I just watched it, having recorded it a week or so ago. Really brought back some fantastic memories - Live Aid in particular and the Freddie tribute concert to name just two. Also just the sheer talent that made up the band.
As for Freddie Mercury - like many incredibly talented people, he burned so brightly in a life cut short.
Had the hairs standing on the back of my neck on a number of occasions.
Learnt a few new things about the band the biggest one being that their biggest selling hit was "Another One Bites The Dust".
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I watched it, and was almost in tears when they were talking about Freddie and how he just wanted to carry on singing/recording and not make a fuss about it.
How many of the so called "stars" of today would be like it. They are all in it for the fame, cash and maybe just maybe to entertain.
What a great loss Freddie was.....I think Queen would still have been at the top even now if he hadn't died!
I saw them at Wembley in '86 and that remains the best concert I have ever been too. It was interesting to see that they knew themselves that they were complete crap around '82 (Las Palabras De Amor, Body Language etc) I'd almost given up on them at that time. Brilliant comeback with Radio Ga-Ga and more fantastic suff till the end.
There was and indeed still is such snobbiness about them and their music from the press and rock fans in general. It's almost trendy to knock them. Stuart Maconie, who I really like, winds me up with his constant digs at Queen. I bet all their knockers secretly love them. What's not to like about Queen?
Love to see the Fat Bottom Girls/Bicycle Race promo in full!
I'm a big Bowie fan but cringed again at his Lords prayer moment at the Freddie tribute concert.
Biggest regret musically was that I never saw Queen live. If I'd known that the Live Magic tour in the late 80's was to be their last then I would have moved heaven and earth to get a ticket. But, like many of us, I guess I thought there'd always be another chance.
There are a few Queen songs that literally bring a tear to my eyes when I hear them. Who Wants To Live Forever is simply magnificent and Too Much Love Will Kill You sounds very much like a man who is coming to terms with the fact that his body is slowly killing him.
My first ever concert was Wembley 86 and I also went to the Freddie tribute concert in 92. My Dad was lucky enough to attend their last concert at Knebworth in 86.
For me the period I like the best are the 'pre-synthesizer' days between 73 and 80. I've got a few bootleg tapes of early concerts when they were raw and heavy, with tracks like Father To Son, Liar and Ogre Battle sounding even better live.
It would be fantastic that they did a concert to mark 20 years since the tribute concert next year. I suppose that would mean John coming out of retrirement though, which sadly isn't going to happen.
I saw them about 5 times, my first experience was the one that will stay in my mind, it was at the Lewisham Odeon on the Crazy Little Tour of 79, my last was their last, In Freddie Mercury they had what I consider the best rock showman in the business, he would have his audience eating out of the palm of his hand, just the best live shows I have ever been to, great music, great sound and always a decent light show, the total package.
Having seen the original line-up I have no desire to see them in their current form, I think for now they should step away as John Deacon has.
The Velvet Underground were/are not the only ones of their kind but there is an argument that Punk Rock was hugely influenced by them.
I mentioned the Velvet Underground not to suggest they were influential, but to reflect on their earthy and uncompromising attitude. They are not even the greatest band ever (Henry knows who they are!!) but I always inwardly smile when the Queen live aid triumph is quoted...and they were excellent...because part of their effort at Live Aid was to regain some popularity after they were roundly condemned for playing at Sun City.