What year was the song "Killer Queen" released?

The song “Killer Queen” was released in 1974.

Written by Freddie Mercury and performed by Queen, “Killer Queen” first appeared as a single in October 1974. It was then included on Sheer Heart Attack, Queen's third studio album, which was released in November of the same year. The song became the band's first major international hit and established Mercury's sophisticated, theatrical songwriting style.

“Killer Queen” is notable for its polished production, layered vocal harmonies, and lyrics portraying an elegant but dangerous high-society woman. Mercury later described it as a song about an upper-class escort, but its witty imagery and cabaret-like presentation leave room for interpretation.

A frequent source of confusion is the album date: Sheer Heart Attack is also a 1974 release, so both the single and album point to the same year. The song is sometimes confused with later Queen hits such as “Bohemian Rhapsody,” released in 1975, but “Killer Queen” arrived a year earlier and helped make that later success possible.