I was 18 at the time; this was playing on every TV set and every radio, everywhere. I was staying with friends and at about 3 in the afternoon we did a beer run; I swear to Bog every shop in town had it playing (and LOUD) on every TV and radio everywhere you went. It was an all-pervading soundtrack to the day...just incredible. I've never experienced such a feeling of a shared cultural event since, sadly.
Fun fact: Live Aid tickets were sold out months before the concert took place but it was only during the last days when Queen was confirmed to perform. So Queen didn't even play to dedicated Queen fans.
I love this set for this concert. The band is on fire. Thank you for reacting to this one, the others cut off songs and then cut the end which is most disappointing. Freddie had not yet been diagnosed at this point so he did not know he was HIV positive at this time. The crew would put up tea, water and beer for Freddie before the shows and also sometimes champagne because he would toast the crowd. On this day, Freddie had a throat infection and was advised by his doctor not to sing but Freddie being Freddie ignored his doctor and went ahead and did the set. He later said that singing felt like he was gargling with shards of glass. Radio Ga-Ga was written by Roger after his toddler son came into the room, and not liking what was on the radio, pointed and said Radio Caca (the boy was half French and of course the French term for $hit is Caca). The song is more about how radio had always been a big fixture in all of our lives and suddenly video was taking over radio. The song expresses hope that radio will remain and never be replaced by shows like MTv. I think Freddie was around 23 or 24 when he joined Roger and Brian and they became Queen. If you pay close attention you will see that Brian plays three different guitars on Crazy Little Thing Called Love. He starts with an acoustic, changes to a Stratocaster and finishes on his own Red Special. At the end there was an encore by Freddie and Brian singing "Is This The World We Created."
I remember watching this and recording it on audio cassette tape. Best performance ever and little did I realise at the time how technology would change in the future so I could watch it anytime and anywhere I wanted.
@@brianrowe236 🤗I still play my tapes of this show. I never got the CD or DVD over the years. Annie Lennox still slays me with "Talking To An Angel'. 😊🐰
I watched this live on TV I was 12y. I've always loved Queen! Freddie would be tickled pink to know people still listening to him. He found out he was HIV positive n performed against Dr advise on this set! They hounded him to his dying day, November 1991. I cried they treated him so horribly. The drinks probably. The greatest voice, raised my boys on Queen!!
Thanks for the reaction "Critical" - Freddie did NOT know he had AIDS at this time.. (that was a "dramatic" thing they did in the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody") he had throat/vocal problems.. and was advised by doctors not to sing.... but he did it anyway... and Queen stole the show... this was always a BAND.. not just Fred & some back-up people... I look forward to more from you ....
@@XxThePhantomFreezexX hmmm.. he most certainly may have had "an idea" ... but my point was that he had not been diagnosed... and what I know of Freddie suggests that if he really felt he was infected, he would have cared for the people with whom he was intimate and not put them at risk.. (when he DID know, and worked with opera singer Montserrat Caballe, he told her - this was 1988) -- then again, we can't know for sure, right?
@@TheAlmaward am guessin u missed health class HIV & AIDS are different before AIDS there is HIV n it takes yrs to develop ... so if he wuz diagnosed in 1987 w/ AIDS it means he carried tha HIV virus for quite awhile
@@XxThePhantomFreezexX no, I didn't miss anything. Freddie was diagnosed with both *at once*, as was Essy-E of NWA, as were many others in the first years of the syndrome, when it wasn'tcaught early on very often. Kindly don't try to correct me shen you are incorrect.
The movie Bohemian Rhapsody kind of bent the truth for the benefit of the movie. He did not know he had HIV at this point as he was diagnosed in April 1987. He didn't tell the band of his illness until 1989 when he could no longer hide the physical appearance of his declining health. He was getting very sick around the time you see him with a beard. The performance was perfect for the band as they could power through the 20 minute set at full capacity vocally and performance wise. They also had experience of playing stadiums when they decided to dare play stadiums during their south American tour. Not many bands were doing this and Queen changed all that. So they knew how to play a huge stadium. The stars aligned at the right time for the band as critics considered them past it. Boy were they wrong.
He wasn't diagnosed at the time of this concert but I believe that he had an "idea" that he had it, just not confirmed/diagnosed. I think it wasn't until 1986 or 1987 when it was confirmed but he didn't want anyone to know(?). Live Aid was a benefit concert for famine in Africa. They were added at the last minute I believe so the crowd didn't know that they were to perform. His interaction with the crowd is amazing. Under Pressure Live (5:56 minute version) and Another One Bites the Dust Live, both at Wembley, show his interaction with the audience. Thanks for your reaction. It was great as usual.
There's no telling when he caught the virus but it was big news by this time in the gay community so he may have had an inkling. You're correct he wasn't officially diagnosed till 1987 (at least what's reported).
@@egk2584 its assumed he contracted it when he wuz in NYC bein as introverted & private as he wuz who knos wat symptoms he exp n kept to himself also i personally believe tha times Freddie wuz "under tha weather" durin their 80s shows wuz a slight factor to tha HIV growin in stages cuz it takes years for HIV to develop in to AIDS about 7-10 yrs
They absolutely rocked the house! I never hear about any other performances during this show, so Queen must've been so GREAT that all other acts were forgotten! 😂😂😂😂
Freddie was about a month and a half shy of 39 years old when Queen performed at Live Aid. It didn’t take long for the other performers backstage (Hell, EVERYONE backstage) to realize that Queen was running away with the entire show. Most of the other acts performed as if it were just another gig. Queen, however, saw this performance as a “do or die” for their career at the time. So they rented a theater in London, and rehearsed their 20 minute set for 2 solid weeks until it was tight as a drum. David Bowie was the next scheduled performer after Queen, and he was heard backstage saying “How in the Hell am I supposed to follow THAT?!” 😂❤👑
72,0000 people at Wembley, another 100,000 in Philadelphia, and 1,2 billion watching on TV globally. The Olympics have 3 satellites...Live Aid had 13.I remember it was very hot that day in Wembley Stadium July 13th 1985 but it was worth it, best day EVER in my life! 👏👏🇳🇱
I remember this so vividly. His crowd control techniques are effortless. He finally announced that he was sick one day and he passed the very next day. I was stationed in Germany and I'll never forget that day. I spent 4 days in England for an American bowl game between my beloved Saints and the Raiders at this original Wembley Stadium. Saints won. Approximately 72,000 fans at this closing performance.
