Queen, formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor, later joined by John Deacon, evolved from progressive and hard rock to a more mainstream, theatrical style. May and Taylor came from the band Smile, and Mercury shaped Queen’s dramatic sound and image. After Deacon joined in 1971, they released their debut in 1973 and gained early UK success with Queen II (1974). Global recognition followed with Sheer Heart Attack and A Night at the Opera, featuring the groundbreaking hit “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Their 1977 album News of the World produced iconic anthems “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions.” In the early 1980s, Queen reached new commercial heights with “Another One Bites the Dust” and the Greatest Hits album. Their 1985 Live Aid performance became legendary, and Mercury’s final show with the band was in 1986 at Knebworth.
