freddie mercury farrokh bulsara biography

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury is one of the rock world’s most versatile and engaging performers as the lead singer of Queen. He is best known for his mock operatic masterpiece, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was also the title of a 2018 biopic on the performer’s life.

Who Was Freddie Mercury?

Freddie Mercury was a singer-songwriter and musician whose music reached the top of U.S. and British charts in the 1970s and 1980s. As the frontman of Queen, Mercury was one of the most talented and innovative singers of the rock era. Born Farrokh Bulsara in Tanzania, Mercury studied piano in boarding school in India, then befriended numerous musicians at London's Ealing College of Art. Mercury died of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia on November 24, 1991, at age 45.

Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in Zanzibar. Mercury's parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, were Parsees, or followers of the Zoroastrian religion whose ancestors came from Persia. After Bomi and Jer married, they moved to Zanzibar, Tanzania, where Bomi worked as a cashier for the British government's High Court. The family lived a fairly affluent life, with a nanny and other domestic workers. Mercury's sister, Kashmira, was born in 1952.

At the age of 8, Mercury's parents sent him to a boarding school in Bombay (now Mumbai), India, where he studied piano and spent his free time with his aunt and grandparents. It was not long before the charismatic young man joined his first band, the Hectics. In 1963, Mercury returned to Zanzibar.

Following a bloody revolution on the islands in 1964, the family fled to London. Mercury attended the Ealing College of Art and befriended a number of musicians.

In 1969, Mercury joined a group called Ibex as their lead singer. He played with a few other bands before joining forces with his future Queen bandmates.

Teeth and Vocal Range

Mercury was born with four extra teeth in the back of his mouth, causing his now-famous bucktooth grin. In fact, his nickname growing up was Bucky.

Mercury never got his teeth fixed because he was afraid it would ruin his impressive four-octave vocal range.

READ MORE: Freddie Mercury Was Part of Brian May and Roger Taylor's Entourage Before Forming Queen

In 1973, Queen released their first album, titled Queen . They quickly followed up with their second album, Queen II , in 1974, which they recorded in over just one month. The album was the first taste of the group's signature harmonies and music styles, including ballads, folk, blues, metal, pop and rock, and included the single "Seven Seas of Rhye."

Queen's music, however, really only caught on with their third record, Sheer Heart Attack, also released in 1974.

With a sound that has been described as a fusion of hard rock and glam rock, Queen had an even bigger hit the following year with their fourth album, A Night at the Opera (1975).

Queen's popularity continued to soar through the late 70s and early 80s with A Day at the Races (1976), News of the World (1978) and The Game (1980). After The Works (1984), the group's ability to sell albums began to wane, although Queen continued to draw huge crowds as a live act around the world.

In addition to his talents as a singer and songwriter, Mercury was a skilled showman. He knew how to entertain audiences and how to connect with them. He liked to wear costumes — often featuring skintight spandex — and strutted around the stage, encouraging fans to join in the fun. Artistic in nature, Mercury was also actively involved in designing the art for many of the group's albums.

Mercury also lived a lavish lifestyle. He loved champagne and liked to collect art, once spending more than $400,000 on a set of hand-painted china. Always one for a party, Mercury threw himself elaborate celebrations; for one particular birthday, he flew a group of friends to the island of Ibiza. The occasion was marked by fireworks and flamenco dancing.

By 1989, Mercury largely retreated from public life. He did not promote or tour for Queen's next album, Innuendo (1991), and rumors about possible health problems began to circulate.

Before his death, Mercury worked in the studio with Queen. These efforts were released in 1995 on Made In Heaven , the group's last album with all the original members. Gone but clearly not forgotten, this collection of Mercury's final performances reached the top of the British charts.

Mercury and Queen were recognized for their contributions to American music history when they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.

Songs by Freddie Mercury and Queen

'killer queen'.

Queen's third album, Sheer Heart Attack, featured their first hit, "Killer Queen," a song about a high-class call girl. The 1974 single hit No. 2 on the U.K. charts, and peaked at No. 12 in the U.S. Unlike most of his other music, Mercury wrote the lyrics before the music.

'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Mercury wrote the song "Bohemian Rhapsody," a seven-minute rock operetta for the 1975 album, A Night at the Opera . Overdubbing his voice, Mercury showed off his four-octave vocal range on this innovative track. The song hit the top of the charts in Britain and became a Top 10 hit in the United States.

'We Are the Champions' and 'We Will Rock You'

The 1978 hit "We Are the Champions," off of the album News of the World , became a Top 10 song in the United States and in Britain. It was featured on a single with "We Will Rock You." Both songs have taken on a life of their own as popular anthems played at sporting events.

'Another One Bites the Dust'

Always exploring new and different sounds, Queen tried their hand at the big music trend of the time with the disco-flavored "Another One Bites the Dust," from their 1980 album The Game .

'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'

Also on of The Game , Mercury and the rest of the band showed their range as performers with the rockabilly-influenced 1980 hit "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," which Mercury penned.

'Under Pressure' with David Bowie

In 1981, Queen collaborated with David Bowie to create "Under Pressure." A No. 1 hit in Britain, the song's distinctive bass line was later reportedly used by Vanilla Ice for his 1990 rap hit "Ice, Ice Baby."

