June 27, 1970
The group Smile change their name to
Queen and perform for the first time under that moniker.
This is the very first gig Queen ever performed, a charity event organized by the British Red Cross. It was booked for Smile (the pre-Queen band consisting of guitarist Brian May, drummer Roger Taylor, and bassist/vocalist Tim Staffell) by Roger's mother, who was involved with the charity. She posted numerous ads, the earliest one in February. A roadie at the time, Ken Testi, insists they were called Queen at the first gig. Roger Taylor confirmed this in 2019 with a photo of his May 27, 1970 diary that he posted on his Instagram.
The gig takes place at Truro City Hall in Cornwall, England; the band earn £50 for their efforts. It's lead singer Fred Bulsara's first paid performance with the band, which also includes guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.
The name change is his idea: "Queen" evokes royalty, and has many possible interpretations. Long after adopting the stage name Freddie Mercury, he says, "I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it."The following year, bass player John Deacon joins the band, establishing the lineup that persists until Mercury's death in 1991.
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