Pick a Day

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury is born as Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar (a set of islands off the coast of Africa).More

Queen guitarist (and astrophysicist) Brian May is born in Hampton, Middlesex, England.

Roger Taylor (drummer for Queen) is born in Dersingham, Norfolk, England.

John Deacon (bassist for Queen) is born in Oadby, Leicester, England.

The group Smile change their name to Queen and perform for the first time under that moniker.More

Queen play the Marquee Theater in London, their first concert since signing with EMI Records.

In Leeds, England, Queen begin their first tour. They're the opening act for Mott the Hoople.

Queen launch their first headlining tour with a show at Winter Gardens in Blackpool. Tickets are £1 if purchased in advance.

Queen make their US live debut at Regis College in Denver, Colorado, supporting Mott the Hoople. Their trek ends early when Brian May develops hepatitis a month later.

Queen cut their first US tour short when guitarist Brian May comes down with hepatitis. They return to action November 30, touring behind their third album, Sheer Heart Attack.

Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" hits #1 in the UK and stays for a record nine weeks. In America, it becomes the group's first Top 10 hit when it peaks at #9 on April 24, 1976.

Queen shoot the video for "Bohemian Rhapsody," which according to director Bruce Gowers, takes about four hours. It airs repeatedly on the British show Top Of The Pops and helps the song become one of the most popular in UK history.

Queen release their fifth album, A Day At The Races, in the UK (US release is December 18). Like their previous album, A Night At The Opera, it's titled after a Marx Brothers movie.

Queen release their "We Are The Champions"/"We Will Rock You" single in the UK, providing stadium anthems for sporting events the world over.

Queen stage a bicycle race with 65 naked models at Wimbledon stadium in England to provide the video and cover art for their "Bicycle Race" single.

Queen release their "Fat Bottomed Girls"/"Bicycle Race" single, featuring a cover photo that combines imagery from both songs.More

Replicating their infamous promo stunt for the single, Queen are joined onstage at Madison Square Garden by several dozen nude, rotund women during their performance of "Bicycle Race." (Rotund because the single mentions "Fat Bottomed Girls," the title of the other half of the A-side.)

The Concerts For The People Of Kampuchea benefit premieres at London's Hammersmith Odeon, featuring organizer Paul McCartney, The Who, Queen, and an all-star "Rockestra."

Queen's "Another One Bites The Dust" goes to #1 in America, where it holds the top spot for three weeks.

The movie Flash Gordon, with a theme song by Queen, opens in theaters.

The Queen/David Bowie collaboration "Under Pressure" goes to #1 in the UK, Queen's first chart-topper there since "Bohemian Rhapsody."

At the Los Angeles Forum, Queen play their last American concert with Freddie Mercury, who dies nine years later. Michael Jackson joins the band backstage before the show. On Queen's subsequent tours with Mercury, they skip America.

Queen, Iron Maiden and Whitesnake play on Day 1 of the first Rock In Rio festival.More

The Live Aid concerts take place in Philadelphia and London to raise money for the hungry in Africa. The Beach Boys, The Four Tops, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner, Elton John, David Bowie, The Who, Queen, Eric Clapton and Bob Dylan all take part.More

At the Knebworth Park Festival in England, Queen play their last concert with Freddie Mercury, who dies five years later. An audience of 120,000 hears them close out with "We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions" and "God Save The Queen."

Queen's 13th album, The Miracle, hits #1 in the UK.

At the BRIT Awards in London, Queen collect the BPI award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music. It is Freddie Mercury's last public appearance with the band, as he dies the following year.

Freddie Mercury's funeral is held in London. Just a small group of friends and family, including Elton John and Mercury's Queen bandmates, are at the private service. At the singer's request, his longtime companion Mary Austin takes his ashes - she never discloses their location.

Freddie Mercury of Queen dies of AIDS-related bronchial pneumonia in Kensington, London, England, at age 45.

Queen frontman Freddie Mercury issues a statement confirming he has AIDS and calling for help in fighting the disease. "I felt it correct to keep this information private to date to protect the privacy of those around me," he writes. "However, the time has come now for my friends and fans around the world to know the truth and I hope that everyone will join with my doctors and all those worldwide in the fight against this terrible disease." Mercury dies the next day.