READ MORE: Inside David Bowie and Queen’s 'Tense' Recording Session for "Under Pressure"

'Radio Ga Ga'

Although Queen's popularity began to wane in the mid-1980s, the group had a minor hit in 1984 with "Radio Ga Ga." Pop musician Lady Gaga took inspiration for her stage name from the song.

Solo Career

In addition to his work with Queen, Mercury released several solo albums, including 1985's Mr. Bad Guy . He also collaborated with opera singer Montserrat Caballé for 1988's Barcelona .

Live Aid Performance

One of Queen's most notable performances was in 1985 at the Live Aid charity concert. Simply dressed in a tank top and jeans, Mercury led the crowd through some of the band's greatest hits with great energy and style. He got the thousands of music fans at London's Wembley Stadium to chant along to "We Will Rock You."

For many who watched the event live or on television, Queen gave one of the top performances of the day-long event, which was organized by singer and activist Bob Geldof and songwriter Midge Ure to raise money for victims of famine in Africa. Inspired by the event, the band wrote the hit "One Vision."

Fiancé Mary Austin

Offstage, Mercury was open about his bisexuality , but he kept his relationships private. He was engaged to Mary Austin and had a seven-year relationship with Jim Hutton until his untimely death.

Austin met Mercury in 1969 when she was a 19-year-old music store employee and he was a 24-year-old on the cusp of stardom. They quickly began dating; Mercury wrote the ballad “Love of My Life" for Austin.

In 1973 Mercury proposed; the wedding was called off when he revealed to her that he was bisexual. The pair remained close, and Austin tended to Mercury after his AIDS diagnosis. Mercury entrusted most of his estate and his London mansion, Garden Lodge, to Austin, who later married and had two kids.

“All my lovers asked me why they couldn’t replace Mary, but it’s simply impossible,” Mercury said in a 1985 interview . “The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that’s enough for me.”

READ MORE: Meet Mary Austin, the Woman Who Stole Freddie Mercury's Heart

Boyfriend Jim Hutton

Mercury met Hutton , an Irish hairdresser, in the 1980s at a gay nightclub in London. Mercury offered to buy Hutton a drink; Hutton didn't recognize the superstar and turned him down.

The pair reconnected a year and a half later at another night club. This time they began dating, and Hutton moved in with Mercury less than a year later. Although Mercury never came out, the couple stayed together until Mercury died of AIDS in 1991.

After Mercury's death, Austin reportedly kicked Hutton out of Garden Lodge. Hutton later wrote a book about his relationship with the singer, Mercury and Me. He died of cancer in 2010 at the age of 60.

READ MORE: The Complicated Nature of Freddie Mercury's Sexuality

Mercury died from AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia at his London mansion on November 24, 1991. He was 45 years old.

The day before his death, on November 23, 1991, Mercury released a statement: "I wish to confirm that I have been tested HIV-positive and have AIDS. I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me. However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease."

Longtime friend and bandmate Roger Taylor provided some insight to Mercury's decision to keep his battle with AIDS private. "He didn't want to be looked at as an object of pity and curiosity, and he didn't want circling vultures over his head," Taylor said, according to a report in Entertainment Weekly . The rock world mourned the loss of one of its most versatile and engaging performers.

To honor his memory, the Freddie Mercury Tribute: Concert for AIDS Awareness was held in April 1992 at Wembley Stadium. A diverse range of rock acts — from Def Leppard to Elton John — performed to celebrate Mercury and advance the fight against the disease that took his life. That same year, Mercury's mock operatic masterpiece, "Bohemian Rhapsody," appeared in the movie Wayne's World and made a return to the Billboard 100 pop charts, illustrating its timeless appeal.

Bohemian Rhapsody Movie

Released in 2018, the movie Bohemian Rhapsody , starring Mr. Robot 's Rami Malek as Mercury, follows the rise of Queen leading up to their legendary Live Aid performance in 1985.

Following the movie's release, Queen's music saw a resurgence in popularity decades after their last studio album. The group's song "Bohemian Rhapsody" shot from 87th place globally on Spotify the day before the movie's release to 15th one week later, and it hit the Billboard 100 for a third time.

QUICK FACTS

• Birth date: September 5, 1946
• Birth City: Zanzibar
• Birth Country: Tanzania
• Astrological Sign: Virgo
• Ealing College of Art
• Death date: November 24, 1991
• Death City: London, England

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The life of Frederick Bulsara began on the East African island of Zanzibar on September 5, 1946. 25 years later in London under the name of Freddie Mercury he was fronting the now legendary rock group named Queen.

The son of Bomi and Jer Bulsara, Freddie spent the bulk of his childhood in India where he attended St. Peter’s boarding school. He began taking piano lessons at the age of seven. No one could foresee where a love of music would take him.

The Bulsara family moved to Middlesex in 1964 and from there Freddie joined up with a blues band called Wreckage while studying graphic design courses at Ealing College of Art. While singing for Wreckage, a fellow student introduced Freddie to Roger Taylor and Brian May, founder members of a band called Smile. Smile metamorphosed into Queen when Freddie joined Roger and Brian as the lead vocalist. The final member of the band, which was to stay together for the next 20 years, was bassist John Deacon, who joined the band on 1st of March 1971.

