50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody: A rock masterpiece is celebrated again!

50 years of Bohemian Rhapsody: A rock masterpiece is celebrated again!

Today, October 31, 2025, we celebrate a real anniversary: ​​“Bohemian Rhapsody,” the iconic song by Queen, was released exactly 50 years ago. The single, which was released on October 31, 1975, will go down in the annals as one of the masterpieces of rock history. Those responsible at EMI were originally skeptical because the song was very long at almost six minutes for the time. It was assumed that radio songs should ideally only last about three minutes. But Queen was determined not to cut the song, and that turned out to be spot on.

A crucial turning point came when radio DJ Kenny Everett played the song on the radio, creating hype. The result? Selling over 2.62 million copies, "Bohemian Rhapsody" became the best-selling single of the 1970s in the United Kingdom. Surprisingly, the song reached number one again in the UK charts after Freddie Mercury's death in 1991. It is a phenomenon that stands the test of time.

New edition and anniversary celebration

On the occasion of its 50th birthday, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is being reissued – in several formats. Fans can look forward to a picture disc and an exclusive, transparent, blue heavyweight 7″ vinyl. A cassette will also be released for lovers of retro technology. This is accompanied by the accompanying LP “A Night At The Opera”, which was also released in November 1975.

The album is considered one of the band's most important works, with other classics such as "Love Of My Life" and "You're My Best Friend". Brian May emphasizes how enormously important this album was for Queen's breakthrough and describes the band's high level of self-confidence during its creation as formative. “A Night At The Opera” became the group's most successful album to date, reaching number one in the UK and many other countries.

The Story of Queen

Queen themselves have a long and illustrious history, which began with their debut album in London in 1971. Led by Roy Baker and John Anthony, the band members recorded the album at the legendary Trident Studios and De Lane Lea Studios. Of course, each of the songs had its own creative signature, while the iconic cover featuring Freddie Mercury, created at an early concert, still stands for the album today. By the way, the famous Queen Crest logo was personally designed by Freddie Mercury and adorns not only their albums, but also merchandise and concerts worldwide.

Queen remains not only a trademark in music history, but also a cultural phenomenon whose influence and significance can still be felt today. The band has inspired generations and will continue to do so. They have demonstrated a knack for timeless music, and “Bohemian Rhapsody” is proof of that.

In recent years there have also been numerous film releases that were no less exciting. In January 2015, when the world was still captivated by Queen, the cinematic landscape came across works like *Blackhat* or *The Wedding Ringer* that enriched the cinema. The variety of stories told on the big screen reflects how important music and culture are in our everyday lives. Wikipedia has created an interesting overview here.

So all we can say is: Congratulations, “Bohemian Rhapsody”! Here’s to the next 50 years!

For more information, see Radio Hagen and Queen Online.