Queen drummer Roger Taylor recalls band's first gig and cave rehearsals
Queen drummer Roger Taylor has revealed how the band's first concert in 1970 was organised by his mother as a charity fundraiser, and how the trio perfected their harmonies by singing in Cornish caves.
Queen drummer Roger Taylor has shared new details about the band's early days in Cornwall, speaking ahead of the release of his latest solo album, Violence Insane in a Beautiful World.
The band's first ever concert took place in Truro in June 1970 and was organised by Taylor's mother to raise funds for the British Red Cross. The line-up featured Taylor on drums, Brian May on guitar, and vocals from Freddie Mercury, still known at the time as Fred Bulsara. It was Mercury's first live performance alongside Taylor and May, and he used the show to announce the band's new name, Queen — replacing their previous name, Smile, which still appeared on promotional posters for the gig.
Perfecting the harmonies
Taylor explained that the trio's distinctive harmonies, which later became a hallmark of hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody and Somebody to Love, were developed by singing inside caves at Chapel Porth beach near St Agnes. The caves' natural reverberation made their voices sound bigger, similar to singing in a large church.
Taylor recalled that his mother was somewhat alarmed by the band's performance but was impressed by Mercury's manners and immaculate style — it later emerged that Mercury pressed his trousers by placing them under his mattress overnight.
By the summer of 1971, with bassist John Deacon completing the band's classic line-up, Queen played around a dozen shows across Cornwall over six weeks, including at a rugby club, a pub and even a Royal Navy airbase. Many of these gigs were arranged by Taylor himself using his local contacts.
Queen went on to become one of the most successful rock bands in history, selling more than 300 million records worldwide.
