Queen drummer Roger Taylor revealed that their worst record with Freddie Mercury was Hot Space, which was recorded during a tumultuous time in Queen when members were releasing solo projects, as somewhat dramatized in 2018’s Bohemian Rhapsody. Taylor discussed the record in a Classic Rock Magazine interview.
You were the first member of Queen to release a solo album. If that had done well would you have gone: “Right, lads, I’m off”?
No, no, no. Never. We used to call the band The Mothership. Whatever we did, we always used to come back to it. It was our gang. I never wanted to be a solo artist. I only wanted to be in a band.
The first half of the eighties was a rollercoaster time for Queen. The Game and Greatest Hits were huge hits, but then you released Hot Space and America basically turned its back on you, then Live Aid eventually put you back on top.
It was a weird time. Hot Space isn’t really my favourite album. We had drum machines and this stupid sampler – which was the world’s most expensive coffee table. I can understand the people who liked our stuff before not particularly liking that album. It’s got some good stuff on it. I fail to remember what.
Put Out The Fire is on it.
That one’s nice.
