There is a quite famous line Freddie said in an interview regarding playing songs differently live than like on album and how various people were upset by that and Freddie saying along the lines of.. "we might as well just play the whole damn record on show and not be there...."
A part of that is true... Then for a comment like "we are a very well rehursed and professional band..."
Queen never played a song exactly like they did on record... they couldn't because of all the overdubs (if it was a song like STL) Although the song never sounded like a album version, it was very close to it. But Queen never was a band like Led Zep, a band that could jam out a 4 min song into a 20min master peice.
Did Queen ever had the edge or the ability to jam out a long version of their songs.. I know that Liar and to an extent... White Queen are good examples... and they sounded beautiful but what stopped Queen from giving most of their songs that treatment? Could they have turned many short songs into some beautiful and long jammed out masterpieces? I read on here that Brian was actually a very nervous musician and was terible at improvising solos on the spot in fear of fucking it up, Also someone mentioned in the ABBA vs Queen post.. saying led zep jams were in reality just pointless long boring piano bass guitar drums that went really nowhere.
I guess I do like the fact that Queen could do an amazing live version of their songs and cram in alot of songs from various albums, short sharp and sweet. But also I do love their extended jams in their earlier years on a very select few songs especially White Queen. But it's from that song and Liar, I feel like queen could have definitely been an amazing band live and have an edge to really do some justice to some long live jams... the edge and excitment through Freddies ability on piano, Brian's beautiful and precise guitar work and his melodies, John's magic with his bare fingers and Rogers sometimes underrated drumming.
Where Led Zep.. I hear more and more that they are.. sometimes regarded as a bit too loose, sloppy or lazy.... Queen could have had a more refined and professional edge to jaming on stage