logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2025
26m 41s

Queen: 4. The Reign Continues

BBC RADIO 2
About this episode

In this episode of Eras: Queen, Bill Bailey tells the story of the band's most poignant and powerful chapter.

By the start of the 90s, Queen knew time was running short as Freddie Mercury was gravely ill. Instead of slowing down, they pushed forward, making another album, Innuendo, and creating the video for "These Are The Days Of Our Lives," Freddie’s final on-camera appearance. This episode explores the profound impact of Freddie's public announcement of his AIDS diagnosis, followed by his passing just 24 hours later.

The reign continues in 1992 as Brian, Roger, and John orgainse the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. We explore the release of their album Made in Heaven in 1995 which was built around Freddie’s final vocal recordings.

Bill looks at Queen's continued legacy through the We Will Rock You musical and the Bohemian Rhapsody film. We celebrate Queen's new phase with Adam Lambert, who, alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor, continues to bring their music to life. With new interviews with Queen fans, Matt Lucas and Brittany Howard, we find out about Queen's unwavering dedication to their fans, old and new, and how their music continues to resonate across generations.

Up next
Oct 2025
Queen: 5. Interview with Queen icons Brian May & Roger Taylor
Hosted by comedian and lifelong Queen super fan Bill Bailey, this latest installment of the ERAS series dives deep into the story of the band told through the prism of their operatic masterpiece, Bohemian Rhapsody, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. Bill sits down for ... Show More
29m 31s
Jan 19
Phil Collins: Episode 1: In the Beginning…
Who’s that cherubic lad, beaming out from the cover of a 9 penny knitting pattern?Meet young Philip Collins – a boy born with two distinct paths laid out before him. Follow his dad into the world of office work and suburban domesticity? Or listen to that voice that tells him to c ... Show More
28m 40s
Jan 19
Phil Collins: Episode 2: Can You Feel It?
It’s the dawn of the 1980s, and Phil’s life has been thrown into turmoil by the breakdown of his marriage – but amidst the heartbreak, he finds a new drive to create. Zoe Ball follows Phil Collins as he steps away from Genesis and makes his first, unforgettable statement as a sol ... Show More
28m 30s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2024
This Moment in Music History for 10-18-2024
On October 18, 1957, Paul McCartney made his debut performance with John Lennon's band, The Quarrymen, at a social club in Liverpool, England. This event marked the beginning of a legendary musical partnership that would change the course of music history.<br /><br />McCartney, t ... Show More
1m 52s
Jul 2024
The Beatles
The Beatles - made up of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison - were the biggest band the world has ever seen. Recording together for just over seven years, setting unprecedented sales, and revolutionising songwriting, theirs was a stardom that burned bri ... Show More
57m 6s
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-05-2025
On May 5th, 1962, an extraordinary event took place that would forever change the course of popular music history. The Beatles, a relatively unknown band from Liverpool, England, auditioned for George Martin at EMI Studios in London. This fateful meeting marked the beginning of a ... Show More
2m 37s
Feb 2025
This Moment in Music History for 02-07-2025
On February 7th, 1964, The Beatles arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, marking the beginning of the British Invasion in music history. Thousands of screaming fans greeted the four lads from Liverpool as they stepped off the plane, eager to catch a g ... Show More
1m 47s
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-19-2025
On May 19th, 1962, a significant event in music history took place at the Ivor Novello Awards in London, England. The ceremony, which celebrates outstanding achievements in songwriting and composing, witnessed the first meeting between two legends who would go on to shape the cou ... Show More
2m 16s
Aug 2025
The Beatles' "Help!": A Cry for Support, a Musical Triumph
On August 6th in music history, one significant event took place in 1965 when the legendary rock band, The Beatles, released their album "Help!" in the United Kingdom. This was their fifth studio album and it featured a mix of rock, pop, and folk-influenced songs that showcased t ... Show More
2m 53s
Oct 2024
This Moment in Music History for 10-19-2024
On October 19, 1957, Paul McCartney and John Lennon performed together for the first time as The Quarrymen at a social club in Liverpool called The Conservative Club. This historic meeting would lay the foundation for one of the most influential and successful musical acts of all ... Show More
2m 6s
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-30-2025
On May 30th, 1968, The Beatles began recording what would become their ninth studio album, "The Beatles," more commonly known as "The White Album." This double album, released on November 22nd of the same year, marked a significant shift in the band's creative process and musical ... Show More
2m 17s
Feb 2024
The Beatles First Tour - NIR Live 2023 Part One
The Beatles First Tour (NIR Live 2023 Part One)NIR went on tour in 2023, so it seems fitting to tell the story of The Beatles’ first and last tours. In the beginning there was Johnny Gentle, a singing star with enough capital to play venues in the rural highlands of Scotland with ... Show More
53m 55s