How Freddie Mercury Shaped the Future: A Legacy Timeline
A closer look at the lasting mark left by Freddie Mercury—a timeline of influence.
Freddie Mercury was a British singer and songwriter, globally recognized as the lead vocalist and pianist of the rock band Queen. Celebrated as one of rock's greatest singers, he possessed a four-octave vocal range and a flamboyant stage presence. Mercury's theatrical style defied rock frontman conventions, significantly influencing Queen's artistic direction and solidifying his status as an iconic performer.
November 1991: Gift to Elton John
Shortly before his death in November 1991, Freddie Mercury ordered that a watercolour by Elton John's favourite artist, Henry Scott Tuke, be given to John on Christmas Day.
1991: Increased sales of Queen albums
In 1991, the year of Freddie Mercury's death, there was an increase in sales of Queen albums. What some cynical people refer to as the 'dead star' factor contributed to this rise in popularity.
April 1992: Founding of The Mercury Phoenix Trust
In April 1992, following Freddie Mercury's death from AIDS-related complications, the remaining members of Queen founded The Mercury Phoenix Trust and organized The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness, to celebrate Mercury's life and raise money for AIDS research.
1992: Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music
In 1992, Freddie Mercury was posthumously awarded the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music, recognizing his significant impact on the British music industry.
1992: John Marshall on Mercury's Gayness
In 1992, John Marshall of Gay Times opined: "[Mercury] was a 'scene-queen,' not afraid to publicly express his gayness, but unwilling to analyse or justify his 'lifestyle'... It was as if Freddie Mercury was saying to the world, 'I am what I am. So what?' And that in itself for some was a statement."
1992: Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness
In 1992, a tribute concert was held at Wembley Stadium in Freddie Mercury's honor to benefit AIDS awareness.
1992: "Barcelona" Anthem at Summer Olympics
In 1992, the song "Barcelona" by Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé, received massive airplay as the official anthem of the Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, one year after Mercury's death. Montserrat Caballé sang it live at the opening of the Olympics with Mercury's part played on a screen.
1992: Queen album sales increase in the United States
In 1992, the year following Freddie Mercury's death, sales of Queen albums increased dramatically in the United States, boosted by the movie Wayne's World which featured "Bohemian Rhapsody".
1993: Posthumous success of "Living on My Own" remix
In 1993, a remix of Freddie Mercury's "Living on My Own", a single from the "Mr. Bad Guy" album, posthumously reached number one on the UK Singles Charts and garnered Mercury a posthumous Ivor Novello Award.
November 1995: Release of 'Made in Heaven'
In November 1995, Queen's final studio album, 'Made in Heaven', was released posthumously featuring Freddie Mercury. The album included Mercury's final recordings from 1991, outtakes, and reworked solo works. The cover displayed the Freddie Mercury statue overlooking Lake Geneva.
November 1996: Unveiling of Freddie Mercury Statue
In November 1996, a statue of Freddie Mercury was unveiled in Montreux, Switzerland, by his father and Montserrat Caballé, with Brian May and Roger Taylor in attendance. The statue overlooks Lake Geneva.
November 1997: Monodrama Opened in New York City
On 24 November 1997, a monodrama about Freddie Mercury's life, titled 'Mercury: The Afterlife and Times of a Rock God', opened in New York City. The play presented Mercury in the afterlife, examining his life and seeking redemption. Billy Squier opened one show with a song he wrote about Mercury titled "I Have Watched You Fly".
1997: Queen Releases 'No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)'
In 1997, the remaining members of Queen released "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)", a song dedicated to Freddie Mercury and all those who die too soon.
1999: "Barcelona" performance at UEFA Champions League Final
In 1999, Montserrat Caballé performed "Barcelona" before the start of the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich in Barcelona.
1999: Royal Mail Stamp Issued in Mercury's Honour
In 1999, a Royal Mail stamp featuring an image of Freddie Mercury on stage was issued in his honour as part of the UK postal service's Millennium Stamp series.
2000: Jim Hutton involved in biography of Mercury
In 2000, Jim Hutton was involved in the biography of Freddie Mercury, "Freddie Mercury, the Untold Story".
2001: Induction into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2001, Freddie Mercury, as a member of Queen, was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
2001: Parody in Eurostar Advertising Campaign
In 2001, a parody of Freddie Mercury appeared in the Eurostar national advertising campaign in France for the Paris to London route, along with other British music icons.
May 2002: Statue at Dominion Theatre
From May 2002 to May 2014, a statue of Freddie Mercury stood over the entrance to the Dominion Theatre in London's West End for Queen and Ben Elton's musical 'We Will Rock You'.
2002: Ranked in 100 Greatest Britons
In 2002, Freddie Mercury was ranked 58 in the list of the 100 Greatest Britons, in a vote to determine who the UK public considered the greatest British people in history, broadcast by the BBC.
