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In the late noughties, Queen had a very special guest singer. The album “The Cosmos Rocks” was made with Paul Rodgers, who once sang with the traditional rockers Free and Bad Company. In this formation they also went extensively on tour. In 2008, the station wagon played a concert in the eastern Ukrainian metropolis of Kharkiv, one of the main theaters of the Russian invasion war.
Now Queen have released the two-hour concert, which by the way should be the last with Rodgers as Freddie Mercury’s deputy, on their YouTube channel. With a request to their fans to donate to the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR.
Back in February, Brian May shared a private photo on his Instagram account with the caption: “So many great memories of great times in Ukraine. This picture was taken at the unforgettable concert evening on Kharkiv’s Freedom Square.”
He sent the message: “It seems unbelievable that peaceful life in Ukraine could be so senselessly destroyed in the 21st century. It feels unbearable that the world could just watch and let it happen. We all pray for peace for you, dear friends”.
Announcing their fundraising campaign, May and colleague Roger Taylor now report on Insta about the background to the concert at the time: “In September 2008, Queen and Paul Rodgers followed an appeal by Elena Pinchuk’s Ukrainian ANTIAIDS Foundation to spread the message `Don’t Let AIDS Ruin Your To make Life` better known, especially among the youth. The result was this free “Life Must Go On” AIDS awareness concert on Kharkiv’s historic Freedom Square. In front of a live audience of more than 350,000 people and a television audience of more than 10 million.”
Queen want to activate this radiance again: “Today, millions of Ukrainian refugees urgently need humanitarian aid. Queen are returning to this historic moment with a YouTube special to raise funds for UNHCR relief efforts.”
There are numerous Ukrainian posts in the YouTube comment column. “I hope that after the victory there will be a concert of top rock bands on Freedom Square!!!” writes Artem. A little confidence in dark times.
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