@@maximum.p pretty sure he wasn't diagnosed with HIV or AIDS at that point. That was still a few short years away. If you're going off of what you saw in the movie, they played with the timeline a bit.
@@cf5341 Likely he knew something was really bad at that point. Probably he caught it in 82 when he was in NyC. Was diagnosed apparently officialy in 87 but he maybe knew before.
The timing of Freddie's "aaaa-oooo" was planned out to the second in many practice sessions in preparation for the concert. If you listen closely, you can hear a very faint drum beat towards the end of Freddie's "improv" which is Roger alerting Freddie that it's time to wrap up. Perfection! In fact, the whole 20 minutes is PERFECTION. Iconic performance! Love Queen! Great reaction!
@@chewwyc I wasn't there - I watched the live concert on TV with about a billion or so others who had access to a TV on that day in 1985. But I recently saw a video by someone who gave a good analysis of Queen's performance that day including Roger's very faint tap on the drum to tell Freddie it was time to wrap up his improv. And I've seen a video of one of Queen's rehearsals for Live Aid where they were practicing their set - that video is on RUclips.
@@chewwycThey rehearsed this heavily, that's why their medley performance Was perfect. Something that Led Zeppelin and Status Quo didn't do. Some of that is even documented after the facts.
When Queen walked on stage, they had no sound check so their sound engineer Trip Khalaf immediately removed all the limiters on the front of house PA.. Queen were by far the loudest band of the evening. They rehearsed the hell out of the set, down to the second... you can see there are coloured lamps on the stage signalling when the sound would be cut.. they performed the hell out of Live Aid. Genius on all fronts.
@@minty_Joe Yes! Each band was given an exact amount of time PERIOD! No exceptions. They had to keep that thing moving - or 1 day would turn into 2.. so many people playing - just to be fair each band etc.
@@josiepkat Someone should have told U2 that when they went into the song "Bad". But then again, the band would not have been legendary had Bono not pulled off that stunt mid-song.
I told this story the first time you uploaded this, but it does bear repeating: I was at Live-Aid in Philadelphia (w/ no sunscreen which turned out to be a BAD mistake!!!) and we saw England's performances through the big screens provided which at the time were still pretty raw. During Freddie's spots to get audience participation, we were all following exactly what he implored whether it was the call and response section or his "Radio Gaga" fist raising. It was enough to give me goosebumps at the time and God knows how hot the temperature was in JFK Stadium that day (I was 15 then). I just wish there was video of that. If there is, I surely haven't seen it. To my mind, he is simply the best front-man in the history of the business. Better than Jagger, Jackson, Springsteen.....all of them. He was a once in a planet talent. And P.S.: This was a guy who was NOT supposed to perform due to vocal chord issues. Absolutely remarkable.
@elektromanyaro: it was a worldwide event and totally unique for its time challenging all of the media technology available at the time. I’d love to hear what you found out.
I was also there in Philly, and would love to see video of this performance from our perspective. Not sure they were recording us when Wembly acts were on stage, but if it does exist, I would love to see it.
Never gets old. My favorite story about them for this show: According to Geldof he had to call Freddie to get a commitment, & told Freddie “it’s the perfect stage for you.” When Freddie asked why, Geldof replied, “bc it’s the world.” Geldof asked Brian & Freddie specifically to perform is this the world we created. Just Freddie, Brian & his 12 string. Perfection.
as a sound engineer myself soundchecks can sometimes be a pain with multiple acts on ,but i feel this is probably the best live performance of the 20th century
Freddie had a horrid sore throat that night and was advised not to go on. He was actually drinking lemonade with honey on stage. He went on and made history.
I was there that day and also saw Queen at Wembley with Status Quo, INXS and the Alarm. I was 17 and Freddie & Queen were just unbelievable in how they reached every person in that big stadium. Oh my, just fantastic, Doug.
@@srirahulpremkumar1600 Queen sold 90.23 million studio albums over 15 releases, a solid average of 6 million per effort. They were very popular anyway in the UK
I first saw Queen live in the seventies and saw their last gig at Knebworth and was extremely lucky to be able to attend Live Aid at Wembley, a great, long day and, yes, Queen were great. As a Queen fan, I was worried that the crowd wouldn't like them as they weren't that cool at the time, I needn't have worried. A wonderful performance, a memorable day.
Yes, people now don’t realize that at the time they were not seen as that cool. As a fan, I was worried too. Where I live their great performance was only appreciated later on.
I recently saw Roger Taylor interviewed who when asked about Live Aid 85 the acoustics were so bad...horrible sound on that stage that they couldn't hear eachother at all!!!! He said they did that entire 21 minutes by eye contact and body language and playing, each separately, by memory! He said they were scared. Flawless/timeless performance. Fantasic!
My first comment here. But this was just an amazing moment for me. This Georgia gal found herself in London this particular day. We stood outside of Wembley and were transported. We decided to look for a pub for a brew. This was playing on every television in London that day. The dancing, the joy reached its crescendo when Queen took the stage. None of knew that this terrifying thing called AIDS would steal Freddie from us all.
