Queen are top albums act
Queen have overtaken the Beatles to become the most successful albums act in UK chart history.
The group have spent 1,322 weeks in the chart compared with 1,293 weeks for the Beatles.
The statistics were published today by Guinness World Records, publisher of the British Hit Singles & Albums book.
Editor David Roberts said: “Given that Queen’s chart career has been much shorter than those of the Beatles and Elvis, this is an incredible achievement and serves to cement their legendary status.”
It is 30 years since Queen released their first UK number one album A Night At The Opera.
Queen’s Greatest Hits, released in 1981, has spent a staggering 450 weeks in the chart.
The death of singer Freddie Mercury in 1991 has done little to quell the band’s popularity.
They have continued to sell millions of records and their popularity was boosted by the success of the musical We Will Rock You.
Their live album, On Fire – Live At The Bowl, was released last year.
By contrast, the Beatles have spent little time in the chart since the release of 1 in 2000.
This is not the first record Queen have broken.
They have had the biggest selling greatest hits album in the UK with Greatest Hits 1, which sold over four million copies.
And they are the only act to top the chart twice with the same single, Bohemian Rhapsody, selling a million copies both times.
Queen are currently touring with new singer Paul Rodgers, formerly of Free, and play London’s Hyde Park on July 8.
Top 10 most successful acts of all time on the UK albums chart:
1 Queen (1,322 weeks)
2 The Beatles (1,293 weeks)
3 Elvis Presley (1,280 weeks)
4 U2 (1.150 weeks)
5 Dire Straits (1,136 weeks)
6 Simon and Garfunkel (1,114 weeks)
7 Madonna (1,032 weeks)
8 David Bowie (1,005 weeks)
9 Elton John (989 weeks)
10 Michael Jackson (966 weeks)
