Other Queen 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 discography.
Map
Showing The Formation Of Queen
Groups featuring Roger
Taylor
Groups featuring Brian May
Groups featuring
Freddie Mercury
Groups featuring John
Deacon
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 use one of the two links below:
Pre-Queen
Map - Microsoft Word (48 KB)
Pre-Queen
Map - GIF Image (231 KB).
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)
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)
Roger Taylor (vocals, rhythm guitar), Spike Edney
(keyboards), Joshua J. Macrae (drums), Clayton Moss
(guitar), Peter Noone (bass)
Roger Taylor (vocals), Jason Falloon (guitar), Joshua J. Macrae (drums), Mike Crossley (keyboards), Stuart Bradley
(bass)
Roger Taylor (vocals), Jason Falloon (guitar), Mike
Crossley (keyboards), Treanna Morris (vocals), Matt
Exelby (rhythm guitar), Steve Barnacle (bass), Keith
Prior (drums)
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 / 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)
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).
Brian May (lead guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar), Cozy
Powell (drums), Spike Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray
(bass), Cathy Porter (backing vocals), Shelley Preston
(backing vocals).
Brian May (lead guitar), Jamie Moses (guitar), Spike
Edney (keyboards), Neil Murray (bass), Eric Singer
(drums), Susie Webb (backing vocals), Zoe Nicholas
(backing vocals).
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 Songs 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)
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)
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'.