Presence, talent, a man of excess and excess, died on November 24, 1991
Thirty years ago, on November 24, 1991, Freddie Mercury, singer and frontman of Queen, passed away in London, protagonist with his stage presence and the indisputable singing skills of the great international pop-rock music. Born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar on 5 September 1946, the son of Indian Parsis diplomats, Mercury lives in India and then settles in England. After commuting to various musical groups finds its path, but also its artistic and emotional ‘stability’ alongside guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, bassist John Deacon. They decide to call themselves ‘Queen’, record the first albums welcomed by critics and audiences. Success and international fame come with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ crowned one of the best songs of all time.
As a member of Queen he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, as a single artist he joined the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2008, the US magazine Rolling Stone crowned him among the best one hundred singers of all time, while the following year he took first place among the rock voices for Classic Rock. A career on the rise for Freddie Mercury and Queen. They would never stop. Undoubtedly for the historic English group Freddie Mercury is thesymbolic and iconic image. Not only for her charisma and overwhelming personality, but also for her look. Sequins and ostrich feathers, excesses, excess, emphasis, for this reason perhaps loved by the gay world. He wrote hit songs, applauded, acclaimed (Crazy Little Thing Called Love, Killer Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now, Somebody to Love, We are the Champions). A brief parenthesis, in the 80s as a soloist, with the release of two albums, Mr. Bad Guy and Barcelona, the latter in collaboration with the Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballè. The triumphs with Queen follow one another, albums, concerts but also events such as Live Aid (13 July 1985) organized by Bob Geldof in favor of the Ethiopian population and the double concert, also at the Wembley stadium, entered by force in the history of rock ( 1986).
A crucial year 1986. Freddie Mercury turns out to be HIV-positive, then falls ill with AIDS. The news is kept secret. Only the closest people and closest colleagues are aware of your illness. But the great singer wants to continue working, traveling, composing. As if life continued without any obstacles. One more incentive not to give up. Confidentiality lasts a very short time. The rumors spread. And Freddie Mercury himself on November 22, 1991 will officially give the news. “For my friends, for fans all over the world, it is right to finally know the truth – he will say -. And I hope that everyone will join me, my doctors in the fight against this terrible disease”. It will die after just over 24 hours.
FROM BIBA TO THE ICONIC TANK TOP, MERCURY PIONEER FASHION – At the beginning there was Biba, the historic English brand particularly in vogue between the 60s and 70s, long hair and t-shirts. A sober look for Freddie Mercury, almost unrecognizable at the beginning of his career that he will change from decade to decade, becoming the spearhead of an exhibited, lush, colorful and much imitated fashion style. A ‘cross-border’ fashion on the boundaries between masculine and feminine in a historical period in which there was no talk of Zan ddl, when Achille Lauro and the Maneskins were not yet born. In short, the frontman of Queen is a pioneer. Still long hair, nail polish and sinful eyes made up in the 70s. She wore sequined bodysuits and tight jumpsuits, capes ‘stolen’ from the haute couture collections of those fabulous seasons.
In the 80s still a metamorphosis. Freddie Mercury cuts his hair, but grows his mustache, prefers an apparently more ‘macho’ look, leather clothing and accessories, biker-style trousers and nails, almost always worn bare-chested, military jackets with maxi and shoulder pads. fringes), but also white trousers and tank tops (cleared as a garment and became a legend on July 13, 1985 at the Live Aid Freddie Mercury concert). A look much loved by homosexuals of the time, that ‘Castro clone’ which took its name from the gay district of San Francisco.
The last outfit at Wembley Stadium in 1986. White tight pants with two colored stripes (red and gold), low-cut white t-shirt and a yellow jacket. And a grand finale. Freddie Mercury with cape, fur and crown. The one, true king. Also imitated by haute couture. Olivier Rousteing for Balmain, Andrea Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood or Gucci the ‘transvestite’ lover brand, while Hedi Slimane for Celine drew inspiration from the leather jackets worn by the rock star in the 80s, Saint Laurent from the leather capes with ruffles. Still a source of inspiration Freddie Mercury. A soul and a style, not only musical, immortal.
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