Just seeing Brian, Roger and John play a full set together for the last time :-(
On the day, Daltrey was really good (though comes across less so on the film) and created an atmosphere, Metallica were really good in their set (whilst some 'housewife' types didn't quite expect that!) G n R were the biggest and most notorious band on the planet at that point and they performed well and brought the atmosphere up a notch. George Michael is an obvious but deserved highlight too. Extreme's Queen Medley was great and unexpected...I think that is probably the key word ' unexpected'...pre internet no one really knew what the format was going to be or what to expect...certainly until I got there and bought a t shirt with the act names on I had no idea who was playing, and even then didn't really know what format the show would take.
Down here in Australia the rights to the television broadcast were purchased by a third party who then tried to onsell it at a ridiculously high price. Subsequently it was never shown on TV here. A truncated version was later played on radio.
I got a VHS copy of the show flown over and organised a venue with a big screen to play it (loud) and it was sold out. Jackie Gunn sent some T Shirts over to sell and all the profits were donated to the Mercury Phoenix Trust.
I got to keep a T Shirt with Jackie's okay for organising the event
The sadest and happiest concert I've ever been to, cried and laughed over and over, the sound was somewhat dodgy at times, and Brian's guitar seemed to be suffering from some technical pops and whistles there footage of me at the front singing WATC then I stood for ages as they cleared the stage not wanting to leave and watching them take the gear away, I remember watching them take Rogers kit down thinking I would never see it again, Freddies spirit was definately there that day and I don't believe in any of that stuff, Standing watching Elton and Mr Rose doing Bo Rhap was my highlight, it made the hairs on the back of the neck stand up
Although some were better than others they all did their best and supported the grieving band a lot. What is a shame is that this concert was released several times, on VHS, DVD and blu-ray and with every release there was some performances missing. I recorded the whole thing on a dutch channel and that is complete. The BBC is probably the best if you want the whole thing or are there even better ones out there.
The whole day was a highlight,standing on the tube surrounded by Queen fans,singing there tits off,getting into the stadium with 1 minute to go,because of bad organization at our gate,the atmosphere was electric from beginning to end,and the swarms of fans singing down Wembley way after the show,there was loads of tears, and loads of laughter.
What I remember most was the sound of "Enter Sandman". Was quite in the back of the stadium and it was LOUD. Just to hear Queen soundcheck outside the stadium ws great too. Somebody to me was brilliant, one of the best performances ever.
scottmax wrote:
The opening chords and first verse of TYMD still gives me shivers....
I feel that too. For some seconds I did believe that they had decided to move on as a trio. I soon realized it was not possible from their point if view, but I still treasure that short moment. What a fantastic band they could have become from that new perspective...
Cheers,
Ogre-
Extreme. They got it, did the 'global jukebox' thing like Queen at Live Aid, could tell there was a kinship to Queen and Nuno giving the "fucking 'eh" fist pump at the end of Radio GaGa give me shivers to this day. I don't care if Gary Cherone was a bit or a lot off key, more sincerity in that set than there rest of the acts combined. Legendary.
scottmax wrote:
The opening chords and first verse of TYMD still gives me shivers....
I feel that too. For some seconds I did believe that they had decided to move on as a trio. I soon realized it was not possible from their point if view, but I still treasure that short moment. What a fantastic band they could have become from that new perspective...
Yep - that minute of music is a reminder of what could've been but wasn't meant to be.
i still have the vhs version of the bbc broadcast...i remember with TYMD, Slash was playing in the wrong or his guitar was still half tone down from the GNR set.
Amazing concert to have been at. We were right down near the front on Brian's side of the stage. Great day though sad as well. I was lucky enough to attend the sound check the day before. Spinal Tap did most of the sound check in character! Dave St Hubbins saying hello Paris then telling my Mrs her Sound Garden t shirt was cool! During that afternoon we also chatted to Joe Elliot who said he could sense a real change in music was just round the corner.
The best thing though was seeing/feeling that sense in the audience of it being a special day and seeing John, Brian and Roger on stage together. The day after the gig I wrote to Brian just to say how much we enjoyed the show and hoped he did despite the difficulties it must have caused. He wrote back a couple of weeks later, quite a long detailed letter thanking me for my support and awareness.
I didn't like any of the acts involved and 1992 was a real vacuum in the pop world. I can't help thinking it would've been better a year later. Brett Anderson would've done Cool Cat, L7 would've done SHA, REM would've done Friends Will Be Friends and Ugly Kid Joe Ogre Battle
It was a great day though (watching it all on telly) excited for what was coming up next..
For those who wached that concert live... how was John Deacon during that day...? The camera's kinda missed a bit of him... did he get involved with much of the backing vocals...? Would have to be the first and only time in Queens live career that he spoke on stage.... METALLICA....!!!
Kinda get that feeling the more he's on the mic the more he's seems to be in one of his better moods I.e wembly he was having a blast and you could see that in regards to his mic getting bit of a work out.
He was probably the closest to coming to tears during that final scene....
I came from Germany by bus (Rosi Reisen)& ferry....
I remember the way to Wembley by underground through the suburbs of London.....the esplanade to Wembley, fans, fans,fans. Had an Daid Bowie fan/double on the bus.....i remember a japanese girl beside me crying the whole concert.
Biggest moment was "Too much love will kill you", a then still unknown track sung by Brian May.
But the DVD Version is edited, his voice was weaker that day and he didn't hit all the notes......
Plant was a desaster, since then my wife doesen't allow me (til today) to listen Plant/Zep records when she's at home, haha