Queen become the first British band ever to reach Diamond status with a song
'Bohemian Rhapsody' has shifted 10 million units Stateside
Almost 46 years after its release, Queen’s timeless anthem ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ has been certified Diamond in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The six-minute progressive rock epic’s Diamond award represents 10 million or more in sales and stream equivalents in the United States.
Queen are the first British band to earn a Diamond song award Stateside and guitarist Brian May says the honour is “beyond” his wildest dreams.
"This is incredible news. At times like this I have to pinch myself to be sure it's real," says Brian. "All those wild dreams we had — this is beyond any of them. Huge thanks to all who have believed in us over the years."
Drummer Roger Taylor adds, "It's a wonderful and gratifying thought to know the song has reached out and connected with so many people! We thank you all… onwards."
‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ initially peaked at number 9 in the US upon its release in 1975, however it enjoyed a new lease of life when it was used in THAT headbanging scene in 1992 movie ‘Wayne’s World’, reaching Number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a virtual Wayne’s World reunion on YouTube last December, Brian May told the hit movie’s creators and stars Mike Myers and Dana Carvey that they helped reignite Queen’s popularity in the US. “You did it,” Brian said. “You got us back to a new American public, and Freddie (Mercury) was very aware of that. He went to the next place knowing what had happened.”
Brian May also revealed that Freddie Mercury watched the ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ headbanging scene shortly prior to his untimely death in 1991.
Brian said: “I took (a VHS tape of the scene) around to Freddie not long before he went and showed it to him, because you said you wanted to have the approval. He loved it, he just laughed and laughed. He was very weak, but he just smiled and laughed. He said, ‘How wonderful is that?’”
In the UK, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ went to Number 1 for nine consecutive weeks, a record at the time, before returning to the top of the charts again in 1991.
It was named the most-streamed song of the 20th century and its companion video recently passed one billion views on YouTube, making history as the first pre-1990s video to reach one billion views on the platform.
In 2004, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and 14 years later the song’s name was used for the blockbuster biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
Freddie Mercury's life in pictures:
Freddie Mercury's early years
Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town in the British protectorate of Zanzibar on 5th September 1946. Here's Freddie as a baby. His parents, Bomi (1908–2003) and Jer Bulsara (1922–2016) were from western India.
Freddie Mercury's childhood
Freddie Mercury spent much of his childhood in India and attended St. Peter's School from the age of 8. Pictured is Freddie at St Peter's in 1958.
Freddie Mercury's childhood home
In 1964, Freddie Mercury and his family fled to England from Zanzibar to escape the violence of the revolution. They lived at two properties in Feltham, Middlesex before eventually settling at 22 Gladstone Avenue. Pictured is Brian May and Freddie's sister Kashmira Cooke at the property when a blue plaque was unveiled in September 2016.
Freddie Mercury at Ealing Art College
Freddie at Ealing Art College in London in 1969. He earned a diploma in Art and Graphic Design.
Freddie Mercury in 1969
Freddie Mercury in Kensington, West London in August 1969. Prior to fame he worked as a market stall trader in the now-demolished Kensington Market in London.
Freddie Mercury with band Ibex
Freddie Mercury (left) on the road in St Helens, Merseyside with the short-lived Liverpool band Ibex. When they failed to take off, he joined another band called Sour Milk Sea but by early 1970 they had split too
Freddie Mercury in early 1970s
Although famously shy, Freddie Mercury was an extrovert on stage. Here he is wearing a typically flamboyant outfit on stage in the early 1970s
Queen in 1973
Queen's Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon photoshoot in London in 1973.
Freddie Mercury in 1973
Freddie Mercury in 1973.
Freddie Mercury in rehearsals
Freddie Mercury rehearses for Queen's first major tour on 9th July 1973
Freddie Mercury in London in 1973
Freddie Mercury in London in August 1973.
Queen accept gold disc for debut album
Queen are presented with a gold disc for their eponymous debut album 'Queen' in Tokyo, 1974
Queen in 1974
Queen arrive back from their successful Australian tour in 1974.
Freddie Mercury in 1976
Freddie Mercury at Heathrow airport in January 1976 ahead of Queen's USA tour
Queen before receiving British Phonographic Institute awards
Queen in London, September 1976, to receive a British Phonographic Institute Platinum, Gold and Silver award for record sales.
Freddie Mercury at Madison Square Garden in 1977
Freddie Mercury in his imperious live prime at Madison Square Garden in January 1977.
Queen at Earls Court in 1977
Queen at Earls Court in London, June 1977.
Queen in 1978.
Queen looking cool in 1978.
Freddie Mercury in Paris in 1979
Freddie Mercury in his element, live in Paris in 1979.
Freddie Mercury in California in 1982
Freddie Mercury performing live in Oakland, California in 1982.
Freddie Mercury at Live Aid in 1985
Freddie Mercury during Queen's legendary Live Aid performance at Wembley in 1985. It's widely regarded as one of the finest concert performances of all time.
Freddie Mercury at Live Aid with Paul McCartney, Bono and David Bowie
Freddie Mercury performing with Paul McCartney, Bono, David Bowie and more at Live Aid, 1985.
Freddie Mercury in Sydney in 1985
Freddie Mercury on stage in Sydney in 1985.
Queen in 1985
Queen pose for a portrait in 1985.
Freddie Mercury and Anita Dobson in 1988
Freddie Mercury with Brian May's second wife Anita Dobson in 1988.
Freddie Mercury and Monserrat Caballe in 1988
Freddie and Monserrat Caballe perform 'Barcelona' at Barcelona's Montjuich park, to celebrate the arrival of the Olympic flag from Seoul, October 1988
Queen in 1989
Queen pose together in smart attire in 1989.
Queen at The BRIT Awards 1990
Freddie Mercury's appearance at The BRIT Awards in February 1990 was his last public appearance.
Flowers left outside Freddie's home after his death
Fans leave flowers outside Freddie's London home on 24th November 1991 – the day of his untimely death aged 45.
Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux
The iconic Freddie Mercury statue overlooking Lake Geneva in Montreux. Standing three metres high, the Irena Sedlecka sculpture was unveiled five years after Freddie's death by Montserrat Caballé and Freddie's mother Jer.
Freddie Mercury exhibition at Sotheby's
In 2023 Freddie Mercury's closest friend Mary Austin (to whom Freddie left half of his £75 million estate) announced that she was finally selling his life's possessions, which had been stored in his Kensington mansion since his death. Before the auction, Sotheby's displayed the 1,500 items at an exhibition in London, with members of the public able to view Freddie's outfits, artworks, lyric sheets, instruments, furniture and more.
Read more:
20 facts you might not know about Freddie Mercury
Queen guitarist Brian May admits he regrets losing a cassette made by Freddie Mercury
UK vinyl revenue set to overtake CDs for first time since 1987 🎶