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:
Explore eil.com & 991.com sister – the world’s best online store for rare, collectable & out of print Vinyl Records, CDs & Music memorabilia since 1987.
EIL.COM Favourite Music Update Rare CDs, CD Singles, Rare Records, Vinyl Records, Albums and Music
- Queen - Greatest Hits II - 1st - VG - UK - 2-LP vinyl set - £75.00, $93.75, €87.00 (New Item) (arrived 11-May-2024 09:40)on May 11, 2024 at 2:03 pm
QUEEN Greatest Hits II (1991 UK first issue limited edition 17-track double LP compilation, housed in the first edition gold embossed gatefold sleeve with discography inners. The sleeve displays some light edge scuffing and has a few storage marks, whilst the vinyl shows some cosmetic surface scuffs revealing light play, overall a very good example of this had to find 90s pressing PMTV2)
- Queen - Queen II - Transitional - 1st Vinyl/2nd Labels - UK - vinyl LP - £95.00, $118.75, €110.20 (New Item) (arrived 02-May-2024 16:44)on May 11, 2024 at 2:03 pm
QUEEN Queen II (1974 UK 11-track transitional pressing LP on the cream & red EMI labels printed with 'Side White' and 'Side Black' above the tracklistings & 4U stampers; the matrix numbers crossed out in the run-outs with corrected numbers stamped below, as per first batch press but second label design, housed in the fully laminated gatefold picture sleeve. The cover displays only light general wear whilst the vinyl is Near Mint EMA67)
- Queen - News Of The World - Singapore - vinyl LP - £50.00, $62.50, €58.00 (New Item) (arrived 01-May-2024 14:49)on May 11, 2024 at 2:03 pm
QUEEN News Of The World (1977 Singapore/Malaysia/Hong Kong issue 11-track vinyl LP including We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions, houaed in a gatefold picture sleeve. The sleeve shows only minor edgewear and the vinyl looks barely playedEMA784)
- Brian May - Brian May Talks - Interview Shaped CD - UK - CD album - £14.99, $18.74, €17.39 (New Item) (arrived 01-May-2024 15:26)on May 11, 2024 at 2:03 pm
BRIAN MAY Brian May Talks (Limited Edition 1996 UK Shaped Picture Disc CD, containing an exclusive 20 minute interview with Brian, housed in an album jewel case with the picture sleeve back inlay [no front inlay as per release], limitedto 2000 copies only BMTALK1)
- Queen - The Queen Collection - EX - US - box set - £65.00, $81.25, €75.40 (New Item) (arrived 01-May-2024 15:45)on May 11, 2024 at 2:03 pm
QUEEN The Queen Collection (Rare original 1992 US limited edition 3-CD box set, including full length releases of Classic Queen and Greatest Hits, a bonus CD featuring a rare Queen interview with Mike Read recorded for BBC Radio One and the track Thank God It's Christmas, plus a colour textured postcard. Presented in a green 12" x 6" textured box embossed in gold with the Queen Crest plus protective picture slipcase. The outer slipcase displays some edgewear and minor creasing, however the box and contents are in excellent condition HR-61407-2)
Be the first to comment