Freddie

Freddie Mercury was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range – the lead singer of Queen defied the conventions of a typical rock frontman. He paved the way for many contemporary artists to have a more confident and theatrical act which indelibly shaped the next generation of pop and rock music. From working as a baggage handler at Heathrow airport to hiding his HIV diagnosis from the public until just before his death, Mercury’s life was filled with adventure, publicity, and perhaps above all, a clear duality. He was both flamboyant and shy, outspoken and intensely private. The illness that claimed his life could never have defined Freddie, and now, years later, his legacy is greater than he could have ever imagined.

• Freddie