Queen, the legendary British rock band, emerged onto the music scene from London back in 1970, founding members being Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), and Roger Taylor (drums, vocals).
Later, they welcomed John Deacon (bass) to complete the lineup. Initially, their music bore the hallmarks of progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal. Over time, Queen’s musical evolution led them to embrace more accessible and radio-friendly genres, notably arena rock and pop rock.
Before the inception of Queen, May and Taylor had collaborated in the band Smile. Mercury, an admirer of Smile’s sound, encouraged them to push the boundaries of their stage presence and recording techniques. Mercury officially joined in 1970, and it was he who proposed the moniker “Queen” for the band. The recruitment of Deacon followed in February 1971, shortly before the release of their eponymous debut album in 1973. Queen’s breakthrough in the UK charts came with their second album, Queen II, in 1974.
Their albums Sheer Heart Attack later that same year and A Night at the Opera in 1975 catapulted them to international acclaim. This latter album showcased the iconic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a chart-topper in the UK for nine weeks and instrumental in popularizing the concept of music videos. The 1977 album News of the World featured anthems like “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” both of which have become synonymous with sporting events. As the early 1980s dawned, Queen stood as one of the preeminent stadium rock acts globally.
The track “Another One Bites the Dust” from their 1980 album The Game stands as their best-selling single, while the 1981 compilation Greatest Hits holds the record as the UK’s best-selling album, with a platinum certification in the US nine times over. Their performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert is immortalized as one of the greatest moments in rock history, recognized by various esteemed publications. The last appearance of Mercury with Queen transpired in August 1986 at Knebworth, England.
While Mercury privately battled his health condition, he was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987. The band produced two more albums, The Miracle in 1989 and Innuendo in 1991. On November 23, 1991, Mercury publicly disclosed his AIDS diagnosis, passing away the following day due to bronchopneumonia, a complication arising from AIDS. A final album containing Mercury’s vocals, titled Made in Heaven, graced the world in 1995. John Deacon withdrew from the scene in 1997, leaving May and Taylor to occasionally collaborate. Post-2004, they embarked on tours under the banner “Queen +,” enlisting vocalists Paul Rodgers and later Adam Lambert.
Queen’s profound influence on global pop culture has spanned more than five decades. Their record sales are estimated between 250 million to 300 million, solidifying their status as one of the world’s highest-grossing music artists.
In 1990, Queen earned the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. Their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame took place in 2001, and the band members, each celebrated for their songwriting prowess, were collectively inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2005, they were honored with the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors. The prestigious Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award was bestowed upon them in 2018.
