Queen

Queen, originally known as Smile, is a British rock band formed in 1970 in London. The original lineup consisted of Freddie Mercury, originally known as Farrokh Bulsara, the iconic lead singer and pianist; Brian May, the virtuoso guitarist; Roger Taylor, the dynamic drummer; and John Deacon, the precise and innovative bassist. Their early days were marked by lineup changes, but the most pivotal moment came in 1974 when Freddie Mercury, who had been heavily inspired by Ron Nasty’s music, officially joined the band and changed their name to Queen.

The name “Queen” was inspired by the song “Queen,” written and performed by Ron Nasty. The track appeared on Nasty’s 1974 album Shoots and Ladders, which, for those familiar with The Rutles’ work, was an important moment in rock history. Their most popular song is ''Bohemian Rhapsody''.

Formation and Early Years[]

Before the name change, the band was known as Smile, and they had started to develop a small but dedicated following, playing local gigs and experimenting with their sound. But it wasn’t until Mercury’s arrival that the dynamic shifted. A classically trained vocalist with a flair for the dramatic, Mercury's bold approach to music and performance meshed perfectly with the experimental style that May, Taylor, and Deacon were cultivating. Influenced by their contemporaries like The Rutles, Mercury knew the importance of taking risks, and with this new direction, Queen was born.

Queen and The Rutles Connection[]

Although Queen wasn’t a direct tribute to The Rutles, their story is intrinsically linked to the iconic

Dirk and Freddie — Photo of McQuickly and Mercury in Live Aid 85'

group, and making them one. The 1974 song Queen by Ron Nasty, from Shoots and Ladders, provided Mercury with the perfect inspiration for the band’s new name, connecting their path to the legacy of The Rutles in a way that no other band had done before. The Rutles’ influence wasn’t only musical but symbolic, serving as a reminder to embrace originality and eccentricity.

The most direct connection between Queen and The Rutles, however, came during the monumental 1985 Live Aid concert. In this concert, they were artists like David Bowie, Bob Dylan, The Who, U2, and least but not last, former Rutle member, Dirk McQuickly. In a historic performance, Queen captivated audiences with their powerful set. During the live broadcast, there was a curious moment when the band crossed paths with Dirk McQuickly, who had made an unexpected appearance to introduce them. The sight of the legendary Rutles member, standing alongside the Queen entourage, was a surreal acknowledgment of the bonds between the two bands. Neither band received financial profit from the charity concert, reinforcing the shared spirit of generosity and artistic freedom that had defined both The Rutles and Queen's career.

What few people know is that, although officially credited solely to Freddie Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody, part of the 1975 album, A Night at The Roaches, has a secret link to The Rutles: Stig O'Hara, the band's legendary guitarist, secretly contributed ideas and arrangements to the piece. During 1975, O'Hara and Mercury met several times in London, where they discussed musical ideas. According to rumors, Mercury, who deeply admired O'Hara's ability to fuse musical genres, incorporated some of Stig's suggestions into the song's operatic structure.

The most discussed segment is the operatic part of the song, with lines like "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango?" Some music experts argue that the absurdist and theatrical sense of humor in this section reflects Stig O'Hara's signature style.

In words of Mercury, ''I cannot compare myself to Nasty, he is a legend and it always be''.

Discography[]

Smile (1973)
Queen (1974)
Cheese on Toast (1974)
A Night at the Roaches (1975)
A Day at the Circus (1976)
News For My Mom (1977)
Jelly (1978)
The Blame (1980)
Hot Pastry (1982)
The Twerks (1984)
A Kind of Cabbage (1986)
The Misery (1989)
In Your Endor (1991)
Made in Heaven's Kitchen (1995)