brian | Thinking Pipe

The original name of this band was Smile. In 1970 Tim Staffell, the lead vocalist left the band and was replaced by X Bulsara.
The band changed their name and became music royalty.
Identify the band.

Show Answer

Queen
X being Freddie Mercury, originally named Freddie Bulsara
"Queen was a much better name than Smile, which is one dimensional. Queen suggests both the establishment and a profound antiestablishment rebelliousness which allows us to escape from the rigid convention of the palace and head to a drag club. The name is respectable and disreputable, rebellious and conventional, epic and self-deprecating. Queen is a Janus mask of contradiction rather than a simple smile. It welcomes the conventional and the marginalised. There is room for everyone in the palace of Queen."