From Loudersound.
Brian May has shared rare footage of Queen rehearsing for their iconic, career-defining performance at Live Aid, and admitted “I had no idea this footage was out there.”
The guitarist shared the footage of the band’s rehearsals, and an interview with the BBC, to mark the latest anniversary of the legendary event, which took place on July 13, 1985.
In the footage, May reveals that Bob Geldof approached the group at the 1985 BPI Awards [held on February 11, 1985 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London], and asked if they would be interested in appearing at the event: Geldof and his Band Aid/Live Aid partner Midge Ure were at the ceremony to receive a special award for their work on the 1984 Band Aid single Do They Know It’s Christmas? Candidly, the group admit to the BBC interviewer that their motivation for accepting Geldof’s invitation was partly due to the cause, and partly due to not wanting to miss out on the landmark concert.
“We would have liked to have taken part in the Band Aid single,” admits Freddie Mercury, “but I think we were in separate parts of the globe. And so the second bash at it was this thing, and also the fact that some of the biggest and best-known groups around the world are taking part, why not us? It makes me personally proud to be a part of it.”
Speaking just days before the concert, the quartet admit that they are still “squabbling” over the choices for their mini-set, and laugh aloud when the BBC interviewer suggests that “there aren’t meant to be an egos involved” in the concert, and wonders how things will pan out with so many superstars sharing the same space.
“It’s going to be hilarious,” Brian May predicts.
“It’s going to be chaotic, yes,” adds Mercury. “We’re not all wonderfully well-behaved kids, are we? That’s sort of going to actually be the nice part of it: there’ll be lots of friction, and we’re all going to try to outdo each other I guess.”
The footage also includes scenes of the band rehearsing Hammer To Fall, Bohemian Rhapsody, and Radio Ga Ga.
In his caption accompanying the footage, Brian May writes: “Fondly remembering LIVE AID at this time of year, I was pretty amazed to see this – an amazing find – thanks to @iswearshesvintage and apparently somebody called Chief Mouse on YouTube.
“Here you see us rehearsing for the Queen Live Aid appearance – and talking about how we think it’s gonna be. And the rehearsal footage, captured raw, shows us in a completely different, relaxed state of mind, from the hypervibed way we will be on that extraordinary night in 1985. All sorts of adventurous variations in how we’re playing – which now seem like a precious capture by the BBC – a whole different ‘lost’ performance. In particular, listen to Freddie’s beautiful high notes in Bohemian Rhapsody.
“Lots of other rare details to spot, too. I had no idea this footage was out there. Enjoy!”
Watch the footage below:
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QUEEN A Night At The Opera (Classic 1975 UK first press 12-track LP with picture labels & 'BLAIRS' etched into the run-off area, their fourth studio album including the classic hit Bohemian Rhapsody, embossed gatefold picture sleeve with picture inner. The sleeve [VG] shows some minor discolouring, whilst the inner has some seam splits along some of the edges, and the vinyl is clean & grades EX with only light signs of wear EMTC103) #Top 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time
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QUEEN Sheer Heart Attack (1974 UK first issue 13-track vinyl LP, complete with angled corner lyric inner with Queen crest directly below the lyrics and 'G&L' below, fully laminated picture sleeve with 'Trident' logo on the reverse. The sleeve is shows minimal shelfwear and the vinyl remains in wonderful condition with few signs of play EMC3061)
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QUEEN Spring Tour '78 (Original 1978 UK 11" square 24-page tour programme featuring tour dates, intact merchandise insert & lots of 'live' colour photographs. The cover has some light general wear whilst the inner pages shows very little signsof age. Although not mint this is still a hard to find top and the first few we have ever seen with the Merch insert)
- Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody - 4pr - EX - UK - 7" vinyl - £25.00, $31.25, €29.25 (New Item) (arrived 13-Apr-2024 11:11)on April 27, 2024 at 4:39 pm
QUEEN Bohemian Rhapsody (Classic 1975 UK 7" vinyl single with intact four prong centre, also including I'm In Love With My Car, EMI company die-cut paper sleeve. The vinyl remains in Excellent condition EMI2375)
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