What Do You Think Are The Most Underrated/Overrated Queen Gigs (Debate)?

Most people complain about the audience for Montreal. I have never heard someone say "I think Montreal was bad, or the concert was bad." The audience gets brought up though (at least the 11/24/1981 audience bootleg shows that the audience was awesome).

As for the Rio vs Live Aid thing: It's apples to oranges. Both concerts are epic, have an awesome crowd, brilliant showmanship from Freddie, many wonderful musical and vocal moments (Bo Rhap/Radio Ga Ga for Live Aid, and STL/Under Pressure being my favorites from both gigs).

Hi there! 
I just was listening to the final Japan concert of the 1975 tour. This is the sound of a young band, hungry energetic and determined to win over a new audience and thankful for the energy that they receive back. All the extra songs that were thrown in the one concert (Hangman, See What a Fool, a Great rock medley) and the enormous energy of all four members make for a fantastic gig. The sheer 'killer instinct' and drive is evident in practically every song. 

My other vote goes to Houston 1977. Plaudits especially to John who does all the pops and slaps in Get Down Make Love, and those rapid 8ve jumps in the guitar solo of Liar are indicative of his level of involvement. And Roger blasts the shit out of Stone Cold Crazy. This is a more experienced band. Confident, brash and on the crest of a wave in the US. Great stuff! There are most probably far more than these, but I'll leave that for others.

Have a nice day!

CruellaDeVille wrote: Hi there! 
I just was listening to the final Japan concert of the 1975 tour. This is the sound of a young band, hungry energetic and determined to win over a new audience and thankful for the energy that they receive back. All the extra songs that were thrown in the one concert (Hangman, See What a Fool, a Great rock medley) and the enormous energy of all four members make for a fantastic gig. The sheer 'killer instinct' and drive is evident in practically every song. 

My other vote goes to Houston 1977. Plaudits especially to John who does all the pops and slaps in Get Down Make Love, and those rapid 8ve jumps in the guitar solo of Liar are indicative of his level of involvement. And Roger blasts the shit out of Stone Cold Crazy. This is a more experienced band. Confident, brash and on the crest of a wave in the US. Great stuff! There are most probably far more than these, but I'll leave that for others.

Have a nice day!

Yes those concerts are very good. However, I'm not really a fan of that 5/1/1975 but it was probably the best gig of the Japan leg of the Sheer Heart Attack tour. I love Houston 1977 though and more specifically from that US tour, the Philadelphia and New York gigs.

Gregsynth wrote: I'll tell you who made big fools of themselves at Live Aid: Led Zeppelin!

If any performance at Live Aid is overrated, it's Zeppelin's. Least with Queen, Freddie's voice was actually in excellent form, Brian wasn't DRUNK OR HIGH playing the guitar (plus it wasn't buried in a flange effect), Freddie connected with the whole audience (plus the billions watching at home). Whatever errors Queen did on their set are minor, and can be excused/not brought up. Zeppelin was just a mess.

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I got into Zeppelin thanks to that Live Aid performance ironically enough. I get irked when people say Phil Collins blew it when Pagey was drunk. In fact, it was Robert Plant's idea to have Phil drum (as Phil did Robert's first two solo albums and first US solo tour as drummer). Originally it was to be Plant/Collins/Page but Bill Graham said "Led Zeppelin reunion is better idea". Phil even said he tried not to upstage Zeppelin.

I regret that the classic lineups of Pink Floyd, Styx, Supertramp and Van Halen didn't play. That was perfect opportunity

Very interesting! I don't even get why Phil Collins gets blamed for the performance. He seemed fine overall. The one thing that really messed that performance up was Jimmy Page (and/or his guitar). Least Plant was trying to sing the songs (I heard he was in the middle of a solo tour + throat trouble), but Page was just too out of it.

I'm actually surprised that was the performance that hooked you on Zeppelin! I was expecting something from the early 70s or something. Then again, there's Queen fans that got introduced to the band via Hot Space--so I guess anything can happen!

Hi everyone, I was extremely lucky to have seen them 6 times during the seventies and I had the pleasure to be at live aid.
Every concert to me was a blast, now I am not into music as to the extend to micro anyalise all the riffs and suchlike
all i remember is things like freddie throwing flowers into the audience at the old Glasgow Appollo Theatre and the lighting
show that at the time to me was dazzling to say the least,1giant like grid of lights that seem to come from the back of the stage and move upward and over head,and also freddie's interactions with the crowd was memorable. so to answer the question I would say imho every show was unbelievably fantastic and to those of you who never had the chance to see them live you do not know what you missed, videos tapes and all other copied materials do not even come close to the real deal.
This guy could hold a crowd like no other.
God rest his sole he will be forever the best front man I have ever had the pleasure to watch and I've seen many a concert in my time.

Regards David

jamster1111 wrote: NOTWMEDDLE wrote: Live Aid is OVERRATED as is Wembley (official release).

