How Queen Really Got Their Band Name

Back in the summer of 1970, Freddie Bulsara had more than a few big ideas. He had just joined the band Smile, which featured guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist Mike Grose. But things were about to change in a major way. Freddie Bulsara would soon become Freddie Mercury, and Smile would be renamed Queen — a bold choice that sparked plenty of debate among the band members.

Before landing on Queen, the group tossed around other names like “The Rich Kids” and “Build Your Own Boat.” May and Taylor had their sights set on “The Grand Dance,” a misquoted reference to a C.S. Lewis sci-fi novel. But Mercury had something else in mind. He thought Queen had a strong, dramatic feel — it was regal, powerful, and yes, just a little provocative. According to Bohemian Rhapsody: The Definitive Biography of Freddie Mercury, he liked that the name was short, memorable, and open to interpretation. Even though their first show on June 27, 1970, still had them billed as Smile, they were already calling themselves Queen. And from that moment, a rock legend was born.

Why Queen Was Perfect for Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury had been thinking about the name Queen even before he officially joined the band. In a 1977 Rolling Stone interview, he explained why it clicked for him:

“It was a strong name, very universal and very immediate; it had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it.”

Not everyone saw it the same way. Sue and Pat Johnstone, two sisters Freddie knew, remembered him asking them about the name at a bus stop one day in 1970. “What do you think of the name Queen?” he asked. They laughed — they thought it was typical of his flamboyant personality. At the time, “queen” was still commonly used as a slur against gay men. But Mercury wasn’t swayed. He was already developing the band’s now-famous crest, pulling together zodiac signs to represent each member. For him, Queen was a full-blown identity.

Bandmates Had Doubts, But the Music Spoke Louder

While Mercury was confident, the others weren’t as sure. Bassist Mike Grose admitted he thought the name was risky. “I said, ‘Well, if we didn’t get arrested or anything at least people will remember us,’” he joked in Somebody to Love: The Life, Death, and Legacy of Freddie Mercury. Grose didn’t stick around long — he left after just three shows. John Deacon would later replace him and become the band’s permanent bassist.

May and Taylor didn’t love the name either. England had only recently decriminalized homosexuality in 1967, and many anti-gay laws were still in effect. They were concerned the name might be too controversial. But in the end, they gave in — figuring the music would define them more than the name. And for straight bandmates, calling their band Queen added an ironic twist.

As for Mercury, the meaning ran deeper. He would get engaged to Mary Austin in 1973, only to later come out to her as bisexual. They never married but stayed close until his death. Mercury never publicly discussed his sexuality or his AIDS diagnosis until the day before he passed in 1991.

Naming the band Queen gave Freddie Mercury the space to be exactly who he wanted to be — bold, theatrical, and unapologetically himself. It wasn’t just a name. It was the beginning of a movement, and one of the most iconic rock bands of all time.