London's Wembley Stadium; July 13, 1985; Live Aid concert for Ethiopian Famine Relief; an audience of over 100,000 people (with another 100,000 in the United States). Queen wasn't supposed to originally perform. The tickets had already been sold when they agreed to play. Freddie said he was only about 70% vocally, but took 3-4 shots of vodka and went out on the stage. While other bands played all their newest hits, Queen hadn't performed together for a while so they stuck with mostly stuff everyone would know. It's reported that after their performance, as Queen was leaving the stage, the next act to go on (the legendary David Bowie) supposedly said "How the f*ck am I supposed to follow that?!?!", and Sir Elton John said to Freddie, "You know you just stole the whole f*cking show!" And he did. For 20+ minutes, the UK was ruled by a different "Queen". In an interview, Freddie was once asked what was his favorite thing to play, and his reply was, "The audience, darling". And he did that... very well. Just listen as the audience sings along and participates. There will NEVER be another Freddie Mercury.
Imagine having polyps, your doctor says to take a few days off, and you go in front of 60,000+ people and perform what is arguably the best concert performance in history. That's some undeniable power as a band.
Freddie Mercury had the best diction of any rock singer I have ever heard. I remember the first time I heard Queen -- I was so shocked that I could actually understand the lyrics! I am still amazed, after thirty years.
they stole the show because they are Queen. best band of all time, best singer of all time, hands down. none of the other bands performing at that show could even come close to their skill, talent, gift. Freddie you will always be missed ❤️
You summed it up so well at the end there. Timeless, charismatic, unique, talented, unrivalled - Freddie Mercury was supremely talented. Put the four of these talented musicians together and they were unbeatable.
Great reaction. The guys dressed as police as Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys-Jones, a comedy double act that was big in the UK at the time. I remember watching this at the time. They had a revolving stage so that as one band was playing, another could be getting set up. There was a system of 'traffic lights' for the bands to look at while performing, so they knew when to get off. If the light went red, the plug would be pulled and they'd have to stop.
You really should check them out. There was a piece they had at the end of their shows where they'd sit down and talk about the issues of the day..... Except they would talk as idiots talk and come to rediculous conclusions. Very funny.
The greatest 20 minutes of live music ever. Their rehearsing shows clearly here. Note the way they look at each other and gather round Roger's drum kit to ensure they are all in time.
Having seen Queen twice (‘83 and ‘84) in West Berlin when I was an American in HS there, I have to say that Freddie is simply THE standard for frontman. I have never since seen anyone hold the crowd as completely as Freddie could. In a way it’s sad that he was so good, because Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon often get forgotten, despite their excellence as well. This performance was not an outlier for Queen. This is very representative of how they always performed. I cannot describe Freddie’s charisma onstage. Loved being right up front. It was powerful! Thanks for this.
I absolutely went crazy when you said ,"They're timeless, absolutely timeless. Anything that you can get nearly 2 billion people to clap along in real time...powerful stuff. At 28:03, tears came when you said "You know he's given it all he has. They all have." Sir, you gave one of the best reactions. ❤❤❤
Stellar performance, I was at school. I find this performance an emotional rollercoaster, and if you arent a mixture of elation and tears by the end, you have no soul. Great review Doug, do get over here to the UK whilst we still have a music scene.
Loved your edit on Queen’s live aid performance, I have viewed quite a few but have to say, your respectful reaction & added knowledge, was the best. Freddie was born for that performance, and too the rest of the band, Brian, John and Roger. Their timing was brilliant, & given that Freddie was advised by the medics not to perform because of his sore throat. We are all blessed to have that performance in our memory, and to be able to keep seeing it online is just Fab! I like seeing the lyrics to songs, which are just poetry set to fabulous music, At 74 I still Rock. 🇬🇧👍🎸
I was watching a guy who was studying this and he watched the time. They had a 20 minute set including hus interaction with the crowd. They were about 10 seconds off that 20 minutes. They were that precise.
On "Crazy Little Thing" Dr. Brian May uses 3 different guitars. He starts on an acoustic, then goes to a Fender Stratocaster, then on to THE Red Special. Great reaction. Love your Queen breakdowns.
Brian actually changes to guitar #2, it is a black Fender Telecaster, THEN the Red Special... as Freddie wanted an Elvis Rockabilly sound for Crazy Little Thing Called Love.... AND for the Bohemian Rhapsody film, Brain brought the actor the exact black Fendef Telecaster fir him to use in the film !!!
Watch Brian May tell how they recorded Bohemian Rhapsody on an almost see-through tape on Rick Beato's youtube channel. He said they didn't really rehearse for the recordings! Real musicians of the day.
Going to school from 2007-2020 in Canada, Queen dominated pep rallies, School Dances and whenever they played music in between classes. Even people that don't know that much about Queen know most of their songs by heart
I remember watching all this live on TV in the US. It was near sunset. What a day !!! The whole band Queen always played flat out, pedal to the metal, and the energy from them jumped right thru the live tv broadcast. Epic! Few years later, Willie Nelson gave the US farmers FARM AID.
he had a bad throat infection on this day and was advised not to perform. they were one of the few bands who played hits and didnt try to push new material on the day. Brian and Roger have released a new song which has been unfinished since late 80's Its not long but its so haunting it bought me to tears.
The two policemen are well known comedians in n the UK. The crowd were laughing at a joke about Status Quo, but you missed it because you were talking over it. It’s a shame because I was interested to hear your reaction to that joke in particular.
