'I Won't Be a Rock Star. I Will Be a Legend': Honoring Freddie Mercury on His Birthday

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September 5 would have been the 77th birthday of the founder, pianist, and lead vocalist of the legendary rock band Queen, a Zanzibar-born Farrokh Bulsara, who rose to fame around the world under the alias Freddie Mercury.
With his acting skills, Mercury turned the band's concerts into shows. In addition to his powerful, easily recognizable voice, he impressed with his emotionality, temperament, plasticity, and avant-garde costumes.
The eccentric and vocally gifted performer presented the world with such immortal hits as “The Show Must Go On,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “I Want to Break Free.”
The rock star, who fueled fans with irrepressible energy, cut short quite early. Mercury died in 1991 at the age of 45 from AIDS.
However, the memories of the singer from Zanzibar, who left an indelible mark on world culture, live on. Mercury has consistently appeared in the world's top lists of the most influential figures in rock music, and in 2016, asteroid 17473, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, was named in his honor. The Show Must Go On!
Take a look at Sputnik's photo gallery covering the life and work of this iconic rock star!
© AFP 2023 Jean-Claude Coutausse

A file picture taken on September 18, 1984 showing Rock star Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group "Queen", during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB).

A file picture taken on September 18, 1984 showing Rock star Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group "Queen", during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB).  - Sputnik Africa
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A file picture taken on September 18, 1984 showing Rock star Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock group "Queen", during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB).

© AP Photo / Martin Cleaver

Rock star Freddie Mercury (center, left) lead singer of the pop group ‘Queen,’ arrives with opera star Montserrat Caballe at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday, Oct. 10, 1988 where they publicized their hit song ‘Barcelona.’

Rock star Freddie Mercury (center, left) lead singer of the pop group ‘Queen,’ arrives with opera star Montserrat Caballe at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday, Oct. 10, 1988 where they publicized their hit song ‘Barcelona.’  - Sputnik Africa
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Rock star Freddie Mercury (center, left) lead singer of the pop group ‘Queen,’ arrives with opera star Montserrat Caballe at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Monday, Oct. 10, 1988 where they publicized their hit song ‘Barcelona.’

© AP Photo / Sherwin Crasto

Kashmira Cooke looks to a portrait of her brother, singer Freddie Mercury, during photo exhibition about him at a music shop called Planet M in Bombay, Monday, October 18, 1999. Mercury, singer of the popular group 'Queen', died of AIDS in 1991, but spent most of his childhood in a school near Bombay and has a very large fan following there. The exhibition features photographs of Mercury taken by the world's leading photographers.

Kashmira Cooke looks to a portrait of her brother, singer Freddie Mercury, during photo exhibition about him at a music shop called Planet M in Bombay, Monday, October 18, 1999. Mercury, singer of the popular group 'Queen',  died of AIDS in 1991, but spent most of his childhood in a school near Bombay and has a very large fan following there. The exhibition features photographs of Mercury taken by the world's leading photographers.  - Sputnik Africa
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Kashmira Cooke looks to a portrait of her brother, singer Freddie Mercury, during photo exhibition about him at a music shop called Planet M in Bombay, Monday, October 18, 1999. Mercury, singer of the popular group 'Queen', died of AIDS in 1991, but spent most of his childhood in a school near Bombay and has a very large fan following there. The exhibition features photographs of Mercury taken by the world's leading photographers.

© AFP 2023

British Rock band "Queen" (from L), John Deacon, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May pose after receiving a British Phonographic Institute Platinum, Gold and Silver award for record sales in London on September 8, 1976.

British Rock band "Queen" (from L), John Deacon, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May pose after receiving a British Phonographic Institute Platinum, Gold and Silver award for record sales in London on September 8, 1976.  - Sputnik Africa
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British Rock band "Queen" (from L), John Deacon, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Brian May pose after receiving a British Phonographic Institute Platinum, Gold and Silver award for record sales in London on September 8, 1976.

© AFP 2023 Timothy A. Clary

The signature crown of British singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury is displayed during the media preview for "Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own: The Evening Sale" at Sotheby’s in New York City on June 1, 2023. More than 1,500 items from Mercury's private collection, including costumes and unique objects as well as the draft lyrics, will feature in the eventual auctions on September 6-8 in London and online August 4-September 11. The auction is expected to fetch at least Ј6 million ($7.5 million).

