{"title":"Freddie Mercury","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFreddie Mercury, best known as the lead singer of the popular British rock group Queen, was born on September 5, 1946 in Stone Town, Zanzibar. He passed away on November 24, 1991 in Kensington, London at the age of 45. Born as Farrokh Pluto Bulsara to Parsi parents Bomi and Jer Bulsara, Freddie attended St. Peter's boarding school near Bombay where he formed his first school band called \"The Hectics\" and played piano.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt the age of 17, Freddie and his family fled to England during the Zanzibar revolution. He then pursued studies in art design while forming bands such as \"Ibex\" (later renamed to \"Wreckage\") and \"Sour Milk Sea\". In 1970, he met Brian May and Roger Taylor who were part of a band called Smile. Taking charge, Freddie changed their name to Queen and designed the band's logo using his art design education. He also changed his name to Frederick Mercury by deed poll.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA flamboyant performer on stage and a talented songwriter off stage, Freddie's iconic song \"Bohemian Rhapsody\" propelled Queen to superstardom. Despite taking a break from the band in the late 1970s and early 1980s for a solo career, Freddie continued recording with Queen even after being diagnosed with HIV in 1987.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"never-boring","title":"Never Boring","description":"\u003cp\u003eBrand new compilation of Freddie’s greatest solo songs. Includes the previously unreleased track \u003ci\u003eTime Waits For No One.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Boxset features 3CD + DVD + Blu-ray. CD1: Never Boring. CD2: Mr. Bad Guy (Special Edition). CD3: Barcelona (Special Edition). DVD \/ Blu-ray: (Brand new promo video compilation of Freddie’s promo videos upgraded to HD for the first time. 120-page hardback book featuring unpublished \/ rare photos of Freddie and quotes about his solo career and life. Poster and Postcard.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virgin","offers":[{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50383100543307,"sku":"1074740","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50383100346699,"sku":"1074739","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/178a53be-fdd9-476e-89b8-1c2888058383_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726263081"},{"product_id":"man-from-manhattan","title":"Man From Manhattan","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Freddie Mercury produced title-track features the iconic Queen frontman on piano and vocals and Brian May on guitar. The further Eddie Howell tracks on the album are from around the same period and feature cameo appearances from Phil Collins, Gary Moore, Ray Cooper, and many others.  Pressed on 180gram audiophile quality white vinyl, presented in an exclusive boxset including photos, poster, plectrum, QR code (for the Dolby Atmos version of the album) and the story behind the project.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"White LP.","offer_id":50385170465099,"sku":"2196663","price":59.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/Box_Cover-1_6c9de7bd_thumbnail_4096.png?v=1726309292"},{"product_id":"barcelona","title":"Barcelona","description":"\u003cp\u003eBarcelona is a collaborative studio album recorded by Freddie Mercury from Queen, and operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé. Consisting of semi-operatic melodies with grand production, songs like \u003ci\u003eBarcelona \u003c\/i\u003eand the Eastern-sounding \u003ci\u003eLa Japonaise\u003c\/i\u003e are startling in their beauty; the two singers from opposite ends of the music spectrum working surprisingly well off each other. The most classically operatic pieces of the project, \u003ci\u003eEnsueno\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eThe Fallen Priest\u003c\/i\u003e, are alternately gorgeous and powerfully dramatic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virgin","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50402064466251,"sku":"1074745","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50402064597323,"sku":"1074746","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/ebe84d42-2f6c-44f5-92d5-0df4b3e25924_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726530620"},{"product_id":"messenger-of-the-gods-the-singles","title":"Messenger of the Gods - The Singles","description":"\u003cp\u003eFreddie Mercury was a man of many talents and many different sides. The songs he wrote for and with Queen filled stadiums around the globe and have rightly gone down in history, but he also embarked on a solo career that took him from the clubs of Munich and New York to the great opera houses of the world. All the different sides of this iconic musician can be found on \u003ci\u003eFreddie Mercury: Messenger Of The Gods - The Singles\u003c\/i\u003e. Fittingly released on Mercury Records, this box set brings together all 13 of Freddie's solo singles on individually coloured vinyl. From his debut solo single 'I Can Hear Music', released under the name Larry Lurex, through the dance floor-influenced solo anthems of the 80s and up to his collaborations with legendary Spanish opera singer Montserrat Caballe including the timeless 'Barcelona', this is a journey through the career of a unique talent. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mercury","offers":[{"title":"Red | 7\" | x13","offer_id":50489421824331,"sku":"404036","price":139.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/38725dd0-25f0-4ca1-b4f6-587cbded2fb0_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727642641"},{"product_id":"mr-bad-guy","title":"Mr Bad Guy","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMr. Bad Guy\u003c\/i\u003e is the only solo studio album from Queen singer, Freddie Mercury. Released in 1985, during a period in which Queen were on hiatus from recording, it contains eleven songs, all written by him.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAs Queen's vocal signature and creative leader, it was only natural that many aspects of the group's sound would carry over into Mercury's solo work; however, the frontman still does a commendable job of stretching into uncharted territory. The synthesizers of \u003ci\u003eLet's Turn It On\u003c\/i\u003e announce that Queen's typical guitar heaviness will be conspicuously absent throughout the album, while extravagance will be at an all-time high. \u003ci\u003eI Was Born to Love You\u003c\/i\u003e, the album's leadoff single, elevates '70s disco and '80s dance influences to a level of blatant pop silliness that Queen would never dare approach. Mercury also combines his acoustic piano playing with synthesizer-driven backing tracks for the beautifully dramatic \u003ci\u003eMade in Heaven\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eYour Kind of Lover\u003c\/i\u003e, which transforms from a simple lounge number (piano and singer) into a Latin-flavoured pop workout. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Virgin","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50498536243531,"sku":"1074743","price":14.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP - Black","offer_id":50498536669515,"sku":"1074744","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP - Translucent Green \/ 40th Anniversary Edition","offer_id":53656487231819,"sku":"R3414-2051","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/6c739924-a345-4d9d-a073-e9d9074af76d_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727749429"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_f0c264af_thumbnail_4096_a6e04dcc-0571-4000-9f63-8c13f6b5bf3b.jpg?v=1726263051","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/freddie-mercury.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}