From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Queen was a British rock band of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Their biggest hit was Bohemian Rhapsody, first released in 1975, and promoted by one of the earliest successful music videos and later re-released for the soundtrack album to the movie Wayne's World. Queen are widely recognised as pioneers of Glam Rock as well as the inventors of Stadium Rock and the Music Video.
The beginnings of Queen can be traced to 1968, when Brian May and Roger Taylor formed Smile, a psychedelic trio, at Imperial College, London, where they were both students. After their bassist and lead singer Tim Staffell's departure in spring 1970, they formed a new band - Queen - with Freddie Mercury as lead vocalist in April 1970. In 1971 John Deacon joined as bassist.
| Table of contents |
In the 1970s Queen enforced a strict no-synthesizer policy, as evidenced by the famous "No Synthesizers were used on this Album" sleevenote included on their early LPs. The first album to feature a synthesizer was The Game, although the change in policy came about during the earlier recording of the music for the movie Flash Gordon which was released as an album after The Game.
They lost many fans with the Hot Space album, which used Funk and synth-driven disco beats rather than the Glam or hard rock styles of earlier albums, a move intended by Freddie Mercury to target the American radio audience. The Hot Space album's opus, "Under Pressure", co-written by and performed with David Bowie, was a hit, but the change in direction never really caught on with the band's guitar rock fan base.
Queen embarked upon many popular tours, with memorable shows (including the historic Live Aid concert) held at Wembley Stadium in England, and Maracană, for the Rock N' Rio festival in Brazil, although only the group's final tour, in support of the album A Kind of Magic, ever actually made any money.
The Wembley concert, part of a UK tour in 1986, attracted 150,000 people over two nights. A memorable and prophetic moment occurred when Freddie Mercury told the audience: "There's been a lot of rumors lately about a certain band called Queen... the rumors are that we're gonna split up. What do you think?" Audience: "No!". Freddie: "Forget those rumors, we're gonna stay together 'till we fucking well die, I'm sure!".
The A Night at the Opera and A Day at the Races albums (named after Marx Brothers movies) are perhaps best described as opera metal. News of the World and Jazz are fairly eclectic.
Elements of funk and classic rock and roll make up The Game. Hot Space is definitely funk orientated, which was not received well either by fans or critics.
With The Works and A Kind of Magic Queen gave up experimenting, making sure the fans get what they wanted.
With The Miracle Queen returned to their hard rock roots.
However, most Queen albums contain songs that do not fit into these descriptions.
On November 23, 1991, in a prepared statement made on his deathbed, Freddie Mercury finally acknowledged he had AIDS. Within 12 hours of the announcement, Mercury was dead at the age of 45. His funeral services were private, held in accordance with the Zoroastrian religious faith of his family.
On April 20, 1992, the public shared in the mourning of Mercury's passing at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert, held at London's Wembley Stadium in Mercury's honor. Musicians such as Annie Lennox, Elton John, W. Axl Rose, George Michael, and Liza Minnelli (along with the three surviving members of Queen) perfomed most of their major hits.
Queen never actually disbanded, although their last album (not including compilations) was released in 1995, ironically titled "Made In Heaven", put out four years after Freddie Mercury's death, and constructed in part from leftover sessions for their previous studio album "Innuendo". The band, minus John Deacon still appears from time to time, making "Queen+" projects with various guest musicians. However, in this era of tribute albums such as those to Carole King and Elton John, there has yet to be an official one for Queen.
Queen contributed music directly to the movies Flash Gordon and Highlander (the original film directed by Russell Mulcahy). Several other films featured their songs, including Iron Eagle, Wayne's World, Small Soldiers and A Knight's Tale.
 Clearing the air : the making of a radio personality |
 Great Radio Personalities: In Historic Photographs |
 Building With the Basics Radio Personality Development |
 Radio Personality Basics: Performing, Production, and Programming Fundamentals | ||||
 Personality Radio |
 Radio's Morning Show Personalities: Early Hour Broadcasters and Deejays from the 1920s to the 1990s |
 Frank and Anne Hummert's Radio Factory: The Programs and Personalities of Broadcasting's Most Prolific Producers |
 Your Personality Tree : | ||||
 Making Waves 50 Greatest Women In Radio And Televi |
