HISTORY OF QUEEN (PART 2)

1984 sawTHEWORKSand the single Radio Ga Ga became a worldwide hit, reaching No. 1 in 19 countries. Another huge hit was I Want To Break Free, featuring one of their most famous videos, all dressed in drag. In 1985 they were the headlining act at Rock in Rio, the biggest festival to be held anywhere in the world. They again made history that year with the show-stealing performance at Live Aid from Wembley Stadium, which proved to be a turning point for the band, One Vision being the first post Live Aid release.


1986 saw their 14th album, AKINDOFMAGIC, which was the soundtrack to the Russel Mulcahy film, Highlander. The title track became another worldwide smash and the album entered the UK charts at No. 1; later in the year the 2nd live album,LIVEMAGIC, went into the charts at No. 3. Between 1988 and 1991 Queen released three more albums,THEMIRACLEin 1989 and in 1991INNUENDOandGREATESTHITSTWO. All three entered the UK charts at No. 1, as did the single Innuendo.


On 23rd November 1991 Freddie Mercury announced to the world that he hadAIDSand the next day he died peacefully at his home, surrounded by family and friends. He remains the most high profile loss from the disease in the entertainment world and the news shocked fans throughout the world. As a tribute Bohemian Rhapsody /These Are The Days Of Our Lives was released as a double A-sided single to raise funds for the Terence Higgins Trust. It entered the UK chart at No. 1, where it stayed for five weeks, raising over £1,000,000 for the charity and Queen became the first band to have thesame single top the uK charts twice. In December of that year Queen had 10 albums in the UK Top 100. In 1992 Freddie was awarded posthumously the BRIT’s “Outstanding Contribution to British Music” and Days Of Our Lives won Best Single. On 20th April many of the world’s top stars joined Brian, Roger and John on stage at Wembley for an emotional tribute to Freddie.


In 1995 the tracks that Queen had begun in 1991 were completed by Brian, Roger and John and the long-awaitedMADEINHEAVENwas released worldwide. It was the end of an era. Since then the phenomenon of Queen has remained, however, with continuing sales for their recorded output on CD and video. A ballet of their music by famous French choreographer Maurice Bejart was premieredat the National Theatre in Paris in 1997 and in May 2002 the hit musical We Will Rock You opened to sell-out audiences in London’s West End and continues to play to packed houses and standing ovations every night. Queen’s firstDVDGreatest Video Hits Vol.1 was released at the end of October 2002, and yet another piece of Queen product entered the UK charts at number 1. October 2002 also saw Queen receive their own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles, joining The Beatles as only one of a handful of non-US bands to receive the much coveted honour. Last year, 2004 they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Walk of Fame, and in the UK were voted by the public into the first UK Music Hall of Fame.


Queen’s musical has since opened in Australia, Spain, Las Vegas,USA, Russia, Germany and is scheduled to open in Japan this May.


Brian and Roger continue to be ambassadors for Nelson Mandela’s 46664 HIV/AIDSawareness campaign and this month, March, played a second benefit concert for 46664 in Fancourt, South Africa.


Brian and Roger take Queen back onto the touring circuit for the first time since 1986 this Spring, joined by former Free/Bad Company singer, songwriter and musicial Paul Rodgers playing concerts across the UK and throughout Europe. The tour covers over a dozen countries over a six week period, followed in July by 4 major outdoor concerts including London’s Hyde Park on July 8, a venue they last played in September 1976 when playing a free concert, they attracted a record audience of 150,000 to the Royal Park.