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QUEEN
This is just a shorted biography with some of the key-points in their carrier
Smile - Brian, Roger and Tim Staffell 'till 1970.
then with Freddie since April 1970. - Queen
Formed in 1971.(John joined)
So they toured a while, and finally in 1973 they got a contract with EMI, and released their first album "Queen" on 13 July. "Queen II" had an error on the cover, so after some delays it was released 8th of March 1974. 'Seven Seas of Rhye' was their first chart entry. They were often labeled as heavy-metal in this period.
"Sheer Heart Attack" with 'Killer Queen' was their first real breakthrough, showing the other side of Queen.
'Bohemian Rhapsody' was their total success. It stayed on top of the charts for 9 weeks in 1975, and then again in 1991 for 5 weeks. The only single that was on top in 4 different years ('75,'76,'91,'92), for 2 Christmases, and was recently selected the best U.K. single ever. It is also the first video-clip, that started it all.
And they kept on beating the charts (all albums in top5, except Flash) selling in platinum or at least gold stats.
"The Game" is sometimes mentioned as their greatest success, especially in the USA with 'Crazy Little Thing Called Love' released way ahead of the album, toping the charts in many countries including USA( for 4 weeks), and N0 2 in the UK, and latter 'Another One Bites The Dust' that was N01 in USA simultaneously in Rock, Soul and Disco. Only N07 in the UK. Their greatest world-wide selling single. The album went five times platinum in Canada alone, and was N01 in many countries.
Only Meatloaf's 'Bat Out Of Hell' and Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' have spent longer in the UK Chart than the 449 weeks achieved by Queen's first "Greatest Hits" album.
Since 'The Miracle' they started signing all their songs as just 'Queen'.
Then Freddie died on November 24th 1991. of AIDS (actually bronchial pneumonia). He knew he was HIV-positive for seven years before he died.
The final album "Made in Heaven" was recorded mostly before his death, but mixed later, and released on 6th November 1995. It contains the shortest track "Yeah" or "Untitled 1" - just 3 sec., and the longest "Untitled 2" over 22 min. Among other tracks are 'Made in Heaven' which is Queen version of Freddie's solo project, just like 'I Was Born To Love You'. 'Too Much Love Will Kill You' is Brian's song (written with Frank Musker & Elizabeth Lamers) released on his album "Back To The Light" , and first time performed on 'The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert'. 'Heaven For Everyone' was originally on The Cross's (Roger's own group) album "Shove It!" with Freddie as guest vocal. It was changed for the album (I don't know how much but the lyrics are different, the Cross version is 4:54 while Queen's is 5:36).The rest should be regular album tracks. 'A Winter's Tale' is the last song that Freddie wrote, and 'Mother Love' is the last one he recorded.