| UPDATED: 16:07, Mon, Feb 22, 2021
Link copied Sign up for FREE now and never miss the top Royal stories again.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters.
Sometimes they ll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer.
Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights.
You can unsubscribe at any time.
Back in 1971, Queen was still an unknown band, who took second billing at a student gig behind fast-rising act Yes. At the weekend, Brian was reminded of those days by the agent who booked both bands for the show and had words of wisdom for future rock stars. But the man who John Deacon replaced as Queen s bass player also remembered the heated confrontation after the show and the moment Freddie announces he doesn’t want to continue.
Queen s Brian May discovers a tape of one of their first concerts News 09/02/2021
Guitarist Brian May has discovered a recording of one of the earliest concerts Queen had ever performed. We re always looking at finding stuff that is historically important. And this one tape that cropped up very recently which I am excited about, which is one of the first gigs we played in a lecture theatre at Imperial College, he told Classic Rock. I didn t even know I had the cassette.
May mentioned that although their first concert as Queen was on 27th June 1970, their first proper gig actually happened three weeks later on 18th July at the Union Hall, Imperial College, where May had studied physics. At the time, Mike Grose was the bass player for a short while.
Queen Discover Tape of One of Their First Concerts
He gave the news to
Classic Rock, saying, “We re always looking at finding stuff that is historically important. And this one tape that cropped up very recently which I am excited about, which is one of the first gigs we played in a lecture theatre at Imperial College. I didn t even know I had the cassette.”
May didn t provide specifics on the show, but he has said that, although their first concert as Queen was June 27, 1970 in Cornwall, their first proper gig was three weeks later, July 18, at the Union Hall at Imperial College, where May had studied physics. Mike Grose was the bass player at the time, although he would soon quit because they spent more time working on material than performing. The guitarist added that their inexperience is evident, which has left him and his bandmates unsure if they should release it.
By Dewayne Wells
Brian May recently located a top of a
Queen performance at Imperial College in London, where May attended classes. The performance took place before the group hit it big.
In a recent interview with
Classic Rock magazine, Brian said, We re always looking at finding stuff that is historically important. And this one tape that cropped up very recently which I am excited about. It s one of the first gigs we played in a lecture theatre at Imperial College. I didn t even know I had the cassette.”
The performance was from the early 1970’s, and May said the band was very unformed [on the tape]. Hearing
Getting to hear clips from a band s early days is always interesting, but especially when it s a band who went on to become as massive as Queen has. Brian May told Classic Rock that he s found audio cassette tape from one of their earliest gigs, but that they don t know what to do with it.
The show was performed at a lecture theater at London s Imperial College, and May didn t even realize he had it on tape. We were very unformed, May described of the performance tape. Hearing Freddie [Mercury] at that point in his development is fascinating. He had all the will and charisma and passion, but he didn t have the opportunity to harness that voice yet.