Queen, fronted by the flamboyant Freddie Mercury, is renowned for their eclectic style, powerful performances, and timeless anthems like "Bohemian Rhapsody” "We Will Rock You” and "We Are the Champions”. Formed in the early 1970s, Queen blended rock, opera, and pop, achieving massive commercial success and critical acclaim. Despite Mercury's death in 1991, the band's legacy endures, with surviving members Brian May and Roger Taylor continuing to perform with new vocalists, including Adam Lambert.
1970:
Formation - Queen was formed in London by Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass).
1973:
Debut Album - Released their self-titled debut album "Queen."
1974:
Breakthrough - Released "Queen II" and "Sheer Heart Attack” the latter containing the hit "Killer Queen."
1975:
A Night at the Opera - Released their fourth album, featuring the legendary "Bohemian Rhapsody” which became a massive hit.
1977:
News of the World - Released "News of the World” featuring anthems "We Will Rock You" and "We Are the Champions."
1980:
The Game - Released "The Game” which included hits like "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love."
1985:
Live Aid - Delivered a historic performance at Live Aid, widely regarded as one of the greatest rock performances of all time.
1991:
Freddie Mercury's Death - Freddie Mercury passed away on November 24 due to complications from AIDS.
Tribute Concert - Held a tribute concert in 1992, featuring artists like David Bowie, Elton John, and George Michael.
2004:
Collaboration with Paul Rodgers - Queen + Paul Rodgers formed and toured until 2009.
2011:
Adam Lambert - Began collaborating with Adam Lambert, touring as Queen + Adam Lambert.
Queen has received several Grammy nominations but has not won a Grammy Award during their original active years. However, they received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
1. "Bohemian Rhapsody" (1975) - A six-minute suite, consisting of several sections without a chorus: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part, and a reflective coda.
2. "We Will Rock You" (1977) - An anthem featuring stomping and clapping, often paired with "We Are the Champions."
3. "Another One Bites the Dust" (1980) - A bass-driven funk rock song that became one of their best-selling singles.
Freddie Mercury
I won't be a rock star. I will be a legend."
Brian May
We're four very different people, and we came together and exploded."
See also Queen Discography