Arguably Britain's most consistently successful group of the past two
decades, Queen began life as a glam rock unit in 1972. Astronomy
student Brian May
(b. 19 July 1947, Twickenham, Middlesex,
England; guitar) and Roger Taylor
(b. Roger Meddows-Taylor,
26 July 1949, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, England; drums) had been
playing in Johnny Quale And The Reactions, Beat Unlimited and
a college group called Smile with bassist Tim Staffell. When the
latter left to join Humpty Bong
(featuring former Bee Gees drummer
Colin Petersen), May and Taylor elected to form a new band with
vocalist Freddie Mercury
(b. Frederick Bulsara, 5 September 1946,
Zanzibar, Africa, d. 24 November 1991, London, England). Early
in 1971 bassist John Deacon
(b. 19 August 1951, Leicester,
Leicestershire, England) completed the line-up. Queen were signed
to EMI Records late in 1972 and launched the following spring with
a gig at London's Marquee club. Soon after the failed single, 'Keep
Yourself Alive', they issued a self-titled album, which was an interesting
fusion of 70s glam and late 60s heavy rock
(it had been preceded by
a Mercury 'solo' single, a cover of the Beach Boys' 'I Can Hear Music',
credited to Larry Lurex). Queen toured extensively and recorded a
second album, which fulfilled their early promise by reaching the UK
Top 5. Soon afterwards, 'Seven Seas Of Rhye' gave them their first
hit single
(UK number 10), while Sheer Heart Attack consolidated
their commercial standing by reaching number 2 in the UK album charts.
'Killer Queen' from the album was also the band's first US hit, reaching
number 12 in May 1975. The pomp and circumstance of Queen's
recordings and live act were embodied in the outrageously camp theatrics
of the satin-clad Mercury, who was swiftly emerging as one of rock's
most notable showmen during the mid-70s. 1975 was to prove a watershed
in the group's career. After touring the Far East, they entered the studio
with their producer Roy Thomas Baker and completed the epic
'Bohemian Rhapsody', in which Mercury succeeded in transforming
a seven-minute single into a mini-opera. The track was both startling
and unique in pop and dominated the Christmas charts in the UK,
remaining at number 1 for an astonishing nine weeks. The power of the
single was reinforced by an elaborate video production, highly innovative
for its period and later much copied by other acts. An attendant album,
A Night At The Opera, was one of the most expensive and expansive
albums of its period and lodged at number 1 in the UK, as well as hitting
the US Top 5. Queen were now aspiring to the superstar bracket.
Their career thereafter was a carefully marketed succession of hit singles,
annual albums and extravagantly produced stage shows. A Day At The
Races continued the bombast, while the catchy 'Somebody To Love' and
anthemic 'We Are The Champions' both reached number 2 in the UK.
Although Queen seemed in danger of being stereotyped as over-produced
glam rock refugees, they successfully brought eclecticism to their singles
output with the 50s rock 'n' roll panache of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love'
and the disco-influenced 'Another One Bites The Dust'
(both US number 1s).
Despite this stylistic diversity, each Queen single seemed destined to
become an anthem, as evidenced by the continued use of much of their
output on US sporting occasions. Meanwhile, The Game gave Queen their
first US number 1 album in July 1980. The group's soundtrack for the movie
Flash Gordon was another success, but was cited by many critics as typical
of their pretentious approach. By the close of 1981, Queen were back
at number 1 in the UK for the first time since 'Bohemian Rhapsody'
with 'Under Pressure'
(a collaboration with David Bowie ). After a
flurry of solo ventures, the group returned in fine form in 1984 with
the satirical 'Radio Gaga'
(UK number 2), followed by the histrionic
'I Want To Break Free'
(and accompanying cross-dressing video).
A performance at 1985's Live Aid displayed the group at their most
professional and many acclaimed them the stars of the day, though
there were others who accused them of hypocrisy for breaking the
boycott of apartheid-locked South Africa. Coincidentally, their next
single was 'One Vision', an idealistic song in keeping with the spirit of
Live Aid. Queen's recorded output lessened during the late 80s as they
concentrated on extra-curricular ventures. The space between releases
did not affect the group's popularity, however, as was proven in 1991
when 'Innuendo' gave them their third UK number 1, and the album of
the same name also topped the UK charts. By this time they had become
an institution. Via faultless musicianship, held together by May's guitar
virtuosity and the spectacular Mercury, Queen were one of the great
theatrical rock acts. The career of the group effectively ended with the
death of lead singer Freddie Mercury on 24 November 1991. 'Bohemian
Rhapsody' was immediately reissued to raise money for AIDS research
projects, and soared to the top of the British charts. The song also
climbed to US number 2 in March 1992 after featuring in the movie
Wayne's World
(it had originally reached number 9 in January 1976).
A memorial concert for Mercury took place at London's Wembley
Stadium on May 20 1992, featuring an array of stars including Liza
Minnelli, Elton John, Guns N'Roses, George Michael, David Bowie
and Annie Lennox
( Eurythmics ). Of the remaining members Brian
May's solo career enjoyed the highest profile, while Roger Taylor
worked with the Cross. Queen never announced an official break-up,
so it was with nervous anticipation that a new Queen album was
welcomed in 1995. The Mercury vocals were recorded during his last
year while at home in Switzerland, and the rest of the band then worked