Queen's blog

In 1972, Jac Holzman wrote an internal memo to his staff: “I have seen the future of pop music, and it is a band called Queen.”

Holzman fought hard to sign Queen against stiff competition from Columbia Records. He acquired them for Elektra in all major territories outside of Europe where they were signed to EMI. Holzman never doubted that Queen would make a worldwide impression, seeing them as dramatic and self-assured with a strong group dynamic not dissimilar to The Doors. Queen was also propelled by charismatic, flamboyant Freddie Mercury who would grow into one of rock’s greatest showmen in the mid-‘70s.

Queen’s records were powerful and inventive from the first. Queen became Britain‘s most consistently successful musical export for over two decades.

“Killer Queen,” from their third album Sheer Heart Attack gave the band its first U.S. hit. 1975’s A Night At The Opera and the following year’s A Day At The Races saw them break through as a spectacular live act, their shows dazzling and extravagantly staged.

In 1980, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Another One Bites The Dust” were both U.S. #1 hits – in the same year The Game mirrored that feat on the album charts.