<Tr> <Th> Religion </Th> <Td> Zoroastrianism </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Signature </Th> </Tr> <P> Farrokh "Freddie" Mercury (born Bulsara; 5 September 1946--24 November 1991) was a British singer, songwriter and record producer, known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Queen . He was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four - octave vocal range . Mercury wrote numerous hits for Queen, including "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Killer Queen", "Somebody to Love", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", and "We Are the Champions". He led a solo career while performing with Queen, and occasionally served as a producer and guest musician for other artists . </P> <P> Mercury was born of Parsi descent in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, and grew up there and in India before moving with his family to Middlesex, England, in his teens . He formed Queen in 1970 with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor . Mercury died in 1991 at age 45 due to complications from AIDS, having confirmed the day before his death that he had contracted the disease . </P>

When did the lead singer from queen die