Queen are an English rock band formed in 1970 in London by guitarist Brian May, lead vocalist Freddie Mercury, and drummer Roger Taylor, with bass guitarist John Deacon joining the following year. Queen rose to prominence during the 1970s and are arguably Britain's most successful band of the past thirty years.^[1] This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the genre. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Parlophone is a record label, founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company. ... Hollywood Records is a record label owned by Disney Music Group. ... For the Australian film composer, see Brian May (composer). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the motorcyclist, see John Deacon (motorcyclist). ... -1... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the genre. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For the Australian film composer, see Brian May (composer). ... -1... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the motorcyclist, see John Deacon (motorcyclist). ...

The band is noted for their musical diversity, multi-layered arrangements, vocal harmonies, and incorporation of audience participation into their live performances.^[2] Their 1985 Live Aid performance was voted the best live rock performance of all time in an industry poll.^[3] For other uses, see Audience (disambiguation). ... Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on July 13, 1985). ...

Queen had moderate success in the early 1970s, with the albums Queen and Queen II, but it was with the release of Sheer Heart Attack in 1974 and A Night at the Opera the following year that the band gained international success. Since 1975, eighteen of the band's albums have reached number one on numerous charts around the world. Since 1973, they have released fifteen studio albums, five live albums, and numerous compilation albums. Alternate cover United States cover Singles from Queen Released: July 6, 1973 Released: February 14, 1974 (US only) Queen is the self-titled debut album from the English rock band Queen, released in 1973. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... For other uses, see A Night at the Opera (disambiguation). ... A studio album is a collection of studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... A live album – commonly contrasted with a studio album – is a recording consisting of material (usually music) recorded during stage performances. ... A compilation album is an album (music or spoken-word) featuring tracks from one or multiple recording artists, often culled from a variety of sources (such as studio albums, live albums, singles, demos and outtakes. ...

Following Mercury's death in 1991 and Deacon's retirement later in the decade,^[4] May and Taylor have performed infrequently under the Queen name. Since 2005, they have been collaborating with Paul Rodgers, under the moniker Queen + Paul Rodgers, which has led to Queen recording their first studio album in 13 years. Paul Rodgers, (born December 17, 1949) is an English rock singer-songwriter best known for being a member of Free and Bad Company. ... The Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration began in late 2004 when Queen were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. ...

History

Early days (1968–1973)

In 1969, guitarist Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist Tim Staffell decided to form a group. May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a "Mitch Mitchell/Ginger Baker type" drummer; Roger Taylor, a young dental student, auditioned and got the job. They called the group Smile and served as a support act for bands such as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Yes and the original Genesis. Smile were signed to Mercury Records in 1969, and had their first session in a recording studio in Trident Studios that year. Staffell was attending Ealing Art College with Farrokh Bulsara, later known as Freddie Mercury, and introduced him to the band. Bulsara soon became a keen fan. Staffell left in 1970 to join another band, Humpy Bong;^[5] the remaining Smile members, encouraged by Bulsara, changed their name to "Queen" and continued working together.^[5] The band had a number of bass players during this period who did not fit with the band's chemistry. It was not until February 1971 that they settled on John Deacon and began to rehearse for the first album.^[6] For the UK magazine, see Guitarist (magazine). ... Royal School of Mines Entrance Imperial College London is a college of the University of London which focuses on science and technology, and is located in South Kensington in London. ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ... Tim Staffell (b. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Peter Edward Ginger Baker (born August 19, 1939, Lewisham, South London) is an English drummer who gained fame as a member of the Graham Bond Organization (GBO) and Cream from 1966 until 1968. ... Smile were a London-based rock band best known as the predecessor to renowned rock band Queen. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that initially earned recognition for their psychedelic or space rock music, and, as they evolved, for their progressive rock music. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Genesis are an English rock band formed in 1967. ... Mercury Records is a record label currently headquartered in the UK, and is a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. ... Ealing Art College is a school of higher educational in St. ... Freddie Mercury Freddie Mercury (September 5, 1946 - November 24, 1991) was a singer and the lead vocalist of the British Rock band Queen. ... It is proposed that this article be deleted, because of the following concern: NN band with very loose connection to Queen If you can address this concern by improving, copyediting, sourcing, renaming or merging the page, please edit this page and do so. ... Deon Rexroat of Anberlin. ...

In 1973, after a series of delays, Queen released their first album, a self-titled project influenced by the heavy metal and progressive rock of the day. The album was received well by critics; Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone said "their debut album is superb,"^[7] and Chicago's Daily Herald called it an "above average debut".^[8] However, it drew little mainstream attention and the lead single "Keep Yourself Alive," a Brian May composition, sold poorly. Greg Prato of All Music Guide called it "one of the most underrated hard rock debuts of all time."^[9] Alternate cover United States cover Singles from Queen Released: July 6, 1973 Released: February 14, 1974 (US only) Queen is the self-titled debut album from the English rock band Queen, released in 1973. ... This article is about the magazine. ... The Daily Herald is a daily newspaper printed in the Chicago suburb of Arlington Heights. ... Keep Yourself Alive was the first track on the British rock group Queens debut album, written by Brian May. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music, owned by All Media Guide. ...

