Queen – The Centre Cannot Hold

3874 BCE — Cain murders Abel

By Loki 222 Content, Crime, Dateless, Religion, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

It’s not clear exactly when Cain murdered Abel in any biblical chronology I’ve been able to find. Some of them even date it to 4004 BCE, the same year usually given for the Creation of the earth. Which implies that not only were Cain and Abel both full grown men in the space of a single year, but that their mother’s two pregnancies (Cain and Abel were not twins – Cain is the older), also took place in that same year.

Nevertheless, as brothers, they didn’t always get along. This may or may not have had something to do with the notoriously fickle and hard to please deity that they worshiped, or that deity’s changing of the rules on them – Cain presumably would not have made an offering that God (who is, according to the Gospel of Luke, Cain’s grandfather) that God found unacceptable had he known ahead of time that it would be rejected.

Cain responds to his rejection by God by hunting and killing his brother, Abel. (Which makes him sound a little older than >1 – about 16 or so, I would guess.) And then God, not done with the mind games, pretends not to know about it and questions Cain, leading to his infamous declaration that he was “not his brother’s keeper” (which is a rare concession to historical accuracy by the Book of Genesis – cricket had indeed not yet been invented). God curses Cain and exiles him, making him the earliest biblical figure to be set up and knocked down by God.

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen
Soldiers of Christ — Jill Sobule
The Bastard Sons of Enoch — Shriekback

circa 3400 BCE — The Sahara Desert assumes its modern form

By Loki 222 Content, Dateless, Rock n Roll History of the World, Science, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

It wasn’t always a desert. The Saharan plain was once open grassland with occasional forests. As late as the time of Julius Caesar, and even afterwards, Romans reported elephants, leopards and lions on the North African shores – along with abundant timber. But like that timber, which was cut down by the Carthaginians and Romans to build their navies, little remains of the Saharan plant life today.

The changes began around three and a half thousand years earlier, with a combination of changes in prevailing winds, a shift in the planet’s orbit and increased cultivation of the land – at this time, for example, south western Egypt and the Sudan were great agricultural realms, for example. But within a few hundred years, the region had become almost impassible, with few other than the Berbers prepared to cross the region until the invention of modern cooling systems in the Twentieth Century.

By – Cropped from Image:Africa satellite plane.jpg., Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen

2247 BCE — The Tower of Babel’s construction is disrupted by God

By Loki 222 Content, Dateless, Religion, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

The Tower of Babel was an attempt by the post-Deluge peoples – all of whom spoke a common language – to build a structure upon the plain of Shinar which would reach to Heaven. God took offense to this, and went down from Heaven to prevent the project from succeeding. Having a keen understanding of the importance of good communication, God’s method for disrupting the project was the change everyone’s language. He created an un-recorded number of languages that day, sundering families and friendships, and all to prevent people from reaching Heaven physically.

The traditional religious interpretation of this is that it is a warning against pride. However, God’s words, as recorded in the Book of Genesis, make it fairly clear that, not unlike with that unfortunate business with the snake and the fruit, God was once again acting from fear that mere humans could dethrone Him by equalling him in power.

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen
Witchdoctor — Clutch

circa 605 BCE — The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are constructed

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Dateless, Legendary, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

One of the Seven Wonders of the World (the original seven, now usually called the wonders of the Ancient World), the Hanging Gardens of Babylon were built during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar II. Of all the Seven Wonders, they are one of the only two to be secular (along with the Lighthouse of Alexandria) and the only one to be famous as much for the living entities in it as its architecture.

One of the taller buildings in the world – at that time – the Hanging Gardens were like overgrown version of the classic Sumerian ziggurat. They were famous for their beauty, but as a royal preserve, they were more the kind of tourist attraction one gazes at longingly rather than actually walks through.

By Unknown author – http://www.plinia.net/wonders/gardens/hgpix1.html, Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen

April 2, 33 CE — Jesus predicts his betrayal by Peter

By Loki 222 Content, Religion, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

It’s a well-known story. At the Last Supper, after Jesus bluntly tells his twelve closest friends that one of them will betray him, they all protest that they would never do such a thing. And no one protests louder or longer than Simon Peter (not so-named for the rocks in his head, although you could be forgiven for thinking so).

