out among other novice vocalists just like him.

While still at Ealing College, Freddie met the musicians of the Smile band, which included the guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. He did not perform with them, but often went to concerts and praised their professionalism.

After several years of throwing and participating in various bands, in the early 70s, Freddie became the vocalist in the group Smile instead of Tim Staffel, who left it. On his initiative, the band's name was changed to Queen. Freddie took the pseudonym Mercury for himself, which reflected his strong energy and mobility on stage, as well as the planet Mercury patronizing his zodiac.

Queen group

From 1970 to 1971 The group was in its infancy. Bassists were constantly changing in it. However, she successfully performed in Kensington clubs and played as an opening act for the more famous Yes band.

At the end of the winter of 1971, Queen acquired a permanent bass player, John Deacon. In the future, the composition of the group has not changed throughout its existence. Freddie Mercury drew an intricate coat of arms for her, and the birth of the future star team took place.

In 1972, the group's first album, Queen I, was recorded at Trident Studios, which included compositions written by May and Mercury. In subsequent years, Freddie composed the most famous hits bands: Killer Queen and Bohemian Rhapsody.

They topped the UK music charts for several weeks and the singer rested on his laurels. It seemed to him that he had reached the heights of success, but the manager of Queen had a different opinion. Using flattery and promises of getting rich quick, he forced Mercury to agree to tour in America and then Japan.

Bright colors Eastern culture fit the band's vocalist to taste, and the local audience gave Queen an incredibly warm welcome. After 1975, the band's musicians were deservedly considered real British stars.

Since the 70s, the band has had a lot of fans in their native Britain and other countries. Freddie became a welcome guest in clubs and music festivals. The praise of those around him embarrassed him. Mercury constantly felt that they did not love him, but rather a spectacular stage persona.

He wanted to continue to create, but in London, due to the persecution of fans, it was difficult to do so. The musicians bought a studio in Munich and worked on the next albums in Germany.

Freddie, as promised by the manager, soon became rich. He bought himself an Edwardian mansion in his favorite area of ​​London, Kensington, and filled it collectibles art. The decoration of his house was lavish, like the scenery of Bollywood films. A place of honor in the living room was occupied by the piano, on which the singer composed music.

The doors of the mansion were always open for Queen musicians and their close friends. Mercury avoided communication with journalists by all means, believing that performers should remain a mystery to fans, and the process of creating compositions should be sacred. In addition, many hacks mercilessly distorted the words of the singer.

In 1985, Queen organized a performance at Wembley Stadium, gathering 75,000 spectators. The concert was simultaneously broadcast in Philadelphia. In addition to Queen, guest stars included Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Elton John. Such a show before the world I haven’t seen it, and many believe that it is the peak of the fame of the legendary team.

Illness and death

In 1987, Mercury learned that he had AIDS. This disease became a real scourge at the end of the 20th century, and they did not know how to treat it at all. The infected person was doomed to death.

Freddie told only a few friends about the illness, hiding information from a wide audience almost until his death in November 1991. None of his relatives turned their backs on him. On the contrary, they looked for medicines and looked after him to the last.

Unfortunately, in the environment where the musician spent time, AIDS was common. Freddie was at the zenith of fame and considered himself invulnerable. At the end of his life, being very weak, he looked through his performances and declared that he had given music best years and living up to 70 years is unbearably boring. A bright talent burned out on stage, leaving fans with many wonderful songs.

Freddie Mercury is not forgotten by fellow musicians or the audience. Many books have been written about him, however, often false, and films have been made. At concerts in his memory, not only participants Queen, but also world famous singers.

During his career, the leader of the group managed to record a solo album, perform arias with opera diva Montserrat Caballe, perform with the Royal Ballet.

His mansion in Kensington is now occupied by the singer's fans, eager to get in touch with a particle of the idol's life.

Personal life of Freddie Mercury

After the death of the singer, even people who barely knew him launched into frank memories. From reliable facts it is known that the long love Freddie and his main heiress was Mary Austin.

