Roger Taylor's chance meeting with guitarist Brian May at Imperial College's student union bar in 1968 proved pivotal to rock history, ultimately leading to the formation of Queen. After spotting a noticeboard flyer seeking a "Mitch Mitchell/Ginger Baker type" drummer, Taylor arranged to meet May and the two immediately connected over shared musical influences including Jimi Hendrix and The Beatles. Though this initial partnership manifested as Smile, a blues-rock band fronted by Tim Staffell, it would lay the foundation for something far greater.

When Staffell departed Smile in 1970, the band's future appeared uncertain; May doubted he could continue and Taylor received an offer to drum for Genesis. However, their charismatic flatmate Farrokh Bulsara (who adopted the stage name Freddie Mercury) persuaded Taylor and May to persist with their project and volunteered himself as lead singer. With bassist John Deacon joining the ranks, Queen was established and released their self-titled debut album in 1973, born from that transformative moment nearly 60 years prior when Taylor first heard May play and realised he had encountered someone of extraordinary talent.