Live Killers

So, I am a big Queen fan. This is the album that really hooked me on them. Before listening to this, I kind of poo-pooed them. Killer Queen was a bit sappy, Boh Rap was ridiculously overblown and what was all that with the high pitched vocals. What was it all about?

Live Killers changed all that. This was a ROCK band - a very good rock band. In fact, a complete band. All the members wrote songs which became hits. They all played their instruments with consumate skill. They can perform, record. Just amazing.

So what is it about this album that captured me? Well, how about a rocking opening, followed by a selection of songs you can sing along to AND shove your fist in the air. Its a great record of a band, not just at its peak but also on the way up. There can be no question that they became one of the most revered rock bands of the 80s and 90s, no matter what you thought of them.

The track listing shows their repertoire from outright rock (Let Me Entertain You) to singalong poppy-type (Your My Best Friend), to quasi-folk (39), to operatic pomp (Bohemian Rhapsody) and all the way back again. Possibly one of the greatest "I sing, you sing" conversations takes place between Freddy Mercury and the crowd in "Now I'm Here". "Yeah you buggers can sing harder than I can!" proclaims Mercury. We all know the "Yay-Ohs" from Live Aid, well here is the original and you are moved to join in, even to the recording. He had that sort of pull, even then. The duet of "Love Of My Life" is spine-tingling. I remember the first time I heard it. "Well its just a crowd singing, int it". But its more than that. Its crowd and band becoming one, sharing the joy of beautiful music. That's what music and in particular, live music should be.

This is a record of the "Jazz" European tour in 1979. They were performing arenas across the continent by this time. The UK had still to wake up to massive venues and so UK tours were still conducted in Apollos and Odeons, but unfortunately not a Capitol, the last time they ventured to Aberdeen being in December 1975.

As I listen to this right now, I amazed at how enthused I am. I've not put it on for over a year at least. It feels like greeting an old friend as if it was just yesterday! And I feel it greets me too. "Come on in, enjoy the party again".

Hard to pick one song out from what is a stellar setlist. Allow me, if you may, to single out "Spread Your Wings" on side 3. Written by the incredibly under-rated John Deacon, its played and sung beautifully by Mercury on piano, Brian May's solo for me is one of his best, while Roger Taylor provides the percussive support befitting a wonderful song. Freddie called it at the time, the best song John had written. Hard to argue with that. It is a terrific narrative.

I can't not comment on Bohemian Rhapsody. The single most overblown piece of pop-rock ever written and performed. The mid-section is of course the studio recording. The rest is rock and roll history. You all know the scene in Wayne's World. Everyone knows at least half of the lyrics, if not all. Well, actually if you don't know all the lyrics, what have you been on? I SEE A LITTLE SILHOUETTO OF A MAN!

Its followed by two outright rockers - Tie Your Mother Down and Sheer Heart Attack. The latter being the birth of Thrash Metal (comments are welcome on this last statement).

There you have it - We Are The Champions! they could not have described themselves better.

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!

Track Listing:

We Will Rock You

Let Me Entertain You

Death On Two Legs

Killer Queen

Bicycle Race

I'm In Love With My Car

Get Down Make Love

You're My Best Friend

Now I'm Here

Dreamer's Ball

Love Of My Life

'39

Keep Yourself Alive

Don't Stop Me Now

Spread Your Wings

Brighton Rock

Mustapha

Bohemian Rhapsody

Tie Your Mother Down

Sheeer Heart Attack

We Will Rock You

We Are The Champions

God Save The Queen

Brain May - Guitars

Roger Taylor - (Tiger Skin Trousers and) Drums

John Deacon - (Dazzling Tie and) Bass

Freddie Mercury - Maracas and sometimes Vocals