In case you didn't know this, "Radio GaGa" was actually what inspired Lady Gaga to use it in her name. Well, her very first manager suggested it, and she loved it. Then Lady Gaga was officially born.
If you look close at his upper arms, there's a few dark spots that people say came from HIV but he wasn't diagnosed till soon after this performance. A few years later, it destroyed his foot and at his final performances, he sat more due to the foot issues. He died 6 years after this. The movie had the timing off on his diagnosis, saying he knew and told the band during this period.
Most of the drinks were tea with honey for Freddie's throat. He had a throat infection and the doctor wanted him to not sing, but he did anyway. He said that it felt like gargling with glass in the throat. That's also the reason why they opened with BohRap, the most demanding song in the set.
Yes the piano was set with Freddie’s beverages. The stage set up worked pretty well. Freddie toured with a Steinway grand & several artists borrowed it during this show. Love that Brian has it in his home.
They rehearsed for this for a week around a week.with times worn to fit the set in with precision and maybe respect for the audience and reason for concert
People all over the world watched this concert live either in person played in the states as well or watching it live on TV. We all rocked out and we’re participating. He made the entire event, I wouldn’t of wanted to have to follow up and play behind him 😂
Since you have begun diving into the Queen rabbit hole. I highly recommend The Show Must Go On. Written by Brian May(lead guitarist). When this was recorded Freddie was very ill,but was done in one take. There is no live version& the video is clips of other videos or live performance's. His best vocals in my humble opinion; always cry when a I hear it. Still LOVE YOU. FREDDIE!!
ive been a fan since 1973. Freddie and the band were Rock Gods. Today, Queen play with Adam Lambert who is also brilliant. The only difference to me is the energy that Freddie had, never seen anyone with so much. RIP darling Freddie.
Great reaction but if you had continued with it you would have seen Brian & Freddie doing “Is this the world we created “ which is sensational, just Freddie & Brian May on acoustic guitar! Love your enthusiasm for the best live performance ever by the best ever band in the world! More Queen pls, love from Australia 🇦🇺
He was not diagnosed as having HIV or AIDS until early 1987. In 1985 he most likely had HIV and had been positive for awhile but he was unaware of it because he was not suffering any effects from it yet. It wasn't until the following year when Queen was finishing off the European leg of a world tour at Wembley stadium did he realize that something was not right with him. They never did anymore of that world tour.
Hammer to fall is written by Brian May, the guitarist,he also wroth We will rock you, Freddie wrote Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy little thing called love and We are the champions .John made some big hits - but they didn't make it to this concert.Every band has limited time : 20 minutes.
9:35 Once upon a time there was a small box that was placed on a nightstand. The device had a Digital display of the current time in big Red numbers. It had a setting to set an Alert at a specific time, it could at the set time emit a LOUD annoying noise for several minutes or it could be set to emit Music. This device was called a Radio Alarm Clock. This song is a Love song to that Ancient Device. We LOVE you Radio.
Freddie was not diagnosed with AIDS for another 2 years, until 1987, although the movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody' played with the timeline for narrative effect. Although he was considered to still be in pretty good health here (and even did a major live tour a year later), it is generally accepted that Freddie performed here against doctor's orders with laryngitis. At this point he was likely concerned that he may have contracted HIV, but this cannot be verified and he had not developed full-blown AIDS yet.
Freddie had laryngitis the week before this concert, his doctor recommended that he cancel his appearance and rest this throat. Of course he ignored the advice and went on to make rock history. It wasn’t only Queen who realized they had been sensational. Paul Gambaccini, who was part of the BBC broadcasting team at Live Aid, recalled the awe among other superstar musicians watching backstage. “Everybody realized that Queen was stealing the show,” said Gambaccini. These were the very words Elton John uttered when he rushed into Mercury’s trailer after the set. “You bastards, you stole the show,” joked the charismatic star. “Queen smoked ’em. They just took everybody. They walked away being the greatest band you’d ever seen in your life, and it was unbelievable,” said Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. “And that’s what made the band so great; that’s why they should be recognized as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, because they could connect with an audience.” Ironically, the crowd didn't know Queen was going to appear that day. They had signed on after all of the advertising materials were put together, so no one was expecting Queen to be there that day.
I also read a story that the backstage was uncomfortably warm.. and Freddie walked by David Bowie's room (or area) and saw that he had a fan trained on him.. and commented: "oh, is that the only fan you've got??" -- lol
This is my favorite version of Hammer To Fall! It’s sped up just a bit to fit in everything they wanted during their short time slot. I think it rocks! It’s about war/the draft you have to see the lyrics
He had a bad throat and was told by a doctor not to perform. However, Queen did and the rest is history. Each act had a set time and if they went over they were shut off. However, Queen did the most songs and finished dead on time. Freddie was the greatest front man ever.
Suggest that you react to Queen, Somebody to Love live at Montreal 1981 - you wont be disappointed, it is an amazing performance; and also at Milton Keynes concert 1982
You know, this is thought to be the best live performance of all time, but all Queens concerts were this good and they took 2 hours! I should know, I went to enough of them!
