“The workings of Freddie’s mind were sometimes obscure…” Brian May

Queen guitarist speaks exclusively to MOJO about revisiting the band’s debut album, Freddie Mercury’s “bloody religious” lyrics, reclusive bandmate John Deacon and more.

Released in 1973, Queen’s debut album presented a hugely promising, if a little patchy, snapshot of the future global superstars. While overflowing with ideas and ambition, on Queen I, Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon were yet to reign in their virtuosity in service of their soon-to-be gold-standard songwriting.

This month, the album is subject to an opulent new reissue, polishing previously buried sonic jewels, restoring the originally intended running order and bringing in a raft of demos and live tracks. You can read MOJO’s review of the new, six-disc box set HERE.

On the eve of the set’s release, guitarist and joint custodian of Queen’s legacy Brian May casts his mind back to the early days of the band, revisiting their debut 50 years on and the importance of doing their music justice. “We were always precocious boys...” he tells MOJO’s James McNair.

Read the full interview here.

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The 6CD + 1 LP Queen I box set contains 63 tracks with 43 brand new mixes, comprising the original album with its intended running order restored, intimate fly-on-the-wall audio of Queen in the studio, demos, rare live tracks, and previously unheard recordings from Queen’s first-ever live performance in London, August 1970. Absent from the 1973 release, the song “Mad the Swine” has been reinstated to its original place in the running order. A 108-page book containing handwritten lyrics and memorabilia accompanies the release. 
 
Pre-Order Queen I: https://Queen.lnk.to/QueenI
Queen I Website: http://www.queenIofficial.com/