Tim Staffell
The original Smile vocalist whose departure paved the way for Queen's legendary formation.
Timothy John Staffell (born 24 February 1948) is an English rock musician, visual artist, model maker and designer. He was a member of Smile, a band that included guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Upon Staffell's departure, Smile were joined by Freddie Mercury and Mike Grose and later John Deacon to form the band Queen.
Quick Facts
- Birth name
- Timothy John Staffell
- Born
- 24 February 1948
- Birthplace
- Isleworth, Middlesex, England
- Origin
- Ealing, London
- Instrument
- Guitar
- bass
- vocals
- harmonica
- Genre
- Rock, progressive rock
- Years active
- 1964–1973, 1992, 2001–present
- Past member of
- 1984, Smile, Humpy Bong, Morgan
Lore & Background
Staffell met Brian May in 1964 at a concert while both were pupils at Hampton Grammar School. They formed a blues-rock band called '1984' with John Garnham, Dave Dilloway, John Sanger and Richard Thompson. In 1965, Staffell began a graphics and drawing course at Ealing Art College where he became friends with Freddie Mercury. After leaving 1984 in 1968, Staffell and May put together a new band called Smile with Roger Taylor. Staffell co-wrote the song "Doing All Right" with May, which Queen later included on their debut album. After Smile, Staffell joined Humpy Bong and then the experimental progressive rock outfit Morgan, releasing the albums Nova Solis and Brown Out (later retitled The Sleeper Wakes).
Reader's Guide
Tim Staffell was a member of Smile, a band that included Brian May and Roger Taylor. Upon his departure, Smile were joined by Freddie Mercury and Mike Grose and later John Deacon to form Queen. Staffell co-wrote the song "Doing All Right" with May, which Queen included on their eponymous debut album. After Smile, he joined Humpy Bong and then Morgan, releasing the albums Nova Solis and Brown Out. Later he worked as a model maker, designer, animator and commercials director. Among the projects upon which he worked were the BBC television adaptation of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and he was the chief model maker for the first series of the children's TV show Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends. Later Staffell worked as the Head of Construction at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts. In 2001 he returned to music, co-forming aMIGO. In 2018 he recorded "Doing All Right ... Revisited" with May and Taylor for the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtrack. His second album Two Late was released on 26 October 2018. In 2019/2020 he recorded How High with Paul Stewart. His third solo album Wayward Child was released in 2023.
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