When asked what instrument he played, Freddie responded with "The audience, darling". The 20 minutes Queen were on stage, Freddie didn't just own the stage, he didn't just own the crowd... for those 20 minutes, Freddie Mercury owned the fucking WORLD.
I would love to go to "bespoke" concerts, either bands we've loved for 40 years or even new ones, where there are no cell phones allowed and there are no flashy choreographed dancers spinning on wires above the stage. Just a good band playing their hearts out, loud drums, maybe a shower of pyrotechnics at the finale. I just saw "Stop Making Sense" at the IMAX (saw it twice when it came out and again about 15 years ago at Red Rocks Amphitheater) and I was feeling very nostalgic for the good old days of concerts... where it was about the music... not just saying "I was there" with a selfie. Okay, get off my lawn, now!
Smartphones... Arghhhh! the most annoying thing about modern concerts.. muppets with phones in the air in front of you. i came to watch it live not on other peoples phone screens.
If you're referring to Brian May, no, it was in 1977 during the News Of The World tour, during their concert at Madison Square Garden. May talks about it fairly extensively in the "Day of Our Lives" documentary.
That is quite sad. Cos Freddie took a risky track for his dad and his dad took a while to realise that Freddie is SO talented. Sad cos Freddie already hais AIDS by this time.
You indeed are so lucky. I saw Queen and Adam Lambert in concert and when I saw Brian may and Roger Taylor, I cried. Then when Brian played and sang love of my life and they put Freddie on the screen to sing the last bit, I bawled. They were just magical
@jseedoubleu Well of course we all knew Queen and their songs but I assure you there were a great many who were there for Elton and Bowie and all the other acts. That's what Live Aid was all about, a coming together of all the great bands of the day. I lived through it and I know. Plus all the viewers around the world - not all specifically Queen fans, but that was what made Freddie so great. He reached out and encompassed the world, making everyone believe the magic.
@jseedoubleu No, that's not true. Queen weren't the big draw, they'd been around forever but were out of the picture. So too to a large extent were Bowie and Elton John. Big names but not that popular anymore. Queen's performance however, was amazing, true greatness. It seemed like everyone became Queen fans at that point....
I think someone wrote once: "And for 20 minutes, the UK was ruled by a different queen." Or at least something along those lines. Freddie just had that much charisma.
Not just the UK. The world. I don't think many people have had the attention of as many people all over the planet at the same time. Maybe Neil Armstrong?
I was 15 years old. Sitting in my parents lounge room, watching on a little black and white television, Geraldton Western Australia. It still gives me chills to to this day ❤️🇦🇺
To give people some idea just how good Queen was that day, the legendary David Bowie who was on after Queen was heard to exclaim "how the fuck am I meant to follow that?" Best live performance EVER
Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, could play an audience like Freddie ... even though he has been gone all these years I still miss him terribly ... a master showman with the voice of an angel ... bless you Freddie Mercury. xxx
I'm 63. I LOVE watching REAL reaction videos. This is my 1st time here! WONDERFUL! I still get chills when I hear music from my era. After living through that, today's music just won't do.
I feel like much of the world didn't know about him and his showmanship until it was too late. I was only 12 when Live Aid happened, and not fully into music yet. I don't think I truly discovered Queen until Wayne's World.
I was there in that crowd on the pitch at Wembley Stadium that day. It was true that the whole arena just lit up when Queen came on stage. Probably the best performance of Freddie's career. I've never forgotten it. They were indeed the Champions that day.
I was on the right side of the stage, I consider it one of the best gigs I have ever been to, they were on stage for about 25 minutes, it is nearly 40 years later and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
Was thinking the same knowing what came after Radio Gaga. Was 9 yrs old and watched this on TV they blew everyone away with their performance and his call and response part, I read was not planned. But he knew he had that crowd in his hamds. As people stated it was a mixed crowd not a Queen crowd but everyone knew the songs and actions from music videos.
More amazing…he told the band he had AIDS 2 years later, and they still didn’t come out saying it until a day before he died. He performed an amazing music video in 1991 singing the show must go on but was never able to perform in public after that. Truly the show did go on in our hearts ❤
Remember, this was not a Queen audience. People were there to see any number of other bands that day. One of the reasons that Queen were on the afternoon is that they were not the top of the bill. In fact, at that time, their star was definitely waning and it was seen as something of a sop to the rock dinosaurs of the 70s to have them on. Apart from Freddie Mercury being one of the greatest showmen to ever grace a rock stage, the band themselves were phenomenal musicians and incredibly tight. They had one other musician playing additional keyboards and guitar and were able to produce THAT wall of sound. What they also got right was to edit some songs (Rhapsody and Radio Ga Ga) so that they could cram in their most anthemic crowd pleasers into the short 25 minute set. They knew and understood that it wasn't their gig and played accordingly. Utterly brilliant. The streets of the UK were empty that day. If you weren't in the stadium, you were at home watching it on tv. A magical experience.
Queen's star was not at all on the wane in the UK. The songs from The Works weren't big hits in the U.S. but they were huge in the UK and it was just about their biggest album ever there. This being at Wembley, everyone knew how to clap to Radio Gaga. A general (non-Queen-specific) audience the U.S. would not have done that. In the U.S. broadcast on MTV they cut into and out of this performance if I recall, which sucked. But Live Aid was conceived in the UK and they included Queen because it would have been ridiculous not to, it wasn't a "sop" to dinosaur rock at all.
Are you really comparing BTS to Queen???? Really??? Queen are one of the greatest bands in history and Freddie Mercury probably hands down the greatest Front Man of all time. BTS is a flash in the pan, a trend and pretty much over now. No Comparison!!
As a 16 year old, myself and 2 friends travelled from Glasgow Central Station to King's Cross. We paid £25 a ticket and wow was it wirth it. We were massive Adam Ant fans and thats why we went. Of course we knew Queen and their songs but after the performance of Freddie and the boys our love was then given to Queen. Nearly 40 years after that day, its still crystal clear in my memory. I'll never forget that day as long as I live. ❤❤❤ R.I.P Freddie ❤❤❤
Travelled down from Perth, Scotland 🏴 to be there with my cousin’s. I was not long married, my now ex husband was on security with the army at it, I just found out I was pregnant with my oldest child, so all in all a memorable experience ❤
I have a similar story, I went to the Sziget music festival in Hungary. We all had bands we wanted to see, but one name we hadn't gone specifically to see absolutely stole the show. Madness. I've now seen them live 3 times, they are absolutely incredible live.
Amazing! 20mins, I always thought this was a highlight reel. Very clever of them to do 2mins only of the hit songs to get through a few to keep people entertained! 👌
amazing how the band timed everything. 1 cord to test in the beginning. The drummer-he kept the time perfectly. They were all perfectly in sync, preforming at their best!
I'm a 68 year old English lady and I so enjoyed watching that with you. It was lovely to relive those chill tingling moments and to see how you felt the same way. 💞
I was there at Wembley stadium, my first concert and what a concert and what cause. It still gives me chills when I hear or see documentaries about Live Aid
Nearly 40 years later you say "Live Aid" and everyone remembers Queen and can't name one other band that played. THAT is how great this performance was. I would rate this the BEST live performance in rock history. RIP Freddy. You were a GOD.
That's not true. Yes, Queen was easily the most memorable (in a good way), but there were plenty more amazing performances and Artists. Apart from that there was the shambles of the Led Zeppelin reunion and the technical issues that hampered some of the other performances, but that was kinda understandable as it was the first time such a world wide event was ever attempted.
Brian May made that guitar with his father when he was a young teenager and it was made out of things found around the house and garage and he still plays it today! Such an awesome sound and guitar player.
There was a marvelous video clip of the making of the "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie with Sir Brian May handing the Red Special to Gwilym Lee to hold. Lee looks terrified, like May just handed him the crown jewels or something.
I would like to give you my perspective of that performance. My sister and I were at Live Aid, I am in my 50's now and she is in her 60's. It is quite difficult for us to have any conversation without referencing Live Aid. Our tickets cost $32.00 all in, for 10 hours of the greatest musicians that ever lived. My sister was obsessed with Bowie, and I was looking forward to seeing Elton John (I loved his stuff in the 70's and early 80's) We both liked Queen without being outright fans of them. I think the other 80,000 in the stadium left the stadium, just like us, knowing Queen had just given us the greatest performance of any band in the history of music. Each band only got 20 minutes to perform, the stage rotated and was split in to 3 sections, the departing band emptied their gear while the next band were on stage, and those after them were completing their set up. There are so many individual moments in the day, that only the crowd who were in the stadium would know. It was a life changing experience.
