A feature article revisits the case, first made in 2012 by Yes guitarist Steve Howe and Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy, that Queen deserve recognition as a progressive rock band despite becoming known chiefly for their pop anthems. It argues that by the time Queen achieved mainstream fame, their most significant forays into progressive territory were largely behind them, yet their spirit of musical adventure, willingness to break convention and stylistic diversity mark them out as prog in character if not always in commercial identity.

The piece traces Queen's early credentials back to 9 January 1971, when the then little-known London band played low on the bill beneath Kevin Ayers, fresh from Soft Machine, and Genesis, who had recently released their second album, Trespass, at Ewell Technical College near Epsom, Surrey. While the headliners favoured a more overtly artful approach, Queen's sound at the time was a heavier, ornate blend rooted in bands like Led Zeppelin, from which they would go on to develop the eclectic, boundary-pushing style that underpins the article's argument for their inclusion in prog's history.