The rest is rock history. EMI Records and Elektra Records signed the band and in 1973 their debut album ‘Queen’ was released and hailed as one of the most exciting developments ever in rock music.

The immortal operatically styled single ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was released in 1975 and proceeded to the top of the UK charts for 9 weeks. A song that was nearly never released due to its length and unusual style but which Freddie insisted would be played became the instantly recognisable hit. By this time Freddie’s unique talents were becoming clear, a voice with a remarkable range and a stage presence that gave Queen its colourful, unpredictable and flamboyant personality.

Very soon Queen’s popularity extended beyond the shores of the UK as they charted and triumphed around Europe, Japan and the USA where in 1979 they topped the charts with Freddie’s song ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’.

Queen was always indisputably run as a democratic organisation. All four members are each responsible for having penned number one singles for the band. This massive writing strength combined with spectacular lights, the faultless sound, a sprinkling of theatricality and Freddie’s balletic movements made up Queen on stage and on film.

Through Freddie’s ability to project himself and the band’s music and image to the four corners of 70,000 seater venues they became known as the prime developers of stadium rock, a reputation perpetuated by their pioneering tactics in South America where in 1981 they performed to 231,000 fans in Sao Paulo, a world record at the time. They also became known as the key innovators of pop videos as their catalogue of 3-minute clips became more and more adventurous in style, size and content.

Their phenomenal success continued around the globe throughout the 80’s highlighted in 1985 by their show-stealing and unforgettable performance on stage at Live Aid.

In the mid 80’s, Freddie started concentrating on his solo career, which was to run in tandem with Queen (“the mothership”) for several albums commencing with the 1985 release of ‘Mr. Bad Guy’. Freddie’s much loved sense of self-parody reached a zenith with his cover version of The Platter’s song ‘The Great Pretender’ in 1987, the video of which recorded him descending a sweeping staircase among acres of identical cardboard cutouts of himself.

His first major collaboration outside Queen was with Dave Clark for the recording of London’s West End musical Time, in 1986. This was followed in 1987 with the realisation of one of Freddie’s long-term dreams; to record with the world revered opera diva Montserrat Caballé. The LP’s title song, ‘Barcelona’ went on to become an anthem for Señora Caballé’s home city and the theme for the Olympics in 1992.

While most publicly recognised as the front man to one of the most progressive rock bands of the 70’s, Freddie defied the stereotype. A taste for venturing into new territories – a trait that was to have a marked influence on the direction Queen would take – took Freddie to explore his interests in a wide spectrum of the arts, particularly in the areas of ballet, opera and theatre, even taking a participating role: in October1977 the sell-out audience of a charity gala at the London Coliseum organised by Royal Ballet Principal dance Wayne Eagling received the surprise of an unannounced appearance by a silver-sequinned leotard-clad Freddie performing an intricate routine choreographed for him by Eagling. In 1987 he made a one-night appearance in Dave Clarke’s Time at the Dominion Theatre, although legend has it Freddie occasionally turned up at the theatre to support friend Clarke’s musical, one night selling ice-creams in the stalls! Freddie would have loved the fact that The Dominion now plays host to the band’s phenomenally successful musical We Will Rock You which has now held the Dominion stage nearly seven years longer than Time’s two year run.

Freddie returned to the studios to record ‘Innuendo’ with Queen in 1990.

On November 24th, 1991, Freddie’s struggle against AIDS ended when he passed away just over 24 hours after he had publicly announced he had the disease. Musicians and fans from all over the world paid their highest respects as the passing of rock’s most innovative, flamboyant ambassador signified the end of an era at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium on April 20, 1992 which gave birth to the Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity set up in Freddie’s memory by the remaining members of Queen and Freddie’s Executor, Jim Beach.

Freddie Mercury, who majored in stardom while giving new meaning to the word showmanship, left a legacy of songs, which will never lose their stature as classics to live on forever. Some of the most poignant of these were immortalised on the Queen album ‘Made In Heaven’ released in November 1995. The sleeve of the album shows a view from Freddie’s Montreux home.

Despite twenty years having passed since Freddie lost his life to HIV complications, he remains in the minds of millions throughout the world as one of the greatest artists we will ever see. In September 2010 (coincidentally, around Freddie's 64th birthday) a poll carried out among rock fans saw him named the Greatest Rock Legend Of All Time, beating Elvis Presley to claim the title, and ahead of David Bowie, Jon Bon Jovi, Jimi Hendrix and Ozzy Osbourne.

September 5, 2010 saw The Mercury Phoenix Trust launch ‘Freddie For A Day’, a major annual initiative designed to celebrate Freddie’s life each year on his birthday and to support the on-going work of the Trust. The project encourages fans to dress as Freddie for a day and in doing so raise funds for MPT through sponsorship. No one could have imagined the extraordinary response which resulted, with fans from 24 countries around the world, from Argentina to Ukraine, seizing on the idea to pay their own special tribute to Freddie.

Some sent pictures strutting their stuff at home, singing into a microphone in their bedroom. Others took the plunge and spent the whole day as Freddie, including one US enthusiast who dressed herself as ‘Slightly Mad’ Freddie and then spent her day at the local mall and then at Columbus Zoo in Ohio with a penguin and a gorilla. Another took a TGV trip from France to Switzerland dressed in a harlequin leotard. The stories of extraordinary and fun days spent come in their hundreds, and as a result, Freddie For A Day is now an annual event.