I was there because of Queen and Bowie. The first rock concert I ever saw was Queen at Bingley Hall in Staffordshire, I was about 16 and with my boyfriend and some of his mates. We were all the ones singing and stomping our feet that inspired Brian May to write 'We will rock you' - what an introduction to Rock Music! Queen were amazing on the day, helped by the sneaky volume increase by Geldolf, and so was Bowie. Bowie is alleged not to have been too pleased about following Queen but it was just as well he did, no-one else could have pulled it off!. Seb is absolutely right, it WAS like a religious experience but then most great rock concerts are. Great days, I think our generation were lucky we had the very best of music and now we've lost both of them, far too soon. Rip Freddie and David, I hope they're upstairs or somewhere in the Universe - jamming for the sake of it.
I am 70 years old girl LOL.. And still gets goose bumps litening to QUEEN.. The Rhapsody and Champions always bring me to tears. What an icon !!!!!!! We miss you Freddie!
I'm with you! I'm 65 and am in awe of this performance. It brings me to tears thinking that he was already struggling with his health and put on this amazing performance.
And to think it was only 7 years later when they done "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert " in 1992 including David Bowie and George Michael who are also not amongst us since then. (Altho I must admit, George Michael didn't have Freddie's charisma, but did him tribute when he sang "Somebody to Love")
I was at Live Aid in Philadelphia that day. They paused the U.S. concert so we could see the simulcast of Queen as it happened. What Freddie couldn’t know at the time was that he commanded 2 audiences simultaneously. We were just as caught up in the performance as the London audience was. It was incredible.
I agree. Had the Beatles been able to perform that day (Assuming Lennon still lived) they would NOT have been the biggest or best band performing. That honor will always be awarded to Queen. Simply the best band of their era.
Watching you emerge from your cocoon is so gratifying! We knew it was special then, but since then,vwe have been blessed with 40 years of great, great music.....and there you are, truly "gobsmacked" and it all fits so cleanly!!! So glad to be here with you. A 74 year old grandma enjoying your journey 🤔😔😊😟❤️
no fire , no smoke no big lights ,no auto tune back tracks ,pure music. the greatest pure 20 minutes ever and Freddy wasnt feeling well that day with his voice
None at all. In fact? Freddie was offered a different costume for his performance. He said, “No! This is far too serious an occasion!” Considering that he was clearly ill at that time and didn’t want to do the show? (Look at his upper arm above his leather arm bracelet. Karpesy’s Sarcoma. AIDS!) ❤😢❤❤
Bob Geldof was interviewed years later and said he remembers walking across a gantry above the main stage during Radio Ga Ga and just stopping in his tracks by looking out at 72,000 pairs of arms all clapping in unison.. spine tingling.
Bob Geldof was on his way to make one of his 'get yer money out' speeches as donations were dipping, as he went along the gantry and saw the hands clapping, he went back and sat down again as he knew he didn't need to, donations sored when Queen were on.
Did you know that Elton John was in the back staging area and as Queen was performing said, “Well, we might as well all go home.” Elton John for God’s sake! ❤
@@redlead873 Geldof was on his way down the gantry because the previous acts were terrible and not making an effort....He stopped when Queen started up and realised it was going to be ok...
Man, I remember this like it was yesterday. The concert was like 8 hours long with tons of excellent music. It was on tv all day. The whole family was into it.
AT 19, I watched ALL of Live Aid with my Dad, a Country music fan to the core. During this performance, he became a Queen fan. We both knew we'd seen the performance of a lifetime. AT 57, Queen at Live Aid still gives me chills. So so so happy young people still feel the magic all these years later! ❤
I’m 70 years old and watched it live, and I’m still affected emotionally even now whenever I hear Queen. It was a cathartic experience that I will take with me to my grave and the next life if there is one!
Live Aid was a world wide experience. I remember watching it live on TV. It was amazing and inspiring. Stand out performances like Queen, Phil Collin’s flying on the Concorde from England to America to perform on two continents in one day. I’ve always felt lucky to be born in the 1950s because I got to grow up with all this amazing music and events that were shaping the culture. Soundtrack of our lives is not just a cliche.
I went to the Queen with Adam Lambert concert twice and he did Freddie proud . I jokingly said Freddie was the Queen and Adam was the Princess of rRock’n Roll. They did the song that has me crying every time I hear it “The Show Must Go On” and showed images of him with Brian just sat alone on the stage.
I was there in 1985 - in fact I was in the middle of the first 4 or 5 rows during this performance. I can still find 18 year old me in the crowd during Radio Ga Ga. I’m 56 now but this still sends shivers up my spine. There we stood, tall and proud, in the shadow of the mushroom cloud.
Dude I'm 59 and also there about 5 rows back from you and it was fucking awesome although the footage is fantastic it does not compare to the experience of been there and the roar of the crowd specially when he ( Freddie ) had us singing and also travelled again from Australia the year later to watch them in Wembley
@@The-Real-Spaniard Watched it on TV live as I couldnt get there, but when Freddie was playing the crowd and hit that long, long...long high note.....the whole world shook, shivered.....and changed forever. I have watched this a thousand times over the years and it still brings me goosebumps. Music lives forever, and Freddie too in our hearts and souls. Losing Freddie as we did has to be one of the worlds greatest trageties.
I was so fortunate to be there as a VIP guest being a session drummer for bands of that era. Queen stole the show and they weren't even invited to perform. It was a last minute deal and they only had three days to practice. To date this is the best ever live performance that will NEVER be beaten...RIP Freddy Mercury
Pardon my ignorance but they were invited to play Freddy was away and came back to do the concert, prior to that they were not sure if they could play. Freddy also had a throat infection which put doubt on the whole thing. As said pardon my ignorance if my info is wrong please say. I do however remember watching this live.
@AnglOsAxOn2 you're right and Freddie only agreed if he got the time slot he wanted. Queen practiced every second of their 20 minutes until it was perfection. He was also sick with a throat infection.
Brian May is literally a genius and a very humble man, Freddie lost himself for a short time but bounced back phenomenally one of the greatest rock bands.
A lot of people forget that Freddie & Brian actually came back on and closed live aid with a performance of “is this the world we created?” And it’s beautiful. I recommend a reaction to that too.
Would never have known to search Freddie & Brian closing Live Aid if it wasn't for reading your comment. Just watched it, glad I now know this. He was the greatest !!!!
In my mind they closed it with Feed The World with a big ensemble. Edit: Finally got round to googling this, and the concert did end with an ensemble rendition of Feed The World. The penultimate song was a small ensemble (couple of strange members) version of Let It Be, which included McCartney, David Bowie, Bob Geldof, Alsion Moyet and Pete Townsend. The antepenultimate song was the Freddie and Brian duet.
I was there the year of 85 ,I'm 63 now and still watch this once a week for inspiration in life and to play guitar. Freddie was and still is the opera singer of contemporary pop . God bless Freddie and all the band .
I was there too. Not in the crowd but behind the scenes in one of the television outside broadcast trucks. I recorded it on videotape for the BBC archive.
@@andysitton1703 Assuming everyone in the world who was alive at the time was there you'd have claim to 4.9 billion pennies, a mere £49 million, which wouldn't make you the richest person in the country, let alone in the universe. If everyone alive at the moment told you they were there, you be entitled to a few more than 8 billion pennies, so £80 million plus change, which still doesn't put you anywhere near your target. The best estimate I can find for the total number of people who have ever lived on earth is 117 billion so if all those told you they were there you'd be due £1.17 billion, which is closer, but still no cigar. Having retired recently, I've been clearing out a lot of old work-related documents and memorabilia. I did keep my Live Aid pass though.
I saw Queen live in the 70’s and yes! It was magical! To see Bohemian Rhapsody performed live is amazing! They are flawless live. Freddie moves like a ballerina. Oh, I still miss him.
I was there. Not on the field, but it was rocking in the stands too. What the video doesn't really show is how loudly we were all singing along. Queen were so iconic at the time, everybody knew the words. That bit where he gets the crowd reacting was so loud it almost blew my eardrums out. Hell of a day!
Dude, this was the ULTIMATE performance of Queen. 75,000 people swarmed Wembley Stadium, with nearly 2 BILLION watching at home, and Freddie commanded them ALL. He was a true rock GOD, and is one person all of us performers need to look up to.
Queen took this concert seriously. Many bands came on and phoned it in but Queen had this performance down to the letter. The other artists waiting to go on were struck by how good Queen was at Live Aid and Freddie especially. Donations went up while Queen was playing as well.
No you got it right... Queen did take it sooooo seriously and did, what many have now said, was their best performance to date!! OMG but then Freddie and Brian.. 2 of the very best live performers, took it wayyyyyy wayyyyy past the limit of perfection!!
Live aid was considered to be somewhat of a failure that day until Queen stole the world,I watched it from Minneapolis that day and was in awe of the performance. Only learned later of the story that led up to the concert,Freddie’s illness etc. You’ve got to watch more of there live shows.
