Freddie Mercury at the His 38th Birthday Party at Xenon Club in Piccadily, London on September 5, 1984

Not about to bite the dust just because he was turning 38, Freddie Mercury of the British rock group Queen chowed down instead on a five-foot-long birthday cake baked to look like a vintage Rolls-Royce. Mercury celebrated with a party for 500 friends at London’s Xenon night club.

Among the guests was John (Elephant Man) Hurt, 44, who chose the occasion to propose to American actress Donna Peacock, 37. Clearly, neither believes in wasting any time on long engagements: The next morning they tied the knot at a register’s office just outside London.