Artist of the Week: Freddie Mercury
The whole world is celebrating Freddie Mercury’s 70th birthday. Here are things you never knew about the legendary rocker from Queen.
{youtube}Xe0gIFxYhrk{/youtube}
In 2011, Google made a special doodle for Freddie’s 65th birthday. It was one of the few times Google made a special video doodle as a tribute to an artist. The launch of the doodle was also to coincide with the worldwide celebration “Freddie for a Day”.
The Freddie For A Day initiative is a celebration of the life of the iconic Freddie Mercury, bringing people together to dress as Freddie to raise awareness and much needed funds to support the work of the Mercury Phoenix Trust – fighting AIDS worldwide. (Freddie died of pneumonia resulting from the complications of AIDS in November 24, 1991)
He had a long-term relationship with a woman in the early 70s named Mary Austin. When he died, he left her most of his money, his house, and his recording royalties.
Freddie designed the famous Queen emblem himself, thanks to a degree in art and graphic design from Ealing Art College.
{youtube}HBfuBRYpwsc{/youtube}
He once owned as many as 10 cats, even dedicating an album (Mr. Bad Guy) and a song (Delilah) dedicated to them critters.
Although a flamboyant entertainer on stage, Freddie was supposedly meant to be very shy in real life and hardly ever gave interviews. He even dreaded playing the piano onstage, He didn’t consider himself a particularly great pianist. As a result, he always dreaded performing Bohemian Rhapsody in concert because he worried he would mess up on the piano in the process. In future years, he started using the piano less on albums so he would be free to dance and run wildly during concerts, but still keep quiet backstage.
{youtube}oozJH6jSr2U{/youtube}
Kurt Cobain mentioned Freddie Mercury in his suicide note, explaining how he admired and envied his ability to perform and embrace the love of his audience. Cobain described listening to Queen at an impressionable age, associating the band with Kurt’s relationship with his father.
Another celebrity who owed herself to Freddie was Princess Diana of Wales. It was said that Freddie used to disguise Princess Diana as a man so she could join them on nights out without being recognized. Comedian Cleo Rocos and friend of the two legends said in his autobiography, “When we walked in... we felt she was obviously Princess Diana and would be discovered at any minute. But people just seemed to blank her. She sort of disappeared. But she loved it!”
Another celebrity who worked with Freddie was MJ. Michael Jackson and Freddie had collaborated on a few songs, but nothing fruitful ever came out. Why? Because MJ brought his pet llama to the studio. According to the biopic Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, Freddie rang his manager to tell him “I’m performing with a llama!”, before giving up and deciding he’d had enough.
There were so many antics related to Freddie, and all of them will always be overshadowed by his talents and charisma. Freddie Mercury was an icon and will always will be. Happy birthday Freddie!
{youtube}Uuqx11UOOP4{/youtube}
#y101fm #alwaysfirst #rhythmofthecity #artistoftheweek