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)
The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke
Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The fairy folk have gathered 'round the new moon shine
To see the feller crack a nut at night's noon time
To swing his axe he swears, as he climbs he dares
To deliver
The master stroke
Politician with senatorial pipe, he's a dilly-dally-o
Pedagogue squinting, wears a frown
And a satyr peers under lady's gown, dirty fellow
What a dirty laddio
Tatterdemalion and the junketer
There's a thief and a dragonfly trumpeter, he's my hero
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow (can we see the master stroke)
What a quaere fellow
Soldier, sailor, tinker, tailor, ploughboy
Waiting to hear the sound
And the arch-magician presides
He is the leader
Oberon and Titania watched by a harridan
Mab is the queen and there's a good apothecary-man
Come to say hello
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow
What a quaere fellow
The ostler stares with hands on his knees
Come on mister feller, crack it open if you please
The Fairy Feller's Master-Stroke is a strange and unique song written by the legendary British rock band Queen, and was released in 1974. The song is a strange narrative that depicts different fairy creatures who have gathered to see the fairy feller perform a magic trick - cracking a nut at noon. The fairy feller is seen as a hero and leader, highly respected by the fairy folk who have gathered to observe him. Queen set the song in a whimsical melody that adds to the mystique and surreal feel of the song. The song is a blend of classical and progressive rock and is often cited as one of the best examples of unusual songwriting in rock music history.
The lyrics describe a scene where the fairy folk have gathered to observe the fairy feller and his magic trick. He is seen as a fearless leader who is willing to deliver the master stroke with his axe. The song is full of mythical and whimsical creatures such as satyrs, dragons, nymphs, and fairies. The song is also highly symbolic and allegorical, as each creature represents the different facets of human life and society. For example, politicians and teachers are represented by the pedagogue, while the ploughmen and waggoneers are represented by other creatures. The song is a fascinating exploration of the human condition and how society functions under different leadership.
Line by Line Meaning
He's a fairy feller
The subject of the song is a fairy feller
The fairy folk have gathered 'round the new moon shine
The fairies have gathered to watch the fairy feller perform his task in the moonlight
To see the feller crack a nut at night's noon time
The fairies are watching the fairy feller do something incredible and impressive in the middle of the night
To swing his axe he swears, as he climbs he dares
The fairy feller is confident in his abilities as he climbs with his axe
To deliver / The master stroke
The fairy feller is about to perform an impressive and masterful action
Ploughman, 'waggoner will' and types / Politician with senatorial pipe, he's a dilly-dally-o / Pedagogue squinting, wears a frown / And a satyr peers under lady's gown, dirty fellow / What a dirty laddio / Tatterdemalion and the junketer / There's a thief and a dragonfly trumpeter, he's my hero / Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend / The nymph in yellow (can we see the master stroke) / What a quaere fellow
A variety of characters, from ordinary to fantastical, are watching the fairy feller in anticipation of the master stroke. They are fascinated and impressed with the fairy feller and his actions.
Soldier, sailor, tinker, tailor, ploughboy / Waiting to hear the sound / And the arch-magician presides / He is the leader
People from all walks of life are waiting to hear the fairy feller's master stroke. The arch-magician is presiding over the event as the leader.
Oberon and Titania watched by a harridan / Mab is the queen and there's a good apothecary-man / Come to say hello / Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend / The nymph in yellow / What a quaere fellow
Even Oberon and Titania, the king and queen of the fairies, are watching the fairy feller. They are accompanied by a harridan and a good apothecary-man. The fairy feller is still admired by the nymph in yellow.
The ostler stares with hands on his knees / Come on mister feller, crack it open if you please
Even the ostler is watching the fairy feller, and he encourages him to perform his master stroke.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Freddie Mercury
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Edscape
This blew me away when I heard it all those years ago. No wonder I couldn't I couldn't figure out the words.
He's a fairy feller
The fairy folk have gathered round the new moon shine
To see the feller crack a nut at nights noon time
To swing his axe he swears, as it climbs he dares
To deliver...
The master-stroke
Ploughman, "waggoner will", and types
Politician with senatorial pope - he's a dilly-dally-o
Pedagogue squinting, wears a frown
And a satyr peers under lady's gown, dirty fellow
What a dirty laddio
Tatterdemalion and a junketer
There's a thief and a dragonfly trumpeter - he's my hero
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow
What a quaere fellow
Soldier, sailor, tinker, tailor, ploughboy
Waiting to hear the sound
And the arch-magician presides
He is the leader
Oberon and titania watched by a harridan
Mab is the queen and there's a good apothecary-man
Come to say hello
Fairy dandy tickling the fancy of his lady friend
The nymph in yellow
What a quaere fellow
The ostler stares with hands on his knees
Come on mr. feller, crack it open if you please
Andrew Bishop
I love all Queen songs, but the ones they wrote in the 70's had such a magical quality
Armani Wardhani
yeah, I feel that too. It feels like freddie take me back to the middle age fairy tales.
CMcc
Queen 2 had some great songs that get very little airplay
Geiner Elizondo
Agree!
Mean Mister-Mustard
All of Q2 most of Q1 and bits and pieces of the next three. Captured an amazing magical spell feeling, If they stopped recording then and there, its still more than enough stuff to love them.
Mean Mister-Mustard
Teo Torriatte Creativity made them change. Their collective favourite group was the Beatles. I guess they were taking a leaf out of their book, by changing and developing
FrankCegelski60@gmail.com Cegelski
..in 8th grade I learned a lot of new words by listening to Queen....
Lais Sandy
same
it's like the same but different
Me too.
lusmas99
At age of 15 when I first head this song, lyrics were not provided with the Vinyl album, I had no clue what he was singing about. Later, when I got my hands on lyrics, I still needed a dictionary to understand the lyrics. Queen expanded my English vocabulary as well as Spanish, French and Japanese.