My kids and I watched this in London. The crowd was HUGE, but it was a kind of listless and not really engaged til Freddie came on. He electrified that huge crowd and it was like an magical charge went through them. It was the most amazing thing I have seen. He’s personally responsible for making Live Aid the unimaginable success it became.
I agree I watched it all on TV in Manchester,although the performers were good before them. Queen injected f***ing power love, and emotion to the world.
@@manuman27 True. The acts before were all good but somehow the crowd remained disconnected. Status Quo energised them quite a bit but Queen blew them into the stratosphere. After them the crowd was willing to hear anyone and cheer them on. I’m glad I got to see it at the time and that my kids were old enough to realise they were watching something unique, a once in a lifetime event.
I was at Wembley in the nosebleed section. A friend of mine or should I say "mate" (I'm a yank) just happened to have connections. Yes it was starting to get boring and just about everyone was listless and drunk until U2 came out and perked things up a bit. But Queen sealed the deal and the atmosphere was electric from that point on.
@@cornerofthemoon When you usually go a concert you’ve gone to see a particular artist whom you are familiar with and there is a degree of anticipation. After the warm ups are done you know what’s coming. Live Aid was something new, people didn’t know what to expect, what exactly was going on. It was so obvious watching that the crowd were really not into it. I remember thinking how sad it was that Bib Geldof having got everyone together would be heartbroken if it flopped. Thank god for Freddie! After that even I could have gone on and got an amazing response!
I love that Brian used the same guitars as on the original recordings instead of just using the "Old Lady" for the entire set. Unlike a lot of other acts on Live Aid, they didn't just turn up and play, they rehearsed the crap out of this and made it all as authentic as possible. Also, bear in mind that's not a bunch of Queen fans at a Queen show, that's 72,000 basically random people and the band just owned every one of them. A truly incredible moment in music history.
Not forgetting it was a joint concert with John F. Kennedy stadium in America so you had 2 full stadiums, 72,000 in Wembley and 89,000 in Kennedy, clapping along to Radio GaGa. Bob Geldof said that he felt the show was flagging until Queen went on and he heard Wembley erupt, he knew then that it would be a success.
When I saw Queen the following year, the MASSIVE 125,000 crowd were going crazy from the start. However, when they played "Crazy Little Thing" it went totally next level. It's also Freddie's tribute to Elvis.
Live Aid really was a unique moment in time. The streets were empty as everyone was either at one of the events or watching it on a screen. With so many people on the planet sharing in the experience there really was a brief moment where there was a sense of unity and purpose. People were donating money as fast as they could, and we really believed we could make a difference. (We did, but of course it’s never enough) There were so many incredible performances that day but when Queen came on and performed it was like a bolt of lightning flashing through the middle of the show.
Glad I'm not the only one. A demonstration of how amazing they were, coupled with sorrow that this amazing man died before he should have. "Only the good die young"
I followed & loved Queen since junior high! Freddy did steal the show! I cried like a baby when he died! That voice & sweet soul gone! Freddy forever!❤❤❤
Queen was epic in filling a stadium for their own concerts. LIVE Aid was a stand alone for the fund easing purpose and the huge rock bands that participated. This was the 80's. Nothing today touches it.
Omg!! The power. Imagine looking out on all those thousands of people and having them in the palm of your hands. The most iconic and unbeatable performance ever. Nothing will ever top it. Freddie and boys you nailed it once again. Thank you
Freddy was an absolute master of drawing in the audience's energy, making himself gigantic, and feeding it back to the audience. The absolute icon of a rock star.
The wonder of Queen was that they never stopped experimenting musically, and each member of the band wrote music and contributed to the success. They pushed the envelope, crossed genres and guaranteed even people who don’t follow music know a Queen song. Sublime.
In 5th grade, my first album was Queen. I believe it was called We are the Champions. I knew every single word. Watching you being as moved by Freddie Mercury and blown away by the music, as I was all those years ago, was pure pleasure to witness. Thanks for this.
What the commentators remarked on at the time was the fact that the entire crowd knew the lyrics and were singing along. Elevating Queen to megastars. Brian May lives near me and I passed him. He smiled at me and I am sight impaired and didn’t recognise him,. It was my friend who told me. Thx for the smile Brian.
Hi, im from Denmark. And i watched it live. It was saturday and i was at work. i COULD NOT WAIT TO go home. My friends were waiting for me to come. And we have some beers .Maybe more than some. But i made it there. And after some time, the party was going on. When they played Dire Straits with Sting,,,we were ready. And then..Freddie came on. We knew it was epic. And they started with the best and we were all in heaven. I have seen this concert a thousand times, and NO OTHER comes close. And it still gives me the chill. Im happy that you , feel the same joy. THX
I was at Wembley for this, as they came on stage they pumped up the volume as there were sound restrictions. It was out of this world, I’ve saw Queen live many times as my brother was a huge fan. We knew in this crowd that they were making history. It was the best I’ve ever saw or heard them! Brian May if I remember right was at University doing astrophysics or something like that, each band member are super smart! Brian May’s guitar playing is out of worldish live!
i was there myself, i was only 20 at the time, what a day it was, it was the best time of my life, i still get goosebumps now watching the videos of that day, great times.
I saw Adam Lambert and Queen in Sydney a few years ago and they did the video projection of Freddie on the stage 🙀 it was the “aah ooh” copying bit, 10,000 of us sang along and answered Freddie!! What a moment! We were laughing and crying 😢 - magic!
I watched it life in 1985 and though I was not a Queen fan and waiting for U2, I couldn't stop watching this performance. Everyone who watched this knew at that moment that there wasn't ever going to be a greater performance than this. It filled my heart with pride and love for Queen!❤
This performance is considered by many to be the best live performance ever. Not just Queen but, of all time by anyone. I just saw someone post that Freddie said the audience was his best instrument. That is so true. Freddie had them eating out of his hand where ever he performed. People loved him. I once saw someone write in a column, a rock writer, that Freddie has remained one of the most beloved singers - even if he tarnished his image with AIDs and being found to be gay. I shook my head in confusion. What was wrong with this writer? Everyone knew Freddie was gay or bi for years - in the 70s - and did not care. No one cared about that. It was his life and you are who you are. It was not like he was a criminal. He was simply bi. So what. That never 'tarnished' him. Everyone loved Freddie for his wit, talent and charisma. And people could care less whether he was gay, bi or straight. He was simply Freddie and we loved him.
Freddie Mercury never actually admitted to being gay or bi, till later in his short life. Also, it WAS a big deal in the 70's. Being gay or bi, could kill anyone's career back then. It was legal to fire someone who was gay, to evict a tenant if they are gay, to beat the crap out a "fag", and the police would do Nothing! DianaLake, you clearly are a younger person, who has no idea how horrific it was in the 60's, 70's and even the early 80's to be gay. Freddie Mercury was a gay icon to the gay community and only the gay community knew he was gay (for sure).
I remember watching this whole concert live - probably the only time I was allowed to have the t.v. on all day! I was 12, it was magical, a day I will never ever forget 😊❤
I never get tired of watching QUEEN and Freddie's Iconic Live Aid Concert Performance. I Love your 1st time reaction to it. This was voted the Greatest Live Rock and Roll Performane of All Time!
I remember the next day at school. Everybody was talking about them. In the midst of a show packed with the greatest collection of superstars ever assembled, we could only talk about Queen.
You do know that all members have college degrees. In fact, Brian May is a Dr of Nuclear physics.. or something like that.. also that guitar Freddie is playing was out of tune.. they cut that part out!
I was 25 when this happened. It felt like the whole world forgot about our problems and were “one”. I sat on my couch and watched the full Live Aid concert and still have the VHS tapes where I recorded the whole concert (now converted to DVDs). Best thing MTV ever put on air. Great times!!!
Everyone watched it. It was a historic moment across the world. These days we don't have this kind of shared experience coz we can watch it later or watch reactions and clips. I was a kid and I remember everyone buzzing for days after this
I was 15 when Live Aid came on MTV. It was the event of that year and Queen stole the show. A once in a lifetime event that was the iconic moment of our eighties generation. I do indeed feel lucky to have witnessed it live, albeit on TV.
I too watched it live on TV in 1985. Freddie's AAAAAA-Os with fans were legendary at Queen concerts, but this wasn't a Queen-specific audience. Look how they responded. How many other lead singers in history could ever have held a crowd in his hands like that? It's a kind of magic. 😍
@@Bubbagump1982 There’s no doubt that Elvis offered his fans and the music industry something different. For me though, I can sit and gladly watch a Queen concert again and still be entertained. I cannot say the same thing for Elvis. Just a different taste in music I guess.
