Wikipedia

Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)

Roger Meddows Taylor(born 26 July 1949) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He achieved international fame as the drummer and backing vocalist for the rock bandQueen.[1]As a drummer, Taylor was recognised early in his career for his unique sound[2]and was voted the eighth-greatest drummer in classic rock music history in a listener poll conducted byPlanet Rockin 2005.[3]He was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 2001 as a member of Queen.

Roger Taylor
OBE
Taylor performing withQueen + Adam Lambertin December 2017
Born
Roger Meddows Taylor

(1949-07-26)26 July 1949(age 75)
King's Lynn,Norfolk, England
EducationBSc,Bachelor Degree in Biology
Alma materEast London Polytechnic
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
Years active1968–present
Spouse
Sarina Potgieter
​
(m.2010)​
Children5, includingRufusandTigerlily
Musical career
GenresRock
Instruments
  • Drums
  • vocals
  • guitar
Labels
Member of
Formerly of
Websiterogertaylorofficial.com

As a songwriter, Taylor composed at least one track on every Queen album, and often sang lead vocals on his own compositions. He wrote or co-wrote three UK number ones ( "These Are the Days of Our Lives",[4]"Innuendo"and"Under Pressure") and wrote a further five major hits ("Radio Ga Ga","A Kind of Magic","Heaven for Everyone","Breakthru"and"The Invisible Man").[5]He has collaborated with such artists asEric Clapton,Roger Waters,Roger Daltrey,Robert Plant,Phil Collins,Genesis,Jimmy Nail,Kansas,Elton John,Gary Numan,Shakin' Stevens,Foo Fighters,Al Stewart,Steve Vai,Yoshiki,Cyndi AlmouzniandBon Jovi.As a producer, he has produced albums byVirginia Wolf,Jimmy NailandMagnum.

As a singer, Taylor employs afalsettovocal range. During the 1980s, in addition to his work with Queen, he formed a parallel band known asthe Cross,in which he was the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. During the early 1980s, Taylor was also a panellist on the UK quiz showPop Quiz,hosted byMike Read.In 2014, he appeared inBrian Pernas himself.

Early life

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Roger Meddows Taylor was born on 26 July 1949 atWest Norfolk and Lynn HospitalinKing's Lynn,Norfolk. The new maternity ward was opened by Princess Elizabeth, the future queen,Elizabeth II.During her visit she was introduced to 16 new mothers including Winifred Taylor, his mother. Taylor first lived at 87 High Street in King's Lynn and later moved to Beulah Street in the town. Taylor's first school was Rosebery Avenue school.[6]Taylor moved toTruro,Cornwall, in south west England, with his mother Winifred, father Michael and younger sister Clare. When he was seven years old, he and some friends formed his first band, the Bubblingover Boys, in which he played theukulele.He briefly attendedTruro Cathedral School;at the age of 13, he joinedTruro Schoolas a day boy.[7]

At the age of 15, Taylor became a member of the Reaction, a semi-professional rock band formed mainly of boys from Truro School. Taylor had originally learned guitar, but became a drummer when he realised he had a more natural aptitude for it. Taylor taught himself to tune his drums, inspired byKeith Moonofthe Whobecause of the "great drum sounds" on the early Who records.[8]Another key influence on Taylor wasMitch Mitchellofthe Jimi Hendrix Experience,who Taylor stated was his early role model.[9]

In 1967, Taylor went to London to study dentistry at theLondon Hospital Medical College,[10]but he became bored with it and changed to biology obtaining a BSc atEast London Polytechnic.[11]

Career

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1968–1970: Smile

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Main article:Smile (band)

Taylor metBrian MayandTim Staffellin 1968 after a friend saw an advert for a drummer on a noticeboard atImperial College.Smile included May on lead guitar, Staffell on lead vocals and bass, and later Taylor on drums. The band lasted for two years before Staffell departed to joinHumpy Bong,leaving the band with a catalogue of nine songs.