The album Queen II was released in 1974. The album reached number five on the British album charts,^[10] while the Freddie Mercury-written lead single "Seven Seas of Rhye,"^[10] reached number ten in the UK, giving the band their first hit. The album is their heaviest and darkest release,^[11] featuring long complex instrumental passages, fantasy-themed lyrics and musical virtuosity. The band toured as support to Mott the Hoople in the UK & United States during this period, and they began to gain notice for their energetic and engaging stage shows. However, album sales in the US were, like those of its predecessor, low.
This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Seven Seas Of Rhye is a song performed by British rock group Queen and written by Freddie Mercury. ... Mott the Hoople were a 1970s English rock and roll and glam rock band with strong R&B roots. ...

Breakthrough era (1974–1979)

Because of medical complications, May was absent when the band started work on their third album, Sheer Heart Attack, released in 1974. The album reached number two in the United Kingdom,^[12] sold well throughout Europe, and went gold in the United States.^[13] It gave the band their first real taste of commercial success. The album experimented with a variety of musical genres, including British Music Hall ("Killer Queen"), heavy metal ("Flick of the Wrist", "Brighton Rock", "Tenement Funster", "Now I'm Here", and "Stone Cold Crazy" – a song which Metallica would later cover and earn a Grammy for), ballads ("Lily Of The Valley" and "Dear Friends"), ragtime ("Bring Back That Leroy Brown") and Caribbean ("Misfire"). At this point Queen started to move away from the progressive tendencies of their first two releases into a more radio-friendly, song-oriented style. Sheer Heart Attack introduced new sound and melody patterns that would be refined on their next album A Night at the Opera. For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Music Hall is a form of British theatrical entertainment which reached its peak of popularity between 1850 and 1960. ... Killer Queen ( ) is a song by the British rock band Queen. ... Heavy metals, in chemistry, are chemical elements of a particular range of atomic weights. ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... Now Im Here is a song by the British rock band Queen. ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ... The music of the Caribbean is a diverse grouping of musical genres. ... For the Queen song of the same name, see News of the World (album). ...

The single "Killer Queen" reached number two on the British charts,^[10] and became their first U.S. hit, reaching number twelve in the Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits.^[14] It combines camp, vaudeville, British music hall with May’s guitar virtuosity. The album’s second single, "Now I’m Here", a more traditional hard rock composition, was a number eleven hit in Britain. Killer Queen ( ) is a song by the British rock band Queen. ... This article is about the musical variety theatre. ... Hard Rock redirects here. ...

In 1975, the band left for a world tour with each member in Zandra Rhodes-created costumes and banks of lights and effects. They toured the US, headlining for the first time, and played in Canada for the first time in April. Also at this time, the band's manager Jim Beach negotiated the band out of their Trident contract. They considered options, one of whom was Led Zeppelin’s manager, Peter Grant. Grant wanted them to sign with Led Zeppelin’s own production company, Swan Song Records. This was unacceptable to Queen, so instead they contacted Elton John’s manager, John Reid, who accepted the position.^[15] In April 1975 the band toured Japan for the first time. Zandra Lindsey Rhodes (born 19 September 1940 in Chatham, Kent) is an English clothes designer, most prominent in the 1970s, known for her unusual clothes in loud colours. ... For the bands 1969 eponymous debut album, see Led Zeppelin (album). ... Peter Grant in 1973 Peter Grant, (April 5, 1935 – November 21, 1995) was a manager for The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and Bad Company, and a record executive for Swan Song Records. ... Swan Song Records was a record label launched by Led Zeppelin on May 10, 1974. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... John Reid is a Scottish manager and music industry figure currently living and working in Australia. ...

Later that year the band recorded and released A Night at the Opera. At the time, it was the most expensive album ever produced.^[16] Like its predecessor, the album features diverse musical styles and experimentation with stereo sound. In "The Prophet's Song", an eight-minute epic, the middle section is a canon, with simple phrases layered to create a full-choral sound. The album was very successful in Britain,^[10] and went triple platinum in the United States.^[13]. It is considered their magnum opus; in 2003, it was ranked number 230 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.^[17] For other uses, see A Night at the Opera (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see A Night at the Opera (disambiguation). ... In music, a canon is a contrapuntal composition that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e. ... “Golden record” redirects here. ... This article is about the magazine. ... The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2003. ...

The album also featured the hit single "Bohemian Rhapsody", which was number one in the United Kingdom for nine weeks,^[10] and is Britain’s third-best-selling single of all time; it also reached number nine in the United States (a 1992 re-release reached number two).^[14] Bohemian Rhapsody has been voted, several times, the greatest song of all time.^[18][19] The band decided to make a video to go with the single. The second single from the album, "You're My Best Friend", peaked at sixteen in the United States^[14] and went on to become a worldwide Top Ten hit.^{[citation needed]}   is a song written by Freddie Mercury and originally recorded by the band Queen for their 1975 album A Night at the Opera. ... Youre My Best Friend is a song penned by John Deacon and performed by Queen. ...