This was the moment the rest of the world saw just how amazing queen was and how one man can mesmerise the whole planet. Freddie is truly the greatest of all time.
Queen were considered ‘has beens’ ‘past it’ - ‘from another era’ (note how early they went on stage).. Minds were literally blown.. Live Aid changed EVERYTHING.
Just before queen came on their sound engineer went to the mixing desk which you can see I front of the middle of the stage and turned all the sound limiters off so they were loudest band on stage and stole the show
Yes this is so true, in the UK the media were declaring they were on the wane and their songs had started to become a little bit to bubble gum, to poppy ! But it was the 80's and music was changing constantly! But this puts them right back on top !
Are we talking about the same band that had just finished a sold-out "The Works" tour in support of that album released a year prior, and filled a Brazilian stadium (*not* a common event at all in the mid 80s) 6 months earlier? It's true that the 'Hot Space' album was poor and the video for 'I Want To Break Free' had cooled US views toward them years earlier, but they were by no means considered has-beens by the public at large in the UK.
I was in high school at the time. When students heard that Queen would be in Live Aid, the reaction was “…Queen???” 1985 was the heyday of New Wave and Techno Pop with the likes of Duran Duran and A-ha’s famous “Take on Me”. The rock sound of Queen was indeed becoming “out of date”, plus they had not toured the US since 1982. To us, they seemed out of place in the line-up.
I was 35 and watched Queen live at Wembley in 1985, I’d always been a Queen fan but no one absolutely, no one can perform like Freddie Mercury. This performance launched Queen in America. ❤
Mate, it's Freddie Mercury and Brain May, not Freddie May
🤣whoops
Actually, Brian May, not Brain. 😜
@@SebsDuran Is isn't "Brain" it's Brian...haha
@@w.geoffreyspaulding6588 well done, you won my little challenge haha
@@SebsDuran Keep your head up. I like Freddie May better.
When asked what instrument he played, Freddie responded with "The audience, darling". The 20 minutes Queen were on stage, Freddie didn't just own the stage, he didn't just own the crowd... for those 20 minutes, Freddie Mercury owned the fucking WORLD.
Exactly, he did in fact play several instruments but typically cracked a joke instead of putting the ignorant reporter right.
🤗 #Facts
FUCK YEAH !!
I could not have said it better. Freddie was special (R.I.P.)
Wow. Perfectly stated. Wouldn't Freddie have loved it. 💖
Microphone in one hand, 70,000 fans in the other
Perfectly said. What a legend.
And no cell phones! Everyone just enjoying a day of epic music from a ridiculous # of top tier stars, totally in the moment. Pure magic 😊
Plus world watching via satellites 🛰️
Maybe 70 thousand seats but how about the people in the turf? There are obviously more than 70K there...
Well said! That’s exactly how it was.
No autotune, no fancy dancers, no ultimate lighshow, no smartphones in the air, just music and brilliant musicians. I miss this so much!
I would love to go to "bespoke" concerts, either bands we've loved for 40 years or even new ones, where there are no cell phones allowed and there are no flashy choreographed dancers spinning on wires above the stage. Just a good band playing their hearts out, loud drums, maybe a shower of pyrotechnics at the finale. I just saw "Stop Making Sense" at the IMAX (saw it twice when it came out and again about 15 years ago at Red Rocks Amphitheater) and I was feeling very nostalgic for the good old days of concerts... where it was about the music... not just saying "I was there" with a selfie. Okay, get off my lawn, now!
To see Queen, excuse the grammar fault. xx
Also something I didn't really think about until today. No in ear monitors.
Me too mate
Smartphones... Arghhhh! the most annoying thing about modern concerts.. muppets with phones in the air in front of you. i came to watch it live not on other peoples phone screens.
This was the first time his father accepted his son was a talented musician and actually watched him perform.
dang. For real?
If you're referring to Brian May, no, it was in 1977 during the News Of The World tour, during their concert at Madison Square Garden. May talks about it fairly extensively in the "Day of Our Lives" documentary.
@@barbmorrill4930 you are correct!
@@varashamus7633 I think he is referring to Freddie when his dad received the news that Freddie got AIDS that time.
That is quite sad. Cos Freddie took a risky track for his dad and his dad took a while to realise that Freddie is SO talented. Sad cos Freddie already hais AIDS by this time.
I was born in 1955, I've just turned 68. I saw this live and consider myself lucky enough to have lived through the best music era, ever.
❤
You indeed are so lucky. I saw Queen and Adam Lambert in concert and when I saw Brian may and Roger Taylor, I cried. Then when Brian played and sang love of my life and they put Freddie on the screen to sing the last bit, I bawled. They were just magical
Me too. I was there!
I got up early to watch this concert live on TV...I think CNN...for one carried it...I think...commercial free.
awesome sauce!
Don't forget that this wasn't a Queen fan crowd but a general audience for Live Aid. That's how awesome Freddie was.
Really cuz when introduced the crowd went nuts plus knew their songs. It definitely was a queen crowd.
@jseedoubleu Well of course we all knew Queen and their songs but I assure you there were a great many who were there for Elton and Bowie and all the other acts. That's what Live Aid was all about, a coming together of all the great bands of the day. I lived through it and I know. Plus all the viewers around the world - not all specifically Queen fans, but that was what made Freddie so great. He reached out and encompassed the world, making everyone believe the magic.
Right he should watch an actual Queen concert
@jseedoubleu No, that's not true.
Queen weren't the big draw, they'd been around forever but were out of the picture. So too to a large extent were Bowie and Elton John. Big names but not that popular anymore.
Queen's performance however, was amazing, true greatness. It seemed like everyone became Queen fans at that point....
@@OdeInWessex awesome day!
I think someone wrote once: "And for 20 minutes, the UK was ruled by a different queen." Or at least something along those lines. Freddie just had that much charisma.
Truer words 🤌🏻
Yes!
Not just the UK. The world. I don't think many people have had the attention of as many people all over the planet at the same time. Maybe Neil Armstrong?
If you want to see how powerful Freddie still is search Freddie Mercury London Olympics 2012 closing . Then you will truly understand
The world was ruled by The Queen this moment.
I was 15 years old. Sitting in my parents lounge room, watching on a little black and white television, Geraldton Western Australia. It still gives me chills to to this day ❤️🇦🇺
YOU WITNESSED GREATNESS . queen were unstoppable that day .
To give people some idea just how good Queen was that day, the legendary David Bowie who was on after Queen was heard to exclaim "how the fuck am I meant to follow that?" Best live performance EVER
Elton john.
@@piersderoos6941 no EJ said "the bastards have stolen the show"
@@RockyBobbieBuster😂😂😂
@@lolachurchill7798 cool surname 👌
David Bowie ❤ a true legend and a true gentleman
Isn't it great to have a crowd like that and NO cellphone? 😊
100%
Nobody, and I mean NOBODY, could play an audience like Freddie ... even though he has been gone all these years I still miss him terribly ... a master showman with the voice of an angel ... bless you Freddie Mercury. xxx
I totally agree with you!!!!!!!!!
Robbie Williams easily can...
@@libormacat8950 You can see yourself out.
I remember when they played his parts of the vocal exercises at the end of the London Olympics. From beyond the veil he still commanded the audience,
But "Who wants to live foreverrrrrr"
I'm 63. I LOVE watching REAL reaction videos. This is my 1st time here! WONDERFUL! I still get chills when I hear music from my era. After living through that, today's music just won't do.
Freddie was the greatest frontman in rock music history. Nobody else is close.
Plant is close (but still in second place).
Robert Plant ❤❤❤❤❤
I love Robert Plant but when you consider vocal ability and showmanship it really does have to be Freddie.
I feel like much of the world didn't know about him and his showmanship until it was too late. I was only 12 when Live Aid happened, and not fully into music yet. I don't think I truly discovered Queen until Wayne's World.
100%.
I was there in that crowd on the pitch at Wembley Stadium that day. It was true that the whole arena just lit up when Queen came on stage. Probably the best performance of Freddie's career. I've never forgotten it. They were indeed the Champions that day.
You are so lucky to have been there that day. I envy you that!!!! 😊
Was there too still so fresh in my mind what a day that was
Lucky!
I was born in 1975, so too early. I watched it on TV.
I was on the right side of the stage, I consider it one of the best gigs I have ever been to, they were on stage for about 25 minutes, it is nearly 40 years later and I still remember it like it was yesterday.
6:07 Made me laugh when you said he had complete control of the audience. I just thought, 'You ain't seen nothing yet!'
Was thinking the same knowing what came after Radio Gaga. Was 9 yrs old and watched this on TV they blew everyone away with their performance and his call and response part, I read was not planned. But he knew he had that crowd in his hamds. As people stated it was a mixed crowd not a Queen crowd but everyone knew the songs and actions from music videos.
