S.O.D. "Tie Your Mother Down" by Queen

5/16/2016     Guitarist Brian May was just fooling around on guitar one morning with a certain riff and singing the words "Tie your mother down" which he really thought was kind of silly.  However the rest of the band liked what they heard and started building around it.  After that, the 1977 release became a staple at their concerts usually as the opening number.  It received much airplay but only moderate chart performance peaking at #31 in the UK and 47 in the US. It did however reach #10 on the Dutch Top 40.  

     The original Queen lineup consisted of Freddie Mercury on guitar, keyboards and lead vocals, Brian May on guitar and backing vocals, Roger Taylor on drums and backing vocals and John Deacon on bass and backing vocals.  There vocal harmonization is nothing short of astounding.  The tune was played at the band's induction ceremony into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001, 10 years after Freddie Mercury's death.  It has also been played at different tributes to Mercury.  

     Queen has had influences on many genres of music as well as artists that include Metallica, Van Halen, Nirvana, Guns N' Roses, Lady Gaga and Katy Perry to mention a few.  Sweetish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen stated that they have had a major influence on the neo classical metal scene with their increasing emphasis on speed.  Queen has been rocking now for 35 years straight.  Guitarist Brian May has a PhD in astronomy.