Queen: That’s why their Live Aid concert wasn’t really spectacular
The finale of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the 20-minute performance at “Live Aid” in 1985, celebrated by most then and now as the highlight of the star-studded festival, represents beauty and power, but also Queen’s need for control. At first it was actually like the film shows. The sound waves of Mercury’s magnificent voice were visible on the TV broadcast. They washed over the screen as streaks of light through the countless rows of audience.
But Queen also demonstrated desperation in the hit medley. A lack of opportunity to try new things. Unlike U2, for example, who improvised for their set. Or Phil Collins and Sting, who appeared as a duet for the first time. Unlike the guitar trio Dylan, Richards and Wood, who are on stage together, albeit flawlessly (in Philadelphia). “Live Aid” was designed for spectacular all-star productions. But also in new territory, technically and narratively. The focus was on encounters that could hardly be controlled. Bono’s raucous dance with a fan even resulted in them missing time for their biggest hit, “Pride (In The Name Of Love),” which was scheduled. But it didn’t matter either. Because “Live Aid” wasn’t intended to thrust itself into the limelight with as many classics as possible in as short a time as possible.
Like a hasty showcase
Queen, on the other hand, rehearsed hard, wanted to include all the hits and staged a non-spontaneous, shortened version of one of their recent “The Works” tour concerts. The appearance seemed like a compact, perhaps even hasty showcase, not for “Live Aid”, but for their own cause. In 1985, after Mercury’s failed attempt at a solo career, the band not only desperately needed outside support, but also reassurance that their “greatest hits” still motivated them.
In the “Bohemian Rhapsody” film:
The festival appearance was identified as a clear career highlight and had to form the end of the narrative in the film – so everything else that was essential had to be placed first. Which means that there are some date errors in “Bohemian Rhapsody” that not only experts notice.
Much of what took place years later after the 1985 festival is preceded by the big end. For example, the HIV diagnosis. Mercury’s walk in the hospital hallway appears as a play of light and shadow, a light show, staged like a George Michael music video by Tony Scott. It also seemed important to May and Taylor to let the band members find out about Freddie’s HIV infection before “Live Aid” and to show their sensitive reactions. In reality, AIDS only came up around the last album “Innuendo” from 1991.
Queen didn’t actually have to pull themselves together
In “Bohemian Rhapsody” it seems as if Freddie’s solo plans led to the breakup of the band in 1985, which only got back together shortly before Live Aid in July. After the “The Works” tour, all four felt burned out. Nevertheless, Queen’s discography is evidence of continuously released music: “The Works” in 1984 was followed by “A Kind Of Magic” in 1986.
Live Aid wasn’t a reunion either. After “The Works,” Queen went on an extensive tour in 1984, playing new hits like “I Want To Break Free” and “Radio Ga-Ga.”
The last concert before Live Aid took place just eight weeks earlier. So there was no reason to have to “get back in shape”; the musicians were perfectly in tune before the charity event.
Maybe that’s one reason why Queen were able to complete their set so efficiently.