This might be my mom's favourite ever if not some Beatles. It was so powerful to watch this with family. To this day you can feel the electric and hypnotizing atmosphere in the broadcast. You simply can't resist joining Freddie. I can't describe with words the abilities of Queen members in music and showmanship. They truly sound like album performing live, how many bands can sound so tight? The only way this could've been more perfect is if Show Must Go On would've been somehow done and performed here with the same intensity it had, as a closing number. I didn't think that much of them when I was younger, I understood why they were a big and successful band but I didn't understand on a personal level what was so amazing about them. But I started understanding when I grew up and realized that there has probably never been a band like this and it's hard to imagine there will be. Similar thing about Beatles or Cream or Hendrix. But they weren't quite Queen either. The policemen warming up were british comedians, I forget the show's name. I used to watch them as a kid with my parents. I guess after googling the finnish name, the show was just called Alas Smith and Jones. From 1984 to 1998.
Only the strength of a union of many people with a vision of compassion could lift this moment of communion for all those who need what is the most basic in a society; love.
u forgot the end part Queen played out live aid with a song.. "is this the world we created" .. alot of people leave out the most emotional song of the entire night
Watching the hand clapping during Radio GaGa, and the "Ayo" segment which followed, just remember that this isn't a queen concert. They were just one of the acts, which makes the level of participation even more extraordinary.
Yes, when Queen agreed to perform at Live Aid tickets were already sold out. So this was an average crowd and somebody said if they weren't Queen fans before the concert, they truly became ones after the show. 😅❤
I was 14 and at my grandparents house watching this live. I was mainly watching for U2's set, but saw Queen almost immediately after... both sets were just jaw dropping amazing. I am forever grateful for being alive right in that moment and getting to experience this event.
I watched this in Melbourne on TV with our glorious Molly Meldrum hosting the live feeds from all over the world. I taped performances from Russia, UK, & the US on VHS tape. I made it through 23 hours before I crashed - exhausted. Molly, being Molly, was still going! Watching Queen, McCartney, Geldoff etc was sublime. Saw Phill Collins play in London and appear in the US on stage after flying over on Concorde. Timeless and unrepeatable.
It’s even more amazing when you realize this isn’t a Queen concert. The crowd wasn’t a “Queen crowd,” per se. Also you should do U2’s Live aid set, it’s a solid set, but they aren’t Queen.
Freddie remains the greatest performer I have ever seen, not just as a musician but as a showman, he seemed to feed off the crowds energy and grow in stature from it.......
Love the input…if you want to see HUGE crowd participation, check out Love of My Life in Rio where Portuguese is their first language. Biggest crowd I’ve ever seen.
Four master musicians, four master songwriters, four master performers. The perfect package. Been fortunate enough to see them several times. Never been disappointed by them.
To expand on your comment about the lack of cellphones, I think it's easy to view historic gigs through the lens of modern technology and forget just how seminal this event was. At the time, stadium concerts were still a relatively new phenomenon having only really taken off the '70s. No-one had yet grown up in families that were familiar with the concept of a rock concert in a stadium, nor had many people seen any on TV before this. Betamax and VHS were about a decade old, and only just making into peoples' homes - there was not yet a big catalogue of rock concerts on tape. So to most people this was a life-changing event, despite watching on a 20ish" TV of limited resolution with a mono speaker. We truly are blessed today with the internet and a massively distributed set of HD cameras, even if we don't always appreciate when to just enjoy the band.
It was televised here in the states all day on MTV. After Queen played, me and my friends just sat there looking at each other wondering what just happened. My friend said I think we just saw the greatest live performance ever. We played our cassettes and Queen records for 6 months straight after that show.
The Game wasn't released until the middle of 1980. Crazy Little Thing was the first single in late '79. It was oddball to release a single more than 6 months before an album release, but that's what they did. CLTCL was their first #1 single in the U.S. and set the stage for the album to sell huge numbers. A couple months after the album release, Another One Bites The Dust was released as a single, and also went #1. 1980 was their most successful year in the U.S.
You can’t help but to feel like you are there everytime you watch this I spent my entire life being just in love with Freddie thank god my mother loved them and introduced them to me at a very early age I was only 2 when this happened but my mom said she watched this and cried while Queen played they were so amazing and I get that bc I totally can’t help myself from crying at the end of this everytime I watch it!
Everyone is missing the real power here. That audience was dead. It was made up of fans of different artists performing that day, and broadly they were only getting into their artist's sets, while everyone else just sort of stood there. It wasn't really working and the money wasn't exactly flowing in. Then Freddie walks in. That entire crowd responded, as you see. He brought Live Aid the atmosphere is didn't have. He saved it. And that's when the donations started rolling in. Queen were flat as an act going in to it. Queen saved Live Aid, and Live Aid saved Queen. Plus a few million for the desperate cause.
I am soooo lucky. Since I was little, my dad always showed me and my brother all kinds of great music. Live Aid was what we used to watch on sundays, all together, so, this in particular, brings back so many good memórias 🥹🥹 I’m 23 now and it still gets me!! I literally know this set by heart, thank you so much, Doug ❤️❤️ Ps: it was also my dad who discovered you, so you can imagine why I’m here
What makes it such a fun performance is how personal it seems, even with that huge crowd. We're sitting here jamming to a live concert set that's going to be 40 years old this summer! The enthusiasm of the whole band, Freddie's ability to keep everyone engaged, and obviously the amazing songs--it's a combo that's almost impossible to replicate.
