September 5th 2006
2 DVD Set “Lover of Life, Singer of Songs”.
CD “The Very Best of Freddie Mercury”.
“Freddie Mercury. A life, in his own Words”, print and audio book. Freddie’s story, told by himself.
Proud Galleries Photographic Exhibition – 8th September to 22nd October, 2006.
ITV and BBC Radio 2 Tributes.
And, of course, a party!
Had singer Freddie Mercury survived the fearsome onset of the HIV/Aids virus which overtook many of his generation, September 5 of this year would have seen Freddie reach the age of 60.
No doubt Freddie would have thrown an elaborate birthday party, something he approached with zeal every year, many of which have become legend: the black and white cross-dressing Munich event; the hat party at home at Garden Lodge.
“Freddie always loved a party,” says Peter Freestone, his personal assistant for 12 years. “So much so, that he would often arrange one, and then think of an excuse for having it.”
This year there will be a party: Tuesday, September 5, fans, friends, and family will celebrate with a birthday and special fundraising performance of the musical We Will Rock You. The evening’s performance will feature guest appearances, script changes, and birthday presents, the presents subsequently to be auctioned in aid of The Mercury Phoenix Trust, the AIDS charity set up by the remaining members of Queen and manager Jim Beach, to fight AIDS worldwide.
The party will not be the only way in which Freddie will be remembered:
September 4th Parlophone will release a CD and special edition package of ‘The Very Best of Freddie Mercury’, with simultaneous release of a 2 DVD box set, ‘Lover of Life, Singer of Songs’, all of Freddie’s solo videos and his story told by close friends.
The Official 60th Anniversary Photographic Exhibition, showcasing rare images of Freddie from both public and private collections, will take place at proud Central, 5 Buckingham Street, WC2N (www.proud.co.uk) from 8th September-22nd October 2006.
Publication of the print and audio book, “I’m Mr Mercury”, Freddie’s life, told in his own words.
TV and radio tribute programmes on ITV and BBC Radio 2.
And, as we approach the date of September 5, 2006, when Queen’s legendary front man Freddie Mercury might have been contemplating his bus pass, herewith a few facts about the man and events in history tied into his birth date you may not have know (a few, from a long list available):
Freddie shares his birth date with:
Events that took place on September 5:
Around the world:
Technology:
In the same year as Freddie was born:
And finally,
Freddie was one of the most technically accomplished singers to work in the pop idiom. In a list of the greatest English language singers of the 20th century compiled by BBC Radio, Freddie was ranked No.10, in a Top 10 which included Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Barbra Streisand, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole.