Nonconformist of the Month - November 2021 — Freddie Mercury

On November 24, 2021 it will be 30 years since we lost the great Freddie Mercury, so I think it is only fitting that he is this month’s nonconformist of the month.

Freddie was a nonconformist in many ways.  First of all, was his unconventional upbringing.  He was born in Zanzibar to Parsi-Indian parents and attended boarding school in India.  While there he learned to play piano and formed his first band.  As a young adult he moved to London with his family and attended art school.  This is where he met the other members of Queen and changed his name from Farrokh Bulsara to Freddie Mercury. 

Freddie was a nonconformist is his music and his manner of dress.  His music combined all genres of music.  In addition to rock, his songs included classical, vaudeville, opera, jazz, and other influences. His wardrobe in the 1970’s consisted of very flashy and often tight outfits along with long hair, platform shoes, flashy jewelry, and black nail polish.  His look was often androgynous in those days.  In later years his look was more conservative yet still had a certain flash and flair.

As a performer, Freddie was like no other.  He could sing almost any style of music.  His vocal range and his ability to add vibrato and rasp to his operatic voice has led to him being frequently named the best rock singer of all time.  Freddie’s stage presence was unsurpassed.  He could work the crowd not only by his many dramatic and playful movements, but also by standing still and waving his hand.  He captivated the audience by having them sing in response to his own vocals – “Hey Oh!”  This was demonstrated during Queen’s 20 minute Live Aid performance, which has often best cited as the best live performance in rock history.

Freddie was a true artist, musician, and performer.  Yet he was also quite shy and preferred to keep his personal life private.  He rarely gave interviews and often evaded questions or teased the press.  There was much speculation by the press over the years and even when photos were leaked, he would not discuss his personal life.  Freddie valued his privacy, so much so that he did not make an official announcement about his illness until the day before he died of AIDS complications.

Freddie’s music and art have entertained and influenced millions of people.  His creativity came alive onstage and he became larger than life.  He was able to express himself through his music and he expressed himself freely.  He lived his life on his terms and made no apologies for it.  I admire Freddie Mercury for these reasons.  That why I chose him to be the first nonconformist of the month.