Slow clap
And he's owning the audience singing "goo goo gaa gaa". How was that possible?
Hahaha I thought the same
More amazing…he told the band he had AIDS 2 years later, and they still didn’t come out saying it until a day before he died. He performed an amazing music video in 1991 singing the show must go on but was never able to perform in public after that. Truly the show did go on in our hearts ❤
Remember, this was not a Queen audience. People were there to see any number of other bands that day. One of the reasons that Queen were on the afternoon is that they were not the top of the bill. In fact, at that time, their star was definitely waning and it was seen as something of a sop to the rock dinosaurs of the 70s to have them on.
Apart from Freddie Mercury being one of the greatest showmen to ever grace a rock stage, the band themselves were phenomenal musicians and incredibly tight. They had one other musician playing additional keyboards and guitar and were able to produce THAT wall of sound.
What they also got right was to edit some songs (Rhapsody and Radio Ga Ga) so that they could cram in their most anthemic crowd pleasers into the short 25 minute set.
They knew and understood that it wasn't their gig and played accordingly.
Utterly brilliant.
The streets of the UK were empty that day. If you weren't in the stadium, you were at home watching it on tv.
A magical experience.
No mobile just enjoyed the music feel sick when ppl are more i tresteg in filmning rhen the ecperinse
Bts did a copy of this in wembley
Queen's star was not at all on the wane in the UK. The songs from The Works weren't big hits in the U.S. but they were huge in the UK and it was just about their biggest album ever there. This being at Wembley, everyone knew how to clap to Radio Gaga. A general (non-Queen-specific) audience the U.S. would not have done that. In the U.S. broadcast on MTV they cut into and out of this performance if I recall, which sucked. But Live Aid was conceived in the UK and they included Queen because it would have been ridiculous not to, it wasn't a "sop" to dinosaur rock at all.
Are you really comparing BTS to Queen???? Really??? Queen are one of the greatest bands in history and Freddie Mercury probably hands down the greatest Front Man of all time. BTS is a flash in the pan, a trend and pretty much over now. No Comparison!!
Love love love Queen , god bless Freddie, thank you for what you gave us , the best music xxxxx
As a 16 year old, myself and 2 friends travelled from Glasgow Central Station to King's Cross. We paid £25 a ticket and wow was it wirth it. We were massive Adam Ant fans and thats why we went. Of course we knew Queen and their songs but after the performance of Freddie and the boys our love was then given to Queen. Nearly 40 years after that day, its still crystal clear in my memory. I'll never forget that day as long as I live. ❤❤❤ R.I.P Freddie ❤❤❤
Wow thanks for sharing that!
You are a blessed person! Salute 🫡
Travelled down from Perth, Scotland 🏴 to be there with my cousin’s. I was not long married, my now ex husband was on security with the army at it, I just found out I was pregnant with my oldest child, so all in all a memorable experience ❤
That’s amazing
I have a similar story, I went to the Sziget music festival in Hungary.
We all had bands we wanted to see, but one name we hadn't gone specifically to see absolutely stole the show.
Madness.
I've now seen them live 3 times, they are absolutely incredible live.
They were on stage for 20 minutes only. It will go down in history as the greatest live performance ever. Was privileged to watch this live
Amazing! 20mins, I always thought this was a highlight reel. Very clever of them to do 2mins only of the hit songs to get through a few to keep people entertained! 👌
And Queen saved Live Aid that year as it was a flop before Queen came on stage.
@@maverick4220 No. U2 crushed well before that.
You're lucky. I was busy being a baby
They were also the only band/performers to practice for a week before this concert.
amazing how the band timed everything. 1 cord to test in the beginning. The drummer-he kept the time perfectly. They were all perfectly in sync, preforming at their best!
They rehearsed to perfection during the whole of the week before, I believe... they were just all on fire.
I'm a 68 year old English lady and I so enjoyed watching that with you. It was lovely to relive those chill tingling moments and to see how you felt the same way. 💞
I was there at Wembley stadium, my first concert and what a concert and what cause. It still gives me chills when I hear or see documentaries about Live Aid
Nearly 40 years later you say "Live Aid" and everyone remembers Queen and can't name one other band that played. THAT is how great this performance was. I would rate this the BEST live performance in rock history. RIP Freddy. You were a GOD.
U2, Dire Straits with Sting. Both were as good as Queen. Bono stile the show.
You are right. I don't remember anyone else@
That's not true. Yes, Queen was easily the most memorable (in a good way), but there were plenty more amazing performances and Artists. Apart from that there was the shambles of the Led Zeppelin reunion and the technical issues that hampered some of the other performances, but that was kinda understandable as it was the first time such a world wide event was ever attempted.
Cars
Status Quo opened - first song Rocking All Over The World. There set was amazing as well.
Singing against medical advice due to a throat problem but wouldn't let down the fans and a great and noble cause...... A TRUE SUPERSTAR
HE HAS A THROAT PROBLEM??
Brian May made that guitar with his father when he was a young teenager and it was made out of things found around the house and garage and he still plays it today! Such an awesome sound and guitar player.
And he plays through an amp called the “Deacy” that was made by the bass player John Deacon
There was a marvelous video clip of the making of the "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie with Sir Brian May handing the Red Special to Gwilym Lee to hold. Lee looks terrified, like May just handed him the crown jewels or something.
Dont we all wish we could hear Freddie for the 1st time again. A light went out when we lost him. There will never be another voice like his.
I agree. I watched the movie and by the time it ended, I walked out sobbing! There will never be another Freddie Mercury.
So true
Not just a voice, he was so much more: a songwriter, a musician, a performer - a legend.
It's Brian May not Freddie May
I would like to give you my perspective of that performance. My sister and I were at Live Aid, I am in my 50's now and she is in her 60's. It is quite difficult for us to have any conversation without referencing Live Aid. Our tickets cost $32.00 all in, for 10 hours of the greatest musicians that ever lived. My sister was obsessed with Bowie, and I was looking forward to seeing Elton John (I loved his stuff in the 70's and early 80's) We both liked Queen without being outright fans of them. I think the other 80,000 in the stadium left the stadium, just like us, knowing Queen had just given us the greatest performance of any band in the history of music. Each band only got 20 minutes to perform, the stage rotated and was split in to 3 sections, the departing band emptied their gear while the next band were on stage, and those after them were completing their set up. There are so many individual moments in the day, that only the crowd who were in the stadium would know.
It was a life changing experience.
I was there because of Queen and Bowie. The first rock concert I ever saw was Queen at Bingley Hall in Staffordshire, I was about 16 and with my boyfriend and some of his mates. We were all the ones singing and stomping our feet that inspired Brian May to write 'We will rock you' - what an introduction to Rock Music!
Queen were amazing on the day, helped by the sneaky volume increase by Geldolf, and so was Bowie. Bowie is alleged not to have been too pleased about following Queen but it was just as well he did, no-one else could have pulled it off!. Seb is absolutely right, it WAS like a religious experience but then most great rock concerts are. Great days, I think our generation were lucky we had the very best of music and now we've lost both of them, far too soon. Rip Freddie and David, I hope they're upstairs or somewhere in the Universe - jamming for the sake of it.
@@OdeInWessex I was watching it from Australia and agree with you.. there must be some serious jamming going on upstairs!
Thanx for sharing those details! ❤
❤
Somebody else beat me to it, but thank you for the details! I was too young to know.
I am 70 years old girl LOL..
And still gets goose bumps litening to QUEEN..
The Rhapsody and Champions always bring me to tears.
What an icon !!!!!!!
We miss you Freddie!
69 yr. Granny..
Same here also 70 fantastic performance pity they chopped the ending
I'm with you! I'm 65 and am in awe of this performance. It brings me to tears thinking that he was already struggling with his health and put on this amazing performance.
The OAP cheering section.. im 60 and the whole show was the best thing ever.. ❤ Happy New year ladies ❤
And to think it was only 7 years later when they done "The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert " in 1992 including David Bowie and George Michael who are also not amongst us since then.
(Altho I must admit, George Michael didn't have Freddie's charisma, but did him tribute when he sang "Somebody to Love")
The kiss he blew was for his mother. He promised her he would before he went to the performance. THIS was the performance of a lifetime. AMAZING.
I was at Live Aid in Philadelphia that day. They paused the U.S. concert so we could see the simulcast of Queen as it happened. What Freddie couldn’t know at the time was that he commanded 2 audiences simultaneously. We were just as caught up in the performance as the London audience was. It was incredible.
The greatest performance in live music history. They had the entire world in the palm of their hands for 25 minutes. No one will ever be like Freddie.