Smile reunited for several songs on 22 December 1992. Taylor's bandthe Crosswere headliners and he brought May and Staffell on to play "Earth" and "If I Were a Carpenter".[12]

1970s–present: Queen

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Main article:Queen (band)
Taylor (pictured in 2005) has been with Queen since the band's inception

In 1969, Taylor was working withFreddie MercuryatKensington Marketin London (they were sharing a flat at around the same time).[13]Mercury, then known as Farrokh "Freddie" Bulsara, was a fan of Smile. The band split up in 1970. In the same year, Taylor turned down the chance to become drummer forGenesis,which led toPhil Collinsjoining instead. [14]Bulsara convinced the remaining two members of Smile to continue and he eventually joined the band, which he renamed Queen. In 1971, they recruited bassistJohn Deacon,before going on to release theirself-titled debut albumin 1973. Taylor is the third most credited songwriter for the band, usually contributing one or two tracks per album.

1977–present: Solo career

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Taylor has had a productive solo career, releasing six albums. His first single was "I Wanna Testify" in 1977, recorded during Queen's sessions for theNews of the Worldalbum. The A-side, although a cover of the Parliaments song of the same name, was completely different from the original. The B-side was a self-penned song "Turn on the TV".

Taylor onstage in Palermo, Italy, January 1995

Taylor's first solo album, released in 1981, wasFun in Space,on which he performed all vocals and played all instruments aside from about half of the keyboards, which were contributed by engineerDavid Richards.With Queen still touring heavily and recording at the time of release, Taylor was unable to promote the album to its fullest extent, only appearing on some European TV shows to promote the single, "Future Management", includingTop of the Pops.A second single from the album was titled "My Country". The only US single released from the album was "Let's Get Crazy".

Taylor's next solo venture,Strange Frontier,came in June 1984. The three singles from the album were the title track, "Beautiful Dreams" (in Portugal only) and "Man on Fire", the latter becoming a live favourite for him in later years. No attempts to promote the singles were made since Queen was touring to promoteThe Works,with Taylor not even performing on any TV shows.Strange Frontierincluded guest appearances by bandmates Freddie Mercury, Brian May and John Deacon. Mercury sang backing vocals on "Killing Time", Deacon remixed the B-side "I Cry For You" andRick Parfittco-wrote and played on "It's An Illusion". David Richards, Queen's engineer and producer at the time, also co-wrote two of the tracks. The album includes covers ofBruce Springsteen's "Racing in the Street"andBob Dylan's "Masters of War".

Taylor (left) in concert withJeff Beckin May 2013

In 1986, Taylor co-producedVigilante,the sixth studio album by rock bandMagnum.[15]After Queen finished their 1986Magic Tour,Taylor started a new band,the Cross,which released three albums over their six years of existence. In 1993, the band split up, after performing one final gig at theGosport Festival.[16]

In 1994, Taylor worked withYoshiki,drummer and pianist ofX Japanand released the song "Foreign Sand" and a reworking of the Cross's "Final Destination". The albumHappiness?was "Dedicated to the tasmanian tiger – thylacinus cynocephalus, but most especially... for Freddie". "Nazis 1994" from this album became Taylor's first hit single in England and was followed by two other top 40 UK hits, "Happiness" and "Foreign Sand".

In 1998, Taylor released his fourth solo albumElectric Fire.[17]Taylor also performed one of the first Internet-gigs – for which he got a mention in theGuinness Book of World Records.[18]On 11 November 2013, Taylor released the albumFun on Earth,[19]On the same day, Taylor released his compilation albumThe Lot,which includes all of his work outside of Queen.[20]

In response to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Taylor released a new single "Isolation" on 21 June 2020.[21]The song debuted on the top of the UK iTunes Rock chart.[22]On 7 May 2021, Taylor announced his new solo album,Outsider,which was released on 1 October 2021, and debuted at number three on theUK Albums Chart.[23][24]

1987–1993: The Cross

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Main article:The Cross (band)

The Cross were a side project of Taylor's that existed from 1987 to 1993 and released three albums. While still the drummer for Queen, Taylor fronted the Cross as rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist. On its debut release,The Crossincorporated dance influences which they dropped on their remaining two albums.

2001–2011

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Taylor with Queen andPaul Rodgersin 2008

Taylor has appeared along with May for various other events and promotions, including Queen's induction into theRock and Roll Hall of Famein 2001[25]and the "Party at the Palace"in 2002, celebrating the golden jubilee ofQueen Elizabeth II.[26]In 2004, Taylor, May, and Mike Dixon received theHelpmann Awardin Australia for Best Music Direction for the musicalWe Will Rock You.[27]At theLive Earthconcert held at Wembley Stadium in 2007, Taylor opened the show withTaylor HawkinsofFoo FightersandChad SmithofRed Hot Chili Peppers.