They met in 1969, when he was just starting his career as a musician, and the girl worked in the Biba fashion store, not far from his own shop. Mary was beautiful, versed in stylish outfits and helped Freddie create a special image. In particular, the black nail polish on the Queen musicians' nails was the girl's idea.

The couple had almost no money, and they huddled in a rented room. True, after a couple of years, Freddie rented an apartment on Holland Road. They lived happily, spending their days with people as passionate about creativity as they are.

The more success the singer achieved, the more he moved away from his beloved. Once he asked her to marry him, but subsequently did not return to this topic. He also refused to have a child, referring to the constant tour.

6 years after the start of the relationship, Mercury told Mary about his gay However, he could not part with the woman. He offered her a job as an administrator and gave her an apartment next to his mansion.

Former lovers saw each other every day, Austin sat by Freddie's bed when he died. It was to her that he bequeathed to bury his ashes, without informing even his relatives about the location of the grave. He was afraid of her desecration.

Journalists mention the orgies that the singer arranged in gay clubs in London, Munich and New York. In the 70s and 80s, homosexuality was persecuted, so revelations about that period are difficult to detect.

Deeply believing parents finally stopped communicating with their son after such rumors. Freddie gave them money through Mary Austin. Jim Hutton is among Mercury's best-known partners. For 8 years he lived in the singer's house and was with him until his end. Queen's biographers give several more names, but these data are not confirmed.

Interesting facts from the life of the singer

Mercury was jealous of friends with families and heirs. He was very fond of the eldest son of Mary Austin from his marriage to the artist and became his godfather. He loved to bring the boy souvenirs from all over the world. The woman gave birth to her second son a few months after Freddie's death.

Up to 10 cats were in the singer's mansion at the same time. Leaving on tour, he called home and talked to them. The animals felt like royalty, they were so well cared for.

In 1988, Mercury recorded a solo album, which included the song "Barcelona". It became the anthem of the 1992 Olympics.

Conclusion

Mercury lived in full force And most gave time to creativity. That is why, in two decades, Queen managed to record 15 studio and 9 live albums, as well as compilations and dozens of singles.

The leader of the group was not only talented, but also supremely kind and generous person. He bought houses for his friends and loved ones, bequeathed to them and the musicians of the group the lion's share of the multi-million dollar fortune.

He did this not out of a desire to be known as a benefactor. Freddie wanted people to feel like in a fairy tale next to him, and all their problems were resolved, as if by magic.

Relatives even now say that with the appearance of a musician next to them, they became warm and comfortable. They cherish these precious memories, and fans again and again play Queen songs and are interested in the work of the band. Mercury's beautiful voice often sounds on music channels and pleases listeners with its depth and unique timbre.

My name is Julia Jenny Norman and I am an author of articles and books. I cooperate with the publishing houses "OLMA-PRESS" and "AST", as well as with glossy magazines. Currently helping to promote projects virtual reality. I have European roots, but I spent most of my life in Moscow. There are many museums and exhibitions that charge with positive and give inspiration. In my spare time I study French medieval dances. I'm interested in any information about that era. I offer you articles that can captivate a new hobby or just give you pleasant moments. You need to dream about the beautiful, then it will come true!

1) The whole family of Mercury was Parsi (followers of Zoroastrianism). Even though Freddie for a long time did not attend church, his funeral procession was led by a Zoroastrian priest.

3) Freddie's passport stated that his name was Frederic Mercury, but he never allowed himself to be called that. And so that the queen would not call him that during a visit to England, he introduced himself to her simply as "Mercury".

4) He was very fond of cats, he had more than 10 at the same time. He even dedicated an album and wrote a song to his beloved cat, whose name was Delaya (song - Mr. Bad Guy).

5) He personally designed the band's logo (the so-called Queen's Crest) thanks to his diploma in art and graphic design art school in Ealing. The crest was made from the zodiac signs of the band members: two lions for John Deacon and Roger Tyler, cancer for Brian May, and two fairies for Freddie himself, personifying his sign of the virgin. There is also a phoenix on the logo, which protects the group from evil forces.

