Tim Staffell

Verified Timeline

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).

In Their Own Story

In 2001, Staffell returned to music, co-forming a new blues/funk band called aMIGO with Richard Lightman. In 2003 they released one eponymous album, with re-recorded versions of the old Smile tunes "Earth" and "Doin' Alright", featuring his former bandmate Brian May on guitars and vocals. In April 2018, Staffell was invited to record his part of the song "Doin' Alright" alongside Brian May and Roger Taylor for the soundtrack to the movie Bohemian Rhapsody. The song was credited to Smile and titled "Doing All Right ... Revisited". The soundtrack debuted on the UK albums chart at number 5 on 26 October 2018, reaching number 3. Staffell's second solo album Two Late was released on digital platforms on 26 October 2018. In late 2019/early 2020, together with Paul Stewart, Staffell recorded an album How High under the band name Staffell & Stewart. In September 2021 Staffell travelled to Barcelona to record his third solo album, Wayward Child, at Room To Studios along with his son Andrew. The album was released in 2023, with the first single, 'The Sinner', being released on 24 February, Staffell's 75th birthday.

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.

Did You Know?

• Tim Staffell met Brian May in 1964 at a concert while both were pupils at Hampton Grammar School.
• Staffell began a graphics and drawing course at Ealing Art College in 1965, where he became friends with Freddie Mercury.
• Staffell co-wrote the song 'Doing All Right' with Brian May, which Queen included on their debut album.
• Staffell was the chief model maker for the first series of the children's TV show Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends.
• The first single from Staffell's third solo album, 'The Sinner', was released on 24 February 2023, his 75th birthday.