For those who seem truly interested in Queen I leave this same comment. Sorry, just found you; so, I’m late to the Comment Section! I’m a 66 y/o Glamma. You seem to enjoy the background of things. And, I’m a Trivia sponge, so here goes: They had just completed a Tour a month b4. So, they went & rented a Stadium to practice the performance. He ended up with a Throat Infection & the Doctor highly recommended he not do it bc he might lose his musical ability. He said no! Can you tell he had a severe throat infection? Most people think he was drinking booze from the cups bc on the piano. He’s drinking Honey & Tea. His command of the Audience was more than coincidence it was miraculous. Considering there were so many people there the sound was getting absorbed through them. So the people @ the back we’re following his hand gestures bc the actual sound hadn’t even reached them b4 the next sound was coming @ them. Go back & watch what his hands are doing & what the Audience is doing. NEXT: Radio Gaga is celebrating Radio bc M-TV is just getting started. LADY GAGA was a huge Freddie Fam growing up, so That was where she came up with HER STAGE NAME! You have to listen to the words to really understand the meaning. Most of us didn’t have a clue what a Band looked like unless we saw them in Person! NEXT-MICROPHONE. At sometime along the way a Microphone Stand broke, so that was the only spilt second solution they could come up with. He realized the freedom he had to move, dance, & engage the Audience. NEXT MICHAEL JACKSON & ELVIS CONNECTION on Song THING CALLED LOVE: It was written as his homage to Elvis-Freddie was a big fan. But, he just wasn’t sure about the song bc he didn’t want to taint Elvis. SO, he played it for Michael J. (Yes, they were friends!). And Michael told him he HAD TO, he said “Freddie, you have to”! (Can’t you just see that!?). NEXT FREDDIE’s VOICE. HE HAD 4 extra teeth so that’s the reason he had such an overbite. He had the ability to naturally flow from Octave to Octave. It was a natural progression, for him. SCIENTIFICALLY: Test were done on his Voice. He was able to use his Throat muscles on either side of his vocal cords. Which is normally seen in some Opera Singers. His Vocal Range was from Low Bass F, to High Soprano F! They were extremely surprised to find out that he could go from about 92Hz to 784Hz, effortlessly! See ACTUAL REPORT BELOW: nyone who has listened to a Queen track knows that Freddie has a unique ability that still has not been truly replicated since. His ability to blend highs, lows and mid range notes cohesively and with immense precision. This skill was due to the fact that Freddie was able to create faster vibrato and harmonics than any other singer at the time. Not only this, he was able to shift through registers effortlessly. Although he naturally held a baritone voice, he primarily sang as a tenor and of course had no problem then shifting into soprano parts. One study on Freddie’s vocal range even confirmed that he was able to vary from about 92.2 Hz to 784 Hz, meaning he was reliably able to hit notes from the booming low of F#2 to the high pitch G5 - that covers a full three octaves! LAST FUN FACT: His Lead Guitarist is playing on a Guitar he & his Father made. When he first starting to learn they were too poor to afford a high end guitar. So, they just made one! The included some “extras” that would normally have to be separate instruments to get all those features (think Concerts when you see guitarist changing Guitars depending on the Song….that’s why he didn’t)! I’m sorry to take up your Valuable Time, and I thank you. You need anymore Trivia I’m your G’Ma go to. My Brain is full, especially with music, & believe it or not Sports!
So much to say, but you can Google a lot of it if you want to delve deeper (please do!). 1st, please pause between songs or rewind a bit if you do in a song. 2nd, Freddie was 25 when joining with Brian and Roger and forming Queen together. 3rd, while Freddie wasn't technically diagnosed with AIDS until 1987, the Magic Tour in 1986 was their last live performance with Freddie (Knebworth, but that was not filmed... 1986 Wembley was and it is a must see!). At the end of the Knebworth show, Freddie told the guys he could not do a tour again. And they never did. Did Freddie know something? No one really knows. Roger Taylor, Sir Dr. Brian May, and John Deacon did not interfere in each others' lives and Roger and Brian have said they did not talk about AIDS except a couple of times. Freddie preferred to just keep singing until he fell over and he just about did! What a way to live the end of a life, by celebrating the beauty he had and gave... and continued giving... everything he had. What a gift he was and is. Queenie to the max here!
Roger Taylor (drummer) wrote Radio Gaga, this became one of Queens beggest hits. The Works, the lyrics explore the distress on witnessing how television specifically music videos - had begun to overshadow radio. All of the songs were BRILLIANT!!!! 😉😉
Yep - playing a "trivia" card game with my nephew recently, and I got the question: "which rock band had all four members with number one hits?" - and I laughed.. of course I knew the answer - my nephew knows I'm a huge Queen fan, so he thought I was joking... lol
and he was advice by the doctor not to performance due to a sour throat. He wasn't diagnosed with AIDS 1987 and died in November 1991. This was a charity concert to help the victims of a famine in africa - simultaneously in London and Philadelphia - via sattelits broadcast to approximately 1.9 billions world wide.Phil Collins flew with the concode and attended both concerts . Queen part is judged the best in history of Rock. - -ever. Radio Gaga is written by the drummer Roger Taylor inspired by his young son who's mother was French.
By this point he didn't know he had it. It was a year or two after this he found out. He never officially came out as to even having it till the day before he died. He stopped touring after he started having major symptoms but they still recorded one or two more albums up till he passed away. He suffered greatly but refused to let many people see that side of it. He was bedridden and had even gone blind by the end I read. He died officially of AIDS related pneumonia if I'm correct.
A miserable ending for a great human being... sometimes the world seems so cruel in how the bright ones suffer terrible endings... my mother being one of them when she passed from cancer.
Those Were the Days of Our Lives is fhe most poignant song as it was Freddie's last outing with Queen just months before he died. It really is his goodbye to us all and a beautiful song to boot.
There was a lounge where the other bands hung out. As Queen played a hush fell upon them as they realized Queen was stealing the show, that they were indeed the champions.
Great Queen forever. Freddy unstopable after more than 30 years (after he died) - who does not know about Queen and Freddy in western world? best vocalist/performer IMO. Maybe you give us a reaction to "who wants to live forever" - with Floor and Freddy.