By 1976, Queen were back in the studio, where they recorded A Day at the Races, what may be mistaken simply as a companion album to A Night at the Opera.^[20] It again borrowed the name of a Marx Brothers' movie, and its cover was similar to that of A Night at the Opera, a variation on the same Queen Crest. Musically, the album was by both fans’ and critics’ standards a strong effort, and reached number one on the British charts.^[10] The major hit on the album was "Somebody to Love", a gospel-inspired song in which Mercury, May, and Taylor multi-tracked their voices to make a 100-voice gospel choir. The song went to number two in the United Kingdom,^[10] and number thirteen on the U.S. singles chart.^[14]. The album also featured one of the band's heaviest songs, Brian May’s "Tie Your Mother Down", which became a staple of their live shows.^[21] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the comedian siblings. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Tie Your Mother Down ( ) is a Queen song, written by guitarist Brian May, which features one of rock musics most recognizable guitar riffs. ...

Also in 1976, Queen played one of their most famous gigs, a 1976 free concert in Hyde Park, London. It set an attendance record, with 150,000 people confirmed in the audience.^[22] “Hyde Park” redirects here. ...

Freddie Mercury during a 1979 concert in Hannover.

News of the World was released a year later. It contained many songs tailor-made for live performance, including "We Will Rock You" and the rock ballad "We Are the Champions", both of which reached number four in the United States and became enduring international sports anthems.^[14] Roger Taylor released his first solo effort in 1977 in the form of a single: the A-side was a cover of a song by The Parliaments "I Wanna Testify", and the B-side was a song by Taylor called "Turn On The TV". Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Map of Germany showing Hanover Hanover (in German: Hannover [haˈnoːfɐ]), on the river Leine, is the capital of the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... We Are The Champions is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. ... Stadium anthems or sports anthems are a musical genre identifying songs that are played over the public address systems at stadiums and arenas during breaks in the action to rally the fans. ... The Parliaments were an early doo-wop singing group from Plainfield, New Jersey. ...

In 1978 the band released Jazz, including the hit singles "Fat Bottomed Girls" and "Bicycle Race" which were also released as a double-A-side single. The word "jazz" was not used in a strict sense, and the album was noted by critics for its collection of different styles, jazz not being one of them.^[23] Rolling Stone typically criticised it for being "dull", saying "Queen hasn’t the imagination to play jazz – Queen hasn't the imagination, for that matter, to play rock & roll."^[23] Important tracks of the album include "Dead on Time", "Don't Stop Me Now", "Let Me Entertain You", and "Mustapha", in which Arabesque music is combined with heavy rock guitar. Jazz is a 1978 album by English rock band Queen. ... Fat Bottomed Girls ( ) is a hit single by the English rock band Queen. ... For the sport, see Bicycle racing. ... For other uses, see Jazz (disambiguation). ... This article is about the magazine. ... Jazz is a 1978 album by English rock band Queen. ... Dont Stop Me Now ( ) is a 1979 hit single by Queen, from their 1978 album Jazz. ... Jazz is a 1978 album by English rock band Queen. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Arabesk. ...

The band’s first live album, Live Killers, was released in 1979; it went platinum twice in the United States.^[24] They also released the very successful single "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", a rockabilly song done in the style of Elvis Presley. The song made the top 10 in many countries, and was the band’s first number one single in the United States.^[14] Live Killers is a double vinyl and compact disc live album by English rock band Queen released on June 26, 1979. ... Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a song performed by the English rock band Queen, written by singer Freddie Mercury. ... Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, and emerged in the early-1950s. ... Elvis redirects here. ...

New sound and synthesisers (1980–1989)

1984, live in Frankfurt

Heretofor, their albums featured a distinctive "No Synthesisers were used on this Album" sleevenote to emphasise their stance that rock music should not involve the use of synthesisers.^[25] Queen began the 1980s with The Game. It featured the singles "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" and "Another One Bites the Dust", both of which reached number one in the United States.^[14] The album stayed number one for four weeks in the United States,^[26] and sold over four million copies.^[13] It was also the only album to ever top the Billboard rock, dance, and R&B charts simultaneously. The album also marked the first appearance of a synthesiser on a Queen album. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Singles from The Game Released: October 5, 1979 Released: January 25, 1980 Released: May 30, 1980 Released: August 22, 1980 Released: November, 1980 (US, Japan) The Game is a rock album by English band Queen released June 30, 1980. ... Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a song performed by the English rock band Queen, written by singer Freddie Mercury. ... Another One Bites the Dust is a 1980 funk/rock song from the English rock band Queen, written by bassist John Deacon and was a worldwide crossover hit (hitting number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, hitting #2 on the R&B charts, and the Disco Top 100). ... It has been suggested that Billboard be merged into this article or section. ... This article is about the genre. ... Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. ... R&B redirects here. ...

