Formed in 1970, Queen took the world by storm with their hit songs and larger-than-life stage presence. From Bohemian Rhapsody to Somebody to Love, the British rock band became one of the most iconic groups in music history.
If you’re a fan, chances are you know just how much these songs and their messages mean to you. But maybe you don’t know much about the band themselves.
Here we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about Queen that will help you to know the band better.
When was Queen formed?
This British rock band was formed in 1970. Their main lineup consisted of Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals), and John Deacon (bass).
In their earlier days, they were influenced by more progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal, but later they gradually moved into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating further styles, such as arena rock and pop-rock.
What is the story behind the band’s name?
Before forming Queen, May and Taylor had played together in the band Smile. Mercury was a fan of Smile and encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate stage and recording techniques. He joined in 1970 and suggested the name “Queen”.
What is Queen’s most famous song?
Bohemian Rhapsody is Queen’s most famous song. It was written by Freddie Mercury for their fourth studio album ‘A Night At The Opera‘. The song goes on 6 minutes and is most notable for its unusual song structure.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” topped the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks and had sold more than a million copies by the end of January 1976. In 1991, after Mercury’s death, it topped the charts for another five weeks, eventually becoming the UK’s third best-selling single of all time. It is also the only song to reach the UK Christmas number one twice by the same artist.
What was Queen’s first album?
Their first album was a self-title album ‘Queen’ which was released on 13 July 1973 by EMI Records in the UK and by Elektra Records in the US.
The album was influenced by heavy metal and progressive rock. The lyrics are based on a variety of topics, including folklore (“My Fairy King”) and religion (“Jesus”).
Lead singer Freddie Mercury wrote five of the ten tracks, lead guitarist Brian May wrote four songs (including “Doing All Right”, which he co-wrote with Tim Staffell while in the band Smile), and drummer Roger Taylor both wrote and sang “Modern Times Rock and Roll”.
The final song on the album is a short instrumental version of “Seven Seas of Rhye”, the full version of which would appear on the band’s second album, Queen II.
What is Queen’s biggest selling album?
Greatest Hits ( a compilation album ) is the band’s best-selling album to date, with total sales of over 25 million copies, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
It reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, spending four weeks at the top, and sold consistently well throughout the 1980s, becoming the fourth-biggest selling album of the decade.
The single “Under Pressure”, which was released the same week as Greatest Hits, also topped the UK Singles Chart.
What was Queen’s last album?
Innuendo is the fourteenth and the last studio album to be released in lead singer Freddie Mercury’s lifetime. It reached the No. 1 spot on the UK album charts and stayed at that position for two weeks, and also peaked at No. 1 in Italy, the Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, staying at No. 1 for three weeks, four weeks, six weeks, and eight weeks, respectively.
It was the first Queen album to go Gold in the US upon its release since The Works in 1984.
What was Queen’s first song?
‘Keep Yourself Alive’ is the first song of Queen. It is written by Brian May and released as the opening track from their self-titled debut album ‘Queen’ in 1973. Upon its release, it was largely ignored and received mixed reviews but in 2008, Rolling Stone rated the song 31st on its list of “The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time”. This song is also considered the main highlight of the album.
What are some of the Queen’s popular songs?
Some of the most popular songs by the band include We Will Rock You, Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga, The Show Must Go On and I Want To Break Free.
What is Queen’s signature song?
There are many but it has to be Bohemian Rhapsody from their fourth studio album “A Night at the Opera“.