I agree. Had the Beatles been able to perform that day (Assuming Lennon still lived) they would NOT have been the biggest or best band performing. That honor will always be awarded to Queen. Simply the best band of their era.
20 minutes and 10 seconds.
AND, when he did this, he was already in the grip of suffering from AIDS. The GREATEST voice in modern rock history, PERIOD!
wasn't he diagnosed in '87 ? Live Aid was in '85.
@@Annie-i5e2e He wasn't officially diagnosed till '87 but he started showing signs/symptoms around '82
@@vicious_spice true, true, but remembered that he was also sick (troath) that day. He sang against his doctor's advice.
Greatest voice of all time. 😊❤
As far as I know it was soon after this that he broke the news to the band
Watching you emerge from your cocoon is so gratifying! We knew it was special then, but since then,vwe have been blessed with 40 years of great, great music.....and there you are, truly "gobsmacked" and it all fits so cleanly!!! So glad to be here with you. A 74 year old grandma enjoying your journey 🤔😔😊😟❤️
Freddy didn't just own the stage that day, he Owned the World!😢
Freddie
I believe he will remain the GOAT performer, that’s how special he was. He still owns the world 🌎
FOR SURE!!😊
no fire , no smoke no big lights ,no auto tune back tracks ,pure music. the greatest pure 20 minutes ever and Freddy wasnt feeling well that day with his voice
None at all. In fact? Freddie was offered a different costume for his performance. He said, “No! This is far too serious an occasion!”
Considering that he was clearly ill at that time and didn’t want to do the show? (Look at his upper arm above his leather arm bracelet. Karpesy’s Sarcoma. AIDS!) ❤😢❤❤
no cell phones!
@@dennisgriebenow8215look closely Freddie had no earbuds
@@vivinamorrison1186 Nooo, that was way before any symptoms. On their last tour he might have notices something.
I would pay crazy money to go back to see this live!!! The best live performance ever
Bob Geldof was interviewed years later and said he remembers walking across a gantry above the main stage during Radio Ga Ga and just stopping in his tracks by looking out at 72,000 pairs of arms all clapping in unison.. spine tingling.
Bob Geldof was on his way to make one of his 'get yer money out' speeches as donations were dipping, as he went along the gantry and saw the hands clapping, he went back and sat down again as he knew he didn't need to, donations sored when Queen were on.
Did you know that Elton John was in the back staging area and as Queen was performing said, “Well, we might as well all go home.” Elton John for God’s sake! ❤
@@redlead873 Geldof was on his way down the gantry because the previous acts were terrible and not making an effort....He stopped when Queen started up and realised it was going to be ok...
72000 was just the stadium.
Another billion around the world.
That is breathtaking!
Man, I remember this like it was yesterday. The concert was like 8 hours long with tons of excellent music. It was on tv all day. The whole family was into it.
AT 19, I watched ALL of Live Aid with my Dad, a Country music fan to the core. During this performance, he became a Queen fan. We both knew we'd seen the performance of a lifetime. AT 57, Queen at Live Aid still gives me chills. So so so happy young people still feel the magic all these years later! ❤
I am 73 and still get the chills when I watch the videos/
SAME! 😍
I was a bit younger, but we had the MTV simulcast on for the whole time they were running it. This was powerful then, and it's powerful now!
So grateful to see the greatest vocalist and and composer in a live performance at the Sun City Super Bowl in October 1984.
MIND-BLOWING stage craft!
At that time they thought they were finished and not any good
Freddie owned the stage every time he stepped on it! Elvis and Freddie! The two best front men in rock! Rest in peace.
You’re forgetting Michael Hutchence. 😮
Robbie Williams too
I’m 70 years old and watched it live, and I’m still affected emotionally even now whenever I hear Queen. It was a cathartic experience that I will take with me to my grave and the next life if there is one!
I was there too! Best thing I’ve ever seen
I'm with you. I find this very emotional, and this reviewer was correct:
A religious experience.
I am 66 and saw Queen five times in the US. His and the other Queen members' performance was the highlight of my music listening life.
I'm only 64 but I must agree, there's something timeless, every time I hear them it brings back memories. Apparently forever, ok with me.
We really didn't appreciate the time we lived in.
Live Aid was a world wide experience. I remember watching it live on TV. It was amazing and inspiring. Stand out performances like Queen, Phil Collin’s flying on the Concorde from England to America to perform on two continents in one day. I’ve always felt lucky to be born in the 1950s because I got to grow up with all this amazing music and events that were shaping the culture. Soundtrack of our lives is not just a cliche.
I read somewhere QUEEN never had just hits…..they had ANTHEMS…… unique wonderful band of musicians at their best ❤️
A queen song comes on radio,,,, 2 notes,,,,, volume goes up, sing along,, now I feel better 🤣
Only band to have all four members write a number one hit alone
He was struggling with his voice that day and still absolutely crushed it.
Listening to Queen is one thing, watching them perform is on whole other level. There will never be anyone like Freddie Mercury.
Freddie Mercury is the GOAT
I went to the Queen with Adam Lambert concert twice and he did Freddie proud . I jokingly said Freddie was the Queen and Adam was the Princess of rRock’n Roll.
They did the song that has me crying every time I hear it “The Show Must Go On” and showed images of him with Brian just sat alone on the stage.
I was there in 1985 - in fact I was in the middle of the first 4 or 5 rows during this performance. I can still find 18 year old me in the crowd during Radio Ga Ga. I’m 56 now but this still sends shivers up my spine. There we stood, tall and proud, in the shadow of the mushroom cloud.
Great memory for you and thanks for sharing. Similar feeling for me at the old Wembley. On the pitch for Springsteen and the Born in the USA tour.
my parents had sex to this... im literally a human being that was born thanks to freddys' big dick energy on this day
Radio Ga Ga just lifted us all to heaven. I was there too..clap clap
Dude I'm 59 and also there about 5 rows back from you and it was fucking awesome although the footage is fantastic it does not compare to the experience of been there and the roar of the crowd specially when he ( Freddie ) had us singing and also travelled again from Australia the year later to watch them in Wembley
@@The-Real-Spaniard Watched it on TV live as I couldnt get there, but when Freddie was playing the crowd and hit that long, long...long high note.....the whole world shook, shivered.....and changed forever. I have watched this a thousand times over the years and it still brings me goosebumps. Music lives forever, and Freddie too in our hearts and souls. Losing Freddie as we did has to be one of the worlds greatest trageties.
I was so fortunate to be there as a VIP guest being a session drummer for bands of that era. Queen stole the show and they weren't even invited to perform. It was a last minute deal and they only had three days to practice. To date this is the best ever live performance that will NEVER be beaten...RIP Freddy Mercury
What a great personal story for you to remember. Awesome!
Love this!!
Lucky Lucky You!!!!! That's an incredible experience to be able to share.
Pardon my ignorance but they were invited to play Freddy was away and came back to do the concert, prior to that they were not sure if they could play. Freddy also had a throat infection which put doubt on the whole thing.
As said pardon my ignorance if my info is wrong please say. I do however remember watching this live.
@AnglOsAxOn2 you're right and Freddie only agreed if he got the time slot he wanted. Queen practiced every second of their 20 minutes until it was perfection. He was also sick with a throat infection.
Freddie doing the warm up bit with the crowd is the moment he became immortalised. just getting the crowd to follow you without telling them is insane
I was privileged to see Queen live …there are no words for just how amazing it was. Freddie Mercury owns the audience.
Brian May is literally a genius and a very humble man, Freddie lost himself for a short time but bounced back phenomenally one of the greatest rock bands.
Also, let’s not forget that Brian is a very smart man - PhD in astrophysics from Imperial College, my alma mater.
Sir Brian May now !
A lot of people forget that Freddie & Brian actually came back on and closed live aid with a performance of “is this the world we created?” And it’s beautiful. I recommend a reaction to that too.
Would never have known to search Freddie & Brian closing Live Aid if it wasn't for reading your comment.
Just watched it, glad I now know this. He was the greatest !!!!
I'd forgotten that. It was a long time ago when i saw this concert. thanks for the reminder.
Yep - I remember waiting till the end "just in case", and I was not disappointed. Even fortunate enough to have my VCR running for it too...
In my mind they closed it with Feed The World with a big ensemble. Edit: Finally got round to googling this, and the concert did end with an ensemble rendition of Feed The World. The penultimate song was a small ensemble (couple of strange members) version of Let It Be, which included McCartney, David Bowie, Bob Geldof, Alsion Moyet and Pete Townsend. The antepenultimate song was the Freddie and Brian duet.
The best.
I was there the year of 85 ,I'm 63 now and still watch this once a week for inspiration in life and to play guitar. Freddie was and still is the opera singer of contemporary pop . God bless Freddie and all the band .
