"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by the British rock band Queen, released as the lead single from their fourth studio album, A Night at the Opera (1975). Written by lead singer Freddie Mercury, the song is a six-minute suite, notable for its lack of a refraining chorus and consisting of several sections: an intro, a ballad segment, an operatic passage, a hard rock part and a reflective coda. It is one of the few progressive rock songs of the 1970s to achieve both widespread acclaim and commercial success, and appeal to a mainstream audience.
1975 publicity photo of Queen
Recording track sheet (replica)
The "Bohemian Rhapsody" music video was shot at Elstree Studios in November 1975
The Queen Extravaganza performing the song at the Fox Theatre, Detroit in 2012
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1970 by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and Roger Taylor, later joined by John Deacon (bass). Their earliest works were influenced by progressive rock, hard rock, and heavy metal, but the band gradually ventured into more conventional and radio-friendly works by incorporating further styles, such as arena rock and pop rock.
Queen in 1975. From left to right: Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, and John Deacon
Queen in 1970. Left to right; Mike Grose (who was the first of the band's three early bass players before John Deacon joined in 1971), Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury and Brian May
PRS for Music heritage award at Prince Consort Road commemorating Queen's first performance in London
Queen guitar (right, next to a Rolling Stones guitar) at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, marking a 31 October 1970 Queen concert at the venue