15 Insane Facts About Freddie Mercury (Reaction)

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[@lisaargyrou1488]

Wow 🥰 beautiful Freddie ❤️

[@debramoore7513]

Freddie gifted his half mic stand to his roadie “Ratty” aka Peter Hince! After Freddie’s death Peter had the half mic dipped in gold!! 🌟🌟🌟

[@Lilah1754]

“Queen Unseen” by Peter Hince is a good read.

[@Danielik25]

If you want more to know about Freddie, his family and friends watch to Freddie Mercury The Untold Story, very good document, one of the best

[@dianecourtney2724]

I’m totally surprised everyone doesn’t know everything about Freddie. I honestly thought everyone knew Freddie Mercury was not Freddie’s birth name. He was Persian and some of us refer to him as our Persian Prince. I love the idea he had people in his life he could trust. I think he felt slightly abandoned as a child. Mary was a great lover and then friend. She has never divulged where Freddie is buried as Freddie wished. Freddie’s wishes were important and he certainly graciously paid a price in his life for having his wishes met.

[@roverwaters3875]

true, he was persian ethnic

[@etnerd4885]

He was parsi

[@imocchidoro]

People see Freddie and they smile. That's very special.

[@lilang9270]

You should definitely check out some of the queen documentaries, “Days of our lives” and the documentary “Untold story” have a lot of information about Freddie and Queen’s earlier years

[@debramoore7513]

Born September 5, 1946 in Zanzibar!! Freddie’s birthday is Monday! 🎂🍨🎉

[@kendallneason3645]

Farouk Bulsara was born in Zanzibar (now Tanzania). His parents are both from India. His father worked for the British government in Zanzibar. Freddie was sent to a British boarding school in Bombay. The boys there began calling him Freddie. He also took classical piano lessons for 5 years but mainly learned to play by ear. He never had formal singing lessons. He started his 1st band in school at 12 years old. His family and he had to flee Zanzibar due to religious persecution when Freddie was a teenager. They were Zoroastrians. ❤

[@LMTino]

It's been said by those close to Freddie that he could not/chose not to enter a room alone fearing he did not know what people expected of him & did not wish to disappoint, is stunning. A powerhouse on stage and a quiet soul offstage shows. The life he created became a complex one but continues to draw many to his star.

[@sherryheim5504]

Freddie is of Persian descent, his parents lived in India until his father was transferred for work to Zanzibar. Both Freddie and his sister were born in Zanzibar. When Freddie was 8 years old, his parents sent him to an English boys boarding school in India where he remained until he was 17. There was no opportunity for Freddie in Zanzibar so his parents were left with no choice but to send him to India where, due to the expense of travel were only able to visit him once in those 9 years. At 17, Freddie rejoined his parents and sister in Zanzibar were as a family they fled to London to escape the revolution that was going on in Zanzibar. Freddie went to college in London and remained there for the better part of his adult life, also having an apartment in New York and a home on Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Freddie also spent a lot of time in Munich, Germany.

[@michelletammydenney1417]

He IS NOT Persian . He is Indian. Look up the Asian Awards and you will see Brian saying “ I’ll bet you didn’t know Freddie was Indian .his parents were and Freddie was born in India.

[@sherryheim5504]

@@michelletammydenney1417 Freddie's parents were Persian but their families had fled to India decades before to escape religious persecution. So yes, they were born in India, but their heritage was Persian. I am American, but my bloodline is German and French. In that same way, Freddie was Persian. Where was Freddie Mercury born? Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town in the British protectorate of Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania) on 5 September 1946. His parents, Bomi (1908-2003) and Jer Bulsara (1922-2016), were from the Parsi community of western India (The parsi community is a community of Persians who live in India). The Bulsaras had origins in the city of Bulsar (now Valsad) in Gujarat. Freddie's parents were of the Zorastrian religion which has it's roots in Iran (Persia). Zoroastrianism or Mazdayasna is an Iranian religion and one of the world's oldest organized faiths, based on the teachings of the Iranian-speaking prophet ... Freddie also referred to himself as Asian, even though he was a British citizen since he was born in Zanzibar which was a protectorate of Great Britain.

