Thirty years ago the legendary Freddie Mercury, voice of Queen, died
Struck down by AIDS at the age of 45, he had announced his illness to the world less than 48 hours earlier
Freddie Mercury, iconic rock star and front man of Queen, one of the most explosive, transgressive and courageous ever seen on stage, died thirty years ago in London.
One of the most famous victims of AIDS, who killed him at the age of 45 in his London residence when HIV positivity was still a death sentence.
His real name was Farrock Bulsara: born in Zanzibar, he had Parsian and Indian ancestry. With his band, along with Brian May, John Deacon and Roger Taylor he had found the synthesis of his personality as a rocker in love with opera but who, raised in the 60s and formed in the 70s, loved Jimi Hendrix, Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, Liza Minnelli, David Bowie.
He loved to mix genres, was capable of brilliant insights like Bohemian Rapsody and left behind a long, impressive series of hits: from "We Are The Champions" to "Radio Ga Ga", from "Love of My Life" to "Under Pressure ", from" Somebody To Love "to" Love of My Life ", from" Crazy Little Thing Called Love "to" WeWill Rock You ", to name a few.
An important weapon of success was his theatricality, as well as extraordinary vocal skills and talent as a pianist. Despite his immense ego, he was also a troubled and insecure man.
He tried it solo, failing, away from Queen he lost the magic. A reckless life full of excesses, challenging his frailties has become a myth.
On November 22, 1991 he wrote a statement announcing his illness, delivered to the media the following day: "Following the disparate conjectures circulated by the press in the last two weeks, I wish to confirm that I tested HIV positive and that I contracted AIDS" , he wrote. “I have found it appropriate to keep this information private to this day to protect the privacy of those around me. However, the time has come to let my friends and fans know the truth and I hope they will join me, my doctors and those around the world in the fight against this terrible disease ”. After just over 24 hours, on November 24 at 18.48, he died at the age of 45 of bronchopneumonia aggravated by complications related to AIDS.
But he continues to live thanks to his art, just think of the sensational success of "Bohemian Rapsody", the film about the history of Queen that won four Oscars and grossed a billion.
(Unioneonline / L)
