1.We’ll never forget you Freddie…
On 24 November 1991, the world lost one of the greatest rock singers of all time: Freddie Mercury. The Queen frontman was only 45 years old when he died due to complications from HIV, leaving Queen fans and music lovers in mourning. Known for his energetic performances, flamboyant costumes and powerful voice, Freddie remains an icon to this day.

2.Academic achievements
In 1969,Freddie graduated from Ealing Art College in London, where he studied Art and Graphic Design. Although his professional career followed a different path in the music industry, his keen artistic skills led to his involvement in the creation of Queen’s iconic logo. Each band member’s star sign making up the crest – but Freddie didn’t believe in astrology. Mercury recalled: “We decided to call the band Queen and I designed the Queen crest logo. “I simply combined all the creatures that represent our star signs [two lions for Leo, John and Roger; a crab for Cancer, Brian; and two fairies for Virgo, Freddie]… and I don’t even believe in astrology!”

3.Queen’s beginnings
By 1970, the members of Queen were ready to unleash their songs onto the world. Their self-titled debut album was released in 1973, and included their first single ‘Keep Yourself Alive’. During a radio interview in 1977, the band’s guitarist, Brian May, said that he had written the lyrics for the song, but that his idea changed completely when Mercury lent his voice.

4.Queen’s first number one
‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’ Queen’s first number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, although it did not reach the top spot in the UK. The 1979 single, written by Freddie himself, remained at the top of the US charts for four consecutive weeks. In recent years, several music stars, such as Michael Bublé and Maroon 5, have covered the famous song.

5.Biggest paying audience of all time
By the early 80s, Freddie and the rest of Queen were already rock megastars across most of the planet, so they embarked on a South American tour called The Game in 1981. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Mercury and fellow Queen members gave a concert to a 250,000 people crowd, setting a new world record at the time for the biggest paying audience at the time.

6.Iconic Live Aid performance
Perhaps the most fondly remembered Freddie Mercury concert performance took place during 1985’s charity gig Live Aid at Wembley Stadium, London. In 2005, Queen’s 21-minute live performance was voted as the greatest in rock history by a group of 60 people consisting of music stars, prominent figures within the music industry and journalists.

7.Going solo
That same year, 1985, Freddie reached a new musical milestone, releasing his debut solo album ‘Mr. Bad Guy’, while Queen were on hiatus from recording. The album features Mercury’s iconic track ‘Living On My Own’, the video of which shows footage of his 35th birthday party at a Munich nightclub. Freddie lived in the German city for some years in the 80s.

8.Freddie Mercury did not only reach many milestones during his lifetime, but these also continued after his tragic passing. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame, in 2001, 2003 and 2004, respectively.

9.Freddie for a day
Another high distinction that Freddie received after his death was given in 2010 when The Mercury Phoenix Trust, founded by Brian May and Roger Taylor, established an annual initiative called Freddie For A Day, which aims to preserve the fantastic singer’s life, work and legacy.

10.Immortalised in a film
The Hollywood blockbuster ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was released in 2018, detailing Freddie’s private life and work and helped introduce a new generation to the legend that is Freddie Mercury. Freddie Mercury was excellently portrayed by Rami Malek and the movie won four Academy Awards for Best Actor, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing.

11.Freddie loved cats
Freddie had 10 cats during his lifetime: Dorothy, Tiffany, Tom, Jerry, Miko, Oscar, Romeo, Delilah, Lily and Goliath. Earlier this year, a cat that looks like the ‘Radio Ga Ga’ rocker went viral. Mostaccioli – who can be seen on her own Instagram account @izanami.and.mostaccioli- took the internet by storm by closely resembling the late Queen frontman with the same moustache.

On 24 November 1991, the world lost one of the greatest rock singers of all time: Freddie Mercury.
The Queen frontman was only 45 years old when he died due to complications from HIV, leaving Queen fans and music lovers in mourning.
Known for his energetic performances, flamboyant costumes and powerful voice, Freddie remains an icon to this day.