QueenZone discussion #1395238
Saarbrucken 1979
| The Real Wizard 19.08.2014 15:27 |
link ^ I've always been fascinated by this German festival show. They were on the same bill as Rory Gallagher and Alvin Lee. They didn't do too many of these festival type shows, probably because they didn't want to compromise on their light show nor the length of their set. By 1984 this wouldn't be the case, but in 1979 it certainly was. Frustratingly there's only one rough-sounding audience recording of this show (not counting the short 8mm footage), but it's one of their most interesting performances. Look at the setlist: We Will Rock You (fast), Let Me Entertain You, If You Can't Beat Them, Mustapha, Death On Two Legs, Killer Queen, I'm In Love With My Car, Get Down Make Love, You're My Best Friend, Now I'm Here, Somebody To Love, Spread Your Wings, Love Of My Life, Keep Yourself Alive, guitar/drum solos, Brighton Rock (ending), Bohemian Rhapsody, Tie Your Mother Down, Sheer Heart Attack, Jailhouse Rock, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, God Save The Queen Two hours are cut down to 90 minutes. Dreamers Ball, '39, It's Late, and the first half of Brighton Rock are out. But they've added Mustapha (its first proper performance), and thus they come out of the gate with three Jazz songs. But - they've also axed the three hit songs from Jazz (Fat Bottomed Girls, Bicycle Race, Don't Stop Me Now). This leaves about a half dozen hit songs in the setlist that the average radio-listening person would know (most people on hand didn't know Best Friend as it didn't chart in Germany). Was this intentional? Were they trying to distance themselves from their pop leanings at a rock festival? Looking back in retrospect, by 1980 they'd made their next big steps towards becoming more of a pop band. So is this show a snapshot of the band in major transition at their Mason-Dixon line ? Or is this merely a coincidence? Thoughts ? |
| Nitroboy 19.08.2014 16:24 |
It's 11:30pm and I'm too tired to write a detailed response; I just know that it's a damn good show and a shame that the only recording we have is so crappy, and plagued by those drunk people who love to sing along (which they do horribly!). |
| musicland munich 19.08.2014 17:40 |
^ A Saarbrücken 79' Concert Poster was offered to me a couple of years ago...150 Euros...Ahhhh...No thanks :) I think their setup was like it was because of the ties of such a festival situation. |
| GERRYISADICK 20.08.2014 01:02 |
I asked a question similar to this about the recording as for the set. Why would you not want to have the sings everyone would know. The crowd would know we will rock you but not he know '39 crowds are different. And it had been said the band put thought into their set lists so it must have been intentional. But you are right wiz man it is an interesting show but the only recordings we have of it are terrible. Which is a shame as this concert is right before the crazy tour when no doubt Queen were at their absolute best |
| andyb1968 20.08.2014 08:29 |
Wasn't it filmed by local TV ? Some of it anyway ? |
| Vocal harmony 20.08.2014 09:22 |
i have always wondered about the set list at this show. The only conslusion i could come up with was that, A, they had a time limite on the running time and B, they wanted to change things around a bit, which is something they carried into the Crazy Tour. In Brighton i was surprised by the inclusion of Liar. |
| musicland munich 20.08.2014 10:32 |
Just a hint for all you investigators...if there is any professional footage of this event...the "Saarländischer Rundfunk" or "SR" would be the most logic partner for any kind of research. |
| Regor 20.08.2014 12:43 |
When Greg asked about possible sources for live footage a few years ago, I also suggested to contact Saarländischer Rundfunk. I think that in 1979 a festival like this was fairly uncommon in germany, so it should be at least partly recorded. Dunno if they did contact them, but perhaps a future Live Killers mega-reissue contains some surprises. Also - correct me if I'm wrong - this was their first ever stadium gig (albeit a festival, but anyway), so hopefully some pro footage exists. |
| The Real Wizard 20.08.2014 13:25 |
Regor wrote: Also - correct me if I'm wrong - this was their first ever stadium gigExcellent observation. Everything before this was arenas, theatres and smaller outdoor things in the earlier days. And Hyde Park. |
| Oscar J 20.08.2014 14:48 |
If You Can't Beat Em from this gig is stellar - Freddie is in top shape. |
| Doga 20.08.2014 15:22 |
The short setlist is no doubt because is a festival. is a common practice even nowdays, bands brings their full show to arenas and stadiums, with full setlist and their best lightring, and a shortened setlist with mainly hits to festivals. |
| musicland munich 20.08.2014 19:05 |
According to the Festival Poster, the " SR1 " was supporter of the festival. It would be a complete miracle if they didn't recorded /brodcasted anything of such an event in 79'... |
| The Real Wizard 21.08.2014 02:05 |
Doga wrote: The short setlist is no doubt because is a festival. is a common practice even nowdays, bands brings their full show to arenas and stadiums, with full setlist and their best lightring, and a shortened setlist with mainly hits to festivals.Exactly. But in this case, they cut out their three most recent hits. Hence the deeper philosophical discussion that 20/20 hindsight has granted us. |
| splicksplack 21.08.2014 04:56 |
I missed this one due to lack of funds but my Royal Family brethren went en force and they have some fantastic tales (it was only a few months after our 3 nights in Paris). I know the possible source of the 8mm mentioned above. And if it's no,then there is other 8mm footage around. I also seem to remember hearing a good recording of the show but god knows who had it. |
