Queen Rock Montreal & Live Aid

By Cyril Pearl -- Video Business, 10/29/2007

EAGLE VISION
Street: Oct. 30
Prebook: now
> Arty British rockers deliver two live shows recorded during the height of their powers.

It must be noted that both of these shows have been available before—the Montreal gig on Pioneer’s Queen: We Will Rock You and the Live Aid set in Rhino’s Live Aid box set—but the Canadian show has been digitally re-mastered from the original film and the sound has been newly mixed and mastered for DTS Surround Sound and PCM Stereo from the original multi-track tapes. That said, the 1981 Montreal show remains a lot of fun, with the band at the height of its powers as it pummels through such solid catalog entries as “Killer Queen,” “Crazy Little Thing Called Love,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and an up-tempo version of “We Will Rock You.” Also notable is the first-ever live performance of “Under Pressure” and the fact that the Montreal show would prove to be the only Queen show ever shot on 35mm film (which explains the period texture of the image). Supplements include Live Aid rehearsal footage, a couple of vintage interviews and a new audio commentary on the Montreal show featuring band members Brian May and Roger Taylor.

Shelf Talk: Though these concerts have been available before, the price is right for this release and there are sure to be fans old and new interested in updating their collection, particularly with the new audio and video mixes. And, for what it’s worth, the eight-song Live Aid set is frequently polled in Britain as “the greatest live performance of all time.” Queen Rock Montreal also is available as a single disc for $14.98.

Music, color, NR (nothing offensive), 138 min., DVD $19.98, BD or HD $24.98 (street Dec. 4)
Extras: Montreal concert musician commentary, rehearsal footage, band interview, 1982 PM Magazine segment
First Run: Live Aid-MTV, July 1985