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)
Leaving Home Ain't Easy
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I breath the air
And I slam the door
And I'm on my way
I won't lay no blame
I won't call you names
'Cause I've made my break
And I won't look back
On those endless games
I'm all through with ties
I'm all tired of tears
I'm a happy man
Don't it look that way
Shakin' dust from my shoes
There's a road ahead
And there's no way back home (no way back home)
Oh but I have to say
Leavin' home ain't easy
Oh I never thought it would be easy
Leavin' on your own
Oh is the main thing calling me back
Leavin' home ain't easy
On the one you're leavin' home
Stay my love my love please stay
Stray my love what's wrong my love?
What's right my love?
Oh leavin' home ain't easy
I thought how could I think of leavin'
Leavin' on your own
Still tryin' to persuade me that
Leavin' home ain't necessarily the only way
Leavin' home ain't easy
But may be the only way
The lyrics to Queen's song Leaving Home Ain't Easy reflects on the mixed emotions that arise when one decides to leave their current situation and embark on a new journey. The song suggests that while the decision to leave may have been difficult, it had to be made in order to move forward. The lyrics convey a sense of determination and resilience to not look back and leave behind the endless games, ties and tears that came with the past.
The song touchingly emphasizes how leaving home, despite being seen as the only way, is still a challenge that can bring about feelings of doubt, nostalgia, and anxiety. Even though the singer is convinced that leaving is the best thing to do, they still feel the pull of what they're leaving behind. The lyrics urge the singer to stay, to reconsider their decision, and to acknowledge that leaving home is not necessarily the only way.
Overall, the lyrics of Leaving Home Ain't Easy resonates with anyone who has made a difficult choice to move on, despite the inevitable feelings of pain, confusion and apprehension that come with it. The song suggests that sometimes we must take a leap of faith and trust that the road ahead will lead to a better place.
Line by Line Meaning
I take a step outside
I am beginning a new journey in my life, leaving behind what I have known.
And I breathe the air
I feel free and alive as I explore new horizons.
And I slam the door
I am closing a chapter in my life and embarking on a new one.
And I'm on my way
I am excited to see where this adventure takes me.
I won't lay no blame
I am taking responsibility for my decision to leave and not blaming anyone else for my choices.
I won't call you names
I will not resort to childish behavior or hurtful words towards the people I am leaving behind.
'Cause I've made my break
I have chosen to break free from the ties that have held me back in the past.
And I won't look back
I am determined to move forward and not dwell on the past.
I've turned my back
I am leaving behind the negative aspects of my past and moving towards positivity.
On those endless games
I am done playing games and ready to start a new, authentic life.
I'm all through with ties
I am cutting ties with the people and things that have held me back in the past.
I'm all tired of tears
I am done shedding tears over the difficulties I have faced in the past and ready to move on.
I'm a happy man
I am content with my decision to leave and excited for what the future holds.
Don't it look that way
My demeanor reflects the relief and joy I feel after making my break.
Shakin' dust from my shoes
I am leaving behind the negativity and burdens of my past and starting fresh.
There's a road ahead
I am looking forward to the adventure and opportunities that await me.
And there's no way back home (no way back home)
I have made my decision to leave and there is no turning back to my old life.
Oh but I have to say
Despite my determination to move on, I still feel some hesitation and sadness towards leaving behind my old life.
Leavin' home ain't easy
My decision to leave has been a difficult one and comes with mixed emotions.
Oh I never thought it would be easy
I anticipated that making a break from my old life would be difficult, and it has proven to be so.
Leavin' on your own
I am taking control of my life and making my own decisions without the influence of others.
Oh is the main thing calling me back
Despite my decision to leave, I still feel a strong pull towards my old life and the people and things I am leaving behind.
Leavin' home ain't easy
My decision to leave comes with many uncertainties and a sense of loss.
On the one you're leavin' home
I am leaving behind the people and things that have defined my old life, and that is not an easy thing to do.
Stay my love my love please stay
I still feel a strong attachment and love towards the people I am leaving behind and wish they would come with me or convince me to stay.
Stray my love what's wrong my love?
I am questioning whether or not I am making the right decision in leaving and if something is wrong with me for doing so.
What's right my love?
I am trying to reconcile my desire for change with the potential negative consequences of my decision.
Oh leavin' home ain't easy
Despite my excitement for the future, I am aware that leaving behind my old life comes with many emotional challenges.
I thought how could I think of leavin'
I am questioning my own decision and wondering if leaving is the right choice after all.
Still tryin' to persuade me that
Those I am leaving behind are still trying to convince me to stay and not leave my old life behind.
Leavin' home ain't necessarily the only way
There may be other ways to move forward and find happiness without completely leaving behind my old life.
Leavin' home ain't easy
My decision to leave comes with many emotional challenges and uncertainties.
But may be the only way
Despite the difficult choice I am making, I believe that it is the only way to move forward and find happiness in my life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRIAN MAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind