15 iconic pictures of Freddie Mercury, the greatest showman on Earth

Freddie Mercury died on Sunday 24th November 1991 due to complications from AIDS.

He had been unwell for some time, but despite the toll the illness took on his body, he kept working, and even in the face of constant tabloid speculation about his well-being, remained a fiercely private individual. He issued a public statement on 23rd November acknowledging that he had AIDS and encouraged the fight against it. He died the next day. It's been 25 years since his death, since the world lost one of its greatest songwriters and showmen. We remember his life as he lived it: free, full of energy, good humour and charisma. There'll never be another Freddie Mercury.  

1. Queen in concert, 1984

Photo: Rogers / Express / Getty Images  

2. Freddie performing in New Haven, Connecticut, 1977

Photo: Carl Lender  

3. Freddie at Wembley, 1986

Photo: nico7martin  

4. Freddie with Queen, 1984

Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty Images  

5. Freddie shaving, 1984

Photo: Steve Wood / Express / Getty Images  

6. Freddie with Queen at Les Ambassadeurs, London, 1976

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images  

7. Freddie performing, 1984

Photo: Express Newspapers / Getty Images  

8. Freddie performing in England, c. 1980

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images  

9. Freddie attends a ballet class, 1979

Photo: Colin Davey / Evening Standard / Getty Images  

10. Freddie onstage, 1977

Photo: Hulton Archive / Getty Images  

11. Freddie performing with Queen in Milton Keynes, 1982

Photo: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive / Getty Images  

12. Freddie getting a moustache trim, 1982

Photo: Steve Wood / Express / Getty Images  

13. Freddie with Queen on the first of three sell-out nights at Wembley Arena, 1972

Photo: Gary Merrin / Keystone / Getty Images  

14. Performing live with Queen,  c. 1975

Photo: Keystone / Getty Images  

15. Live in concert, 1984

Photo: Express Newspapers / Getty Images   Catch up with the latest episode of Football Friday Live