"Killer Queen" was written by Freddie Mercury, who wrote the lyrics before the melody. Queen recorded it in July and August 1974 at Trident Studios in London and partly at Rockfield Studios in Wales, with Roy Thomas Baker and the band producing. It appears on Sheer Heart Attack (1974), the band's third album, and was released as a double A-side with "Flick of the Wrist" on 11 October 1974. It reached number two in the UK singles chart and gave Queen their first US hit, peaking at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100. It also charted in Canada, Australia, Flanders and Wallonia. Cash Box praised the lead vocals and production, and AllMusic saw the song as the start of Queen's radio sound.
The arrangement is built on four-part vocal harmonies, a multitracked Brian May guitar solo using the bell effect, and two bass lines, with Mercury playing grand piano and tack piano and finger snapping. The band played it in a medley from 1974 to 1981 and reintroduced it on The Works Tour (1984-85). Later versions appear on Greatest Hits (1981), Live Killers and Queen Rock Montreal. Katy Perry has cited the song as an influence.
