Killer Queen

Genesis is proud to announce the official limited edition book crafted to celebrate the enduring success of one of the world’s greatest rock bands. Presenting the photographs of Mick Rock, original text by Brian May, Mary Austin and Mick Rock and featuring quotes of the period from Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor and John Deacon.

New Beats: ‘This exquisitely produced photo book … containing outtakes, test Polaroids, and other previously seen snapshots that might even surprise die-hard fans who thought they’d seen everything.’

Queen were the rarest of breeds: both genius in the studio and utterly brilliant performing live. A potent, magical mixture that has won them fans the world over. Such is their success, Queen form part of collectors’ so-called ‘Mighty Three’. Along with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, no other bands’ recordings and memorabilia are so highly sought after.

It is therefore fitting that Genesis follow their acclaimed Beatles and Rolling Stones titles with a limited edition tribute to a band captured in Mick Rock’s lens at the explosive moment between obscurity and world domination.Uncut: ‘Rock’s pictures of Queen’s breakthrough gig at Imperial College in 1973 are just some of the rare and unseen images collected in Killer Queen…’

Brian May: ‘Looking back, it is obvious that Mick was a master of his art very early on. His pictures speak louder than words. The images in this book stand up fresh and untarnished by time.’

Killer Queen is a limited edition book of only 2,500 numbered copies worldwide signed by Brian May and Mick Rock.

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For my sins in a former life, I’ve been forced to spend an inordinate amount of time with musicians in this life. Of course, I love them.

A camera is a wonderful ally. It requires minimal maintenance and provides entry to a world of endless imagery.

My ambition was not to be a great photographer (though that certainly would have been a worthy stance). It was a lust to embrace anything that startled or energized me.

I am not in the business of documenting or revealing personalities. I am in the business of freezing shadows and bottling auras.

Without the rock ‘n rollers, I would not have developed as an image man.

You want to shock people with a bit of mystery and beauty. That’s my favorite kind of shocking.

I’ve never felt like a voyeur, although I’ve certainly done plenty of looking!

There’s an art to looking back - how to celebrate the past without being entrapped by it. Photographs provide the great physical link.

My allegiance was always to the act. I wanted them to be happy. I wasn’t owned by a magazine or a record label.

I smell pictures more than I see them and I hear pictures more than I can smell them. It’s very habit forming.