The band formed in London in 1970 after May and Taylor's former band Smile split after having released an album and single. Freddie replaced lead vocalist Tim Staffell, after the latter's departure from the original trio.
There was much deliberation as to what the band's name would be. May and Taylor had settled upon the Grand Dance, derived from a C.S. Lewis Trilogy of books Out Of The Silent Planet.
Ultimately, the band went with Queen, a name that was entirely Freddie's. Originally Roger and, especially, Brian did not like the name, though Mercury would eventually persuade them both that it was "right" for the band.
"Years ago I thought up the name Queen... It's just a name, but it's very regal, and it sounds splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. "
- Freddie Mercury.
Queen went through several bass players before a young electronics major by the name of John Deacon arrived on the scene in January of 1971.
"Until John, it had been exploding bass player syndrome. If they musically worked they'd look all wrong, and if they felt all right they couldn't play. - Brian May.
This quite shy guy turned up with his immaculate Rickenbacker bass and immaculate amplifier, plugged in, and as soon as he started playing we realized it was right." - Brian May.
Later that year, the band was secured recording time at the newly built De Lane Lea studio, and used the opportunity to record several songs that would later appear on their debut album - Liar, Keep Yourself Alive, Jesus, and The Night Comes Down. The demo reel was passed around from producer to producer with little success, until a staff member of Trident records by the name of Roy Thomas Baker was introduced to the band by fellow Trident producer John Anthony. Baker dropped in to watch the band at work and, clearly liking what he heard, recommended Queen to his superiors.
It was eventually agreed upon that the fledgling band could record at Trident studios, though after already-established artists had finished their work, such as the likes of Elton John and David Bowie. Relegated to the wee hours of the morning to record the remaining tracks of their first album, the band nonetheless stuck it out until they reached their ultimate goal of "perfection".
Queen's self-titled debut album was released in 1973 and received little attention from the general public. They quickly followed it a year later with a second album, "Queen II" which also failed to generate much interest from music fans in Britain, despite the success of the album's single, Seven Seas of Rhye, which would reach #10 on the charts after the band's mimed appearance on Top of the Pops.
The band's second album was recorded with a higher budget than the first, and the band threw everything they had into recording it. Queen II was somewhat of a "concept album", split into "White Side" vs. "Black Side".
As was in their nature, the band pressed onward after the mediocre success of their first two albums, immersing themselves in a world-wide tour to promote Queen II. Queen played in America for the first time, as a support act for Mott the Hoople.
Sheer Heart Attack would be released later that year, focusing more on being accessible to listeners, than the grand and complex ideas of the previous two albums. The recording of their third album was met with some hardships, as May fell victim to a series of illnesses brought on by an infected inoculation, required for the band's rigorous touring schedule.
Sheer Heart Attack brought even more success for the band, with May's Now I'm Here and the song that would be the band's "turning point", the Mercury-penned Killer Queen, the latter of which would reach #2 on the UK charts.
During this time, the band began developing a huge following in Japan and witnessed their popularity for themselves when they visited the country, mainly in 1975, to promote their fourth and most famous album "A Night At The Opera", featuring the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody".
Queen's popularity grew steadily through the latter half of the 70s as they released hit album after hit album, reaching its peak in the mid-80s after their "Live Aid" appearance, and continuing into the early 90s before Mercury's untimely death on 24th November 1991. The official cause of death was bronchial pneumonia resulting from AIDS.
Over the course of their 30 year career, the band did sound tracks for two films ("Flash Gordon" and "Highlander"), released a string of live and studio albums, and had many many fans across the world.
In 1995, 4 years after Mercury's death, the band released the album "Made In Heaven". This album saw the surviving band members in the studio completing or reworking unused vocals, unreleased variations of Freddie solo material (a Queen version of "I Was Born To Love You" for example), and tracks where Brian and Roger added lyrics to flesh out a song ("Mother Love").
Queen have been on indefinite hiatus since 1997, when John Deacon decided to retire.
Several "Queen + ..." projects have been developed in the following years, a few of them mere remixes with no artistic involvement from the band. In 1999, a "Greatest Hits III" album was released. This featured, among others, "Queen + Wyclef Jean" on a rap version of "Another One Bites the Dust", a live version of "Somebody to Love" performed by George Michael, and a live version of "The Show Must Go On" performed live in 1997 with Elton John.
Brian May and Roger Taylor have performed together as Queen on several occasions (award ceremonies, charity concerts, and the like), sharing vocals with various guest singers. They have also recorded several covers of Queen's hits with guest vocalists, including "We Will Rock You" (first with Five and later Britney Spears, Beyonce, John Farnham and P!nk) and "We Are the Champions" (with Robbie Williams).
On the 14th of May 2002 the Queen musical 'We Will Rock You' opened in the Dominion theatre in London's 'West End'. A Musical about young people in the distant future who aren't allowed to listen to music not generated by computers. Various Queen songs are used in the story, played by a live band. This live band was supported by Brian May and Roger Taylor on the premiere evening.
At the end of 2004, May and Taylor announced that they would reunite and return to touring in 2005, with Paul Rodgers (founder and former lead singer of Free and Bad Company). Brian May's website also stated that Rodgers would be 'featured with' Queen as 'Queen + Paul Rodgers', not replacing Mercury. The retired John Deacon would not be participating.
