// BBC ENTERTAINMENT & ARTS — MODA & SOCIETÀ
How Queen perfected trademark harmonies in a cave
Queen pictured before an awards ceremony in London in 1976
Queen drummer Roger Taylor has recalled how his mum organised the band's first ever concert to raise funds for the British Red Cross.
The show in Truro in June 1970 featured Taylor on drums, Brian May on guitar and vocals by Freddie Mercury, then known as Fred Bulsara.
Taylor also revealed how the group perfected their trademark harmonies by singing in a cave on a Cornish beach because they loved the "big sound".
The musician was speaking ahead of the release of his latest solo album, Violence Insane in a Beautiful World.
The Truro gig was Mercury's first live performance with Taylor and May and he used the occasion to announce their new name, Queen.
The set consisted of songs they had written themselves, including Stone Cold Crazy and Son and Daughter, as well as rock 'n' roll covers.
Taylor was born in King's Lynn, Norfolk and moved to Cornwall with his family when he was seven years old
Queen went on to become one of the most successful rock bands in history, selling more than 300 million records worldwide.
They also gained a reputation as a formidable live act, filling stadiums around the world.