Although Queen has long been abandoned by Freddy Mercury, Queen as a rock band was still loved by music fans. As a prove Queen “Absolute Greatest” compilation album received double platinum award, in UK, Tuesday (19/1).Absolute Greatest sales totaled more than 600,000 copies and ranked as the third best selling album. This compilation is following the Queen's first compilation album Greatest Hits, which is also awarded as biggest selling album in UK.
Greatest hits album sold more than 5.6 million copies, beating the Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band which sold nearly one million copies.
The Rock Legend title deservedly awarded to Queen. So what make Queen deserve to be a legend?
Some music observers say, "Queen plays music by combining various genres that have been there before like dance disco, hard rock, pop rock, progressive rock, blues-rock, psychedelic rock". Queen lyrics also describe the diversity of many genres from rock, country, ragtime, opera, gospel, vaudeville, to folk.
Queen as a legendary band started out as a small band named “The Smile” that was formed by Tim Stafel (vocals), Brian May (guitar) and Roger Taylor (drums) in 1968 on England.
After several years of joining, Tim Stafel feels that The Smile has failed so he leave the band in 1970 and join with Humpy Bong band.
Tim Stafel positions were replaced by Freddie Mercury and The Smile changes their band name into Queen.In 1971, John Deacon joined as bassist on Queen. Queen recorded have a few bass player before John Deacon joined.
Queen first success is when they released their third album “Sheer Heart Attack (1974)”. Killer Queen” song in this album became the first international hit. Other Queen successes achieved by following album such as A Night Of The Opera, A Day At The Race, News Of The World, Jazz, and The Game. Bohemian Rhapsody songs on the album A Night of The Opera awarded as a master piece and considered to be the best song of all time.
Without realizing by Queen Personnel, Queen had become one of the greatest rock bands in the world with songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, Killer Queen, We Are The Champions, and the greatest hits of Queen “Another One Bites The Dust”.
Queen first live album, Live Killers (1979) reached double platinum in United States. Queen also released a successful single, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, a song that combined with Elvis Presley style. The song was ranked top 10 in many countries.
Queen had breaks up in early 1990 when Freddie Mercury died of AIDS. Even so, Queen still managed to release a new album “Made In Heaven (1995)” by using Freddie voice that already recorded before he died.
They also had issued a new single, No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) in 1998. In this single, guitarist Brian May also perform as vocalist for Queen.
Earlier, Queen also had a several collaborative projects with other artists such as George Michael, Elton John, Luciano Pavarotti, and so on.
After releasing single No One But You (Only The Good Die Young), John Deacon (bass) decided to end his career on Queen.
In 2004, Queen found a new vocalist, Paul Rodgers. They had their first show in Hyde Park, Sheffield, England. In 2008, Queen and Paul Rodgers plan to release Queen new album.
A
lthough Queen is never broken up, since Freddie Mercury died (1991) and John Deacon resignation (1997), the two remaining personnel occasionally appear in some event that presents a lot of bands.Only after Paul Rodgers joining on Queen with new band name “Queen + Paul Rodgers (2004-2009)”, they returned appear in many concert.
Now the rumor said that Brian May reportedly has appointed Adam Lambert, American Idol runner up to fill the vocal position. If the rumor for real then it proves that Queen will never die as a legendary rock band.
Something to be remembered...
Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody
Get your own Queen - Absolute Greatest for only $87.99
pic : starstore, graphicshunt, grahamettridge
