Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury (September 5 1946 – November 24 1991) was a pianist, songwriter, arranger, singer, and lead vocalist of the British rock band Queen.

In pop culture

Although Mercury may have passed on in the real world, he appears as a recurring character in the Japanese manga and anime series Sakigake!! Cromartie High! Known to the main characters only as "Freddie," and normally introduced by a harmonious guitar riff, this version of Freddie Mercury wears only long brown pants with red suspenders, and often carries his trademark broken microphone stand. "Freddie" does not speak, despite moments where he is visible singing in the background (although his voice is not audible), and sometimes appears riding a giant black horse.

Related Topics:
Japan - Manga - Anime - Sakigake!! Cromartie High!

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Some characters in the series wonder if he understands Japanese. In one episode, the school doctor gives him a perfect bill of health, so clearly Freddie is not the ghost of Freddie Mercury. In the world of Cromartie, Freddie is either still alive and in hiding, or a clone of the original Freddie. He does show some remarkable attributes, such as extreme patience when other characters repeatedly slap him in the head, and the ability to navigate Tokyo using only his "animal instincts," as one character describes it.

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The action manga Bremen, relating the adventures of a Japanese rock band in Tokyo, features a minor character named "Mick." He appears to be a westerner living in Japan, and is the owner of a club where the main characters have their first real gig. Mick is nearly identical to Freddie Mercury in appearance, and even wears a tank top with the same stylised Q as in the Queen logo.

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A gymnastics teacher like Mercury appears in Akira Toriyama's manga Dragon Ball in a story Vol.421. Queen is one of Toriyama's favourite bands.

Related Topics:
Akira Toriyama - Manga - Dragon Ball

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In December 2004, the rock group Electric Six released a cover version of Queen's "Radio Ga Ga." The promotional video features the lead singer, Dick Valentine, impersonating the ghost of Freddie Mercury dancing in front of his grave. This depiction has caused controversy amongst fans of Queen and Mercury, many of whom find it offensive, despite Electric Six claiming that it was intended to be interpreted positively.

Related Topics:
December 2004 - Electric Six - Dick Valentine

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The character Sol Badguy in the Guilty Gear series of fighting games is heavily influenced by Mercury, while the Street Fighter character Eagle was reimagined as a tribute to Mercury for Capcom vs. SNK 2.

Related Topics:
Character - Sol Badguy - Guilty Gear - Fighting game - Street Fighter - Eagle - Capcom vs. SNK 2

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Mercury appears in the video to Mylo's single "Destroy Rock & Roll."

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Singer Kurt Cobain's suicide notehttp://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/6582/Nirvana/suicidenote.html mentions Mercury:

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:"I haven't felt the excitement of listening to, as well as creating, music along with reading and writing for too many years now. I feel guilty beyond words about these things. For example, when we're backstage and the lights go out and the manic roar of the crowds begins, it doesn't affect me the way in which it did for Freddy Mercury, who seemed to love, relish in the love and adoration from the crowd, which is something I totally admire and envy."

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Most recently, in her 2004 album Exodus, Japanese pop star Utada Hikaru mentions Freddie Mercury in the song Animato:

Related Topics:
2004 - Utada Hikaru

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:"DVDs of Elvis Presley / ABC sessions of Led Zeppelin / Singing along with F. Mercury / Wishing he was still performing..."

Related Topics:
DVD - Elvis Presley - Led Zeppelin

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The Japan TV series Pride (starring the popular actor Kimura Takuya), used predominately Queen's and Freddie's songs, and the theme song is Freddie's "I Was Born to Love You" (newer version).. The story was about Love & Fight—the ice-hockey leader's love story.

Related Topics:
Pride - Kimura Takuya - I Was Born to Love You

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