An iconic artist Freddie Mercury and the final song he played onstage

An iconic artist Freddie Mercury and the final song he played onstage

‘We Are the Champions’ – Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury knew that he was living with a death sentence years before he passed away. His AIDs diagnosis may have sent shockwaves through the rock community upon his announcement hours before his passing, but he had been struggling with his health issues for years before making it public. And while fans like to remember ‘The Show Must Go On’ as the moment that Mercury made his studio curtain call, his performance of ‘We Are the Champions’ paints everything in a different light.

Compared to many artists on this list who made poetic exits or finished where they started, Queen’s gig at Knebworth for their final concerts made all the sense in the world. After all, a royal band needed a royal venue, and seeing that field sway along to ‘We Are the Champions’ has as much poignance and depth as the version that they delivered at Live Aid just a year prior.

And even though Mercury probably knew in the back of his head that his touring days were over, death did not claim him. If anything, the afterlife should be blessed to have Mercury as part of its heavenly choir, and if he’s still singing on the other side, here’s hoping that he’s donning the same crown that he wore during his last concert.