ONE of the most famous showmen of rock music would have celebrated his 60th birthday on Tuesday.

Freddie Mercury, pianist and vocalist of super-group Queen and one of the most ambitious and inspiring songwriters ever to grace the world of rock and roll, would have turned 60 on September 5.

Songs like Bohemian Rhapsody, Killer Queen, Seven Seas Of Rye, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and Don't Stop Me Now, established him as one of music's most important figures.

He died in his Kensington home in 1991 after announcing to the world only a few days earlier that he had AIDS.

Born Farrokh Bulsara, in Zanzibar in 1946, he studied at Ealing Art College following in the footsteps of guitarist Pete Townshend.

He joined a band called Smile in 1970 with Roger Taylor and Brian May, after his friend at art college Tim Staffel left the group, paving the way for Freddie to join as lead singer.

Soon after, he changed the name, hired bass player John Deacon and formed Queen.

Speaking to the Ealing Times Tim Staffel said: "I'm not surprised by the reaction of people wanting to celebrate his birthday.

"I had no idea he was ill for so long. He loved throwing parties. I'm sure his 60th would have been no exception. Except when we were younger neither of us had much disposable income so they were much rarer."

"He lived his life full on - he was wide open to everything. It is quite a skill to be able to do that. So many people are full of self doubt, worry, et cetera but he knew how to live his life."

His birthday parties were the stuff of legend and his appeal was so wide that even people like God-fearing Cliff Richard were known to attend.

To mark the auspicious occasion in London, Mercury's former bandmates guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor took part in a fundraising performance of the Queen musical We Will Rock You at the Dominion Theatre in London and birthday presents were collected and will later auctioned in aid of The Mercury Phoenix Trust, the Aids charity set up by the remaining members of Queen and their manager, Jim Beach, to fight the virus.

Also in London is a 60th-anniversary photographic exhibition, featuring images of Freddie Mercury from public and private collections, at the Proud Central Gallery, Buckingham Street, The Strand.