1980 also saw the release of the soundtrack Queen had recorded for Flash Gordon. Flash Gordon is a 1980 album by English rock band Queen. ... Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction film, based on the eponymous comic strip character Flash Gordon. ...

In 1981, Queen became the first major rock band to play in South American stadiums. Queen played to a total audience of 479,000 people on their South American tour, including five shows in Argentina. In October 1981, Queen performed for more than 150,000 fans at Monterrey (Estadio Universitario) and Puebla (Estadio Zaragoza), Mexico. South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Estadio Universitario The Estadio Universitario de Nuevo León – nicknamed El Volcán (the volcano) – is a stadium property of the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, located in its premises in the Monterrey metropolitan area, in the municipality of San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León...

Also in 1981, Queen worked with David Bowie on the single "Under Pressure". The first-time collaboration with another artist was spontaneous, as Bowie happened to drop by the studio while Queen were recording.^[27] The band were immediately pleased with the results, but Bowie did not play the song live for several years.^{[citation needed]} Upon its release, the song was extremely successful, reaching number one in Britain. The bass line was later used for Vanilla Ice's 1990 hit "Ice Ice Baby", prompting the threat of a lawsuit over the use of the sample. The lawsuit did not make it to court and was settled for an undisclosed amount.^[28] David Bowie (pronounced ) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English musician, actor, producer, arranger, and audio engineer. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A bassline is a series of notes with tones that are low in pitch or frequency. ... Robert Matthew Van Winkle (born October 31, 1967 in Dallas, Texas), best known as Vanilla Ice, is a Grammy Award nominated, American Music Award winning American rapper and actor known for the 1990 smash hit Ice Ice Baby. ... Ice Ice Baby is rapper Vanilla Ices most famous and popular song, released from his second album To The Extreme. ...

Later that year, Queen released their first compilation album, entitled Greatest Hits, which showcased the group's highlights from 1974-1981. It was highly successful, and as of 2007, it is the United Kingdom's best selling album.^[29] Taylor became the first member of the band to release his own solo album in 1981, entitled Fun In Space. A compilation album is an album (music or spoken-word) featuring tracks from one or multiple recording artists, often culled from a variety of sources (such as studio albums, live albums, singles, demos and outtakes. ... Greatest Hits [Elektra] is a 1981 Queen compilation. ... Queen drummer Roger Taylor released his first solo album Fun In Space in May of 1981 in the UK and US. The album was the first solo album bya Queen member. ...

Queen concert in Norway in 1982.

In 1982 the band released the funk album Hot Space. The band stopped touring North America after their Hot Space Tour, as their success there had waned, although they would perform on American television for the first and only time during the eighth season premiere of Saturday Night Live. Queen left Elektra Records, their label in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand, and signed onto EMI/Capitol Records. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ... Hot Space is an album by English rock band Queen, released in 1982 (see 1982 in music). ... North American redirects here. ... The Hot Space Tour was a concert tour made by the british Rock band Queen, the tour was made as the supporting of their album Hot Space. ... SNL redirects here. ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... For other uses, see EMI (disambiguation). ... Capitol Records is a major United States-based record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood, California. ...

After working steadily for over ten years, Queen decided that they would not perform any live shows in 1983. During this time, they recorded a new album, and several members of the band explored side projects and solo work. May released a mini-album entitled Star Fleet Project, on which he collaborated with Eddie Van Halen. A computer musician composer in Canada, Kevin Chamberlain, helped with vocals and background music for Mercury's solo project^{[citation needed]}, which was later canceled due to creative differences. Star Fleet Project is a solo project by Brian May, most famous as the guitarist from Queen, which resulted on an album with the same name. ... Edward Lodewijk Eddie Van Halen (born January 26, 1955)[1], is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer most famous for being the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Van Halen. ...

In 1984, Queen released the album The Works, which included the successful singles "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free". Despite these hit singles, the album failed to do well in the United States. "Radio Ga Ga" was the band's last original American Top Forty hit until 1989's "I Want It All". Singles from The Works Released: January 23, 1984 Released: April 2, 1984 Released: July 16, 1984 Released: September 10, 1984 The Works is a 1984 pop/rock album by English band Queen. ... Radio Ga Ga is a song performed and recorded by the band Queen, written by their drummer Roger Taylor. ... I Want to Break Free ( ) is a song performed by Queen, which was written exclusively by bassist John Deacon. ... I Want It All is a song by the English rock band Queen. ...

