They were also approached to write the score for a forthcoming feature film, FLASH GORDON. They spent much of 1979 touring in Europe and Japan, as well as releasing their first live album, LIVE KILLERS. The following year saw two major US tours, the band’s sixth album, NEWS OF THE WORLD and the legendary double A side single, WE WILL ROCK YOU and WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.ġ978’s JAZZ, included another huge hit single in Bicycle Race and Queen toured the US and Canada. The album was a huge success, advance orders alone amounting to over 500,000. Later that year they released A DAY AT THE RACES, and gave a free concert in Hyde Park to an estimated crowd of 200,000 fans. In 1976 they toured the US and Japan and by spring all four albums resided in the UK Top Twenty.

The success of A NIGHT AT THE OPERA was equally stunning, giving the band their first platinum album. The song has regularly featured in all major pop polls and was recently named again as the best single of all time. The video, directed by Bruce Gowers, is credited with being the first genuine promotional video. At 5’ 55” it should have been too long for successful radio play but it became one of the greatest singles of all time, staying at No. They made their first US tour, and in November released SHEER HEART ATTACK which was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic.ġ975 saw their new release, A NIGHT AT THE OPERA, and – significantly – the single Bohemian Rhapsody.

The same year saw their first major UK tour, and in 1974 they released QUEEN II as well as making their first UK headlining tour.

That year they released their first album, QUEEN. Queen formed in 1971 and in 1973 signed their first recording contract for EMI.

30th queen a night at the opera