I actually read Freddie wrote crazy little thing called love for Elvis he was a huge fan of his if you haven’t read Jim Hutton’s book it is so good really tells you who the real Freddie was off stage a beautiful but very very sad book I found myself crying often during it and my heart aching for Freddie
This concert happened during the summer between my Junior and Senior year in High School. I sat watching the TV all day. Loved Phil Collins, playing in England the hopping on the Concorde and then playing in the US.
That drum sound check was my bezzy mate, Roger Taylor's drum tech. He was so drunk that day he threw all of Roger's drum sticks into the crowd because the crowd had started booing him, they had realised it wasn't Roger on drums yet. That's why the the 2 coppers (Smith & Jones)came on early to buy a bit of time for my mate to recover some drum sticks. After this, ROGER always breatherlised him before he went on stage or into the studio.
Oh, 11:30 at night with a guest in the next room was definitely the wrong time to watch this... it's nearly impossible not to sing/clap/air guitar/"aaaayo!" along! Freddie is one of the most magnetic figures I've ever seen. If I had a time machine, I would absolutely come and see this performance. Have you ever seen the video of the audience at a Green Day concert singing to Bohemian Rhapsody? Anyone who can command a crowd of 65,000 people... who are there to see someone else entirely... twenty-six years after their death... isn't just a singer, they're a legend.
1:55 You should add that the London and Philadelphia concerts were simulcast in both the UK and US with acts alternating in each venue. Freddie was suffering from a throat infection at the time and had been advised not to perform which is why you will hear some breaks in his voice, even though it's STILL better than most. 6:15 Comedians, they were on BBC shows "Not the Nine O'Clock News" and "Alas Smith and Jones". Mel Smith was in a lot of movies including The Princess Bride. 13:20 Not really, it's more of a lament that that was happening, hence why he sings about the golden moments in radio like War of the Worlds. Hence the "Radio, Someone still loves you" 15:16 Of course it was improvised lol, it was also Freddie's genius in audience participation as well as him doing vocal exercises, especially on that day since he was suffering from the throat infection, he probably wanted to check he was going to be ok for the rest of the set.
I once heard a critic say about Freddie: "he holds that little mic stand in one hand, and the crowd in the other".
Kevin, you could probably take that further and say the world. You Pretty much nailed it.
Oh my goodness I love that. First time hearing that. What a quote.
So true.
Well said
YEAH!!!!
When Freddie was asked what his favourite instrument was. He replied "the audience darling". He wasn't lying.
Freddie was the ultimate master magician of stage and audience. There will never be another Freddie.
Freddie stole the show..... while suffering from laryngitis. Legend
I wish it was only laryngitis my friend...
@@maximum.p Laryngitis is the only thing he was diagnosed with at that point, except for vocal nodules.
@@maximum.p pretty sure he wasn't diagnosed with HIV or AIDS at that point. That was still a few short years away. If you're going off of what you saw in the movie, they played with the timeline a bit.
@@cf5341 Likely he knew something was really bad at that point. Probably he caught it in 82 when he was in NyC. Was diagnosed apparently officialy in 87 but he maybe knew before.
On the day of the performance, his doctor strongly advised him against singing and he said: watch me.
The timing of Freddie's "aaaa-oooo" was planned out to the second in many practice sessions in preparation for the concert. If you listen closely, you can hear a very faint drum beat towards the end of Freddie's "improv" which is Roger alerting Freddie that it's time to wrap up. Perfection! In fact, the whole 20 minutes is PERFECTION. Iconic performance! Love Queen! Great reaction!
Where u there when they planned it yeah?????
@@chewwyc I wasn't there - I watched the live concert on TV with about a billion or so others who had access to a TV on that day in 1985. But I recently saw a video by someone who gave a good analysis of Queen's performance that day including Roger's very faint tap on the drum to tell Freddie it was time to wrap up his improv. And I've seen a video of one of Queen's rehearsals for Live Aid where they were practicing their set - that video is on RUclips.
Must you talk so much through the performance,
@@chewwycThey rehearsed this heavily, that's why their medley performance Was perfect. Something that Led Zeppelin and Status Quo didn't do. Some of that is even documented after the facts.
btw; it isn't aaa- ooo; it's eeeeeee-oooooo!
When Queen walked on stage, they had no sound check so their sound engineer Trip Khalaf immediately removed all the limiters on the front of house PA.. Queen were by far the loudest band of the evening. They rehearsed the hell out of the set, down to the second... you can see there are coloured lamps on the stage signalling when the sound would be cut.. they performed the hell out of Live Aid. Genius on all fronts.
This is true.
@@minty_Joe Yes! Each band was given an exact amount of time PERIOD! No exceptions. They had to keep that thing moving - or 1 day would turn into 2.. so many people playing - just to be fair each band etc.
@@josiepkat Someone should have told U2 that when they went into the song "Bad". But then again, the band would not have been legendary had Bono not pulled off that stunt mid-song.
@@minty_Joe I mean, U2 knew the time limit, but Bono disappeared into the crowd and they never played Pride.
@@minty_Joe Actually, the others considered firing him because of that stunt. ;)
I told this story the first time you uploaded this, but it does bear repeating: I was at Live-Aid in Philadelphia (w/ no sunscreen which turned out to be a BAD mistake!!!) and we saw England's performances through the big screens provided which at the time were still pretty raw. During Freddie's spots to get audience participation, we were all following exactly what he implored whether it was the call and response section or his "Radio Gaga" fist raising. It was enough to give me goosebumps at the time and God knows how hot the temperature was in JFK Stadium that day (I was 15 then). I just wish there was video of that. If there is, I surely haven't seen it.