The Mannheim 1986 performance is underrated (so isn't Budapest in my view). Chicago 1978 is underrated, Zurich 1978 is CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED (first boot of the News Of The World Tour I owned and my personal favorite). Cologne 1979 is underrated. Boston, January of 1976 was a TEN TIMES BETTER GIG THAN HAMMERSMITH AND/OR HYDE PARK.

I didn't mind Freddie singing things lower than normal, it's what made a rock and roll show. If I wanted to hear like on the record I'd put on either Lady Gaga or Britney Spears or KISS or AeroSUPPLY (Aerosmith).

I thought Rio 1985 was better than Live Aid. For what it's worth, the set was the most energetic of the UK acts but pales compared to other Queen shows I've heard over the years.

What I liked about many Pink Floyd boots I own are some of the imperfections
Yes!!! Finally!!! I do also agree that Rock In Rio (First Night) was much better than Live Aid. Live Aid was special that Queen were watched by 2 billion viewers but 1/12/1985 was a much better concert. 

For NOTW I have to say in my view the most underrated are Stockholm and the last couple UK gigs. All the gigs you mentioned are very underrated though, specifically Boston 1976.

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The performance of Radio Ga Ga on Rio was more energized and I preferred the harmonies on "You had your time, you had the power" with Freddie singing low and Roger singing the high parts. Also I Want to Break Free on Rio was superb. What I saw of the opening pyro salvo on Tear it Up, what better way to start your performance (walking on to Machines). I do know most WAtCs on the live albums (sans Montreal, Live at the Bowl and Live Magic) were "magically fixed" to appear he hit that high B flat in the chorus when Fred sang it lower!.

wembley 86 second night overrated

I also think newcastle 2nd night is overrated, but that is my opinion as i only heard that one recently and that hasnt had time to grow on me.

With Live Aid, the biggest fail was ol' Maccer, sorry for about turning your mic off with Simon Le Bon's false note in second place

personally i think final japan 79 is underrated, sure Freds voice is a big -, but the crowd and the band itself is a big +, not to mention the enjoyment throughout

jamster1111 wrote: And Montreal is actually slightly underrated as most people think that it's a bad concert because the audience was so quiet. Well, the audience wasn't the best but it didn't stop Queen from putting on a fantastic show. Musically, it's tight and spot on and in my opinion, is musically the best show of 1980-1981.

Totally agree. Montreal is the Queen concert that I watched much times, the old version and the new one (Rock Montreal, which is an improvement in every way). The 1981 live sound is my fave of all time. The piano-driven songs sounds fantastic. The next year they added an extra musician, and their sound lost that magic touch. The crowd in Montreal was a crying shame, they kept sitting all the time with the exception of few songs (for example, TYMD). But the band sounds great.

Something about Radio Ga Ga in Live Aid: you are rating this version very high. But I want to ask: What did Freddie try to do in the song ending line?? (Loveeeees youuuu ohhoh uhh!! WTF!!!) It sounds terrible!!!

OK, there's the Live Aid Radio Ga Ga. That one line sounds just fine! Nothing seems terrible to my ears.

There is nothing wrong with Queen at Live Aid, the only real problem i had is that Love Of My Life should of been played instead of Is this the world we created.

In concerning The greatest Queen gig of all time, Queen did have the whole world watching or listening; glued to their sets, at 6:40pm the time Queen were the only sounds of song and dance heard on planet earth. which is why It is their greatest gig. also that gig was like a reboot for the band as the works tour and album were weak.

considering that Live Aid was to be the last gig, also strenghtens the effort and passion for the music as the Queen would of gone out with a bang.

How can anyone say that Queen's performance at Live Aid is overrated????????

Almost all other artists were nervous and made stupid mistakes: bad setlists, stupid choice of songs etc. probably due to nervousness and nothing putting enough thought into their performance...

And then there were Queen... They put a lot of thought in their show and managed to make the maximum impact. Once again they showed they were a very very clever band. That setlist was just brilliant! (as always, I wonder why so many people do not take notice of Queen's talent to put together a great setlist...)

And of course, that performance is the ultimate FM-moment. While all other performing artists were visibly nervous, FM came on, claimed the stage and put on a show like no-one will ever do again. Veni vidi vici!

The ease with which Freddie sang and the ease with which Freddie dazzled the audience - while the ENTIRE world was watching - is simply unbelievable... His charisma that day (always actually) ... wow...

There are numerous classis FM moments during that show. I totally adore the look on his face after his vocal play "Yes, I've got them in the palm of my hands".

By that time the band is bursting with energy and Freddie's level of confidence is huge. They then play a gutsy HTF, with BM doing some brilliant guitarwork. How can anyone complain about that "mistake" at the end?? It's minor and doesn't take away from the impact of the performance.

it's great to see that freddie could hold the audience until the very last moments of WATC... By the way, that version of WATC is so stunning. FM had guts like no other, I'd say. It's one of the things I admire about him: no fear, just going for it.

That performance is simply the perfect example of the performing genius of Queen and FM especially...

It was a great performance and an unforgettable moment. But Queen had 50+ night where they performed even better, even if they weren't as famous or pivotal.

I've only honestly never noticed a mistake in Live Aid's Hammer to Fall; can someone point out the exact moment please?