American singer Katy Perry has said Freddie Mercury was the “biggest influence” on her music career.

Perry, who shot to fame with the single 'I Kissed A Girl', told MySpace that she admired the former Queen frontman because of the way he approached music.

"The combination of his sarcastic approach to writing lyrics and his 'I don't give a fuck' attitude really inspired my music,” she said.

"I nearly got a huge tattoo of Freddie Mercury's face on my back a few years ago.

“It's probably for the best that I didn't get it done, but I still want to do it."

Mercury died in 1991 aged 45 from a bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.

Like the singer, Perry has become famous for wearing lavish stage costumes and writing controversial lyrics.

(by Jason Gregory)