Freddie Mercury

One of the biggest voices and most dynamic performers in rock history, Freddie Mercury shook the world as the larger-than-life frontman for Queen with his theatrical flair and stratospheric vocals. Born Farrokh Bulsara in 1946 to a Parsi family in Zanzibar, he grew up mostly in India, playing in rock bands from a young age and moving to Middlesex, England, in 1964. He fronted a series of acts before joining Smile—an act soon to be known as Queen—in 1970. Starting with its 1973 self-titled debut LP, Queen unleashed a long string of blockbusters, including “We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” In the ’80s the band became even more massive by dipping into rockabilly (“Crazy Little Thing Called Love”) and dance music (“Another One Bites the Dust”) and teaming with David Bowie (“Under Pressure”). Mercury released one solo album, 1985’s Mr. Bad Guy. He died in 1991 of AIDS complications, but his status as the ultimate rock star—as immortalized in the biopic Bohemian Rhapsody—remains undiminished.