Growing Up

England of the 1960's was a place of turmoil - the new music of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the burgeoning Rock scene was creating a culture of identity for young teens and adults. The 'teenager' as an identifiable entity had only existed since the mid-50's in America and slightly later in England. It was in the early 60's that the young Freddie came to England to live. A 'foreigner' he nonetheless fitted into the society quite well, encompassing the change and creation of a new cultural movement with finesse. It is hard for many people today to realise the impact of groups like The Beatles and The Stones; believing as they often do that their music is 'new' and 'rebellious' without realising that the majority is simply an evolution of or reaction to existing music. During the early 60's when these groups hit the scene music stopped and did a total change - a watershed. Music underwent its greatest revolution in centuries: it moved from being adult-centric to young adult-centric. The Beatles were considered to be rebellious and unacceptable (and the Stones were not even considered as appropriate).

This change caused an identity to develop, a new culture based around the wants and likes of the younger people. These people are malleable, with spare time and spare money and led, if we take an overly simplistic view, to the creation of the recording industry as a powerhouse.

Freddie entered England at this time. He was a colonial, part of a group of nations still within easy memory of being subject states in an Empire. England was the ultimate expression of civilisation: the upper echelons of society and, for Freddie, what he initially aspired to. Once there, he found dissatisfaction. Whereas the Colonial English would still live in luxury with servants and money, the reality is as much as it always has been: a few living in luxury, some in plenty, and most in just enough or in want. When the Bulsara family entered England on Bomi's pension, their life would not be one of luxury and status, but one worse then that which they held in Zanzibar as the small status they once had was there no longer. For many colonial immigrants at this time, the dream died there. They would live in near poverty, crossing the line some decades further on and sinking into obscurity..