[@lindsaycrellin4588]

Freddie’s mike stand broke when he was with his band Wreckage not in a Queen gig x

[@michelletammydenney1417]

Thank you I was going to say the same thing❤️

[@kathleenohare8770]

There's a Freddie Mercury documentary which Brian, Roger, Mary Austin, his friends and family talk about him, I believe it's a 10 part documentary

[@betseyclark2832]

Freddie was born in Stonetown on the Island of Zanzibar, off the coast of Africa. He was sent to India at the age of 8 to go to St. Peter's school in Panchgani, and saw his parents very rarely until he moved back to Stonetown at age 16.

[@bluebell3720]

mic stand was with Ibex 69 a guy from the band said it wasn't secured properly so when he got hold of it it came away so he kept it as a gimmik!

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

Some of these "fact" can have slight mistakes. Yes, Freddie did have a 4 octave range, and it is very easy to confirm. I myself have made videos demonstrating Freddie's vocal range. Freddie was born in Africa, and went to a British boarding school in India. He was Parsee. They are a Persian/ Iranian community that has lived in India for a very long time. When Freddie was 17 his family fled to Britain, due to the Zanzibar revolution. He had a very interesting childhood. In fact due to this connection, Queen was the first rock music allowed in Iran. Parsees are Zoroastrian, they were prosecuted in Iran by the Muslims, and they received a safe heaven in India. But Freddie was known as Freddie, since his school days. He called himself Mercury, as in the messenger to the gods in Roman mythology. India and Zanzibar were still under English rule at this time, so they were British citizens, and Freddie's father worked for the British government in Zanzibar, he received death threats which is why they left for England. On the next album Jazz, there is one song that is a bit of a tribute to his heritage. Of course Bohemian Rhapsody also has "Bismilla" which means, "in the name of god".

[@bluebell3720]

zanzibar revolt they killed a lot of Asian/indians but were ordered not to kill any white people British/American and they didn't Zanzibar was under Arab rule/ Gov as they had been for 200 years after the Portuguese who had ruled for around 200 years the British had some authority there as a protectorate but not directly well when an Arab Sultan they didn't like was elected they started the shortest war in history that lasted 45m! i struggled to understand the rules but I don't think he was a ' citizen' even though he was born a British subject his parents had British/ indian passports until 47 independance

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

@@bluebell3720 The trouble started because because Britain gave Zanzibar it's independence back. When the British managed the Island, they were able to keep it stable. They held an election and an Arab minority party was elected. The African party which was the majority, suspected shenanigans. They were very unhappy, with the results. They did an initial attack, but more people were killed afterwards as well, there were about 22k (not 100% sure) Arabs and Indians killed, which was something like 30-35% of their population on the Island, those is actually extremely high numbers, it is like 1 in every 3rd person that you know dying. As Indian subjects they were part of the British Empire, I guess that gave them citizenship.

[@bluebell3720]

@@ZENOBlAmusic I meant it wasn't under Brirish rule as India was, completely different they had influence but didn't rule Arabs ruled zanzibar and the Gov for 200 years Freddies parents nationality until 47 was British Indian so was Freddie because they weren't zanzibar citizens being classed as a British citizen isn't that straight forwards i couldn't understand it clearly anyway my understanding is they weren't British citizens when they came to britain

[@michelletammydenney1417]

Freddie was born in Zanzabar India

[@ZENOBlAmusic]

@@michelletammydenney1417 Zanzibar is not in India. It is on the east coast of Africa, it is now part of Tanzania.

[@bluebell3720]

she said he was scared someone would dig him up so asked her not to tell anyone and she didn't

[@bluebell3720]

Piano, he could only stay with his Aunt in the summer holidays she realised he haad a good ear he would hear a song on the radio then copy it she wrote to his parents asking could they pay for piano lessons he had the chance of having a free piano from the college when they were in London his mum said no! Freddie said in an interview, my parents didn't like me doing music that made me know it was right! Roger said he did his back in carrying the damn thing up the stairs! but I don't know if that was when he moved in with him or Mary he used it as a head board! and was completely double jointed so would stretch back and play if the mood took him! I'm sure Mary was pleased! born to love you he chases the woman until the piano takes his attention!

