Queen have announced an AIDS Benefit in support of The Mercury Phoenix Trust in London on September 5.
The day would have been Freddie Mercury’s 67th birthday, and to mark the occasion, performers including Roger Daltrey (The Who), Melanie C, Alfie Boe and Al Murray will be taking to the stage at One Mayfair for an evening of comedy and rock ‘n’ roll to support the Queen AIDS Benefit, to raise money for The Mercury Phoenix Trust – fighting AIDS worldwide.
House band for the evening will once again be fronted by Queen’s regular musical director and keyboard player Spike Edney and his All Star band.
As well as the stellar line up of performances there will be an on the night auction with lots including a signed Katy Perry photo (with Katy dressed as Freddie!), a Taylor Swift signature red guitar and a box for 10 at the Royal Albert Hall. The main prize is a once in a lifetime 3 night stay in New York with VIP guest passes to the Tribeca film festival with a meet and greet with the legendary Robert De Niro.
After the death of Freddie Mercury in 1991 the remaining members of Queen and their manager, Jim Beach, organized The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS awareness, the proceeds of which were used to launch The Mercury Phoenix Trust. Since 1992 the trust has raised millions of pounds and continued to spread awareness to help in the worldwide fight against AIDS.
One of the Trust’s initiatives, ‘Freddie For A Day’, held annually September 5, is a fun, flamboyant extravaganza. The day is a celebration of Freddie and his life and asks simply that fundraisers dress up in some way as the great man himself. From a simple moustache to a full head to toe Freddie ensemble, a Freddie fancy dress party to a Freddie flash mob, anything goes… as long as each person dressing up asks family and friends to sponsor them to do so to help raise funds for the cause.
Freddie For A Day has been supported by the likes of Katy Perry, Matt Lucas, Jeff Beck, Ben Elton, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Chris Evans, Red Bull Formula 1 team, and last year Rovio, the creators of ‘Angry Birds’, immortalised Freddie as a character within the world famous game. Rovio will once again this year be supporting Freddie For a Day and the Mercury Phoenix Trust, more news on that to follow.
To mark Freddie’s birthday, the Mercury Phoenix Trust have also teamed up with Hard Rock Cafe’s across the world to help raise awareness and funds offering prizes for the best dressed Freddie’s as well as entertainment throughout the day.
Learn more about the Mercury Phoenix Trust here.
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