A man who bought a three-bedroom semi-detached house in West London was stunned after learning it was once the home of Freddie Mercury.
Ray Edwards, 72, thought his estate agent was winding him up during a viewing when he mentioned that the Queen frontman used to live in the house.
Freddie Mercury, whose real name was Farrokh Bulsara, came from Zanzibar to Gladstone Avenue in Feltham with his parents in 1964, when he was just 17 years old.
While living in the west London house, he started exploring his incredible musical talents, before going on to join Queen as lead singer in 1970.
Ray, who is retired, thought his estate agent was fibbing when he name-dropped the iconic star - but after buying the property, he realised it was true.
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But in 2016, when Queen band member Brian May unveiled a British Heritage blue plaque on the house, he was finally convinced - and even let 50 guests into the house to watch the unveiling.
Ray said: “I’m proud to say I live in Freddie Mercury’s old house. It’s nice to have some sort of recognition of Freddie.
“The plaque does stand out. The idea is that people look at it and that makes them think of Freddie and reflect on his life and his contribution.
“I do look at it occasionally and reflect, I will admit. I’m proud to have it there. Freddie was a very talented person."
He added he'd heard a few rumours the house had been owned by someone famous when he first viewed it, but he'd never been convinced there was any truth to the rumours.
And when the estate agent kept bringing up Mercury's name during the viewing, Ray was certain it was just a sales tactic.
“I wasn’t sure if the estate agent was taking the pee,” Ray added. “I did a quick search on the internet and it was difficult to find out who used to live here.”
Since the home was occupied by a famous face, it's changed quite a bit.
The loft has been converted, while one of the three bedrooms has been made into a bathroom - but sadly, during renovations, Ray didn't find any clues that gave an insight into the life of Freddie Mercury.
Ray currently rents the star's old bedroom out to a mum and her daughter - who are well aware of the incredibly history of the place where they live.
The Bulsara family moved out of the house in 1970, when Freddie was 23 and just starting out in Queen - where he went on to sell more than 300 million records.
But while living in the house, Mercury made friends with bandmates Roger Taylor and Brian May - meeting John Deacon a year later in 1971.
Although he appreciates the incredible history of the house he lives in, Ray admits Queen isn't quite his cup of tea.
“I wouldn’t say I was a huge fan,” he said. "Though, I wouldn’t say I dislike their music. I do have some of their music, some of their records.
“But I’m not one of these people who idolise them and stand outside gazing at the plaque.”
Mr Edwards estimates the plaque attracts two visitors a week, though this used to be more before the pandemic.
He says he doesn't mind people ogling his property as they walk by - even when fans loiter at his front gate.
Freddie Mercury died at the age of 45 in 1991 after developing bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
His death shook the world, and shone a light on the AIDS epidemic around the globe.
Next week, BBC2 will release a new documentary, Freddie Mercury: The Final Act, which features new interviews with Brian May and Roger Taylor.
It also has chats with his sister Kashmira, friends Anita Dobson and David Wigg, and PA Peter Freestone and will air November 24 - exactly 30 years after Freddie died.
