Queen is an English Rock Band which was formed in 1970 by singer Freddie Mercury, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, stemming from the latter two’s previous band Smile. Queen was (and is) among the most well-known and recognisable musical acts during the 20th century landing them worldwide success and fame.[1] With over more than 95 million record sales up to today, Queen has proven to be a universal musical influence for many a generations.[2]
Perhaps the most striking revelation about queen that people often overlook is the Far-Eastern/Asian influences that were present in the band’s image and music, starting with signer Freddie Mercury himself, who was of Asian origins. Mercury was born in Zanzibar and grew up in India until his family migrated to England in the 1960s at his age of just 17.
One of the biggest features of rock and roll is the freedom of self-expression and identity formation, mostly due to its rather rebellious nature. Thus, Queen’s superstardom is undoubtedly a source of inspiration for many minority groups given Mercury’s own personal background. Mercury’s also been cited as a universal influence due to his charming personality and unmatched vocal abilities which have guided a plethora of modern artists across various genres ranging anywhere between Lady Gaga or Katy Perry to the Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl implicitly influencing the music that reaches Millions, if not Billions of music fans around the world.[3]
During the mid-20th century there has been an explosion in immigration to Great Britain as personified by the period of Windrush through people seeking a better life for themselves which musically diversified England. Whether it be Calypso or Rock and Roll, music was a universal tool which minority groups have used to express themselves in.[4] Linking back to Mercury and his earlier mentioned life, his family fled Zanzibar from a revolution and moved to England in the mid ‘60s for a better life. As until 1963 Zanzibar was a British Protectorate, Mercury was what they called a ‘subject’ of the British Empire and applied for British citizenship after his relocation to England.[5]
Conclusively, Queen/Freddie Mercury’s musical success was one of many of the copious amounts of contributions immigrant groups brought to Great Britain and London. Although people tend to overlook the influences behind music such as Queen’s, there is undoubtable origins from overseas, that British Rock and Metal music could thank their existence for.
[1] https://history-biography.com/history-of-queen/
[2] https://chartmasters.org/2020/01/queen-albums-and-songs-sales/
[3] https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/8483624/freddie-mercury-music-legacy-lady-gaga-brendon-urie
[4] https://www.bl.uk/windrush/articles/calypso-and-the-birth-of-british-black-music
[5] https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C15734168
From Local to Global: The History of Music in London Group 1 