Over 50 years since Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor recruited bassist John Deacon to the newly-formed Queen, the band's music continues to resonate with audiences all over the world. Discover the stories behind their eclectic discography, including how Bohemian Rhapsody defied the critics to become a chart-topping success – widely-regarded as one of the greatest songs ever written. This special edition chronicles Queen's rise from student band to rock gods, including their sell-out world tours, scene-stealing Live Aid performance and enduring legacy.
Classic Rock Special: Queen
Editor’s Note
NO TIME FOR LOSERS • More than 45 years on from their first album, Queen remain champions of the world. We look back at their first 15 years, from just another band of hopefuls, to global superstars, through worrying slump to ruling Live Aid. It was no bed of roses, no pleasure cruise, but they kept on fighting.
“WE HAD A DESIRE TO CREATE SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY” • In 1973, Queen released the album that would define their sound, capture their grand ambition and vindicate their unshakeable self-belief. This is the story of Queen II and the real birth of the legend.
STONE COLD CRAZY • Under intense pressure, and with one band member in his sickbed, Queen still managed to record the album that laid the foundation for all the success that followed: Sheer Heart Attack.
VASELINE & SEAWEED • Photographer Mick Rock tells the story behind his iconic sleeve.
KILLER QUEENS • Leppard, Metallica and Foos serve up the ultimate Sheer Heart Attack covers album.
Queen Stone Cold Crazy • Clocking in at just over two minutes, the song that announced Queen to the world (in a town hall in 1970) but wasn’t recorded until their third album, distilled everything that made them so great.
Caught In A Landslide • It’s November 1975 and Queen are about to release the album of their career, A Night At The Opera. But meantime there’s the small matter of this sixminute ‘operatic thing’ they want to release as the lead single – what radio station is gonna play that? Classic Rock goes behind the scenes with Queen as they prepare to go stratospheric.
The Man Who Would Be Queen • Roy Thomas Baker was the ‘fifth member of Queen’, the producer who gave them that sound.
In The Opera-ting Theatre • Brian May casts his mind back to the days of Bo-Rhap.
The Greatest Showman • Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins on why Freddie Mercury is the ultimate rock’n’roll icon
Sheer Art Attack • Many think of Queen as stadium rock royalty, defined by more than two decades at the summit of popular music. But they are one of many bands on the fringes of our genre with a certain style, musicality and influence. So we ask the question, how prog were Queen?…
AND THEY’RE OFF! • After A Night At The Opera, Queen had the world at their feet. But when it came to the follow-up A Day At The Races, they had two choices: more of the same or try something entirely new
Playing The Red Special • Brian May’s Red Special guitar is one of the most iconic instruments on the planet. Writer Simon Bradley has been fortunate enough to play this piece of rock’n’roll history
TAKING ON THE WORLD • In the autumn of 1977, it looked as if Queen’s reign might be over. Instead the band rose to the challenge, hit back with the globally successful News Of The World album and ruled once more.
MR ROBOT • How Queen turned to a superstar fantasy artist for the News Of The World cover image.
“It’s been a good life. I’m very lucky” Nixon • In 2013, Roger Taylor released his fifth solo album, Fun On Earth. The drummer sat down with Classic Rock to give one of his most wide-ranging and revealing interviews ever.
TAYLOR MADE • Five of Roger’s best...