To my mind, he is simply the best front-man in the history of the business. Better than Jagger, Jackson, Springsteen.....all of them. He was a once in a planet talent. And P.S.: This was a guy who was NOT supposed to perform due to vocal chord issues. Absolutely remarkable.
I was at Wembly
The only one who can come up to him is Prince…….him and Freddie……OMG heavenly, magical 💜♥️👑
@elektromanyaro: it was a worldwide event and totally unique for its time challenging all of the media technology available at the time. I’d love to hear what you found out.
Sinatra detested rock music I wonder what he might have made of this as a.bit of performance art
I was also there in Philly, and would love to see video of this performance from our perspective. Not sure they were recording us when Wembly acts were on stage, but if it does exist, I would love to see it.
I still shed a tear for Freddie - amazing to look back on this.
I think he would be very pleased to know that we are still listening to this and that Queen are still getting new fans.
Never gets old. My favorite story about them for this show: According to Geldof he had to call Freddie to get a commitment, & told Freddie “it’s the perfect stage for you.”
When Freddie asked why, Geldof replied, “bc it’s the world.”
Geldof asked Brian & Freddie specifically to perform is this the world we created. Just Freddie, Brian & his 12 string. Perfection.
as a sound engineer myself soundchecks can sometimes be a pain with multiple acts on ,but i feel this is probably the best live performance of the 20th century
Freddie had a horrid sore throat that night and was advised not to go on. He was actually drinking lemonade with honey on stage. He went on and made history.
Honey and hot lemonade is my sore throat cure.
Freddie was such a brilliant performer it makes sense that his greatest ever performance would be for the largest ever crowd.
I was there that day and also saw Queen at Wembley with Status Quo, INXS and the Alarm. I was 17 and Freddie & Queen were just unbelievable in how they reached every person in that big stadium. Oh my, just fantastic, Doug.
Yes all true
In the uk back in the 1970s and 1980s was queen as big as led zeppelin and pink flyod??
They were huge, how ever led zeppelin were bigger draw, but it was a different time. 😊@@srirahulpremkumar1600
@@srirahulpremkumar1600 Queen sold 90.23 million studio albums over 15 releases, a solid average of 6 million per effort. They were very popular anyway in the UK
@@mikeyc1348 but was that popularity in the same level as led zeppelin and pink flyod??
I first saw Queen live in the seventies and saw their last gig at Knebworth and was extremely lucky to be able to attend Live Aid at Wembley, a great, long day and, yes, Queen were great. As a Queen fan, I was worried that the crowd wouldn't like them as they weren't that cool at the time, I needn't have worried. A wonderful performance, a memorable day.
I was at Knebworth that day also
I was afraid of the same song. But Brits give Queen, the band, as much adoration as they give their actual Monarch
Yes, people now don’t realize that at the time they were not seen as that cool. As a fan, I was worried too. Where I live their great performance was only appreciated later on.
Lucky you! I saw the remastered Queen Live in Montreal concert on the IMAX screen, and it's as close as I'll ever get to seeing them in person.
I recently saw Roger Taylor interviewed who when asked about Live Aid 85 the acoustics were so bad...horrible sound on that stage that they couldn't hear eachother at all!!!! He said they did that entire 21 minutes by eye contact and body language and playing, each separately, by memory! He said they were scared. Flawless/timeless performance. Fantasic!
My first comment here. But this was just an amazing moment for me. This Georgia gal found herself in London this particular day. We stood outside of Wembley and were transported. We decided to look for a pub for a brew. This was playing on every television in London that day. The dancing, the joy reached its crescendo when Queen took the stage. None of knew that this terrifying thing called AIDS would steal Freddie from us all.
Freddie Knew about his illness in October 1986, afther he come back from an holiday in japan
London's Wembley Stadium; July 13, 1985; Live Aid concert for Ethiopian Famine Relief; an audience of over 100,000 people (with another 100,000 in the United States). Queen wasn't supposed to originally perform. The tickets had already been sold when they agreed to play. Freddie said he was only about 70% vocally, but took 3-4 shots of vodka and went out on the stage. While other bands played all their newest hits, Queen hadn't performed together for a while so they stuck with mostly stuff everyone would know. It's reported that after their performance, as Queen was leaving the stage, the next act to go on (the legendary David Bowie) supposedly said "How the f*ck am I supposed to follow that?!?!", and Sir Elton John said to Freddie, "You know you just stole the whole f*cking show!" And he did. For 20+ minutes, the UK was ruled by a different "Queen". In an interview, Freddie was once asked what was his favorite thing to play, and his reply was, "The audience, darling". And he did that... very well. Just listen as the audience sings along and participates. There will NEVER be another Freddie Mercury.
72,000 the old Wembley held
❤️
Well, Marc Martel and Rami Malek are the closest you'll get. They did an amazing job on the biopic.
Freddie... Best rock vocalist ever.... !!!!
Imagine having polyps, your doctor says to take a few days off, and you go in front of 60,000+ people and perform what is arguably the best concert performance in history. That's some undeniable power as a band.
Brit comedians, not real police. Queen were phenomenal. I watched Live Aid from start to finish on the day. I really enjoy your channel. Thank you ❤
Freddie Mercury had the best diction of any rock singer I have ever heard. I remember the first time I heard Queen -- I was so shocked that I could actually understand the lyrics! I am still amazed, after thirty years.
