New book pays tribute to Queen's musical legacy
The legendary Queen ranks as one of the most important and influential groups in the history of rock and roll. Since its formation in 1971, Queen has been known for its majestic and dramatic hard rock music and eclectic influences that have resulted in hits such as "Bohemian Rhapsody," "We Will Rock You/We are the Champions," "Another One Bites the Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love." Equally as memorable was the group's singer, Freddie Mercury, who commanded attention with his operatic voice and stage presence.
Even after Mercury's death in 1991, Queen still remains popular as ever and marking the band's 40th anniversary is a new book, "40 Years of Queen," an illustrated authorized biography by Harry Doherty and published by St. Martin's Press.
Divided mainly into chapters each corresponding with Queen's first 15 studio albums, the book traces the group's origins back to their days as university students in the '60s; followed by important historical moments such as the recording of the epic "Bohemian Rhapsody"; the group's legendary appearance at Live Aid in 1985; and its final record featuring Mercury's vocals, 1995's "Made in Heaven." In between are biographies of each member and lively photos of Queen on- and off-stage. The highlight of "40 Years of Queen" are the reproductions of memorabilia that the reader can physically pull out of the book: concert tickets, backstage passes, a press kit, posters and advertisements.
"I think they had a whimsical humor which was also sexy and hedonistic, as opposed to the often quite naff glam rock groups of the time," said Zoe Street Howe, a British journalist and author of "How's Your Dad?: Living the Shadow of a Rock Star Parent," of Queen. "They could also play some mean rock 'n' roll which gave them gravitas. There were many dimensions to the Queen phenomenon, right from the word 'go,' and they just became more and more creative and diverse through the years because basically, they didn't give a damn, particularly Freddie. That attitude can be very liberating!"
If Queen had to be remembered for just one song, it would most certainly be "Bohemian Rhapsody" -- a combination of opera and hard rock -- that spent nine weeks at Number One on the British charts beginning in 1975 and became popular again in 1992 with its inclusion on the "Wayne World"'s soundtrack. "I suppose it must be the definitive Queen song," said Howe, "in the sense that it's still the song that most people associate with the band, and maybe it sums them up quite neatly too -- there's so much to it, the harmonies, the humor, the drama, the diversity in that one song."
"Bohemian Rhapsody" was written by Mercury, one of rock's most compelling singers. This Thursday will mark the 20th anniversary of his passing from AIDS. "I think Freddie had a very natural, unconventional charisma about him," said Howe. "He wanted to try new things all the time, his approach was always fresh and brave -- trying to bring ballet to the mainstream rock audience, for example! Everything about him was unusual, the way he dressed - from the leotards to the ermine cape and crown, the devil-may-care way in which he talked and wrote lyrics, the way he strutted and stalked the stage, and all this is before you even get to the way he sang - which was emotive, magical, practically operatic."
Queen continues to be in the public eye. The "We Will Rock You" musical continues to be performed in London; the group recently had a special exhibit highlighting its early years; and there is an upcoming film starring Sacha Baron Cohen as Mercury. And artists as diverse as Katy Perry and Foo Fighters have praised Queen in the past; Lady Gaga got her name from the Queen song "Radio Ga Ga."
As for Queen's legacy, writer Howe describes it as a rich and enduring one. "It's not just about that wonderful music, their electrifying live shows, their fantastic bravery and determination to venture into new territories, like disco, classical, swing, hip-hop even," she says, "but I think it's also about attitude. All '70s rock bands were decadent and hedonistic, but there was something eccentric about Queen. Unlike a lot of 'stars' they didn't take themselves or the world seriously. As a result they lived their lives in glorious Technicolor, free to try whatever they wanted (musically or otherwise) without giving a damn what anyone else thought. I think that's inspiring."