Introduction
Who was Freddie Mercury? Does the name ring a bell?
Yes, he was the face of the famous band called Queen. The world considered the flamboyant showman, lyricist, and lead vocalist of the band to be one of the greatest artists of the rock music genre.
Freddie was born Farrokh Bulsara on 5 September 1946, in Stone Town, Zanzibar. He had Parsee parents and had gone to a boarding school in Panchgani, Maharashtra. In 1964, Mercury moved to England along with his parents. He reached the pinnacle of fame in the 80s when Freddie tested positive for HIV/AIDS. Eventually, he died on 24 November 1991 in Kensington, London.
What is AIDS/HIV?
Before we get into the specifics related to Freddie Murphy, who succumbed to HIV/AIDS, let us understand what the disease is all about.
H.I.V. stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. The presence of that virus in the human body causes a condition medically termed Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). In this condition, the immunity system in your body gets compromised severely, thereby reducing the power to fight illness and diseases.
What are the causes of H.I.V?
The common cause of H.I.V.
- Sex with an infected person.
- H.I.V. may also spread through transfusion of infected blood or by illicitly sharing needles used by an infected person.
- H.I.V. may also spread through breastfeeding by an unsuspecting mother.
In case H.I.V. is not detected, it works on our immunity system, and it may take years before a person gets to the stage of getting AIDS.
Unfortunately, scientists are yet to invent a cure for HIV/AIDS. However, with the early detection of H.I.V., doctors can control the progression of the infection through medication. Doctors infer antiviral treatments on the infected persons, resulting in a fall in the number of deaths due to AIDS.
How Did Freddie Mercury Get Infected with H.I.V.?
Be it in life or death, Freddie Mercury was an enigma. People believe that he discovered his ailment in 1987 but did not officially admit it one day before he passed away on 24 November!
On 24 November 1991, Freddie Mercury died due to bronchial pneumonia after AIDS ruined his immune system. The proximate cause of his death was AIDS-related complications.
It is also almost proven that Freddie Mercury led a life of a bisexual person. His long-term girlfriend was Tracy Austin. She was also Freddie’s long-standing confidante till the end and inherited the lion’s share of his properties. At the same time, Freddie maintained a romantic relationship with his hairdresser Jim Hutton.
Freddie Mercury underwent surgery in the U.S.A. involving a blood transfusion. Many believe that Freddie contracted H.I.V. into his system during this time.
What Should We Know About the Disease H.I.V?
People widely hold many myths floating around HIV/AIDS as gospel truth. But all these myths are mere misconceptions. Some popular myths are as under:
1. Only gay men and people taking drugs through IV get H.I.V.
Anal sex is one of the most common ways to transmit the disease; hence, any person – heterosexual or homosexual – practising anal sex may contract H.I.V. In a study done in 2016, 25% of the newly affected people were heterosexuals.
2. Once exposed to H.I.V., there is no looking back.
If you are exposed to a person having H.I.V. and recognise it immediately, you may get antiretroviral medicines within 72 hours. The treatment usually lasts for 28 days, significantly reducing the risk of contracting H.I.V.
3. You can get H.I.V. through oral sex.
It is the most common misconception. H.I.V. is transmitted mainly through blood or semen. In cases of oral sex, the chances of contracting H.I.V. are the rarest. Other misconceptions regarding H.I.V. are that you can contract AIDS by kissing, hugging, and breathing through the air.
What are these things You Don’t Know About Freddie Mercury?
Maverick is the word that fits Freddie very well. There are some interesting facts about him that people do not know. Let us have a look at some truths about Freddie Mercury:
- Keen Sportsman: People do not know that Freddie was a brilliant boxer. Apart from that, he was an avid tennis and table tennis player at school in Maharashtra.
- Rescuer of Billie Jean King: Once, Freddie had gone to a nightclub called The Gilded Grape in Brooklyn. There was a fight that started between two groups of drunken revellers. As fists and chairs were flying around aplenty, Freddie rescued a petrified tennis star Billie Jean King much to her relief.
- Designed The Queen Logo: Freddie did a course in art and graphic design from Ealing, West London. It helped him design the logo of their band, Queen. Freddie combined the star signs of all the band members to form the logo.
- Hair, Nose, & Teeth: The collaboration between Freddie Mercury, Elton John, and Rod Stewart was to have the above name. Though there were some initial discussions, the group did not materialise.
- An Art Collector: Freddie was a frequent visitor to Sotheby’s, London, and had an enviable collection of paintings and antiques. He had an original Picasso, among others, in his collection.
What Awareness do we create About H.I.V?
We observe 1 December of every year as World AIDS Day. It is a critically important day for society to make people aware of the safe practices that mitigate the risk of the spread of HIV/AIDS. The awareness programs inform people know the various treatment methods available today.
The HIV/AIDS awareness programs help burst the myths about the disease. The programs also teach people how to take care of people who have HIV/AIDS rather than treating them as social outcasts.
Conclusion
Freddie Mercury was a superstar whose untimely demise due to HIV/AIDS surprised the world. A biopic called “Bohemian Rhapsody” was made, which did a whooping business so many years after his death, proving his continued popularity.
In the same breath, one may conclude by saying many things that we hear about HIV/AIDS are not facts. General awareness will go a long way to eradicating the dreadful disease.
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