Taylor and May, performing as Queen, also appeared three times on the American singing contest television showAmerican Idol.The first appearance was on 11 April 2006, during which that week's contestants were required to sing a Queen song. Songs performed included "Bohemian Rhapsody","Fat Bottomed Girls","The Show Must Go On","Who Wants to Live Forever",and"Innuendo".The second time Queen appeared was on the show'sseason 8finale in May 2009, performing "We Are the Champions" with finalistsAdam LambertandKris Allen.The third appearance was during theeleventh seasonon 25 and 26 April 2012, performing a Queen medley with the six finalists on the first show. The following day, they performed "Somebody to Love"with the Queen Extravaganza band.[28]

Taylor on drums with vocalistAdam Lambertin 2012

In November 2009, Taylor appeared on the reality TV showThe X Factorwith May as Queen mentoring the contestants and performing "Bohemian Rhapsody".That month Taylor confirmed he was planning to tour with Taylor Hawkins, which Taylor described as a" quick tour ".[29]At the2011 MTV Europe Music Awardson 6 November, Queen received theGlobal Icon Award,and Taylor and May closed the awards ceremony, withAdam Lamberton vocals, performing "The Show Must Go On", "We Will Rock You", and "We Are the Champions".[30]In 2011, Taylor, along withSteven TylerandRoger Daltrey,joined the advisory board of Edge Music Network. Taylor performed in the2012 Summer Olympics closing ceremonyin London on 12 August.

2013–present

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In 2013 and 2014, Taylor served as an executive producer of the filmSolitary,directed by Sasha Krane. In addition to those duties, he provided original music, including the song "When We Were Young" and three instrumental songs which serve as incidental/background music in the film and during the closing credits. Taylor also appeared as a special guest for Welsh Rock artistJayce Lewis[31]providing drums for the track "Wrath" which were recorded at Taylor's personal studio inSurrey,the song was released as a single from the Welshman's albumNemesis.[32][33][34][35]On 15 November 2014, Taylor joined the charity groupBand Aid 30,playing drums alongside current British and Irish pop acts on the latest version of the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?"atSarm West StudiosinNotting Hill,London, to raise money for the2014 Ebola crisisin Western Africa.[36]

On 5 and 6 September 2015, Taylor, along withLed Zeppelin'sJohn Paul Jones,joinedFoo Fighterson stage inMilton Keynesto perform a cover of the Queen andDavid Bowiesong "Under Pressure".Taylor released a new single called" Gangsters Are Running This World "on 1 April 2019, and on 8 April released a more rocking version of this song called" Gangsters Are Running This World-Purple Version ". Both versions became available for streaming on 8 April 2019.[37]On 10 May 2019 he and CzechArsenalgoalkeeperPetr Čechreleased a song called "That's Football" which Čech wrote for his retiring football career.[38]

In October 2021, Taylor embarked on a 14-date solo tour (Outsider Tour) in the UK, from 2 to 22 October.[39]In January 2023, Queen single "Radio Ga Ga" was sampled on singer Che Lingo's single "My Radio"; Taylor and Queen were credited as co-lead artists on the song.[40]In November 2023, Taylor's bar The Wild, a collaboration with his wife Sarina Taylor,Adam Lambert,Bryan Patrick Franklin, and Michael Solis, opened in West Hollywood, California.[41][42]

Influences and favourite drummers

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Taylor has stated that his early role model as a drummer wasMitch Mitchellofthe Jimi Hendrix Experience.He said: "I still think listening to Mitch Mitchell, especially the early stuff with Hendrix, is just fantastic. This fusion of jazz technique and wonderful riffs but with this rolling ferocious attack on the whole kit, it had lots of jazz influences I think. In fact for me he played the kit like a song, it was just wonderful. Total integration into the song. Not just marking time".[9]

Taylor has also expressed great admiration forJohn BonhamofLed Zeppelin.Speaking of Bonham, Taylor said, "The greatest rock and roll drummer of all time was John Bonham, who did things that nobody had ever even thought possible before with the drum kit. And also the greatest sound out of his drums – they sounded enormous, and just one bass drum. So fast on it that he did more with one bass drum than most people could do with three, if they could manage them. And he had technique to burn and fantastic power and tremendous feel for rock and roll".[9]For sheer technique, Taylor described the jazz andbig banddrummerBuddy Richas "the best I've ever seen".[9]

