Thousands of Queen fans sang, cheered and partied at the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux on Saturday to celebrate what would have been the legendary British singer's 80th birthday.
Wearing some outlandish outfits reflecting Mercury's stage costumes, fans from across the world gathered in honour of the frontman, in the Swiss lakeside town where he sought peace in his final years and recorded his last vocals.
"It is a special birthday, so you've got to make the effort to come and celebrate all things Freddie", said Sonia, who travelled from Canberra.
Her friend Khristina added that she "fell in love with him, thought he was the most beautiful man — and then my husband looks just like him!".
The bronze statue of Mercury, erected in 1996 overlooking Lake Geneva, was decked with balloons, flowers and tributes left by well-wishers.
Appreciation of Queen's legacy and Mercury's unique talent has only grown since his death in 1991.
Among the world's best-selling artists ever, most of the group's sales have come since the singer's passing at the age of 45.
For many of those gathered, the celebration was also a chance to revisit the music, performances and flamboyant stage presence that made Mercury one of rock's most recognisable and enduring frontmen around the world today.
Queen owned Mountain Studios, built into the Montreux Casino and recorded six albums there.
In Montreux, the Freddie Days birthday event has been running annually since 2003 and has grown.
"This is the busiest I've ever seen it", said fan Gail Potter, 61, from York in northern England.
"It's this that makes Queen different from any other band", she said, looking at the sea of fans milling round the market square.
"The music keeps on going, which is extraordinary".
Fans were dressed in a wealth of different Mercury outfits, including his iconic 1986 Magic Tour yellow jacket, his "Invisible Man" sunglasses, 1982 "arrows" jackets and his 39th birthday "Living on My Own" black and white leggings.
The event also saw concerts and talks, including one on Mercury's trailblazing 1988 "Barcelona" duet album, recorded with Spanish opera diva Montserrat Caballé.
"He would have been amazed that people still come from all over the world in such large numbers to celebrate — he'd have loved it. He loved being idolised! — though he'd have hated being 80!" composer Mike Moran, who co-wrote the album with Mercury, said.
The day culminated with the cutting of an 80th birthday cake, with Mercury's sister Kashmira Bulsara as the special guest.
Fans sang "Happy Birthday" together before the party continued into the night. — AFP
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