Queen
Freddie Mercury’s flamboyant rock
Formation and early years
Queen was formed in London in 1970 around Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), and John Deacon (bass). Each member contributed hit songs, a rarity in rock history.
The rise
A Night at the Opera (1975) features “Bohemian Rhapsody”, a 6-minute single blending opera, ballad, and hard rock, which spent 9 weeks at number 1 in the UK. News of the World (1977) delivered the stadium anthems “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”.
Their performance at Live Aid on July 13, 1985 at Wembley Stadium is considered the greatest live performance in rock history.
Brian May is also a trained astrophysicist: he completed his PhD at Imperial College London in 2007, after pausing it 36 years earlier to focus on Queen. His research focused on zodiacal dust. He is also an active campaigner for animal rights in the UK.
Legacy
Freddie Mercury died on November 24, 1991 from AIDS-related complications. Queen has sold more than 300 million albums. The biopic Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) grossed over $900 million worldwide. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001.
Iconic guitar
Brian May plays the Red Special, a guitar he built with his father from mahogany fireplace wood and a motorcycle spring. It is one of the most unique guitars in rock history.