2002: BBC's 100 Greatest Britons Poll
In 2002, Freddie Mercury was voted number 58 in the BBC's poll of the 100 Greatest Britons.
2002: Mercury's Rolls-Royce displayed at We Will Rock You premiere
In 2002, Freddie Mercury's Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was displayed at the West End premiere of the musical We Will Rock You.
2003: "Freddie Mercury Montreux Memorial Day" Began
Beginning in 2003, fans from around the world have gathered in Switzerland annually to pay tribute to Freddie Mercury as part of the "Freddie Mercury Montreux Memorial Day" on the first weekend of September.
2003: Induction into Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2003, Freddie Mercury was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame as a member of Queen.
2003: Band Members Inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 2003, all four members of Queen were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, further cementing their legacy as influential musicians and songwriters.
2004: Queen's album sales reach 34.5 million in the US
By 2004, Queen had sold 34.5 million albums in the United States, with about half of those sales occurring since Freddie Mercury's death in 1991.
2004: "Bohemian Rhapsody" inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2004, "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
2004: Induction into UK Music Hall of Fame
In 2004, Freddie Mercury was posthumously inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame as a member of Queen.
2004: Inaugural Inductees into the UK Music Hall of Fame
In 2004, Queen were among the first inductees into the UK Music Hall of Fame, celebrating their impact on British music.
2005: Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection
In 2005, Queen received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors, honoring their collective songwriting achievements.
2005: Awarded Ivor Novello Award
In 2005, all four band members of Queen were awarded an Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.
September 2006: Jim Hutton gives an interview about Mercury
In September 2006, Jim Hutton gave an interview for The Times for what would have been Freddie Mercury's 60th birthday.
September 2006: Release of compilation album
In September 2006, a compilation album featuring Freddie Mercury's solo work was released in the UK in honour of what would have been his 60th birthday. The album debuted in the UK top 10.
October 2007: "Bohemian Rhapsody" voted greatest video of all time
In October 2007, the video for "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen was voted the greatest of all time by readers of Q magazine.
2007: Listed in Japanese National Survey
In 2007, Freddie Mercury was listed at the 52nd spot in a Japanese national survey of the 100 most influential heroes, highlighting his global impact.
2008: Ranked in Rolling Stone's Top 100 Singers
In 2008, Rolling Stone ranked Freddie Mercury 18 on its Top 100 Singers Of All Time, recognizing his vocal talent and influence.
December 2009: Model Displayed in Edinburgh for 'We Will Rock You'
In December 2009, a large model of Freddie Mercury wearing tartan was displayed in Edinburgh as publicity for the run of the musical 'We Will Rock You'.
2009: "We Are the Champions" inducted into Grammy Hall of Fame
In 2009, "We Are the Champions" by Queen was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
2009: Star Unveiled in Feltham
In 2009, a star commemorating Freddie Mercury was unveiled in Feltham, west London, where his family moved in 1964. His mother, Jer Bulsara, and Queen bandmate Brian May unveiled the star on Feltham High Street.
2011: Rolling Stone Readers' Pick
In 2011, a Rolling Stone readers' pick placed Freddie Mercury in second place of the magazine's Best Lead Singers of All Time, reaffirming his popularity and vocal prowess.
2011: Google Doodle for Mercury's 65th Birthday
In 2011, for what would have been Freddie Mercury's 65th birthday, Google dedicated its Google Doodle to him, featuring an animation set to his song, "Don't Stop Me Now".
2012: Premiere of Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender
In 2012, Freddie Mercury: The Great Pretender, a documentary film directed by Rhys Thomas on Mercury's attempts to forge a solo career, premiered on BBC One.
2012: Tribute at London Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony
In 2012, a tribute was paid to Queen and Freddie Mercury at the closing ceremony of the Summer Olympics in London. The band's performance of "We Will Rock You" with Jessie J was opened with a video of Mercury's "call and response" routine from 1986 at Wembley Stadium.
2012: Guns N' Roses Quote Mercury's Lyrics
In 2012, during their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, Guns N' Roses quoted Freddie Mercury's lyrics from "We Are the Champions", paying tribute to "the late, great Freddie Mercury".
2013: Mercury's Rolls-Royce auctioned off
In 2013, Freddie Mercury's Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was auctioned off at the NEC in Birmingham for £74,600.
2013: Frog Genus Named Mercurana
In 2013, a frog genus discovered in Kerala, India, was named Mercurana as a tribute to Freddie Mercury, whose music inspired the authors. The discovery site was near where Mercury spent his childhood.
May 2014: Statue Removed from Dominion Theatre
In May 2014, the statue of Freddie Mercury was removed from the entrance to the Dominion Theatre in London's West End, after being displayed there since May 2002 for the musical 'We Will Rock You'.
2015: Billboard's Best Rock Frontmen
In 2015, Billboard magazine placed Freddie Mercury second on their 25 Best Rock Frontmen (and Women) of All Time list, highlighting his stage presence and vocal abilities.
