The series sees Brian May and Roger Taylor revisit and reflect on the rocky road to the recording of their first album.
In this first episode, we hear how the opportunity to trial a brand-new London studio offered the breakthrough they had been waiting for.
Interviewed exclusively for this first episode of this acclaimed video series, the two turn back the clock to the early '70s and pull no punches in their memories of the fledgling Queen's financial straits. "It was tough in the beginning," recalls the drummer. "We were very poor. It really was hand-to-mouth. What do you call a musician without a girlfriend? Homeless."
But fate threw a lifeline in the form of the De Lane Lea Studios: a brand-new facility located in the shadow of Wembley Arena, seeking an upcoming band to put the untested equipment and sound insulation through its paces. "The De Lane Lea Studios really changed our lives," explains Brian, "and it was just because a friend of a friend had got hold of me and said, 'Would you like to come in and make a noise?' And in return, we got to make those demos."
The world beyond the studio walls might not yet have known their name, but as Brian reflects, Queen's musical signatures were already forming - alongside the nascent vocals of Freddie Mercury. "It was the first time I ever tried a three-part guitar solo, on "Keep Yourself Alive." I'd had it in my brain for a long time and I wanted to hear this three-part soaring guitar sound like an orchestra. Freddie was very elemental in those days. But incredibly quickly, he picked up the art of recording in a studio and getting the best out of himself."
The 2024 6CD + 1 LP box set of “Queen 1” contains 63 tracks with 43 brand new mixes, comprising the original album with its intended running order restored, intimate fly-on-the-wall audio of Queen in the studio, demos, rare live tracks, and previously unheard recordings from Queen's first ever live performance in London, August 1970. Absent from the 1973 release, the song "Mad the Swine" has been reinstated to its original place in the running order, while a 108-page book containing handwritten lyrics and memorabilia accompanies the release.
Queen recorded the album with producer Roy Thomas Baker at Trident Studios; originally launched with the lead single “Keep Yourself Alive”, the project went on to reach the top 25 in the band’s native UK as the group introduced themselves to music fans around the world.
“Queen 1” will be available in a 6CD+1LP box set Queen I Collector's Edition, as well as Vinyl LP Queen I - 2024 Mix plus 1 CD, 2CD Deluxe Edition, 1LP Picture Disc and Cassette formats.
Pick up some Queen for your collection here.
See also:
Queen stream 1974 performance of Modern Times Rock N Roll
Queen share 1975 performance of Son And Daughter
Queen release video for 2024 remix of The Night Comes Down
Queen announce expanded remixed version of 1973 debut album
Search Queen at hennemusic