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1972

The four members develop Queen through 1971 and 1972, slowly honing their image and crafting the show and set repertoire, but all the while continuing college studies and rehearsals.

Queen’s reputation begins to grow steadily, but even so, John and Brian, more so than Freddie and Roger, are unwilling to commit themselves yet exclusively to the band. They rehearse only when all four members are available at the same time. Though Freddie and

Roger have their hearts set on a rock and roll career, Brian and John still regard Queen as a venture to occupy free time between studies, so only a select amount of concerts are performed in 1972.

Queen spend much of early 1972 approaching record companies with their demo tapes. They have little success and begin to get not a little disillusioned.

The Forest Hill show is attended by Barry Sheffield, who until this point has only heard Queen’s five-song demo tape and is taking up a recommendation to see them live before committing his company to a deal. Sheffield realises claims are not exaggerated, and Queen finally sign to Trident in November.

By the end of 1972 Queen will finish recording their self-titled de?but album at Trident Studios in London, though only in downtime.

Text taken from the forthcoming revised and updated edition of Queen Live: A Concert Documentary