Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To…)

When you immerse yourself in the power of *Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To…)*, you encounter a piece that begins with a piano that seems to unravel note by note, followed by a distortion that hits you directly. The energy it conveys is raw, almost aggressive, and that has to do with the story behind it: it was written by Freddie Mercury as a very strong emotional release. The recording, which took place in late 1975 at Sarm East Studios in London, sought to capture that intensity. It is said that Mercury first played the guitar parts on the piano to show Brian May how he wanted them to sound, which gives the song that layered complexity that characterized Queen at that time. The track itself moves between sections with rhythms that seem to slow down and choruses that explode with powerful vocal harmonies and the drums marking the pulse.

The genesis of *Death on Two Legs (Dedicated To…)* dates back to a moment of tension for the band. Despite the success of previous albums like *Sheer Heart Attack*, Queen faced economic difficulties before recording *A Night at the Opera*. The song, which opens that album, was how Freddie Mercury channeled his frustration with his first manager, Norman Sheffield, owner of Trident Studios. Mercury sought to make the lyrics as direct and "raw" as possible, something that initially surprised the other band members, but they eventually agreed to capture the song as he conceived it. This piece, which lasts 3:43 and is in 4/4 time, became a turning point, and although Sheffield sued the band and the record label for defamation, the matter was settled out of court, making the song's connection to him public. Queen performed it live until *The Game* tour, and a version was recorded on the 1979 album *Live Killers*.