Adam Lambert and Queen recently reflected on the early years of the band during an interview with iHeartRadio.
The band members discussed their opinions and experiences when looking at old mementos, such as a newspaper story from their pre-John Deacon period, during the interview. The discussion revealed some intriguing details about Queen’s history and the renowned musicians that were a part of the band.
Queen went undergone a transition and growth phase prior to John Deacon’s addition as their bassist. The band’s original name was Smile, and it consisted of Mike Grose on bass and Brian May, Roger Taylor, and Tim Staffell (later Freddie Mercury). Together with other concerts, the trio and Mike Grose went on a spectacular tour of Cornwall, which helped them develop their chemistry and lay the groundwork for their ultimate transition into Queen.
Brian May disclosed some facts throughout the conversation that provided fascinating details about those days prior to the reign of Queen. He mentioned a vintage newspaper item with a Freddie Mercury image that transported him to a period before the band was complete. The guitarist spoke warmly about their time as Smile and the events that shaped them into Queen as he told his memories.
He recalled, “This looks like a friend of ours, Freddie, in his very, very early days. It’s before Queen was really intact. We had Mike Grose as a bass player in those days, as before we found John Deacon, and here are some little clips from local newspapers, saying when you can see us, and of course, we weren’t called Queen. Actually, this is just before that, is it? This is Smile. We did an amazing tour of Cornwall with the legendary drummer of Cornwall. There’s this man here. We were called Smile. Then, later on, with John, we were called Queen.”
Brian May’s memories of Queen’s early years before John Deacon joined the group provided a unique look at how one of the most recognizable rock bands in history came to be. The path of these renowned artists, from the humble beginnings of Smile to the ultimate birth of Queen, is a monument to their commitment, passion, and the magic that occurs when the right people join together.
The band’s early recollections serve as a constant reminder of their progress and the lasting influence they have had on music as they continue to make music and share their stories with fans all around the world.
