Brian May admitted Queen was skeptical about having Freddie Mercury on board when they created the legendary band in 1970. He recalled Freddie’s first impression as “unnerving,” noting that the singer-songwriter was hyperactive to a fault.
Thankfully, he got a shot from his bandmates Brian, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon, later proving he was a good addition to the music group. Together, they made history as one of the world’s bestsellers, with an estimated 300 million albums.
Queen questioned Freddie Mercury as frontman
Brian confessed that Freddie’s big personality was too much for some people, and they did not like him at first. It was not until their first demo recording in 1971 that their perspective of the late singer changed once they witnessed his talent and dedication to detail.
Freddie would do a score over and over again until he got it right and was always eager to get better, even after Queen became undisputedly famous. Though he would sometimes throw tantrums to get things done, Freddie was a much-needed boost for Queen to reach excellence.
Freddie Mercury was shy off-stage
Unknown to most, Freddie mostly came alive while performing or rehearsing and was shy around people he did not know. He once acknowledged this trait, which BBC music broadcaster Bob Harris buttressed, saying the Queen frontman was a sensitive and vulnerable man in real life.
The legendary singer-songwriter enjoyed a career spanning two decades until his death at 45. He passed away about 24 hours after announcing his HIV/AIDS diagnosis, which he kept private for a few years. He reportedly lost most of his vision at the time and quickened his death deliberately by refusing treatment. Proceeds from the ensuing tribute concert at Wembley Stadium were used to establish the Mercury Phoenix Trust, which is an AIDS charity organization.