I was there too. Not in the crowd but behind the scenes in one of the television outside broadcast trucks. I recorded it on videotape for the BBC archive.
❤❤
If I had a penny for every time I heard someone say "I was there" I'd be the richest person in the universe. My sister was there, I wasn't.
I was there...50ft from the stage...what a performance ..Bowie had to follow that...❤
@@andysitton1703 Assuming everyone in the world who was alive at the time was there you'd have claim to 4.9 billion pennies, a mere £49 million, which wouldn't make you the richest person in the country, let alone in the universe. If everyone alive at the moment told you they were there, you be entitled to a few more than 8 billion pennies, so £80 million plus change, which still doesn't put you anywhere near your target. The best estimate I can find for the total number of people who have ever lived on earth is 117 billion so if all those told you they were there you'd be due £1.17 billion, which is closer, but still no cigar. Having retired recently, I've been clearing out a lot of old work-related documents and memorabilia. I did keep my Live Aid pass though.
I saw Queen live in the 70’s and yes! It was magical! To see Bohemian Rhapsody performed live is amazing! They are flawless live. Freddie moves like a ballerina. Oh, I still miss him.
I was there. Not on the field, but it was rocking in the stands too. What the video doesn't really show is how loudly we were all singing along. Queen were so iconic at the time, everybody knew the words. That bit where he gets the crowd reacting was so loud it almost blew my eardrums out. Hell of a day!
Wow! Thanks for sharing!
I'm 57 and know so many who were there. If only we could bottle that unity and optimism.
You don't know it's gone until it is. God Bless
Bro…
The world is a much sadder place without Freddie Mercury in it. Imagine the wonderful songs that would have been written had he lived longer.
Dude, this was the ULTIMATE performance of Queen. 75,000 people swarmed Wembley Stadium, with nearly 2 BILLION watching at home, and Freddie commanded them ALL. He was a true rock GOD, and is one person all of us performers need to look up to.
Luckily, I have an old DVD of it. It's priceless.
I saw them over 15 times....and actually saw them play better....
Wembley was 82,000 seats, add the 50,000 on the pitch to
This exact performance is recorded in the rock hall of fame as one of the best ever performances of all times
Queen took this concert seriously. Many bands came on and phoned it in but Queen had this performance down to the letter. The other artists waiting to go on were struck by how good Queen was at Live Aid and Freddie especially. Donations went up while Queen was playing as well.
I feel like you've misunderstood his point.
No you got it right... Queen did take it sooooo seriously and did, what many have now said, was their best performance to date!! OMG but then Freddie and Brian.. 2 of the very best live performers, took it wayyyyyy wayyyyy past the limit of perfection!!
Did the concert actually achieve its goal during their set, or was that just poetic license in the movie?
Live aid was considered to be somewhat of a failure that day until Queen stole the world,I watched it from Minneapolis that day and was in awe of the performance. Only learned later of the story that led up to the concert,Freddie’s illness etc. You’ve got to watch more of there live shows.
He just opens his mouth & it’s effortless perfection. 🥰💖💕
My kids and I watched this in London. The crowd was HUGE, but it was a kind of listless and not really engaged til Freddie came on. He electrified that huge crowd and it was like an magical charge went through them. It was the most amazing thing I have seen. He’s personally responsible for making Live Aid the unimaginable success it became.
I agree I watched it all on TV in Manchester,although the performers were good before them. Queen injected f***ing power love, and emotion to the world.
@@manuman27 True. The acts before were all good but somehow the crowd remained disconnected. Status Quo energised them quite a bit but Queen blew them into the stratosphere. After them the crowd was willing to hear anyone and cheer them on. I’m glad I got to see it at the time and that my kids were old enough to realise they were watching something unique, a once in a lifetime event.
Yeah ppl started donating with his performance
I was at Wembley in the nosebleed section. A friend of mine or should I say "mate" (I'm a yank) just happened to have connections. Yes it was starting to get boring and just about everyone was listless and drunk until U2 came out and perked things up a bit. But Queen sealed the deal and the atmosphere was electric from that point on.
@@cornerofthemoon When you usually go a concert you’ve gone to see a particular artist whom you are familiar with and there is a degree of anticipation. After the warm ups are done you know what’s coming. Live Aid was something new, people didn’t know what to expect, what exactly was going on. It was so obvious watching that the crowd were really not into it. I remember thinking how sad it was that Bib Geldof having got everyone together would be heartbroken if it flopped. Thank god for Freddie! After that even I could have gone on and got an amazing response!
I love that Brian used the same guitars as on the original recordings instead of just using the "Old Lady" for the entire set. Unlike a lot of other acts on Live Aid, they didn't just turn up and play, they rehearsed the crap out of this and made it all as authentic as possible. Also, bear in mind that's not a bunch of Queen fans at a Queen show, that's 72,000 basically random people and the band just owned every one of them. A truly incredible moment in music history.
I agree ❤
@@zillahmills6549. Me too. And the audience seemed to know all the words to each song. It was amazing.
@@angelwilder2378how could they not know all the words? They were brilliant!
Not forgetting it was a joint concert with John F. Kennedy stadium in America so you had 2 full stadiums, 72,000 in Wembley and 89,000 in Kennedy, clapping along to Radio GaGa.
Bob Geldof said that he felt the show was flagging until Queen went on and he heard Wembley erupt, he knew then that it would be a success.
You got that right. Always in command of the audience. There will never be another Freddie Mercury.😊
Still gives me goose bumps !
A Mic in one hand, 70K fans in the other !!!
Freddie was asked one time what's your favorite instrument to play. He answered, "the audience, Darling"!❤❤
When I saw Queen the following year, the MASSIVE 125,000 crowd were going crazy from the start. However, when they played "Crazy Little Thing" it went totally next level. It's also Freddie's tribute to Elvis.
Live Aid really was a unique moment in time. The streets were empty as everyone was either at one of the events or watching it on a screen. With so many people on the planet sharing in the experience there really was a brief moment where there was a sense of unity and purpose.
People were donating money as fast as they could, and we really believed we could make a difference. (We did, but of course it’s never enough)
There were so many incredible performances that day but when Queen came on and performed it was like a bolt of lightning flashing through the middle of the show.
Perfectly said.
Nothing has changed, apart from "CHARITIES" paying their staff a lot more money than most of us can dream of lmao
Even pouty Rodger Waters wrote an upbeat song about it, 'The Tide is Turning'
This is such a great reaction. You can see just how much he's into the music by 4 master musicians
I always shed a few tears when I watch this epic performance.... RIP Freddie.
Glad I'm not the only one. A demonstration of how amazing they were, coupled with sorrow that this amazing man died before he should have.
"Only the good die young"
@@Andy-nl8uq Me too.
Yup. Cry every time! Performance for the ages!
Oh man watching Freddie makes me cry , theres nobody like him now , so totally brilliantly unique , I loved him
I can't think if it was late last year or this year Brian May was voted the Best Guitarist in the World!!
I cried for days after he died.
He was advised not to do this concert by his Doctors as he'd just been diagnosed with full Aids
I followed & loved Queen since junior high! Freddy did steal the show! I cried like a baby when he died! That voice & sweet soul gone! Freddy forever!❤❤❤
Queen was epic in filling a stadium for their own concerts. LIVE Aid was a stand alone for the fund easing purpose and the huge rock bands that participated. This was the 80's. Nothing today touches it.
Omg!! The power. Imagine looking out on all those thousands of people and having them in the palm of your hands. The most iconic and unbeatable performance ever. Nothing will ever top it. Freddie and boys you nailed it once again. Thank you
Freddie was singing with a terrible throat infection. His doc didn’t want him to go on stage that day.
Freddy was an absolute master of drawing in the audience's energy, making himself gigantic, and feeding it back to the audience. The absolute icon of a rock star.
The wonder of Queen was that they never stopped experimenting musically, and each member of the band wrote music and contributed to the success. They pushed the envelope, crossed genres and guaranteed even people who don’t follow music know a Queen song. Sublime.
They also never stopped having fun with their music.
They United generations with their music .
In 5th grade, my first album was Queen. I believe it was called We are the Champions. I knew every single word. Watching you being as moved by Freddie Mercury and blown away by the music, as I was all those years ago, was pure pleasure to witness. Thanks for this.
What the commentators remarked on at the time was the fact that the entire crowd knew the lyrics and were singing along. Elevating Queen to megastars. Brian May lives near me and I passed him. He smiled at me and I am sight impaired and didn’t recognise him,. It was my friend who told me. Thx for the smile Brian.
Hi, im from Denmark. And i watched it live. It was saturday and i was at work. i COULD NOT WAIT TO go home. My friends were waiting for me to come.
