24 Pictures That Prove Freddie Mercury Was The Ultimate Rock Star

Queen performs in Berlin on April 28, 1978.

Brian May (left), John Deacon (standing), Roger Taylor, and Freddie Mercury of Queen, sit for a portrait before being presented with silver, gold, and platinum discs for sales in excess of 1 million for their hit single "Bohemian Rhapsody," on Sept. 8, 1976, in London.

Mercury in his dressing room with a makeup artist just before going onstage at his London concert in 1974.

Queen rehearses for their first major tour on July 8, 1973.

Drummer Roger Taylor and singer Freddie Mercury perform at the Playhouse in Edinburgh on Sept. 1, 1976.

Queen in Tokyo on April 22, 1975.

Mercury performs at Madison Square Garden in New York City, 1977.

Left: Drummer Roger Taylor performs at Madison Square Garden in 1977. Right: Mercury onstage in 1975.

Backstage during Queen's US tour in January 1977.

Mercury makes his way through a group of fans on Oct. 31, 1978.

Queen at the reception celebrating their record A Night at the Opera going double platinum in 1979.

Mercury gets training from a ballet instructor in August 1979.

Queen performs in concert, circa 1977.

Mercury has his mustache groomed in 1982.

Mercury holds a solo press conference in Sydney to launch his first solo album, Mr. Bad Guy, in 1985.

Mercury performs with Queen in Munich on Nov. 1, 1979 (left), and in London on Sept. 5, 1984 (right).

Queen performs in Stockholm in 1985.

The crowds at Knebworth Park in Knebworth, England, await Queen to take the stage on Aug. 9, 1986.

Left: Fans at the Queen concert in Slane Castle, Ireland, on May 7, 1986. Right: Mercury arrives at the Knebworth Festival by helicopter on Aug. 9, 1986.

Mercury performs with Queen at the Knebworth Festival on Aug. 9, 1986.