Freddie Mercury is no longer living.
Farrokh `` Freddie '' Mercury ( née Bulsara ; 5 September 1946 -- 24 November 1991 ) was a British singer , songwriter and record producer , known as the lead vocalist and co-principal songwriter of the rock band Queen . Mercury died in 1991 at age 45 due to complications from AIDS , having confirmed the day before his death that he had contracted the disease . In 1992 , Mercury was posthumously awarded the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music , and had a tribute concert held at Wembley Stadium , London .