And we have some beers .Maybe more than some. But i made it there. And after some time, the party was going on. When they played Dire Straits with Sting,,,we were ready. And then..Freddie came on. We knew it was epic. And they started with the best and we were all in heaven. I have seen this concert a thousand times, and NO OTHER comes close. And it still gives me the chill. Im happy that you , feel the same joy. THX
Lucky U!😊 I can just imagine the HYPE!🎉
Loved your message, took me back to the enjoyment of that night.
I was at Wembley for this, as they came on stage they pumped up the volume as there were sound restrictions. It was out of this world, I’ve saw Queen live many times as my brother was a huge fan. We knew in this crowd that they were making history. It was the best I’ve ever saw or heard them!
Brian May if I remember right was at University doing astrophysics or something like that, each band member are super smart! Brian May’s guitar playing is out of worldish live!
How awesome. I’m envious
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH I ENVY YOU. I watched it live but to be there OMG.
It helped that the tech controlling the mixers that day toured with Queen...
i was there myself, i was only 20 at the time, what a day it was, it was the best time of my life, i still get goosebumps now watching the videos of that day, great times.
I saw Adam Lambert and Queen in Sydney a few years ago and they did the video projection of Freddie on the stage 🙀 it was the “aah ooh” copying bit, 10,000 of us sang along and answered Freddie!! What a moment! We were laughing and crying 😢 - magic!
I watched it life in 1985 and though I was not a Queen fan and waiting for U2, I couldn't stop watching this performance. Everyone who watched this knew at that moment that there wasn't ever going to be a greater performance than this. It filled my heart with pride and love for Queen!❤
I wasn't either but they were the best!
Same. I was waiting for The Who 💜
This performance is considered by many to be the best live performance ever. Not just Queen but, of all time by anyone.
I just saw someone post that Freddie said the audience was his best instrument. That is so true. Freddie had them eating out of his hand where ever he performed. People loved him.
I once saw someone write in a column, a rock writer, that Freddie has remained one of the most beloved singers - even if he tarnished his image with AIDs and being found to be gay.
I shook my head in confusion. What was wrong with this writer? Everyone knew Freddie was gay or bi for years - in the 70s - and did not care. No one cared about that. It was his life and you are who you are. It was not like he was a criminal. He was simply bi. So what. That never 'tarnished' him. Everyone loved Freddie for his wit, talent and charisma. And people could care less whether he was gay, bi or straight. He was simply Freddie and we loved him.
the irony of the past and the future, gay or bi or lesbians of the 70s 80s are strong people, not like millenials gays they are so weak.
This is true, we all knew and nobody gave a fuck.. Just listen to that mans voice and let him carry you away
@@Medarr1 He was such a professional and showman. But, he also loved the audience and fans. And he wanted to include them.
Freddie Mercury never actually admitted to being gay or bi, till later in his short life. Also, it WAS a big deal in the 70's. Being gay or bi, could kill anyone's career back then. It was legal to fire someone who was gay, to evict a tenant if they are gay, to beat the crap out a "fag", and the police would do Nothing! DianaLake, you clearly are a younger person, who has no idea how horrific it was in the 60's, 70's and even the early 80's to be gay. Freddie Mercury was a gay icon to the gay community and only the gay community knew he was gay (for sure).
Fred was Fred, we didn't care, we loved his music.
I remember watching this whole concert live - probably the only time I was allowed to have the t.v. on all day! I was 12, it was magical, a day I will never ever forget 😊❤
So happy I was privileged to see this band several times live. What a gift I will never forget.
I can watch this over and over and over and still get the same chills, Queen were amazing!!!
I never get tired of watching QUEEN and Freddie's Iconic Live Aid Concert Performance. I Love your 1st time reaction to it. This was voted the Greatest Live Rock and Roll Performane of All Time!
I remember the next day at school. Everybody was talking about them. In the midst of a show packed with the greatest collection of superstars ever assembled, we could only talk about Queen.
Heard it million times and each time I get goose bumps.Its magic
His guitar sounds so unique because he built it himself and the bassist John Deacon designed his amp. They literally can't be exactly duplicated.
AND IS DAD WELLS DEACS WAS A SPARK
Built with his dad - Harold - The Red Special
You do know that all members have college degrees. In fact, Brian May is a Dr of Nuclear physics.. or something like that.. also that guitar Freddie is playing was out of tune.. they cut that part out!
@@margaretsimpson9081Brian has a PhD in astrophysics. He's an astronomer when he's not playing, writing or recording.
I knew it was way above my pay grade.. at one time, he had his Mom's knitting needle on his guitar.
I was 25 when this happened. It felt like the whole world forgot about our problems and were “one”. I sat on my couch and watched the full Live Aid concert and still have the VHS tapes where I recorded the whole concert (now converted to DVDs). Best thing MTV ever put on air. Great times!!!
Everyone watched it. It was a historic moment across the world. These days we don't have this kind of shared experience coz we can watch it later or watch reactions and clips. I was a kid and I remember everyone buzzing for days after this
just fresh 😀from high school😀
I was there Never ever forget the Master . Loads of other stars there but he was incredible! Stunning!
Damn. Epically jealous of you.
Brian May isn't just an amazing guitarist, he has a doctorate in astrophysics, and if he lives long enough he might just win the Nobel Prize.
Not surprised he built his own guitar since he clearly has a brilliant mind.
I believe he will win a Pulitzer Prize at some point. Have you ever seen how many scientific studies books he’s written? Tons I believe! ❤
Him interest is Planetary dust
Brian May's already been knighted by Charles. Headlines in the UK read, "King knights Queen."
@@candescentmoon2181 lololo
No matter how many times I watch this performance I still get chills. Brilliant!
Same
Greatest live performance of all time. Fact. Rest in power, our beloved Freddie.
I was 15 when Live Aid came on MTV. It was the event of that year and Queen stole the show. A once in a lifetime event that was the iconic moment of our eighties generation. I do indeed feel lucky to have witnessed it live, albeit on TV.
Freddie is hands down the best frontman/rock singer ever!! I got to watch this live and will never forget it.
I too watched it live on TV in 1985. Freddie's AAAAAA-Os with fans were legendary at Queen concerts, but this wasn't a Queen-specific audience. Look how they responded. How many other lead singers in history could ever have held a crowd in his hands like that? It's a kind of magic. 😍
Back then, Plant, Elton John, Roger Daltrey there were great lead men back in my day!!😊
I cannot think of any other artist with that kind of stage presence. Pure genius that cannot be replicated.
Gone but never forgotten. RIP Freddie
Elvis was up there, all the charisma in the world
Bowie was up there with him, believe me, he could effortlessly hold an audience as well.
@@Bubbagump1982 There’s no doubt that Elvis offered his fans and the music industry something different. For me though, I can sit and gladly watch a Queen concert again and still be entertained. I cannot say the same thing for Elvis. Just a different taste in music I guess.
@@OdeInWessex Good shout about Bowie. Definitely an artist that knew how to take the crowd on a rollercoaster journey with each gig.
Robbie Williams
This was made exponential by the shock and joy in your face - I can see you emotion - that’s art, man
This was the moment the rest of the world saw just how amazing queen was and how one man can mesmerise the whole planet. Freddie is truly the greatest of all time.
Queen were considered ‘has beens’ ‘past it’ - ‘from another era’ (note how early they went on stage).. Minds were literally blown.. Live Aid changed EVERYTHING.
Not by me and my family they weren’t!! They were already legends
Just before queen came on their sound engineer went to the mixing desk which you can see I front of the middle of the stage and turned all the sound limiters off so they were loudest band on stage and stole the show
Yes this is so true, in the UK the media were declaring they were on the wane and their songs had started to become a little bit to bubble gum, to poppy ! But it was the 80's and music was changing constantly! But this puts them right back on top !
Are we talking about the same band that had just finished a sold-out "The Works" tour in support of that album released a year prior, and filled a Brazilian stadium (*not* a common event at all in the mid 80s) 6 months earlier?
It's true that the 'Hot Space' album was poor and the video for 'I Want To Break Free' had cooled US views toward them years earlier, but they were by no means considered has-beens by the public at large in the UK.
I was in high school at the time. When students heard that Queen would be in Live Aid, the reaction was “…Queen???”
1985 was the heyday of New Wave and Techno Pop with the likes of Duran Duran and A-ha’s famous “Take on Me”. The rock sound of Queen was indeed becoming “out of date”, plus they had not toured the US since 1982. To us, they seemed out of place in the line-up.
One of the best singing voices EVER!!! ❤ And he wasn’t just a singer, he was also an amazing showman. ❤
...AND an incredible composer!!
I was 35 and watched Queen live at Wembley in 1985, I’d always been a Queen fan but no one absolutely, no one can perform like Freddie Mercury. This performance launched Queen in America. ❤