Taking it one stage further, Freddie’s 65th birthday, September 5, 2011 was celebrated with a major party in London in aid of The Mercury Phoenix Trust, hosted by Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor.

A major Hollywood movie about Freddie and Queen, produced by GK Films, Robert de Niro’s Tribeca Productions and Queen Films is expected to start shooting shortly.

Freddie Mercury would have been 70 this September and as part of the celebrations a Mercury Phoenix Trust produced fan party will be held in his honour near Lake Geneva, Montreux.

Freddie Mercury’s family faith: The ancient religion of Zoroastrianism

Professor of Religion, University of Florida

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Vasudha Narayanan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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In the Freddie Mercury biopic, “ Bohemian Rhapsody ,” there’s a scene in which a family member scolds Mercury.

“So now the family name is not good enough for you?”

“I changed it legally,” Mercury responds . “No looking back.”

It might come as a surprise to some that Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara. He came from a Parsi family that had roots in India and he was a Zoroastrian by faith.

In the world religion courses I teach at the University of Florida, we discuss Zoroastrianism.

Fleeing religious persecution from Muslims in Persia sometime between the seventh and 10th centuries, the Zoroastrians settled in India, where they came to be called “Parsis.”

Like Freddie Mercury, they worked to integrate into their new surroundings. Yet they also stayed true to the values, beliefs, and practices of their religion, which many scholars say had an influence on Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.

A precursor for Christianity?

The Zoroastrian faith is one of the world’s oldest religions, one that could date back as far as 1200 B.C.

Zoroaster, a prophet who lived in modern-day Iran, is viewed as the founder of Zoroastrianism.

We’re not sure when Zoroaster lived, though some say it was around 1200 B.C. He is thought to have composed the Gathas , the hymns that make up a significant portion of the Yasna , which are the liturgical texts of the Zoroastrians.

According to the Zoroastrian tradition, Ahura Mazda is the supreme lord and creator; he represents all that is good. In this aspect, the religion is one of the oldest examples of monotheism , or the belief in one god.

The main tenets of the faith center on the opposition between Ahura Mazda and the forces of evil which are embodied by Angra Mainyu, the spirit of destruction, malignancy and chaos. This evil spirit creates a serpent named Azi Dahaka, a symbol of the underworld, not unlike the Biblical serpents of Judeo-Christian traditions.

Within this cosmic battle we see the tension between “asha,” which roughly translates to “truth,” “righteousness,” “justice” or “good things,” and “druj,” or deceit.

Truth is represented by light, and Parsis will always turn to a source of light when they pray , with fire, the sun and the moon all symbolizing this spiritual light.

Indeed, scholars have noted the strong historical influence that Zoroastrianism has had on concepts seen in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, whether it’s monotheism, the duality of good and evil, or Satan

Today Zoroastrianism has a small but devout following, though it’s been shrinking .

In 2004, it was estimated that there were between 128,000 and 190,000 Zoroastrians living around the world, with 18,000 residing in the United States.

Like sugar in milk

The “ Qissa e Sanjan ,” which translates to “The Story of Sanjan,” was composed around the 17th century. It describes how the Zoroastrians, fleeing religious persecution from Muslim invasions in their Persian homeland many centuries earlier, head to Gujarat, in western India.

Once they arrive, they reach out to the local king, whom they call “ Jadi Rana .” He agrees to give them land if they adopt local dress, language and some customs. However there is never any question about religious faith: They still practice their religion, and Jadi Rana is elated that these newcomers worship as they please.

Parsi history has two versions of what took place.

In one, when the Zoroastrian refugees arrived in Gujarat, the king sends them a jar of milk filled to the top – his way of saying that his kingdom is full and there’s no room for any more people. In response, the newcomers stir in a spoonful of sugar and send it back to the king. In other words, not only do they promise to integrate with the local population, but that they’ll also enhance it with their presence.

In the other version, they drop a gold ring into the bowl to show they’ll retain their identity and culture, but they’ll nonetheless add immense value to the region.

These are both compelling narratives, though they make slightly different points. One extols the integration of immigrants, while the other highlights the value of different cultures living together but in harmony.

Parsis in India – and wherever they have gone – have done both. They’ve adopted some of the customs of the land they live in, while maintaining their distinctive culture, religious rituals, and beliefs.

They’ve also made more cultural contributions than the initial wave of refugees to Gujarat could have ever imagined.

Despite their small numbers, Parsis can count a number of famous musicians, scientists, scholars, artists and entrepreneurs among their ranks.

Beyond Freddie Mercury, there’s Zubin Mehta , the director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; Jamshedji Tata , founder of the Tata Group, the largest business conglomerate in India; Dadabhai Naoroji , the first Indian elected to the British Parliament; Harvard professor Homi K. Bhabha ; and nuclear physicist Homi J. Bhabha , to name a few.

Freddie Mercury’s family were migrants. Their first home was in India. Then they moved to Zanzibar, before finally settling in England.

Like his ancestors, Freddie Mercury integrated into a new culture. He changed his name, and became a Western pop icon.

Yet through it all, he remained immensely proud of his heritage.

“I think what his Zoroastrian faith gave him,” his sister Kashmira Cooke explained in 2014, “was to work hard, to persevere, and to follow your dreams.”

