We Will Rock You: The Life And Times Of Freddie Mercury

The world has a lot to thank Queen, and especially Freddie Mercury, for. He showed us that there aren’t any rules in music while also giving us some of the most beloved sing-along songs and anthems ever recorded. There’s a reason that he’s considered as one of the most engaging and admired performers of all time. With his flamboyant performances, unique style, and his refusal to conform to social and musical norms, he changed music as we know it. He was so captivating that even other musicians (then and now) were some of his biggest fans. Learn about Freddie Mercury’s rise to fame, his outlook on music, and what made him one of the most respected musicians of our time.

It was clear from a young age that Mercury had an ear for music.

Born In Zanzibar

Photo Credits: Richard E. Aaron/Redferns

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Stone Town in the British protectorate of the Zanzibar (which is now part of Tanzania). His parents were Parsis from the then-province of Bombay Presidency in British India. Growing up, Mercury practiced the Zoroastrian religion and began playing the piano when he was seven years old.

In 1954, when he was eight years old, he was sent to St. Peter’s School, a British-style boarding school for boys in Panchgani, what is now Mumbai. There, he continued to study and practice piano, developing a passion for music that would follow him for the rest of his life.