Freddie Mercury (September 5, 1946 – November 24, 1991) was a rock musician, best known as the frontman and lead singer for the English rock band Queen. He is remembered for his powerful vocal abilities and charisma as a live performer. As a songwriter, he composed many international hits, including "Seven Seas of Rhye", "Killer Queen", "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Somebody to Love", "We Are the Champions", "Bicycle Race", "Don't Stop Me Now", and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Mercury died from complications of AIDS, greatly increasing public awareness of the disease.

Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in the city of Stone Town on the African island of Zanzibar (at the time a British colony, now part of Tanzania). His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, were Parsi-Zoroastrians of Persian decent. The family had emigrated to Zanzibar in order for Bomi to continue his job as a middle-ranking cashier at the British Colonial Office. Mercury had one younger sister, Kashmira.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mercury

Today is World Aids Day 2006. Around forty million people are living with HIV throughout the world - and that number increases in every region every day. In Germany alone, more than 49,000 people are living with HIV and more than 2,700 more are diagnosed every year. Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventable disease.

I was 7 3/4 years old when Freddie Mercury passed away 15 years and one week ago. My parents have been Queen fans and I have grown up with this kind of music.