As you approach the Dominion Theatre for a fantastic night out at We Will Rock You, you might be surprised at who will greet you at the door. Above the entrance to the theatre is a 15-foot bronze statue of Freddie Mercury, the iconic lead singer of Queen.

The statue has become a tourist attraction in its own right, attracting thousands of visitors each year since the musical opened in 2002. In March, it moved to Liverpool’s Paradise Street to promote We Will Rock You‘s UK tour. It was originally planned to grace the awning of the Empire Theatre, where the tour played in September, but was too heavy for the awning to support it.

Considered to be the face of Queen, Freddie Mercury was their flamboyant and charismatic lead singer who regularly tops polls of the greatest rock singers of all time. He had a uniquely wide vocal range and his recordings of songs like ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ are almost operatic in their skill and tone. Born in Zanzibar to Indian parents, Mercury had an unlikely rise to fame, earning a degree in art and design (he designed Queen’s crest himself) before playing with several different bands in the late 60′s. In 1970, he teamed up with Brian May and Roger Taylor to form Queen. An electrifying live performer, Mercury died tragically in 1991 from AIDS-related complications. He was just 45 years-old.

We Will Rock You is the longest-running musical at the Dominion Theatre, and there are no signs of the famous statue moving anywhere soon. The recipient of the 2011 Olivier Audience Award, the show is booking through October 2012. Despite being critically panned on its first outing, the show is one of the West End’s most famous and the iconic statue can be seen by many on a daily basis, ensuring the spirit of Freddie still lives on.