Top 20 Classic Queen Tracks

By Wayne Madden /

10. Tie Your Mother Down

A heavy rocking track from the 1975 release 'Sheer Heart Attack', the musical aggression of this album generally represents the frustration felt by the band at this point, due to several contributing factors. Following Queen's first US tour with Mott the Hoople in 1974 they were shocked by Brian May's sudden and devastating illness €“ later to be discovered that May had contracted hepatitis. The guitarist made a full recovery but the band's hopes and dreams for the future were almost halted before things had even begun. As May recovered the band discovered more problems, their management had been squandering cash and capital, under the guise that they had been saving said money on their client's behalf and giving the band an "allowance" to live on each week on the road. As band members established roots €“ which in John Deacon's case included buying a house for his pregnant wife €“ they discovered that there was, in fact, very little money and that the profits made thus far had been all but spent by management. Seeking new representation (with those recommended by Elton John) Queen were quick to turn their fortunes around €“ helped in part thanks to the extremely successful sales of double A side 'We Will Rock You/We Are The Champions' on 77's 'News of the World' €“ although, as Brian May would later attest via Twitter, the band simply hadn't made any money at all prior to that album and what had been made was lost.