Search icon

Music

24th Nov 2016

RIP Freddie Mercury: 15 pictures of the greatest showman on earth

Rich Cooper

Freddie Mercury died on Sunday 24th November 1991 due to complications from AIDS.

He had been unwell for some time, but despite the toll the illness took on his body, he kept working, and even in the face of constant tabloid speculation about his well-being, remained a fiercely private individual. He issued a public statement on 23rd November acknowledging that he had AIDS and encouraged the fight against it. He died the next day.

It’s been 25 years since his death, since the world lost one of its greatest songwriters and showmen. We remember his life as he lived it: free, full of energy, good humour and charisma. There’ll never be another Freddie Mercury.

1.

3rd September 1984: British rock group Queen in concert with singer Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991) and guitarist Brian May. (Photo by Rogers/Express/Getty Images)

Photo: Rogers / Express / Getty Images

2.

British stadium rock group Queen on stage, with lead singer Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991) in the foreground. Original Publication: People Disc - HU0462 (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)
Photo: Express Newspapers / Getty Images

3.

Freddie_Mercury_performing_in_New_Haven,_CT,_November_1977

Photo: Carl Lender

4.

8805501230_00d39c1c8a_o

Photo: nico7martin

5.

1984: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

6.

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) shaving his moustache, 12th April 1984. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images)

Photo: Steve Wood / Express / Getty Images

7.

circa 1980: Lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) in concert during the group's British tour. He revealed in November of 1991 that he was suffering from AIDS and died with 48 hours of announcing that he was ill. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images

8.

GettyImages-3140196

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images

9.

GettyImages-130308683

Photo: Colin Davey / Evening Standard / Getty Images

10.

Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) in concert with his hard rock group Queen, June 1977. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty Images

11.

Freddie Mercury (1946-1991), singer with Queen, standing in front of a drumkit as he sings into a microphone on stage during a live concert performance by the band at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom, on 5 June 1982. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Photo: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

12.

1982: Rock singer Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), of the popular British group Queen, has his moustache groomed. (Photo by Steve Wood/Express/Getty Images)

Photo: Steve Wood / Express / Getty Images

13.

May 1978: Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), singer with popular British rock group Queen, on stage with the band at the first of three sell-out nights at London's Wembley Arena, May 1972. (Photo by Gary Merrin/Keystone/Getty Images)

Photo: Gary Merrin / Keystone / Getty Images

14.

circa 1975: Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991), lead singer of 70s hard rock quartet Queen, in concert during the group's British tour. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images

15.

British rock group Queen in concert, from left to right; Freddie Mercury (Frederick Bulsara, 1946 - 1991), John Deacon, and Brian May. Original Publication: People Disc - HU0463 (Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images)

Photo: Express Newspapers / Getty Images