I think the tour could’ve so much potential. Best stage setup, good setlist, huge venues, and a killer first gig at Brussels. Something about the tour just feels wrong though. The vocals throughout most of the 1984 leg are on par with the vocals from Japan 79. Unlike Japan 79 the instrument playing isn’t as great. It’s my least favorite tour and the tour I listen to the least. But that’s just my opinion.
My second favourite (maybe 3rd) Queen concert was on that tour. I was at the second Brussels show, so not the one used on the hammer to fall video, a couple of weeks after that. Anyhow, I've said this before, bootlegs don't give an accurate idea of how the concert felt for the audience, Forest Nationale was a fabulous venue. I was right up at the stage just a few feet from Brian. Amazing show. Loved the machinery backdrop. Seems old fashioned now but when the cogs on the wheels started turning it really felt amazing. My buddy sat in the raised seats at the back, which weren't actually too far from the stage tbh and he always said the moment in Radio gaga when all the hands went up was the most amazing sight he'd ever seen at a concert.
People just think oh that's normal now because everyone saw it at live aid, but it wasn't normal for a crowd to be so synchronous. Anyhow that was the only show I saw on that tour but it was one of my faves.
My number 1 show flips between Leeds 82 and Liverpool 1st night on the Crazy tour. Which I probably only view as better than the second night because I was in the stalls for night 1 and the circle for night 2.
So no idea how other people who didn't see the shows and are just working off bootlegs feel, but visually the works tour was a treat and sounded pretty good from my position. Freddie even wore a wig for Hard Life. Definitely a highlight for me.
I can say full heartedly it’s the best gig visually. The Metropolis stage setup and Freddie wearing some of the costumes from the Works album music videos.
The Brazilian cameras are trash tho. I’m pretty sure eagle rock released rock in rio in a box set with Live at the bowl, Rock Montreal, and Wembley. The downside is the boxset is super hard to find for a good price and you’d have to get the other concerts again if you didn’t have them already. I think you can get rock in rio on iTunes for a good price tho.
Easily the best of the 80's tours. setlist, lighting staging, backdrop all came together in the most complete show the band presented.
Up to that point a few other major acts had overtaken Queen for presenting major productions. Queen definitely showed everyone how to present an arena show with that tour.
Easily the best of the 80's tours. setlist, lighting staging, backdrop all came together in the most complete show the band presented.
Up to that point a few other major acts had overtaken Queen for presenting major productions. Queen definitely showed everyone how to present an arena show with that tour.
I like it a lot. I think that in the Shows of the 84 leg they were really in fire. I enjoy gigs like Stuttgart very much! The 85 leg seems to me as if they lost the kick und I think the sound is different.
I was working in London at the time of the 84 tour. Ga Ga had been around for a while and the experience of being in the arena with all those thousands of people doing the movements and hand claps was really special. I loved the set list at that stage, as they brought back, albeit in short form songs like Liar, Great King Rat and Stone Cold Crazy. I loved seeing Staying Power live and see John play rhythm guitar. Spike's lead in to Brian's solo was overly long I thought. But I had an absolute ball. Strangely, by the time they played in Sydney (and I'd come home), they had lost some of the initial energy and a few songs as well.
@Anton3283. Yes, would love this particular 'moustache gig' in great quality if it existed.
As stated by myself and others, The Works tour was sublime if you were there. Would love to see a 1984 version. By the 85 shows sounds like the energy had dropped off a bit.