[@thechopperharrispunctualta9885]

he's from Zanzibar , his family were refugees here , they settled in Feltham , near heathrow

[@marciebulsaraorcutt]

RORY, Sometime you should check out some of the videos on: MARC AJAX KZbin channel. Marc uses computer software to visually analyze Freddie's singing voice (like on a graph). There's no question that Freddie had (at least) a four-octave singing range.

[@bluebell3720]

I think a lot of gone I can't find them any way, some I wanted to re look at

[@kathleenohare8770]

The mic stand happened before Queen...

[@deboraclark5791]

His family held from Persia and went to India, his family are Parsi. Freddie was born in Zanzibar Africa, at 7 he was sent to boarding school and only saw his family once a year, he was there till he was 16. Freddie Mercury The Untold Story is really good if you're interested in his childhood especially, it's on KZbin. I bought it but it took me a year to find one, a Japanese man sold it to me and shipped it from Japan, I treasure that DVD.

[@mmaloneym]

Days of Our Lives is a fantastic documentary. Brian and Roger do must of the talking. He was born in Zanzibar/ Farr- rook Ball zar rah (best way to help pronounce. His family was of Persian decent. He actually began learning piano at 7 yrs old from his Aunt. Freddie knew there wouldn’t be open arms in rock and roll of a person with Asian decent. Freddie did believe that fixing his teeth would alter his voice. Please consider doing days off Our Lives documentary in 2 or 3 parts. It’s excellent. Don’t forget his birthday is the 5th!!

[@bluebell3720]

his sister who was 6 years younger and his mother pronounce his given name differently! so I'm assuming when he took on the name Freddie they did as well

[@bluebell3720]

we have no idea why Freddie didn't talk much about his parents being Indian , it's a bit unfair to assume as fact he said his childhood was an upheaval and felt abandoned so I doubt he would want to talk about it in any depth his family sent him to India by himself when he was 7/8 ! and he was bullied alot at school then experiencing the revolt would have been a dreadful experience and reporters were horrible with him it was only a few he felt comfortable talking to and then he kept it simple

[@mmaloneym]

@@bluebell3720 he talked about his Persian decent during an interview with his good friend David.

[@Lilah1754]

@@mmaloneym Yes, he did!

[@bluebell3720]

Farrokh is a Persian name Bulsara is from an Indian town Bulsar when his ancestors fled to India they had to take on surnames

[@marciebulsaraorcutt]

I did NOT know that's where the name Bulsara came from, so I learned something new!

[@bluebell3720]

@@marciebulsaraorcutt I forgot to put it has been re named Valsad

[@Baldrick_dogsbody]

FREDDIE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ZANZIBAR, AFRICA. ALTHOUGH HE DID HIS SCHOOLING IN INDIA. SO THAT MAKES HIM AN AFRICAN BY BIRTH. REGARDLESS OF WHERE HIS PARENTS CAME FROM. FOR EXAMPLE IF YOU WERE BORN AND RAISED IN ENGLAND, BUT YOUR PARENTS WERE FROM SCOTLAND, YOU ARE ENGLISH AND NOT SCOTTISH . SAME WITH FREDDIE, HE WAS AFRICAN. AS THATS WHERE HE WAS BORN AND RAISED. ETHNICALLY HE WAS OF PERSIAN / IRANIAN DESCENT. NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS, THIS IS THE TRUTH.

[@bluebell3720]

CLTCL was their first US No 1 all that work into Bo Rap gets US No 9! ten min song No 1 ! Ratti said Freddie called him when he was in the bath ( raised eye brows!) to fetch his guitar, came out wrapped in his towel ran through it a few times and told him to get Mack on the phone to set up the studio quick with Roger and John before Brian could turn up !