6) He had a very long relationship with Mary Austin in the early 70s. Even after they broke up, he continued to regard her as his closest friend. Once in an interview in 1985, he admitted that she was his only close friend and he does not want others. He dedicated the song "Love Of My Life" to her and became the godfather of her first son. When Freddie died, he bequeathed to her almost all of his fortune, his house and the licensing rights to all his work.

7) At the request of Mercury, his manager officially announced his illness on the day of Freddie's death. For several years, rumors spread about his illness (due to the thinness that appeared and the "cut down" tour of the group). Freddie himself was then working on his latest album and the legendary cult song " The Show Must Go On”, the words of which for the fans explained a lot of what is happening in the life of the lead singer of Queen. And although Freddie had enough strength to record the song in the studio, Mercury could no longer record the video clip, and the group agreed to make a video from cuts of Freddie's life. But rumors are rumors, and a confession of illness on the day of his death morally knocked down a lot of people. Many after his death regretted that he had not told about the disease earlier, because this could help in the treatment and, possibly, save him.

Freddie Mercury

During his lifetime, Mercury surrounded himself with so much kitsch that many believed that the stage image he created was a projection of Freddie himself in real life, and the artist really twists his mustache every day, puts on striped leggings and walks along the street, protruding ass.

What was the real Freddie - only the people closest to him know about it and they are not going to share “fried” information with the press, although the editors of any tabloid would dream of getting exclusive material about the lead singer of Queen, so everything related to the artist is very expensive.

However, Mercury's biographers managed to collect a few noteworthy facts about the musician. I bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about Freddie Mercury, his work and personal life.

In the early 70s, Freddie had a long-term (over seven years) relationship with a woman named Mary Austin. They broke up after Mercury confessed his homosexuality to her, but remained close friends. After the death of the artist, it turned out that he left all the real estate, bank accounts and royalties from the compositions to Mary, and not to his last lover Jim Hutton, as they first wrote in the newspapers.

Freddie's signature stage gimmick, "no stand mic," came about by accident. At one of the concerts in 1969, Mercury used the microphone so actively that he loosened the fastenings of his stand. Then the artist, right during the performance of the song, unscrewed the lower part that interfered with him and began to perform with a microphone in his hands, from which the upper part of the stand hung down. Freddie liked the trick so much that he made it his calling card.

Being a native of Zanzibar, Mercury professed Zoroastrianism, like all his relatives. He did not abandon this religion even after the official name change - from the birth of the legendary performer they knew as Farukh Bulsara. After the death of Mercury, the funeral was performed by a Zoroastrian priest

In his suicide note Kurt Cobain mentions Mercury, admitting that he always admired him, and even envied him a little, because Freddie, like no one else, knew how to keep the attention of the audience

The song Who Wants to Live Forever, which is the official soundtrack of the Highlander film series, was written by Brian May and Freddie Mercury in the car, returning from watching the first film about the ageless MacLeod

The lead singer of Queen was an avid cat person. At one time, as many as 10 fluffy pets lived in his house. Mercury's debut solo album, released in 1985, Mr. Bad Guy is dedicated to cats. The artist's favorite was a fluffy kitty named Delilah. He dedicated a separate composition to her - Delilah. guitar player Queen Brian May was at first categorically against the performance of this song, but it was he who later came up with a guitar riff that imitates meowing

When asked by journalists what meaning he put into one of his most famous works, Bohemian Rhapsody, Mercury replied: “Absolutely nothing, just stupidly rhymed phrases”

Mercury had a bachelor's degree in art and graphic design (the artist graduated from London's Ealing College of Art). Therefore, he designed the famous Queen emblem on his own, from start to finish.

