Second Wave of Queen Reissues Announced

Here are the details put out by Island: These five albums were recorded as Queen's UK stadium success spread to the USA, South America, Europe and Asia and are the sound of a band breaking through the crash barriers of their own limitless ambition. The early 80's saw the band conquer South America for the first time, creating rock history when they played at the Morumbi Stadium in Brazil to 131,000 people - then the largest paying audience for a single band anywhere in the world.

If the early 70's and the first five albums Queens released represented the band's hard-rocking years, then the late 70's and early 80's represented their hard partying era. As Brian, Roger, Freddie and John toured the world their reputation for off-stage rock'n'roll extravagance grew with stories of legendary party excess from Kensington to Copacabana informing the Queen mythology.

The Queen image changed too in the second half of the 70s. Infamously Sid Vicious bumped into Freddie Mercury at Wessex Studios where both Pistols and Queen are recording - 'Ullo Fred - I see you've bought ballet to the masses then!' Says Sid, eyeing up Freddie's legendary ballet pumps. 'Ah Mr Ferocious. Yes, doing my best dear' retorted Freddie.

It was also during this period that one of the most iconic images in contemporary music was developed, when in 1980 Freddie Mercury grew perhaps the most famous moustache of modern times! Inspired by his adventures in the Lower East Side New York nightlife of the late 70's, the moustache and attendant leathers completely reinvented the band's look. Famously the moustache caused outrage among many fans who mailed him disposable razors.

Queens 40th Anniversary year has kicked off in spectacular style so far with their first ever major exhibition 'Stormtroopers in Stilettos' in London's East End which drew an incredible crowd of over 20,000 visitors in two weeks, and kicked off with a star studded launch party attended by the likes of Foo Fighters and Jessie J. The Sun advised 'Get down there, it's an impressive collection'. Meanwhile the bands first five albums have been reissued to considerable acclaim. The Telegraph said of their early work, 'Queen's greatest music was extravagantly innovative, technically brilliant and created with a jeweller's care.'

These five albums highlight the diverse talent, musical ambition and already global success of a band made up of some of the best songwriters, musicians and performers of all time.

Queen's first five albums are currently available across Europe, South America and Asia. The US release date of 'Queen', 'Queen II', 'Sheer Heart Attack', 'A Night At The Opera' and' A Day At The Races' is May 17th.

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