[@MichelleSanGiorgio]

He was born and raised in Zanzibar. His parents then sent him to a private English boarding school in Indis itself. All the shile his family was busy immagrating to the 🇬🇧 UK. Where he returned and loved dearly.

[@barbaraaschwingelswihart572]

Freddie was born in Zanzibar off the coast of Africa. You should do Freddie’s life in Zanzibar. He was sent to India when he was 8 or 9. He attended school there. He was homesick a lot. Freddie was close to his mom ,and all his family. Watch his life story. His favorite cat was Delilah, for which he wrote a song.

[@jennam.2944]

Freddie was born in Tanzania the island off the coast of east Africa.

[@JosephHuntelvisnspiders]

Freddie was prob the first Indian/Persian superstar without anyone knowing it, pre internet of course.

[@kathleenohare8770]

UNTOLD STORY , MERCURY RISING and DAYS OF OUR LIVES are all good documentaries

[@sharonhalliday3180]

There is an excellent documentary with Mick Rock, the photograph of the iconic Queen Ii cover. He and Freddie were good friends. He talks about his home life with Mary, and how he was a" man of his time". Etc. One correction, the microphone broke early in his career, I believe it was with Ibex, and he brought that half mic with him to Queen. He and Roger had a used clothing stall together before Queen. He sold some of his art there, and had done several excellent drawings/paintings of Hendrix, Liz Taylor, Rock Hudson, etc. Some photos of a few of his art pieces are available on KZbin. David Bowie also frequented their stall and bought or were given a pair of boots when David was just getting started. He didn't want to discuss his youth in India nor in Zanzibar with his friends. That was.too personal and kept private. Peter Freestone said he knew a rock star would not be accepted with his birth name Farouk Balsara, so changing it was all part of his path to reaching his goal

[@thechopperharrispunctualta9885]

you thought Mercury was his real name ? 😂 that's insane !

[@bluebell3720]

it is an actual surname!

[@kuntumlaleanqueezer]

Freddie 😍❤️

[@kathleenohare8770]

Freddie changed his name after the song King Rat, in there's a line about mother mercury...

[@kathleenohare8770]

@@bluebell3720 thank you I thought I had it wrong...I knew the king part

[@bluebell3720]

I think it's really sweet they did that at Heathrow pretty sure they wouldn't have had they seen the film! the other workers called him Paki, which he's called a lot through the film! not sure if he was a baggage handler there seems to be a bit of dispute over that he did a kensington stall with Roger then worked in a shoe shop and fitted Bowie with a pair of boots!

[@Lilah1754]

I don’t recall him being called Paki throughout the film. I only recall him being called that once in the beginning of film, by his baggage handler co-worker at Heathrow. Maybe I am forgetting the other scenes where his is called that name.

[@bluebell3720]

@@Lilah1754 When they first perform together cant remember the other

[@Lilah1754]

@@bluebell3720 thanks! Didn’t remember that scene. Only remembered one at beginning of movie when he was working at Heathrow.

[@bluebell3720]

cat- he did a cover of Great Pretender recently there was an anime the great pretender they used his cover but animated it modeled on his actual cats! even had 3 cats singing to represent 3 of them in the music video ( in drag!)

[@DonnaleaSpencer]

I have to look for that one!

[@peggyh8937]

According to Freddie's personal assistant, Peter Freestone, the autopsy showed he had the normal amount of teeth in his mouth. Thanks, Rory!

[@DonnaleaSpencer]

the comments are fun to read.

[@Lilah1754]

Yes, they are!!!

[@beatryczelupa5411]

Freddy was Persian born in Zanzibar , Tanzania.