Queen is the only group that each member are credited with writing #1 hits.
they stole the show because they are Queen. best band of all time, best singer of all time, hands down. none of the other bands performing at that show could even come close to their skill, talent, gift. Freddie you will always be missed ❤️
they're simply the best ❤️
Mercury has to be one of the most engaging front men in all of rock.
Even in death Freddie commands the stage. When I saw the movie and radio gaga came on the whole theater clapped along with Freddie.
❤️
And all without ear equipement , so musical, talented , the greatest rock band ever in history
What I love is the ability of Freddie to clearly enunciate every word of the songs in that there is no guessing what he’s singing!
Freddie had a throat infection that day and against doctors advice he went onto the stage and produced this iconic performance.
You summed it up so well at the end there. Timeless, charismatic, unique, talented, unrivalled - Freddie Mercury was supremely talented. Put the four of these talented musicians together and they were unbeatable.
Great reaction. The guys dressed as police as Mel Smith and Gryff Rhys-Jones, a comedy double act that was big in the UK at the time. I remember watching this at the time. They had a revolving stage so that as one band was playing, another could be getting set up. There was a system of 'traffic lights' for the bands to look at while performing, so they knew when to get off. If the light went red, the plug would be pulled and they'd have to stop.
great comedians 😆
You really should check them out. There was a piece they had at the end of their shows where they'd sit down and talk about the issues of the day..... Except they would talk as idiots talk and come to rediculous conclusions.
Very funny.
The greatest 20 minutes of live music ever. Their rehearsing shows clearly here. Note the way they look at each other and gather round Roger's drum kit to ensure they are all in time.
Freddy Mercury was asked what his favorite instrument was. He replied: "the audience, darling"
Having seen Queen twice (‘83 and ‘84) in West Berlin when I was an American in HS there, I have to say that Freddie is simply THE standard for frontman. I have never since seen anyone hold the crowd as completely as Freddie could. In a way it’s sad that he was so good, because Roger Taylor, Brian May and John Deacon often get forgotten, despite their excellence as well.
This performance was not an outlier for Queen. This is very representative of how they always performed. I cannot describe Freddie’s charisma onstage. Loved being right up front. It was powerful! Thanks for this.
I absolutely went crazy when you said ,"They're timeless, absolutely timeless. Anything that you can get nearly 2 billion people to clap along in real time...powerful stuff. At 28:03, tears came when you said "You know he's given it all he has. They all have." Sir, you gave one of the best reactions. ❤❤❤
Stellar performance, I was at school. I find this performance an emotional rollercoaster, and if you arent a mixture of elation and tears by the end, you have no soul. Great review Doug, do get over here to the UK whilst we still have a music scene.
Loved your edit on Queen’s live aid performance, I have viewed quite a few but have to say, your respectful reaction & added knowledge, was the best. Freddie was born for that performance, and too the rest of the band, Brian, John and Roger. Their timing was brilliant, & given that Freddie was advised by the medics not to perform because of his sore throat. We are all blessed to have that performance in our memory, and to be able to keep seeing it online is just Fab! I like seeing the lyrics to songs, which are just poetry set to fabulous music, At 74 I still Rock. 🇬🇧👍🎸
I was watching a guy who was studying this and he watched the time. They had a 20 minute set including hus interaction with the crowd. They were about 10 seconds off that 20 minutes. They were that precise.
On "Crazy Little Thing" Dr. Brian May uses 3 different guitars. He starts on an acoustic, then goes to a Fender Stratocaster, then on to THE Red Special. Great reaction. Love your Queen breakdowns.
Yes, when Freddie says, “take it Brian” he’s got the Red Special in hand. He said that in some way every time they played it.
Brian actually changes to guitar #2, it is a black Fender Telecaster, THEN the Red Special... as Freddie wanted an Elvis Rockabilly sound for Crazy Little Thing Called Love.... AND for the Bohemian Rhapsody film, Brain brought the actor the exact black Fendef Telecaster fir him to use in the film !!!
thats a telecaster but yeah, fair enough
Ahh this made me sad I wish Freddy was still around writing and recording he was an outstanding performer RIP 🙏
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Yes, bittersweet!! So sweet Freddie did what he did, so sad he passed too soon! ❤😭❤
Freddie wrote Crazy Little Thing Called Love as a tribute to Elvis! He admired Elvis a lot.
He wrote it in the bath
Watch Brian May tell how they recorded Bohemian Rhapsody on an almost see-through tape on Rick Beato's youtube channel. He said they didn't really rehearse for the recordings! Real musicians of the day.
Thanks for the reactions and giving side story and the notes❤
Going to school from 2007-2020 in Canada, Queen dominated pep rallies, School Dances and whenever they played music in between classes. Even people that don't know that much about Queen know most of their songs by heart
I remember watching all this live on TV in the US. It was near sunset. What a day !!! The whole band Queen always played flat out, pedal to the metal, and the energy from them jumped right thru the live tv broadcast. Epic!
Few years later, Willie Nelson gave the US farmers FARM AID.
he had a bad throat infection on this day and was advised not to perform. they were one of the few bands who played hits and didnt try to push new material on the day. Brian and Roger have released a new song which has been unfinished since late 80's Its not long but its so haunting it bought me to tears.
I’ve watched this a million times. But, I’ve never seen this version!
Shame you missed the joke by the "policemen" about the noise disturbing some older people in the area, "including Status Quo".