The signature crown of British singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury is displayed during the media preview for "Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own: The Evening Sale" at Sotheby’s in New York City on June 1, 2023. More than 1,500 items from Mercury's private collection, including costumes and unique objects as well as the draft lyrics, will feature in the eventual auctions on September 6-8 in London and online August 4-September 11. The auction is expected to fetch at least Ј6 million ($7.5 million). - Sputnik Africa
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The signature crown of British singer-songwriter Freddie Mercury is displayed during the media preview for "Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own: The Evening Sale" at Sotheby’s in New York City on June 1, 2023. More than 1,500 items from Mercury's private collection, including costumes and unique objects as well as the draft lyrics, will feature in the eventual auctions on September 6-8 in London and online August 4-September 11. The auction is expected to fetch at least Ј6 million ($7.5 million).

© AP Photo / Chris Pizzello

An image of Freddie Mercury appears on screen as Brian May, left, and Adam Lambert of Queen perform at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

An image of Freddie Mercury appears on screen as Brian May, left, and Adam Lambert of Queen perform at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.  - Sputnik Africa
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An image of Freddie Mercury appears on screen as Brian May, left, and Adam Lambert of Queen perform at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

© AP Photo / Shizuo Kambayashi

A bronze statue of Freddie Mercury, flanked by other members of the British rock group Queen, clockwise from top right, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor, looms over Japanese passersby at Tokyo's entertainment district of Shinjuku on Sunday April 24, 2005. The 3-meter tall (9.9-foot) bronze statue of Mercury, who died in 1991, marks the Japanese tour next month of the British musical, "We Will Rock You," at the Shinjuku Koma Theater.

A bronze statue of Freddie Mercury, flanked by other members of the British rock group Queen, clockwise from top right, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor, looms over Japanese passersby at Tokyo's  entertainment district of Shinjuku on Sunday April 24, 2005. The 3-meter tall (9.9-foot) bronze statue of Mercury, who died in 1991, marks the Japanese tour next month of the British musical, "We Will Rock You," at the Shinjuku Koma Theater.  - Sputnik Africa
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A bronze statue of Freddie Mercury, flanked by other members of the British rock group Queen, clockwise from top right, Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor, looms over Japanese passersby at Tokyo's entertainment district of Shinjuku on Sunday April 24, 2005. The 3-meter tall (9.9-foot) bronze statue of Mercury, who died in 1991, marks the Japanese tour next month of the British musical, "We Will Rock You," at the Shinjuku Koma Theater.

© AFP 2023 Jean-Claude Coutausse

A file picture taken on September 18, 1984 showing Rock star Freddie Mercury (R), lead singer of the rock group "Queen", and bass player John Deacon (L) during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB).

A file picture taken on September 18, 1984 showing Rock star Freddie Mercury (R), lead singer of the rock group "Queen", and bass player John Deacon (L) during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB).  - Sputnik Africa
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A file picture taken on September 18, 1984 showing Rock star Freddie Mercury (R), lead singer of the rock group "Queen", and bass player John Deacon (L) during a concert at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy (POPB).

CC BY-SA 4.0 / Unknown author / Freddie Mercury u. Barbara Valentin in der Dt. Eiche München (cropped photo)Freddie Mercury u. Barbara Valentin in der Dt. Eiche München. 1980.
Фредди Меркьюри и Барбара Валентайн в Мюнхене, 1980 год - Sputnik Africa
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Freddie Mercury u. Barbara Valentin in der Dt. Eiche München. 1980.
CC BY 2.0 / Carl Lender / Queen

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock band Queen, during a concert.

Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock band Queen, during a concert. - Sputnik Africa
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Freddie Mercury, lead singer of the rock band Queen, during a concert.

© Photo Public domainQueen (band) members posing on the terrace of Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Участники группы Queen позируют на террасе отеля Sheraton в Буэнос-Айресе, 1981 год - Sputnik Africa
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Queen (band) members posing on the terrace of Sheraton Hotel in Buenos Aires.
© AFP 2023 Anthony Wallace

Fan Kim Hyun-ju poses with a statue of British rock group Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury, after the statue was unveiled outside a restaurant on the northern coast of Jeju on April 21, 2022.

Fan Kim Hyun-ju poses with a statue of British rock group Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury, after the statue was unveiled outside a restaurant on the northern coast of Jeju on April 21, 2022.  - Sputnik Africa
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Fan Kim Hyun-ju poses with a statue of British rock group Queen's lead singer Freddie Mercury, after the statue was unveiled outside a restaurant on the northern coast of Jeju on April 21, 2022.

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