| splicksplack 21.08.2014 04:57 |
I remember everyone going on about Roger's green hair. |
| splicksplack 21.08.2014 04:57 |
and Freddie's new stage walk. |
| GERRYISADICK 21.08.2014 05:11 |
Didnt he wear a pimp hat |
| The Real Wizard 21.08.2014 14:03 |
splicksplack wrote: I know the possible source of the 8mm mentioned above. And if it's no,then there is other 8mm footage around.Could you please dig into this? Even if it's just an upgrade of the existing minute of footage, it'd be a big find, as the copy we have is pretty generated. But considering the way it has been edited, something tells me there should be more than a minute of it. |
| musicland munich 21.08.2014 20:01 |
Ok..like every public station in Germany the "SR" provides a service to buy material out of their vaults( for privat use - if it's available of course) I've send them my request.And maybe I will call them if there are some more details needed. |
| The Real Wizard 22.08.2014 16:08 |
Good luck ! |
| queenside 22.08.2014 17:13 |
to see queen and rory gallagher on that festival would be a dream come true. i'm a massive rory fan and he was just killer live, i'm sure he gave queen a run for their money. |
| bootLuca 22.08.2014 17:51 |
Brian himself is a big fan of Rory, Brian took after from him the way of playing the guitar with the ac30 and the treble booster |
| queenside 22.08.2014 18:43 |
i know. brian said he owes rory his sound and mentioned him in recent years when he was in ireland during concert with kerry ellis. |
| musicland munich 25.08.2014 10:11 |
So is is what the "SR" told me. There were/are three TV- Reports of this festival. 1. Pre festival report 16 /08/79 0.47 sec.Show : "Aktueller Bericht" 2. Rehearsal report 17 /08/79 0.43 sec Show: "Aktueller Bericht" 3. Open Air Festival report 25 /08 /79 5.02 minutes Show: "Daten der Woche" These reports doesn't need to incloude any Queen recordings !!! It's possible that we will see a lot of behind the scenes footage. As for the radio....I'am unsure about her statement...I've send another e-mail to clear things up. |
| MercurialFreddie 26.08.2014 07:33 |
@musicland munich Thanks for contacting the "SR" and clarifying things up. I hope that even short audio-video material of Queen from this show is stored in their archives. Hell, even hearing full gig from FM broadcast (if it was broadcasted that day and someone has recorded it) would be awesome. |
| splicksplack 26.08.2014 07:56 |
The Real Wizard wrote:Sorry, just picked this up. I'll ask. I'm surprised it's only a minutes worth that is going around. I know much more than that was filmed. Will come back asap.splicksplack wrote: I know the possible source of the 8mm mentioned above. And if it's no,then there is other 8mm footage around.Could you please dig into this? Even if it's just an upgrade of the existing minute of footage, it'd be a big find, as the copy we have is pretty generated. But considering the way it has been edited, something tells me there should be more than a minute of it. |
| The Real Wizard 28.08.2014 01:10 |
splicksplack wrote:Rock and roll. Thanks, man !The Real Wizard wrote:Sorry, just picked this up. I'll ask. I'm surprised it's only a minutes worth that is going around. I know much more than that was filmed. Will come back asap.splicksplack wrote: I know the possible source of the 8mm mentioned above. And if it's no,then there is other 8mm footage around.Could you please dig into this? Even if it's just an upgrade of the existing minute of footage, it'd be a big find, as the copy we have is pretty generated. But considering the way it has been edited, something tells me there should be more than a minute of it. |
| musicland munich 28.08.2014 18:09 |
I'am sorry to say that but according to the "SR" there is no radio broadcast / taped material in their archives. Personally I think it's a bit unusual to be the supporter of such an event and you didn't have a deal with a single Band to tape a couple of their songs. But it is how it is... Also possible a stupid flaw ...maybe just a wrong labeling of the tape(s) or something. |
| Doga 28.08.2014 18:56 |
Thanks for your efforts. Yeah, it's not unlikely they have nothing in their archives, even if they recorded something, it was more than 30 years ago! A lot of things could have happened. On another note... What do we know about Munich 79? They played two nights there and a good bit of one concert is available. It was filmed very well and with a lot of angles, is unlikely for a TV station do that without any arrange. Was the concert filmed completly? And in that case, do QP own the film/tapes, or is another Budapest case? |
| jazzrazzmatazz 31.08.2014 15:37 |
Here are some nice close-ups from the backstage at Saarbrucken.... Roger's hair! |
| GERRYISADICK 31.08.2014 15:45 |
Ahh Freddie's pimp hat |
| MercurialFreddie 01.09.2014 09:44 |
@musicland munich It's a shame that they've got back to you with this reply. Maybe the tape hasn't been properly catalogued or it isn't in their digital catalogue so one should take time and tape by tape search and listen what's on it. If that's the case, I doubt that they'd like to do that kind of research. But hey maybe I'm wrong and one day they will. Maybe there's something in the Queen Archive, but a long time has passed since GB spoke on this forum. |
| MercurialFreddie 01.09.2014 09:45 |
Can we at least suppose that the gig (among other concerts) was recorded for Live Killers ? |
| Fart Sandwiches 01.09.2014 12:20 |
That'd be something else, considering the show was performed two months after Live Killers was released. |
| The Real Wizard 01.09.2014 19:27 |
Freddie even introduces If You Can't Beat Them as "a song that we haven't got on Live Killers." |