The drinks you see on the piano are tea and honey for his throat. He had laryngitis and was advised by his Dr not to sing. He said after the concert his throat felt like broken glass.
There was 72,000 in Wimbledon concert and 89,484 in the Philadelphia concert with world wide TV coverage Freddie was advised not to sing as he had strep throat.
I think it's so cool just watching you get so into it with a smile on your face hah. This was a cool video and you're a cool guy. Freddie Mercury was an absolute legend.
Freddie Has thought he had aids in late 84, just feelings as a couple of friends had just died from it. he was officially diagnosed with it in 88 but at that time there was NO TREATMENTS or medications. He had probably caught it back in 81 or so as back then it took about 10 years for symptoms to appear and he had none til about 88. if you listen to the few interviews from then you can get a good feeling of what he is saying and more important ... what he was not saying . Freddie was 25 when Queen was formed. I have been a great fan of freddie since the early 70s
I like watching the reactions of young people, but I wish they had a little more back story so they could really appreciate how spectacular and significant this performance was.
Radio Gaga: In short, he's talking about how radio used to be good and now it sucks. Recall that at the time, music videos were a new thing. One of the lines is "So stick around, 'cause we might miss you when we grow tired of all these visuals". He's wanting radio to come back from the brink of the bad thing it was becoming (you've yet to have your finest hour). That's my take anyway.
Freddie always kept tea with honey on the piano during concerts to keep this throat from drying out. He never drank anything carbonated before or during a performance that might cause him to burp into mic, it would be disrespectful to the audience.
It is a misconception about the Aids thing..... This was too early. It was 1985...... He was diagnosed in 1987....... He might have had the HIV virus by 1985. But was not full blown Aids until years later. Also this Concert was for Famine in Africa........ Not Aids....... Freddie was a great performer. Wrote great music ..... Lived a good life........ It was not all about HIV and Aids.
Great reaction. Fun fact....Brian plays 3 different giutars during Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Please react to Killer Queen/I'm in Love with my car live at Montreal.
It has been said, either by Freddie or Brian or both, that Freddie couldn't really play the guitar or the piano - that he only learned enough to make the music he wanted to make. Don't know how true that is.
Freddie had proper piano lessons but gave up when it came to writing and reading music he struggled with that. he wasn't a concert pianist by any means but I've not seen any reactors imply he wasn't good. he composed most of his songs on piano and the parts for the rest of the band as well he taught himself basic of guitar but was above basic learner level but wouldn't call himself a guitarist
Sir Bri said his method of playing a guitar was unique because he only plucked or strummed on the down stroke. He did take basic piano lessons but never was able to read music, so he would play by ear, as a result his piano playing was also unique in style.
Brian May(lead guitarist,John Deacon(bass)& Roger Taylor(drummer. Fun fact for you Roger had a higher vocal range than Freddie.. Awesome group of guys each an excellent talent.
I watched this live back in 1985 and saw 12 hours of it and every time I see queen do this show I get shivers and I’ve seen it dozens of time
You know for 22 minutes England was ruled by a different Queen! This concert has been labeled the best live performance in Rock history.
Haha love it 👏😁
I was 18 at the time; this was playing on every TV set and every radio, everywhere. I was staying with friends and at about 3 in the afternoon we did a beer run; I swear to Bog every shop in town had it playing (and LOUD) on every TV and radio everywhere you went. It was an all-pervading soundtrack to the day...just incredible. I've never experienced such a feeling of a shared cultural event since, sadly.
Perfection
Definitely, one of the best-no doubt!💯🤩✨✨✨
O think this performance is a same level of 1986 Queen concert até Wembley, during Magic Tour. Both ate fantastics!!!
Fun fact: Live Aid tickets were sold out months before the concert took place but it was only during the last days when Queen was confirmed to perform. So Queen didn't even play to dedicated Queen fans.
Amazing! Still won them all over
@@ShawnSalvadori And they still knew all the words!
I love this set for this concert. The band is on fire. Thank you for reacting to this one, the others cut off songs and then cut the end which is most disappointing. Freddie had not yet been diagnosed at this point so he did not know he was HIV positive at this time. The crew would put up tea, water and beer for Freddie before the shows and also sometimes champagne because he would toast the crowd. On this day, Freddie had a throat infection and was advised by his doctor not to sing but Freddie being Freddie ignored his doctor and went ahead and did the set. He later said that singing felt like he was gargling with shards of glass. Radio Ga-Ga was written by Roger after his toddler son came into the room, and not liking what was on the radio, pointed and said Radio Caca (the boy was half French and of course the French term for $hit is Caca). The song is more about how radio had always been a big fixture in all of our lives and suddenly video was taking over radio. The song expresses hope that radio will remain and never be replaced by shows like MTv. I think Freddie was around 23 or 24 when he joined Roger and Brian and they became Queen. If you pay close attention you will see that Brian plays three different guitars on Crazy Little Thing Called Love. He starts with an acoustic, changes to a Stratocaster and finishes on his own Red Special. At the end there was an encore by Freddie and Brian singing "Is This The World We Created."
Excellent explanation, you said everything I would’ve said.😄
I remember watching this and recording it on audio cassette tape. Best performance ever and little did I realise at the time how technology would change in the future so I could watch it anytime and anywhere I wanted.
@@brianrowe236 🤗I still play my tapes of this show. I never got the CD or DVD over the years. Annie Lennox still slays me with "Talking To An Angel'. 😊🐰
Thank you Sherry for this wonderful information 🙏
*Telecaster
I watched this live on TV I was 12y. I've always loved Queen! Freddie would be tickled pink to know people still listening to him. He found out he was HIV positive n performed against Dr advise on this set! They hounded him to his dying day, November 1991. I cried they treated him so horribly. The drinks probably. The greatest voice, raised my boys on Queen!!