Jesus calmly tells Peter that Peter will deny him three times, which is met with still more protestations by Peter.

In a shocking plot twist, it turns out that everything Jesus predicted came to pass. Peter should have asked him for the lotto numbers.

By Fritz von Uhde – kunstgeschichte.uni-muenchen.de, Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

Great King Rat — Queen

Note: This date is based on the traditional date of the Crucifixion as April 3.

May 31, 1043 — Lady Godiva makes her famous ride

By Loki Culture, Legendary, Politics, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

While there actually was a real Lady Godiva – although, as a Saxon, her name was more likely Godgifu or Godgyfu (Godiva is a latinised version) – it’s unlikely that she actually did ride naked through the streets of Coventry.

Legend has it that she rode naked to protest the taxes that her husband, Lord Leofric, had laid upon the common people, and that, in respect for her sacrifice, all of them looked away as she rode through a busy market day street (except for a tailor named Thomas – the original Peeping Tom – who was apparently struck blind for daring to look upon her).

In these enlightened days, of course, no one believes a word of it – but Coventry’s tourist industry still owes a great deal to women who are willing to get their kit off and go for a ride. (Indeed, the date I’ve used here is the date of the annual commemoration of the ride in Coventry.)

Lady Godiva (John Collier, c. 1897)

As mentioned in:

Don’t Stop Me Now — Queen
Peeping Tom — Toots & the Maytals
The Ballad of Lady Godiva — King Khan and the Shrines

1516 — Da Vinci completes the “Mona Lisa”

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Dateless, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

One of the most famous paintings of all time, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” or “La Gioconda” is an oil portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo – at least, that’s the most popular suspect. The identity of La Gioconda is a mystery to this day – and her enigmatic yet knowing smile only feeds the intrigue.

The portrait itself hangs in the Louvre in Paris, where it has hung since the French Revolution (with a few minor interruptions either for its own protection or on tours of other galleries), where it has been a popular target for vandals and writers of shitty novels.

By Leonardo da Vinci – Web Gallery of Art: & Image & , Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen

1653 — The Taj Mahal is completed

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Dateless, Religion, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

Generally acknowledged as one of the most beautiful buildings in the world, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum built in honour of Mumtaz Mahal, the third wife of Shah Jahan, by her husband. He was an Emperor of the Mughals, and the Taj is built in the distinctive Mughal architectural style, harmoniously combining influences from Persia, India and Ottoman Turkey.

It was built in several stages over more than two decades, and the total cost of the construction was about 32 million rupees – at that time, not adjusted for three and half centuries of inflation. Over twenty thousand workers toiled to build the complex, guided by a small committee of architects.

When he died, the Shah Jahan was buried in the Taj Mahal also, next to his beloved wife.

By Joel Godwin – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen

November 7, 1728 — James Cook born

By Loki 222 Content, Politics, Rock n Roll History of the World, Science, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

James Cook, better known to history as Captain Cook, was born in Yorkshire, the second of eight children. After a period of service and learning in the merchant navy, Cook joined the Royal Navy in 1755, and rose through the ranks to become Captain of his own ship. In this role, he would distinguish himself as one of the greatest navigators and surveyors the world has ever seen.

He is best remembered for his three voyages to the Pacific, where he lead missions that were the first Europeans to set foot on New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia, and the first people ever to cross the Antarctic circle, among other accomplishments. Even during his lifetime, Cook was so respected the world over that during the American Revolution, the rebel navy had orders not to fire on his ship, but to render him assistance as ‘a friend to all mankind’.

By Nathaniel Dance-Holland – from the National Maritime Museum, United Kingdom, Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen

1789 — Marie Antionette (allegedly) says “Let them eat cake”

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Dateless, Errors, Politics, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

The French phrase “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche” is usually translated as “Let them eat cake”, and is widely attributed to Marie Antionette.

However, in the original – Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s Confessions, which he finished writing in 1769, when Marie Antoinette was 13 – the remark is attributed only to “a great princess”. The phrase was attributed to Marie Antionette only after the Revolution began, and many citations for it exist prior to this, and not referencing her. In fact, the emerging consensus among historians at this time is that the Rousseau was referring to Marie-Thérèse, the wife of Louis XIV, and pre-dates Marie Antionette by at least a century.