[@michelletammydenney1417]

Freddie won the Asian Awards hosted by Brian

[@bluebell3720]

the 'Asian ' awards wasn't hosted by Brian! he presented the award to his mother and sister

[@michelletammydenney1417]

Oh excuse me ...... correct👍

[@thechopperharrispunctualta9885]

you need to watch a proper documentary mate , these things on youtube are often not particularly accurate , there was a great one called "Days of our lives" , don't know if any copyright issues with that , was on BBC

[@bluebell3720]

Sorry Rami fans But I hated his portrayal

[@bluebell3720]

cats - 1980 his bf Tony cheated as soon as he went on tour Freddie was told, flew him out just to dump him and kept his cat! ( he may have had HIV from him as he died in 86/ no one knew of HIV/ AIDS in 1980) not sure if I have this right think Mary bought him two Tom and Jerry Joe his ex bought him one when they were friends again in the 80s, he lived with him and was his chef I think Peter his PA bought him one and Jim yes he spoke to them on the phone!

[@marciebulsaraorcutt]

I knew of the boyfriend that Freddie flew out in order to dump him, but I didn't know who it was.... I thought maybe it was the abusive boyfriend who had actually hit Fred (I don't remember the guy's name?), and with whom Fred had a screaming match in 1982 the night before Queen performed on Saturday Night Live. (Which caused Fred to have laryngitis the entire day before the SNL performance.) ....It's NO WONDER that Freddie came to feel that he wouldn't be able to have a "normal" relationship with anyone! (As he had said in an interview: He didn't know who wanted to be with him just for his fame/money, instead of just for himself as a person.... There's NO QUESTION that a big part of what attracted him to Jim Hutton, was the fact that Jim had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA who Freddie was! I guess he'd been living under a rock.)😸 .....It's estimated that it takes HIV/AIDS ten years to manifest after being infected. Apparently Freddie started having problems/suspicions in 1985 (which is when he got tested the first time, secretly)... so, whoever Fred contracted it from, would've probably been in the mid-1970s - Whoever that was?🖖

[@bluebell3720]

@@marciebulsaraorcutt the nasty one was Bill! Tony cheated as soon as Freddie wasn't around he then met Vince who apparently was really nice Freddie wasn't willing to leave him behind when he went on tour! but vince wasn't willing to leave everything incase it didn't work out but he said they had a good time together good memories and ended on good terms he said at first he wasn't sure if he was attracted to him or his motor bike! he was good looking though! then walked into Bill!

[@bluebell3720]

@@marciebulsaraorcutt personally I wish he had been able to stay with Joe Peter said he broke his heart when Freddie passed Jim said he was the only one who could calm him when he was having a panick attack Jim was looking after him and he was chocking! luckily Joe check on him as soon as he got back, Freddie was pointing into his mouth and Joe pulled it out not sure what to think of Jim really liked Joe, when they were friends again he was his chef but also did the tours with him I think he was like Mary a genuine friend who wouldn't have told stories, he could confide in him Joe couldn't cope with them not being able to be a normal couple in public Freddie said fame... stoppedme having the one thing we all need an ongoing loving relationship

[@bluebell3720]

ok so.. Freddie is Persian racially his parents were Bri Indian until independence the following year after Freddie was born 1946/47 this was also Freddie nationality on his birth certificate though he wasn't born in India, he was born in zanzibar Africa but his parents weren't citizens at 7/8 they sent him to a British boarding school in India 7hrs away from their family he hadn't met before they didn't even go with him! he turned 8 on the way! ethnicity Parsi direct desendant from both parents of persians who fled persia (Pars) to India 8th/ 10th century of zorioastrian faith and also of zorioastrian faith when he went to school he was bullied for caling boys darling and his teath and his name! no one pronounced it properly even his mother and sister who is 6 years younger say it differently! so he was very young when he took on the name Freddie when he registered for British citizenship he put his name as Frederick/Farrokh Bulsara and introduced himself as Fred this was allowed in Britain as he was adding a name which he had been known as for years he didn't need to change it officially through deed poll with Queen he reverted back to Freddie as a stage name 1970 1972 he wrote ' my fairy King' ' mother mercury' so used the name freddie mercury as a stage name there is no record of him changing it by deed poll some people just assumed he did

[@susannalavallee2348]

I didn't like that movie because it wasn't factual AT ALL. I didn't think the actor who played Freddie did Freddie justice....he wasn't handsome like Freddie and I wasn't and am not a fan of the movie. I love the real thing, darlings...smile.

