I have to fight that, because if youʼre talking in terms of trying to get a relationship together, Iʼm the nicest person you could meet, my dear. But itʼs just that Iʼm handicapped and I have to fight my so-called stage persona. Most of the time it works against me. The funny thing is, I created the monster. You try to segregate the two and itʼs not easy; itʼs like two sides of a coin. I think over the years I have become bitter, because Iʼve learned more and itʼs made me strong. I have become bitter, and I just donʼt sort of trust anybody, because theyʼve let me down so many times, and because the more youʼve been let down the more you hurt. I feel Iʼm walking around with scars all over the place, and I just think I couldnʼt take another scar. Scrutinising her in the half light,” she writes, “we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just — just — pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model.” Throughout his career, Freddie Mercury’s sunglass choices served as a source of inspiration for fans, musicians, and fashion designers alike. Let’s delve into the profound influence of his sunglasses on pop culture and fashion:

But I think he found, as he explored his career, and the breadth of life he was being exposed to, that he’d arrived at that period of transition for him. I could see he was a very confused man. But with hindsight, reading the lyrics to certain songs – mainly Bohemian Rhapsody – you could see where the key change began. Other than her private rooms, Garden Lodge was now all but empty, the walls bare. ‘I’ve got a trestle table, on loan from Sotheby’s, chairs, and there’s nothing. It’s empty and still beautiful.’ Freddieʼs hero was Jimi Hendrix. It was hard to see much of him in Zanzibar or Bombay, but in London he could – and did – watch Hendrix play on nine consecutive nights. He could also shop at Biba, buy hippy gear at Kensington Market, and be on hand for the counter-cultural revolution. Iʼm disillusioned, but I think Iʼve got a grip of myself. I seem to be more aware, so itʼs a contradiction in terms, maybe, but itʼs true. Sometimes I wish I didnʼt talk so much to people.

By the start of the 80s, Queen were entering their wilderness years. What punk was unable to do to them, success and excess achieved more easily. Albums of the era like Jazz, The Game and Flash Gordon had all of the musical hallmarks, but precious little of the intensity and fun of their early recordings. Exacerbated by a dreadful relationship with the press (Mercury was rarely interviewed after the NME ran a piece on him with the headline Is This Man A Prat?), singer and band became distant. Mercury in particular came over all Norma Desmond. Speaking to journalist and writer David Wigg in a series of interviews in 1984, he spoke out about the effects of his public image.

These mirrored Aviator style sunglasses are worn most notably during a key scene during the film where the press are hounding Freddie Mercury about his personal life and sexuality. It’s a high-pressure moment for Freddie and the rest of the band and it was no wonder he was hiding behind the large reflective aviator sunglasses. Bohemian Rhapsody Sunglasses as Worn by Freddie Mercury Mike Myers and Dana Carvey as Wayne and Garth from Wayne's World during the 17th annual MTV Movie Awards in 2008. / Kevin Winter/Getty Images In addition to aviator and cat-eye sunglasses, Freddie Mercury also experimented with mirror sunglasses and wraparound styles. The mirror sunglasses further accentuated his enigmatic persona, reflecting the world around him while maintaining an air of mystery. On the other hand, the wraparound sunglasses added a sporty and edgy touch to his style, perfectly suiting his dynamic stage performances and outdoor activities. On arriving at the Vauxhall Tavern, she wrote: “The place was full. It took an absolute aeon to edge our way to the bar, with person after person cheerfully greeting us. It was fabulously outrageous and so bizarrely exciting. Our hearts pounded with every new leather-clad hairy body that approached, but no one, absolutely no one, recognised Diana. Freddie Mercury and Brian May rehearsing for their first major tour on 8th July 1973 (Image credit: Michael Putland)I think Iʼm sort of a chameleon. I change and I have moods, and I think itʼs a combination of a lot of characters that make up a person anyway. I think over and above Iʼm a person of extremes. I can be very soft, but that makes me that much more tenacious. In this article, we’ll look at the sunglasses that became synonymous with Freddie Mercury’s distinct style. Freddie Mercury’s look included not only classic aviator frames and cat-eye sunglasses, but also retro styles such as the timeless style of aviator frames. Through our investigation, we discover how each sunglass style, and how each one of them contributed to his enigmatic persona, challenges gender norms, and embraces individuality. Discover the intriguing stories behind Freddie Mercury’s sunglasses and learn more about them in this informative video. It was Geldof who best summed up the mood of the event and Queenʼs impact on it. “Queen were absolutely the best band of the day,” he remembered. “They played the best, had the best sound, used their time to the full. They understood the idea exactly, that it was a global jukebox. They just went and smashed one hit after another. It was the perfect stage for Freddie: the whole world. And he could ponce about on stage doing We Are The Champions. How perfect could it get?”