Queen chosen greatest British band in BBC poll
Last Updated: Tuesday, January 2, 2007 | 9:48 AM ET
CBC Arts
Related
Campy, over-the-top rock band Queen beat out the iconic Beatles in a New Year's Day poll to determine the greatest British band of all time.
BBC radio polled British music lovers Monday to rank five beloved U.K. groups, which had been whittled down from a list of thousands of nominations.
Queen's Freddie Mercury and guitarist Brian May at a concert in 1984.
(Rogers/Express/Getty)
Queen, led by frontman Freddie Mercury until his AIDS-related death in 1991, beat out the Fab Four by just 400 votes during the live BBC Radio Two show Monday.
More than 20,000 fans voted during the three-hour show. They included celebrity guests who dropped in to debate about their favourite acts.
McFly, for instance, logged their votes for Queen. Members of the boy band said they had been inspired by the flamboyant band, which was most popular during the 1970s and 1980s, and scored hits including Bohemian Rhapsody and We Are the Champions.
Rock veterans Rolling Stones placed third, followed by bad-boy rockers Oasis and, finally, boy band Take That.
Organizers asked fans to judge each group using criteria including songwriting, originality, showmanship and live performances.
Votes were submitted by e-mail, text message and telephone.
Share Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
- Attack on Syrian villages deadliest yet, activists say
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming more than 32 children and 60 adults were killed the attack. more »
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges

- The estranged partner of a young mother who was stabbed to death along with her parents at their home in Aylmer, Que., has been charged with first-degree murder Friday. more »
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest

- The deaths of six climbers last weekend on Mt. Everest, with more summits underway this weekend, fuels the debate about the risks and responsibilities of high altitude climbing. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
- Miller Brittain sketches restored by museum
- Canadian artist and social satirist Miller Brittain's larger than life chalk drawings may once again hang in Saint John. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
- Woman's remains found in bag on Cape Breton river
- Attack on Syrian villages deadliest yet, activists say
Queen's Freddie Mercury and guitarist Brian May at a concert in 1984.