Thanks for the reaction "Critical" - Freddie did NOT know he had AIDS at this time.. (that was a "dramatic" thing they did in the movie "Bohemian Rhapsody") he had throat/vocal problems.. and was advised by doctors not to sing.... but he did it anyway... and Queen stole the show... this was always a BAND.. not just Fred & some back-up people... I look forward to more from you ....
how do u kno he didnt have an idea considerin tha news coverage on it & a couple partners he had who died from it he wuz known for bein private
@@XxThePhantomFreezexX hmmm.. he most certainly may have had "an idea" ... but my point was that he had not been diagnosed... and what I know of Freddie suggests that if he really felt he was infected, he would have cared for the people with whom he was intimate and not put them at risk.. (when he DID know, and worked with opera singer Montserrat Caballe, he told her - this was 1988) -- then again, we can't know for sure, right?
@@XxThePhantomFreezexX he wasn't diagnosed until 1987. This was 2 years earlier.
@@TheAlmaward am guessin u missed health class HIV & AIDS are different before AIDS there is HIV n it takes yrs to develop ... so if he wuz diagnosed in 1987 w/ AIDS it means he carried tha HIV virus for quite awhile
@@XxThePhantomFreezexX no, I didn't miss anything. Freddie was diagnosed with both *at once*, as was Essy-E of NWA, as were many others in the first years of the syndrome, when it wasn'tcaught early on very often. Kindly don't try to correct me shen you are incorrect.
The movie Bohemian Rhapsody kind of bent the truth for the benefit of the movie. He did not know he had HIV at this point as he was diagnosed in April 1987. He didn't tell the band of his illness until 1989 when he could no longer hide the physical appearance of his declining health. He was getting very sick around the time you see him with a beard. The performance was perfect for the band as they could power through the 20 minute set at full capacity vocally and performance wise. They also had experience of playing stadiums when they decided to dare play stadiums during their south American tour. Not many bands were doing this and Queen changed all that. So they knew how to play a huge stadium. The stars aligned at the right time for the band as critics considered them past it. Boy were they wrong.
He wasn't diagnosed at the time of this concert but I believe that he had an "idea" that he had it, just not confirmed/diagnosed. I think it wasn't until 1986 or 1987 when it was confirmed but he didn't want anyone to know(?). Live Aid was a benefit concert for famine in Africa. They were added at the last minute I believe so the crowd didn't know that they were to perform. His interaction with the crowd is amazing. Under Pressure Live (5:56 minute version) and Another One Bites the Dust Live, both at Wembley, show his interaction with the audience. Thanks for your reaction. It was great as usual.
There's no telling when he caught the virus but it was big news by this time in the gay community so he may have had an inkling. You're correct he wasn't officially diagnosed till 1987 (at least what's reported).
@@egk2584 its assumed he contracted it when he wuz in NYC bein as introverted & private as he wuz who knos wat symptoms he exp n kept to himself also i personally believe tha times Freddie wuz "under tha weather" durin their 80s shows wuz a slight factor to tha HIV growin in stages cuz it takes years for HIV to develop in to AIDS about 7-10 yrs
They absolutely rocked the house! I never hear about any other performances during this show, so Queen must've been so GREAT that all other acts were forgotten! 😂😂😂😂
I watched all 16 hours of Live Aid and 38 years later I still get goosebumps watching it. They stole the show that day.
Freddie was about a month and a half shy of 39 years old when Queen performed at Live Aid. It didn’t take long for the other performers backstage (Hell, EVERYONE backstage) to realize that Queen was running away with the entire show. Most of the other acts performed as if it were just another gig. Queen, however, saw this performance as a “do or die” for their career at the time. So they rented a theater in London, and rehearsed their 20 minute set for 2 solid weeks until it was tight as a drum. David Bowie was the next scheduled performer after Queen, and he was heard backstage saying “How in the Hell am I supposed to follow THAT?!” 😂❤👑
72,0000 people at Wembley, another 100,000 in Philadelphia, and 1,2 billion watching on TV globally. The Olympics have 3 satellites...Live Aid had 13.I remember it was very hot that day in Wembley Stadium July 13th 1985 but it was worth it, best day EVER in my life! 👏👏🇳🇱
To answer your question, Queen was formed back in 1970. They were already big when I was a little boy in kindergarten.
I remember this so vividly. His crowd control techniques are effortless. He finally announced that he was sick one day and he passed the very next day. I was stationed in Germany and I'll never forget that day. I spent 4 days in England for an American bowl game between my beloved Saints and the Raiders at this original Wembley Stadium. Saints won. Approximately 72,000 fans at this closing performance.
Wow the passes after the day he announced his illness? That is incredibly sad 😔
In case you didn't know this, "Radio GaGa" was actually what inspired Lady Gaga to use it in her name. Well, her very first manager suggested it, and she loved it. Then Lady Gaga was officially born.
Had no idea! Thanks 😁
Yes, Hannah - I had heard that, as well...
And he really did fight til the end. Just kept singing as long as they kept writing for him.
Even though Freddie was chief writer in the band 😁
Queen have had an audience of 250,000 before in Rio
Freddie was asking do not forget the RADIO !
as MUSIC TV was becoming a new platform
X . Queen so ahead of time x
If you look close at his upper arms, there's a few dark spots that people say came from HIV but he wasn't diagnosed till soon after this performance. A few years later, it destroyed his foot and at his final performances, he sat more due to the foot issues. He died 6 years after this. The movie had the timing off on his diagnosis, saying he knew and told the band during this period.
Miss ya so much, Freddie. Your music and performance style gave me such joy . Rest in Peace, Luv. 🤴🏻🎶❤️🕊️
Most of the drinks were tea with honey for Freddie's throat.
He had a throat infection and the doctor wanted him to not sing, but he did anyway.
He said that it felt like gargling with glass in the throat.
That's also the reason why they opened with BohRap, the most demanding song in the set.
