The soaring vocals and innovative music of Queen has helped make them one of the most influential bands in rock history. Founded in 1970, Queen included Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon. They created many best-selling singles, including Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, Another One Bites the Dust, and Somebody to Love. Thanks to the popularity of the band, their logo is one of the most recognizable rock logos. You can learn more about this famous Queen logo in our article.
Queen Logo Design Elements
Queen’s logo is an elaborate crest symbol in shades of red, gold, and orange. In the middle of the crest is a red and gold trimmed ribbon that curves around to form a Q. Inside of this Q is a traditional crown in gold and red. An orange crab surrounded by flames perches along the top of the Q, and two crowned lions support either side of the Q. The right lion is looking to the side, while the lion on the left side is turning to look at the viewers.
At the bottom of the Q, two blonde fairies with wings perch on vines. Along the top of the Q are the head and wings of a phoenix that spread along the entire logo. Beneath this crest is the word “Queen.” The band’s name is in an orange red color, and it is written in all-capital letters with elongated serifs.
Changes and Evolution
1. Shape
The very first version of the Queen logo was remarkably similar to the modern version. It was created right before the band’s first album was released, and it was a line drawing with little detail. This version of the logo did not say “Queen” underneath. In the next version of the logo, more shading and detailing showed up on the logo. The final addition was the word “Queen” underneath the logo.
2. Color
Queen’s logo originally just had a black line drawing on a white background. When extra detailing and shading was added, the band included bright, warm colors to make the logo look rich and elegant. This is still the official version of the logo, but a variant that is just a white line drawing on a black background is frequently used. The band uses the less colorful version of the logo when they need a simple design to display.
3. Font
Queen’s logo font has remained the same since it was first put into use. The font is inspired by classic Roman typefaces, but the serifs are elongated and extended. This helps make the font look more artistic and flamboyant.
Influences/Inspiration
Queen’s logo was drawn by Freddie Mercury himself. He was greatly inspired by both the Royal Coat of Arms in the United Kingdom and astrology. Queen added a little more detailing and a band name to the logo to make it more recognizable to fans, but they have stuck with the same basic design drawn by Mercury as a homage to the band’s iconic frontman.
The animals and creatures in the logo represent all the members of the band. Both Deacon and Taylor were leos, so the two lions represent their zodiac signs. The crab is the symbol for Cancer, which was May’s sign. Two female fairies were used to represent Virgo, the sign of the maiden, which was Mercury’s astrological sign. The phoenix at the top of the logo symbolizes rebirth, overcoming hardships, and immortality, so it symbolizes the general hopes and goals of the band’s music.
Trivia
- A blue and gold version of the logo shows up as the cover artwork for an album of greatest hits released in 1991.
- Queen was originally called “Smile,” but Freddie Mercury encouraged them to change their name to Queen in the early 1970s.
- Though Queen’s logo did not show up on most of their promotional equipment, the logo text with its signature font was used on most Queen albums.
Conclusion
The Queen logo highlights the bands creativity and over the top boldness. Its intricate design references all of the band’s main members, and the bright colors and elaborate font help the logo to have a very strong effect on viewers. Decades after its creation, the Queen logo still symbolizes innovative and heartfelt music to the many fans of Queen.
Recommended Read: The Who Logo Design History and Evolution
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