Queen embarked that year on a set of dates during their The Works Tour in Bophuthatswana, South Africa at the arena at Sun City.^[30] Upon returning to England, they were the subject of outrage, having played there during the height of apartheid and in violation of worldwide divestment efforts. The band stated that they were playing music for fans in that country, and stressed that the concerts were played before integrated audiences. However, they have since been colloquially known as the "Sun City Rockers", a term used in a disparaging sense to reflect how their actions were condemned as 'hard to defend' by many people.^{[citation needed]} The Works Tour was one of the largest tours made by the british Rock band Queen, during this tour, Queen participate in the Rock in Rio festival in 1985, the concer was realised in VHS but there isnt any worldwide DVD reaization til date. ... Bophuthatswana as of 1977 Flag of Bophuthatswana bantustan Bophuthatswana was a former Bantustan (homeland) in the north of South Africa. ... The Bridge of Time facing the Entertainment Centre Sun City is a luxury South African casino resort, situated in the North West Province. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ... A segregated beach in South Africa, 1982. ...

In early 1985, the band headlined two nights of the first Rock in Rio festival, alongside Iron Maiden. They were booked for January 11 and January 18, but since on both nights the band only got to the stage well past midnight, so some sources mention January 12 and January 19. On each night, they played for 325,000 people. Mercury also released his first solo album, Mr. Bad Guy, in April. At Live Aid, held at Wembley on July 13, 1985, Queen performed some of their greatest hits in what has been considered their best performance to date.^[31] Queen at Rock in Rio (1985) Rock in Rio is a series of rock festivals held in Brazil and later in Portugal. ... Iron Maiden are a British heavy metal band from east London. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Mr. ... Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on July 13, 1985). ... is the 194th day of the year (195th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Revitalised by the response to Live Aid and the resulting increase in record sales, Queen ended 1985 by releasing the single "One Vision". The song was used in the film Iron Eagle. Also, a limited-edition boxed set containing all Queen albums was released under the title of "The Complete Works". This article or section cites very few or no references or sources. ... Iron Eagle is a 1986 action film about a teenage boy named Doug Masters (Jason Gedrick) who steals an American F-16 fighter jet to rescue his father (Tim Thomerson), a prisoner of war being held in an unidentified rogue Middle Eastern country. ...

In early 1986, Queen recorded the album A Kind of Magic, containing several songs written for the Russell Mulcahy film Highlander. The album was very successful, producing a string of hits including the title track "A Kind of Magic", which contains the key lyrics 'There can be only one', a reference to the movie's plot; "Friends Will Be Friends", "Who Wants to Live Forever" and "Princes of the Universe". A Kind of Magic is a 1986 album by English rock band Queen. ... Russell Mulcahy (born June 23, 1953 born in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian film director. ... Highlander is a 1986 film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. ... This article is about the song A Kind of Magic. ... Friends Will Be Friends, a Queen song written by Freddie Mercury and John Deacon, from the album [[A Kind Of Magic]], was released in the UK on June 9, 1986. ... Who Wants to Live Forever is a song by the English rock band Queen. ... Princes of the Universe is a song written by Freddie Mercury and performed by Queen. ...

Later that year, Queen went on a sold-out tour (the band's largest) in support of A Kind of Magic. The Magic Tour's highlight was at Wembley Stadium in London and resulted in the live double album, Queen Live At Wembley Stadium, released on CD and as a live concert film. They could not book Wembley for a third night because it was already booked, but they did play at Knebworth Park. The show sold out within two hours and over 120,000 fans packed the park for what proved to be Queen's final live performance with Mercury.^[32] More than 1 million people saw Queen on the tour – 400,000 in the United Kingdom alone, a record at the time.^[30] The Magic Tour was the last Tour made by the british Rock band Queen with their lead singer Freddie Mercury, the next bands tour Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour was made by only 2 of the former membes of the band Brian May and Roger Taylor with Paul Rodgerss... For the new stadium, see Wembley Stadium. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Live At Wembley Stadium is an album by rock group Queen which features live recordings from a concert at Wembley Stadium. ... This article details all the concerts held to date in the grounds of Knebworth House in the village of Knebworth. ...

After working on various solo projects during 1988 (including Mercury's collaboration with Montserrat Caballé, Barcelona) the band released The Miracle in 1989. The album continued the direction of A Kind of Magic, using a pop-rock sound mixed with a few heavy numbers. It spawned the European hits "I Want It All", "Breakthru", "The Invisible Man", "Scandal", and "The Miracle". Montserrat Caballé Maria de Montserrat Viviana Concepción Caballé i Folc, better known as Montserrat Caballé (born April 12, 1933), is a Catalan Spanish operatic soprano renowned for her bel canto technique and her interpretations of the roles of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. ... Barcelona is an album recorded by Freddie Mercury, the front-man of the popular British rock band Queen, and operatic soprano Montserrat Caballé. The album was recorded in 1987 and 1988 when Freddie Mercury was ill with AIDS, and released in 1988. ... The Miracle is a 1989 album by English rock band Queen. ... I Want It All is a song by the English rock band Queen. ... Breakthru is a song by English rock band Queen. ... The Invisible Man is a song by English rock band Queen, written by drummer Roger Taylor. ... Scandal is the fourth single from Queens 1989 album The Miracle. ... The Miracle is the fifth and last single from Queens 1989 album The Miracle. ...

