Show Nov 12th 2019

Topic for the show: The life and music of Queen.

Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970. Their classic line-up was:

• Freddie Mercury (lead vocals and piano)
• Brian May (lead guitar and vocals)
• Roger Taylor (drums and vocals)
• John Deacon (bass guitar).

Their earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock and heavy metal, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating further styles, such as arena rock and pop rock.

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”. Deacon was recruited in March 1971, before the band released their eponymous debut album in 1973. Queen first charted in the UK with their second album, Queen II, in 1974. Sheer Heart Attack later that year and A Night at the Opera in 1975 brought them international success. The latter featured “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which stayed at number one in the UK for nine weeks and helped popularize the music video format.

The band’s 1977 album News of the World contained “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”, which have become anthems at sporting events. By the early 1980s, Queen were one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world. “Another One Bites the Dust” (1980) became their best-selling single, while their 1981 compilation album Greatest Hits is the best-selling album in the UK and is certified eight times platinum in the US. Their performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert has been ranked among the greatest in rock history by various publications. In August 1986, Mercury gave his last performance with Queen at Knebworth, England. In 1991, he died of bronchopneumonia – a complication of AIDS, and Deacon retired in 1997. Since 2004, May and Taylor have toured under the “Queen +” name with vocalists Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert.

Estimates of Queen’s record sales range from 170 million to 300 million records, making them one of the world’s best-selling music artists.

Also it’ll be on remembering Freddie Mercury, whom we lost on November 24th, 1991. He was one of the greatest lead vocalist of Queen, songwriter, and record producer, and he was known for his flamboyant stage persona and four-octave vocal range.

He has written numerous hits for Queen, including

• “Killer Queen”
• “Bohemian Rhapsody”
• “Somebody to Love”
• “We Are the Champions”
• “Don’t Stop Me Now”
• “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”.

His charismatic stage performances often saw him interact with the audience, such as the 1985 Live Aid concert. He also led a solo career and served as a producer and guest musician for other artists. Mercury died in 1991 at age 45 due to complications from AIDS. He confirmed the day before his death that he had contracted the disease, having been diagnosed in 1987. In 1992, a tribute concert was held at Wembley Stadium.