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Freddie Mercury

• Born September 5 , 1946 · Stone Town, Zanzibar, Tanzania
• Died November 24 , 1991 · Kensington, London, England, UK (bronchopneumonia)
• Birth name Farrokh Bomi Bulsara
• Height 5′ 9¾″ (1.77 m)
• Freddie Mercury was born on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, sent him off to a private school in India, from 1955 til 1963. In 1964, he and his family flew to England. In 1966 he started his education at the Ealing College of Art, where he graduated in 1969. He loved art, and because of that, he often went along with his friend Tim Staffell, who played in a band called Smile. Also in this band where Brian May and Roger Taylor . When Staffell left the band in 1970, Mercury became their new singer. He changed the band's name into Queen , and they took on a new bass-player in February 1971, called John Deacon . Their first album, "Queen", came out in 1973. But their real breakthrough was "Killer Queen", on the album "Sheer Heart Attack", which was released in 1974. They became immortal with the single "Bohemian Rhapsody", on the 1975 album "A Night At The Opera". After their biggest hit in the USA in 1980 with "Another One Bites The Dust", they had a bad period. Their album "Flash Gordon" went down the drain, because the movie Flash Gordon (1980) flunked. Their next, the disco-oriented "Hot Space", was hated not only by rock critics but also by many hardcore fans. Only the song "Under Pressure", which they sang together with David Bowie , made a difference. In 1983, they took a year off. But, in 1984 they came back with their new album called "The Works". The singles "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free" did very well in the UK but a controversy over the video of the latter in the USA meant it got little exposure and flopped. Plans to tour the USA were cancelled and the band would not recover their popularity there during Mercury's lifetime. In April 1985, Mercury released his first solo album, the less rock-oriented and more dance-oriented "Mr. Bad Guy". The album is often considered now to have been a flop, but it actually wasn't. It peaked at number six in the UK and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks, making it the most successful Queen solo project. The band got back together again after their barnstorming performance at Live Aid (1985) in July 1985. At the end of the year, they started working on their new album, "A Kind Of Magic". They also held their biggest ever world tour, the "Magic Tour". They played Wembley Stadium twice and held their very last concert in Knebworth, in front of 125.000 people. After 1986, it went silent around Queen. In 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS but he kept working at a pace. He released a cover of the 1950s song "The Great Pretender", which went into the UK top ten. After that, he flew to Spain, where he made the magnificent album "Barcelona", together with Montserrat Caballé , whom he saw performing in 1983. Because Mercury loved opera, he became a huge fan of her. For him, this album was like a dream becoming reality. The single "Barcelona" went huge, and was also used as a theme song for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. After "Barcelona", he started working with the band again. They made "The Miracle", which was released in early 1989. It was another success, with hits such as "Breakthru", "I Want It All", "The Invisible Man" and the title track. At this point, Mercury told the band he had AIDS, meaning that a tour of the album was out of the question. After Mercury told the band, he refused to talk about it anymore. He was afraid that people would buy their records out of pity. He said he wanted to keep making music as long as possible. And he did. After "The Miracle", Mercury's health got worse. They wanted to do one more album, called "Innuendo." They worked on it in 1990 and early 1991. Every time when Mercury would feel well, he came over to the studio and sang. After "Innuendo" was released in January 1991, they made two video clips. The first one was the video clip of "I'm Going Slightly Mad", shot in March 1991. Because Mercury was very thin, and had little wounds all over his body, they used a lot of make-up. He wore a wig, and the clip was shot in black and white. Mercury's final video clip was released in June 1991. The clip, "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", later turned out to be his goodbye song, the last time he appeared on film. You could clearly see he was ill, but he still hadn't told the world about his disease. Rumours went around that he some kind of terrible disease. This rumor was confirmed by Mercury himself, one day before he passed on. His death was seen as a great loss for the world of popular music. - IMDb Mini Biography By: [email protected]
• Children No Children
• Parents Jer Bulsara Bomi Bulsara
• Relatives Kashmira Cooke (Sibling) Kashmira Cooke (Sibling)
• Sings with the top half of microphone stand
• Loved to do a vocal duet with the crowd, especially before "Under Pressure"
• Placing microphone under his belt
• Wide-ranging, multi-octave, powerful pseudo-operatic vocals
• He used a piano as a headboard for his bed and taught himself to play the piano backwards so if a song idea popped into his head when lying in bed, he could reach backwards and play it or record it.
• He had a vocal range of 4 octaves.
• Queen 's performance at Live Aid (1985) was voted the "World's Greatest Concert" in a 2005 poll for Channel 4 in the U.K. The historic gig fought off competition from Jimi Hendrix 's 1969 Woodstock show in second place and Sex Pistols ' raucous show at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1976.
• He wrote the Queen song "Love of my Life" about Mary Austin .
• He penned the hits "Killer Queen", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Somebody To Love", and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". He wrote "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" in the bathtub.
• If I didn't do this well, I just wouldn't have anything to do...I can't cook, and I'd be a terrible housewife.
• I'm just a musical prostitute my dear
• The bigger the better; in everything.
• Years ago, I thought up the name Queen...It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid...It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.
• [speaking in 1974] I am as gay as a daffodil.

