Freddie Mercury Wrote Bohemian Rhapsody In Bed
Freddie often had moments of inspiration that would wake him up in his sleep, so he used a piano as the headboard of his bed.
He would wake up in the middle of the night with a tune in mind, and he would immediately sit up, turn around, and get his musical genius out regardless of what hour of the night or early morning it was. This is how the legendary masterpiece, 'Bohemian Rhapsody', was created.
Freddie Took The Meaning Of Bohemian Rhapsody To The Grave
He said: "Bohemian Rhapsody didn’t just come out of thin air. I did a bit of research, although it was tongue-in-cheek and it was a mock opera. Why not? ‘I think people should just listen to it, think about it, and then make up their own minds as to what it says to them."
Guitarist Brian May seemed to suggest this when he said in an interview about the song: "Freddie was a very complex person: flippant and funny on the surface, but he concealed insecurities and problems in squaring up his life with his childhood. He never explained the lyrics, but I think he put a lot of himself into that song."
His Best Friend, Mary Austin
He had a long-term relationship with a girl in the early 70s named Mary Austin, who became his closest friend.
When he died at the age of 45 in 1991, he left her most of his money, his house, and his recording royalties.
He Was Born In Zanzibar
Mercury was born in Stone Town, Zanzibar which is now Tanzania.
His family moved there so that his dad could continue his career at the British Colonial Office. He grew up between Zanzibar and India before moving to Middlesex, England when he was a teenager.
Freddie Was A Graphic Artist Too
Freddie received his degree in art and graphic design from Ealing Art College. He was more than just the face of Queen, but he designed their brand emblem as well.
The crest he designed for the band is made of the zodiac signs of the whole band—two Leo lions for John Deacon and Roger Taylor, a Cancer crab for Brian May, and two fairies to represent Freddie's Virgo sign. The "Q" and the crown represent the band name, of course, and a phoenix protects the whole thing. He spent quite a bit of time finding the right meaning and look that brought them all even closer together.
He Revealed He Had AIDS The Day Before He Died
Mercury and his manager issued a statement confirming that he had AIDS the very day before he died. It had been widely speculated for a couple of years due to his famished appearance and Queen's sudden lack of touring.
Some people were very upset by this delayed statement, saying that an earlier announcement could have raised a vast amount of money for the cause, but again, Freddie was a very mysterious person with a flamboyant stage presence, and the unfortunate news would've stepped on both spectrums of his personality.
Before He Was A Rock God, He Was A Baggage Handler
Long before he became one of the most celebrated singers in music history, Mercury held a slightly less glamorous position: baggage handler at Heathrow Airport.
To celebrate Mercury's 72nd birthday, several of British Airways' Heathrow baggage handlers took time out of their day on September 5, 2018, to entertain travelers with a choreographed tribute to their former co-worker.