BRILLIANT blue flames light up the night sky above Kawah Ijen, casting an eerie electric glow as they flow down the sides of the active volcano in remote Indonesia.
Hot sulphuric gases – escaping at high pressure through cracks in the mountain – ignite upon contact with air, burning a fantastic, iridescent blue. This strange natural phenomenon can also create “blue lava” – rivers of burning liquid sulphur that stream from the vast crater.
The gases burn day and night at this spectacular volcano in the extreme east of Java island, but its characteristic blue hue can only be observed
Freddie Mercury in the Made in Heaven music videoSimon Fowler © Mercury Songs Ltd 
Mercury Wing Catsuit and bolero ensemble (1975)Amit Roy
Designer Wendy de Smet with the spine suit or the Black Queen suit from 1975 Amit Roy
Made in Heaven music video costume (1985) David Parry/V&A 
Japanese jacket (early 1970s)Amit Roy
Japanese jacket (early 1970s) and kimono (1950-70) David Parry/ V&A 
Ensemble worn for Imperial College gig in 1973Amit Roy
Flash ensemble and half mic (Flash Gordon 1980)Amit Roy
Freddie Mercury performs wearing a 'Flash' t-shirt at Sports Arena in San Diego, California, United States, on 5th July 1980David TanShinko Music/Getty Images
Cloal and crown ensembleAmit Roy
Cloak and crown ensemble (1986)Amit Roy
Cloak and crown ensemble (1986)Amit Roy
Freddie Mercury, Magic Tour (1986) Denis O’Regan
