Quote Of The Day By Freddie Mercury: 'By Nature, I'm Very Restless And Highly Strung, A Person Of Real Extremes, And...'

Remembered as much for his larger-than-life personality as for his countless hits as the frontman of '70s rock band Queen, it would be hard to meet someone who doesn't know about the late and great Freddie Mercury. Born as Farrokh Bulsara on September 5, 1946, in the former state of Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania), Mercury was sent as a child to the St. Peter's Church of England boarding school in his parents' homeland, India.

It was there that he first explored his love of music — adopting the nickname Freddie from his schoolmates and teachers – practicing the piano and forming his first band, the Hectics. He moved back to Zanzibar in 1963, but the political turmoil from the 1964 revolution forced Mercury's family to flee and start up a new life in the U.K. While in London, he attended Ealing Art College, and it was in that city's lively student scene that he entered the orbit of his soon-to-be Queen band members: guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and eventual bassist John Deacon.

Queen formed in 1970, their first self-titled album was released in 1973, and although it didn't translate directly to commercial success, it did land them an opportunity on British music program "Top of the Pops" — bringing their 1974 single "Seven Seas of Rhye" straight into the U.K.'s Top 10, and setting them up for a stellar career. Mercury's unique talent for writing hits within minutes, his exceptional four-octave vocal range, and distinctly flamboyant and expressive personality on stage made him a captivating act — and that's why he is today's quote of the day.

"By nature, I'm very restless and highly strung ... a person of real extremes, and often that's destructive to myself and others."

Journalist Rick Sky described this comment from Freddie Mercury to him in his 1992 biography, "The Show Must Go On: The Life of Freddie Mercury." At the time, they were enjoying a tame (by Mercury's standards) celebration of Queen's sold-out Madison Square Garden shows. Sky noted how, though typically much more deflective when speaking to the press, the "Bohemian Rhapsody" singer had seemingly lowered his guard, offering the reporter a more honest context behind the role of excess in his life. 

In addition to illuminating some of the most intriguing elements of Mercury's private life, he seemed incredibly self-aware that his attitude of living on the edge was not entirely victimless.

Freddie Mercury's words to journalist Rick Sky indicate that the singer had recognized some hard truths about himself. Yet, while he had already pinpointed the parts of his life and personality that sometimes worked against him, they made for some breathtaking performances and vocal deliveries. 

Queen's groundbreaking 1975 song, "Bohemian Rhapsody," took three weeks to record — mostly thanks to Mercury's insistence on overlaying 160 tracks of vocals until they almost completely wore through the tapes. His fidelity to his original vision ultimately made the track one of Queen's quintessential hits, showcasing how even the most extreme instincts could not stand in the way of his musical genius. He found relief and joy through the act of performing itself, and signatures such as his extravagant costumes helped him break free onstage. He was serious about his music all while not taking himself too seriously, understanding that his talent and passion would take him far further than attempting to conform. Although his extreme mood swings led to a fair degree of turmoil, he was able to not only overcome them, but use them to his advantage. 

We all have elements of our personality that can sometimes hold us back, but identifying them and harnessing them in innovative and productive ways is the reality of self-awareness. If you view your flaws as superpowers, you'll always be a champion.

• "Life is for living. Believe me, I would be doing those things and having that philosophy even if I wasn't successful."

• "When I have a relationship, it is never a half-hearted one. I don't believe in half measures or compromise ... I give everything that I've got – because that's the way I am."

• "I like to deliberately do things that aren't considered Queen. I always believe in doing something different. Otherwise what's the point? You might as well give out copies of your old records."

• "Being second-best has never interested me. Queen are capable of big things, but sometimes big things take great courage."

• "I really do love performing. I mean, it's totally natural for me. I'm a dandy, a show-off. I get very high on all the attention. I love it."