'Angry Birds' Turns Queen's Freddie Mercury Into an Honorary Character

 By 
Brian Anthony Hernandez
 on 
'Angry Birds' Turns Queen's Freddie Mercury Into an Honorary Character
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Angry Birds creator Rovio Entertainment turned the late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury into an honorary character on Monday, just in time for the rocker's Sept. 5 birthday.

The Angry Birds flock is taking a break from flying and toppling enemies to ride Mercury's bicycle -- the animated video below is set to Queen's "Bicycle Race." Absent from the clip is Pink Bird, the bubbly character Rovio introduced in August.

Rovio's gesture supports the annual Freddie for a Day campaign, which celebrates the singer and raises funds for HIV/AIDS charity Mercury Phoenix Trust.

Mercury, who died in 1991 from complications stemming from AIDS, would have been 66 on Wednesday.

"'Freddie for a Day is such a great way to honor Freddie's fun and flamboyant spirit while delivering an important message," Rovio's CMO Peter Vesterbacka said in a statement. "Queen's music has endured for a reason, because its creativity and contagious fun appeals to fans of all ages, and we're happy to help keep Freddie's memory and music alive for new generations of fans."

People can join the cause Wednesday by purchasing a Freddie Mercury Angry Bird T-shirt online at the Angry Birds and Bravado stores. Meanwhile in London, bandmates Brian May and Roger Taylor gathered with friends Monday for a Freddie for a Day fundraiser.

Last year, Google commemorated Mercury's birthday with this memorable animated doodle:

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