The joke about the noise complaint was that it had come from a little old lady... in Belgium.
@@OriginalLictre They then mention some older people not being up to date with the music trends - including Status Quo.
The two policemen are well known comedians in n the UK. The crowd were laughing at a joke about Status Quo, but you missed it because you were talking over it. It’s a shame because I was interested to hear your reaction to that joke in particular.
He missed more than that because he talks incessantly!!!!
poor old Quo. they got it in the neck from everyone in a fun way for some reason.
This might be my mom's favourite ever if not some Beatles. It was so powerful to watch this with family. To this day you can feel the electric and hypnotizing atmosphere in the broadcast. You simply can't resist joining Freddie. I can't describe with words the abilities of Queen members in music and showmanship. They truly sound like album performing live, how many bands can sound so tight? The only way this could've been more perfect is if Show Must Go On would've been somehow done and performed here with the same intensity it had, as a closing number. I didn't think that much of them when I was younger, I understood why they were a big and successful band but I didn't understand on a personal level what was so amazing about them. But I started understanding when I grew up and realized that there has probably never been a band like this and it's hard to imagine there will be. Similar thing about Beatles or Cream or Hendrix. But they weren't quite Queen either.
The policemen warming up were british comedians, I forget the show's name. I used to watch them as a kid with my parents. I guess after googling the finnish name, the show was just called Alas Smith and Jones. From 1984 to 1998.
Only the strength of a union of many people with a vision of compassion could lift this moment of communion for all those who need what is the most basic in a society; love.
u forgot the end part
Queen played out live aid with a song.. "is this the world we created" .. alot of people leave out the most emotional song of the entire night
What .... A ...... Voice !
Greatest rock singer of all time.
Watching the hand clapping during Radio GaGa, and the "Ayo" segment which followed, just remember that this isn't a queen concert. They were just one of the acts, which makes the level of participation even more extraordinary.
Yes, when Queen agreed to perform at Live Aid tickets were already sold out. So this was an average crowd and somebody said if they weren't Queen fans before the concert, they truly became ones after the show. 😅❤
I was 14 and at my grandparents house watching this live. I was mainly watching for U2's set, but saw Queen almost immediately after... both sets were just jaw dropping amazing. I am forever grateful for being alive right in that moment and getting to experience this event.
It is Monty Python introducing. I was there - it was out of this world!
Teacher...I can't control my classroom
Freddie...controls 72,000 people
I watched this in Melbourne on TV with our glorious Molly Meldrum hosting the live feeds from all over the world. I taped performances from Russia, UK, & the US on VHS tape. I made it through 23 hours before I crashed - exhausted. Molly, being Molly, was still going! Watching Queen, McCartney, Geldoff etc was sublime. Saw Phill Collins play in London and appear in the US on stage after flying over on Concorde. Timeless and unrepeatable.
It’s even more amazing when you realize this isn’t a Queen concert. The crowd wasn’t a “Queen crowd,” per se. Also you should do U2’s Live aid set, it’s a solid set, but they aren’t Queen.
I have seen this video probably a hundred times and I will keep watching it over and over until I die. I will never get tired of watching it. Geniuses
Freddie remains the greatest performer I have ever seen, not just as a musician but as a showman, he seemed to feed off the crowds energy and grow in stature from it.......
What can you say Freddie had the world in his hands at the moment and hè had only 20 minutes and hè taken Every second of it
The audience sang the first song with Freddy. You probably would have heard them if you weren’t talking over it.
23:00 Love hearing Spike Edney their touring pianist/keyboard player going for it. Doesn't get enough credit
the two guys dressed as policemen are Mel Smith (rip) and Griff rhys Jones both popular comedians in the UK then
2024, discovered your reaction... enjoyed a lot. Thanks.
Love the input…if you want to see HUGE crowd participation, check out Love of My Life in Rio where Portuguese is their first language. Biggest crowd I’ve ever seen.
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Rock n Rio 1985 I was there
The audience participation on Love Of My Life is amazing - I love that live version.
And, breaking down, & rearrange the Stage. Comedy Duo. Freddy actually turned the entire Audience into his backup singers!
I just met your channel and loved! Thank you a lot for your reacts!!
it just can not get any better than this, just an amazing show, freddy is the man
Four master musicians, four master songwriters, four master performers. The perfect package. Been fortunate enough to see them several times. Never been disappointed by them.
This song ' Crazy little thing called love was in Honor of Elvis, whom he greatly admired!
When queen came on it was 1.45pm at 2nd Live Aid concert venue in Philadelphia which later on took over from Wembley in London
To expand on your comment about the lack of cellphones, I think it's easy to view historic gigs through the lens of modern technology and forget just how seminal this event was. At the time, stadium concerts were still a relatively new phenomenon having only really taken off the '70s. No-one had yet grown up in families that were familiar with the concept of a rock concert in a stadium, nor had many people seen any on TV before this. Betamax and VHS were about a decade old, and only just making into peoples' homes - there was not yet a big catalogue of rock concerts on tape. So to most people this was a life-changing event, despite watching on a 20ish" TV of limited resolution with a mono speaker. We truly are blessed today with the internet and a massively distributed set of HD cameras, even if we don't always appreciate when to just enjoy the band.
