Musician Freddie Mercury was born on September 5, 1946, and is the lead singer of the British band Queen. He was born on the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania, East Africa. He began learning piano at age seven and formed a rock band at age 12. When he was 17, revolution broke out in Zanzibar, and his family moved to the UK. After graduating from a local high school, he enrolled in Ealing Art College, where he studied art and graphic design. In 1970, he joined the band Smile, which included guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. At Freddie's suggestion, the band changed its name to Queen and began performing in earnest. He is highly regarded for his excellent singing and live performances. Zandra Rhodes designed their stage costumes in their early days. As a composer, he produced many of Queen's most iconic songs, including "Killer Queen" (1974), "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975), and "Don't Stop Me Now" (1978). He was also known for his love of Japan, collecting Imari ware and creating a Japanese garden at his London home. He also performed MCs in Japanese during Japan tours. Around 1987, at the height of the band's popularity, Freddie was found to be HIV positive. He continued to deny this, but officially announced his infection on November 23, 1991. He died the following day at his home at the age of 45. Following this, Queen went on hiatus. Manga artist Hirohiko Araki is a fan of Queen, and in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure he uses characters names such as "Killer Queen," "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Another One Bites the Dust," and "Made in Heaven."