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Bohemian Rhapsody Intro

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Was the beginning portion of Bohemian Rhapsody ever performed live? I know Freddie mostly just started with the ballad section, but was the "Is this the real life? etc." part ever performed live?
I believe it never was. They may have tried playing it in tour rehearsals but it seems doubtful. In Q+AL shows now, they play the familiar intro from the album version.
Metropolis wrote:

Was the beginning portion of Bohemian Rhapsody ever performed live? I know Freddie mostly just started with the ballad section, but was the "Is this the real life? etc." part ever performed live?


No.
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I think the closest we have ever got to the whole song live was The Queens birthday party in 2002 when the middle section was performed live for the first (And only?) time by the cast of the musical with Brain and Roger.

I few tribute bands have attempt the intro, "NIGHT OF QUEEN" being the one that springs to mind as it has about 13 people on stage.
None of them count.
*None of them count.*

The OP didn't actually specify if they meant at a Queen concert.
Not to my knowledge no.
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No there was a lot of Queen stuff that was never performed live.
"You & I " "Who needs You" "Funny How Love is" etc........... real gems that would have been amazing "Live".
WOOF ! wrote:

No there was a lot of Queen stuff that was never performed live.


... that we know of!

A few years ago, many (most?) of us were convinced 'Master-Stroke' and 'Sidewalk' had never been performed live. We were wrong.
John hated Hot Space. Frederick's favourite singer was not Paul Rodgers. Roger didn't compose 'Innuendo.' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hasn't got 180 vocal overdubs.
Sebastian I am almost certain Queen never ever performed "You & I" live in concert. It was one of those Gems like "Soul Brother" that got ignored.
WOOF ! wrote:

Sebastian I am almost certain Queen never ever performed "You & I" live in concert. It was one of those Gems like "Soul Brother" that got ignored.


A few years ago many of us would've said the same about 'Master-Stroke' and 'Sidewalk', but they did play them at least once. It could have also been the case for 'You and I' and others, although there's also the chance that, indeed, they didn't play them live.
John hated Hot Space. Frederick's favourite singer was not Paul Rodgers. Roger didn't compose 'Innuendo.' 'Bohemian Rhapsody' hasn't got 180 vocal overdubs.
Would be great if something was to surface.
This place used to be great, but now it is an absolute joke. For serious Queen discussion, please visit http://www.queenforum.net
I don't think it ever was but on the other hand we didn't have recordings from all shows so there is still extremely low chance that some never heard show before will surface with at least improvised version. But i don't believe in this.
Also, maybe at some point some of those songs might have been performed in a sound check. Or more likely at your rehearsals and then dropped.
I wish at some point, while it’s still possible, someone would do like a massive in depth interview with them more geared towards “hardcore Queen Fans” interests so we can see a bit of more light into these kind of questions. Even though I suspect, which is understandable, those subjects aren’t really too interesting for Brian and Roger at the time. But who knows until someone tries such an interview?

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