by Dr Elizabeth Menon

Created on: November 25, 2009   Last Updated: November 26, 2010

'Memorial Star' for Freddie Mercury

November 24 is always a sad day for all music lovers, especially for those who love Freddie Mercury and Queen - Freddie Mercury was the first ‘Rock-Star’ from India. But I like to celebrate this day as his 'Remembrance Day' . In 2009, a small town in London celebrated the musical brilliance of the inimitable Freddie Mercury  by unveiling the 'The Mercury Memorial Star' on Feltham High Street in London - a 'Hollywood Walk of Fame-style' celebration, attended by his mother, Jer Bulsara; his sister, Kashmira and Brian May.

Feltham in London was home for Freddie and his family for many years, since their arrival to UK in 1964 – Freddie, after finishing his ‘O-levels’ at St Peter’s, a Public School in Poona in India, moved to Feltham in England with his parents. Therefore, it is highly commendable that this town where he spent his early years is chosen to have the honour of unveiling the ‘Mercury Memorial Star’ on its High Street - without doubt, this will be a shrine for all those who love his music, though I am rather surprised that it took this long!

Bomi and Jer, Freddie’s parents, were living in Zanzibar, in the United Republic of Tanzania, as his father Bomi Bulsara was working in the Civil Service there. Farokh Bulsaara was born in Zanzibar and later the family moved to Bombay, and then to Feltham in England. Young Farokh, 'Freddie' to his friends and family, spent his childhood in Zanzibar and Bombay, and studied at St. Peter's, a public school in Panchgani, a beautiful hill station near Poona. He started playing the piano encouraged by his mother at a very early age.

His first exposure to classics and opera was in a city that was a musical melting pot. His family encouraged him to excel in music and art and he received the 'All Rounder' award at St. Peter’s for his achievements. Indian Music and the legendary Kishore Kumar and Latha Mangeshkar had great influence on the young Freddie - not to forget the vivid colours of Zanzibar - which were crucial to the wonderful, inimitable style, associated with Freddie, and of course, 'Queen'. Freddie's wide artistic horizons drew him to classical music, opera and the ballet, and therefore, the operatic 'Barcelona' that Freddie did with the famous Soprano Montserrat Caballe and Bohemian Rhapsody came as no surprise. Of course, his first moment of fame came at the age of one, when his smiling photograph captured the

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