Queen
British rock band formed in London, known for flamboyant performances, vocal harmonies, and genre-blending hits.
Formed in 1970 by Brian May, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, and John Deacon. Released 15 studio albums, sold over 300 million records worldwide, and pioneered stadium anthems. Defined 1970s-1980s rock with operatic experimentation and global tours.
- Freddie Mercury died in 1991 from AIDS-related pneumonia, one day after publicly acknowledging his illness.
- Their 1985 Live Aid performance is widely considered one of the greatest live shows in rock history.
- Original bassist John Deacon retired in 1997, refusing all reunion offers after Mercury's death; remaining members perform with guest vocalists like Adam Lambert.
- 'Bohemian Rhapsody' was initially rejected by executives for being too long (6 minutes) but became a #1 hit after Mercury smuggled it to radio.