Queen (band)

British rock band formed in 1970. Known for their 1975 hit record Bohemian Rhapsody and their 1981 compilation Greatest Hits which became the biggest-selling album in UK history.

Foundations and early years

In 1968, Brian May formed the band Smile with Tim Stoffel and Roger Taylor. Just one year later, the band was signed to Mercury Records and recorded a total of six songs, the most well-known of which was the song April Lady. In 1970, however, the band was about to dissolve after the lead singer Tim Stoffel had decided to leave Smile and team up with Humpy Bong instead. However, a fellow student of Stoffel, who had become a big fan of Smile, decided to join the band as lead singer and on the piano. The new band member, Farrokh Bulsara, former member of the band Wreckage, insisted on changing the band's name to Queen. As the last member of the band, John Deacon joined in 1971. That same year, Farrokh Bulsara officially changed his name to Freddie Mercury. The band soon landed a record deal with EMI Records. Their first album Queen was released two years later in 1973 and reached number 24 in the UK charts. Just one year later, the second album Queen II was released, which was followed by a tour of Great Britain and the USA. Despite mixed reviews, the album reached number 5 in the album charts.