[@bluebell3720]

he didn't really practise zorioastrianism as an adult he was taught as much about Christianity , his religion is a very old Persian religion so a lot of believes practiced in other religions stemmed from them believed the three wise men were Zorioastrian priests!? to respect his parents he had a zorioastrian funeral with two priests they have to have people cremated/ buried now its against the law to leave people out on stones to be eaten by vultures ( edit not sure if its illegal in Iran but still legal in India or parts of) which is what they think is the right thing to do they think cremation polutes the fire ( they don't have wkly services like other religions but do have fire temples and the fire needs to keep burning all the time) they dont believe in burial as it pollutes the earth so they probably wouldn't have agree with his ashes being buried but that's what he wanted Mary said he just mentioned it after Sunday lunch! announced oh I've decided where I want to be buried!

[@Lilah1754]

Yes, the 3 Magi that followed the star to Bethlehem bearing gifts, at Christ’s birth were Zoastrian priests & astrologers. Sometimes called 3 Wisemen. Interesting!

[@bluebell3720]

Wiki Following long negotiations between the anjuman societies of Yazd, Kerman, and Tehran, the latter gained a majority and established a cemetery some 10 km from Tehran at Ghassr-e Firouzeh (Firouzeh's Palace). The graves were lined with rocks and plastered with cement to prevent direct contact with the earth. In Yazd and Kerman, in addition to cemeteries, orthodox Zoroastrians continued to maintain a tower until thebut Iran’s dakhmas were declared a health hazard and illegal in the 1970s Unclear but I think towers of silence are still allowed in India or in parts according 2015 article if Im understanding it properly The problem though there's a lack of vultures! So they were trying to breed vultures just for this purpose

[@roverwaters3875]

Freddie was persian, not indian.

[@michelletammydenney1417]

No he was Indian

[@bluebell3720]

Cat theres two stories about this his staff made a cat waistcoat you see in days of our lives, other is that Joe bf had it made, van't find anything to support either story

[@susanengland3919]

These definitely aren't "insane" facts, they're things that any real fan knows. I hate false advertising.

[@thechopperharrispunctualta9885]

the solo albums were not successful , this guy's got that wrong , i remember that from the time

[@bluebell3720]

considering Freddie didn't really promote or tour his solo album No 6 isn't that bad but I'm sure he felt disappointed in that Barcalona album was only no 25 then no 15 in 92 the single was no 8 then no 2 an opera cross isn't going to suit everyone but I love it but they were still the first ones to do it!

[@michelletammydenney1417]

Freddie was Indian Brian May hosted the ASIAN AWARDS And GAVE Freddies mom his award. His parents were born in India as well as Freddie. Freddie was Indian not Persian

[@michelletammydenney1417]

He’s from Zanzabar. His parents were born i India . And they’re religion is Parci . Not Persian

[@michelletammydenney1417]

. His parents were Indian Freddie is Indian and won the Asian Awards

[@bluebell3720]

religion is Zoroastrian a Persian / middle East religion Parsi / Parsee was their ethnicity

[@bluebell3720]

@@michelletammydenney1417 Freddie was Asian so qualified for the Asian awards! at the awards they said bet you didn't know he was Indian! can you say he was ? he wasn't born there, I don't think he was ever an Indian citizen his nationality at birth was British Indian but they had gained independence the following year (edit he took on their nationality because they weren't citizens of Zanzibar) he was racially Persian/ middle East when his parents were born you could only be classed as Parsi if both your parents were of zorioastrian faith and so were you and direct descendants/ both parents from Persians who fled to India 8th/ 10th century the law has changed several ties since then they have different marriage laws.. and have certain benefits and housing so you can't randomly claim to be Parsi so yes Freddies ethnicity was Parsi zorioastrian/ persian descent/ racially/ culturally influenced by Persia and India he wasn't born in India but he was still Parsi but not really Indian

[@michelletammydenney1417]

Of course he was Indian I never said he wasnt

[@michelletammydenney1417]

@@bluebell3720 yes Bluebell I know