- If you are looking for the Duran Duran drummer, see Roger Andrew Taylor.
Roger Meddows-Taylor, a.k.a Roger Taylor, was born on 26 July 1949 in Norfolk, United Kingdom. He was drummer/percussionist and vocalist with Queen. He contributed songs to the band's albums from the very beginning, and usually sang the lead on his own tracks. His voice is notable for its raspiness, which has been compared to Rod Stewart's. Also, his ability to sing intense high notes added a distinctive tone to many of Queen's memorable vocal harmonies; one notable example of this is found in "Bohemian Rhapsody". Another fine example of his vocal talents is in the music hall-esque 'Seaside Rendezvous' when he and Freddie Mercury imitate tubas, clarinets and kazoos through mere voice manipulation.
His compositions include the hits Radio Ga Ga, Heaven for Everyone and A Kind Of Magic, as well as other tunes that did not receive as much airplay, such as Modern Times Rock & Roll (Queen I), Tenement Funster (Sheer Heart Attack), and I'm in Love With My Car (A Night at the Opera), which he also sings. He released several solo albums and even formed a separate group, The Cross.
In 1994 he worked together with Yoshiki, the leader/drummer/pianist of X Japan and released the song "Foreign Sand" and "Final Destination" which were a big hit in the UK.
Roger, along with Freddie, was one of the party animals of the group. A heavy smoker until recently, he has been known for his love for fast living, drink and women. He has also been known to be one of the most politically inclined members of Queen, having in 1994 released a single condemning neo-Nazism.
In 1999 Taylor appeared in the background of a Royal Mail stamp commemorating the life of Freddie Mercury. This caused controversy as it was an understood rule that the only living people allowed to appear on British stamps could be members of the Royal family.
Discography
Singles (not included on albums)
I Wanna Testify/Turn On The TV (1977)
Manipulator (1988)
Solo Albums
Fun In Space (1981)
Strange Frontier (1984)
Happiness? (1994)
Electric Fire (1998)
The Cross Albums
Shove It (1988)
Mad Bad And Dangerous To Know (1990)
Blue Rock (1991)
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