Note: this list includes only concerts. Brian's bands (1984, Smile) of course recorded studio stuff but that's not listed here (does Brian's garage count as studio when we talk about 1984 demos? :-) Thanks to Dave Dilloway for additional info on '1984'.

1984 (September 1964 - March 1968)

1984 Top Rank Bowl Competition (in order left to right): Tim, Dave, Richard, Jag and Brian

Line-up

  • Brian May (guitar/vocals)
  • Dave Dilloway (bass)
  • John 'Jag' Garnham (rhythm guitar/vocals)
  • Richard Thompson (drums) - later joined Freddie's 'Wreckage'
  • Tim Staffell (lead vocals/harmonica, later lead guitar)
  • John Sanger (piano/vocals)

Bill Richards (rhythm guitar) and Malcolm Childs (rhythm guitar) also were around the group and played at rehearsals but never played with '1984' live. John Sanger left for university after the first two gigs. Brian decided to leave 1984 on March 5, 1968.

Brian later played with his mate Dave Dilloway in Left Handed Marriage but we're talking only about three recording sessions here (04.04.1967, 28.06.1967, 28.07.1967), he didn't play with them in any gig.

28.10.1964 St. Mary's Church Hall, Twickenham, UK
04.11.1964 Girls School, Richmond, UK
January 1965 Imperial College, London, UK
15.01.1966 Thames Rowing Club, Putney, UK
29.01.1966 Thames Rowing Club, Putney, UK
05.02.1966 Rowing Club, Shepperton, UK
spring 1966 Imperial College, London, UK
summer 1966 Boat Club, Molesey, UK
summer 1966 R&B Club, Putney, UK
01. or 02.07.1966 Boat Club, Henley On Thames, UK
09.07.1966 All Saints Church Hall, London, UK
autumn 1966 White Hart, Southall, UK
09.12.1966 The Bartlett School of Architecture, London, UK
28.04.1967 Park Hotel, Hanwell, London, UK
13.05.1967 Imperial College, London, UK
September 1967 School Of Medicine, London, UK
September 1967 Top Rank Club, Croydon, UK
23.12.1967 Olympia Theatre, London, UK
02.02.1968 Town Hall, Ealing, UK

Known setlists

15.01.1966 Thames Rowing Club, Putney
(audio recording owned by Queen Productions)
  1. 01I'm A Loser (Beatles)
  2. 02Help (Beatles)
  3. 03Jack Of Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
  4. 04I Wish You Would
  5. 05I Feel Fine (Beatles)
  6. 06Little Egypt
  7. 07Lucille (Little Richard/Everly Brothers)
  8. 08Monkey Business
  9. 09Mojo Working
  10. 10Walking The Dog (Dennisons)
  11. 11Heart Full Of Soul (Yardbirds)
 
29.01.1966 Thames Rowing Club, Putney
(audio recording owned by Queen Productions)
  1. 01Bright Lights Big City
  2. 02Chains (Beatles)
  3. 03Walking The Dog (Dennisons)
  4. 04Lucille (Little Richard/Everly Brothers)
  5. 05Little Rendezvous
  6. 06Jack Of Diamonds (Lonnie Donegan)
  7. 07Mojo Working
  8. 08Little Egypt
  9. 09I'm A Man
  10. 10Bye Bye Bird
 
05.02.1966 Rowing Club, Shepperton
(feat. Brian May on bass guitar)
  1. 01Dancing In The Street (Martha Reeves & The Vandellas)
  2. 02Eight Days A Week (Beatles)
  3. 03I'm Taking Her Home (Others)
  4. 04My Generation (Who)
 
spring 1966 Imperial College, London
A four-minute colour silent footage of Imperial College Fancy Dress party exists
 
summer 1966 Boat Club, Molesey
  1. 01Happy Hendrix Polka
 
13.05.1967 Imperial College, London
(supporting Jimi Hendrix)
(audio recording owned by Queen Productions)
  1. 01Cool Jerk
  2. 02Respect
  3. 03My Girl
  4. 04Shake
  5. 05Stepping Stone
  6. 06Keep Me Hanging On
  7. 07Whatcha Going To Do About It
  8. 08Substitute
  9. 09How Can It Be
  10. 10Dancing In The Street
  11. 11Dream
  12. 12Sha La La La Lee
 
23.12.1967 Olympia Theatre, London
  1. 01So Sad (Everly Brothers)
  2. 02Stone Free
  3. 03She's Gone (Buddy Knox)
  4. 04Knock On Wood (Eddie Floyd)

Smile (summer 1968 - 1970)

Smile

Line-up

  • Brian May (guitar/vocals)
  • Tim Staffell (bass/lead vocals)
  • Roger Taylor (drums/vocals)
  • Chris Smith (possibly only rehearsals)
  • Phil Taylor (occasional keyboards)
  • Mike Grose (bass - last gig(s))
26.10.1968 Imperial College, London, UK
31.01.1969 Imperial College, London, UK
12.02.1969 King's College Medical School, London, UK
27.02.1969 Royal Albert Hall, London, UK
28.02.1969 Athletic Club, Richmond, UK
15.03.1969 Imperial College, London, UK
22.03.1969 Flamingo Club, Redruth, UK
28.03.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
29.03.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
05.04.1969 Winter Gardens, Penzance, UK
18.04.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
19.04.1969 Revolution Club, London, UK
31.05.1969 Whisky A Go Go, London, UK
28.06.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
29.06.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
19.07.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
25.07.1969 Percival Institute, St. Minver, UK
13.09.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
14.09.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
18.10.1969 College Union, Watford, UK
01.11.1969 Imperial College, London, UK
06.12.1969 Imperial College, London, UK
13.12.1969 The Marquee Club, London, UK
26.12.1969 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
17.01.1970 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
21.01.1970 The New Penny, Derby, UK
31.01.1970 Imperial College, London, UK
07.03.1970 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
08.03.1970 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
17.04.1970 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
18.04.1970 PJ's Club, Truro, UK
22.04.1970 The New Penny, Derby, UK
24.04.1970 Eel Pie Island, Twickenham, UK
09.05.1970 Imperial College, London, UK

Known setlists

26.10.1968 Imperial College, London
  1. 01Toccata And Fugue In D Minor (Bach)
  2. 02Can't Be So Sad
 
27.02.1969 Royal Albert Hall, London
(short silent video recording owned by Queen Productions, part is shown in the Champions Of The World video)
  1. 01If I Were A Carpenter
  2. 02Earth
  3. 03Mony Mony
  4. 04See What A Fool I've Been

An interesting fact: 'Johnny Quale And The Reaction' were founded by Johnny Grose (aka Johnny Quale). Johnnie's younger brother Mike Grose later played occasionally with 'The Reaction', 'Smile' and even became Queen's first bass player.

A mystery: Tim Staffell left the band before the last gig(s). Who replaced him for the last few days or weeks? Mike Grose (the manager of PJ's and later Queen's first bass player) stepped in, played bass (basically without any rehearsal) and he thinks all three guys shared vocals so there was no lead singer. But there are also rumours that Freddie became the singer for Smile - possibly for one night only. We will never know.