一聽音樂網

QUEEN是70年代初出現的一支英國重金屬樂隊。它與當時流行的大多數穿破牛仔褲、蓄長發、在臺上吸煙的重金屬樂隊幾位不同：他們涂著黑色的指甲油，穿著考究，顯得十分高貴。他們的音樂也如他們的外表一樣，與普通金屬風格迥異，被稱為貴族風格的純盎格魯金屬。

QUEEN組建于1971年，樂隊成員是主唱Freddie Mercury,吉他手Brain May,貝司手John Deacon,鼓手Rpyer Taylor，這個陣容一直保持了二十年未變。

“沒有電子合成器”是QUEEN一大足以自夸的特色，在早期的專輯封面照片上，他們把這句話寫在自己的衣袖上，雖然他們在電子合成器非常流行的頭十年里沒有充分利用它，但是這絲毫沒有影響到他們在大西洋兩岸的成功。他們把許多樂器和人聲混合成一種獨特的音響效果，盡地這種創造在八十年代有些過時，但他們在樂迷心中留有美好的印象，尤其是它在七十年代中、后期的那種創新效果。

QUEEN的首張專輯QUEEN I于1973年7月出版，被樂評界和樂迷們公認為是QUEEN最優秀的專輯之一。同時，Keep yourself alive作為單曲出版，這首作品被認為是QUEEN最優秀的單曲之一，充滿了力量感的曲調打動了無數的樂迷，Great King Rat也是一首金屬味道十足的作品。

這張專輯出版后，樂隊開始了他們的巡回演出。樂評界注意到Freddie Mercury那尖銳的高音和Brain May那不同尋常的吉他演奏風格：他放松吉他弦以獲得一種奇特的低而愉快的音質。

毫無疑問，QUEEN同BEATLES、LED ZEPPELIN一樣，是支偉大的樂隊。

很多初聽搖滾的朋友大概不會認為QUEEN是一支金屬樂隊，那是掉入狹義金屬樂概念的緣故。其實，金屬的范疇還是比較廣的，長發、皮夾克和金屬飾物只是一些金屬樂隊的噱頭，至于刺耳的咆哮那更不是金屬的標志。金屬經過三四十年的發展，門類還是很豐富的，并且搖滾樂的其他分支和流派，也或多或少的受到金屬的影響。

Queen: Freddie Mercury (vocals, piano); Brian May (guitar, piano, background vocals); John Deacon (bass instrument); Roger Taylor (percussion). Recording information: Trident Studios, London, England. Queen's 1973 debut is definitely their most underrated album of that decade. Although most tracks aren't as well known as the band's later material, QUEEN proves to be an impressively consistent listen from beginning to end. It's extraordinary how many of the group's future musical trademarks were already detectable in their debut--Brian May's orchestrated guitar harmonies, multi-tracked vocal "choirs," imaginative songwriting and dynamics that could switch from head-banging heavy metal to reflective balladry in the blink of an eye. Although QUEEN was recorded off and on over a three-year period, the tracks still manage to be focused and unified. The rocker "Liar" contains a middle section that foreshadows Queen's future hits (1975's "Bohemian Rhapsody," 1976's "Somebody To Love," etc.) while "The Night Comes Down" and "Doing All Right" are two gorgeous ballads. But make no mistake: the majority of QUEEN is raucous hard rock--see "Great King Rat" and the grand Zeppelin groove of "Son & Daughter." Also included as a CD bonus track is the forgotten composition "Mad The Swine," and an instrumental version of their future hit "Seven Seas Of Rhye."