As Queen begins its fifth decade, straight from the band’s vault comes this visually dazzling tome of lyrics.
Queen, one of the most innovative, glamorous, and influential bands in rock history, was formed in 1971 when the musical fates brought four creative and cerebral youths together in London. Freddie Mercury was an established fine and graphic artist, Brian May was enveloped in the study of astrophysics, Roger Taylor was enrolled in dental school, and John Deacon was studying electronics. Since then, they have made history with their sophisticated fusion of operatic expression, theatrical performance, and raw rock and roll.
Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics is the first book of its kind. Not only has there never before been a complete Queen lyrics book, Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics also features hundreds of images accompanying the songs, from handwritten lyrics to never-before-seen photographs from the stage to the studio. Also included is a complete discography, pairing each song with the album on which it was originally released.
Beginning with their debut album Queen in 1973, the band took the U.K. by storm, then conquered the United States along with the rest of the world, serving as pioneers of stadium rock and enjoying commercial success and momentum well into the 1980s (highlighted by their show-stopping Live Aid appearance in 1985) through the early 1990s. The whirlwind took a startling pause when Mercury died from AIDS on November 24, 1991, but since then, the living members have forged ahead and remain great music makers until this day.
Queen has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, has songs enshrined in the Grammy Hall of Fame, and has received BMI’s highest honor, the BMI Icon Award. Queen’s Greatest Hits, released in 1981, is the U.K.’s best-selling album of all time.
Designed by Queen’s longtime creative director Richard Gray, Queen: The Complete Illustrated Lyrics is as true to the band as can be, carrying with it the flamboyance, expression, and depth that Queen embodies. If there is one book for a Queen fan to own, this is the one.
Out now in North America. Released from June 1st in Europe and the UK.
Out now in North America. Released from June 1st in Europe and the UK.
I Could have sworn it was us UK fans that made Queen famous several years before USA . I could go on....
I thought that this would be a lot different than it turned out. Since the title bore a good resemblence with The Beatles book - "The Beatles: The illutsrated lyrics" that QUeen would make a similar book. Art inspired by Queen songs, as The Beatles book has. I love The Beatles book, and I look through it now and again. This new Queen book, it only has a couple of illustrations, and the rest are mostly Queen pics that we've already seen over and over again.
It's okay for what it is, but I suppose my disappointment stems from the very high hopes I had for this book.