I downloaded some Milton Keynes bootleg MP3s just to know what to expect of Queen's performance on the upcoming DVD/CD (I've only seen the Staying Power bit). The show sounds great but there seems to be a problem during Dragon Attack.
It sounds like Brian loses a string or something like that when the song goes into "She don't take no prisoners...", the last part before Brian usually starts his solo. The Red Special makes some subdued noises here and then instead of going into the solo it fades out, leaving Roger and John playing. Freddie then puts in some ad-libs and John does a short bass solo like he does on the studio version (I love that solo, Deaky should've done it more often on stage), seemingly to fill in the blanks. But then suddenly out of nowhere Brian returns (too quickly if he broke a string I think) and he picks up where he left off and the song goes on normally.
This whole bit doesn't sound very natural. I'm not a Queen bootleg expert so I don't know for sure if John never did a short solo during DA on the Hot Space tour. But in Montreal '81 and in Tokyo '82 for example, Brian just takes over after the verses are over. So I'm wondering if this is a real "mistake" and if so, if it's overdub-worthy in QP's mind for the upcoming DVD/CD. I've never seen the cut version of the show on TV/video, how is this handled there? Anyway I think it works out nicely because John gets to do a very short but cool solo - Go Johnny GO! :P
BTW The Freddie squeak during Fat Bottom I read about in another topic is hilarious: "Ain't no beauty queens in this LOOOOOOO-cality..." Freddie's voice is great up to this point in the show but when he tries an original high note for the "lo-" part his voice cracks and he goes WAY OFF :D
muttley15 wrote: He accidently pulled out his lead to the amps. No wireless connections back then!!
Are you sure about that? I'm pretty sure it was a broken string, because Brian returns a few bars later with a red special copy. This paved the way for a great impromptu Deacy bass solo, though!
Has Brian ever used a wireless connection? Oh by the way there were wireless connections back then not sure about guitars but Freddie certainly starts the show with a Radio Mic!
Just on the Milton Keynes show I went to Leeds and I must admit around '82 I had started to lose interest in Queen a little I was very disappointed with Hot Space although looking back now I quite like it, anyway the Leeds show restored my faith in Queen it was without doubt one of the best Queen shows ever and I hope Milton Keynes was as good!
Sir GH wrote: I'm pretty sure it was a broken string, because Brian returns a few bars later with a red special copy.
This sounds very probable, it really sounds like a broken string. Brian quickly equiping another guitar must be the explanation, but didn't he smash that John Birch RS-copy earlier in the tour? If it's a back-up he uses it must be the Flying V then. However the guitar-sound doesn't really seem to change after the supposed switch... then again I'm not a guitar-expert either, can it be that the Flying V sounds similiar to the Red Special?