August 2016: Royal Vauxhall at Edinburgh Fringe Festival
In August 2016, the musical 'Royal Vauxhall', which premiered at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London, was taken to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The musical tells the alleged tales of nights that Freddie Mercury, Kenny Everett, and Princess Diana spent at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern in London in the 1980s.
September 2016: English Heritage Blue Plaque Unveiled
On 1 September 2016, an English Heritage blue plaque was unveiled at Freddie Mercury's home in Feltham, west London, by his sister, Kashmira Cooke, and Brian May, honouring him as one of Britain's most influential musicians.
2016: LA Weekly's Greatest Singers of All Time
In 2016, LA Weekly ranked Freddie Mercury first on the list of 20 greatest singers of all time, in any genre, underscoring his versatile vocal talent.
2016: Research on Mercury's Voice
In 2016, a research team led by Professor Christian Herbst undertook a study to understand the appeal behind Freddie Mercury's voice, identifying his faster vibrato and use of subharmonics.
September 2017: Norwegian Air Painted Aircraft with Mercury's Portrait
In September 2017, the airline Norwegian painted the tail fin of two of its aircraft with a portrait of Freddie Mercury to mark what would have been his 71st birthday.
2017: Mary Austin clears the graffiti wall at Garden Lodge
In 2017, Mary Austin had the graffiti wall at Garden Lodge cleared, which had become a shrine to Freddie Mercury after his death.
2018: Military Jacket Named as an Iconic Fashion Moment
In 2018, GQ called Freddie Mercury's yellow military jacket (created by British costume designer Diana Moseley) from his 1986 concerts his best-known look, and CNN called it "an iconic moment in fashion."
2018: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2018, Queen was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, celebrating their lasting impact and contributions to the music industry.
2018: Release of Bohemian Rhapsody
In 2018, the biographical film 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was released, becoming the highest-grossing musical biographical film of all time. Rami Malek, who portrayed Freddie Mercury, won multiple awards for his performance.
April 2019: Harvey Goldsmith Praises Mercury
In an April 2019 interview, British rock concert promoter Harvey Goldsmith referred to Freddie Mercury as "one of our most treasured talents".
August 2019: Induction into the Rainbow Honor Walk
In August 2019, Freddie Mercury was inducted into the Rainbow Honor Walk in San Francisco's Castro District, recognizing LGBTQ people who have made significant contributions in their fields.
November 2019: Freddie Mercury Alley Unveiled in Warsaw
On 22 November 2019, Freddie Mercury Alley, a 107-yard-long alley next to the British embassy in the Ujazdów district in Warsaw, Poland, was unveiled, dedicated to Mercury.
January 2020: Queen Featured on British Coin
In January 2020, Queen became the first band to join Queen Elizabeth II on a British coin. Issued by the Royal Mint, the commemorative £5 coin features the instruments of all four band members, including Mercury's Bechstein grand piano.
February 2020: Street Renamed Freddie Mercury Close
On 24 February 2020, a street in Feltham was renamed Freddie Mercury Close during a ceremony attended by his sister Kashmira.
2021: Freddie Mercury: The Final Act Aired on BBC Two
In 2021, the documentary, Freddie Mercury: The Final Act, aired on BBC Two, covering Mercury's last days, the Tribute Concert, and featuring interviews with medical professionals and people affected by AIDS.
2021: Elton John Recalls Christmas Present
In a 2021 interview, Elton John recalled the watercolour Christmas present he received from Freddie Mercury shortly before Mercury's death in November 1991.
April 2022: Life-Size Statue Unveiled in South Korea
In April 2022, a life-size statue of Freddie Mercury was unveiled in South Korea's resort island of Jeju.
April 2022: Freddie Mercury: The Final Act Aired in the US
In April 2022, the documentary Freddie Mercury: The Final Act, which aired on BBC Two in 2021, was broadcast on The CW in the US.
September 2023: Freddie Mercury Exhibition at Sotheby's
From August 4 to September 5, 2023, Sotheby's in London hosted an exhibition titled "Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own", displaying almost 1,500 of Mercury's items, which he had given to Mary Austin, before being sold across six auctions. Nearly 140,000 fans visited the exhibition. In September 2023, Sotheby's called it "the life and work of Britain's greatest rock showman of the 20th century".
2023: Billboard's Greatest Rock Lead Singers
In 2023, Billboard magazine placed Freddie Mercury third on their 50 Greatest Rock Lead Singers of All Time list, acknowledging his lasting impact on rock music.
May 2024: Crater Named After Freddie Mercury
In May 2024, the crater Bulsara on the planet Mercury was named after Freddie Mercury's birth name, honoring his legacy.
2025: Polar Music Prize Awarded to Queen
In 2025, Queen was awarded the Polar Music Prize, with a citation describing Freddie Mercury as "one of the most charismatic front figures in the history of music".
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