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Inside The Life of Kashmira Bulsara, The Younger Sister of Freddie Mercury

• Reading time: 9 mins read
• Post category: Biography
• Post author: David
• Post published: June 7, 2023
• Post last modified: June 7, 2023

Kashmira Bulsara is the younger sister of Freddie Mercury (Farrokh Bulsara), a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and the lead vocalist of the rock band, Queen. The famous brother and the sister were six years apart and together in their own way became successful children of immigrant parents.

So, know all the contributions Bulsara has done up until now for her late iconic brother. Also read all about her own struggles, family, professional, as well as her personal life in the details that are to follow.

Table of Contents

Updated 2023: About Kashmira Bulsara

• Kashmira is the youngest sister of the late Freddie Mercury.
• Both of her parents passed away.
• Her late brother Mercury died of HIV at the age of 45.
• Bulsara currently resides in Mapperley, Nottingham, England.
• She previously married her ex-spouse Robert Cooke.
• She is also the mother of two children with her two kids.
• Kashmira’s Brother Freddie Ex-Girlfriend lives a mysterious life at present.  
• She shared a last-ever photo of her brother’s life on social media.

Quick Summary

Kashmira bulsara was born in modern day tanzania: har parents and childhood .

Kashmira (meaning Beauty of Kashmir; Grape; From Kashmir) was born in Stone Town in the British protectorate of Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) in 1952. Her parents, Bomi (1908–2003) and Jer Bulsara (1922–2016) were from the Parsi community of western India. The Bulsaras were originally from the city of Bulsar (now Valsad) in Gujarat.

Kashmira’s family had moved to Zanzibar so that Bomi could continue his job as a cashier at the British Colonial Office. As Parsis, the Bulsaras practiced Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest continuously practiced religions. It follows the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet Zoroaster.

Much like her famous brother, Kshmira was born a British subject as Zanzibar was a British protectorate until 1963. She eventually became a citizen of the United Kingdom and its colonies after her family had emigrated to England.

Kashmira Bulsara’s Family Escaped War

In the spring of 1964, Kshmira’s family fled to England from Zanzibar to escape the violence of the revolution against the Sultan of Zanzibar, Sultan Sayyid Barghash, and his mainly Arab government. The conflict took the lives of thousands of ethnic Arabs and Indians.

After fleeing Zanzibar, they relocated to 19 Hamilton Close, Feltham, Middlesex, a town 13 miles (21 km) west of central London. Then, Kashmira’s parents along with her siblings briefly stayed at 122 Hamilton Road. After that, they settled into a small house at 22 Gladstone Avenue in late October.

Kashmira Follows Zoroastrianism Faith

As mentioned Kashmira’s parents followed Zoroastrianism. As a Parsee, her father Bomi was really into the ideals of the Iranian prophet Zoroaster, the religion, and its practices.

In fact, both Kashmiri and her brother, Freddie had to undergo the Navjote ceremony, a Parsee cleansing ritual. The practice ensures indoctrination into the Zoroastrian faith.

What’s more, Bulsara claims that her family’s extreme adherence to it needed her and her brother to pray every day. She also says it was because of its principles that her brother, Freddie liked working hard in his life.

Kashmira Bulsara Often Shares The Stories Of Her Brother, Freddie in Interviews

Mercury’s sister, Kashmira, 70, has appeared in various documentaries related to her late brother. Her notable credits include The One Show (2006) , Freddie Mercury: Magic Remixed (2006) , and Freddie Mercury, the Untold Story (2000).

In the meantime, Bulsara often appears in live interviews to talk about her late brother Freddie Mercury. In September 2016, Kashmira attended the unveiling of an English Heritage blue plaque. It was just another homage to her late brother at the family’s former home at 22 Gladstone Avenue in Feltham.

Furthermore, in a 2011 interview on The One Show, Kashmira said of her brother,

“Mostly [what] I remember is that he was very generous and kind and he used to spoil me, so that was nice.”

Freddie’s Sister Opened Up About Tragic Story From Her Brother’s Final Days

In 2021, about thirty years after her brother Freddie’s death, a TV movie called Freddie Mercury – The Final Act hit the cinema. It is also all about the life of a late artist from his rise to fame to his death.

Speaking on the abovementioned documentary, Bulsara told it was too ‘hurtful’ to see her big brother dying after being diagnosed with HIV. She remembered,

“When Freddie would see his own videos, he would say: ‘Oh I was handsome then.”

She added, “That was very, very hurtful….that he knew what he was going through.”

Sadly, the late singer-songwriter died on 24 November 1991 from complications of HIV.

Kashmira; The Last Surviving Child Of Her Parents

Bulsara’s brother, Freddie died from pneumonia; due to complications from Aids in November 1991. 12 years later, Kashmira and Freddie’s father Bomi died in 2003. Their mother, Jer Bulsara’s death followed in 2016.

After that, Kashmira correspondingly became/is the only living member of Freddie Mercury’s original family of four.

Kashmira Bulsara Married Her Husband Robert Cooke

In 1972, Farrokh’s sister, Kashmira married Mr. Roger Cooke , a singer-songwriter and record producer. After tying knots, Bulsara and her husband Cooke moved north to Nottingham to their Sherwood home.

Then, Kashmira along with her husband lived throughout the 70s and 80s in their Sherwood house, while her brother’s fame was constantly gaining new ground. Freddie nonetheless, always made time for his sister. He often visited her and his nephew and niece in their Sherwood home.