The Miracle also began a change in direction of Queen's songwriting philosophy. Since the band's beginning, nearly all songs had been written by and credited to a single member, with other members adding minimally. With The Miracle, however, the band's songwriting became more collaborative, and they vowed to credit the final product only to Queen as a group.^[33]

The final albums and Mercury's death (1990–1997)

After fans and the tabloid press noted Mercury's gaunt appearance in public during 1988, rumours began to spread that Mercury was suffering from AIDS. For reasons still not confirmed, Mercury flatly denied them at the time, insisting he was merely "exhausted" and too busy to provide interviews.^{[citation needed]} However, the band decided to continue making albums free of internal conflict and differences, starting with The Miracle and continuing with Innuendo, which was recorded during 1990 but not released until the beginning of 1991 as Mercury's health was a major factor in the delay. This article is about the newspaper size. ... For other uses, see AIDS (disambiguation). ... Innuendo is a 1991 album by English rock band Queen. ...

Despite his deteriorating health, Mercury continued to contribute, working in a creative fervor.^{[citation needed]} The band released their second greatest hits compilation, Greatest Hits II, in October 1991. Greatest Hits II is a 1991 Queen compilation. ...

On 23 November 1991, in a prepared statement made on his deathbed, Mercury finally confirmed that he had AIDS. He died the following day at the age of 45. His funeral service was private, held in accordance with the Zoroastrian religious faith of his family. is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar. ... Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra, Zartosht). ...

"Bohemian Rhapsody" was re-released as a single shortly after Mercury's death, with "These Are the Days of Our Lives" as the B-side. The single went to number 1 for the second time in the UK. Initial proceeds from the single – approximately £1,000,000 – were donated to the Terrence Higgins Trust.^[34] The Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns on various issues related to AIDS and HIV. In particular, the Trust aims to reduce the spread of HIV and promote good sexual health (including safe sex); to provide services on a national and local level to people with, affected...

Queen's popularity increased once again in the United States after "Bohemian Rhapsody" was featured in the comedy film Wayne's World, helping the song reach number two for five weeks in the United States charts in 1992. The song was made into a Wayne's World music video, with which the band and management were delighted.^{[citation needed]} Waynes World is a 1992 comedy film starring Mike Myers as Wayne Campbell and Dana Carvey as Garth Algar, hosts of a cable access television show (called Waynes World) from Aurora, Illinois. ...

On 20 April 1992, the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert was held at London's Wembley Stadium. Performers included Def Leppard, Joe Elliott, Lisa Stansfield, Elton John, David Bowie, Robert Plant, Tony Iommi, Annie Lennox, Axl Rose, Slash and Guns N' Roses, Extreme, Roger Daltrey, George Michael, Ian Hunter, Mick Ronson, Zucchero, Metallica, Liza Minnelli, and Spinal Tap, along with the three remaining members of Queen, performed many of Queen's major hits. It was a successful concert that was televised to over 1 billion viewers worldwide.^[30] The concert is listed in The Guinness Book of Records as "The largest rock star benefit concert."^[35] It raised over £20,000,000 for AIDS charities.^[34] is the 110th day of the year (111th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert poster The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert for AIDS Awareness was an open-air concert held on Easter Monday, April 20, 1992 at Londons Wembley Stadium, televised live worldwide to an estimated audience of one billion viewers. ... Def Leppard are an English hard rock band from Sheffield who formed in 1977 as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. ... Joe Elliott in the music video for Def Leppards Bringin on the Heartbreak (1981). ... Lisa Jane Stansfield (born April 11, 1966), better known as Lisa Stansfield, is an English R&B and soul singer from the United Kingdom. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... David Bowie (pronounced ) (born David Robert Jones on 8 January 1947) is an English musician, actor, producer, arranger, and audio engineer. ... Robert Anthony Plant (born August 20, 1948, West Bromwich, West Midlands, England), is an English rock singer and songwriter, famous for his membership in the rock band Led Zeppelin as the lead vocalist, as well as for his successful solo career. ... Frank Anthony Tony Iommi (born February 19, 1948, in Aston, Birmingham, England) is a guitarist best known for his tenure in the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. ... Annie Lennox (born 25 December 1954) is a Scottish musician, vocalist, and Academy Award-winning songwriter. ... W. Axl Rose[1][2] (born William Bruce Rose, Jr. ... Look up slash in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Guns N Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. ... Extreme is an American rock band that achieved popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s. ... Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE (born 1 March 1944), is a rock vocalist, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. ... For other persons named George Michael, see George Michael (disambiguation). ... Ian Hunter (born Ian Hunter Patterson on June 3, 1939 in Oswestry, Shropshire, England) was the lead singer of the band Mott the Hoople from 1969 until the band broke up in 1974. ... Mick Ronson (May 26, 1946 – April 29, 1993) born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire was an English guitarist, composer, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer. ... Adelmo Fornaciari (born September 25, 1955), more commonly known by his stage name Zucchero, is an Italian rock singer. ... Metallica is a Grammy Award-winning American heavy metal/thrash metal band formed in 1981[1] and has become one of the most commercially successful musical acts of recent decades. ... Liza May Minnelli (born March 12, 1946 in Los Angeles, California) is an Academy Award-winning American actress and singer. ... For other uses, see Spinal Tap (disambiguation). ... A benefit concert is a concert featuring musicians, comedians, or other performers that is held for a charitable purpose, often directed at a specific and immediate humanitarian crisis. ...