Yes the piano was set with Freddie’s beverages. The stage set up worked pretty well. Freddie toured with a Steinway grand & several artists borrowed it during this show.
Love that Brian has it in his home.
That Freddie strut just slays me! 🙃
They rehearsed for this for a week around a week.with times worn to fit the set in with precision and maybe respect for the audience and reason for concert
People all over the world watched this concert live either in person played in the states as well or watching it live on TV. We all rocked out and we’re participating. He made the entire event, I wouldn’t of wanted to have to follow up and play behind him 😂
He did this show with a sore throat and he was drinking tea with lemon.
He didn't drink during concerts. I could watch their music for hours.
Since you have begun diving into the Queen rabbit hole. I highly recommend The Show Must Go On. Written by Brian May(lead guitarist). When this was recorded Freddie was very ill,but was done in one take. There is no live version& the video is clips of other videos or live performance's. His best vocals in my humble opinion; always cry when a I hear it. Still LOVE YOU. FREDDIE!!
I was at this concert in London. An amazing and unforgettable experience.
Freddie was diagnosed in 1987. Two years after Live Aid. Concert of the century!!
ive been a fan since 1973. Freddie and the band were Rock Gods. Today, Queen play with Adam Lambert who is also brilliant. The only difference to me is the energy that Freddie had, never seen anyone with so much. RIP darling Freddie.
Great reaction but if you had continued with it you would have seen Brian & Freddie doing “Is this the world we created “ which is sensational, just Freddie & Brian May on acoustic guitar! Love your enthusiasm for the best live performance ever by the best ever band in the world! More Queen pls, love from Australia 🇦🇺
Yes - beautiful performance...
He was not diagnosed as having HIV or AIDS until early 1987. In 1985 he most likely had HIV and had been positive for awhile but he was unaware of it because he was not suffering any effects from it yet. It wasn't until the following year when Queen was finishing off the European leg of a world tour at Wembley stadium did he realize that something was not right with him. They never did anymore of that world tour.
Hammer to fall is written by Brian May, the guitarist,he also wroth We will rock you, Freddie wrote Bohemian Rhapsody, Crazy little thing called love and We are the champions .John made some big hits - but they didn't make it to this concert.Every band has limited time : 20 minutes.
And Roger Taylor wrote Radio GaGa .. the inspiration for Lady Gaga
“When we grow tired of all these visuals”; what happened to MTV? “Radio, someone still loves you!”
Bijou
9:35 Once upon a time there was a small box that was placed on a nightstand. The device had a Digital display of the current time in big Red numbers. It had a setting to set an Alert at a specific time, it could at the set time emit a LOUD annoying noise for several minutes or it could be set to emit Music. This device was called a Radio Alarm Clock. This song is a Love song to that Ancient Device. We LOVE you Radio.
Freddie was not diagnosed with AIDS for another 2 years, until 1987, although the movie 'Bohemian Rhapsody' played with the timeline for narrative effect.
Although he was considered to still be in pretty good health here (and even did a major live tour a year later), it is generally accepted that Freddie performed here against doctor's orders with laryngitis. At this point he was likely concerned that he may have contracted HIV, but this cannot be verified and he had not developed full-blown AIDS yet.
Freddie had laryngitis the week before this concert, his doctor recommended that he cancel his appearance and rest this throat. Of course he ignored the advice and went on to make rock history. It wasn’t only Queen who realized they had been sensational. Paul Gambaccini, who was part of the BBC broadcasting team at Live Aid, recalled the awe among other superstar musicians watching backstage. “Everybody realized that Queen was stealing the show,” said Gambaccini. These were the very words Elton John uttered when he rushed into Mercury’s trailer after the set. “You bastards, you stole the show,” joked the charismatic star.
“Queen smoked ’em. They just took everybody. They walked away being the greatest band you’d ever seen in your life, and it was unbelievable,” said Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. “And that’s what made the band so great; that’s why they should be recognized as one of the greatest rock bands of all time, because they could connect with an audience.” Ironically, the crowd didn't know Queen was going to appear that day. They had signed on after all of the advertising materials were put together, so no one was expecting Queen to be there that day.
I also read a story that the backstage was uncomfortably warm.. and Freddie walked by David Bowie's room (or area) and saw that he had a fan trained on him.. and commented: "oh, is that the only fan you've got??" -- lol
This is my favorite version of Hammer To Fall! It’s sped up just a bit to fit in everything they wanted during their short time slot. I think it rocks! It’s about war/the draft you have to see the lyrics
This Thing Called Love - it’s got a Rockabilly sound, I know he loved Elvis ❤
He had a bad throat and was told by a doctor not to perform. However, Queen did and the rest is history. Each act had a set time and if they went over they were shut off. However, Queen did the most songs and finished dead on time. Freddie was the greatest front man ever.
Suggest that you react to Queen, Somebody to Love live at Montreal 1981 - you wont be disappointed, it is an amazing performance; and also at Milton Keynes
concert 1982
Somebody to Love at Montreal 1981 - AWESOME
You know, this is thought to be the best live performance of all time, but all Queens concerts were this good and they took 2 hours! I should know, I went to enough of them!
For those who seem truly interested in Queen I leave this same comment. Sorry, just found you; so, I’m late to the Comment Section! I’m a 66 y/o Glamma. You seem to enjoy the background of things. And, I’m a Trivia sponge, so here goes: They had just completed a Tour a month b4. So, they went & rented a Stadium to practice the performance. He ended up with a Throat Infection & the Doctor highly recommended he not do it bc he might lose his musical ability. He said no! Can you tell he had a severe throat infection? Most people think he was drinking booze from the cups bc on the piano. He’s drinking Honey & Tea. His command of the Audience was more than coincidence it was miraculous. Considering there were so many people there the sound was getting absorbed through them. So the people @ the back we’re following his hand gestures bc the actual sound hadn’t even reached them b4 the next sound was coming @ them. Go back & watch what his hands are doing & what the Audience is doing. NEXT: Radio Gaga is celebrating Radio bc M-TV is just getting started. LADY GAGA was a huge Freddie Fam growing up, so That was where she came up with HER STAGE NAME! You have to listen to the words to really understand the meaning. Most of us didn’t have a clue what a Band looked like unless we saw them in Person!
