In 1963 Brian May formed the group 1984, with Tim Staffell, but by 1968 he would leave to concentrate on studies. He, would later form the group Smile with Staffell, keyboardist Chris Smith, and drummer Roger Taylor.
By 1970, Staffell would leave the group and his replacement Farrokh "Freddie" Bulsara, would join the group as lead singer, and with Taylor's friend Mike Grose as bassist, the four played their first concert at a fundraising event in Truro in 1970. Following the event, Bulsara wanted to change the image of the group and himself, so Farrokh Bulsara would become Freddie Mercury and Smile would become Queen.
The group would play their first gig in July of that year, and by 1971 they would replace Grose with John Deacon, and the rest is Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame history! Today is the day that Queen decided to become Queen and as a result blazed a trail across the face of music that still burns bright.