The band also terminated their Capitol Records contract and signed a deal with Hollywood Records as their new U.S label. Hollywood Records is a record label owned by Disney Music Group. ...

The statue of Freddie Mercury in Montreux that is also featured on the cover of the album Made in Heaven (1995).

Queen never actually disbanded, although their last album of original material, titled Made in Heaven, was released in 1995, four years after Mercury's death. It was constructed from Mercury's final recording sessions in 1991, plus material left over from their previous studio albums. In addition, re-worked material from Mercury's solo album Mr. Bad Guy and a track originally featured on the first album of Taylor's side-project The Cross were included. May and Taylor have often been involved in projects related to raising money for AIDS research. John Deacon's last involvement with the band was in 1997, when the band recorded the track "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)". It was the last original song recorded by all three remaining members of Queen, and it was released as a bonus track on the Queen Rocks compilation album later that year. For other uses, see Montreux (disambiguation). ... For the film, see Made in Heaven (film). ... For the film, see Made in Heaven (film). ... For the Sigrid Undset historical novel, see The Cross (novel). ... No-One But You (Only the Good Die Young) is the only new song recorded by the remaining three members of the British rock band Queen following the death of Freddie Mercury not having been conceived and constructed before his death. ... Queen Rocks is a compilation album by the English rock band Queen, released in 1997. ...

"Queen + ..." projects

Several Queen + projects were 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 album featured, among others, "Queen + Wyclef Jean" on a rap version of "Another One Bites the Dust"; a live version of "Somebody to Love" by George Michael; and a live version of "The Show Must Go On", performed live in 1997 with Elton John. Greatest Hits III is a compilation of latter-day Queen (Queen+) songs, the band members solo hits and the bands collaborations with other artists. ... Nelust Wyclef Jean (IPA: ) (born October 17, 1972) is a Haitian-American rapper, guitarist, producer, and member of the hip hop trio The Fugees. ... RAP may mean: the IATA airport code for Rapid City Regional Airport Rassemblement pour lalternative progressiste, a Québecois political party. ... For other persons named George Michael, see George Michael (disambiguation). ...

Brian May and Roger Taylor performed together as Queen on several occasions (award ceremonies, charity concerts, and the like), sharing vocals with various guest singers. They also recorded several covers of Queen's hits with guest vocalists, including "We Will Rock You" (with Five and later, Britney Spears, Beyonce, and Pink) and "We Are the Champions" (with Robbie Williams).

In 2003, four new songs were recorded by Queen for Nelson Mandela's 46664 campaign against AIDS. The studio versions of Invincible Hope (Queen + Nelson Mandela, feat. Treana Morris), 46664 - The Call, Say It's Not True, and Amandla (Anastacia, Dave Stewart and Queen) have not yet been released on album. For other people named Mandela, or other uses, see Mandela. ... 46664 is the prisoner number of Nelson Mandela from his imprisonment in 1964 to his release in 1990, and the title used for a series of AIDS charity concerts (the motto: Aids is not a disease it is a human rights issue). Mandela is sometimes referred to, reverently, as prisoner...

Also, in 2002, Queen collaborated with Ben Elton to make a musical based on their greatest hits, called We Will Rock You. It will run till October 2008 in the Dominion Theatre, London and spawned many over-seas versions. We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. ...

Queen + Paul Rodgers

Main article: Queen + Paul Rodgers

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 the late Freddie Mercury. The retired Deacon would not be participating;^[4] Danny Miranda of Blue Öyster Cult replaced him on bass. Other members of the tour included keyboardist Spike Edney, who played guitar and keyboards in Queen live shows since 1984, and additional guitarist Jamie Moses, who began working with May on solo efforts in the early 1990s. The Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration began in late 2004 when Queen were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. ... Paul Rodgers, (born December 17, 1949) is an English rock singer-songwriter best known for being a member of Free and Bad Company. ... Free was a British R&B-style rock band which formed in London in 1968 best known for their popular song All Right Now. Lead singer Paul Rodgers went on to become lead singer of the rock band Bad Company along with Simon Kirke on drums, while lead guitarist Paul... This article is about the English rock band. ... The Queen + Paul Rodgers collaboration began in late 2004 when Queen were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. ... Danny Miranda was a previous bassist for Blue Öyster Cult. ... Blue Öyster Cult is an American rock band formed in New York in 1967 and still active in 2008. ... Spike Edney (born December 11, 1951) is a British musician who has appeared as part of numerous bands. ...

