#27 Queen

Queen is known for their musical diversity, harmonies, and their live shows. In fact, an industry poll ranked Queen’s Live Aid performance the greatest live performance of all time. They debuted in 1973. They originally attempted to merge Metal with Prog Rock. Their first album is considered one of the most underrated albums of all time. They broke the following year with “Sheer Heart Attack.” The album featured a fusion of many genres including Metal, soft ballads, and Caribbean.

They followed their breakthrough with the most expensive album ever produced to that point. “A Night At The Opera” is considered one of rock’s greatest. The album included “Bohemian Rhapsody” which combined opera with rock music and became the third largest selling single of all time. The band continued to release hit after hit in the 1970s. In 1980, “Another One Bites the Dust” became an anthem for the Detroit Lions and other sports franchises adopted it along with “We Are the Champions” for championship runs. Also in 1980, Queen also scored the soundtrack for the forgettable movie, Flash Gordon.

Queen continued to play to massive crowds. In 1981, they performed before nearly 500,000 during a Latin American tour. On several occasions, crowds numbered over 100,000. In 1985, one concert drew 180,000. Then came Live Aid. Freddie did not like Live Aid’s political slant, but Bob Geldof told him he’d have the largest audience ever to perform in front of. That sold Mercury.

In the the late 1980’s or early 1990s, Freddy was diagnosed with AIDS. He began to look sickly. He denied the rumors until November 1991. Mercury died less than twelve hours after releasing the statement confirming his illness. Queen’s popularity increased dramatically as a result of the publicity, a benefit concert for Mercury, and the movie Wayne’s World. People flocked to record stores requesting “the new Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody.” (Dumb asses). After Mercury’s death, the band never officially disbanded and in 2004 began touring with Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, The Firm) on lead vocals. This incarnation split in May 2009.

Rock n Roll Moment: A biker gang attempted to jump members of Queen. Roger Taylor flashed his college ID and warned them he was a martial arts expert. Taylor claimed the law required he notify the gang three times that he had a black belt. The bikers ran away.

Essential Queen:

A Night at the Opera (1975)
News of the World (1977)
The Game (1980)
Greatest Hits (1981)
Greatest Hits II (1991)

Queen’s Top 10:

Bohemian Rhapsody
We Are The Champions/We Will Rock You
Fat Bottomed Girls
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Another One Bites the Dust
Flash
Under Pressure (with David Bowie)
Radio Ga-Ga
Who Wants to Live Forever
The Show Must Go On