Fifty-one years ago today, Queen released a track that would go on to be crowned as the greatest rock song of all time. Decades after its Halloween 1975 debut, “ Bohemian Rhapsody ” earned another massive honor. Guitarists voted Brian May’s performance the “Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time,” cementing its status in music history.

‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen Was Released on October 31, 1975

One of the reasons why Queen’s “ Bohemian Rhapsody ” has continued to connect with listeners for decades is that it breaks the mold of other hit songs. However, before it became legendary, its unique elements held it back so much that the record label refused to release it as a single.

After EMI decided the song was too long to be a single, they wanted to release “ You’re My Best Friend ” instead. According to Vice , Freddie Mercury then took the matter into his own hands by giving a copy of “ Bohemian Rhapsody ” to Capital Radio DJ Kenny Everett. The radio employee then played the track 14 times over a single weekend.…