The term rockstar itself evokes grandiose images of someone making their mark on the world by living big; not everyone who fronts a band is granted rockstar status, it must be earned. Freddie Mercury, the late lead singer of Queen, was one of his generation's quintessential rockstars, with a larger-than-life persona and stage presence and an out-of-this-world vocal range to match. As the frontman of his equally legendary band Queen, he and his bandmates rocked stadiums globally throughout the '70's and '80s with hits long outlasting their reign, including "We Will Rock You," and GRAMMY-nominated classics "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Another One Bites the Dust."
On the upcoming broadcast of "GRAMMY Salute To Music Legends," Queen, a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement recipient, will be honored by GRAMMY winner and former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar, who will perform "We Will Rock You."
"[Queen was] one of the greatest vocal bands of all time. I mean Freddie Mercury's vocal arrangements were on fire," Hagar said.
Watch the performance during the special tribute concert that will air on PBS at 9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 5 (check your local listings) and will be available to stream starting the next day via pbs.org/gperf.
