23 February,2011 05:56 AM IST | | Melissa D'costa
We take a look back at the iconic British rock band now in its fortieth year that brought us Radio Ga Ga, Bohemian Rhapsody and I Want To Break Free. Ladies and gentlemen, we present John Deacon, Brian May, Roger Taylor and apro dikro Freddie Mercury
Music knows no boundaries, and no one knew this better than Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of British music group Queen. Combining theatrics and an outrageously flamboyant stage persona with killer vocals Freddie wrote some of Pop's most memorable tunes.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the formation of the music group in 1971, an exhibition titled Stormtroopers In Stilettos: Queen, The Early Years will open in London's East End this Friday on February 25. The exhibition will trace the band's story from their first album to their legendary live performance in Hyde Park, 1976, in front of over 1,50,000 fans, which cemented their success.
Indian connection
Freddie Mercury aka Farrokh Bulsara was born on September 5, 1946 in the British colony of Zanzibar in East Africa to Indian parents. Due to political upheaval in Zanzibar, Freddie and his family fled Zanzibar for England in 1964. It was while attending the St Peter's English boarding school in Panchgani that fellow students christened him 'Freddie'. He soon discovered his love for music, and started taking piano lessons, as he was also playing in Rock 'n' Roll bands with friends.
A man of several contradictions, one of his most popular tracks: I Want To Break Free possibly best describes the demons that Freddie battled throughout his life. His sexuality was just one aspect of that contradiction, and while he deeply loved Mary Austin, his partner of six years, he would soon have to acknowledge his feelings for men.
Queen is born
He met future band members Brian May and Roger Taylor while they were part of a band called Smile. Freddie, a fan of the band, encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate stage and recording techniques. He would later join them and change the band's name to Queen. John Deacon was recruited prior to the recording of their first album.
The release of Sheer Heart Attack (1974) and A Night at the Opera (1975) brought the band international recognition. The latter featured Bohemian Rhapsody, a track that stayed at the number one spot on the UK charts for nine weeks.
Freddie lives on
Freddie Mercury died of AIDS on November 24, 1991. He went public with the news only the day before he died. He passed away at his home in London of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia.
The band's logo
Freddie designed the band's logo using their birth signs: two fairies (Virgo) for him, two lions (Leo) for Roger and John, and a crab (Cancer) for Brian.
Stormtroopers In Stilettos: Queen, The Early Years exhibition will be open from February 25 till March 12 at Old Truman Brewery, London.
