Queen is certainly one of the biggest rock and roll bands of all time. The history of the band could’ve been had Brian May and Roger Taylor actually taken offers to play in other bands in the 70’s.
Brian May and Roger Taylor recently told Classic Rock magazine about offers they had to jump ship. Taylor was recruited by Genesis, and May got an offer from the Los Angeles band Sparks.
Roger was invited to a studio back in the 70’s to hear Genesis. He then went to see the band at a pub, and says he "[got] the impression that’s what they wanted, because their drummer had left. They’re all lovely people, but I didn’t really get the music, to be honest. It was a bit too prog[ressive] for me."
Brian also said that Sparks founders Ron and Russell Mael worked to convince him that Sparks had more potential than Queen did. May politely declined their offer.
After all that, Queen would go on to become one of the most influential rock bands of all time.
[Source: Classic Hits Today]