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Ramblings of a retiree in France
I’m continuing with bands I’d like to have seen live and this week it’s the turn of Queen, a British rock band formed in London in 1970. The band comprised Freddie Mercury (lead vocals, piano), Brian May (guitar, vocals), Roger Taylor (drums, vocals) and John Deacon (bass).
Before forming Queen, May and Taylor had played together in the band Smile. Mercury was a fan of Smile and encouraged them to experiment with more elaborate stage and recording techniques. He joined in 1970 and suggested the name “Queen”. Deacon was recruited in February 1971, before the band released their eponymous debut album in 1973.
Queen first charted in the UK with their second album, Queen II, in 1974. Sheer Heart Attack later that year and A Night at the Opera in 1975 brought them international success. The latter album featured the single Bohemian Rhapsody, which stayed at number one in the UK for nine weeks and helped popularise the music video format.
The band’s 1977 album News of the World contained “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions”, which have become anthems at sporting events. By the early 1980s, Queen were one of the biggest stadium rock bands in the world. “Another One Bites the Dust” from The Game (1980) became their best-selling single, while their 1981 compilation album Greatest Hits is the best-selling album in the UK and is certified nine times platinum in the US.
Their performance at the 1985 Live Aid concert is ranked among the greatest in rock history by various publications. In August 1986, Mercury gave his last performance with Queen at Knebworth, England. In 1991, he died of bronchopneumonia, a complication of AIDS. Deacon retired in 1997. Since 2004, May and Taylor have toured as “Queen +”, with vocalists Paul Rodgers and Adam Lambert.
Queen have been a global presence in popular culture for more than five decades. Estimates of their record sales range from 250 million to 300 million, making them one of the world’s best-selling music artists. In 1990, Queen received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, and with each member having composed hit singles all four were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2003. In 2005 they received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors, and in 2018 they were presented with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
View from the Back 
Queen forever rules!
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Indeed Lois
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We Are The Champions. One of the best songs ever!
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Absolutely!
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Love their songs
>
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Doesn’t everyone?
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Ah now this is one group I’d have dearly loved to see live….
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You and me both Marie
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Pingback: ReBlogging ‘Musical Monday: Queen’ – Link Below | Relationship Insights by Yernasia Quorelios
Haven’t seen this in a long time, thanks Sheree!
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One of my favorite groups growing up. Did you see the 2018 movie Bohemian Rhapsody?
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Apropos the more general fact that you are retired in France, it’s kind of fun to see. My wife & I seriously thought about retiring in Provence. We loved it when we visited a few times and were fans of “A Year in Provence.”
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We’re not in what’s generally regarded as Provence. Check out Vaucluse Dreamer who’s retired there. We’re on the Côte d’Azur.
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I think I might have mentioned before how much I like Queen. Thanks for this visit, perhaps again.
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No probs!
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Always a fav!
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Absolutely!
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They don’t make them like that anymore =/
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Indeed not
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So much talent! I enjoyed the movie about him, but I’m not sure how accurate it was.
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I understand it was « reasonably » accurate.
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I love Queen too. I saw them on tour in 2019 with Adam Lambert and I have to say they rocked it. And they pay tribute on stage to Freddie all the time. I think they’re a class act.
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Good to hear Melanie
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hello, how are you? i really love queen. have a nice day!
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I’m fine thanks and I hope you are too. Thanks for dropping by.
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Queen forever in my heart ❤
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Brain May isn’t just a pretty face, a talented musician, but also an advocate for badgers and for that reason he is up there in my estimation as a really good egg.
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