It was 50 years that Queen completed their final line-up with John Deacon as bassist. And two years later in 1973 the band released their self-titled debut album which came out 48 years ago this week. And now Freddie Mercury’s fellow bandmate Brian May has taken to social media to celebrate.
Brian May posted the opening of 1973’s Queen which is the beginning of their early single Keep Yourself Alive.
The 73-year-old wrote: “Thanks @dereones – and – yes – this was the first sound anyone heard when they put the shiny black vinyl disc on their turntable and hit the button.
“The first ‘hello’ from a band of young hopefuls – known as … QUEEN. Wishing you lots of hope today, folks. Bri.”
Last year Express.co.uk interviewed drummer Roger Taylor who shared memories of Freddie in those early years.
On Queen’s first concert with Freddie Mercury when they were still called Smile, Roger said: “I don’t remember the show very much.
“But I do remember performing that first show with Freddie. It was in Truro City Hall, down in Cornwall.
“It was for the Red Cross and I think it was organised by my mother. It’s an awful long time ago.”
On what he thought of Freddie’s singing at that first concert, the drummer admitted: “Pure shock.”
However, as time went on, Freddie as the lead singer became the frontman on most Queen songs.
Taylor said: “The thing is, with Queen we have three singers really. A lot of people sort of forget that we had harmonies obviously. In a sense, the three of us, Brian, myself and Freddie, always sang a lot.”
Roger added how Freddie was obviously the lead singer and the best singer of the Queen members.
He said: “I guess in those days one would tend to sing one’s own songs. But after a while, I would expect Freddie to sing the song[s that I wrote] because he was the better singer. And he could put things out there so well. I suppose we sang leads less as we went on yeah.”