Killer Queen

Killer Queen is a song by the British rock band Queen. Written by Freddie Mercury, it was released as a single on October 11, 1974 and four weeks later on the album Sheer Heart Attack. The success of the single Killer Queen (released as a double A-side with Flick of the Wrist) brought a commercial breakthrough for Queen. In the UK, the song reached number two on the singles chart and silver status. As the band's first single, Killer Queen charted outside the UK - in both Europe and the US.

The three-minute track was produced in the summer of 1974 by Queen and Roy Thomas Baker. By his own account, Mercury first wrote the lyrics before writing the music for Killer Queen. As usual for Queen songs of that time, Mercury's vocal part and Brian May's guitar interludes were recorded with overdubs.

About the song

About the content of Killer Queen, Freddie Mercury said: "It's about a classy call girl. I'm trying to express that classy people can be hookers too. That's what this song is about, although I prefer people to interpret it in their own way - to get out of it what they want."

Brian May later expressed that Killer Queen had been the turning point in the group's history. "It was the song that best summed up our style of music, and a big hit, and we desperately needed it to be a sign of success for us."

Cast

• Freddie Mercury: lead vocals, piano, backing vocals
• Brian May: electric guitar (Red Special), backing vocals
• John Deacon: electric bass
• Roger Taylor: drums, backing vocals

Cover versions (selection)

• 2000: Arid (compilation album Glittering 2000 - Belgian Acts Revisiting Glam Classics)
• 2001: Travis (with guest singer Jason Falkner; Single Sing)
• 2001: Glenn Hughes et al (compilation album Stone Cold Queen - A Tribute)
• 2005: Erika Stucky (Album Princess)
• 2005: Sum 41 (compilation album Killer Queen - A Tribute to Queen)
• 2009: Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs (Album Under the Covers - Vol. 2, bonus track)
• 2018: 5 Seconds of Summer (out 10/26 on streaming services).