September 5 is significant date for all true fans of rock and roll - after all, on this day in 1946, Queen frontman Freddie Mercury was born, who has not been with us for 22 years. Let's not talk platitudes about the significance of this person for the world stage - for sure most of our readers will agree that " Show must go on" and "We are the champions" are for ages. During his lifetime, Mercury surrounded himself with so much kitsch that many believed that the stage image he created was a projection of Freddie himself in real life, and the artist really twists his mustache every day, puts on striped leggings and walks down the street, sticking out his fifth point . What was the real Freddie - only the people closest to him know about it and they are not going to share “fried” information with the press, although the editors of any tabloid would dream of getting exclusive material about the lead singer of Queen, so everything related to the artist is very expensive. However, Mercury's biographers managed to collect some interesting facts about the musician. We bring to your attention 10 interesting facts about Freddie Mercury, his work and personal life

In the early 70s, Freddie had a long-term (over seven years) relationship with a woman named Mary Austin. They broke up after Mercury confessed his homosexuality to her, but remained close friends. After the death of the artist, it turned out that he left all the real estate, bank accounts and royalties from the compositions to Mary, and not to his last lover Jim Hutton, as they first wrote in the newspapers.

Freddie's signature stage gimmick, "no stand mic," came about by accident. At one of the concerts in 1969, Mercury used the microphone so actively that he loosened the fastenings of his stand. Then the artist, right during the performance of the song, unscrewed the lower part that interfered with him and began to perform with a microphone in his hands, from which the upper part of the stand hung down. Freddie liked the trick so much that he made it his calling card.

Being a native of Zanzibar, Mercury professed Zoroastrianism, like all his relatives. He did not abandon this religion even after the official name change - from the birth of the legendary performer they knew as Farukh Bulsara. After the death of Mercury, the funeral was performed by a Zoroastrian priest

In his suicide note, Kurt Cobain mentions Mercury, admitting that he always admired him, and even envied him a little, because Freddie, like no one else, knew how to keep the attention of the audience

The song Who Wants to Live Forever, which is the official soundtrack of the Highlander film series, was written by Brian May and Freddie Mercury in the car, returning from watching the first film about the ageless MacLeod

The lead singer of Queen was an avid cat person. At one time, as many as 10 fluffy pets lived in his house. Mercury's debut solo album, released in 1985, Mr. Bad Guy is dedicated to cats. The artist's favorite was a fluffy kitty named Delilah. He dedicated a separate composition to her - Delilah. Queen guitarist Brian May was at first categorically against the performance of this song, but it was he who later came up with a guitar riff that imitates meowing

When asked by journalists what meaning he put into one of his most famous works, Bohemian Rhapsody, Mercury replied: “Absolutely nothing, just stupidly rhymed phrases”

Mercury had a bachelor's degree in art and graphic design (the artist graduated from London's Ealing College of Art). Therefore, he designed the famous Queen emblem on his own, from start to finish.

The hit Crazy Little Thing Called Love was written by Mercury in the bathroom of a London hotel. Soaking in the jacuzzi, he felt a surge of inspiration, but he was afraid to frighten off the muse by leaving the bathroom. Therefore, Freddie turned to the hotel administration with a request to roll the piano to him right in the bathroom; the request was fulfilled

At the head of Freddie Mercury's bed, with the keys to him, there was a piano - so that if the musician needed to play something, he could do it without wasting time. With all his hectic lifestyle, the leader of The Queen did not waste a second, confirmation of this are dozens of songs that have become classics ..

PHOTO Getty Images

Freddie Mercury's real name is Farrukh Bulsara. "Farrukh" in translation from Zanzibar means "beautiful", "happy". Officially, the future rock star changed her name in 1970. When they addressed him as Farrukh, Mercury became furious.

By nationality, Mercury was a Parsi ( ethnic group Iranian origin, professing Zoroastrianism).

The first group of Mercury, then Bulsara, was the school ensemble The Hectics (“Fidgets”).

After graduating from London's Ealing College of Art, he received a diploma in graphic design. Emblem bands The Queen, consisting of the signs of the zodiac, Mercury invented and painted himself.