Speaking toModern Drummerin 1984, Taylor describedKeith Moon,the drummer ofthe Who,as "absolutely brilliant...he had a total unique style; he didn't owe anyone anything."[8]

Tributes

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Taylor drum displayed at theHard Rock Cafein Madrid

In 2013, a newly discovered species of the genusHeteragrion(Odonata: Zygoptera) from Brazil was namedHeteragrion rogertayloriafter Taylor, in honour of his "powerful sound, wonderful lyrics and raspy voice"; one of fourHeteragrionflatwingdamselfliesnamed after the bandmates, paying tribute to the 40th anniversary of Queen's founding.[43]

In 1999, Taylor became the second living person, other than members of the British Royal Family and SirFrancis Chichesterin 1967, to appear on aRoyal Mailstamp,being seen behind Freddie Mercury as part of a "Great Britons" issue. This caused controversy as it was an understood rule that the only living people allowed to appear on British stamps could be members of the Royal Family.[44][45]

In 2002, Taylor appeared on the "Twelve Drummers Drumming" Christmas card in the "Twelve Days of Christmas"set sold atWoolworthsto raise money for theNational Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children,alongsideDuran Duran's drummerof the same name.[46]

Taylor was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire(OBE) in the2020 New Year Honoursfor services to music.[47]At his investiture ceremony atWindsor Castlein March 2022, Taylor dedicated his OBE to the recently deceased Foo Fighters drummerTaylor Hawkins,adding that Hawkins had been a mentor to his own sonRufus.[48]

Discography

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Main article:Roger Taylor discography
See also:The Cross (band) § Discography,andQueen discography

Solo albums

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Solo live albums

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Albums made with the Cross

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Year Title UK
[49] 		DE
[50]
1988 Shove It 58 –
1990 Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know – 48
1991 Blue Rock – –

Portrayal in film

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He was portrayed byBen Hardyin the 2018 filmBohemian Rhapsody.[51]Taylor, along with bandmate Brian May, were creative consultants on the film.