A live double CD album, Return of the Champions, was released on September 19, 2005. It was recorded in May 2005 during the Queen + Paul Rodgers tour at the Sheffield Arena in Sheffield, England. A DVD from the concert was also released. Return of the Champions is a double compact disc live album by British rock band Queen and Paul Rodgers. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In March 2006, Queen + Paul Rodgers set out to tour the United States and Canada. During this tour, the group debuted their first new song, a collaboration called "Take Love". A second live DVD, Super Live in Japan, was released in 2006; the show was filmed at Saitama Super Arena on October 27, 2005. Super Live in Japan is a DVD by the two remaining members of Queen; Brian May and Roger Taylor, resurrecting the name Queen with another rock legend; Paul Rodgers of Bad Company, in which he was famed as the lead singer. ... Saitama Super Arena Saitama Super Arena ) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Chuo-ku, Saitama, Saitama, Japan. ... is the 300th day of the year (301st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On August 15, 2006, Brian May confirmed through his website and fan club that Queen + Paul Rodgers would begin producing a new studio album beginning in October, to be recorded at a "secret location".^[36] This article is about the day of the year. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

When "Bohemian Rhapsody" was revealed as Radio 1's most played song ever at the end of JK and Joel's last Chart Show before leaving, Roger Taylor told them via a phonelink to the studio that the band are currently halfway through the new album. It will be released sometime in 2008, with a tour to follow. In January 2008, Brian May confirmed that a European tour is planned to start from about September the same year.^[37] JK and Joel (Jason King - born Jason Griffiths in January 1975; and Joel Ross - born Joel Hogg in May 1977) are a British duo who have co-presented radio shows since 1999 and are most famous for hosting the the official UK chart on BBC Radio 1 between 2005 and...

In the digital realm

In conjunction with Electronic Arts, Queen released the computer game Queen: The Eye in 1998, to commercial and critical failure. The music itself — tracks from Queen's vast catalogue, in many cases remixed into new instrumental versions — was by and large well received, but the game experience was hampered by poor game play. Adding to the problem was an extremely long development time, resulting in graphic elements that already seemed outdated by the time of release. Electronic Arts (EA) (NASDAQ: ERTS) is an American developer, marketer, publisher, and distributor of computer and video games. ...

Under the supervision of May and Taylor, numerous restoration projects have been underway involving Queen's lengthy audio and video catalogue. DVD releases of their 1986 Wembley concert (titled Live At Wembley Stadium) and 1982 Milton Keynes concert (Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl), and two Greatest Video Hits (Volumes 1 and 2, spanning the 1970s and 1980s) have seen the band's music remixed into 5.1 and DTS surround sound. So far, only two of the band's albums, A Night at the Opera and The Game, have been fully remixed into high-resolution multichannel surround on DVD-Audio. A Night at the Opera was re-released with some revised 5.1 mixes and accompanying videos in 2005 for the 30th anniversary of the album's original release (CD+DVD-Video set). In 2007 an HD-DVD was released entitled Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid. Live At Wembley Stadium is an album by rock group Queen which features live recordings from a concert at Wembley Stadium. ... Queen on Fire - Live at the Bowl is a double compact disc live album by English band Queen released on October 25, 2004 in Europe and on November 9, 2004 in the US. It was recorded live at the National Bowl, Milton Keynes, England, on June 5, 1982 during the... Multichannel audio is the name for a variety of techniques for expanding and enriching the sound of audio playback by recording additional sound channels that can be reproduced on additional speakers. ... DTS (also known as Digital Theater Systems), owned by DTS, Inc. ... Multichannel audio is the name for a variety of techniques for expanding and enriching the sound of audio playback by recording additional sound channels that can be reproduced on additional speakers. ... DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering very high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio includes no video and should not be confused with video DVDs containing concerts and music videos. ...

In the Guilty Gear fighting game series, there is a character named for each member of Queen. The Guilty Gear series is known for its unique graphics. ...

In film and television

Queen contributed music directly to the movies Flash Gordon (1980, directed by Mike Hodges) and Highlander (the original 1986 film, directed by Russell Mulcahy). The theme song, "Princes of the Universe", was also used in the Highlander TV series (1992–1998). Also, we could hear "One Year of Love" in the Highlander franchise' sequel, "Highlander 2". Flash Gordon is a 1980 science fiction film, based on the eponymous comic strip character Flash Gordon. ... Mike Hodges (born July 29, 1932 in Bristol, England) is a British screenwriter and film director. ... Highlander is a 1986 film directed by Russell Mulcahy and based on a story by Gregory Widen. ... Russell Mulcahy (born June 23, 1953 born in Melbourne, Victoria) is an Australian film director. ... Princes of the Universe i