Queen legend Brian May has opened up about the surprising influence of one of the band's most celebrated anthems, Bohemian Rhapsody. This year celebrates the song's 50th milestone, after it dominated the charts for a remarkable nine weeks in 1975.

Launched during a period of financial hardship and soaring inflation, the group simply hoped it would be a "nice track" for their record A Night At The Opera. Yet it sparked a dramatic transformation for the band and remains recognised as one of their most monumental successes to this day.

The anthem stands apart from their other work thanks to its operatic passages, rock ballad elements, and guitar solo, crafted by their late frontman Freddie Mercury. Looking back on creating the masterpiece, Brian revealed: "We thought, 'This is going to be a nice track for our new album, which hopefully is going to save us, because we're seriously in debt and in a very bad situation as regards management'."

• Richard Madeley's health woes from 'permanently impaired' issue to hidden struggle on GMB
• Joanna Lumley opens up on death as she admits she's 'conscious of growing older'

Speaking to The Big Issue, his bandmate Roger Taylor remarked: "We certainly weren't thinking in terms of number ones, we just felt it was the best song on the album. It was the most arresting, unusual thing."

Brian, 78, believes the song might have struck a chord with audiences because it delivered an inspiring message during an era when Britain was branded "the sick man of Europe". The phrase was employed to characterise the nation's financial troubles and workplace disruption during that time.

"When times are tough, music really can save you, raise your spirits," the guitarist added. "I've had so many letters over the years that have said that one of our songs has lifted people out of depression and given them a new feeling of purpose.

"So maybe the time was right for Bohemian Rhapsody, it's a mystery though because nobody really knows where Bohemian Rhapsody came from."

He added: "Nobody could have predicted that it would fall upon the general public's ears at that moment and have such an incredible effect."

Beyond topping the charts, Brian remembers finally gaining acceptance "from the general public" rather than just their devoted followers.

The legendary track was penned by the group's frontman and keyboard player Freddie, who died aged 45 in 1991.

Some time after his tragic death, Brian and Roger carried on performing and recording, occasionally joining forces with other musicians.

The duo collaborated with Paul Rodgers from 2004 to 2009 under the moniker Queen + Paul Rodgers, releasing the album The Cosmos Rocks.

From 2011 onwards, they have toured as Queen + Adam Lambert, with the American Idol sensation taking on vocal duties.

Meanwhile, their former bassist John Deacon stepped away from the music industry in 1997 and has maintained a private life ever since.