Other Groups

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

Lyrics and details of all released songs, and some unreleased ones, can be found on the Pre-Queen Songs page, while details of various acetates and singles can be found in the Miscellaneous Singles discography.

Map Showing The Formation Of Queen

Groups featuring Roger Taylor
Groups featuring Brian May
Groups featuring Freddie Mercury
Groups featuring 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 modifications, 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 image (231 KB).

Groups Featuring Roger Taylor

• The Bubblingover Boys (1957)
  The group performed only one gig, with Roger on 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)
  The group recorded two acetates: the first with four tracks ('Buona Sera', 'Just A Little Bit', 'What's On Your Mind', 'I'll Go Crazy') and the second with two ('In The Midnight Hour', 'I Got You (I Feel Good)').
• Smile (August 1968 - February 1970)
  Tim Staffell (vocals, bass), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums)
  The band recorded six tracks over two different sessions. Two of the tracks were issued as a single in the USA in 1969, while all six tracks were later released on the Japanese 1982 LP 'Gettin' Smile' and the 1997 Dutch CD 'Ghost Of A Smile'.
• Queen (April 1970 onwards)
  Freddie Mercury (vocals, keyboards, until 1991), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass, February 1971 to 1997)
• The Cross (1987-1993)
  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 band recorded a demo tape in Spring 1967 at Thames Television studios to test new equipment, which contains the following tracks: Hold On I`m Coming, Knock On Wood, NSU, How Can It Be, Step On Me (two versions), Purple Haze, Our Love Is Driftin', Remember, Sweet Wine, Get Out Of My Life Woman / The Guns Of Navarone / Satisfaction and My Girl
• The Left Handed Marriage (for studio work only, April, June and July 1967)
  Brian May (guitar), Bill Richards (vocals), Jenny Hill (vocals), Henry Deval (vocals), Terry Goulds (flute, vocals), Pete Trout (drums)
  4 April 1967, Manor Road, Twickenham : 'Give Me Time', 'She Was Once My Friend', 'Sugar Lump Girl', 'Yours Sincerely'
  28 June 1967, EMI Studios, St John's Wood (with Dave Dilloway on bass) : 'I Need Time', 'She Was Once My Friend'
  28 July 1967, Regent Sound (with John Fankel on bass and piano) : 'I Need Time', 'She Was Once My Friend' and 'Appointment'.
  The three tracks from the July 1967 session were later released on the 1993 album 'Crazy Chain'.
• Smile (August 1968 - February 1970)
  Tim Staffell (vocals, bass), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums)
  The band recorded six tracks over two different sessions. Two of the tracks were issued as a single in the USA in 1969, while all six tracks were later released on the Japanese 1982 LP 'Gettin' Smile' and the 1997 Dutch CD 'Ghost Of A Smile'.
• Queen (April 1970 onwards)
  Freddie Mercury (vocals, keyboards, until 1991), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass, February 1971 to 1997)
• The Brian May Band (1992)
  Brian May (lead guitar), Mike Caswell (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray (bass), Chris Thompson (backing vocals), Miriam Stockley (backing vocals), Maggie Ryder (backing vocals).
• The Brian May Band (1993)
  Brian May (lead guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar), Cozy Powell (drums), Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray (bass), Cathy Porter (backing vocals), Shelley Preston (backing vocals).
• The Brian May Band (1998)
  Brian May (lead guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar), Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray (bass), Eric Singer (drums), Susie Webb (backing vocals), Zoe Nicholas (backing vocals).

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)
  Freddie and Mike Bersin wrote a song called 'Lover' which later evolved into the Queen track 'Liar'. A recording of Ibex performing The Beatles track 'Rain' can be found in the 'Freddie Mercury - Solo' boxed set, while details of various other live tracks can be found on the Pre-Queen tracks page.
• Wreckage (October 1969 - February 1970)
  Freddie Bulsara (vocals), Mike Bersin (guitar), John 'Tupp' Taylor (bass), Richard Thompson (drums) (formerly in 1984)
  A recording of Wreckage performing a Freddie composition, 'Green', can be found in 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, February 1971 onwards)

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, while David Williams joined the band as lead guitarist.
  In Autumn 1966, David Williams switched to vocals and guitar, while Ron Chester joined the band as lead guitarist.
• The Opposition (January 1967 - March 1968)
  John Deacon (bass), Nigel Bullen (drums), Richard Young (keyboards), Ron Chester (lead guitar), David Williams (vocals, guitar), Pete 'Pedro' Batholomew (vocals)
  The group recorded a three track acetate: Vehicle, Transit 3, Sunny
• Art (March 1968 - late 1969)
  Identical line-up to above.
• Deacon (November 1970)
  John Deacon (bass), Peter Stoddart (guitar), Don Cater (drums)
• Queen (February 1971 - 1997)
  Freddie Mercury (vocals, keyboards, until 1991), Brian May (guitar), Roger Taylor (drums), John Deacon (bass)
• The Immortals (1986)
  John Deacon (bass), Robert Ahwai (lead guitar), Lenny Zakatek (vocals, rhythm guitar)
  The band was assembled to record just one track, 'No Turning Back', which appeared in the film 'Biggles Adventures In Time'.

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