Queen The final albums and Mercury's death (1990–1997)
 I thought up the name Queen. It's just a name, but it's very regal obviously, and it sounds splendid. It's a strong name, very universal and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. ”
—Freddie Mercury
In 1969, guitarist Brian May, a student at London's Imperial College, and bassist Tim Staffell decided to form a group. May placed an advertisement on the college notice board for a Mitch Mitchell/Ginger Baker type drummer; Roger Taylor, a young dental student, auditioned and got the job. They called the group Smile and served as a support act for bands such as Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Yes and the original Genesis. Smile were signed to Mercury Records in 1969, and had their first session in a recording studio in Trident Studios that year. Staffell was attending Ealing Art College with Farrokh Bulsara, later known as Freddie Mercury, and introduced him to the band. Bulsara soon became a keen fan. Staffell left in 1970 to join another band, Humpy Bong; the remaining Smile members, encouraged by Bulsara, changed their name to Queen and continued working together. The band had a number of bass players during this period who did not fit with the band's chemistry. It was not until February 1971 that they settled on John Deacon and began to rehearse for the first album.
In 1973, after a series of delays, Queen released their first album, a self-titled project influenced by the heavy metal and progressive rock of the day. The album was received well by critics; Gordon Fletcher of Rolling Stone said their debut album is superb, and Chicago's Daily Herald called it an above average debut. However, it drew little mainstream attention and the lead single Keep Yourself Alive, a Brian May composition, sold poorly. Greg Prato of All Music Guide called it one of the most underrated hard rock debuts of all time.
The album Queen II was released in 1974. The album reached number five on the British album charts, while the Freddie Mercury-written lead single Seven Seas of Rhye, reached number ten in the UK, giving the band their first hit. The album is their heaviest and darkest release, with long complex instrumental passages, fantasy-themed lyrics and musical virtuosity. The band toured as support to Mott the Hoople in the United States during this period, and they began to gain notice for their energetic and engaging stage shows. However, album sales in the US were, like its predecessor, low.
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