I’ve been listening to a lot of Queen lately. I don’t know why, but it’s probably another one of those phases I’m going through. I never really got into Queen that much before, but I’ve gotten ahold of the Mobile Fidelity CD pressing of The Game, and it sounds fantastic. Poking around the web a bit, I found out that one of their live performances has long been touted as one of the greatest live rock performances of all time. And I remember it!
The concert was a little event called Live Aid. Most of us who were around in 1985 remember it as being a huge global broadcast, coming simultaneously from Wembley Stadium in the UK, and the JFK Stadium in Philadelphia. A lot of great music was made that day, considering the conditions: each act was given roughly 20 minutes to perform, so their setlist had to be tight. Some artists combined with others, such as Sting and Phil Collins in the UK sharing the stage for some of their own songs, and accompanying each other. Near the end of the US program, Hall & Oates played some of their own songs, then introduced Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin for a few Motown songs; the Hall & Oates band also backed up TIna Turner and Mick Jagger’s sets. Some bands that weren’t as well known burst into the mainstream after Live Aid: Dire Straits became a household name on the eve of their biggest-selling album, Brothers In Arms, after their Live Aid appearance, and U2 took one step closer to being the “supergroup” they’d become shortly thereafter. Also amazing were some of the reunions, even if they were a little ragged around the edges: The Who, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath were among the classic rock bands who joined up for the cause.
Queen was one of the bands playing at Wembley that day. Other bands and artists made a good (or often a great) showing, but Queen’s set really stood out. I can see why it has been regarded as one of the best in rock history, having seen it again on YouTube! (Links below.) The band itself was tight, and Brian May was in top form on his guitar soloing. The setlist was nearly perfect, offering something for everyone. The set began with their signature song, “Bohemian Rhapsody.” They followed it with a then-current hit, “Radio Ga Ga.” Next up was the pop favorite, “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” followed by the newer hit “Hammer to Fall”. And to end the set? The rock anthem “We Will Rock You”/”We Are The Champions”.
The real star, of course, was Freddie Mercury. He had the camp, the charisma, the energy and the ability to work a crowd, and he was in top form. I’d hate to use an overused term, but Queen’s performance, with Mercury up front, was electrifying with the crowd and Freddie feeding off of each other. Watching it on a tiny YouTube rendition doesn’t do it justice, but like a good two-minute pop song, the performance leaps out of the speakers (and the “tube”).
As part of the UK finale later that evening, Freddie Mercury and Brian May performed “Is This The World We Created…?”.
The complete Live Aid concert is available on DVD and Blu-Ray editions of “Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid”. The second disc is the concert, some rehearsal footage, and an unused interview. And as promised, here are the YouTube links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDckgX3oU_w (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfYcKNqQoJo (Part 2)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGUdjHUVd18 (Part 3)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5RFOii3efs (Wembley Finale w/ Mercury/May)