Queen's Mercury remembered 20 years on
- 12 years ago
EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
He once said he didn't want to be a star, he wanted to be a legend.
Two decades since his untimely death of Aids, it seems Queen frontman Freddie Mercury did just that.
The music and celebrity of one of the greatest showmen Britain has ever produced is very much alive today.
The band wrote and recorded such hits as "Who Wants To Live Forever?", "We Will Rock You", and "Bohemian Rhapsody".
20 years ago on November 27, 1991 Mercury was laid to rest.
He died at the age of 45, one day after finally admitting he had Aids.
The outpouring of grief was evident in the floral tributes that were paid to the singer from fans and those in the record industry - Elton John, Dave Clark and Queen guitarist Brian May.
Last month, May and drummer Roger Taylor, the surviving members of the band, collected an "Icons" award from the American organisation BMI - or Broadcast Music Inc.
They were given an award for their songwriting which according to the organisation inspired a generation of music makers.
SOUNDBITE: Brian Man, Queen Guitarist, saying (English):
"We were boys who got to live out our dreams and Freddie was exceptional, there's no doubt about it."
SOUNDBITE: Roger Taylor, Queen Drummer, saying (English):
"It's amazing really considering we lost Freddie twenty years ago. It's great to still be sort of part of the wallpaper."
But Mercury's legend is living on in the form of an upcoming biopic.
Screenwriter Peter Morgan who penned "The Last King of Scotland" and "The Queen" will turn his hands at the rock genre.
And playing the irreverent frontman will be "Borat" and "Bruno" star Sacha Baron Cohen.
The surviving members of Queen will oversee the musical content of the film which will feature both original Queen music and Mercury solo music.
Cindy Martin, Reuters
He once said he didn't want to be a star, he wanted to be a legend.
Two decades since his untimely death of Aids, it seems Queen frontman Freddie Mercury did just that.
The music and celebrity of one of the greatest showmen Britain has ever produced is very much alive today.
The band wrote and recorded such hits as "Who Wants To Live Forever?", "We Will Rock You", and "Bohemian Rhapsody".
20 years ago on November 27, 1991 Mercury was laid to rest.
He died at the age of 45, one day after finally admitting he had Aids.
The outpouring of grief was evident in the floral tributes that were paid to the singer from fans and those in the record industry - Elton John, Dave Clark and Queen guitarist Brian May.
Last month, May and drummer Roger Taylor, the surviving members of the band, collected an "Icons" award from the American organisation BMI - or Broadcast Music Inc.
They were given an award for their songwriting which according to the organisation inspired a generation of music makers.
SOUNDBITE: Brian Man, Queen Guitarist, saying (English):
"We were boys who got to live out our dreams and Freddie was exceptional, there's no doubt about it."
SOUNDBITE: Roger Taylor, Queen Drummer, saying (English):
"It's amazing really considering we lost Freddie twenty years ago. It's great to still be sort of part of the wallpaper."
But Mercury's legend is living on in the form of an upcoming biopic.
Screenwriter Peter Morgan who penned "The Last King of Scotland" and "The Queen" will turn his hands at the rock genre.
And playing the irreverent frontman will be "Borat" and "Bruno" star Sacha Baron Cohen.
The surviving members of Queen will oversee the musical content of the film which will feature both original Queen music and Mercury solo music.
Cindy Martin, Reuters