Other Groups

This list is a brief guide to the various groups, apart from Queen, that band members have been part of over the years.

Details of the various acetates and singles can be found in the Miscellaneous discography.

Lyrics and details of released songs by Smile, Larry Lurex, Ibex and Wreckage can be found on the Pre-Queen Songs page.

Map Showing The Formation Of Queen

List Of Groups Featuring:
Roger Taylor | Brian May | Freddie Mercury | John Deacon

Map showing the formation of Queen

This map (or flowchart) shows how Queen were formed from the numerous pre-Queen bands, including 1984, Smile, The Reaction, Ibex and The Opposition. The chart was originally published in the Spring 2004 edition of the Official International Queen Fan Club Magazine, and was compiled by Paul Webb. I have reproduced the chart, but have made some small changes, and modified some information (as some other sources suggest alternate dates or group members).

To view this chart, please click here for a Microsoft Word document (48 kb) or here for a GIF (231 kb). The files are deliberately large to preserve the quality of the text.

Groups Featuring Roger Taylor

• The Bubblingover Boys (1957)
  The group performs only one gig, and Roger plays guitar and ukulele.
• The Cousin Jacks / Beat Unlimited / The Falcons (July 1964 - unknown)
  Roger Taylor (drums), Mike Dudley (guitar), Dave Dowding (bass)
• Johnny Quale & The Reactions (1965 - November 1965)
  Roger Taylor (drums), Johnny Grose (vocals), Graham Hankins (guitars), Jim Craven (bass), Mike Dudley (guitar), John 'Acker' Snell (sax)
• The Reactions (November 1965 - Spring 1966)
  Roger Taylor (drums), Roger 'Sandy' Brokenshaw (vocals), Graham Hankins (guitars), Jim Craven (bass), Mike Dudley (guitar), John 'Acker' Snell (sax)
• The Reaction (Spring 1966 - Summer 1968)
  Roger Taylor (drums), Roger 'Sandy' Brokenshaw (vocals), Mike Dudley (guitar), John 'Acker' Snell (sax), Geoff Daniel (guitar), Ricky Penrose (bass)
  [recorded two acetates: 'Bona Serra', 'Just A Little Bit', 'What's On Your Mind', 'I'll Go Crazy' and second acetate 'In The Midnight Hour', 'I Got You']
• Smile (August 1968 - February 1970)
  Tim Staffell (vocals, bass), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums)
  [recorded six tracks, two of which were issued as a single in the USA only. All six tracks later released on 'Gettin Smile' and 'Ghost Of A Smile']
• Queen (April 1970 - )
• The Cross (1987-93)
  Roger Taylor (vocals, rhythm guitar), Spike Edney (keyboards), Joshua J. Macrae (drums), Clayton Moss (guitar), Peter Noone (bass)
• The Roger Taylor Band (1994-1995)
  Roger Taylor (vocals), Jason Falloon (guitar), Joshua J. Macrae (drums), Mike Crossley (keyboards), Stuart Bradley (bass)
• The Roger Taylor Band (1998-1999)
  Roger Taylor (vocals), Jason Falloon (guitar), Mike Crossley (keyboards), Treanna Morris (vocals), Matt Exelby (rhythm guitar), Steve Barnacle (bass), Keith Prior (drums)

Groups Featuring Brian May

• 1984 (September 1964 - Spring 1968)
  Tim Staffell (harmonica, vocals), Brian May (lead guitar), Dave Dilloway (rhythm guitar), Richard Thompson (drums), John 'Jag' Garnham (bass)
• The Left Handed Marriage (for studio work only, April to July 1967)
  Brian May (guitar), Bill Richards (vocals), Jenny Hill (vocals), Henry Deval (vocals), Pete Trout (drums)
  Added Dave Dilloway (bass) for June session and John Fankel (bass, piano) for July session
  [recorded three sessions: April 1967: 'Give Me Time', 'She Was Once My Friend', 'Sugar Lump Girl', 'Yours Sincerely'; June 1967: 'I Need Time, Appointment; July 1967: 'I Need Time', 'She Was Once My Friend' and 'Appointment'. See the Brian May Collaborations 1967 - 1987 page for more details]
• Smile (August 1968 - February 1970)
  Tim Staffell (vocals, bass), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums)
  [recorded six tracks, two of which were issued as a single in the USA only. All six tracks later released on 'Gettin Smile' and 'Ghost Of A Smile']
• Queen (April 1970 - )
  Freddie Mercury (vocals, keyboards), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass)
• The Brian May Band (1992-3 )
  Brian May (lead guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray (bass), Cathy Porter (b.v's), Shelley Preston (b.v's).
• The Brian May Band (1998)
  Brian May (lead guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar), Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray (bass), Eric Singer (drums), Susie Webb (b.v's), Zoe Nicholas (b.v's)

Groups Featuring Freddie Mercury

• The Hectics (1958-61)
  Farookh Bulsara, Derrick Branche, Bruce Murray, Farang Irani, Victory Rana
• Ibex (August 1969 - September 1969)
  Freddie Bulsara (vocals), Mike Bersin (guitar), John 'Tupp' Taylor (bass), Mick 'Miffer' Smith (drums)
  [A recording of Ibex performing the Beatle's track 'Rain' can be found on the 'Freddie Mercury - Solo' boxed set. Freddie and Mike Bersin wrote a song called 'Lover' that later evolved into 'Liar']
• Wreckage (October 1969 - February 1970)
  Freddie Bulsara (vocals), Mike Bersin (guitar), John 'Tupp' Taylor (bass), Richard Thompson (drums) (former 1984)
  [A recording of Wreckage performing a Freddie composition, 'Green', can be found on the 'Freddie Mercury - Solo' boxed set]
• Sour Milk Sea (February 1970)
  Freddie Bulsara (vocals), Chris Chesney (guitar), Jeremy Gallop (rhythm guitar), Robert Tyrell (drums)
• Queen (April 1970 - 1991)
  Freddie Mercury (vocals, keyboards), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass)

Groups Featuring John Deacon

• The Opposition (Summer 1965 - April 1966)
  John Deacon (rhythm guitar), Nigel Bullen (drums), Clive Castledine (bass), Richard Young (guitar, vocals)
• The New Opposition (April 1966 - January 1967)
  John Deacon (bass), Nigel Bullen (drums), Richard Young (guitar, vocals)
  In July 1966, Richard Young switched to keyboards, whilst David Williams joined the band as lead guitarist
  In Autumn 1966, Ron Chester joins to provide lead guitar, and David Williams switches to vocals and guitar
• The Opposition (January 1967 - March 1988)
  John Deacon (bass), Nigel Bullen (drums), Richard Young (keyboards), Ron Chester (lead guitar) and David Williams (vocals, guitar), Pete 'Pedro' Batholomew (vocals)
• Art (March 1968 to an unknown date)
  Identical line-up as above.
• Deacon (November 1970)
  John Deacon (bass), Peter Stoddart (guitar), Don Cater (drums)
• Queen (February 1971 - 1998)
  Freddie Mercury (vocals, keyboards), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass)
• The Immortals (1986)
  John Deacon (bass), Robert Ahwai (vocals, guitars), Lenny Zakatek (drums)
  [recorded just one track, 'No Turning Back', released in three different versions]