Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on Zanzibar September 5, 1948, the future front man of Queen got his musical start on piano and was in his first band at the age of 12. Fleeing political turmoil, his family relocated to Middlesex, UK , where he studied art and graphic design in school, Mercury also stayed active as a band member in a string of bands through his mid-late teen years. Queen formed in the spring of 1970 and Farrokh Bulsara adopted the name Freddie Mercury. The flamboyant lead singer of the band he described as the Cecil B. DeMille of Rock went on to establish himself as one of the greatest front men in history before the ravages of AIDS forced him to retire from performing.
Other Noteworthy Classic Rock events on September 5 include...
1945 Al Stewart born.
1947 Electric Flag and Jimi Hendrix Band of Gyspys drummer Buddy Miles born.
1949 Humble Pie, Colosseum guitarist David Clem Clempson born.
1963 The Rolling Stones opened their 4th UK tour.
1965 Rolling Stones record Get Off of My Cloud.
1966 Filming begins of How I Won the War film with John Lennon.
1969 Dweezil Zappa born.
1970 Janis Joplin records Me an Bobby McGee.
1975 Jethro Tull releases Minstrel In The Gallery.
1976 Lynyrd Skynyrd's Gary Rossington suffers serious injuries in a car wreck in Florida.
1981 Bruce Springsteen joins the Pretenders during Pasadena, CA encore.
1987 The Cult's Ian Astbury charged with inciting a riot during the group's Vacouver concert.
1988 Metallica releases And Justice For All.
1990 B.B. King awarded star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
1991 REM wins Best Video award for Losing My Religion.
1992 John Mellencamp marries Elaine Erwin.
2003 Neil Young's Greendale movie premiers at Toronto Film Festival.
2015 Faces finally reunite, but just for 7 songs during benefit in Surrey, UK.
2015 REO Speedwagon’s Gary Richrath dies.
2016 An asteroid is named in honor of Freddie Mercury on his 70th birthday.
2018 Neil Finn and Mike Campbell debut in Fleetwood Mac when the band does two songs on the Ellen Degeneris Show.
2019 Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section guitarist Jimmy Johnson dies at 76.
