Queen

United Kingdom, 1970–now

English band formed in 1970, with Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon. Multi-tracked vocal harmony and long, sectional arrangements such as 'Bohemian Rhapsody' became a model for stadium rock.

MusicRoots documents 8 artists who influenced Queen and 9 artists Queen influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced Queen?

• Liza Minnelli — Mercury named Cabaret an early inspiration and adored Liza Minnelli's delivery — that cabaret theatricality is the root of his own stagecraft and of Queen's vaudevillian streak.
• Aretha Franklin — Aretha Franklin was among the singers Mercury most admired, for the seeming effortlessness of her tone and the gospel power behind it.
• Chic — John Deacon was in the studio while Chic cut 'Good Times' and built 'Another One Bites the Dust' on that groove — Nile Rodgers called it an homage.
• The Beatles — Freddie Mercury and Brian May cited the Beatles as their primary model for melodic songwriting, studio ambition and vocal harmony.
• Led Zeppelin — Brian May's guitar orchestration and Queen's heavy arrangements draw directly from Led Zeppelin's dynamic range.
• David Bowie — Bowie's glam theatricality and persona-driven artistry shaped Queen's visual identity and Freddie Mercury's stage presence.
• Jimi Hendrix — Brian May built his guitar vocabulary around Hendrix's innovations in tone, feedback and expressive range.
• The Kinks — One of Queen's documented influences, behind the Beatles and beside Bowie and Led Zeppelin.

Which artists did Queen influence?

• Nightwish — Nightwish's grandiose, orchestral and multi-layered vocal approach owes much to Queen's theatrical rock; Holopainen has cited Queen among his key inspirations.
• Lady Gaga — Gaga took her stage name from Queen's 'Radio Ga Ga' and cites Freddie Mercury's theatricality as a formative influence.
• Katy Perry — Perry has singled out Freddie Mercury and Queen as her greatest musical inspiration.
• Guns N' Roses — Axl Rose has named Queen his favourite band and Freddie Mercury his greatest hero; GN'R performed at the Mercury tribute concert.
• Def Leppard — Queen's layered vocal harmonies and grand production were a template for Def Leppard's polished pop-metal.
• My Chemical Romance — Gerard Way cites Queen as a core influence — MCR aimed for music that was 'huge and majestic', peaking with the Queen-scaled rock opera The Black Parade.
• Panic! at the Disco — Brendon Urie is an avowed Queen devotee — Freddie Mercury's showmanship and vocal range drive Panic!'s later, grandiose pop.
• Robbie Williams — Freddie Mercury's grand, crowd-commanding stage presence was a central model for Williams's arena showmanship.
• Mika — Freddie Mercury is the persona Mika measures himself against — named in 'Grace Kelly' as an identity he could put on, and given a whole song, 'Last Party', nine years later.