Interesting reaction. Definitely one of my favourites. Love the fact drops.
i meet Freddie. 2 times ..End of 80´ in Colonge and Munich /Germany ....i never forget this time :-)
I am extremly jelaous of your experience. 😁
It was the best set ever...and im a floyd fan..saw them in 94....class act..in 85 it was epic.❤❤
here I go, crying again. Freddie love❤️
Queen and u2 rocked that day! the Who were bloody good too.
It was televised here in the states all day on MTV. After Queen played, me and my friends just sat there looking at each other wondering what just happened. My friend said I think we just saw the greatest live performance ever. We played our cassettes and Queen records for 6 months straight after that show.
Did their performance inspire you to form a band?
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The Game wasn't released until the middle of 1980. Crazy Little Thing was the first single in late '79. It was oddball to release a single more than 6 months before an album release, but that's what they did. CLTCL was their first #1 single in the U.S. and set the stage for the album to sell huge numbers. A couple months after the album release, Another One Bites The Dust was released as a single, and also went #1. 1980 was their most successful year in the U.S.
I still get teary eyed when I see videos of Freddie!!
You can’t help but to feel like you are there everytime you watch this I spent my entire life being just in love with Freddie thank god my mother loved them and introduced them to me at a very early age I was only 2 when this happened but my mom said she watched this and cried while Queen played they were so amazing and I get that bc I totally can’t help myself from crying at the end of this everytime I watch it!
Everyone is missing the real power here. That audience was dead. It was made up of fans of different artists performing that day, and broadly they were only getting into their artist's sets, while everyone else just sort of stood there. It wasn't really working and the money wasn't exactly flowing in.
Then Freddie walks in.
That entire crowd responded, as you see. He brought Live Aid the atmosphere is didn't have. He saved it. And that's when the donations started rolling in.
Queen were flat as an act going in to it. Queen saved Live Aid, and Live Aid saved Queen.
Plus a few million for the desperate cause.
I am soooo lucky. Since I was little, my dad always showed me and my brother all kinds of great music. Live Aid was what we used to watch on sundays, all together, so, this in particular, brings back so many good memórias 🥹🥹 I’m 23 now and it still gets me!!
I literally know this set by heart, thank you so much, Doug ❤️❤️
Ps: it was also my dad who discovered you, so you can imagine why I’m here
What makes it such a fun performance is how personal it seems, even with that huge crowd. We're sitting here jamming to a live concert set that's going to be 40 years old this summer! The enthusiasm of the whole band, Freddie's ability to keep everyone engaged, and obviously the amazing songs--it's a combo that's almost impossible to replicate.
Yes, he's doing an Elvis impersonation during "Crazy Little Thing...". Only a few years earlier, "Jailhouse Rock" had been part of their set.
I actually read Freddie wrote crazy little thing called love for Elvis he was a huge fan of his if you haven’t read Jim Hutton’s book it is so good really tells you who the real Freddie was off stage a beautiful but very very sad book I found myself crying often during it and my heart aching for Freddie
Jim’s book is a bunch of lies
This concert happened during the summer between my Junior and Senior year in High School. I sat watching the TV all day. Loved Phil Collins, playing in England the hopping on the Concorde and then playing in the US.
That drum sound check was my bezzy mate, Roger Taylor's drum tech.
He was so drunk that day he threw all of Roger's drum sticks into the crowd because the crowd had started booing him, they had realised it wasn't Roger on drums yet.
That's why the the 2 coppers (Smith & Jones)came on early to buy a bit of time for my mate to recover some drum sticks.
After this, ROGER always breatherlised him before he went on stage or into the studio.
So nice to see you have so much fun, I was belting it out! 🎉🎉🎉love Queen.
happy to say I've seen them 8 times
have you looked at Queen 1981 Montreal? Its fantastic too.
All these years later and I still miss Freddie...and nobody has come close to matching him
There a band of brothers they stood tall and proud together with Freddies illness rip Freddie long live queen xxxxx
Oh, 11:30 at night with a guest in the next room was definitely the wrong time to watch this... it's nearly impossible not to sing/clap/air guitar/"aaaayo!" along! Freddie is one of the most magnetic figures I've ever seen. If I had a time machine, I would absolutely come and see this performance.
Have you ever seen the video of the audience at a Green Day concert singing to Bohemian Rhapsody? Anyone who can command a crowd of 65,000 people... who are there to see someone else entirely... twenty-six years after their death... isn't just a singer, they're a legend.
Can you imagine having to go on stage after this?
his voice was insane
They only had 20 minutes. The symmetry is perfect. ❤
For 20 minutes, the entire world was ruled by a QUEEN!!!!!!
Don't know if anybody has said, but Smith and Jones are two British comedians from the olden days, I mean the 80s.
1:55 You should add that the London and Philadelphia concerts were simulcast in both the UK and US with acts alternating in each venue. Freddie was suffering from a throat infection at the time and had been advised not to perform which is why you will hear some breaks in his voice, even though it's STILL better than most.
6:15 Comedians, they were on BBC shows "Not the Nine O'Clock News" and "Alas Smith and Jones". Mel Smith was in a lot of movies including The Princess Bride.
13:20 Not really, it's more of a lament that that was happening, hence why he sings about the golden moments in radio like War of the Worlds. Hence the "Radio, Someone still loves you"
15:16 Of course it was improvised lol, it was also Freddie's genius in audience participation as well as him doing vocal exercises, especially on that day since he was suffering from the throat infection, he probably wanted to check he was going to be ok for the rest of the set.
Wow.
What a showman!