By After Jean-Baptiste André Gautier-Dagoty – Unknown, Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

Killer Queen — Queen
Ain’t That Just Like A Woman — Louis Jordan

October 30, 1938 – Orson Welles broadcasts “War of the Worlds”

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

It is probably the most infamous radio broadcast of all time: Orson Welles’ Halloween 1938 dramatisation of H.G. Wells’ “The War of the Worlds”.

Welles transplanted the story from England to Grover’s Mill, New Jersey, and told it as a series of news reports, keeping the tension and hysteria of it all steadily rising. It terrified audiences at the time – like a hell of a lot of Welles’ work it is arguably a great work of art, and an enormous prank at once.

Whether or not there was panic during the broadcast, there was considerable outrage afterwards – how that has to do with the alleged ‘cruelty’ of it, and how much with people just hating to be fooled is an open question.

Referenced in:

By Acme News Photos – eBay
front
back, Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

Radio Ga Ga — Queen

June 18, 1940 — Churchill makes his “finest hour” speech

By admin 222 Content, Politics, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

In the wake of the fall of France to the Nazi advance and the desperate evacuation of British forces from Dunkirk, Winston Churchill, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, rose in the House of Commons to reassure the nation (and its allies). The speech he made that day is now routinely considered one of the greatest orations of the Twentieth Century.

The whole speech is worthy of your attention, but only these last three paragraphs are reproduced here:

What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. Upon it depends our own British life, and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us.

Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this Island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science.

Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’

By War Office official photographer, Horton (Capt) – http://media.iwm.org.uk/iwm/mediaLib//38/media-38257/large.jpg

This is photograph H 2646A from the collections of the Imperial War Museums.
, Public Domain, Link

As mentioned in:

Radio Ga Ga — Queen

November 27, 1942 — Jimi Hendrix born

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

While Jimi Hendrix may not have been the greatest guitar player of all time – although that’s not a bet I would take – he is certainly the most legendary. Partly for his stage presence and antics (you seen anyone else set a guitar on fire on stage lately?), partly because he died so tragically young, and but mostly because, DAMN, that man could play.

He was born Johnny Allen Hendrix (which was shortly thereafter changed to James Marshall Hendrix) but the world knows him best as Jimi. Of mixed descent – the man had African-American, Cherokee and Irish genes – he was not merely a great musician but also a great experimentalist, pioneering many of the sounds, effects and techniques that created the modern rock vocabulary of the electric guitar. The debt owed to him by practically ever guitar player who lived after him is immeasurable.

Not bad for a guy who played guitar for only a little over 12 years.

By Source (WP:NFCC#4), Fair use, Link

As mentioned in:

The Miracle — Queen

March 20, 1973 – Jim Croce releases “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” was to be Jim Croce’s last number one single – it was released only six months prior to Croce’s death in 1973. In the song, Bad, Bad Leroy Brown is a big tough guy from the South Side of Chicago, who doesn’t take crap from anyone – until one night he meets a man who is bigger and tougher than him.

“Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” was the second single from Croce’s fourth album, “Life and Times”. It earned Croce two Grammy nominations (for Pop Male Vocalist and Record of the Year) and was still on the charts at the time of Croce’s death, having spent three months climbing to number one and three months descending.

By Source, Fair use, Link

As mentioned in:

Bring Back That Leroy Brown — Queen
Rock and Roll Heaven — The Righteous Brothers

December 8, 1980 — John Lennon is shot and killed

By Loki 222 Content, Crime, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

Mark David Chapman is, by any standard, an idiot. On this day in 1980, he shot John Lennon five times, in the back, while Lennon’s wife Yoko Ono looked on helplessly.

Whatever his actual motive for shooting John Lennon – and Chapman has contradicted himself on several occasions regarding it – the fact remains that he achieved only two things: depriving the world of a truly great musical talent, and giving the rest of the world one more reason to loathe American culture.

The fact that he has not been shanked in the yard at Attica State Prison only serves to underscore the massive injustice of Lennon’s death.