References

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  1. ^Macnab, Geoffrey."Roger Taylor interview: The Queen drummer has written the soundtrack for British film Solitary".The Independent.Archivedfrom the original on 9 October 2016.Retrieved6 October2016.
  2. ^Rolling Stone– Issue 149 – 12 June 1973
  3. ^"Zeppelin voted 'ideal supergroup'".BBC News.10 July 2005.Archivedfrom the original on 21 October 2007.Retrieved28 January2008.
  4. ^"These Are the Days of Our Lives".Bechstein Debauchery.Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2007.Retrieved28 January2008.
  5. ^"The Invisible Man".Bechstein Debauchery.Archived fromthe originalon 17 December 2007.Retrieved28 January2008.
  6. ^Trevor, Heaton."Rock Star's Norfolk Childhood".Queen Archives.Eastern Daily Press.Archivedfrom the original on 7 February 2016.Retrieved19 January2016.
  7. ^"Roger".Themarchoftheblackqueen.piczo.com.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2013.Retrieved8 April2012.
  8. ^ab"Roger Taylor Interview".Queen Zone. Archived fromthe originalon 15 July 2015.Retrieved10 August2015.
  9. ^abcd"Roger's Drum Master Class (Music Works – BBC World Service, November 28, 1993)".Queen Online.Archivedfrom the original on 24 September 2015.Retrieved10 August2015.
  10. ^"Roger Taylor".Queen official website.Archivedfrom the original on 19 January 2017.Retrieved15 January2017.
  11. ^Rose, Frank."Heavy Meddows Kid".Queen Archives.Eastern Daily Press.Archivedfrom the original on 16 January 2017.
  12. ^[1]Archived8 February 2007 at theWayback Machine
  13. ^"Roger Taylor" I remember "".Reader's Digest.Retrieved4 March2020.
  14. ^"Queen 40th anniversary: 10 things you never knew".The Daily Telegraph.24 September 2011.Archivedfrom the original on 24 September 2015.Retrieved27 August2015.
  15. ^Patrick Lemieux; Adam Unger (2013).The Queen Chronology: The Recording & Release History of the Band.Across the Board Books. p. 54.ISBN978-0991984046.
  16. ^"Roger Taylor".Biography.Archivedfrom the original on 1 March 2018.Retrieved1 March2018.
  17. ^Gregory, Andy (2002).The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002.Psychology Press.ISBN9781857431612.
  18. ^[2]Archived30 September 2007 at theWayback Machine
  19. ^"Roger Taylor To Release Solo Album | Rock News | News".Planet Rock. 22 November 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2013.Retrieved27 June2013.
  20. ^"Queen's Roger Taylor Talks Solo Work, Hopes Band Will Record With Adam Lambert".Billboard.Archivedfrom the original on 19 May 2018.Retrieved1 March2018.
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  27. ^"Past nominees and winners Helpmann Awards".Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2016.Retrieved16 December2016.
  28. ^"'Somebody to Love' on 'American Idol' – Video ".Rolling Stone. 27 April 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 21 January 2015.Retrieved16 July2014.
  29. ^"Queen And Foo Fighters Drummers To Team Up For 2010 Tour".Gigwise. 17 November 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 16 October 2014.Retrieved16 July2014.
  30. ^Penny Newton (6 November 2011)."Katy And Adam Honour Queen! | Queen | News | MTV Australia".Mtv.com.au. Archived fromthe originalon 12 September 2012.Retrieved16 July2014.
  31. ^"'We Are One' - Jayce Lewis ft Brian May ".9 January 2018.
  32. ^"Roger Taylor of Queen guest appearances discography".Rogertaylor.info. Archived fromthe originalon 9 August 2014.Retrieved29 September2014.
  33. ^"He will, he will, rock you! Jayce Lewis is granted an audience with Queen star".Walesonline.co.uk.8 June 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 25 September 2014.Retrieved29 September2014.
  34. ^"Queen drummer Roger Taylor agrees to play on Welsh rocker Jayce Lewis' new album".Walesonline.co.uk.28 July 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 10 August 2014.Retrieved29 September2014.
  35. ^"Queen drummer Roger Taylor agrees to play on Welsh rocker Jayce Lewis' new [QueenConcerts]".
  36. ^"Band Aid 30: One Direction among celebrity line-up".Telegraph.11 November 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 20 February 2015.Retrieved11 February2015.
  37. ^"'Gangsters Are Running This World' Available Now – Inc. New 'Purple Version'".Archivedfrom the original on 8 April 2019.Retrieved8 April2019.
  38. ^"Out Today! 'That's Football' – Petr Cech ft. Roger Taylor".Queenonline.com.Archivedfrom the original on 20 May 2019.Retrieved10 May2019.
  39. ^"Queen's Roger Taylor announces 2021 UK solo tour".NME.Retrieved5 October2021.
  40. ^Wilkes, Emma (19 January 2023)."Che Lingo shares Queen-inspired 'My Radio' featuring Roger Taylor".NME.Retrieved5 September2024.
  41. ^"Adam Lambert's The Wild West Hollywood Has VIP Pre-Opening Party".WEHO Times.Retrieved15 November2023.
  42. ^"Roger and Adam Lambert Open New Bar in LA".Queen Online.Retrieved17 November2023.
  43. ^Lencioni, F.A.A. (9 July 2013)."Diagnoses and discussion of the group 1 and 2 Brazilian species of Heteragrion, with descriptions of four new species (Odonata: Megapodagrionidae). Zootaxa 3685 (1): 001–080"(PDF).Zootaxa.Magnolia Press – Auckland, New Zealand.Archived(PDF)from the original on 4 March 2016.Retrieved26 September2015.
  44. ^Rohrer, Finlo (14 October 2008)."The politics of stamps".BBC News.Archivedfrom the original on 12 November 2011.Retrieved29 October2011.
  45. ^Alex Spence."Royal Mail unveils Beatles album cover stamps (TimesOnline) ".The Times.UK.Retrieved29 October2011.
  46. ^[3]Archived28 September 2011 at theWayback Machine
  47. ^"No. 62866".The London Gazette(Supplement). 28 December 2019. p. N15.
  48. ^"Queen drummer Roger Taylor dedicates OBE to Taylor Hawkins".The Independent.Retrieved6 April2022.
  49. ^QueenOnline Message Board:: View topic – Queen / Solos UK & US (Y MORE) Chart HistoryArchived29 September 2008 at theWayback Machine
  50. ^"Charts-Surfer".Archived fromthe originalon 16 December 2008.Retrieved19 August2020.
  51. ^Munro, Scott (20 December 2019)."Ben Hardy: It would be amazing to work with cast on Bohemian Rhapsody sequel".Classic Rock Magazine.Retrieved19 November2020.
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