Between 2005 and 2006 Queen + Paul Rodgers embarked on a world tour, the first leg in Europe and the second, Japan and then the US in 2006. On 15 August 2006, Brian May confirmed through his website and fan club that Queen + Paul Rodgers would begin producing their first studio album beginning in October, to be recorded at a "secret location". The album, titled The Cosmos Rocks, was released in Europe on 12 September 2008 and in the United States on 28 October 2008. Following the album the band again embarked on a tour through Europe, opening on Kharkiv's Freedom Square in front of 350,000 Ukrainian fans. The show in Ukraine was later released on DVD.
Queen and Paul Rodgers officially split up without animosity on 12 May 2009. Rodgers did not rule out the possibility of working together again.
Since 2012, Queen has been touring with Adam Lambert as the frontman.
More information about Queen + Paul Rodgers can be found on their last.fm page.
Official website: www.queenonline.com
Discography:
1.- Queen (1973)
2.- Queen II (1974)
3.- Sheer Heart Attack (1974)
4.- A Night at the Opera (1975)
5.- A Day at the Races (1976)
6.- News of the World (1977)
7.- Jazz (1978)
8.- The Game (1980)
9.- Flash Gordon (1980)
10.- Hot Space (1982)
11.- The Works (1984)
12.- A Kind of Magic (1986)
13.- The Miracle (1989)
14.- Innuendo (1991)
15.- Made in Heaven (1995)
Hello Mary Lou
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sweet Mary Lou I'm so in love with you
I knew Mary Lou - we'd never part
So hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
Pass me by one sunny day
Flashed those big brown eyes my way
I knew I wanted you for ever more
Swear my feet stuck to the ground
And, oh, I never did see you before, yeah, yeah
Said hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
Sweet Mary Lou I'm so in love with you, hey
I knew Mary Lou - we'd never part
So hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
So hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart, one more time
Yes hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
The lyrics to Hello Mary Lou are about a man who has fallen in love with Mary Lou and is saying goodbye to his heart because he knows he will never be able to let her go. He is confident in their future together and knows that they will never part. The second verse describes how Mary Lou caught his eye with her big brown eyes and he knew he wanted her forever. He admits that he is not somebody who typically falls in love easily, but Mary Lou is different.
The chorus then repeats, with the verses serving to reinforce the idea that Mary Lou is the one for him. The lyrics are upbeat, with a hint of nostalgia for a simpler time. The overall message conveyed is one of excitement and optimism for the future with the person he loves.
In terms of the music, Hello Mary Lou is a classic example of rock and roll, with a catchy melody and upbeat rhythm. The Queen cover of the song was released in 1984, and is a testament to the band's ability to put their own unique spin on classic tracks.
Overall, Hello Mary Lou is an excellent example of a love song that captures the excitement and wonder of being in love, with a classic rock and roll twist.
Line by Line Meaning
I said hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
I greeted Mary Lou with a hello and expressed my farewell to my heart, indicating that I am in love with her.
Sweet Mary Lou I'm so in love with you
I am deeply in love with Mary Lou and she is sweet to me.
I knew Mary Lou - we'd never part
I was aware that Mary Lou and I would not separate from each other.
So hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
I reiterated my expression of love and also confirmed my farewell to my heart.
Pass me by one sunny day
One sunny day, you walked past me.
Flashed those big brown eyes my way
You caught my attention by glancing at me with your beautiful big brown eyes.
I knew I wanted you for ever more
At that moment, I knew that I wanted to be with you forever.
Hey, I'm not one who gets around
I am not someone who spends time with a lot of different people.
Swear my feet stuck to the ground
I am emphasizing that I was completely captivated by you and did not move from where I was standing.
And, oh, I never did see you before, yeah, yeah
I had never seen you before that sunny day and couldn't believe how much I wanted to be with you.
Yes hello Mary Lou - goodbye heart
I am repeating my declaration of love and bidding farewell to my heart once again.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bwlubitz
I would just like to say how great it is to see such great acts like Queen, Creedence, Led Zeppelin, Paul McCartney and others perform songs of the underrated Rick Nelson. Rick is one of the most underrated talents from early rock and roll and country rock. Sure do miss you Rick.
@robinmatyjasek7390
Fair enough, but not yet at Springsteen level...
@neilburns8869
Is there any songs that Freddie Mercury couldn't turn his hand to?
This is what makes him such a legend in the music industry, not just that he can sing these songs but the fact that he can do it without really looking too out of place.
RIP you wonderful man.
RIP Freddie Mercury
@andreaelaineomeroglu9331
Freddie could sing anything and make it amazing, rock and roll, rockabilly or classic. Talented man.
@jacquieroberts2836
Absolutely fantastic without a doubt! Miss u Freddie
@erikviniciuscosta6505
Que voz linda...
@mariosaldana4006
Check out Mary Lou by The Creative Force, Amazing
@elgranmalaventurado6737
Me encanta!
@jamessmede1100
Absolutely amazing
@danielsnyder4114
This would have been an awesome partnership with the Statler Brothers. Both amazing performances