1991 – Freddie Mercury dies aged 45
Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara; September 5, 1946), was a British singer, songwriter, record producer, and lead vocalist of the rock band Queen. Regarded as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock music, he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range. Mercury defied the conventions of a rock frontman, with his highly theatrical style influencing the artistic direction of Queen. Born in Zanzibar to Parsi-Indian parents, he attended English-style boarding schools in India from the age of eight and returned to Zanzibar after secondary school. In 1964, his family fled the Zanzibar Revolution, moving to Middlesex, England. Having studied and written music for years, he formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Mercury wrote numerous hits for Queen, including ‘Killer Queen’, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ ‘Somebody to Love’, ‘We Are the Champions’, ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’, and ‘Crazy Little Thing Called Love’. His charismatic stage performances often saw him interact with the audience, as displayed at the 1985 Live Aid concert. Mercury died at age 45 due to complications from AIDS. He confirmed the day before his death that he had contracted the disease, having been diagnosed in 1987. Mercury had continued to record with Queen following his diagnosis, and he was posthumously featured on the band’s final album, Made in Heaven (1995). In 1992, his tribute concert was held at Wembley Stadium. His career with Queen was dramatized in the 2018 biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
-Wikipedia