Freddie Mercury had a long (7 years) relationship with Mary Austin. In 1976, the artist confessed to her his own bisexuality, the couple broke up, but until the end of their lives they were close friends. Austin served as Mercury's secretary; according to her will, part of the musician's fortune and his house were transferred to her.

IN everyday life Freddie Mercury was extremely shy. This was one of the reasons why the artist rarely gave interviews.

Mercury loved cats, at the same time he sometimes had at least 10 animals. Tailed is dedicated to the solo album of the musician Mr Bad Guy, his favorite cat - the song Delilah from the last album The Queen (Innuendo). While on tour, Mercury regularly called home and talked to cats for hours.

The favorite country of the leader of The Queen was Japan.

His idols in music were John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix.

Mercury himself considered The Game (1980; includes songs such as Play the Game and Another One Bites the Dust) to be the best album by The Queen.

The song Crazy Little Thing Called Love from The Game was written by Mercury in the bathroom, arranged and recorded in the studio in half an hour. This is the only track in which Freddie Mercury plays the guitar.

The artist considered Somebody To Love his most successful song.

The artist's favorite color was yellow. A special variety of yellow roses is named after him.

He was an avid philatelist.

Before one of the concerts in Britain, Mercury got into a fight with his then partner Billy Reid. He bit the musician's hand until it bled.

During another quarrel, Reid and Mercury yelled at each other for several hours in a row, as a result, the artist lost his voice the next morning - and this was on the eve of a performance on the Saturday Night Live television show. The medical team spent a lot of effort and money so that by the evening the singer's vocal abilities would return to normal.

While on tour in the US, Freddie Mercury found out that his partner Tony Bastin was dating someone else. Mercury demanded that Bastin fly to him and at the meeting said that everything was over between them. Immediately after that, the artist sent the unfaithful boyfriend back to England, and after returning from the tour, he took the cat away.

Collection greatest hits The Queen, released in October 1981, is the best-selling British album in the history of music (over 25 million copies).

Barcelona song from the same name solo album Mercury, released in 1988, became the anthem of the 1992 Olympics.

The Queen concert in Sao Paulo in 1981 went down in history as largest number listeners who paid for tickets (251,000).

Despite the classic musical education, Mercury has repeatedly admitted that he does not know the notes well.

In 1987, Mercury covered the hit of the 60s The Great Pretender ("The Great Pretender"). In his performance, the song received a second life, and the artist himself was regularly called the "Great Pretender".

The artist made a statement that he had AIDS the day before his death. Mercury was positively diagnosed with AIDS four years earlier, in the spring of 1987.

The last song he recorded was Mother Love, which was not included in the Innuendo album (four years later it was released on the Made in Heaven record). The final verse for the seriously ill artist was sung by the band's guitarist Brian May.

The sixth film in the Freddy Krueger film franchise, Freddy Is Dead. The Last Nightmare hit theaters on Mercury's last birthday, September 5th. The soundtrack to the film was written by the full namesake of The Queen guitarist Brian May.

According to the Zoroastrian tradition, a person is buried, giving his body to the vultures - so as not to offend fire, water, earth, air. Despite this, Freddie Mercury was cremated, as British law allows for burial either by cremation or by burial. The funeral ceremony of the singer, however, was attended by a Zoroastrian priest.

One version says that the ashes of the artist were scattered in his homeland in Zanzibar. According to another, it was made near Lake Geneva, next to Mercury's house.

Freddie Mercury is mentioned in Kurt Cobain's suicide note: the Nirvana leader speaks of his admiration for his colleague, his ability to accept the love of the public.

In a biography released last year, musician Rod Stewart talked about plans to create a supergroup that would include himself, Elton John and Freddie Mercury.

Ranked 58th on the list of the 100 Greatest Britons. The list is based on a poll conducted in 2002 by the BBC.

The Queen is the first band to use video screens in concert, the first classic rock band to have more than 2 million downloads on iTunes.

Then, in 2002, Mercury's Bohemian Rhapsody was named the most beloved British pop song in the history of music.