Fifty years after Queen released their groundbreaking six-minute single, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” band members Brian May and Roger Taylor spoke with Rolling Stone to discuss the song’s legacy. The musicians reflected on its unexpected success despite initial doubts from nearly everyone involved, including from their then-manager John Reid’s partner, Elton John, who famously said the song would “never be a hit” due to its length. The band faced challenges perfecting the track and deciding on its nearly six-minute runtime, with Taylor admitting that the song “seemed to go on forever. The way we would do it, all three of us would sing every part, which gave it a real thickness, a body.” Members of the promotion staff feared it was too long for radio, but ultimately Queen insisted on keeping the full version, which went on to become a timeless rock classic. (People)