Did Kasmira Have Children?

Bulsara and her ex-husband, Cooke are parents to two children, a son named Jamal Zook (Sam) and a daughter, Nathalie . After raising two children, Kashmira and Cooke ended their marriage sometime in the late 2010s.

Kashmira’s Ex-Husband Speaks Greatly Of Her Late Brother, Freddie Mercury 

Bulsara’s former husband, Roger Cooke often speaks highly of his late brother-in-law. In like manner, during one interview, Cooke  said:

He was a normal family member and I like to think he relished the normality of family life that briefly took him away from the sometimes artificial world he was surrounded by. He was a very affectionate uncle to the kids. When it was their birthday he’d do a great big personalized cake and he’d get them gigantic Easter eggs.

Roger added although the legendary singer wasn’t very hands-on, he was very generous. Also, Bulsara’s former spouse says he doesn’t know of anyone from his circles that has ever spoken ill of him.

“Because he was a genuinely decent guy, very intelligent, sensitive, and cultured. He would be temperamental, as artists can be, but he never showed it within the family. He was just a great guy,” said Kasmira’s ex about the late Parsi-Indian artist. Her family regularly attended Queen concerts, including the performance at Earl’s Court in 1977 for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations.

Kashmira Bulsara Is A Millionaire: Inherited A Portion Of Her Brother’s Fortune

The Bohemian Rhapsody singer left a significant chunk of his wealth to his family. He bestowed half of his net worth to his best friend and ex-girlfriend Mary Austin . The fourth of it went to his parents and the rest was to his sister, Kashmira. After the death of his parents, the proceeds went to Mary Austin as wished in the will of the late Mercury.

She Also Made Money From Bohemian Rhapsody’s Revenue

In addition, the $890 million box office revenue of the 2018 film ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ brought quite a sum for Freddie’s sister, Kashmira. She received $25 million from the film’s monetary haul. The movie starred Rami Malek, Joseph Mazzello, and Gwilym Lee.

Moreover, a year later after the film’s success, Kashmira listed her London Penthouse for sale in April 2019, asking for £4.75 million (US$6.24 million). The three-bedroom flat lies on the terrace of stucco-faced townhouses along with London’s Hyde Park Gardens. Additionally, the property facilitates the views of Hyde Park and the Central London skyline.

Kashmira Bulsara Kept Her Brother’s Love For Jewellery Alive

Sister Kashmira formed her collection as a special tribute to Freddie’s love of beautiful things. The late Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame loved the ultimate jeweled fashion accessories and exquisite vanity cases from the 1920s and 30s Jazz era. Keeping that in mind, A Kind of Magic is a book on Art Deco Vanity Cases, which entails details of such things owned by Bulsara’s deceased brother.

Where does Freddie Mercury’s sister Kashmira live now?

As of 2023, Freddie Mercury’s sister Kashmira resides in Mapperley, a residential and commercial area of northeastern Nottingham, England. Her late mother also lived there until her death. Her mother, however, passed away on Nov. 13 at the age of 94.

Her father Bomi is also no more, he died on 26th December 2003, in Basford, Shavington.

What did Freddie Mercury’s sister do?

Freddie is popular as the sister of Freddie. She is currently involved in keeping her late brother’s legacy alive.

How much did Freddie Mercury leave his sister?

As per the source, Kashmira received a fourth of her brother’s fortune, while his parents and then-girlfriend Mary also got a significant portion of the wealth.

What happened to Freddie Mercury’s sister Kashmira Bulsara?

After his death, Bulsara is rare in the media. She is currently living her life in Mapperley.

Source: Celebsuburb.com

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Farrokh (Bulsara) Mercury (1946 - 1991)

"Freddie Mercury" was the lead singer for the British rock band "Queen" .

Farrokh Bulsara was born on 05 Sep 1946 in Stone Town in the British protectorate of Zanzibar (present day Tanzania). [1] His parents were Jer and Bomi Rustomji Bulsara who were from Bulsar City (now Valsad) in the Gujarat region of the then-province of the Bombay Presidency in British India. As Parsis, the Bulsaras practised Zoroastrianism.

He spent most of his childhood in India where he began taking piano lessons at the age of seven while living with relatives.

The family moved to Zanzibar so that his father could continue his job as a cashier at the British Colonial Office.

In 1954 he was sent to study at St.Peter's School, a British-style boarding school for boys, in Panchgani near Bombay.

At the age of 12, he was the lead singer of a school band, the "Hectics". [2]

After secondary school, in February 1963, he moved back to Zanzibar, where he joined his parents at their flat.

In the spring of 1964 his family fled the Zanzibar Revolution, moving to Middlesex, England. As Zanzibar was a British protectorate until 1963, he was born a British subject, and on 02 June 1969 was registered a citizen of the United Kingdom and colonies.

After first studying art at Isleworth Polytechnic in West London, he studied graphic art and design at Ealing Art College, graduating with a diploma in 1969. He later used these skills to design heraldic arms for his band.

Having studied and written music for years, in 1970 he formed the band that would later become known as "Queen". At about the same time, he legally changed his surname, Bulsara, to Mercury, which was chosen for Mercury being the ruler of his astrological sign Virgo.

