Hector Vasquez

Groucho Marx wrote Queen a letter praising their "sage choice of album titles." They flew to his house. He made Brian May play guitar on the spot. Then he told them some jokes and went for his nap. The gold disc they gave him is now in the Smithsonian. This actually happened. In 1975 — Queen were recording their new album at Rockfield Studios in Wales. Between takes — Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor were watching old Marx Brothers films on a primitive video player owned by their producer. They loved what they saw. The album was named *A Night at the Opera* — after the 1935 Marx Brothers film. A year later came *A Day at the Races* — named after another. Then — from Los Angeles — a letter arrived. Groucho Marx wrote to Queen, styling himself as Dr Hugh Z Hackenbush — a character from the film — telling them he thought their success was down to their "sage choice of album titles." Queen were stunned. Groucho Marx knew who they were. They flew to Los Angeles. They went to his home. They brought a framed gold disc mounted with images of both albums — engraved with a dedication. Brian May described meeting him — "He was ancient by that time and they wheeled him out — but he was sharp as a razor. He sang this curious little song and then we all clapped and then he said — 'Now you sing!'" An impossible moment. The greatest rock band in the world — being told to perform by Groucho Marx. "I remember saying that we couldn't sing without a guitar — and he had one brought out! And so I settled down to strum away '39' I think it was. He enjoyed it — told us a few jokes — and went off to have his nap." The gold disc Queen gave Groucho Marx that afternoon is now permanently preserved in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. Groucho Marx died four months later. August 19th, 1977. That afternoon in his living room — was one of his last great moments of joy. And Brian May was the one playing guitar for him. #GrouchoMarx #Queen