NEXT-MICROPHONE. At sometime along the way a Microphone Stand broke, so that was the only spilt second solution they could come up with. He realized the freedom he had to move, dance, & engage the Audience.
NEXT MICHAEL JACKSON & ELVIS CONNECTION on Song THING CALLED LOVE: It was written as his homage to Elvis-Freddie was a big fan. But, he just wasn’t sure about the song bc he didn’t want to taint Elvis. SO, he played it for Michael J. (Yes, they were friends!). And Michael told him he HAD TO, he said “Freddie, you have to”! (Can’t you just see that!?).
NEXT FREDDIE’s VOICE. HE HAD 4 extra teeth so that’s the reason he had such an overbite. He had the ability to naturally flow from Octave to Octave. It was a natural progression, for him.
SCIENTIFICALLY: Test were done on his Voice. He was able to use his Throat muscles on either side of his vocal cords. Which is normally seen in some Opera Singers. His Vocal Range was from Low Bass F, to High Soprano F! They were extremely surprised to find out that he could go from about 92Hz to 784Hz, effortlessly! See ACTUAL REPORT BELOW:
nyone who has listened to a Queen track knows that Freddie has a unique ability that still has not been truly replicated since. His ability to blend highs, lows and mid range notes cohesively and with immense precision. This skill was due to the fact that Freddie was able to create faster vibrato and harmonics than any other singer at the time. Not only this, he was able to shift through registers effortlessly. Although he naturally held a baritone voice, he primarily sang as a tenor and of course had no problem then shifting into soprano parts. One study on Freddie’s vocal range even confirmed that he was able to vary from about 92.2 Hz to 784 Hz, meaning he was reliably able to hit notes from the booming low of F#2 to the high pitch G5 - that covers a full three octaves!
LAST FUN FACT: His Lead Guitarist is playing on a Guitar he & his Father made. When he first starting to learn they were too poor to afford a high end guitar. So, they just made one! The included some “extras” that would normally have to be separate instruments to get all those features (think Concerts when you see guitarist changing Guitars depending on the Song….that’s why he didn’t)!
I’m sorry to take up your Valuable Time, and I thank you. You need anymore Trivia I’m your G’Ma go to. My Brain is full, especially with music, & believe it or not Sports!
So much to say, but you can Google a lot of it if you want to delve deeper (please do!). 1st, please pause between songs or rewind a bit if you do in a song. 2nd, Freddie was 25 when joining with Brian and Roger and forming Queen together. 3rd, while Freddie wasn't technically diagnosed with AIDS until 1987, the Magic Tour in 1986 was their last live performance with Freddie (Knebworth, but that was not filmed... 1986 Wembley was and it is a must see!). At the end of the Knebworth show, Freddie told the guys he could not do a tour again. And they never did. Did Freddie know something? No one really knows. Roger Taylor, Sir Dr. Brian May, and John Deacon did not interfere in each others' lives and Roger and Brian have said they did not talk about AIDS except a couple of times. Freddie preferred to just keep singing until he fell over and he just about did! What a way to live the end of a life, by celebrating the beauty he had and gave... and continued giving... everything he had. What a gift he was and is. Queenie to the max here!
Roger Taylor (drummer) wrote Radio Gaga, this became one of Queens beggest hits. The Works, the lyrics explore the distress on witnessing how television specifically music videos - had begun to overshadow radio. All of the songs were BRILLIANT!!!! 😉😉
Yep - playing a "trivia" card game with my nephew recently, and I got the question: "which rock band had all four members with number one hits?" - and I laughed.. of course I knew the answer - my nephew knows I'm a huge Queen fan, so he thought I was joking... lol
Fun fact: The cops at the start were actually famous UK comedians of the era called Mel Smith & Griff Rhys Jones, dressed up as cops :D
Oh yeah, definitely new they were some top level comedians haha 😄
and he was advice by the doctor not to performance due to a sour throat. He wasn't diagnosed with AIDS 1987 and died in November 1991. This was a charity concert to help the victims of a famine in africa - simultaneously in London and Philadelphia - via sattelits broadcast to approximately 1.9 billions world wide.Phil Collins flew with the concode and attended both concerts . Queen part is judged the best in history of Rock. - -ever. Radio Gaga is written by the drummer Roger Taylor inspired by his young son who's mother was French.
Knowing that Freddie knew at that point, but nobody else did....when he sings "I don't wanna die" it has whole other level of angst to it.
Bohemian Rhapsody was written in 1975 - he died in 1991 - and he "knew" in the movie - but that is something else.
This is 85 he didnt know until April 87
By this point he didn't know he had it. It was a year or two after this he found out. He never officially came out as to even having it till the day before he died. He stopped touring after he started having major symptoms but they still recorded one or two more albums up till he passed away. He suffered greatly but refused to let many people see that side of it. He was bedridden and had even gone blind by the end I read. He died officially of AIDS related pneumonia if I'm correct.
A miserable ending for a great human being... sometimes the world seems so cruel in how the bright ones suffer terrible endings... my mother being one of them when she passed from cancer.
72,000 people in the stadium. Millions watched worldwide
Freddie was once asked what instrument he played. He replied, "The audience, darling".
Freddie died of AIDS. However, he was not diagnosed until about 18 months after this gig, totally contrary to what the film portrayed.
He's reminiscing about that the radio at one time was only way to hear music, then MTV changed that. He still loves the radio.
i have listened to this live aid gig by queen and this one is so crystal clear on the sound freddie and the band queen..lives on forever1
wow! Beautiful sweet Freddie! liked subscribed dear! Freddie Mercury is simply unique!
