Influenced by the hard-edged blues-based style of rock acts such as Cream and Jimi Hendrix, Farrokh Bulsara began singing with bands in London. He also became friends with guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor of the band Smile, and in 1970, when Smile’s lead singer quit, Bulsara replaced him. He soon changed the group’s name to Queen and his own to Freddie Mercury.

Source: Britannica