By Jack Mitchell, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link

As mentioned in:

Here Today — Paul McCartney
That Says It All — Duncan Sheik
Far Side of Crazy — Wall of Voodoo
Life Is Real (Song for Lennon) — Queen
I Just Shot John Lennon — The Cranberries

November 24, 1991 — Freddie Mercury dies

By admin 222 Content, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

A true giant of popular music, and the possessor of one of the finest voices ever to grace a song, Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in Zanzibar, died at the age of 45 after a protracted struggle with AIDS. An openly gay man, Mercury had contracted the disease some years earlier, being diagnosed in 1987, but chose to conceal his illness from all but his nearest and dearest, including the other three members of Queen, until relatively shortly before his death. This desire for privacy has unfortunately tainted his legacy somewhat, as he arguably could have done much to promote awareness of AIDS had he announced his infection sooner – although this would likely have taken a greater toll on his health and seen him die even sooner.

Mercury left behind him an incredible range of musical accomplishments, both as singer and songwriter. In particular, he wrote 10 of the 17 songs on Queen’s Greatest Hits volume one: “Bohemian Rhapsody”, “Seven Seas of Rhye”, “Killer Queen”, “Somebody to Love”, “Good Old-Fashioned Lover Boy”, “We Are the Champions”, “Bicycle Race”, “Don’t Stop Me Now”, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and “Play the Game” – all of them still played frequently on radio to this day. He was also a consummate showman in concert, rivaled only by Bowie and Jagger in his ability to charm a crowd.

By https://weheartit.com/entry/58777168 – FreddieMercurySinging21978.jpg, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

As mentioned in:

The Show Must Go On — Queen
No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) — Queen
Rock And Roll Hall Of Death — Mitch Benn And The Distractions

November 25, 1996 — A statue of Freddie Mercury is unveiled in Montreux

By Loki 222 Content, Culture, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

Standing nearly ten feet tall – as is only appropriate for such a larger than life figure – Irena Sedlecka’s sculpture of Freddie Mercury was unveiled five years and one day after his death on the shores of Lake Geneva, in Montreux, Switzerland. It shows Mercury in one of his more iconic images, his cut off mike stand in one hand, and the other thrust into the air, while his face wears an expression of sheer exultation familiar to anyone who ever saw Queen play.

The ceremony was attended by the sculptor, Mercury’s father, his bandmates from Queen Roger Taylor and Brian May, and Montserrat Caballé, with whom he had worked in the last years of his life. The statue stands there still, a tribute to a champion, a man whom even death could not stop.

By Bernd Brägelmann – Bernd Brägelmann, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

As mentioned in:

No-One But You (Only The Good Die Young) — Queen

2139 — The Volunteers set sail

By Loki 222 Content, Dateless, Fictional, Future, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

Brian May described this song as his own little science fiction story.

It concerns a group who set out in a space ship, sailing ‘across the milky sea’ (which is a reference to both the Milky Way and to a pre-Queen band of Freddie Mercury’s, Sour Milk Sea), in search of a newer and better world. Their quest is ultimately successful, but their return to Earth That Was sees them fall foul of relativistic time dilation.

By Source, Fair use, Link

As mentioned in:

’39 — Queen

2239 — The Volunteers come home

By Loki 222 Content, Dateless, Fictional, Future, Rock n Roll History of the World, The Rock'n'Roll History of the World

Brian May described this song as his own little science fiction story.

It concerns a group who set out in a space ship, sailing ‘across the milky sea’ (which is a reference to both the Milky Way and to a pre-Queen band of Freddie Mercury’s, Sour Milk Sea), in search of a newer and better world. Their quest is ultimately successful, but their return to Earth That Was sees them fall foul of relativistic time dilation.

By Source, Fair use, Link

As mentioned in:

’39 — Queen

“Crazy Little Thing Called Love” by Queen

By Loki 222 Content, Daft Lyrics Database, Daft Lyrics Database Entries

This thing called love
It cries (like a baby) in a cradle all night
It swings (woo woo) it jives (woo woo)
It shakes all over like a jellyfish

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“Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen

By Loki 222 Content, Daft Lyrics Database, Daft Lyrics Database Entries

I’m a shooting star leaping through the skies
Like a tiger defying the laws of gravity

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