A beautiful soul
I have watched this over and over - gives me goosebumps every time 👑❤️
Those Were the Days of Our Lives is fhe most poignant song as it was Freddie's last outing with Queen just months before he died. It really is his goodbye to us all and a beautiful song to boot.
Radio Gaga is about how MTV and music videos were taking over.
I swear every time someone reacts to this I see the exact same comments 😂
😆
There was a lounge where the other bands hung out. As Queen played a hush fell upon them as they realized Queen was stealing the show, that they were indeed the champions.
He was 39 at this performance
Listen to Brian and Freddie come back and sing Is This the World We Created.
Freddie didn't know that he had AIDS at this time. He did, however, have throat problems (throat polyps).
Lemon & honey……Freddie had a really bad throat infection🎼❤️🎼🇬🇧
Poor man 😔
Put your differences aside
Have a good time right👌👌👏👏
Absolutely mannnn
All of that packed into 20 minutes
Great Queen forever. Freddy unstopable after more than 30 years (after he died) - who does not know about Queen and Freddy in western world? best vocalist/performer IMO. Maybe you give us a reaction to "who wants to live forever" - with Floor and Freddy.
Hammer to Fall is very deep... It's about death facing us all. That we live waiting for the hammer to Fall.
It is about the nuclear threat - from Russia especially - just surrender and it won't hurt at all
The drinks you see on the piano are tea and honey for his throat. He had laryngitis and was advised by his Dr not to sing. He said after the concert his throat felt like broken glass.
When queen left the stage Elton John told them "you bastards just stole the show". No one has ever disagreed.
The changing times of how music went from radio, 8 track, cassette tapes and on..
Thanks for the great reaction. Listen to Somebody to Love, the live concert in Montreal in 1981.
Greatness 😊
bro is just happy
There was 72,000 in Wimbledon concert and 89,484 in the Philadelphia concert with world wide TV coverage Freddie was advised not to sing as he had strep throat.
You mean the Wembley concert, not Wimbledon
I think it's so cool just watching you get so into it with a smile on your face hah. This was a cool video and you're a cool guy. Freddie Mercury was an absolute legend.
😁
Freddie Has thought he had aids in late 84, just feelings as a couple of friends had just died from it. he was officially diagnosed with it in 88 but at that time there was NO TREATMENTS or medications. He had probably caught it back in 81 or so as back then it took about 10 years for symptoms to appear and he had none til about 88. if you listen to the few interviews from then you can get a good feeling of what he is saying and more important ... what he was not saying . Freddie was 25 when Queen was formed. I have been a great fan of freddie since the early 70s
That Last song that you turned off was at LIVE AID.
“The World That We Created” they came back to do that Specific song
I like watching the reactions of young people, but I wish they had a little more back story so they could really appreciate how spectacular and significant this performance was.
Radio Gaga:
In short, he's talking about how radio used to be good and now it sucks.
Recall that at the time, music videos were a new thing. One of the lines is "So stick around, 'cause we might miss you when we grow tired of all these visuals". He's wanting radio to come back from the brink of the bad thing it was becoming (you've yet to have your finest hour). That's my take anyway.
Roger Taylor??
@@anne-mariesindruprix4792 Well, I was referring to Freddy Mercury's lyrics.
@@dc2694but Roger wrote it
Radio GA GA !!! You know LADY GAGA ??????????
There is not knowing about a song.....which I understand...but people usually say “wait, that’s where Lady Gaga got her name”🤩
Freddie always kept tea with honey on the piano during concerts to keep this throat from drying out. He never drank anything carbonated before or during a performance that might cause him to burp into mic, it would be disrespectful to the audience.
Google 20 min that changed music forever
It is a misconception about the Aids thing..... This was too early. It was 1985...... He was diagnosed in 1987....... He might have had the HIV virus by 1985. But was not full blown Aids until years later. Also this Concert was for Famine in Africa........ Not Aids....... Freddie was a great performer. Wrote great music ..... Lived a good life........ It was not all about HIV and Aids.
Freddie Mercury was 29 years old when queen got together
Freddie was 24 when they formed Queen in 1970.
You can do entire 1986 concert at wembley. Great show. 😊
Radio GaGa is my favorite!!
It’s about MTV…Radio Gaga.
Great reaction. Fun fact....Brian plays 3 different giutars during Crazy Little Thing Called Love. Please react to Killer Queen/I'm in Love with my car live at Montreal.
Watch the movie it helps with the history and is extremely entertaining and well done!!!
but don't believe everything - it is not a documentary - but a good movie and brilliant actors. -Oscar winning.
His crowd control level. It's over 9000!!!!
nah - - 72´000
It has been said, either by Freddie or Brian or both, that Freddie couldn't really play the guitar or the piano - that he only learned enough to make the music he wanted to make. Don't know how true that is.
Freddie had proper piano lessons but gave up when it came to writing and reading music he struggled with that.
he wasn't a concert pianist by any means but I've not seen any reactors imply he wasn't good. he composed most of his songs on piano and the parts for the rest of the band as well
he taught himself basic of guitar but was above basic learner level but wouldn't call himself a guitarist
Sir Bri said his method of playing a guitar was unique because he only plucked or strummed on the down stroke.
He did take basic piano lessons but never was able to read music, so he would play by ear, as a result his piano playing was also unique in style.
This concert was sold out before Queen was announced to be there.
Freddie died in 1991 and was still making music..
Brian May(lead guitarist,John Deacon(bass)& Roger Taylor(drummer. Fun fact for you Roger had a higher vocal range than Freddie.. Awesome group of guys each an excellent talent.
Roger Taylor wrote Radio Ga Ga , his son came in one day and said radio ca ca
on the original recording of we will rock you, there were no drums. It was all clapping and stamping of the feet.
Freddy was battling a throat infection and his Dr recommended against him performing but he did it anyway.
One of few bands that sound better live