In the early 1970s he had a long-term relationship with Mary and they lived together in West Kensington, London, England. He said he considered her, his common-law wife. Their romantic relationship ended when he told of his bi-sexuality. They remained friends through the years and he was the godfather of her oldest son.

In 1972 he had his first solo effort under the pseudonym Larry Lurex.

About 1973 he designed the band's logo, known as the "Queen crest". The logo combines the zodiac signs of the four band members: two lions (sign Leo), a crab (Cancer), and two fairies (Virgo) for himself. The lions embrace a stylised letter Q, the crab rests atop the letter with flames rising directly above it, and the fairies are each sheltering below a lion. A crown is shown inside the Q, and the whole logo is over-shadowed by an enormous phoenix. The Queen crest bears a passing resemblance to the Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, particularly with the lion supporters.

Their second studio album "Queen II" was released on 08 March 1974.

He was famously known as "Freddie Mercury", a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the popular British rock group band "Queen", which dominated the music scene from the late 1970s through to the early 1990s.

His flamboyant stage appearances grabbed world attention and he was regarded by many to be one of the greatest showman ever to appear in the public eye. He was born with four supernumerary incisors, to which he attributed his enhanced 3-octave vocal range which made him one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music. Some of their famous songs include ...

As early as 1982 there were signs that he had been exhibiting HIV symptoms.

On 29 April 1985, he released his only solo album, "Mr. Bad Guy" with 11 songs.

By 1985 he began another long-term relationship with Irish-born hairdresser Jim Hutton (1949-2010), whom he referred to as his husband. Jim tested HIV-positive in 1990.

His final live performance with the band "Queen took" place on 09 August 1986 at Knebworth Park in England and drew an attendance estimated as high as 160,000. The concert ended with the British national anthem "God Save the Queen".

On 18 Feb 1990 he made his final appearance on stage at the Dominion Theatre in London, England, when he joined the rest of the band "Queen" to collect the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

In his later years, he was routinely stalked by photographers, but kept his condition private to protect those closest to him.

Near the end of his life, he began to lose his sight, and declined so that he was unable to leave his bed. He chose to hasten his death by refusing medication and took only painkillers.

On 23 Nov 1991 he released a statement which confirmed that he had been diagnosed in 1987 with AIDS. He passed away at age 45 in the evening of 24 Nov 1991 in Kensington, London, England. The cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.

His funeral service was conducted on 27 Nov 1991 by a Zoroastrian priest at a crematorium in West London, England, where he is commemorated by a plinth under his birth name. [3] In accordance with his wishes, Mary took possession of his cremated remains and buried them in an undisclosed location. The whereabouts of his ashes are believed to be known only to Mary, who has said that she will never reveal them.

He spent and donated to charity much of his wealth during his lifetime, with his estate valued around £8 million at the time of his death. He left a Will with disposal details that included 50% of his share of band income to his best friend, Mary, with a fourth going to his parents and a fourth to his younger sister. However, since the death of his mother and father, their shares reverted to Mary, while his sister continues to receive 25%. [4]

As the first major rock star to die of AIDS, his death represented an important event in the history of the disease. [5]

The 2018 biographical film "Bohemian Rhapsody" was, at its release, the highest-grossing musical biographical film of all time.

• ↑ Birth Certificate , Government of Zanzibar for Farrokh Bulsara
• ↑ Freddie Mercury was a prodigy : Rock star's Panchgani school bandmates remember "Bucky" with photo
• ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #2164 for Freddie Mercury originally: Farrokh Bulsara; b: 05 Sep 1946 Zanzibar Urban/West, Tanzania; d: 24 Nov 1991 Royal Borough of Kensington, Greater London, England; cremated ashes given to family friend, private location
• ↑ "How Freddie Mercury’s Loved Ones Share ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ Income" by Martin Kielty & published 11 April 2019
• ↑ Obituary published in "Rolling Stone" magazine in January 1992; "Queen singer is rock's first major AIDS casualty" by Jeffrey Ressner

In April 2022, a life-size statue of Mercury was unveiled in South Korea's resort island of Jeju.

CENOTAPH: Cremated, Ashes given to family or friend. Specifically: Per Mercury's wishes, his girlfriend Mary Austin took possession of his cremains and buried them in an undisclosed location which she has said that she will never reveal.

This week's featured connections are World War II Heroes : Freddie is 41 degrees from Sarah Baring, 42 degrees from Virginia Goillot, 47 degrees from Christina Granville, 43 degrees from Bill Halsey, 41 degrees from Hedy Lamarr, 41 degrees from George Marshall, 39 degrees from Ron Middleton, 43 degrees from Frank Pickersgill, 45 degrees from Mary Reid, 42 degrees from Charles Upham, 45 degrees from Bram Vanderstok and 62 degrees from Waverly Woodson on our single family tree . Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.

B  >  Bulsara  |  M  >  Mercury  >  Farrokh (Bulsara) Mercury

Categories: Vocal Group Hall of Fame | Zoroastrianism | BRIT Award | UK Music Hall of Fame | Songwriters Hall of Fame | Rock and Roll Hall of Fame | Rock Musicians | Recording Artists | LGBTQPlus | AIDS Pandemic | HIV - AIDS | England, Notables | Notables

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Freddie Mercury (Q15869)

• Farrokh Bulsara

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