((install)): Concert Queen Live Aid

What followed was not a performance; it was a possession. Mercury’s voice was in imperious form, hitting the operatic highs with a ferocity that belied the strain of the day. When the song transitioned from the ballad section to the heavy rock riff, the energy in the stadium shifted palpably. The lethargy of the crowd evaporated, replaced by a primal, kinetic energy.

Long live the Concert Queen. Long live Freddie Mercury. And long live the day that rock and roll found its perfect ruler. concert queen live aid

Before July 13, 1985, Queen was a band trying to stay relevant. After July 13, 1985, Queen became untouchable. The performance immediately silenced the critics. The album Queen: Live at Wembley '86 (released later) sold millions largely on the strength of the Live Aid rumor mill. For the remaining six years of Freddie’s life, Queen toured to sold-out stadiums that were larger than ever before. What followed was not a performance; it was a possession