Freddie Mercury: 10 Fun Facts About Rock’s Greatest Vocalist
Freddie Mercury is the man with the most recognizable voice in the history of rock music and beyond. But he wasn’t just a phenomenal singer with an incredible vocal range, he was also a showman, artist and a multi-talented musician who could shred on piano, compose operatic masterpieces, and even play guitar.
Although his four-octave voice and theatrical flair made him unforgettable, there is much more to Freddie than just that. Here are 10 fun facts about the man who set new standards for rock frontmen.
1. Was born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar
Yes, “Freddie Mercury” was a stage name. He was born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 in the British protectorate of Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) to Parsi parents from western India.
He was part of the Persian Zoroastrian community and spent much of his childhood in India before moving to the UK in 1964 following the Zanzibar revolution, where his parents worked.
2. Formed his first band at the age of 12
Long before Queen, a 12-year-old Freddie formed The Hectics at his boarding school in India. Surprisingly, he wasn’t the lead singer and played piano while his friend Bruce Murray sang and played guitar.
They played songs from various genres, but mostly covered western pop and rock and roll hits. The band also featured Derrick Branche, who later became a well-known actor.
3. Studied graphic design in art college
After moving to the UK, Freddie Mercury became an art student. He initially studied art at Isleworth Polytechnic in West London before moving to Ealing Art College where he studied graphic art and design and gained his diploma in 1969.
4. Freddie designed the Queen logo
Freddie’s eye for design didn’t go to waste as he’s the one who created the band’s famous logo known as the “Queen’s Crest”.
The logo is a regal mashup of all four band members’ zodiac signs – two lions for Leo (John Deacon and Roger Taylor), a crab for Cancer (Brian May ), and fairies for Virgo (himself). The crest has appeared on album covers and merchandise, making it inseparable part of Queen‘s legacy.
Read: 10 Interesting Facts about Queen
5. Used to sell clothes at a market and was a baggage handler
Before fame, Freddie had humble beginnings and had to earn a living the old-fashioned way.
He worked as a baggage handler at Heathrow Airport and also sold second-hand clothes and scarves at London’s Kensington Market with Queen drummer Roger Taylor who was also his roommate at the time. Imagine stumbling upon a future rock god hawking scarves!
6. Mercury collected postage stamps
Long before being featured on one, Freddie Mercury collected stamps as a child. This is a hobby and passion he inherited from his father. His personal stamp collection is now preserved and displayed at the Postal Museum in London.
The United Kingdom honored him posthumously with his own stamp, making him one of the few non-royals to feature on a UK postage stamp.
7. Prolific songwriter and hit maker
Freddie wasn’t just a vocal powerhouse who sang the hits that others wrote, in fact he wrote most of them.
For example, of the 17 tracks on Queen’s ‘Greatest Hits’ album, 10 were written by him. These include “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Somebody to Love,” “Don’t Stop Me Now,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and the stadium anthem “We Are the Champions.”
8. Left most of his property to Mary Austin
Freddie Mercury had many relationships over the years, but none compared to his bond with Mary Austin. The two dated in the 1970s, and although they later split romantically, she remained his closest confidante with Freddie describing her as his “common-law wife” and closest friend.
In his will, he left the majority of his estate, including his home and royalties to Mary.
9. Loved cats and owned at least 10
Mercury was a certified cat lover, adored his feline friends, and strongly opposed inbreeding for aesthetic purposes.
He cared for at least 10 cats throughout his life that we know of – Goliath, Miko, Romeo, Lily, Delilah, Tom, Jerry, Oscar, Tiffany, and Dorothy. Freddie even wrote the song “Delilah” as a tribute to one of his favorites which featured on Queen‘s fourteenth studio album ‘Innuendo’.
Watch Freddie play with his favorite cat:
10. Released two solo studio albums
Although he is best known as the frontman of Queen, Freddie Mercury also ventured into solo endeavors.
His first solo studio album was ‘Mr. Bad Guy’ in 1985, which is a dance-heavy record dedicated to his cats and cat lovers everywhere. The second LP, ‘Barcelona,’ came out in 1988 and was a collaborative album with Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballé.
Interestingly, his first solo effort came much earlier. In the early 1970s he released two singles ‘I Can Hear Music’ and ‘Goin’ Back’ under the alias Larry Lurex.
Final Thoughts
Freddie Mercury was one of a kind – a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, designer, artist, market vendor, and most importantly cat lover
Whether you admire his incredible vocal range, his design flair, or his love for our furry friends, one thing is certain – Freddie‘s music will echo not just for decades, but centuries to come!