Foo Fighters and Katy Perry honour Freddie Mercury

Foo Fighters and singer Katy Perry have recorded special video messages paying tribute to late Queen frontman Freddie Mercury to mark what would have been his 65th birthday.

The singing legend, who died in 1991, would have turned the landmark age on Monday (05Sep11), and to mark the special day, musicians from pop and rock grouped together to leave personal online thanks to the flamboyant icon.

In her tribute on YouTube.com, Katy Perry says, "You've inspired us all and you've inspired me especially. Without you I wouldn't be making music or doing what I do."

My Chemical Romance star Gerard Way calls Mercury "the most important frontman to (me when I was) growing up as little boy", and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins adds in his clip, "Freddie, we miss you and love you. I owe you everything, you were the first (performer in) concert I ever saw and since then I've been chasing the dream. I owe that to you."

Other stars who marked Mercury's birthday include Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump, who said he was "sorry (Mercury) was not still around to see the profound effect (he) has had on pop music".

British stars including Brian May and his Queen bandmate Roger Taylor, singer Nicola Roberts and British royals Princess Beatrice and sister Eugenie marked Mercury's birthday at a bash at London's posh Savoy Hotel on Monday night.

The celebrities wore a mustache in tribute to the rocker as they were treated to comedy and music throughout the evening.

Mercury died aged 45 of AIDS-related pneumonia.